The Goddess of Yantai

by Ian Hamilton

  “Why do I doubt that?”

  Ava saw Lop fidget in his chair and knew he thought it was time to end the meeting. She touched the folder. “Do you want a set of these documents and photos?” she said to Mo.

  “No,” he said, a hint of anger resurfacing in his voice.

  “Then I think we’ve concluded our business. You’re free to go.”

  ( 18 )

  Ava watched Lop walk Mo to the door. When they reached it, Lop put his hand on Mo’s elbow and then spoke to him for almost a minute. Ava couldn’t hear what he was saying, but Mo’s face tensed and he didn’t respond. Finally Lop reached past him, opened the door, and almost shoved him out into the corridor.

  “What was that about?” Ava asked when Lop came back into the room.

  “I told him not to get any funny ideas.”

  “Do you really think he would risk having those photos made public?”

  “He might have doubted that we already have our backs covered,” he said. “He might have been thinking that if he moved quickly — like as soon as he gets outside — he could catch us off guard.”

  “So what specifically did you tell him?”

  “I said you’d told him the truth about other people having the photos, but the photos would be the least of his problems if he tried to play games.”

  “You threatened him?”

  “I said he would end up dead.”

  “I guess that constitutes a threat,” Ava said with a smile.

  “I know it was a bit overblown, but I’ve got to get back to Hong Kong and I don’t want any problems at the Beijing airport. And I don’t like the idea of leaving you here by yourself until things really settle.”

  “You don’t have to worry about me.”

  “I know I don’t, but other people worry about you, and if something happened then I’d be responsible. I don’t want to have to get into the explaining business.”

  By “other people” Ava knew he meant Xu, and probably Auntie Grace. “You’ve been wonderful. I couldn’t have done this without you, Lop, and I’ll make sure everyone knows.”

  “Thanks. You have no objections to my getting on the first plane out of here for Hong Kong?”

  “No, but what’s going on there that needs such urgent attention?”

  “Probably nothing, but I’m naturally paranoid,” Lop said. “Your old acquaintance and my supposed associate Sammy Wing was supposed to meet with two of my men this morning. He didn’t show and they can’t reach him. I’m sure there’s a valid reason for his absence, but I’m not comfortable that it coincides with my first trip out of Hong Kong since we took over Wanchai.”

  “Did he know you were leaving?”

  “I told him myself.”

  “In that case I’m sure there’s nothing going on,” she said. “Sammy’s not stupid.”

  “But he has a history of being reckless.”

  “That’s true enough,” Ava said. “Trying to kill me and Xu wasn’t exactly a brilliant strategy.”

  Lop looked away from Ava for a second, and she sensed some reluctance in him. “Is there something you’re not telling me, something else you want to say?” she asked.

  “If Sammy is playing games behind my back, I won’t let it go,” he said.

  “No one would expect you to.”

  “Xu might. He’s anxious to maintain the peace in Hong Kong, and Sammy still has friends in some of the gangs in the New Territories. Xu doesn’t want to give them any reason to get pissed off at us.”

  “I’m sure he has his reasons for doing that.”

  “Ava, you know I’m completely loyal, right?” Lop said abruptly.

  “Yes.”

  “I follow orders and I do whatever it is the boss wants done,” he said, again averting his eyes. “But if Sammy is fucking around, I have to go after him. If I don’t, I’ll lose all credibility with my men, and Sammy will feel encouraged to keep fucking around.”

  “I can see that,” she said. “But I’m not sure why you’re telling me all this.”

  “The boss confides in you and he trusts your judgment. I would appreciate it if you could support my position if it ever comes down to deciding what to do about Sammy.”

  Ava began to protest any possible involvement on her part, and then stopped. It was possible, given her history with Sammy Wing, that Xu would talk to her about Sammy if he became a problem. And if he did, she had to admit that Lop’s reaction was both practical and justified on many levels. “I don’t expect it will ever come to that. You’ll probably get back to Hong Kong and find out that Sammy was laid up with the flu or something,” she said. “But if Sammy is causing problems and Xu chooses to discuss it with me, you can be assured that I’ll support you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’ve told you before, no more thank-yous. We’re on the same team.”

  Lop nodded and said nothing.

  “Let’s get out of here, shall we,” Ava said. “You have a plane to catch and I want to let Pang Fai know that her life is back on track.”

  ( 19 )

  Ava said her final goodbye to Lop at the hotel entrance. She waited until his taxi pulled away before getting out her phone.

  “Wei,” Fai answered before the first ring ended.

  “It’s Ava.”

  “Is it over?”

  “Yes.”

  “And were you successful?” Fai asked in a rush.

  “I’m confident that we were, but the proof will be when the film is released and when Chen gets approval for whatever project you want to take on next.”

  “How was he? How was Mo?”

  “He didn’t rant or threaten. He was smart enough to understand the situation and he acted appropriately. He was suitably co-operative.”

  “I guess he really loves his son.”

  “I think he does, but he also likes his position and his power. Releasing that kind of information would threaten both of those.”

  Fai paused and then said softly. “Ava, when I woke up, I kept thinking about those photos you showed me. Would you really have made them public?”

  “Maybe, but I’m relieved that it’s a decision I don’t have to make now. I didn’t take any pleasure in showing them to Mo.”

  “I’m glad you feel that way,” Fai said. “As much as I detest Mo, I wouldn’t wish that kind of harm to come to his son. He’s an innocent in all of this. He can’t help that his father is the man he is.”

  “There should be no harm to him unless Mo decides to impose it himself, and there’s nothing we can do to prevent that,” Ava said. “My priority is you.”

  “I know, and I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am.”

  “I just finished telling Lop that there’s never any reason for us to thank one another. Helping each other is what friends do, it’s what lovers do, and we do it in our own way when it’s called for. Hopefully we won’t have to do it that often.”

  “How about never again.”

  “I share that feeling.”

  “So now what? Are you coming home?”

  “I have some phone calls to make first. One of them is to Suki to get an update on our acquisition of the Suns’ business. If she doesn’t need me I’ll be home in the next hour.”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  Suki was actually the third name on Ava’s mental list. As soon as she hung up from Fai, she called the first, her partner May Ling Wong in Wuhan. Of all the blessings in her life — and she had many, including money and family — she considered her friends to be paramount. Creating and maintaining relationships was something she’d learned from Uncle. He had no family but he was surrounded by people who would do anything for him, because, as he often told her, they knew he would do anything for them. The only times she’d seen him turn his back on friends was when they were disloyal
and broke trust with him. He could understand and accept any other indiscretion or fault, but in his mind there was no way to ever forgive or forget disloyalty. She felt the same way, and among her friends she trusted no one more than May Ling and Xu.

  “I was wondering when I’d hear from you,” May said when she answered her phone. “Suki has been keeping me up to date, but that isn’t quite the same.”

  “It’s Suki’s deal. I thought it more appropriate for her to brief Amanda and you.”

  “That’s not what I’m talking about,” May said. “Suki told me about the dinner, about the sensation you caused by bringing Pang Fai with you.”

  “Fai caused the sensation.”

  “I’m sure she did, but the fact that you brought her didn’t hurt your image.”

  “That won’t help us one way or another with closing the deal.”

  May paused and then said, “What’s going on? You don’t sound the least bit enthused. I thought things were going well with the Suns, and with Fai.”

  “Things are going well on both counts,” Ava said, noticing once again how quickly May could pick up on her mood. “But I need your help with something that might seem a bit odd on the surface.”

  “There’s nothing unusual about that.”

  “This is even odder than normal,” Ava said. “I’m going to forward you some photos, blog entries, and other information. The Chinese boy in the photos is David Mo. His father is the head of the China Movie Syndicate and his uncle is a member of the Standing Politburo. If anything should happen to me in the next few days, weeks, or even months, I want you to make this information public in any way you can, including getting it into the hands of your political contacts.”

  “What do you mean by ‘should happen to me’?”

  Ava smiled, pleased at May’s focus on her well-being. “If I should go missing or if I get arrested . . . or if I turn up dead.”

  “What the hell —”

  “May, I’m sure none of those things will happen, but it’s careless not to take precautions. Those photos and the other information are my insurance policy.”

  “Insurance against what?”

  “I don’t want to get into it right now. The next time we sit down for a drink, I’ll explain it all to you in detail. For the moment, just trust me.”

  “I assume, since you mentioned the China Movie Syndicate, that this somehow involves Pang Fai?” May said.

  “It does, but that’s all I’m going to say right now.”

  “But at least you have to tell me if you’re in any immediate danger.”

  “Not at all, and I’m not anticipating that I will be. Like I said, it’s insurance.”

  “Is there any point in my persisting?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, then send me whatever you have.”

  “You’ll have it this afternoon.”

  “Speaking of this afternoon, have you heard from Suki?”

  “No. My phone has been off for hours and I haven’t checked my messages yet.”

  “She’s been trying to reach you. One of the companies you chose to do that real estate assessment called her and offered to lowball.”

  “For a price, of course.”

  “Naturally.”

  “What did she tell them?”

  “Only that she had to talk to you.”

  “Did she tell you what she thought about the offer?”

  “She was angry about it but didn’t want to dismiss it entirely, because she’s concerned that the same company will just turn around and make a highball pitch to the Suns.”

  “Is this how business is done in Beijing?” Ava said.

  “This is how it’s done in a lot of places in this country. Nearly everything and everyone is for sale,” May said. “And you can’t discount the possibility that the other two companies you went to will do the same thing.”

  “I wasn’t expecting this nonsensical crap when I suggested getting the assessments.”

  “But now you’ve got it, and you have to decide how to handle it.”

  “I don’t want to play these games. We’re buying a business and all I want to do is pay fair market value for it. Maybe we should just give the Suns what they initially asked for.”

  “I’ll leave that for you and Suki to decide. You know I’ll be okay with whatever decision you make.”

  “I’ll call back after I talk to her,” Ava said, and hung up. She started to call Suki and then stopped. One thing at a time, she thought as she hit Xu’s number.

  “Where are you?” he asked.

  “Still at the hotel. I didn’t want to make my phone calls from a taxi.”

  “I just spoke with Lop. He told me it went well.”

  “Did he give you any idea of what we used to leverage Mo?”

  “He did.”

  “Well, I’m going to send you copies of it all. If anything should happen to Lop or me, I want you to make it public.”

  “It will never come to that.”

  “Still . . .”

  “I’d do it of course, but it isn’t something I want to think about,” Xu said. “Lop felt bad about leaving so soon after your meeting. Did he tell you why he wanted to get back to Hong Kong so quickly?”

  “He said he’s worried about Sammy Wing.”

  “I told him he was overreacting,” Xu said. “But when Lop gets a thought in his head, he can’t let it go until he’s one hundred percent convinced he’s either right or wrong.”

  “What could Sammy do?”

  “He’s not without friends, but I don’t know a single one of them who would dare side with Sammy, knowing that it would piss off Lop.”

  “Then there’s nothing to worry about.”

  “I don’t think so. And now, with nothing for you to worry about in Beijing, how much longer do you think you’ll be staying there?”

  “I’ll have to talk to Fai about that. It would be nice to get away from here for a holiday.”

  “Come to Shanghai. Stay with me.”

  “You’d be comfortable with the two of us sleeping together?”

  “It wouldn’t bother me.”

  “How about Auntie Grace?”

  “She’s the last person on earth who’d be bothered. You know you can do no wrong in her eyes.”

  “I feel the same way towards her,” Ava said.

  “So?”

  “I’ll mention it to Fai. She might be self-conscious around you, given the way you met before.”

  “Tell her I never thought poorly of her when she was with Tsai. And now that she’s with my xiao mei, she’s practically family.”

  “I’m sure that will persuade her,” Ava said, laughing. “But I still have business to wrap up here. Let me get that done and then I’ll talk to her.”

  “Keep in touch.”

  Ava shook her head as the call ended. She had no doubts that Xu’s invitation was heartfelt and that he and Auntie Grace would be welcoming, but she also sensed that it would be incredibly awkward. They were accustomed to Ava in a certain way, and whether Xu thought so or not, seeing her in such a different light might be disconcerting. Her mother Jennie, for example, could intellectually handle the idea of her sexuality but had struggled whenever Ava and her former girlfriend Maria displayed affection in her presence; she said it was like being in a room that had no air to breathe. Ava wondered how Jennie would react when and if she met Fai. She knew her mother was a big fan of Fai’s, which would cause excitement enough, but god knew how she’d react if she knew Fai and her daughter were a couple. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that just yet, Ava thought as she phoned the last person on her list.

  “I’ve been trying to get hold of you,” Suki said.

  “Sorry. I was in a meeting that needed my full attention,” Ava said. “I spoke to May a
few minutes ago and she told me what’s going on with the real estate people. Did you expect anything this unethical?”

  “No, but after it happened I called an old friend in Beijing and asked if it’s common here. She said it is.”

  “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by anything that goes on in this country. It’s just that I keep hoping for better.”

  “We’re not all corrupt,” Suki said. “Still, I admit there’s enough shit going on to make it seem that way sometimes.”

  “And I shouldn’t be tarring everyone with the same brush,” Ava said, realizing she might have offended Suki. “I’ve met enough honest people to know otherwise.”

  “The Suns among them.”

  “Yes. What do you suggest we do about the Suns and this predicament?”

  “I’d like to tell them about the assessor.”

  “I agree, and you might add that although it seemed like a good idea at the time, we’ve lost our appetite for multiple valuations.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “Tell them we’ll accept the value they put on their properties. Let’s do the deal at the price they want — that is, unless you think we’re grossly overpaying.”

  “I think it’s fair enough.”

  “Then go and close it.”

  “Assuming the Suns agree, it will take a day or two for the lawyers to finalize the paperwork. Do you want to hang around Beijing until that’s done?”

  “Why not? I’ve come this far, I might as well see it through to the end.”

  “Great. I’ll call the Suns right now and see if we can wrap this up.”

  “Suki, I’m going to be tied up for the rest of the day and evening, so unless there’s a major problem, don’t worry about contacting me. We’ll touch base tomorrow.”

  Suki became quiet, and Ava again wondered if she’d offended her.

  “Will you be seeing Pang Fai?” Suki asked finally.

  “In all probability.”

  “If you do, would you please tell her how honoured and thrilled we all were to have her as a dinner guest. After you left the restaurant, the manager came to our dining room and bowed to the Suns. Having her at our table gave them tremendous face. Mrs. Sun was as excited as a schoolgirl.”