What Doesn't Kill You

by Iris Johansen

  He suddenly chuckled. “Not worried. Just regretful. Though you’d be a gorgeous corpse, Agent—Catherine.”

  She looked at him in surprise. He was more cool and savvy than he appeared. If she was going to have to put up with him for a while, she might as well clear the decks. “It won’t happen. Venable and I go back a long time. If he thought I posed a danger, he’d take me out himself. All he wants from you is to spy and report. He knows that I care more about Hu Chang than any mission and that I’ll do what’s best for him. If it’s also good for the Company, then that’s a plus. As long as you don’t bother me with questions, I’ll let you tag along and assist. Until you get in my way.” She met his eyes. “And then you’re gone, Carmody. Understand?”

  “You’re very clear.” He had paused beside a gray Mercedes and opened the passenger door for her. “But that sounds very permanent. I hope that’s merely a turn of phrase.”

  “You’d know if I meant permanent. And I wouldn’t be so sexist as to claim you’d be a gorgeous corpse.”

  He made a face. “What can I say? All of those politically correct seminars just never took with me.” He got into the driver’s seat. “Though no one ever told me talking about gorgeous corpses was sexist. I guess it never came up.”

  She was beginning to like him. He was dryly rueful and amusing. “If it was a CIA politically correct seminar, I would have thought it might be first on the agenda.” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Venable was supposed to find me someone who’d had experience with Nardik. Has he done it?”

  He shook his head. “He was still working on it when he called me into his office. He said it wasn’t easy. Most of the agents who have tried to infiltrate Nardik’s operations end up dead.”

  “I don’t care if it’s hard or not. If Nardik is after Hu Chang, I need to know everything there is to know about him. I’m not going to let him—” She drew a deep breath and tried to temper her voice. “When you call in your report on me to Venable this evening, you tell him to get going and find me a source.”

  “May I suggest you call him yourself? I’m very low on the totem pole in the Company. He may not listen to me.”

  “No, you may not suggest it. He will listen to me, but I’ll probably end up by pissing him off. That’s not productive.”

  “Point taken. Now what hotel am I supposed to take you to?”

  “No hotel. Hu Chang’s apothecary shop. I’ll stay in the bedroom quarters in the back.”

  Carmody didn’t speak for a moment. “You do know that he’s not there? Do you expect him to come back?”

  “No.”

  “Then why—” He broke off. “No questions. But Venable will want me to stay close to you. It’s not safe. He found Gregory’s body in the alley in back of the shop.”

  “You can find your own spot on the block to set up surveillance. There are all kinds of shops on the street. Hu Chang’s place is too small.”

  “You’ve been there before?”

  “Every time I come through Hong Kong. He keeps a small room in the back for me.”

  “That’s convenient.”

  “Sometimes.” She remembered the last time she had been there with Luke just months ago. She’d just freed him from those hideous years of captivity and brought him with her to Hong Kong because she’d promised Hu Chang that she would return immediately after using the weapon he had given her to kill Rakovac. She and Luke had shared that small room, and she had thought that Luke would object since he was accustomed to being alone, and she had been a stranger to him. He had not complained. He’d just curled up on his pallet across the room and gone to sleep. He had surprised her many times during those days in Hong Kong. “We weren’t here long. I just stopped by to have some dental work done.”

  “Hu Chang is a dentist? I knew he was a Master of Chinese Medicine.”

  “He doesn’t practice dentistry, but he wears many hats. It was urgent that I have a tooth redone immediately. He made me promise to come back within a few days of when I popped off the cap.”

  “And he was the only one who could do it?”

  “The only one I’d trust. He’d injected the tooth with mamba venom, and he was afraid that it might get into my system after I replaced the temporary cap.”

  “Mamba venom,” he repeated. “Interesting. I hate to keep breaking your rule about questions, but I’m wondering why you’d inject your tooth with mamba venom. Feel free not to satisfy my curiosity. Is it what I’m guessing?”

  “Probably.” She had the sudden desire to shake him. She bared her teeth, then snapped them shut. “What does a mamba do but bite? I had a man who had made my son suffer, who I had to kill. I knew I wouldn’t be able to use conventional weapons.”

  “I see. Your Hu Chang must have been a great help to you if he could offer you those services.”

  “That was an extraordinary occasion. I don’t generally ask him to be anything but my friend.”

  Which is all that she wanted right now. Just to find him and make sure that he’d stay alive. Where are you, Hu Chang?

  She checked her watch. “We’re about ten minutes to the ferry that will take us to Wen Chai.” She took out her phone. “I need to call my son and tell him I’ve arrived.”

  He grinned. “I’ll be very quiet.”

  “Thank you.” Not that it would make any difference. Her conversation would be brief and more for Catherine’s benefit than Luke’s. She quickly dialed. It rang only twice before it was picked up by Sam. “Hi, Sam, I’m here. May I speak to Luke?”

  “Sure, he’s here in the kitchen having a snack. Good flight?”

  “Smooth as glass.”

  “Well, better boring than turbulent.”

  It hadn’t been boring, she wanted to tell him. Having the time to relive those first days with Hu Chang had been bewildering, exciting, and yet curiously bittersweet. But never boring.

  “Here’s Luke.”

  “Hello, Catherine,” Luke said the next minute. “I’ve been reading Hu Chang’s book.”

  “The one in Chinese? That must be a challenge. Have you had to ask Sam for help?”

  “For a few things. But the Internet language webs are great.” He paused. “And Hu Chang’s notes kind of explain themselves.”

  “I don’t see how. They’re in Chinese, too.”

  “But somehow I can understand them. Is he okay?”

  “I don’t know yet. I’ve just left the airport. I’m on the way to his shop.”

  “At Wen Chai. I’d like to go back there now that I’m reading his book. Could we do that?”

  “I don’t see why not. Just not right now. Give me a week or so.”

  “You’re worried about him.”

  She wouldn’t lie. “Maybe a little. It will be better when I corner him and make him tell me what’s going on.” She changed the subject. “What are you and Sam doing besides studying?”

  “We went to a movie last night.” He paused. “And I called Kelly and asked her if she could come to see us this weekend.”

  “Kelly?” That was strange. Luke seldom initiated contact with anyone. Yet Luke and Kelly Winters were as good friends as an eleven- and fifteen-year-old could be with all the adolescent conflicts that frequently erupted between them. Both were amazingly intelligent and mature for their ages and Catherine considered that little anomaly healthy for both of them. “Why did you do that?”

  “I want her to look at Hu Chang’s book. You know she’s good at seeing patterns in stuff.”

  Not good. Brilliant. Genius. Kelly had a talent that was off the charts in that area. That was why she spent a good portion of the year in a science think tank at that college in Virginia. “Wouldn’t it just be better to have the book translated? Why are you fighting having it done, Luke?”

  “I don’t know.” He paused. “Because I don’t think it’s the language. I think there’s something there I’m not seeing. Maybe Kelly can see it.”

  “Can she come?”

  “Yeah, she said
she’d make it. She tried to make me think she was doing me a favor, but I know she’s just curious.”

  “And doing you a favor.”

  “I guess.” A pause. “You okay, Catherine?”

  “I’m doing fine.”

  Another silence. “I’ve been wondering why Hu Chang gave me that book.”

  “Because he liked you.”

  “He likes you, and he didn’t give you anything.”

  “You’re wrong, he gives me things all the time. Sometimes when I least expect it.”

  “Maybe he gave it to me because I’m your son.”

  “I don’t believe Hu Chang would do that. He judges and responds to everyone as an individual. Believe me, if Hu Chang had not liked you, it wouldn’t matter if you were my son.”

  “When I was in the lab, he watched me all the time. I told you that, didn’t I?”

  “Yes, that should show he was interested in you. When he let me mix some of his potions, he watched me like a hawk. He’s very careful.”

  Another silence. “When you go to the shop, will you look for something for me?”

  “Of course, did you leave something when you were there?”

  “No, it was a bottle that’s in the book. I guess it’s a bottle, or vial or something because it was with a bunch of other vials. Anyway, I think I remember seeing one like it at Hu Chang’s shop.”

  “Most of Hu Chang’s bottles are unique. He makes them himself.”

  “Yeah, he told me. But would you look when you get there and see if I’m right?”

  “No problem. What does it look like?”

  “It’s about eight inches tall with an ivory background with branches or vines or trees painted on it.”

  “Sounds pretty fancy. But I suppose it’s possible. I’ve seen a few things that Hu Chang has done that look like works of art.” They had drawn up to the Star Ferry. “I have to go now, Luke. We’re at the ferry. May I call you back?”

  “No, that’s okay. You’ll probably be busy.”

  “Not too busy.” Don’t push him. “Call me if you want to talk. Tell Kelly that we miss her, and it’s about time she came to visit. And that she just doesn’t have to be on call at your command.”

  “I told you, she’s curious. Good-bye, Catherine.”

  “Good-bye, Luke.” She hung up and tucked her phone back into her handbag. That business with Luke’s obsession with Hu Chang’s book was bizarre. But perhaps she was making too much of it. Luke had known that she was going to Hu Chang. Wasn’t it normal that he’d be interested in anything associated with him?

  “Everything all right?” Carmody asked. “It sucks being away from family.”

  “Yes, it does.” She nodded jerkily. “He’s fine. I miss him more than he does me. Do you have kids?”

  “I have a little girl, Dany. She’s four. My wife and I are divorced, and she has custody. But I get to see her for weekends when I’m in Sydney.” He shrugged. “She’s better off with my wife. I’m not much of a father. I’m gone a lot, and I miss birthdays and stuff.” He smiled. “But I do love that kid. They make a big difference in your life.”

  They were driving onto the ferry now. “Yes, they do.” Love made all the difference in the world, and it had been Hu Chang who had first made Catherine take those first steps toward trust and love. He had opened her eyes and pushed her gently forward. Dammit, she would not have anything happen to him.

  And she was suddenly feeling a wrenching ache that Luke, the child who was center of all that love, was not with her. Carmody didn’t even realize how lucky he was to have a relationship that could be so easily healed with just a little effort. She was suddenly furious at his blindness. She jumped out of the car onto the ferry and whirled to face Carmody. “So don’t give me that bullshit about not being a great father for your daughter. You can be anything you want to be. I don’t care if you’re cheating yourself, but don’t cheat her by giving her anything but your best.”

  He blinked. “Yes, ma’am. Of course, it’s none of your business.”

  “She’s a child. A child is everyone’s business.” And he didn’t even realize his good fortune in having a daughter who was safe and had known only love. She wanted to deck him. “What the hell. You’re probably right. You don’t deserve her.” She strode over to the rail and looked down at water. “And I’m seriously overreacting. Don’t come near me until we get to Wen Chai.”

  He smiled faintly. “Or you’ll bite me with your mamba teeth?”

  “Tooth, singular.” Her lips twisted ruefully. “And I save that for special people. You’ve got to prove yourself to me.”

  “I believe I’ll decline the honor.” He moved down the rail. “I’ll see you at Wen Chai.”

  * * *

  “YOU HAVE A KEY?” CARMODY WATCHED her unlock the door of the apothecary shop. “Hu Chang must trust you. Venable said some of the medicines he has in there are very valuable.”

  “He gave me a key on the day they finished rebuilding his shop. It had been burned to the ground, and Hu Chang didn’t get around to building a new one for two years afterward.” She threw open the door. “Okay, you’ve seen me to his shop. You’ve done your duty. Now go find somewhere to stay down the street, someplace you’ll be as unobtrusive as possible.”

  He looked around the shop, then strolled back to the rooms in the back. “No one lurking.”

  “Hoping for Hu Chang?”

  “Or anyone else I could catch and receive a commendation.” He smiled as he handed her a card. “If you need me, call. Though Venable told me that you’d resent my saying that.”

  “I do. If we knew each other, I’d resent it more. I can take care of myself, Carmody.” She wearily nodded at the door. “Go on. I know you’re only doing your job.”

  “Look, if we know you and Hu Chang are so close, don’t you think Nardik would be privy to that info? If he can’t get his hands on Hu Chang, wouldn’t he go after a hostage?”

  “Very reasonable. Now, will you leave?”

  He tilted his head, studying her. Then he gave a low whistle. “That’s why you’re here. You’re setting yourself up as bait. And you don’t want anyone around who would make the bait less tempting for the rats to snatch.”

  “Right. And that’s why Venable has set you to watch me. He not only doesn’t trust me to go the Company way if I find Hu Chang, but there’s a chance of a bonanza. Now get out of here and don’t come back unless I call you.”

  He nodded as he headed for the door. “You’re going to be a very difficult assignment, Catherine.”

  “Then go back to Sydney and work on being a father to your kid.” She closed the door and leaned back against it. She should probably not have been so hard on Carmody, but she was tired, and her emotions were both splintered and raw. Venable had deliberately put Carmody into her path as an obstacle to overcome. It was going to be difficult enough to locate Hu Chang and try to find out what kind of mess he’d gotten himself into without having to dodge Carmody.

  She shot the lock on the door and gazed around the interior of the shop. It looked the same as it usually did, as she’d last seen it. The mahogany cabinets gleaming pristine clean, the bottles and vials with their colorful contents backlit by the strong lights. In most Asian apothecary shops, she was always aware of the scents of incense, but not in Hu Chang’s shop. He demanded that there be no smells at all and for good reason. She could remember him sitting at his low table and looking at her scornfully after she’d asked the question.

  “Nothing must interfere with the scent of the medicines. You should realize how distracting those smells can be after our hours in that temple. Other than those herbs I have you working on, I do not deal in potions for children, Catherine. I can’t afford to make mistakes. A potion may look the same as another, but it never smells the same. Not if you’ve educated yourself to the nuances.” He thrust a vial beneath her nose. “What do you smell?”

  She sniffed. “Only rosemary.”

  He looked at he
r in disgust. “There are at least forty other scents in that potion. You’re a total failure. It’s a wonder I’m so patient with you.”

  “It’s a wonder I let you abuse me and still work at making these silly health potions for you.”

  “Because you realize what a master I am and are grateful that I spread my knowledge.” He smiled slyly. “And that I satisfy your curiosity when you ask absurd questions.”

  She found herself smiling as she remembered the exasperation mixed with the humor she had felt during those moments with Hu Chang. Every moment had been different, every path new to her. So many paths that had changed her, opened her mind, opened her emotions.

  The vials.

  She’d promised Luke to look for the bottle that he’d thought he’d seen here. She crossed the room and studied the rows of bottles on the shelves. Mostly crystal. A few plain vials, one small hand-painted bottle that was indeed a work of art.

  But no bottle like the one Luke had described.

  She’d try one more place, the small lab downstairs. It was where Hu Chang did his special preparations and might have kept a few valuable containers.

  She opened the door beside the sleeping quarters, turned on the light, and went down the flight of stairs. The ceiling was so low that there was barely headroom and only a single worktable and cabinet.

  And one stool where she remembered Hu Chang had deposited Luke when he had taken him down here while he worked.

  She crossed to the cabinet and looked up at the vials on the shelf. Two empties, one containing a liquid that was almost cobalt blue. Definitely no bottle that met Luke’s description. He must have been mistaken.

  But Luke had a phenomenal memory. She had half expected to find the bottle. Well, it wasn’t here, and it didn’t really matter if it was or not. She had other things to worry about right now.

  She went back upstairs and flipped off the light. Not that there was anything precious down there unless it was that dark blue liquid. But you could never tell with Hu Chang what was treasure, what was trash. She had learned to respect everything connected with his work as if it were a jewel beyond price.