A Lotus For Miss Quon Part 6

aWake up!a Steve had said sharply, shaking her arm. aItas simple enough, isnat it?a Because she was afraid to excite his contempt, she had nodded dumbly.

aAnd you mustnat tell anyone about the diamonds,a he went on, lowering his voice. aNo one. You understand that, donat you?a Again she nodded.

He made a movement of exasperation, then stood up and began to pace up and down the small room.

aIall want some cigarettes,a he said. aGet me two hundred Luckies. I expect youall find a bus that comes out here this afternoon, and donat forget to bring a newspaper with you.a Again she nodded.

aIall probably have decided by the time you come again what Iam to do,a he went on. aBe careful of Blackie Lee. Heas certain to ask questions. Iave got to decide if I can trust him or not. If he questions you, be careful you donat let on where I am.a He had looked around the small, skimpily furnished room. The quicker Iam out of this dump the better, but I mustnat take risks . . . You rest for a while. You have nearly an hour before the bus goes. Iam going to get rid of those two bicycles.a He had started for the door. In a panic, Nhan had flung her arms around him.

aDonat leave me,a she had begged. aIam frightened! Isnat there some other way? Wouldnat it be better to go to the police? If you gave them the . . .a aStop it!a he had said roughly, pus.h.i.+ng her away. aI told you: not a word about the diamonds! Iam keeping them! Do what Iam telling you and itall work out all right!a He had left her, her head in her hands, hopeless in her misery.

Ten minutes before the bus was due to leave, just when it was beginning to get light, he had returned. He had told her he had dumped the two bicycles in the river.

As the bus arrived at the Saigon Central Market, she thought of her parting with him. He had suddenly become tender, but his tenderness hadnat reduced her terror. With him she was sure she could face anything, but to have to cope with this deception alone filled her with hopeless despair.

As she hurried along the narrow streets towards her apartment, wondering how she could persuade her mother and her uncle to believe the lies she had to tell, Colonel On-dinh-Khuc was completing his instructions to Inspector NgocLinh.

He was saying that he had reason to believe that the American, Steve Jaffe, hadnat been kidnapped by the Viet Minh. For reasons as yet unknown, Jaffe had murdered his houseboy. That was an established fact. It would be very convenient for Jaffe if it were believed he had been kidnapped. There was a possibility that Jaffe had gone into hiding and would attempt to leave the country, he must be prevented from doing so.

The Inspector was to make inquiries. He was to satisfy the Colonel that either Jaffe had been kidnapped or was hiding. If he was in hiding, the Inspector was to discover his hiding place. When the hiding place was discovered, he was to make no move to arrest the American. He was to tell the Colonel where the American was hiding and the Colonel would then decide what action to take.

Dong-Ham and My-Lang-To were to be taken to Security Police Headquarters. They were to talk to no one, but put in separate cells and to remain under lock and key until the Colonel interrogated them personally. Any information he obtained from them would be pa.s.sed on to the Inspector to a.s.sist him in his search for the American.

The Colonel would report to the President that the American had been kidnapped, and no doubt, the President would have this information conveyed to the American Amba.s.sador. The Inspector should understand it would be against the interests of the State for the American Amba.s.sador to be told that Jaffe had murdered his houseboy. This unfortunate incident must remain a secret, and the Colonel would hold the Inspector responsible for keeping it a secret.

There was a pause, then the Colonel went on, aThe body of the houseboy must be discovered near the police post. It will be presumed that he was with the American when they were attacked by the bandits. While the American was kidnapped, the boy was killed. Is that understood?a Inspector NgocLinhas small black eyes flickered, but he said stolidly, aIt is understood, sir.a He watched Colonel Khuc and Lam-Than leave the villa, get into the police car and drive away. As soon as they had gone, he relaxed and moved around the room, his brown face puzzled. Then he looked at the picture on the wall. He pulled up a chair, stepped up on it and raised the picture. He stared at the hole in the wall, then he settled the picture back in its place, replaced the chair and moved thoughtfully across the room and into the kitchen.

On the other side of the town in a small spa.r.s.ely-furnished room, Nhan squatted in front of her mother and her uncle and explained for the second time what they were to say if the police questioned them about her whereabouts the previous night.

Nhanas mother was a tiny woman of forty-six. She had on a shabby wrap and her hair hung loose, framing her dried-up wrinkled face. She looked a lot older than her years. Her husband had been a waiter at the Majestic Hotel. He had been killed in a road accident some years ago and she had had a struggle to keep the home together which she had done by selling flowers in the market. It had been a fortunate thing when Blackie Lee had come to her and suggested that Nhan should work at his club. Since Nhan had been at the club, her mother had given up flower selling. She had even invited her brother to live with them.

Her brother was considerably older than her. He was a fat, stupid man who told fortunes outside the Tomb of Marshal Le-van-Duyet. He wasnat a good fortune teller and consequently he made very little money. He was glad to have free board and lodging.

aIf the police come here,a Nhan said, speaking slowly, ayou must say that I came home at eleven and went to bed. It is most important that you should say this.a Her uncle squinted at her, frowning.

aHow can I say such a thing when you were out all night?a he finally asked. aI was here all the evening. Your bed hasnat been slept in.a aThat is true,a Nhanas mother said. aLies lead to trouble. We donat want trouble in this house.a aIf you donat tell this lie,a Nhan said desperately, athere will be bad trouble in this house.a Her uncle put his hand under his coat and scratched his ribs.

aIf the police question me,a he said obstinately, aI shall say you were out all night. In this way I shall not become involved in your trouble. Your mother must also tell the truth. I have always thought that American would get you into trouble. I wish to have nothing to do with the matter.a aIf you donat do what I am asking you to do,a Nhan said hopelessly, aI shall lose my job and go to prison. There will be no money in the house at the end of the week and my mother will have to sell flowers again.a Her uncle blinked. This he hadnat thought of. He might even have to leave this comfortable home.

aNo matter how wicked your daughter is, it would not be right for her to lose her job,a he said after some thought, addressing Nhanas mother. aBesides, you have your sons to consider. If there is no money, who will feed them? Perhaps, after all, it would be better to tell this lie.a Her mother had no wish to sell flowers again. With a show of reluctance, she agreed that perhaps her brother was right.

Watching them, Nhan saw with relief she had used the right tactics.

aThen if the police ask you you will tell them I returned at eleven and remained in bed all night?a she asked.

aIf it will save this house the disgrace of you going to prison,a her uncle returned, athen we are compelled to tell this lie.a He turned to his sister. aBring me the bamboo stick. This girl has a wicked devil in her. It is my duty to you and to your sons to drive this devil out of her.a Her mother got up and went to the cupboard where the bamboo stick was kept. Her brother used the stick often on her three sons. She felt it was right for him now to use on her daughter.

II.

Colonel On-dinh-Khuc bit into an apple while he studied the typed questionnaire Lam-Tham had handed to him.

The time was fifteen minutes past eight a.m. Much had been done since he had returned to headquarters. Dong Ham and My-Lang-To had been questioned. Haumas body had been taken to the shattered police post and had been planted in the ditch near where the two Viet Minh bodies had been found. The Presidentas private secretary had been informed that the American had been kidnapped. The American Amba.s.sador in his turn had been informed. Three officers of the U.S. Military Police had gone to the scene of the outrage where they busied themselves taking photographs, examining the Chrysler and consulting with the Vietnam police.

The Colonel munched his apple as he studied Dong-Hamas replies to the questions put to him by Lam-Than.

aNot much here,a he said finally, putting the paper down on his desk. aWe had better find this girl he mentions. She aprobably knows nothing, but wead better make sure. Someone is bound to know who she is and where she lives. Tell NgocLinh to inquire at this club. Theyall probably know her name.a Lam-Than inclined his head.

The Colonel dropped the apple core into the waste paper basket.

aNothing of any value in the girlas report,a he went on. aIt is unfortunate she insists that the houseboy is still in the villa. The old cook seems to think so too.a He looked up at Lam-Than. aWhen it is known the boy went with the American and was killed by the Viet Minh, these two could make difficulties. If the American police have an opportunity to question them, the situation could become involved.a Lam-Than had already thought of this difficulty.

aThe old man has no relations,a he said. aThere would be no complications if he met with an accident. The girl has a mother and father, but providing the matter is handled with care she could also be removed without difficulty.a The Colonel stroked his fleshy jowls.

aIall leave it to you,a he said. aArrange something. It is better for the State to have no complications.a Lam-Than inclined his head. He picked up the two questionnaires and went out of the room.

A little after eleven oaclock, Inspector NgocLinh arrived at the Paradise Club.

He was seen getting out of his car by Yu-lan, who pressed a b.u.t.ton which lit up a red light in Blackieas office, a warning that prepared him for the Inspectoras visit.

The Inspector found him reading the morningas newspaper.

Blackie rose to his feet, bowed and offered the Inspector a chair. Yulan came in with two gla.s.ses of tea which she placed on the desk. She bowed and smiled at the Inspector who bowed in return, his face expressionless.

When she had gone, the Inspector sipped his tea, pa.s.sed a complimentary remark about its quality, then seeing Blackie was waiting, he said, aYou know an American gentleman: Mr. Jaffe?a This was something Blackie was not expecting to be asked.

However his face remained bland and smiling although his mind was startled. He immediately remembered Jaffeas strange hints about obtaining a false pa.s.sport. Now here was the police officer inquiring about him.

aAh yes,a Blackie said. aHe comes here quite often.a aWas he here last night?a aYes, I believe he was.a aWhat time was this?a aAbout nine oaclock. I canat say I noticed the exact time.a So Jaffe had been here, the Inspector thought, five hours after he had murdered the houseboy. What had he done in the meantime?

There was a pause, then Blackie asked, aHas something happened to this gentleman? I should be sorry if it had.a aHe has been kidnapped by Viet Minh bandits. You will read about it in tomorrowas newspapers.a To say Blackie was astonished would be an understatement. He stared at the Inspector in bewilderment.

aKidnapped by Viet Minh bandits?a he repeated. aWhere was this then?a aYou will read about it in tomorrowas newspapers,a the Inspector said curtly. aThere are certain things we wish to know about the American. What is the name of the woman he a.s.sociated with here?a Blackieas eyes went dull. He reached for a cigarette and lit it.

aHe a.s.sociated with no particular girl,a he said. aHe came here and hired any girl to dance with him he happened to fancy.a aI have reasons to believe he favoured one particular woman,a the Inspector said. aI want to know her name.a aIf I could help you, I would,a Blackie said, bowing. aBut I had no idea he was a.s.sociating with one particular girl.a aHis servant says a girl used to come to his house two or three times a week,a the Inspector said, staring hard at Blackie. aHe used to come to this club quite often. It is reasonable to a.s.sume he met the girl here.a aI should be surprised if he did,a Blackie said. aMy girls donat sleep with Americans. It is possible he met this girl at some other club.a aThe girl has to be found quickly,a the Inspector said and got to his feet. aExtensive inquiries will be made. Are you quite sure you donat know the girl? I ask you again because if later it is found that you did know her and you withheld this information deliberately from us, you will be in serious trouble. It would be a simple matter to close this club.a Blackie was quite certain none of the girls working at the club would give Nhan away. The few Americans who came to the club probably had seen Jaffe with Nhan, but they wouldnat know her name. He felt reasonably safe in refusing to be bluffed by the Inspector.

aIf it will a.s.sist you, I will make some inquiries myself,a he said blandly. aIt is possible someone I know will be able to help. If I get the girlas name I will telephone you.a The Inspector had to be content with that. When he had gone, Blackie left the club and took a pousse-pousse to the house where Nhan lived. The time was a little after noon: a good time to call. Nhanas uncle was at the Temple and her mother was with a neighbour across the street.

He knocked on the door. After waiting a few moments, he knocked again. Nhan opened the door. He could see at once that she had been crying and she seemed in a very nervy and frightened state.

aI want to talk to you,a Blackie said and moved into the room. aThe police called on me this morning, making inquiries about the American.a Nahn stared at him, backing away, her eyes wide with terror.

Without appearing to notice her terror, he went on, aThey asked me the name of the girl who goes to his villa.a Nhan leaned against the wall. She put her trembling hands behind her, out of sight. She continued to stare at Blackie. She seemed unable to speak.

aThey told me the American has been kidnapped by bandits,a Blackie went on. aThis I do not believe. I decided to see you first before I told them you are the girl they are looking for.a Nhan closed her eyes, then slowly opened them. She still said nothing.

Blackie waited for a few moments, then asked, aWere you with him last night?a Nhan nodded.

aWhat has happened to him?a aWe drove to the river and we talked until eleven oaclock. He drove me home and I then went to bed,a Nhan said in a quavering voice: the words came out so automatically Blackie was sure she had rehea.r.s.ed and rehea.r.s.ed them.

aWhere is he now?a There was a long pause before she said, aI donat know.a The fact that she looked so quickly away from him, told him she was lying.

He took out his cigarette case, selected a cigarette and lit it. During this pause, he continued to stare at her and she seemed to shrivel under his stare.

aThe police are anxious to find him,a he said. aThey threaten me with trouble if I donat tell them your name. If you know where he is and if you didnat see him after eleven oaclock last night, I see no reason why I shouldnat give them your name.a Nhan stiffened. Her face blanched, but she said nothing.

aIf the police think you are lying,a Blackie said, athey will persuade you to tell the truth. They have a number of ways of persuading people to tell things they donat wish to tell. Even the bravest people finally tell them what they want to know.a He paused and asked quietly, aAre you very brave, Nhan?a She shuddered.

aPlease donat tell them,a she whispered.

aYou know where he is?a She hesitated, then squaring her shoulders and looking directly at him, she said, aNo, I donat,a but the tone of her voice was so unconvincing that Blackie felt sorry for her.

He drew on his cigarette and released a cloud of smoke down his nostrils.

aLast night, the American came to me and asked me if I could get him a false pa.s.sport. He didnat say it was for himself, but I am sure it was. This told me he wants to leave the country and also that he is in trouble. I donat believe he has been kidnapped. I think he is hiding somewhere. Without help, he will eventually be found. It is possible I could help him, but before I do help him, I should want to know what the trouble is and how much he would pay for my help. If the trouble is very bad, the payment naturally would be high. It is possible he will get into touch with you. If he does, will you tell him I am anxious to help him?a Nhan remained frozen. She didnat say anything, but by the way her dark eyes flickered Blackie was satisfied that she had understood what he had said. He got to his feet.

aI think it would be unwise for you to come to the club for a few days,a he said. aIf you need any money, I will be happy to finance you. If you see the American, please donat forget to tell hint what I have said.a Then as she still said nothing, he put on his hat, nodded to her and walked slowly down the stairs into the hot street.

He paused for a moment on the edge of the kerb, a puzzled frown on his face, then waving to a pa.s.sing pousse-pousse, he told the boy to take him back to the club.

chapter seven.

I.

While Blackie Lee was being conveyed back to his club in the pousse-pousse, a curious scene was being enacted at the Headquarters of Security Police.

At the back of the Headquarters building where the police cars were garaged, there was a narrow lane screened on one side by the high brick wall that surrounded the Headquartersa building and on the other side by a high, thick hedge.

This narrow lane was seldom used except by a few peasants, taking a short cut to the General Market.

At a few minutes past noon, two uniformed policemen opened the double gates of the garage yard and walked briskly down to the far ends of the lane. There they stood with their backs to each other, separated by fifty yards of dusty gravel roadway. They had been given strict orders to stop anyone using the lane for the next twenty minutes.

While they were taking up their positions, another uniformed policeman, thin and boyish-looking, got into a police jeep and started up the engine. Anyone looking at him closely would have seen that he was sweating profusely and his brown face revealed a tension that seemed unnatural for the simple job he appeared to be doing.

At exactly fifteen minutes past twelve, just as Blackie Lee was paying off the pousse-pousse boy, My-Lang-To who had been sitting in a hot dark cell for the past three hours, heard a key grate in the lock and the lock snap back.

She got to her feet as the steel door swung open. A uniformed policemen beckoned to her.

aYou are no longer required,a the policeman said. aYou can go home.a My-Lang-To came timidly out of the dark heat into the sunlit corridor.

aIs there no news of my fianc?a she asked. aHas he been found?a The policeman took her thin arm in a hard grip and pushed her down the corridor and into a courtyard where a number of police jeeps were parked.

aWhen we have news of your fianc, you will be told,a he said and pointed to the open gateway. aThat is your way out. Be satisfied that you have your freedom.a There was something in the manas voice that frightened the girl. She suddenly felt an urge to get away from this place: a frantic urge that stifled her and made her quicken her steps into a near run.

She made a neat and charming figure in her white tunic sheath, her white silk trousers and her conical straw hat as she hurried across the sun-filled courtyard.

The policeman sitting in the jeep, its engine running, s.h.i.+fted the gear stick into first gear. Sweat from his face fell onto the white sleeves of his immaculate jacket.

My-Lang-To pa.s.sed through the open gateway and into the lane. She turned to the right and began the long walk to the main street. Ahead of her, she saw the back of a policeman who was standing at the top of the lane.

She walked rapidly for some twenty yards before she heard the sound of a fast moving car coming up behind her. She looked over her shoulder at the police jeep that had swung out through the open gateway and was coming straight at her.

She stepped to one side and leaned against the wall to give the jeep room to pa.s.s. It was only in the last brief seconds of her life that she realized the driver of the jeep had no intention of pa.s.sing her. He suddenly swung the wheel and before My-Lang-To could move, the steel b.u.mper of the jeep slammed into her, crus.h.i.+ng her against the wall. Neither of the policemen at the far ends of the lane looked around when he heard My-Lang-Toas scream. They had been told not to look around. They heard the jeep reverse and drive back to the courtyard, then there was a long silence in the lane.

Following instructions, they moved off into the main streets and went about their daily routine, but neither of them could blot from his mind the shrill scream of terror they had heard.

My-Lang-Toas body was found ten minutes later by a pa.s.sing peasant who was hurrying to the market with a load of vegetables skilfully balanced on a bamboo pole which he carried on his shoulder.

He stared for some horrified minutes at the crumpled figure and the white nylon sheath dyed red with blood before he dropped the bamboo pole and ran frantically to the gates of Security Police and hammered on them as he wailed out his discovery.

While My-Lang-To was walking to her death, in another quarter of Security Police, Dong-Ham was also about to die.

He was sitting in his small cell, nervously picking at the lump of hard skin on his hand when the cell door opened.

Two men, wearing only khaki shorts came in. One carried a large bucket of water which he set down in the middle of the cell. His companion beckoned to the old man to stand up.

Dong-Ham knew he was going to die. He stood up quietly and bravely. He allowed himself to be upended by the two men who handled him with the skill of experienced executioners. He didnat even attempt to struggle as they inserted his head into the bucket of water and held it there. He drowned after a few minutes with scarcely a movement. He was a man who accepted the inevitable with the belief that death was a release into a better world and that at his age, this release should be welcomed.

The man who had caused the death of these two simple people was lying full length on three narrow planks of wood, staring bleakly up at the wooden ceiling and smoking a cigarette. Jaffe kept looking at his watch. It would be another three hours before Nhan came with some news. He could hear her grandfather moving about in the downstairs room. He hoped the old man wouldnat come up and start talking again. He had had more than enough of him.

Anyway, Jaffe told himself, he was lucky to be here. The house stood alone. The nearest building was fifty yards down the road: a big lacquer factory. He had looked out of the window during the morning while the old man had been talking to him. Very few cars had pa.s.sed: the majority of them full of tourists going to see over the factory. He thought he would be reasonably safe here so long as he didnat show himself.

He now turned his mind to the problem of getting out of the country. He had already decided reluctantly that he would have to ask Blackie Lee to help him. He wished he knew how far he could trust the fat Chinese. There was a chance once Blackie knew the reason why he was in hiding that he would attempt to blackmail him.

He rolled on his side, grimacing at the hardness of the planks and took from his pocket the tin box containing the diamonds. He opened the box and examined the diamonds, feeling a surge of excitement run through him again at the sight of their brilliance. He counted them. There were fifty large stones and a hundred and twenty smaller ones. There was no doubt they were the highest quality. Carefully he picked one out of the tin and held it up to the light. He had no idea of its value, but it couldnat be less than six hundred dollars. It could be considerably more.

While he lay daydreaming of how he would spend the money once he had sold the diamonds, Blackie Lee was busy using the telephone. He rang several numbers before he finally tracked down Tung Whu, a newspaper reporter who wrote for the local Chinese newspaper.

Tung Whu didnat sound very pleased to speak to Blackie Lee, but that was of no importance to Blackie. Tung Whu owed him twenty thousand piastres which he had borrowed to meet an urgent gambling debt. He was therefore under an obligation to Blackie who up to now had told Tung Whu there was no hurry for the money.