21.

It was a hard, ugly room, full of hard ugly people, not even the high-end designer furnishings could hide that fact. Karyn walked in. Took a look around, noted the angular deco floor lamps, the heavy oversized office desk, and the triple glazed patio windows looking out to the ocean. "You are really going to have to work on your back of house experience when your people take over the world Calista."

Calista Johnston pulled her silver cigarette case from her handbag and said smoothly, "Our people all ready rule the world Karyn. Our purpose is merely to liberate them from the shackles of Big Government. You of all people should understand that. She extracted a cigarette, thoughtfully, from the case and fired it up with a hot burst of butane.

"She's packing a weapon, you know that don't you?" blurted Congo his face burning with barely concealed loathing. "Probably wearing a wire too."

Calista Johnston took a pull on her cigarette. "Please, Ted. Ms. Kane here works for the United States Government, of course she carries a weapon, although I cannot imagine why, when she is surrounded by friends."

Congo opened his mouth to protest, then thought better of it. He paused, then said, "I should go through her bag at the very least, she..."

"Really, Ted. I strongly urge you to mind your manners. Ms. Kane-Karyn, is our guest. Still, I suppose a tenacious nature is a prerequisite of your profession, is it not?

Congo took a step back, his eyes popping with anger.

The distant sounds of Deng Tao's voice, booming over the public address system, filtered into the room, mixing seamlessly with the heady atmosphere of nicotine and testosterone. Congo eased back reluctantly, positioning himself by the door, whilst his thuggish cronies monopolized a set of grey plastic- stacko chairs. The goons looked uncomfortable, like they would rather be home watching the big game, or drowning down suds at the local strip-joint, rather than baby-sitting some rich old lady and her schmantzy government pal. Karyn took a look at each of them in turn, making sure she could pick them out in a parade, if she ever got the chance. If being the operative word, because she was now working this gig as above the line as it was possible to be, without her cover being blown wide open.

Watching Calista Johnston pace the window, Karyn knew the old-girl was rattled, she had to be, with the bullet-riddled remains of the Honolulu police department's most personable detective splashed all over her private parking garage.

Karyn leaned on the edge of the oversized office desk, hearing the m.u.f.fled applause of the distant crowd, as they soaked up Deng Tao's Power and Freedom routine. Frankly, thought Karyn, she had heard enough. It was like the midget millionaire, or billionaire, or whatever the h.e.l.l he was, had figured himself as the new G.o.d of some hok.u.m hybrid of politics and religion. All that bull about empowerment and freedom would never cut it in the real world. There had to be an angle to this guy, a dirty little secret that went beyond the happy- clappy horses.h.i.t.

The room went silent.

Silent for a long time.

Every one waited, then waited some more. The security guards were exchanging glances now, like they had somewhere else better to go. Congo meanwhile, loomed by the door, his arms folded in a furious knot. He was a hard guy to like by the look of him, but Karyn figured he must have some redeeming features tucked away underneath that ugly exterior. Maybe he had a mom, or a dog, or a penchant for community outreach?

Karyn puzzled over the possibilities Staring at him all the while. He didn't like being looked over. He glared back at her, a hard scowl cutting his brow, his nostrils flaring with barely concealed hate. At length, Karyn pointed at him and said, "I know what it is-You got yourself a female supervisor-don't you, Congo? What is the matter with you, she treat you like the office b.i.t.c.h or something?"

Congo took a sudden step forward.

But Karyn was ready. "You need to watch that att.i.tude you are carrying buster. A hair-trigger temper like that could lead to injury-serious injury." Still leaning against the edge of the desk Karyn gave Congo a cool look, like she could bust him in half any time she wanted.

"You want to keep your big government mouth to yourself Kane, we don't like your kind out here."

"That so," said Karyn, her voice flat and deadly.

There was the sound of prolonged applause from the ballroom now, and a building wave of ecstatic cheers. The final encore had been made. Deng Tao was on his way. Next, a backstage meet and greet and limos to the after-show. Karyn sniffed. The whole scene was getting a little too dramatic for her taste. She smiled quietly to herself. Maybe this moneybags mastermind would be able to throw some insights her way regarding the Tex Johnston murders?

-Footfalls approaching along the corridor.

-A crowd of excited voices.

-The sound of cameras rattling on auto-wind.

The door opened and there he was-Deng Tao.

He stood in the doorway for a moment, blinking in the scene, then gave a bland enigmatic smile that oozed duplicity.

"Ms. Kane, how wonderful to meet you at last," oblivious to anyone, but Karyn, he reached out to shake her hand.

Karyn let the hand hang for a three-count. It was tiny and manicured, almost womanish. Finally, she reached out and the hand enveloped hers. Deng Tao's hand was soft and moist, but the grip was firm, reinforced quickly by a second grasping little hand, closing in around the first, boxing her hand, in a show of a.s.sertiveness. She stared into his eyes. An endless darkness yawned back at her, cold and unfathomable. Here was a man with the pathological need to control. Grasping her hand, she felt as though Deng Tao were s.n.a.t.c.hing at her soul so that he might turn it over in his tight, moist little hands, to consume at his will.

"I have heard much about you," said Karyn. "I understand you work for the government?" said Deng Tao, his light reedy voice, clipped and businesslike.

"I work for the people of the United States of America."

"Deng Tao nodded, "And it is in that key respect that we differ Ms. Kane, for I am a servant of the whole of mankind."

"So I hear," said Karyn. "That is a pretty wide const.i.tuency."

"On the contrary Ms. Kane, mankind is already united. It is the narrow worlds of politics and religion that draw division."

Karyn nodded. "That is a cute sentiment, but I am here to oversee a murder investigation."

"A murder investigation Ms. Kane? I don't know whether to be shocked or excited," said Tao, a ripple of amus.e.m.e.nt ran out amongst his followers.

Karyn gave Tao a flat look, "Murder is no laughing matter Mr. Tao. The deaths at Senator Johnston's apartment were highly suspicious."

Tao pantomimed concern, "You are quite right Ms. Kane, a most terrible affair. I understand from the television news that the poor senator was involved in a quite unsavory liaison and took his own life as a result."

"You own a television network, don't you Mr. Tao."

"I own a number of networks, and many other things too. Perhaps I can be of service to you in your

investigations?"

"Such matters take time, as I am sure you will understand Mr. Tao, but I will be sure to call on you, should I find it necessary."

Tao looked into her soul, his black eyes greedy and inscrutable, "So, you have not yet found the true reason behind Senator Johnston's most regrettable decision to end his life?"

"He didn't end his life Mr. Tao. Senator Johnston was murdered."

Tao raised his eyebrows, "Murdered you say, a fascinating hypothesis, Ms. Kane. But tell me, what interest does the United States Justice Department have, in these most unfortunate events? I would have thought such maters fell under the jurisdiction of the Honolulu Police Department?"

"As I am sure you know Mr. Tao, Senator Johnston, was chairman of the Congressional House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform; a key figure in the pa.s.sing of the new energy bill. "You are in the energy business aren't you Mr. Tao?"

Tao tilted his head at an angle that might indicate surprise, his black eyes showing no emotion, "The machinations of the political cla.s.s have no interest to me Ms. Kane. Senator Johnston however was a man of princ.i.p.al, a Humanistian who believed in the possibility of a new future for mankind. He will be greatly missed." "And governor Geryon?"

"I met him socially of course. I meet many political figures in the course of my business. But that is not what you want to know is it Ms. Kane?"

The governor is currently the subject of a Federal investigation Mr. Tao, a far-reaching investigation that will no doubt uncover the full nature of his business dealings.

Tao smiled now, "A Federal Investigation, you say, how wonderful. I am sure that many years from now, this far reaching investigation of which you speak will establish a full, fair and equitable finding on the dealings of this dead man and his a.s.sociates. I wish you luck in your investigations, Ms. Kane." Deng Tao turned away, then almost as an afterthought he turned back and said, "I am having a party on my yacht tomorrow evening Ms. Kane. You will attend of course, I wish to introduce you to my wife, she is a life-long devotee of murder mystery stories, I am sure she will find your company most stimulating."

Karyn sat on the edge of the desk and watched him go. Watched as the flunkies and the monkey-suit goon squad filtered out after him. Congo shot Karyn a final sneer and disappeared too. Last to leave was Calista Johnston. As she pa.s.sed, she let her bony, manicured fingers trail down Karyn's arm. "You will like Deena Tao. She is a woman much like yourself."

"I doubt that," replied Karyn. Calista Johnston, said, "We will pick you up from your hotel tomorrow at eight."

Karyn nodded and said, "I didn't tell you where I was staying."

Calista Johnston smiled. "Tomorrow at eight."

22.

The Pacific Cresting upwards in the early morning swell, the rusting North Korean trawler Wonsungi looked like a ghost ship, so battered by the elements it seemed as though it would, at any moment, sink beneath the waves, heading down forever to a deep-water grave, like so many other unseaworthy wreckers before it.

"Keep us clear of that piece of junk Mooney, or my wrath will be swift," snapped Captain Pedro alvares, "I don't know what the h.e.l.l is wrong with them Captain," blurted Mooney they got power, but they got no idea how to use it, it's almost like they want to crash into us."

"There will be no crashing into anything Mooney. If that floating funfair ride so much as sc.r.a.pes against my paint work, you will be spending the rest of our little pleasure cruise hanging over the starboard beam making good the damage. Am I clear?"

"Aye, Aye Captain." alvares, surveyed the scene, his tanned features furrowing deeper with each pa.s.sing second. The bad feeling he had been nursing throughout the night hadn't gotten any better, and as the fragile dawn broke in from the east, his sea senses told him that there was something badly awry with this communist ghost ship. If he had to make a call, he would head south, move forward with the mission and leave this rusting Albatross to her fate. Trouble was, they were bound by international maritime law to answer with all haste, an SOS distress call.

The whole sorry episode stank to h.e.l.l and back, thought alvares grimly. The Korean tub hadn't responded to a single overture they had made thus far. Perhaps their radio was down, or their electrics were shorting out? Perhaps, they had suffered a catastrophic failure of systems power- but that hardly seemed likely on a vessel as old as this. This wrecker was so old, it pre-dated the digital age and that meant old school a.n.a.logue systems that were virtually bomb proof. "We still got a transmission on the distress frequency Kellerman?"

"Affirmative Captain. I am cycling through the channels, but I still cannot reach them on the radio."

"Maybe they took damage to their rudder?" wondered Mooney.

"Unlikely," said alvares. He scanned the decks of the Wonsungi with his binoculars, and said quietly, "She's riding awful high in the water for a trawler so far from home, like she's holding nothing below decks. Wait a second. I see something. It's not a ghost ship after all-they've got men on the bridge-get Engineering Officer Heung up here, and make quick about it would you?"

alvares let the binoculars fall to his chest. "Get on the flasher Mooney, see if we can encourage our new friends to pick up their G.o.dd.a.m.n radio."

Mooney shot the captain a worried look, "I don't parlez the lingo Captain, you want me to lamp him in English, or maybe Spanish?"

"Didn't they teach you anything at that college Mooney? Numerical content only, channel twelve, Morse code-I trust they taught you that?" "Yes, Captain, of course, I..."

"Where the h.e.l.l is Heung? "snapped alvares. "Someone tell him to get up here and now." On the Wonsungi, the distant figures in the bridge had come to the outside now; standing out front of the bridge to greet their saviors. The men waving high in the air, as though they were trying to flag down a ride from a pa.s.sing taxicab. Mooney, flashed out a message on the Aldis lamp. Pausing briefly, then repeating the signal over and over again. The men aboard the Wonsungi seemed oblivious to the message. Instead of responding in kind, they simply leaned out over the bridge-rail and waved ever harder. "I got no response Captain. You ask me, these men aren't sailors at all, more like a bunch of warf-rats lost at

sea."

"I don't believe I did ask you Mooney, did I?" said alvares mildly. "Now, you keep up with the lamp, and just maybe, when Heung finally drags his ugly looking carca.s.s up here, we will be able to have a conversation with these warf-rats as you call

them."

As the Nautilus drew alongside the Wonsungi, the Korean sailors pressed against the rail. And quite a crew they were, a dozen or more, all of them thin and bedraggled, in dirty oversized coveralls, looking like they hadn't eaten in weeks. " My G.o.d, they look half-starved muttered

alvares."

"They could be asylum seekers-escapees from the communist regime," said Heung arriving at last at the Captain's side.

alvares raised an eyebrow, "You think so

sailor?