“And you’re crazy.” She sat down in the seat and buckled up as the plane took off. “Water sprite, I’m not. But Gallo was right, we do have to talk. What did you pick up on that island?”
“I always enjoy conversation with you.” He paused. “As long as it’s the topic of my choice.”
“Bullshit.”
“Let me elaborate. You have caused me to realize that it may be more dangerous keeping you at a distance than to let you help me. I will consider changing my mind about involving you, but that decision is not yet made.” His voice was silken but iron firm. “Until that time, we will not speak about it.”
She gazed at him with frustration. “You’re not being fair. What would you do if it was me who—”
“The same as you. But I don’t have to be fair. I only have to be right.” His gaze went to the cockpit. “John Gallo is interesting. Of course, I knew he would be when I did my research on him.”
“Research?”
“Naturally, when he showed up at your hotel room, I had to know what kind of man he was. So I made phone calls and delved deep.” He smiled faintly. “I had to go very, very deep. His background is exceptionally obscure. But very interesting, and I can see that there are close ties between you. I’m sure it has some connection to your feeling for your friend, Eve Duncan, but I don’t sense that same kind of bond. I’ll have to examine him and see if I approve.”
“And when did your approval ever make a difference to me?”
“Whenever you make the admission that it does.”
It was the truth of course. “He’s only here because he thinks he owes me a debt.”
“Gratitude is an admirable quality. And the other reason?”
“He doesn’t like Nardik. He thinks the world would be a better place without him.”
“I’m beginning to appreciate his judgment. And I already thought his innovative flair was commendable. He’s starting to grow on me. Though I’ve always thought that expression brought to mind leeches or parasites.” His expression was thoughtful. “But I don’t believe Gallo could ever be a parasite. What else he could be is questionable. I was told at one time he was thought to be mad.”
“After seven years of torture and imprisonment, anyone would be a little unbalanced. He survived and got over it.”
“Is that what he says?”
She was silent a moment. “No, he says he still has moments of uncontrollable rage. Who wouldn’t, dammit?”
“I’m not attacking him.” His lips curled in the slightest smile. “You’re defending him.”
“He was honest with me. And I’ve never seen him in a situation where he couldn’t control himself.”
“But that time might come. I’d be curious to see what your reaction would be.”
“It would depend on the situation.” She smiled recklessly. “We both know that I’m not always entirely balanced in my own attitudes if my emotions are involved.”
“No, you can’t be cool if you care about someone.”
“I don’t care about Gallo,” she said quickly.
“I was speaking of my humble self.” His hand touched his chest. “Since I regard our relationship as the only one of importance to me. The rest is just curiosity and amusement.”
“I don’t believe you feel either curiosity or amusement about Nardik. If you did, you’d have no objection to telling me what’s happening with him.”
His smile vanished. “It started out as curiosity. Supreme wickedness has always intrigued me. A man has to cross so many barriers to reach that level. But then, when I discovered he was Lucifer, I realized that I had to step back before he touched me.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Sin. We’re all so close to the edge. One touch, the right touch, would send us over. And as I studied Nardik, I realized that he takes everyone with him on the journey. He reaches out and touches and the mark can never be erased and the evil spreads and spreads. Particularly in a man like me.”
She felt a chill, then immediately shrugged it off. She shook her head emphatically. “You’re wrong. He’s a man like any other. No, he’s more egotistical, and that’s a fault that can be used against him. So stop talking nonsense.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “Whatever you decree. I didn’t think I was talking nonsense. I thought I was being deep and philosophical. Why can I never impress you, Catherine?”
“You do impress me. You impress me with your stubbornness and your sheer contrariness.” She paused. “And with your inability to realize that we’ve been together for too long to sit on the sidelines when one of us is in trouble. You’ve never closed me out before. Why now?”
“Because I may have made a mistake, and I can’t have you or your son hurt because of it,” he said quietly. “That’s why I told Venable not to bring you into this.”
“What mistake?”
He didn’t answer.
“I am in this,” she said fiercely. “It’s too late. Gallo said his informants told him that I was already targeted.”
“And you made certain by that display in the restaurant. If you hadn’t put on such a splendid show, I would have been really furious with you.”
“You were there?” She frowned. She had been able to sense Hu Chang in the woods on the island. Why hadn’t she known he was in that restaurant? “I didn’t realize that.”
“I was careful.” He inclined his head. “And you were distracted. Both when you were talking to Gallo and when you decided to fling the gauntlet down to Nardik.”
“It was a wineglass.”
“Don’t quibble.”
“Anyway, you shouldn’t have been anywhere around me. Nardik would have been on the watch for you. That’s why Jack Tan went on the attack at the shop.”
“And you shouldn’t have gone to the shop or the island or come to Hong Kong at all.” He waved his hand. “We will not argue. I am always correct, and I would not have you feel less than you are. I will meditate and come to my decision.” He leaned back and closed his eyes before saying softly, “You were truly splendid in the restaurant when you were confronting Nardik. Bold and blazing with defiance. I was proud of you.”
And the fact that he admitted to that pride filled her with warmth. The words completely disarmed her. He’d probably known they would.
“Yes,” he answered her unspoken thought. “But just because affection and admiration is spoken, it doesn’t mean that it’s not true. I’ve been proud of you since the moment we came together and became one in friendship. It’s like being proud of myself.”
She wanted to reach out and touch his hand, but that would be a weakness she couldn’t allow herself. “But you certainly have no lack of pride in that direction.”
“I deserve it. First comes intellect, then comes labor, then comes pride. Now hush while I go over possible consequences of your intervention.”
She thought about it, then decided that she had made her argument and stated her intentions. It would be best to give him the time he requested, then go after him again if the result of that meditation didn’t meet with her approval.
She gazed out the window at the sea below her. “We’ll be arriving at Hong Kong in less than twenty minutes, Hu Chang.”
He didn’t answer, and she knew that he was already involved in the process of weighing results and consequences as he had said he would do. She had seen him in this state of complete absorption many times before.
She just hoped that total absorption would bring the result she so desperately wanted.
* * *
“IS HE SLEEPING?” GALLO HAD come out of the cockpit. “Wake him up. We’re going to land.”
“I’m awake.” Hu Chang opened his eyes. “I assume you did not allow the pilot to fly to the same area where he usually lands?”
“No, he’s landing near the docks at Kowloon,” Gallo said curtly. “I’d be pretty stupid not to figure that Nardik might be able to find out from whom we’d rented the seaplane and se
nd some of his men there to meet us.”
“And you’re not at all stupid, are you? I’m becoming more and more aware that your presence could be an advantage to Catherine. Have you arranged a place for her to stay that would be safe?”
“It’s Catherine’s decision, and she thinks the hotel would be safe.” He was silent a moment. “But if she changes her mind, I found a flat above a tattoo shop on Kowloon that might do for tonight.”
Hu Chang laughed. “You see, Catherine, I like a man who comes to the table prepared.”
Gallo met his eyes. “And I come prepared to stop you if you try to split after we land. I’m not having Catherine put her head on the chopping block again just to find you. We both know she’d do it.”
“I fear that’s true.” He paused, then nodded. “And so the threat is greater if I don’t allow her to go after Nardik than if I do. Therefore, the decision is made.” He turned to Catherine. “And I have to live with my mistake. You’re sure that this is the way you want it?”
“What mistake?” Gallo asked.
“You’ll both know in time.” His gaze was holding Catherine’s. “It will be very ugly, and you will not like it. You’re sure?”
“You know I am.”
He nodded soberly. “You always were sure once you made up your mind. I believe the question was to make me feel better about opening this door.” He turned back to Gallo. “You have a plan to go after Nardik?”
“I’m working on it. It will take a little while to pull it together.”
“From the reports I’ve had, you’re singularly effective whether you have a plan or just act spontaneously. This cannot be spontaneous. There is too much at stake.” He turned to Catherine. “And the first thing you must do is call your Sam O’Neill and tell him he must get additional protection for your son. Nardik will go after you any way he can.”
“I know that,” she said shortly. “I called home again after I went back to my room after the restaurant incident. Before that, I was just a way to get his hands on you. I made it personal. Sam is calling on some of his CIA buddies to stake out the house and keep Luke safe. He’s going to try to keep Luke and Kelly in the dark about what’s going on.”
“Very good. No need to disturb the children.” He nodded. “Though Luke is a child only in years. Still, every vestige of childhood is precious. I was thinking that when he was helping me in my lab when he was here. He was cheated of his childhood and deserves to have it back.”
“Too late,” Catherine said. “It doesn’t matter what he deserves; all I can do is help give him the best life I can.”
“And you will,” he said gently. “But we must make sure that his life is preserved so that you can do it.”
Just talking about Luke’s being in danger was causing her to start to panic. “Why are you telling me this? Do you think I don’t know? Let’s just go after Nardik. We take him out, and he can’t give any orders to even touch Luke.”
“It may not be easy to take him out even though you have such fine help in Gallo. But I may be able to point the way in his direction.”
“How?” Gallo asked.
“We’ll discuss it later.” The plane was skipping over the surface of the water now. “I believe we’ve landed. I trust you’ve seen fit to protect our pilot?”
“I told him Thailand was beautiful this time of year and gave him a bonus to keep him happy there for a while.”
“Excellent. You’re spending a good deal of money on my behalf. Of course, I’m worth it, but I still appreciate your generosity.”
“How are you going to help me get Nardik?” he asked again.
“Catherine, tell Gallo that I’m not to be coerced.”
“I’m asking, not coercing.” Gallo went to the door and flung it open. “You’d know the difference.” He gestured to Catherine to precede him. “The hotel or the tattoo shop, Catherine?”
“The hotel is no longer secure,” Hu Chang answered for her. “And the tattoo shop is a fair idea, but Catherine would attract attention on the streets. People remember her face. I will take you to a place that is more secluded. It’s a palace belonging to a friend who owes me a service. You will find it charming.”
Gallo ignored him. “Catherine?”
Catherine hesitated. Then she shrugged. “I’ve never stayed at a palace before. Why not? And I don’t care about charming as long as it’s secure.”
“It’s as secure as Gallo will make it,” Hu Chang said as he got to his feet. “And I’m certain he will take extraordinary measures to make it safe since he has little trust in anyone but himself.”
Hu Chang was slyly baiting Gallo, Catherine thought with frustration. And Gallo had been difficult and combative since the moment Hu Chang had appeared out of those woods on the island. She supposed she couldn’t expect anything else since it had been her action that had stirred the conflict.
“Right,” Gallo said as he jumped on the dock and reached up to swing Catherine down beside him. “Sometimes extraordinary measures are the only thing that works. I don’t like palaces any more than I do hotels. I prefer small spaces that can be controlled.” He gave Hu Chang a cool glance. “Okay, where the hell is this palace?”
CHAPTER
11
“IT LOOKS MORE LIKE A TEMPLE than a palace,” Catherine said, as Hu Chang drove the sleek blue speedboat closer to the large red-roofed structure on the bank. “It even has the high walls and the bell hung at the gate.”
“It was a Buddhist temple at one time. But when it was abandoned after it fell into disrepair, it was sold by the Chinese government to the highest bidder.” He cut the engines and threw the rope to the young Chinese boy on the dock. “Then it was only a question of repair and restoration. It took Chen Lu nine years, but she managed to fulfill its potential.”
“Nine years and a fortune I’d imagine,” Gallo said as he stepped out of the boat and helped Catherine to the dock.
“Oh, yes. They call this place the Golden Palace. That bell in the belfry is gold. It’s ten karat because it has to be durable, but she couldn’t resist. And there are golden vases and doorknobs all over the place. Chen Lu isn’t afraid of being ostentatious.”
“And who is Chen Lu?” Gallo asked.
“No one threatening. You don’t have to go into battle mode.” He rang the bell at the gates. “You’ll meet her in a few moments. I called her while we were approaching to make sure we’d be welcome.”
“That’s short notice.”
“It was a mere courtesy. She will not object. We have an understanding.”
“An understanding?” Catherine’s eyes brightened with sudden curiosity. “Is she your mistress, Hu Chang?”
His brows rose. “Why would you think that?”
“I don’t think anything. You’ve just never introduced me to a woman with whom you have an ‘understanding.’ You’re always very secretive with me about your relationships.”
“And shall continue to be. Chen Lu deserves my discretion. You must decide for yourself if—”
“Hu Chang!” The door was thrown open by a white-haired woman in a gold caftan. “I should have you tossed into the harbor. You’ve not come to see me in over three months.” She turned to Catherine. “You must be Catherine Ling. I’m Chen Lu Moriarty. Welcome to my home.”
“Thank you.” She was as startled by the small, slim woman’s exuberance as she was by her appearance. She had been expecting someone of Chinese descent, but she had been wrong. Not only were those words of greetings spoken with an Irish accent, but Chen Lu’s irregular but fascinating features were definitely Caucasian. Her hair, worn in a high chignon, was snow-white but she couldn’t have been more than in her late forties or early fifties. Her skin was firm and without lines, and her blue eyes were sparkling with enthusiasm in a face whose turned-up nose and slightly winged brows gave her a roguish charm. But the vitality and vigor that she carried with her was like a strong breeze that swept all other impressions aside. “This is John Gallo, M
adame Moriarty.”
“Come in. Come in.” She stepped aside. “Call me Chen Lu. Everyone does. My husband loved everything Chinese, and started calling me that when we first moved here. After he died, it was easier to keep the status quo.” She turned to Hu Chang. “You said trouble. How much?”
“A good deal. I am wanted by an exceptionally bad man who wishes to pluck me bare, then kill me.” He nodded at Catherine. “And she brings you additional problems. She has seen fit to antagonize him.”
She frowned. “Who is he?”
“Hugh Nardik.”
“Never heard of him.”
“That is to your great benefit and the fact that you spend so much time within these handsome walls.” He shut the door behind him. “Where is Rory? Gallo will wish him to show him all over the palace. He is very protective of Catherine.”
“But not of you?” Her gaze was studying each of them shrewdly, weighing words and expressions. “Doesn’t he realize your value?”
“Catherine has been trying to convince him I’m worth all this bother.”
“Oh, you’re worth it,” she said softly.
“You’ll forgive me, but he has to prove it to me,” Gallo said coolly. “Who is this Rory?”
“Rory Benedict, my nephew. He’s sort of my majordomo,” she said. “I love the Chinese, but I need someone around me who has the same roots. Rory is in the garden teaching a history class for the servants’ children. They go to school in the city, but I prefer they don’t get the twisted version that’s served up there.” She glanced at the man coming down the hall. “Here he is. Rory, this is Catherine Ling, a friend of Hu Chang. And this is John Gallo.”
“Delighted to meet you.” Benedict gave them a beaming smile. He appeared to be a man in his late thirties or early forties, with curly red hair and the same blue eyes as his aunt. “It will be good to have company. Chen Lu loves to show off the palace.”
“And so do you.” Chen Lu gave him an affectionate smile. “Don’t pretend you don’t love every stick of it. But Mr. Gallo is concerned about the security of the palace.”