Drawn in Blood (Burbank and Parker 2)

“Because she came to the U.S. with Cindy fifteen years ago. Since then, she’s attended some very prestigious art programs—at Johnny Liu’s expense, I’m sure. There’s no way a governess could afford training like this. And the direction of the training…” Sloane held out the pages she’d printed right when Derek walked in. “Take a look at this.”

Derek scanned the first page, then the second. He raised his head. “I have to make a quick phone call. But I think we should get this right to Rich.”

“I agree.”

Instantly, Derek punched in Rich’s extension. Then he stepped out to make his call.

Liu motioned for his trusted adviser to enter his private library.

“Zhezhi.” One word, uttered as a command.

His adviser understood. Literally, Zhezhi was the Chinese art of paper folding, a predecessor to origami. But in this case, Liu was instructing him to collapse all traces of his involvement—ties to the Italian leather goods company, to any paintings bought from and sold by Wallace’s galleries, to shipping manifests for the stolen and forged paintings, and to his orchestration of the plan to destroy all the members of the art partnership.

In response, his adviser nodded. “It will be done at once,” he said in the Loong Doo dialect.

“And my family?” It was phrased like an inquiry. It was anything but.

“As we speak, steps are being taken so that Cindy and her amah will have nothing to hide. Their home, their characters, will be beyond reproach. As for Xiao, he’s ready to assume the role of Dragon Head as soon as he’s needed. He’ll leave for Hong Kong on your command. He knows that, as a precaution, a special bank account in the Cayman Islands has been arranged for him, to be used in the future should he miss his window of opportunity to escape and end up going to priso

n. He is humbled by your generosity. Your name will never be uttered.”

“Excellent,” Liu replied. “Then I can bring my life to a close, and join my daughter.”

Derek was back from making his phone call when, five minutes after being summoned, Rich came striding through the conference room door.

“I had The Bird authenticated,” he reported. “It’s genuine. Unfortunately, it’s also devoid of fingerprints or anything else that could link it to the Red Dragons.” He looked intently from Derek to Sloane. “I doubt that’s the reason for your urgent call.”

“Read these.” Derek gave Rich the pages of Sloane’s research. “We want your opinion.”

With a great deal more thoroughness than Derek, Rich pored over the sheets of information. Then he let out a low whistle. “My opinion is that we’d better do an exhaustive profile on Peggy Sun. Ditto for Cindy Liu. And fast. I agree with Sloane—these two are doing a lot more to assist Cindy’s uncle than manipulating Wallace Johnson’s emotions.”

Derek’s cell phone rang. He flipped it open and glanced at the caller ID. private.

He punched the receive button. “Yes?” he said cautiously.

“Hello, Special Agent Parker,” a polished voice with the slightest hint of an Asian accent greeted him. “Your extreme interest in me is flattering. I thought it was time I contacted you directly.”

Derek’s eyes narrowed. “Who is this?”

“I think you know. But if you need confirmation, that’s fine. This is Johnny Liu.”

“Johnny Liu,” Derek repeated, his hard, pointed stare meeting Sloane’s startled gaze, then flickering to Rich’s intrigued one. Quietly pressing the speakerphone button, Derek placed the phone on the conference table and pulled his chair up close beside it. “How did you get this number?”

“I would think by now you’d realize I’m a resourceful man. There’s very little I can’t acquire.”

“Including the most efficient and devout followers,” Derek replied. “Xiao Long has really proven himself to be a worthy Dai Lo. You must be very proud.”

“By nature, I am proud. What I’m not is stupid. Don’t insult my intelligence with pathetic attempts to bait me.”

“Fair enough.” Derek gripped his phone more tightly. “No games. Just tell me why you’re calling. Are you hoping to make some kind of deal before we have enough on you to make that impossible?”

“Again you insult me.” Liu didn’t even flinch at Derek’s pointed question. “I make deals every day, Agent Parker. Business deals. I set the rules. I profit by them. What you’re referring to isn’t a deal. I believe it’s what you Americans call bartering. That kind of negotiation is beneath me.”

“I see. But criminal acts are not.”

“That’s actually the reason for my call.” Once again, Liu evaded the question and led the conversation in the direction of his choice. “I have some helpful information to pass along to you. It might provide the answers you’re looking for.”

“I’m listening.”