She fixed her gaze upon Bao Yang and got up. When she got to his table, the seat next to him was empty. He did not see her approach as he was busy chattering with another elderly, officious-looking, man seated to his right. Without uttering a word she sat down next to him.
“Kwan Li, how nice to see you, I guess you are ready to see things my way now,” he said, and then he laughed. He reached his arm across her shoulders and squeezed them, pulling her close to him. Instead of pulling away, she smiled back and snuggled in closer. Yang gave her a look of pleasant surprise, “It’s good to see you care about your grandparents after all. Don’t worry; I will make sure they are safe. Are you ready to start?” he said.
She pushed his arm from her shoulder with her free hand and reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She laid it on the table, smiling happily the whole time. The elderly man to Yang’s left started to speak to him, but he waved him off rudely. The old man got up from the table and walked away.
“This cell phone is disposable. It has an audio recording option. I used it that night at the AMTRAK station to record our conversation. It’s a habit of mine, comes with the territory. Go ahead- take it, I have my own copy.”
Yang pushed away the cell phone. He started to get up but Kwan Li caught him by his arm, “Listen Charlie Chan, you’re not in Shanghai anymore, if you don’t sit back down, this entire table will hear how you threatened to kill my parents and offer me a bribe.” She held the cell phone in her other hand and began turning up the volume on the recording. Yang stopped and settled back down in his seat. Kwan turned the volume down and then she said, “If I hand this recording over to the police you will be deported and your plans to get revenge on Chevron will be over.”
“What plans for revenge?”
“You don’t work at the Chinese Embassy; you used to work for Fu Cheng, President of the Chinese National Offshore Oil Company, CNOOC. And I am talking about the plans for revenge you made after your bid for Unocal failed and your Operation Treasure Ship sunk. I researched the whole episode.”
“Yes it was a shameful and costly failure. Your American congressmen are as untrustworthy as street whores. They ended their support as soon as that Senator Dunbar began his rhetoric about national security.”
Kwan shook her head, “Did you truly believe the US Government was going to allow your country to own the world’s eighth largest oil company and operate it on US soil?”
“Yes, I did. CFIUS had initially agreed to the deal. All I had to do was spread the money around and your greedy legislators rolled over like contented puppies. If not for Dunbar, and his reactionary, patriotic, diatribes, the bid would be ours and you would not have a job at Chevron. And you are wrong about Operation Treasure Ship, we are still afloat. Put the cell phone away and we will talk in a civilized manner.”
Kwan Li put the cell phone back into her purse.
Yang breathed a deep breath. “So, what do want my little piranha fish?”
“I have a deal. I will destroy my copy of our conversation at the Amtrak station and I will give you information that could lead CNOOC to the largest oil find since the Arab-D in the Ghawar fields.”
Boa Yang tossed back his head and let out a laugh. People near them stopped talking and looked over toward their table. Kwan’s face turned scarlet. She waited for the onlookers to go back to their own conversations and then she got up quickly.
Before she turned to leave, she bent down and whispered into his ear, “If you don’t believe me, that’s fine. I gave you the first chance. Think of how much more embarrassment you will suffer if what I’m telling you is true. And my grandparents better be on a plane to LAX by the end of this week or our Amtrak conversation goes public.”
Bao’s confident smile disappeared. He pulled out the chair Kwan had been sitting in and motioned for her to sit down. Kwan complied. “What do you want?” he said.
Kwan sensed the frustration in his voice and knew she could get nearly anything she wanted. He was hooked. “First you will bring my grandparents to the United States by the end of this week.”
“Done. But what about the recording?”
“I will send you this phone and the copy as soon as my grandparents have safely arrived.”
“And the oil find?”
“I have a report, a detailed, seismic analysis. My top analyst just completed it. I will translate and interpret the data so that your scientists can verify that the report is authentic.”
“You only have an analysis? What good is that?”
“The probability of this deposit existing in the exact manner described is greater than ninety nine percent. It’s more reliable than the study that predicted oil in Gulf of Mexico.”
Yang leaned closer to her and said, “Who else knows of report?”
“No one, except my analyst and myself, and even he doesn’t understand the financial impact of what he’s found.”
“You honor your grandparents with your gift.”
“What gift? You’re going to have to provide me with a large bonus and a very important executive position as well, old man.”
“What? I thought you Christians didn’t care about money and riches. You keep all your riches in heaven.”
“Well I can’t wait for heaven; I’d like to start here on earth. So I’m going to need some bonus money and a new, very important, job after CNOOC takes over this new oil find, right?”
“What job did you have in mind?”
“You’re going to need an oil company out here to get to the oil, aren’t you?
“Maybe.”
“What do you mean, maybe?” Kwan leaned back in her chair. He’s bluffing, she said to herself. He doesn’t like being dictated too.
“Maybe we are satisfied just to keep Chevron from getting new oil.”
“Yeah, I’m sure, and Valerie Plame was a real spy. When you do take over that American company, I am to be its CEO, agreed?”
A grin momentarily appeared on Bao Yang’s face and then he said, “Kwan Li, Christians are unpredictable to me. Their ideas are disturbing. All their talk about kingdoms in another world and every man being equal in the sight of one god is a destabilizing influence. A person who worships God instead of their country’s leader cannot be counted on. But I like you, Kwan Li. You have distinctively secular, western, mind. You like money and power, which means I can trust you.”
She picked up her purse and started to leave, “I’ll take that for a yes. One other thing, this is our last meeting face to face. After tonight we will do business through that young man who was talking to you just before I sat down. What is his name?”
Yang looked up as if he was searching for the name in an invisible file cabinet that was floating just above his head. After a moment of pondering he replied, “Oh yes, his name is Maverick Duncan. You want to deal with him, good, that would be ideal.”
She started walking towards the conference exit.
“One more thing, Miss Li,” Yang called out. Kwan stopped and gave him a puzzled look. Yang continued, “Who is Charlie Chan?”
She shook her head, “Never mind, you wouldn’t understand.”
Chapter 4
Dana held open the car door for Kelsey. After she was settled in her seat, he walked around to the driver’s side, got in, and drove away from the curb in front of Community Memorial Hospital. He turned left on to Telephone Road. A few blocks later, he merged on to the northbound 101.
“When we reach Santa Barbara, rush hour will have started. We’re going to be stuck in traffic for at least two hours,” he said.
“Do you want to stop at Rincon Beach and walk along the shore?” Kelsey replied, “Afterwards we can go to Parmenelis for an early lunch. By the time we are finished eating, the traffic will have died down.”
“Sounds good, a walk on the beach is a lot more fun than sitting in freeway gridlock. I brought my swimsuit and they have a bath house there at the park.”
They drove along Ventura Highway toward S
anta Barbara, both smiling like a couple in a chewing gum advertisement. Dana let the top down on the Mustang as they put on their Ray Bans. He kept the windows up to block the chilly air.
“This is the sweetest view in the world. Once, when the surf was way hot, I almost wrecked the car making this drive because I couldn’t take my eyes off the scenery.” Dana said.
He glanced over at the east side of the freeway, where dry, brown, twisted balls of scrub brush scattered themselves over the slopes of the Santa Barbara Mountains. The rust colored, abrupt, grades ended straight down a few yards from the edge of the pavement and then stretched out level, like a curvy running board on an old truck. On the ocean side of the freeway, the remaining mountain slope separated into giant, brown, curled fingers of rock, sand, and dirt, and dove into the bright, white, and wide beach that stretched for many miles north and south.
The morning sun cleared away the once-thick fog that enveloped them back in Ventura. The black, rocky cliffs of the Channel Islands emerged through the fading fog and into sight, far off in the horizon. They passed by the mouse-grey oil pier that stretched several hundred yards offshore to the man-made Rincon Island. A few more miles up the road, they went by a rustic, wreck of a motel called the Sea Breeze. Less than a mile before the turn off to Rincon, they passed the cozy, crowded, community of La Conchita: several blocks of modest homes tucked in between the ocean and the steep foothills of Rincon Mountain.
“Too bad,” Dana said.
“Too bad, what?”
“Too bad we’re going to Parmenelis, I love the cheesy fries and burgers you can get in La Conchita.”
“There are no restaurants in La Conchita.”
“Yea, I know, but they serve food at the gas station.”
“You’re crazy; I am not eating at a gas station.”
“That’s why I said ‘too bad’.”
A moment later, Dana turned off the freeway exit at the Rincon Point Park and parked in the empty parking lot on the north side. Kelsey instructed Dana to dress first. Once he finished, he stood near the picnic area and waited for her.
“You look nice,” he said as she walked toward him from the dressing room. He took her by the arm, led her to the picnic bench, and sat down next to her. “No waves at the Rincon today, the swell is rolling in from the wrong direction; no wonder the place is deserted,” he said. They sat together for several moments in silence and watched the glistening sunrays bounce off the choppy, grey, waves of the Pacific.
“You miss surfing, don’t you?” Kelsey brushed back her hair from her face, “Maybe, after you’ve had more physical therapy, you can try surfing again for recreation.”
“I am afraid that God you think so highly of fixed it so I will never be able to surf again. I can’t bend my left leg far enough to stand up on a surfboard.”
“So it’s God’s fault?”
Dana shook his head. “No, I guess I can’t blame something or someone I don’t believe exists, at least for me. No, it was just bad luck, that’s all.”
“The God I believe in loves you, Dana and he only wants the best for those who love him. I hope one day you can believe the way I do.”
“So do I, Kelsey.”
Kelsey’s face fell. Silence followed for several minutes. They both looked back out over the ocean. Then she got up and disappeared from his view. He felt her put her arms around his neck, “Once you get used to your work, you’ll have more time. You’ll be able to get back out into the water.”
“I don’t believe I’ll ever be established as a geophysicist. I feel like I have to try as hard as I can just to keep my job.”
Kelsey let out a stifled chuckle.
“You think that’s funny I am clueless at my profession?”
“No… no I don’t. I was thinking about what Kwan told me. She said you were the cleverest analyst she or any of her co-workers had ever known.”
Dana’s face blushed red. “When did you talk with Kwan?”
“Oh, a couple weeks ago. I was at Father’s house, and she was a dinner guest.”
“What else did she tell you?”
“She said you weren’t very sociable at work. She says you never talk to her.”
“Well, I am busy, trying to get my work done. I don’t have time for talking.”
“That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think, Dana.”
“Okay, I’ll ask her to lunch tomorrow.”
Kelsey blushed, “You don’t have to be so enthusiastic.”
When she sat back down on the bench, he drew her close, put his arm around her, and kissed her. She kissed him back, and then she pushed him away gently and bowed her head. A slight frown adumbrated her face.
“What’s wrong?” Dana asked.
“I thought for sure you wouldn’t show this morning, after the scruff you had with Mike.”
“How’d you know about that?”
“From Deidra.”
“I didn’t know she was there.”
“She said she was.”
“Huh, maybe she doubled back from her jog. When did you see her?”
“I saw her at the pier yesterday having lunch. She is such a sweet girl, don’t you think?”
Dana took his arm off Kelsey’s shoulder and said, “That’s really weird. I haven’t seen Deidra in four years and now we both see her the same day. Yeah, she’s nice.”
“I remember how mean you were to her when you were in the hospital.”
“I know -I was mean to everyone, even you. Remember?”
“She told me you and Mike fought, or rather Mike fought and you defended yourself. I am sorry you had to put up with his idiotic behavior and thanks for being so patient.”
Dana put his arm over her shoulder again and drew her close, “You don’t need to apologize for Mike. Besides, I wasn’t in any danger. He is not exactly Hercules.”
“I know, but I have got to get this mess between you and Mike settled, especially before you meet my father.”
“You think you can convince Mike to stop being so intense about everything?”
“Well if I don’t, our trip to my father’s house might as well end right now. He’ll probably be there for dinner tonight.”
“I see what you mean. So what’s your plan? Do you want me to quit the oil business and go all out organic? You know, wear Birkenstocks, join Greenpeace and buy a Prius. I already recycle, if that helps.”
Kelsey sat up straight and said, “You do and you can find another girlfriend. Besides, it wouldn’t change Mike, he’d hate you anyway.”
“I don’t get it, what’d I ever do to him?”
“He hates you because he is afraid of you and he is afraid of you because you are everything my Dad wanted him to be.”
“Your brother is a successful man; after all he is the Senior Editor of Ventura’s most popular local paper.”
“Mike is Senior Editor because Dad bought The Messenger after the former Senior Editor threatened to fire him.”
“No way, how am I threat to Mike?”
“Because you are a competent geophysicist, you are an oilman, whether you like it or not. My father and your boss, Kwan Li, talk about your work a lot more than you realize, Dana.”
“What’s that got to do with Mike?”
“He heard Kwan brag about you to my father.”
“So what? Why should that make him hate me? It doesn’t make sense.”
Kelsey hung her head and her face reddened.
“There’s something else, isn’t there Something you’re not telling me.”
She bit her lip and lifted her face towards him, tears sprinkled down her cheeks, “Mike told me the only reason you go out with me is so that you could one day marry me and get my Dad’s oil business.”
“I didn’t know your Dad owned an oil business.” Dana spoke softly and then embraced her. “I only knew he worked in the oil business,” he continued, “that’s what you told me.”
“You’ve heard of TANOCO, right?” Kelsey wiped the te
ars from her eyes as spoke.
“Of course, Chevron leases oil rigs from them. I’ve mud logged with their crews a few times. So your Dad is like a VP or something?”
“The TAN in TANOCO is for Tanner, as in Tanner Oil Company. My Great Grandfather founded, and my Dad owns TANOCO.”
Dana shook his head. “You drive a 1974 Volkswagen. You eat lunch at the hospital cafeteria, and you buy the jeans you wear at Wal-Mart. I’ve never seen you go anywhere except to church or to work, except when we go out to dinner or a movie. I should have known you an oil heiress.”
“I didn’t believe Mike.”
“Then why are you crying?”
Kelsey didn’t answer.
“I think I know what’s wrong?” he said and then reached into the pocket of his baggies with his free hand. Pulling out a small, black, box, he flipped it open with his thumb. In the middle of the box’s white padding lay a gold ring with a large diamond. “I hope this is suitable for an oil baroness,” he said as he knelt down in front of her. “Will you marry me, Kelsey?”
Kelsey cocked her head and stared at the ring. “I’m not sure, Dana.”
Dana’s face fell. “Don’t you love me Kelsey?”
Kelsey put her hands on either side of his cheeks. “I love you more than anyone or anything-except God.”
“Oh him again, I guess I will have to get used to having him in my life.” Dana grinned.
Kelsey smiled back and then said, “It’s not funny, Dana, I’m serious. I will marry you, but you have to promise me something.”
“Anything, sweetheart.”
“You must promise me that you will try to stop being angry at God.”
“Dana looked down. “I am not sure I-”
“Promise that you will at least try.”
He took her outstretched hand, put the ring on her finger and said. “All right Kelsey, I’ll try. I guess I can forgive him, after all, if I hadn’t had the accident I wouldn’t have met you.”
Moratorium Page 4
