jamesclavell.noblehouse-第93章

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　them。　Lo　and　Tak　would　believe　him　to　be　in　for　a　major　share　and　his　own　men　would　consider　him　mad　not　to　be。　Never　mind。　He　didn't　care。　The　money　was　stolen；　and　Sergeant　Yat　and　his　men　were　all　good　policemen　and　their　pay　totally　inadequate　for　their　responsibilities。　A　little　h'eung　yau　wouldn't　do　them　any　harm；　it　would　be　a　godsend。
　Won't　it？
　In　China　you　have　to　be　pragmatic；　he　told　himself　grimly　as　he　knocked　on　the　door　of　721　and　went　in。　A　good…looking　secretary　looked　up　from　her　lunch　…　a　bowl　of　pure　white　rice　and　slivers　of　roast　pork　and　jet　green　broccoli　steaming　nicely。
　〃Afternoon。〃　Armstrong　flashed　his　ID　card。　〃I'd　like　to　see　Mr。　Vee　Cee　Ng；　please。〃
　〃Sorry；　sir；〃　the　girl　said；　her　English　good　and　her　eyes　blank。　〃He's　out。　Out　for　lunch。〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃At　his　club；　I　think。　He　…　he　won't　be　back　today　until　five。〃
　〃Which　club？〃
　She　told　him。　He　had　never　heard　of　it　but　that　meant　nothing　as　there　were　hundreds　of　private　Chinese　lunching　or　dining　or　at　mah…jong　clubs。
　〃What's　your　name？〃
　〃Virginia　Tong。　Sir；〃　she　added　as　an　afterthought。
　〃Do　you　mind　if　I　look　around？〃　He　saw　her　eyes　flash　nervously。　〃Here's　my　search　warrant。〃
　She　took　it　and　read　it　and　he　thought；　full　marks；　young　lady。　〃Do　you　think　you　could　wait；　wait　till　five　o'clock？〃　she　asked。
　〃I'll　take　a　short　look　now。〃
　She　shrugged　and　got　up　and　opened　the　inner　office。　It　was　small　and　empty　but　for　untidy　desks；　phones；　filing　cabinets；　shipping　posters　and　sailing　schedules。　Two　inner　doors　let　off　it　and　a　back　door。　He　opened　one　door　on　the　720　side　but　it　was　a　dank；　evil…smelling　toilet　and　dirty　washbasin。　The　back　door　was　bolted。　He　slid　the　bolts　back　and　went　onto　the　dingy　back…stairs　landing　that　served　as　a　makeshift　fire　escape　and　alternate　means　of　exit。　He　rebolted　it；　watched　all　the　time　by　Virginia　Tong。　The　last　door；　on　the　far　side；　was　locked。
　〃Would　you　open　it　please？〃
　〃Mr。　Vee　Cee　has　the　only　key；　sir。〃
　Armstrong　sighed。　〃I　do　have　a　search　warrant；　Miss　Tong；　and　the　right　to　kick　the　door　in；　if　necessary。〃
　She　stared　back　at　him　so　he　shrugged　and　stood　away　from　the　door　and　readied　to　kick　it　in。　Truly。
　〃Just　。。。　just　a　moment；　sir；〃　she　stammered。　〃I　。。。　I'll　see　if　there　。。。　if　he　left　his　key　before　he　went　out。〃
　〃Good。　Thank　you。〃　Armstrong　watched　her　open　a　desk　drawer　and　pretend　to　search；　then　another　drawer　and　another　and　then；　sensing　his　impatience；　she　found　a　key　under　a　money　box。　〃Ah；　here　it　is！〃　she　said　as　though　a　miracle　had　happened。　He　noticed　she　was　perspiring　now。　Good；　he　thought。　She　unlocked　the　door　and　stood　back。　This　door　opened　directly　onto　another。　Armstrong　opened　it　and　whistled　involuntarily。　The　room　beyond　was　large；　luxurious；　thick…carpeted　with　elegant　suede　leather　sofas　and　rosewood　furniture　and　fine　paintings。　He　wandered　in。　Virginia　Tong　watched　from　the　doorway。　The　fine　antique　rosewood；　tooled　leather　desk　was　bare　and　clean　and　polished；　a　bowl　of　flowers　on　it；　and　some　framed　photographs；　all　of　a　beaming　Chinese　leading　in　a　garlanded　racehorse；　and　one　of　the　same　Chinese　in　dinner　jacket　shaking　hands　with　the　governor；　Dunross　nearby。
　〃That's　Mr。　Ng？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Top…quality　hi…fi　and　record　player　were　to　one　side；　and　a　tall　cocktail　cabinet。　Another　doorway　let　off　this　room。　He　pushed　the　half…opened　door　aside。　An　elegant；　very　feminine　bedroom　with　a　huge；　unmade　king…sized　bed；　mirror…lined　ceiling　and　a　decorator's　bathroom　off　it；　with　perfumes；　aftershave　lotions；　gleaming　modern　fittings　and　many　buckets　of　water。
　〃Interesting；〃　he　said　and　looked　at　her。
　She　said　nothing；　just　waited。
　Armstrong　saw　that　she　had　nylon…clad　legs　and　was　very　trim　with　well…groomed　nails　and　hair。　I'll　bet　she's　a　dragon；　and　expensive。　He　turned　away　from　her　and　looked　around　thoughtfully。　Clearly　this　self…contained　apartment　had　been　made　out　of　the　adjoining　suite。　Well；　he　told　himself　with　a　touch　of　envy；　if　you're　rich　and　you　want　a　private；　secret　flat　for　an　afternoon's　nooky　behind　your　office　there's　no　law　against　that。　None。　And　none　against　having　an　attractive　secretary。　Lucky　bastard。　I　wouldn't　mind　having　one　of　these　places　myself。
　Absently　he　opened　a　desk　drawer。　It　was　empty。　All　the　drawers　were　empty。　Then　he　went　through　the　bedroom　drawers　but　found　nothing　of　interest。　One　cupboard　contained　a　fine　camera　and　some　portable　lighting　equipment　and　cleaning　equipment　but　nothing　suspicious。
　He　came　back　into　the　main　room　satisfied　that　he　had　missed　nothing。　She　was　still　watching　him；　and　though　she　tried　to　hide　it；　he　could　sense　a　nervousness。
　That's　understandable；　he　told　himself。　If　I　were　her　and　my　boss　was　out　and　some　rotten　quai　loh　came　prying　I'd　be　nervous　too。　No　harm　in　having　a　private　place　like　this。　Lots　of　rich　people　have　them　in　Hong　Kong。　His　eye　was　caught　by　the　rosewood　cocktail　cabinet。　The　key　in　the　lock　beckoned　him。　He　opened　it。　Nothing　out　of　the　ordinary。　Then　his　sharp；　well…trained　eyes　noticed　the　untoward　width　of　the　doors。　A　moment's　inspection　and　he　opened　the　false　doors。　His　mouth　dropped　open。
　The　side　walls　of　the　cabinet　were　covered　with　dozens　of　photographs　of　Jade　Gates　in　all　their　glory。　Each　photograph　was　neatly　framed　and　tagged　with　a　typed　name　and　a　date。　Involuntarily　he　let　out　a　bellow　of　embarrassed　laughter；　then　glanced　around。　Virginia　Tong　had　vanished。　Quickly　he　scanned　the　names。　Hers　was　third　from　the　last。
　Another　paroxysm　of　laughter　was　barely　contained。　The　policeman　shook　his　head　helplessly。　What　some　buggers'll　do　for　fun　…　and　I　suppose　some　ladies　for　money！　I　thought　I'd　seen　it　all　but　this　。。。　Photographer　Ng；　eh？　So　that's　where　the　nickname　came　from。
　Now　over　his　initial　shock；　he　studied　the　photographs。　Each　of　them　had　been　taken　with　the　same　lens　from　the　same　distance。
　Good　God；　he　thought　after　a　minute；　astounded；　there's　really　quite　a　lot　of　difference　between　。。。　I　mean　if　you　can　forget　what　you're　looking　at　and　just　look；　well；　there's　a　fantastic　amount　of　difference　in　the　shape　and　size　of　the　whole；　the　position　and　protuberance　of　the　Pearl　on　the　Step；　the　quality　and　quantity　of　pubicity　and　。。。　ayeeyah　there's　one　piece　bat　jam　gai。　He　looked　at　the　name。　Mona　Leung　…　now　where　have　I　heard　that　name　before？　That's　curious　…　Chinese　usually　consider　lack　of　pubicity　unlucky。　Now　why　。。。　oh　my　God！　He　peered　at　the　next　name　tag　to　make　sure。　There　was　no　mistake。　Venus　Poon。　Ayeeyah；　he　thought　elatedly；　so　that's　hers；　that's　what　she　really　looks　like；　the　darling　of　the　telly　who　daily　projects　such　sweet；　virginal　innocence　so　beautifully！
　He　concentrated　on　her；　his　senses　bemused。　I　suppose　if　you　pare　hers　with；　say；　say　Virginia　Tong's；　well　she　does　have　a　certain　delicacy。　Yes；　but　if　you　want　my　considered　opinion　I'd　still　rather　have　had　the　mystery　and　not　seen　these　at　all。　None　of　them。
　Idly　his　eyes　went　from　name　to　name。　〃Bloody　hell；〃　he　said；　recognizing　one：　Elizabeth　Mithy。　She　was　once　a　secretary　at　Struan's；　one　of　the　band　of　wanderers　from　the　small　towns　in　Australia　and　New　Zealand；　girls　who　aimlessly　found　their　way　to　Hong　Kong　for　a　few　weeks；　to　stay　for　months；　perhaps　years；　to　fill　minor　jobs　until　they　married　or　vanished　forever。　I'll　be　damned。　Liz　Mithy！
　Armstrong　was　trying　to　be　dispassionate　but　he　could　not　help　paring　Caucasian　with　Chinese　and　he　found　no　difference。　Thank　God　for　that；　he　told　himself；　and　chuckled。　Even　so　he　was　glad　the　photographs　were　black　and　white　and　not　in　color。
　〃Well；〃　he　said　out　loud；　still　very　embarrassed；　〃there's　no　law　against　taking　photos　that　I　know　of；　and　sticking　them　in　your　own　cabinet。　The　young　ladies　must've　cooperated。　。。。〃　He　grunted；　amused　and　at　the　same　time　disgusted。　Damned　if　I'll　ever　understand　the　Chinese！　〃Liz　Mithy；　eh？〃　he　muttered。　He　had　known　her　slightly　when　she　was　in　the　Colony；　knew　that　she　was　quite　wild；　but　what　could　have　possessed　her　to　pose　for　Ng？　If　her　old　man　knew；　he'd　hemorrhage。　Thank　God　we　don't　have　children；　Mary　and　I。
　Be　honest；　you　bleed　for　sons　and　daughters　but　you　can't　have　them；　at　least　Mary　can't；　so　the　doctors　say　…　so　you　can't。
　With　an　effort　Armstrong　buried　that　everlasting　curse　again　and　relocked　the　cabinet　and　walked　out；　closing　the　doors　after　him。
　In　the　outer　office　Virginia　Tong　was　polishing　her　nails；　clearly　furious。
　〃Can　you　get　Mr。　Ng　on　the　phone；　please？〃
　〃No；　not　until　four；〃　she　said　sullenly　without　looking　at　him。
　〃Then　please　call　Mr。　Tsu…yan　instead；〃　Armstrong　told　her；　stabbing　in　the　dark。
　Without　looking　up　the　number；　she　dialed；　waited　impatiently；　chatted　gutturally　for　a　moment　in　Cantonese　and　slammed　the　phone　down。　〃He's　away。　He's　out　of　town　and　his　office　doesn't　know　where　he　is。〃
　〃When　did　you　last　see　him？〃
　〃Three　or　four　days　ago。〃　Irritably　she　opened　her　appointments　calendar　and　checked　it。　〃It　was　Friday。〃
　〃Can　I　look　at　that　please？〃
　She　hesitated；　shrugged　and　passed　it　over；　then　went　back　to　polishing　her　nails。
　Quickly　he　scanned　the　weeks　and　the　months。　Lots　of　names　he　knew：　Richard　Kwang；　Jason　Plumm；　Dunross　…　Dunross　several　times　…　Thomas　K。　K。　Lim　…　the　mysterious　American　Chinese　from　next　door　…　Johnjohn　from　the　Victoria　Bank；　Donald　McBride；　Mata　several　times。　Now　who's　Mata？　he　asked　himself；　never　having　heard　the　name　before。　He　was　about　to　give　the　calendar　back　to　her　then　he　flipped　forward。　〃Saturday　10：00　a。m。　…　V。　Banastasio。〃　His　heart　twisted。　This　ing　Saturday。
　He　said　nothing；　just　put　the　appointment　calendar　back　on　her　desk；　and　leaned　back　against　one　of　the　files；　lost　in　thought。　She　paid　no　attention　to　him。　The　door　opened。
　〃Excuse　me；　sir；　phone　for　you！〃　Sergeant　Yat　said。　He　was　looking　much　happier　so　Armstrong　knew　the　negotiation　must　have　been　fruitful。　He　would　have　liked　to　know　how　much；　exactly；　but　then；　face　would　be　involved　and　he　would　have　to　take　action；　one　way　or　another。
　〃All　right；　Sergeant；　stay　here　till　I　get　back；〃　he　said；　wanting　to　make　sure　no　secret　phone　calls　were　made。　Virginia　Tong　did　not　look　up　as　he　left。
　In　the　other　office　Bucktooth　Lo　was　still　moaning；　nursing　his　hand；　and　the　other　man；　Big　Hands　Tak；　was　pretending　to　be　nonchalant；　going　through　some　papers；　loudly　berating　his　secretary　for　her　inefficiency。　As　he　came　in　both　men　started　loudly　protesting　their　continued　innocence　and　Lo　groaned　with　increasing　vigor。
　〃Quiet！　Why　did　you　jam　your　fingers　in　the　drawer？〃　Armstrong　asked　and　added　without　waiting　for　a　reply；　〃People　who　try　to　bribe　honest　policemen　deserve　to　be　deported　at　once。〃　In　the　aghast　silence　he　picked　up　the　phone。　〃Armstrong。〃
　〃Hello；　Robert；　this　is　Don；　Don　Smyth　at　East　Aberdeen　。。。〃
　〃Oh；　hello！〃　Armstrong　was　startled；　not　expecting　to　hear　from　the　Snake；　but　he　kept　his　voice　polite　though　he　loathed　him　and　loathed　what　he　was　suspected　of　doing　within　his　jurisdiction。　It　was　one　thing　for　constables　and　the　lower　ranks　of　Chinese　police　to　supplement　their　ine　from　illicit　gambling。　It　was　another　for　a　British　officer　to　sell　influence；