Hong Kong

by Luke Richardson

  “It’s the reflection from the glass,” Allissa said, looking from the phone in her hand to the surrounding buildings. “It confuses the satellite signal.”

  Leo looked around the plaza without reply.

  It was almost dark now; the sky had mellowed from a burnt and hazy orange to a deep plum. Streetlights washed Leo and Allissa with their occasional half-light, and the opulent light from the towers looked welcoming.

  “Got it,” Allissa said, walking forwards without waiting. Behind the first, another tower came into view. It overshadowed its neighbours in height, elevation and splendour. Blazoned on the side in bright white, The Address.

  “This is it. This is the one Yee designed,” Allissa said. She felt confident that Yee would live in his own building. But which floor or apartment, she had no idea.

  Looking up at the building, Allissa felt fear twist in the stomach. It must have been over sixty stories high. More apartments were now in light than those in darkness. There was no way she could even guess how many apartments there were. Allissa ran her eyes across them. And just one of them, possibly, contained the woman they were looking for. The woman who had sent a man to prison for three months, tried to kill them and now endangered the lives of Yee and his family.

  Chapter 65

  The dress Yee had laid out for Isobel was tight and short. It cut aggressively beneath her breasts, pushing them upwards and squeezed her waist and legs. She walked across to the mirror in the large bedroom, finding each step a struggle. She took no pleasure in the fact she looked good. There was no pleasure in any of this. Looking good just meant he’d enjoy it more. The thought repelled her, but what choice did she have?

  “Are you ready?” Yee’s voice echoed from the living room.

  He had left the doorway to refill his drink.

  As Isobel walked out into the room, Yee inhaled sharply. His eyes explored her body and his chest seemed to rise and fall with greater depth. An animalistic growl came from between his sharp, bared teeth. Yee was ready for fun.

  Chapter 66

  Pushing open the doors of The Address, Leo and Allissa walked into the entrance hall. Catching a glance of their reflection in the doors, Leo thought how bedraggled they looked, how out of place in the opulent foyer. For a few seconds he felt dazed by the bright overhead lights and the hush of the air conditioning.

  The building made Leo think of the sort of flat his family tried to talk him into buying back in England. Sterile and characterless. Although they may be spacious, shiny and new, they were still life in a box. Life constricted and confined into a designer unit. The battery human.

  Without a backwards glance, Allissa crossed to the concierge who sat behind a desk in the middle of the room. He looked up as Allissa approached. If her appearance surprised him, he didn’t show it.

  Leo hung back towards the lifts, leaning on his heels to look relaxed.

  “Good evening,” Allissa said, flashing him a smile. Leo nodded a greeting. “We’re here to see Mr Yee, he knows we’re coming.” Allissa’s confidence, as always, impressed Leo, who smiled nervously.

  “I’ll call up for you, madam,” the concierge replied, returning her smile and picking up one of the phones on the desk in front of him. His eyes stayed on Allissa as he dialled.

  Leo watched the bank of elevators. Two were making their way down and one was already on the ground floor.

  The concierge held the phone to his ear for a few seconds. Leo felt his anxiety rise, a tightness in his chest. He focused on his breathing to calm it.

  Breathe in and out. Focus and calm.

  Silence hung over the foyer.

  One of the lifts chimed and the brass doors slid open. A Chinese family wandered out. Their voices hushed as they passed Leo, the two children staring at him in interest.

  “I’m afraid there’s no answer,” the man said, putting the phone down. “What are you here for?”

  “We’re doing some work for Mr Yee,” Allissa said without hesitation. “It’s of a private nature. He’s asked us here on a matter of urgency.”

  “I see, head up then, he may just be busy at the moment.”

  “Thanks,” Allissa said, her smile widening as she headed for the lifts.

  “Oh, one more thing,” she said. “My phone has run out of battery so I can’t see the e-mail he sent me. What number is his apartment?”

  The man looked quizzically at her and then across to Leo.

  Leo focused on his breathing. If they couldn’t get the information, finding him from floor to floor would take hours. They could be too late.

  The phone on the desk started to buzz. The concierge reached to answer it.

  “Floor twenty-eight. Flat three.”

  Chapter 67

  Isobel felt her body tense as Yee led her by the hand towards the balcony. Every fibre, every muscle, every synapse was begging her to fight, to run, to do anything to avoid what she knew was coming. Then she thought of Jiao, his grin as he’d taken her from her hotel room and carried her to the car by one arm. She knew he would be waiting if she didn’t do what Yee wanted. Jiao could make it a lot worse.

  Sliding the door open, Yee pushed Isobel gently on to the balcony and followed her out. Isobel shuddered as she imagined Yee’s eyes on her body, barely covered by the red dress.

  “I’ve made you a drink,” Yee said, handing Isobel a glass. Isobel took it obediently and took a tiny sip, trying not to show the repulsion that surged through her.

  “You know, I chose this place for the balcony,” Yee said, indicating the view with his glass. “I could have got one higher, but it’s too windy up there.”

  Isobel looked at the row of balconies above, each one precariously jutting from the building. Would anyone up there hear her if she shouted? Would they call the police, or would Yee stop her before it got that far?

  “Here I can sit, any time of the day or night, and take in the city.” Yee waved at the view which panned out in front of them.

  Isobel stood beside him. She was a few inches taller than Yee even with no shoes on.

  A cold finger of wind made her shiver.

  Taking a deep breath, Isobel tried to calm herself. Maybe Yee just wanted them to spend some time together?

  The thought was shattered as Yee pulled her in front of him.

  Isobel felt her pulse rise as his hands explored her body above the dress. She felt him behind her.

  Pushing Isobel forwards, across the bar of the railing, Yee’s hands moved on to her skin beneath the dress.

  Isobel held the railing, trying to concentrate on the city and ignore the unwelcome hands. Every part of her wanted to scream and fight, but there was no one to help her. No one even knew she was here.

  Twenty-eight floors below, a family walked from the building, nothing more than distant specks on the concrete. Again, Isobel thought about shouting. Would they hear her?

  Isobel wished she was down there, or back in London, anywhere but here.

  Yee pulled her dress up. Isobel tried to concentrate on the horizon, ignoring the whipping cold. She hoped it wouldn’t last long. It would be over soon, then she’d find a way to escape, to get away, even if it meant prison.

  I know I’ve screwed up, Isobel thought, hearing the sound of Yee undo his belt. But there must be someone who can help me.

  She held her breath, expecting to feel him at any moment.

  There must be someone who can help me.

  “There must be someone, help me,” she whispered through clenched teeth, only audible by the wind.

  Her whole body tensed, waiting for him. The colour drained from her knuckles on the railing.

  If Yee was going to have his way, he’d have no illusion that she was enjoying it.

  Isobel took a deep breath, counting the seconds.

  “There must be someone…”

  Held breath.

  Gritted teeth.

  The rumble of the city, so far away.

  A doorbell.

  Isobel
stood motionless, not daring to breathe. Was that the doorbell of Yee’s flat? She wasn’t sure.

  Behind her, Yee grumbled, ignoring the chime.

  He continued to rub her body; his hands now felt oily.

  The doorbell chimed again.

  Yee stopped. Isobel felt him turn.

  It chimed again, impatiently.

  Isobel heard Yee grumble, pull up and fasten his trousers. Then Isobel heard the door slide open and Yee pad back into the apartment. She took a deep breath. Without turning, she stood up and pulled down the dress. Behind her, the door slid closed and a key ground in the lock.

  Chapter 68

  Allissa felt the lump in her stomach grow as they reached the 28th floor. Leo rang the doorbell and they heard a sharp but distant chime.

  Allissa swallowed; she could still taste the burning dust of the restaurant. She hadn’t been able to get the question out of her mind: how had she got it so wrong?

  Leo hit the doorbell again. He was getting impatient.

  A minute past in painful silence. Allissa watched Leo. Were they too late?

  Hearing movement inside, Allissa looked at the door. The bright speck of the viewing hole became dark as someone from the inside looked out at them.

  Leo straightened up and forced a smile.

  The lock disengaged and the door opened.

  Standing in the bright light of the flat, Yee smiled.

  “Mr Yee, we need to talk to you,” Allissa said, not wasting any time. “It’s very important.”

  Yee didn’t reply, and made no attempt to show them into the flat. Allissa stepped forward, but Yee held his ground with the door in one hand and the frame in the other. Yee looked over his shoulder anxiously as though checking something.

  “What are you doing here? How do you know my address?” Yee said. “I thought you had everything you needed from me?”

  “This is for your own safety,” Leo said, watching Yee closely. “It’s about Isobel…”

  Yee’s eyes darted to the left.

  “Earlier today,” Leo said, “Isobel tried to kill us.”

  Allissa looked beyond Yee into the apartment. As though noticing, Yee pushed the door closed so only his outline was visible.

  “We’ve no idea how,” Allissa said, “but she’s dangerous. We think you may be in danger too.”

  “I can assure you I’m not,” Yee said. “Everything here is fine.”

  A lift rumbled somewhere, people returning to or leaving their apartments.

  “I spoke to Jamie or Isobel or whatever her name is this morning and she’s gone,” Yee said. “I don’t expect to see her again. No one in my company does, so I’d like to get back to…”

  “Where is your family?” Leo asked. Yee looked startled by the question.

  Yee’s expression seemed less sharp than usual; his eyes were hazy and bloodshot.

  “They’re visiting relatives, but it’s none of your business.”

  “Then you’re alone tonight?” Allissa asked.

  “Yes, of course, and everything is fine. I don’t wish to see you again. Please leave me alone.” Yee started to close the door. He already seemed distracted by something in the flat.

  Watching the architect push the door shut, Allissa felt her sickening feeling swell. Something here was not right. What was it?

  With a pang of regret, Allissa realised her bad decision earlier in the night had clouded her judgement and removed her confidence. Was she just out of her depth?

  “We’ve got this wrong,” Leo whispered, as the door began to swing. “Isobel’s here.”

  “What?” Allissa heard the words but they didn’t register.

  “We’ve got this wrong,” Leo repeated. “You were right, I’m sorry I doubted you.”

  With that Leo sprung at the closing door, kicking it open a moment before the lock engaged.

  In surprise, Allissa followed. A sense of raw emotion welled through her.

  “We know she’s here,” Leo shouted, barging into the flat. He looked around the minimalistic living room.

  Yee protested, shouting, attempting to push the pair back out. Leo and Allissa surged forward. Yee slapped with open palms and reddened with exertion.

  Leo, ignoring his anxieties that Yee may be some kind of martial arts expert, pushed him to the sofa. The smaller man crumpled, moaning into the leather.

  Holding Yee down, Leo looked at Allissa. She stood still, staring at the darkened view of the city through the room’s large window.

  On the other side of the light-flecked pane, barely visible in the brightness of the room, Isobel pounded the glass.

  She looked a mess. Hair wet, face streaked with tears, eyes red and swollen. She was wearing some kind of small dress that barely covered her body.

  Seeing the pair notice her, Isobel thumped at the glass with both hands in desperation. The sound was barely audible from inside.

  “What has this animal done?” Allissa said, running the two paces towards the window.

  Yee muttered to himself and tried to stand. Leo pushed him back down.

  As Allissa turned the lock and slid the glass open, the world seemed to come alive. Air from the evening swept in, the rumble and screech of the city and Isobel’s shouts of pain and relief.

  Allissa knew the world could be cruel and unpredictable. She’d learned that first-hand. She also knew she couldn’t fix everything. Somewhere a battle was starting that she or Leo – however hard they worked – would not be able to solve. But taking Isobel in her arms, Allissa felt the overwhelming sense that everything was going work out just fine.

  Looking over her shoulder, Allissa knew Leo felt it too.

  Noticing Leo’s distraction as he watched the two women, Yee climbed to his feet. While Leo was still looking at Allissa who held Isobel, bright against the city below, Yee rounded the sofa. Then he charged at the women, emitting a harsh, horrifying scream.

  Allissa was first to react, pushing Isobel out of the way of the running figure. Leo was second, jumping over the sofa behind Yee and shoving him in the direction of the open door.

  With flailing arms, Yee flew through the door, colliding with the balcony rail and stumbling to the floor. Allissa stepped forwards before he could turn, slid the glass door, closed it and locked him out.

  Chapter 69

  “I think this could be the start of something special,” Jamie says, looking down at Isobel, unblinking. The wind is cold, but Jamie’s hands are warm and wanted. Isobel hasn’t kissed anyone for five years. Since what happened at uni.

  They share another drink, watching the city from the balcony. They talk. Isobel tells him how she’s not been with anyone in a while, after what happened. She doesn’t tell him what happened. He doesn’t ask.

  He lets her talk. Maybe she’s drunk; the words are like lubricant. Once they start, she can’t stop them. Isobel talks about how long she’s worked at the firm, how she’s always dreamed of being an architect. How she hopes one day to go back and finish the course.

  She doesn’t notice his eyes take in her body in the dress. The sound of the city mutes as he pulls her close. Isobel bites her bottom lip.

  Jamie says he’s seen her around the office. He’s liked her for a while. Wanted to get to know her. She smiles in return. No one has spoken to her like this in a long time.

  He notices her smile and says how beautiful it is, how it lights up her whole expression. He tells her he really likes how she laughs with her eyes.

  “I’ve wanted to be this close to you for ages,” he says. His gaze holds hers. His hand caresses her hip. “You’ve always given off that vibe… that unapproachable vibe,” he says.

  Suddenly she’s thoughtful.

  “It’s not a bad thing, it’s sexy as hell. I just never thought you were, you know…” His eyes glance at her arm around him.

  The silence swells. Kissing makes more sense. Again, it’s nice.

  “Surely you get chatted up all the time,” he says. “When you look this g
ood.” He holds her at arm’s length.

  Isobel shivers as she misses the warmth of his body.

  Two women step out on the balcony. One of them rummages for a lighter.

  “It’s getting cold here,” Jamie says, putting his arm around Isobel again. “Shall we go up to my room? I’m staying at the hotel upstairs.”

  “But, I don’t, I’m not…”

  “Listen,” he says, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek, “I’m not even talking about that. I just feel like I’ve waited all this time to talk to you. I want this to be the start of something special. I’d just like to spend some time with you, privately.”

  Isobel thinks about arguing. Jamie leans in and kisses her again.

  “Okay.” She nods before she realises what she’s done.

  “I’ll just go and pay the tab at the bar and I’ll be back. Don’t go away. I’ve been waiting for this for so long.”

  He puts his hands on her hips.

  “I won’t,” she says. “I won’t.”

  Chapter 70

  Allissa took Isobel into the bedroom to get changed. They needed to get out of Yee’s apartment as soon as possible. The moment Yee was out of sight, Isobel pushed the red dress to the floor.

  Through the glass, Yee continued to shout and bang.

  Bending to pick up Isobel’s clothes, as much as an excuse to look away, Allissa scanned the bedroom. It was austere and plain, like the rest of the apartment.

  “This afternoon,” Isobel said, taking the clothes from Allissa. “At that restaurant… I… I…”

  Allissa looked back at the naked girl clutching the clothes.

  “He made me,” Isobel said, trying to speak. “I… I…”

  “Let’s get out of here and then we’ll talk. You’re safe now,” Allissa said, holding Isobel’s shoulders. “I promise.” Allissa hoped it was a promise she would be able to keep.

  Out in the living room, Leo was trying to ignore the frantic little man on the balcony. Yee was now battering the glass with a small table in an attempt to get in.