Dragonfire! by Stephen Mertz

Author:Stephen Mertz [Mertz, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781641198578
Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
Published: 2019-10-21T16:00:00+00:00

19

The Island Marina was a ramshackle affair, well below the upscale, millionaire-level marinas that predominated along the coastline of Repulse Bay. Beyond the marina, Victoria Harbour was an almost psychedelic swirl of movement, light and sound. The hoot of horns and the rumble of ’round-the-clock water traffic created a raucous symphony beneath the black dome of night. The marina was a quiet corner of the world existing separate unto itself.

Chua’s sampan floated peacefully at her mooring, its navigation lights providing illumination. As arranged, Chua stood waiting for them.

Yuki had slipped her arm through Cody’s as they approached. Cody could feel her muscles moving stiffly. She had his arm almost in a lock and was walking as if her spine were a steel rod. But she didn’t slacken their pace, and she held her head high.

Chua greeted them with a bow. A bland smile did not reach his crafty eyes.

“Ah, so nice to see you again, Madam Kwan. And you must be Mister Cody? Miss Conroy described you well. Please, step inside where we may have our privacy. There is much to be discussed, yes?”

“You could say that,” said Cody. “Lead the way. And no funny stuff or I’ll kill you.”

Keep it simple and direct, that was the Cody way, it being necessary to impress on the guy where he stood in the scheme of things. Cody had dealt with hundreds of small time hustlers like Chua in operations around the world. They thought they were smart because thus far they’d managed to stay alive in the shark tank. Not to be trusted and there was no need to be friendly, especially when money was involved.

Yuki remained mute, sitting beside him in the tent-like shelter, attached to the sampan’s flat deck, that served as a sparsely appointed living space. Many Chinese lived in sampans or junks in Victoria Harbor and the surrounding bays, usually supporting themselves by fishing or performing day labor on the wharves.

After declining the obligatory offer of tea, Cody got straight to business.

“I understand you need protection.”

With an oily smile, Chua indicated Yuki with a deferential nod.

“And I understand that I may be of service in reuniting the nice lady with her husband.”

“Who are you afraid of, Chua?”

The boatman replied with a vague shrug, “These are dangerous times. There is talk of a coup.”

Yuki eyed him with unconcealed distrust.

“Where is my husband? What happened to him? You were supposed to bring him to Hong Kong once I was with Ling Pao.”

“We found the bodies,” said Cody. “It was a massacre. Someone set them up.”

Chua’s bland expression remained unfazed.

“Very dangerous times, yes. It is why I myself must be gone from this place. I do not know who to trust. It is why I made the call when I learned you Americans are offering money for information about me. Who better to tell you about me than me, eh?”

“All I want from you,” said Cody, “is what you can tell me about Doctor Kwan and Phil Hagan.”

“It pains me to say I know nothing about that.

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