Phantom Pearl

by Monica McCabe

  “Why were you in Australia?” he asked her.

  “I found an Aussie Civil Defense briefing from the forties that mentioned a plane crash. Call letters matched the last known flight of Phantom Pearl so I flew into Cooktown for more research. When it checked out, I called you to join me.”

  “Perfect,” Dallas said. “From that point on, stick close to the truth. It’s easier that way.”

  They climbed out of the Mercedes and made their way to the elevator. Dallas hit the button for the twenty-eighth floor, penthouse level.

  The door opened to an elegant foyer and a waiting guard. They suffered through a handheld metal detector to ensure they weren’t packing weapons, then escorted into Howe’s private sanctum.

  Dallas had only been here one other time. It was a cocktail party, a mixer for art lovers and business associates, but mostly a means for Howe to show off his own collection. It was that colossal ego Dallas hoped to manipulate and use against Ken Cho.

  “Landry,” Mathis Howe said as he entered the room from a side door. His office, if Dallas remembered right. “Glad you could make it on such short notice.”

  “I only returned to Singapore this morning,” Dallas responded. “But then, I’m sure you already knew that.”

  Their host walked over to a sideboard and lifted a chilled bottle of wine from an ice bucket. “The nature of my business I’m afraid.” He poured three glasses of the white. “I like to stay informed.”

  Dallas heard the rebuke in his voice, but he accepted the wine with a short nod of thanks. “Understandable. It’s an uncertain world.”

  “Indeed,” Mathis said. He handed a glass to Riki. “And who might you be, my dear?”

  Howe knew exactly who she was, or he’d never have let her through the front door, but Dallas played along.

  “Meet Riki Maddox,” Dallas said. “An associate from the States.”

  “A pleasure,” Riki said as she held out her hand to shake. Mathis lifted it to his lips instead and kissed the back of her hand.

  “Such beauty,” Mathis proclaimed. “You are truly a vision, Ms. Maddox.”

  “You are too kind,” she replied modestly.

  She did that on purpose, Dallas realized, using soft and sweet to keep her opponent off guard. The woman had more layers than government red tape.

  “Please, get comfortable.” He waved a hand out to the plush furniture that formed a U in front of a wide bank of windows.

  Riki stepped over to enjoy the view instead, taking in the vanishing daylight and growing twinkle of city lights spread out before them. Dallas chose a straight-back chair closest to her, one that gave him maximum maneuverability should the need arise.

  “Your shipment arrives at noon tomorrow,” Dallas began. “It will be stored in a secure vault at the airport until it is ready to be delivered to the Japanese Embassy.”

  Howe chose a seat opposite Dallas and adopted a casual air. “That is welcome news. However, I’m not used to those who work for me treating my business lightly.”

  “You are mistaken. I take every job seriously,” Dallas replied. “Our contract stipulated moving valuable cargo through my shipping network. Thanks to cell phones, I can do that from anywhere. The actual transport is done by others.”

  “When you work for me, I expect undivided attention.”

  “Noted. But a busy entrepreneur such as yourself must understand the necessity and demands of multiple business ventures. Occasionally they overlap. A trusted network is vital. I take excellent care of mine and any client I take on. Exclusive arrangements are rare and expensive.”

  Howe nodded in agreement. “It is why I only work with professionals. My business stays profitable because I hire the best. I thought that included you, but leaving town without notice concerns me. So does your choice of destination. I hear that Ken Cho recently arrived from Australia. Now I ask myself…is this a coincidence? Or is the newest member of my team an enemy spy?”

  Dallas set his glass down on an end table beside him. “I am no one’s spy, and I certainly don’t work for that maniac, Cho.”

  “And yet you were in the same small town in Queensland.”

  “That’s right. We were after the same artifact. The bastard won the battle, but I’m going to win the war.”

  “He’s Yakuza and a powerful adversary. What makes you think you can succeed?”

  “Because I know how to play the long game,” Dallas replied. “Cho is smash and grab, and his arrogance will cost him. It’s sad, really, how much I’m looking forward to his downfall.”

  “Never did like the guy much.” Howe sipped his wine and glanced at Riki standing by the windows. “Tell me, Ms. Maddox, what is your stake in this?”

  “That answer is simple,” she replied. “Phantom Pearl.”

  Howe gave her a tolerant smile, like one would a favorite niece. “Nothing is ever simple, my dear. What is your connection with Ken Cho?”

  “Professional animosity. He doesn’t like me, which is baffling because I’m a perfectly nice person when I want to be.”

  Howe laughed. “I have no doubt. You are aware Cho is in town and currently in possession of the Pearl?”

  “Of course. It’s why I followed him here,” she replied.

  “You plan to join Landry’s war?” he asked.

  She stepped over to stand beside Dallas, one hand resting on the back of the chair. “Cho has no honor. He is ruled by greed and ambition. Stealing the Pearl is one thing, but he murdered a friend of mine while doing so. I plan to settle the score.”

  “Big words for a little thing like you.” Skepticism laced his voice.

  Riki smiled. “Being underestimated is my best defense.”

  “Confronting a fighter like Cho will take skill,” Howe continued. “And a heavy dose of luck.”

  “He is a coward who knows what I’m capable of,” she said calmly. “It’s why he’s hiding at the Japanese Embassy.”

  Howe turned an inquiring gaze to Dallas.

  “I wouldn’t want to challenge her.” He held his hands up in mock surrender. “I’m thankful she’s on my side.”

  Speculation glittered in Howe’s eyes as he sipped his wine. “I’ve been at this game for quite a few years. Recently, I’ve been hearing rumors of a female warrior. One who strikes her target fast and hard. They say she hates Yakuza.”

  “Sounds like someone I’d like to meet,” Riki said.

  Howe lifted his glass of wine as if in a toast. “As would I. We share something in common. Yakuza have gotten in my way too many times. And they are doing it again. I know you’re aware of the coming exhibit at the embassy, but do you know what is about to happen?”

  “Better than most,” Dallas answered. “Cho is going to hijack the gala, flaunt his victory, and exploit Phantom Pearl to cement his position in the Yakuza, then use diplomatic resources to funnel the priceless artifact into Japan.”

  “That’s why I like you, Landry. You’re smart. You know how to figure things out. I’ve invested time and finances to help organize this event, and I did so to lure in potential customers. Being upstaged at the last moment does not sit well.”

  Here lay the balancing act. “When I’m hired to do a job, I don’t care about ulterior motives or political subterfuge,” Dallas said. “I take on the work because it either interests me, challenges me, or pays very well. I make it a rule to never get involved in turf wars.”

  Howe glanced to Riki, then back to Dallas. “And yet here we are, about to discuss an exception. Why?”

  “Because Maddox and I have a lucrative standing contract,” Dallas answered. “We make use of each other’s services from time to time, and she called for an assist to retrieve the artifact. I don’t get paid for failure.” He shrugged. “That risk is part of the job, but Cho has made it personal. This time my reputation is on the line.”


  That was certainly true. He wasn’t going to lose again, especially not to a thug like Ken Cho. He’d never hear the end of it at the agency.

  Howe sipped his wine, appearing to contemplate the story. “I can see where this conversation is headed. You want to use my exhibit pieces to gain access to the embassy.”

  “Yes.” Dallas didn’t bother trying to sugar coat it. “Someone has to deliver it. Might as well be me.”

  “You understand that if you are caught, I will claim no knowledge of your evil intent. Cho and his men will own you—if you don’t see the inside of a Singapore prison first.”

  “I’d expect no less,” Dallas stated.

  Howe glanced between them, but then nodded. “I believe I’ll grant your wish.”

  Dallas got what he wanted, but it made him uneasy. “Why?”

  “The entertainment factor alone will be worth it. I anticipate much enjoyment watching the two of you in action. But this is where I live. It’s where I work. I also have a reputation on the line, which means there’s a price tag for my consent.”

  Dallas tensed. He hadn’t seen that coming. “You haven’t yet paid me for the safe delivery of your items. How about we call it even?”

  “I like it,” Howe agreed. “But life in Singapore is expensive. I’ll need fifty-thousand American to clinch the deal.”

  This was nothing but extortion, and it wasn’t going to work. Mainly because he didn’t intend to inform Homeland Security they’d be storming the embassy, which meant there was zero chance of procuring that kind of money.

  “The offer is we call our transaction even,” Dallas said. “I’ll toss in covering the expense of getting the goods to the embassy, negotiate for prime placement in the exhibit, and hamstring Ken Cho’s intent to steal the show. That saves you from a massive outlay of cash, the loss of potential clients, and puts you back on top of the game.”

  Howe nodded in appreciation. “I still need fifty thousand.”

  Riki stepped into the fray. “I don’t believe you understand how this works,” she said in a no-nonsense voice. “This is an opportunity of retribution, a chance to dish out payback without getting your hands dirty. You will look the other way and give us the access we need. In turn, the cosmos grants you the power of anonymity. Cho is defeated without you lifting a finger, and you are off the hook for thousands to Landry for services already rendered. All of it without any risk to you personally.” She hesitated for effect, then added, “You either take the deal or you walk away. There’s no third option.”

  Their golden ticket appeared momentarily stunned, and Dallas worried Riki had slammed the door on their one chance to get inside without resistance.

  But then Howe smiled at her. “You are one interesting lady,” he said. “I don’t believe the rumors do you justice.”

  Riki’s expression was one of pure innocence. “Whatever do you mean?”

  Howe laughed out loud. “How delightful.” He stood and walked over to the sideboard, lifted the bottle of wine, and refilled their glasses. “One word of caution—Cho will not allow this to go unanswered. There will be consequences. Are you prepared?”

  Dallas wasn’t sure, but he thought Howe just agreed to the deal. “We understand the risk,” he said. “We’re going in regardless.”

  “Excellent. I can get you inside, getting out is on you. It won’t be easy. The embassy is heavily fortified. Let’s talk details, shall we?”

  Chapter 25

  It had been a late night spent eating Thai takeout, studying blueprints of the embassy, and working through an exit strategy until—Riki glanced at her watch—one-fifteen in the morning. Out of all the jobs she’d planned and executed, this would be the most daring. Outsmarting unscrupulous collectors came with risk, so did baiting the Yakuza. None of that bothered her because they all deserved what she dished out. This time, though, she’d be stealing from the sanctity of political shelter. But desperate times called for desperate measures. Surely that was a valid defense in any court of law.

  That twisted logic revealed how sluggish her brain had become. She was past the point of making solid decisions. The pace of the last few days had begun to take its toll, and sleep called her name. She glanced longingly toward the couch, then back to the table covered with charts, graphs, and an entire ream of paper detailing possible scenarios.

  She sighed. “I’ve pulled a lot of crazy stunts in my day, but I’ve never contemplated violating a foreign country’s embassy before.”

  “Can’t say I ever have either,” Dallas replied. “Homeland Security frowns on their agents breaching diplomatic protocol and sparking international incidents. Especially without prior approval. This might kill my career.”

  There would be consequences for both of them with this reckless plan. She wasn’t happy about it, but that was the price of working together. She needed his help and his contacts, but she didn’t want to see him ruined. Her previous wins against him had been fun and a challenge, but never a threat to his livelihood.

  She rested her elbows on the table and propped her chin on her clasped hands. “You’ll be acquiring Phantom Pearl. Doesn’t that count for something?”

  Technically she had planned on taking the Pearl and giving it to Kai. But things had gotten muddy since then. She was in new territory, and for the first time in years, she didn’t know what to do.

  “The Pearl will be a valuable asset in negotiations with Cambodia. Bringing it in would buy me a lot of forgiveness, maybe even agent of the year. Violating the Japanese Embassy in the process will ruin it all.”

  “Japan shares fault in this,” she reasoned. “Along with Cho. He ran to them for protection and secure transport. If they take the risk, they can’t cast blame when trouble lands at their door.”

  “Agreed, but it won’t stop them from making accusations.”

  Nor would it stop the political backlash. They were playing Russian Roulette. Options were limited, exits were few and guarded, and Cho probably slept with the Pearl to keep it safe. Then there were the sophisticated levels of embassy security to circumvent.

  Piece of cake.

  Her phone vibrated with an incoming text.

  Update, Reika. Where are you? Status of Pearl?

  For the first time, she wondered if Kai’s insistence on using her formal name was a way of keeping that wall of distance between them. Because no matter how many times she’d scolded, he remained steadfast. Was it guilt that kept him reserved?

  She’d become distant, too. Solitary. Independent. Did that isolation play a part in her rising discontent? She glanced at Dallas and met his eyes. She had a partner, at least for this quest. The end game wasn’t settled, but for now, they were a team.

  That bond felt strange and at the same time enticing. Just like the man. He appealed to every sensory level she owned. An overwhelming attraction that dangerously influenced her decisions. Her world had flipped upside down, and she was afraid to trust anything. And yet, against all common sense, she’d begun to believe in Landry.

  She sighed and turned the phone from its place on the table, making the text visible to Dallas.

  He read what was on the screen. “What are you going to tell him?”

  The only thing she knew for certain was the time to take control of her destiny had arrived. Except she had no clear direction, no absolute to guide her decision. She felt adrift in dangerous waters, partnered with a man whose grip on her heart grew stronger by the hour.

  “Kai knows we were successful finding the plane and that Cho has the Pearl,” she said. “I’ve told him nothing more.”

  Dallas dropped his pen to the table and leaned back in his chair. “I’ll guarantee you Menita already knows where Cho is hiding.”

  She didn’t have any doubt. “Rule number one in the illicit trade playbook—keep a close eye on your adversary.”

  “It’s a cardinal
rule for federal agents, too,” he replied with a wry smile. “I wouldn’t be able to keep up with you otherwise. Go ahead and respond, but please keep our plans for tomorrow quiet.”

  She typed out the message. Confirmed Pearl in Singapore. Have solid retrieval plan. Should be in hand tomorrow night.

  The text gave nothing away. Generic and succinct. It almost hurt.

  “You said we.” Dallas stared at her with a glimmer of speculation. “We were successful finding the plane.”

  She had. That didn’t mean either one of them should read anything into it. “I told Kai you were here. That’s all.”

  “He wasn’t surprised, was he?”

  “Hard to tell. Kai rarely shows emotion. But no, I doubt it.” Something she accepted until recently. “He didn’t even react when I told him an old friend had been murdered.”

  That bothered her. Had he grown so consumed with finding Phantom Pearl that the human toll meant little? Did their years together stand for anything other than a means to an end? Her phone vibrated again.

  Our enemy hides in Singapore. Success will not come easy. Do you require an assist?

  She pushed the phone toward Dallas. “That’s new. Kai has never offered to assist before.” And she wondered if it was grounded in concern for her or the fate of the Pearl. A week ago, that thought wouldn’t have occurred to her. “He might be thousands of miles away, but he is well connected. What do you think?” Asking another’s opinion wasn’t something she would’ve done either. It made her feel off balance.

  Dallas seemed to consider it, then shook his head. “Having Menita involved more than he already is will only lead to bigger complications.”

  He had a point. So, no.

  I’ve got this. Plan already implemented. Will keep you informed. She displayed the typed words to Dallas.

  “Send it,” he said and began stacking the papers together. “I need to report to the agency myself. They get cranky if I don’t make regular contact.”

  She tapped send, then shoved the phone away under a crushing sense of exhaustion. She was such a mess of conflicting emotions. Anger at Kai’s duplicity, disgust at her blind trust, and the most painful of all—a betrayal that left her feeling broken, as if a vital part of herself had been cut away. The man who had been her friend, her compass for years, had become a stranger. She didn’t know how to reconcile with that fact.