Hong Kong

by Luke Richardson

  Turning right into a quiet backstreet, Isobel accelerated. Every second counted. Even meeting Jiao on the way out would mean failure. Get in, get her stuff, get out.

  She would leave her clothes, leave her bag, she didn’t need them. Just the folder containing her passport, a bit of cash and an emergency credit card.

  As her trainers pounded the pavement and her breathing started to regulate to the speed of the run, Isobel thought about where exactly the folder was. She pictured it, about the size of a diary, made of pink fabric, hidden behind the dressing table.

  She remembered putting it there thinking that if the sleazy hotel owner, or anyone else, went in her room they wouldn’t see it. They could rifle through her drawers, but her essential documents would stay safe.

  She took the next corner at speed, charging out onto a main road. Beside her four lanes of traffic inched forward. Jiao would be on the way now, Isobel knew it. The thought of his grin and the touch of Yee’s hand made her push faster. Her muscles stung.

  She was close; one more turn and she was there. She just wanted to get out. Get home.

  Springing across the road, dodging the cars which nudged forward bumper to bumper, Isobel’s breathing burned with petrol fumes. She ran into the backstreet her hotel occupied. The shadow of the building cast a chill across her skin.

  There was no sign that Jiao was there yet. Yee’s car wasn’t outside.

  Stopping at the door, her feet sliding on the dirty concrete, she slammed her palm on to the door entry buzzer.

  Come on. Come on…

  “Shi.” The hotelier’s voice sounded distant on the small speaker.

  Wrenching the door open when it buzzed, Isobel took the stairs two at a time.

  At the top the hotelier sat, as he always did, behind the small reception desk. He was eating noodles from a box, the sauce dribbling down his chin and onto his shirt.

  “Hi,” Isobel said, trying to control her frantic breathing. “I’ve lost my key, can you let me in please?”

  He frowned, not hiding his eyes travelling across her body.

  “I’d be so grateful,” Isobel said, forcing a smile.

  Quickly! I need to go!

  With an effort, he lifted his bulk from behind the small reception desk and pushed past Isobel. Her smile dropped as soon as he was in front of her.

  Stopping outside the door of Isobel’s room, he took a bunch of keys from his pocket.

  Sorting through them took an age.

  Selecting one, he slid it into the lock.

  Isobel readied herself to leap forwards as the lock disengaged. It didn’t. The key didn’t move.

  With a grumble the hotelier removed it again.

  Isobel’s eyes darted from the hotelier who searched again through the dozen or so keys to the phone on the reception desk. She imagined Jiao pulling up outside. The black car bumping up on to the curb. Jiao getting out, straightening his suit as he pressed the door entry buzzer.

  Selecting another key, the hotelier examined it closely, holding it up between thick greasy fingers. Then slid it forcefully into the lock, this time it opened.

  “Thank you, thank you.” Isobel pushed past him into the room.

  The folder was behind the dressing table, she was sure of it. Without even switching on the light she crossed the room. Taking a deep breath, she pulled the dressing table away from the wall.

  There was no time. She needed to get out. She could not go back there. Not tonight.

  Peering down behind the dressing table, Isobel’s heart sunk. The space was empty. It wasn’t there. She must have put it somewhere else.

  Frantically she started to check. Where was it? She searched the drawers, the bottom of her bag, beneath the bed. She was rummaging through one of the bedside tables when a figure moved across the doorway. It was just a silhouette against the rectangle of light from the hallway, but as Isobel turned, she could see in their hand a small pink folder.

  “Are you looking for something?” came Jiao’s unmistakable voice.

  Chapter 61

  The lights of Hong Kong’s mid-levels began to strain to life as the sun started its descent through oily strips of cloud.

  “But how do you know where he lives?” Leo said, following Allissa from the metro station and into the mild air.

  “Do you remember yesterday, you read his profile online?”

  “Yes.” Leo pulled out his phone and reloaded the page.

  “It said he lived in the Hong Kong mid-levels area,” Allissa said.

  “Yeah, but there are loads of residential towers there.”

  “Yes,” Allissa said, stopping to face Leo. “But then it said he won an award for one he designed last year.”

  Leo nodded as he read it again on the screen.

  “Can you really see Yee living in someone else’s building?”

  Leo smiled with affection. Allissa always impressed him.

  “No, of course not. He would have to live in his own tower,” Leo said. Maybe it was just that he was impressed. She was a very impressive person.

  Allissa turned and began to walk.

  “There’s no point getting a taxi,” Allissa shouted back over her shoulder. “Too much traffic. If we walk quickly, we’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

  “What do you think Isobel is going to do?” Leo asked as they crossed between stationary cars.

  “I don’t know, but she must have been properly pissed off to do that to us,” Allissa said, watching the pulsing blue dot on the screen. “She’s obviously pretty capable – that wouldn’t have been an easy thing to do.”

  The pair stopped to allow a tram to rattle past.

  “I just hope Yee’s family aren’t home, for their safety,” Allissa said, pointing in the direction they needed to go.

  “Yeah, well, she’ll only be a few minutes ahead of us. We need to warn him. Try to call again.”

  They had tried before but there was no answer; the phone rang out.

  They crossed another road in the shadow of a towering apartment building. Along the length of the street, stalls selling fish and seafood began to pack their stock back into boxes of ice for the end of the day. Leo noticed the strange looks they were receiving, dirty and bedraggled in the gleaming city.

  “Ten minutes away,” Allissa said, checking the screen. The road had started to steepen as the walk became more difficult. Lights rippled on in buildings above. Leo noticed that Allissa was limping, although she hadn’t slowed despite the pain.

  His own legs felt heavy after the climb this morning. He remembered what he wanted to tell her, about Stockwell’s picture of Mya. That would wait until later.

  “Come on, keep up,” Allissa turned and shouted back at him as they approached a flight of stairs. He saw a glint in her eye brought on by the adrenaline. “We’ve got to stop this mad woman.”

  Chapter 62

  “I don’t understand, how did you…?” Isobel asked as Jiao closed in on her in the small room.

  “We must hurry, we’re already late with this running around. Mr Yee wanted you at his apartment half an hour ago.”

  “No, I’m not…”

  “Yes, you are.” Jiao grabbed her wrist, twisted it so Isobel had to walk on tiptoes, then led her from the room and out into the corridor.

  “Help me,” she implored the hotelier, whose eyes darted from the television to Isobel hopping in pain. “Call the police, I’m…”

  “Thank you,” said Jiao, speaking in English, doubtless so Isobel could understand. Without letting go of Isobel, he handed over a small wad of notes. The hotelier reached out for them whilst stuffing another tangle of noodles in his mouth.

  “You think we hadn’t thought you might do that?” Jiao said, forcing Isobel down the stairs one at a time.

  Chapter 63

  From the 28th floor, Yee’s apartment had a commanding view of the city. It clung to the slope against The Peak’s steep incline. Yee loved looking down on the other buildings, it gave him th
e impression that he was on top of the world. Which, he supposed, taking another sip of whiskey, he was.

  In Yee’s line of work a lot of people were out to bring him down, to cheat him, to make him seem like an idiot. He always dealt with them one way – harshly.

  As Yee watched the darkening office towers of lower Hong Kong from his balcony, a cold, clear breeze rolled in from the sea. Yee was looking forward to tonight. He was dealing with someone who had tried to deceive him, and he was going to enjoy it. It felt like he had been waiting days for this. Tonight, he would finally get to spend some time with Isobel. They’d be alone and uninterrupted. That body – he bristled with the thought. He’d have all the time he wanted. The whole night. To do anything he wanted.

  Taking a sip of the whiskey, Yee bit his lower lip in anticipation. He had wanted this ever since he first saw her walk into his office. The kiss had made his blood rush with desire and excitement. But it wasn’t until he’d learned of her deceit that he knew he could make it happen. He could make her his.

  Hearing the doorbell, Yee put his glass down next to the half-empty bottle.

  As he walked into the living room, the lights sprung on automatically, glinting from the marble floor tiles and white walls adorned in modern art and Chinese artefacts. This was his room. The children were forbidden from playing in here.

  Crossing the space, Yee straightened his jacket and opened the door. Excitement welled through him.

  In the hallway, Isobel stood with Jiao behind her. She looked sulky and forlorn.

  “Is it done?” Yee asked Jiao, speaking in English so Isobel could understand.

  “Yes,” Jiao said. “They’ll survive, but I doubt they’ll be bothering you again. She did a good job.”

  Jiao shoved Isobel forwards, causing her to stumble towards Yee.

  “Although we did have a little run around afterwards. She went to get this from her hotel,” Jiao said, handing the folder over. Isobel’s eyes followed it.

  “You weren’t planning to leave without saying goodbye, were you?” Yee took the folder and looked at Isobel with a raised eyebrow.

  He opened it and peered inside. A passport, a few banknotes and a credit card.

  “You won’t need this tonight,” Yee said, throwing it across the room where it landed on the leather sofa. Isobel looked at it longingly.

  Putting a hand on Isobel’s hip, Yee pulled her forwards. She really did look delicious. It was everything Yee had wanted. Excitement rippled across his body.

  “Excellent, good work,” Yee said to Jiao, switching to Cantonese. “That’ll be all I need tonight. Go home and relax.”

  “You sure, what if…?”

  “It’ll be fine. I don’t want to be disturbed.”

  Jiao nodded and turned towards the lift.

  Yee closed the door and shoved Isobel further into the room. Her arms were folded and her shoulders hunched.

  Yee took in her profile from behind and grinned.

  “You’ve done really well today,” he said, standing close behind her. “Maybe you deserve something good…”

  Isobel didn’t reply.

  Yee couldn’t quite believe she was finally here. All the delays. All the distractions. But now she was his.

  From behind, Yee started to explore Isobel’s body, moving his hands across her curves. Then he pulled her in close and kissed her neck. Isobel fought a sob as she stumbled backwards.

  “Don’t do anything stupid now,” Yee said, as though talking to a child. “Just do what you’re told, and you might even enjoy it.”

  He brushed her cheek with a finger and moved his mouth close to hers. “You’re only going to make things worse for yourself if you don’t do what you’re told. I really wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”

  Feeling Isobel’s body, the image of his wife appeared in Yee’s mind. The woman he’d been married to for nearly twenty years. The woman who’d been there for him and given him two children. Sure, they’d loved each other at the start. Young people don’t know any better. But the long hours at the firm. The long hours which paid for this apartment, paid for the girls’ school, paid for their holidays had taken their toll. There was no love anymore, and he’d grown tired of her slim, frail figure. This is what he needed, he thought, focusing his attention on Isobel’s breasts.

  Isobel said nothing, her body rigid, fists balled. Yee stepped back and spun her by the shoulders to face him.

  Behind Isobel, the final light faded from the skyline. The inky darkness was becoming absolute.

  With a welling sense of excitement, Yee decided he couldn’t wait.

  “Go and have a shower,” he said, indicating the door which led to the master bedroom and en-suite shower. “Then put the dress on I’ve laid out for you and we will have a drink on the balcony.”

  Yee walked around her to the window. “You’ve got five minutes.”

  As Yee turned to look at the city below, Isobel’s eyes ran to the door she’d just come through.

  Out on the balcony, Yee refilled his glass and looked across the purring city. From inside he heard the shower start. In the dark sky a plane banked high as it lined up to land at Hong Kong International Airport. It had been a good day. Yee felt buoyant. He’d had a difficult couple of months but now things were lining up to land for him.

  They were working on a couple of troublesome projects. There were two sites he already owned and wanted to re-develop. A week ago, he’d finally managed to get the permission he needed to get started on one of them. The demolition was scheduled for tomorrow.

  The other was proving more difficult, but Yee knew they’d find a way. There was always a way.

  He took a sip from the cooled whiskey as he thought. The problem was it had tenants in it. It was his building, he owned the concrete and steel and glass, but the law also recognised that it was the tenants’ homes. He had tried everything so far, bribing officials, threatening court action, offering to re-house the tenants. Nothing had worked. He’d spiked the rents up and evicted a few of them – the more forcefully the better. But now they had joined forces and were living together in order to continue to pay him the rent collectively. It was so frustrating.

  Today, though, he had a settled on a new plan, something low-tech. The simple solutions were the best. A fire.

  Jiao was good with fires. Today’s trial had proven that.

  Yee found the thought excited him. Maybe even more than the thought of Isobel in the shower.

  A fire. Ripping through the building, the pesky tenants scuttling for their lives. Rats from a sinking ship.

  With them gone, he could move in and redevelop as he pleased. He wouldn’t even have to honour the promise of rehousing them. They would be on their own. A smile spread across his face with the thought. Yes, things were working out very nicely.

  There was one complication though. Isobel. She would get in the way if he let her linger. He would have to get rid of her. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t have some fun with her first.

  There was another knock at the door.

  Walking back into the room, Yee heard the shower still rumbling away. Steam curled across the ceiling.

  Opening the door, Yee was surprised to see Isobel, again with Jiao behind her. A red mark had started to form across her face. It took Yee a few moments to work out what had happened.

  “I was just talking with the security guard downstairs,” Jiao said, “and look who should come walking down. Obviously, she thought she could just leave.”

  Yee shook his head as he looked the woman up and down. “You’ll be punished for this.”

  Yee pushed Isobel towards the bedroom. Jiao craned his neck to watch.

  “Thanks Jiao,” Yee said. “You can go now, I’ll keep a close watch on her.”

  Yee closed the door and shoved Isobel again.

  “Now get undressed and get in the shower,” Yee demanded.

  Isobel signalled for him to leave.

  “No, you can’t be trusted to be on
your own now.”

  “No, I’m not…”

  The slap silenced her.

  Yee grinned with exhilaration.

  “Do it now,” he said. Isobel held her cheek. Yee noticed her eyes becoming watery; it looked as though she was fighting it.

  She began to undress, unzipping the sports top, the strap top underneath. The removal of each brought a pang of excitement. Yee watched open-mouthed.

  When she was naked, Isobel crossed the room to the shower. Yee followed her and stood at the door. He watched the beads of water fall across her body. Running over her nipples, down her back, across her bum.

  He felt his breathing quicken as he thought of how good she would feel. How, even if she made a fuss, he would get what he wanted. He’d waited for this. He deserved it.

  It was a shame she’d have to go.

  Chapter 64

  Down at street level, Allissa and Leo pushed on. Allissa’s phone reported that they were now only a couple of minutes from the building. Although it didn’t tell them exactly which one of the dark silhouettes was the tower they wanted.

  Isobel had a fifteen-minute head start and she knew where she was going. That could make all the difference. Allissa and Leo didn’t talk about what they might find when they arrived at Yee’s flat. Allissa didn’t think it would be good.

  Walking into a small plaza surrounded by towers, Allissa looked down at the screen of her phone.

  “That’s it, I think,” she said pointing towards a tower of green glass and orange concrete which looked over them to the left. On the screen of her phone the pin was securely planted on it.

  But, crossing the plaza, the phone’s pulsing blue dot changed its mind and slid across the screen. The building in front couldn’t be the one they needed. If the location was correct this time, Yee’s apartment was somewhere behind.