Flower Net (Red Princess 1)

“The others didn’t resist?”

Liu snorted. “The Watsons were greedy. And Guang Henglai? He is a Red Prince. He has lots of money, but he is bored. At first it is a game for him: Find people on the inside at Panda Brand, steal the packaging and bile.”

“But to cheat his own father?” David asked.

“Guang Mingyun is so busy making money, he pays no attention to his different businesses. That makes it a simple matter for Henglai—or someone else—to take advantage. Eventually Guang Mingyun suspected something, but by then we already had this place.”

The more Vice Minister Liu talked, the more David and Hulan could see how his obsessions had corrupted him. Yes, he told them, he wanted to get rich. Who didn’t these days in China? That’s why it had been so easy to recruit couriers. Liu had suggested that Billy and Henglai find help at the Black Earth, since people there were always looking to make a deal—legal or otherwise.

The scheme had been perfect until his partners got greedy. “They should never have tried to cut me out,” he repeated as though that explained how he could have gone on a rampage that had resulted in the deaths—either by his own hand or those of the Rising Phoenix—of seven people. David ticked off the list in his head—Guang Henglai, Billy Watson, Cao Hua, Noel Gardner, Zhao Lingyuan, Spencer Lee, and Peter Sun. David and Hulan would soon be added to that bloody tally.

“Clean blade in, red blade out,” Liu intoned. He stood and began to pace before the window openings on his side of the shed. “This is how Mao told us to deal with our enemies. And I did, with the help of those Rising Phoenix scum. The whole time I am thinking this brings back the purity of the old days. When I think of that time, I cannot help but remember the three of us together. Mama, Baba, daughter. I needed my daughter to come home to complete our family. I needed her where I could keep an eye on her. Hulan has known this for many years.”

Hulan shivered but didn’t speak.

“But then, Liu Hulan, my own dear daughter, I see that my actions might bring me the greatest happiness of my life.” Liu stopped in front of one of the openings and nodded to himself at the memory. David thought he saw a shadow pass outside. “Revenge is a glorious action. It is deliciously pure.”

“I suppose, then, we might find Ambassador Watson’s body here?” Hulan asked.

“No, you just missed him.”

“The car on the road? He’s not dead?”

“The ambassador and I were waiting for you for many hours. He is such a boring and predictable man, don’t you agree? But you’re right. He left. He wanted to get back to the embassy in Beijing. He thinks he’ll be safe there.” In his usual way, Hulan’s father waved his hand, as though dispersing a bad smell, only this time, he held a gun in it. “Why would I kill him? The other punishments are so much greater, don’t you agree?”

“He’ll have diplomatic immunity from the crimes committed here in China,” Hulan said.

“I think your father’s referring to murdering Watson’s only child,” David suggested.

“Yes, of course, there’s that,” Liu agreed amiably. “But even better, he must face the boy’s mother every day, knowing that he is responsible for her misery. And when she finds out that her husband is guilty…Does she know this already? Is that why you’re here? Oh, how I would love to see the look on his face.” He conjured up this image and allowed himself another laugh. “But no, I wasn’t thinking of the ambassador. I was thinking of you.”

David took a step forward, hoping that Hulan’s father was so caught up in his story that he wouldn’t notice. But the bears—already groaning and tossing their heads from side to side as they picked up the humans’ emotions—became even more agitated. When two of the bears threw themselves against the bars of their enclosures, the vice minister’s gun instantly came up. His aim was steady and directed at David’s heart. He began to pace again.

“The truth is, when I assigned you to the investigation of Guang Henglai, I did it because—well, what can I say?—I didn’t think you would get anywhere. Naturally, Ambassador Watson did not want the case to proceed either. So when I received orders from high above to pull our department back from the case, I thought all was going according to plan. But I hadn’t counted on those imbecile immigrants on the Peony! When they didn’t throw the body overboard, that obviously complicated things for me.”

David believed they didn’t have much time left. A pitchfork leaned against the wall behind Hulan’s father, but it may as well have been on the far side of the moon.

“Then your lover finds the body on the Peony,” Liu said. “I cannot begin to express to you how I felt when I heard this news. Then when I received orders that the case must be reopened and that we—two great countries—must work together, my future suddenly spread out before me as clear as could be. You see, I had never forgotten that day in the hutong. I never forgot what you did to your mother.”

“Hulan didn’t do anything,” David said. He heard the pistol’s crack and felt the searing burn as a bullet entered his arm. The impact lifted up his body and hurled it against the shed’s back wall. The bears roared. Hulan screamed and moved toward David.

“No! Stay where you are,” her father said, swinging the weapon back in her direction. Liu grudgingly dragged his eyes to the American, who sprawled against the wall, his hand over his wound. “There are many ways to die, Attorney Stark. Quickly with a bullet. Or slowly. I tried to make it painless for you once in Beijing, but it didn’t work out. So be it. We are here now. And I want you to understand this. You know nothing about Hulan, nothing about me. I suggest that you keep quiet and your death will be merciful.”

Liu slowly backed up, coming to a stop against one of the shed’s windows. His attention returned to his daughter. He took a fatherly tone, the one he had always used when talking to her about family obligation, tradition, and customs. “As you know, revenge is a duty for all Chinese people. Like the debt we owe our parents, it must be paid. Like monetary debts we accrue, they must be settled. It may require many years or many decades, but a Chinese of honor will exact revenge. I have waited patiently, Liu Hulan, and now that time is here.”

Liu raised his pistol to his daughter’s head. Hulan straightened her shoulders. Then, from his position on the floor, David saw an arm reach through the window opening, quickly come across Liu’s neck, and hold him in place. The surprise caused his gun to waver. Hulan knocked it from his grasp. At the same time, another hand came out of the shadows and pressed the muzzle of a revolver against Liu’s temple.

“It’s over,” Section Chief Zai said.

24

STILL LATER

Long Hills

For a moment, all was quiet, then Zai spoke. “Hulan, you know what to do.” When she didn’t move, he ordered, “Inspector Liu, pick up the gun.”

She did and aimed it at her father. Zai’s lips were close to Liu’s ear. He said softly, “I am going to come inside. You stay where you are. Understood?” Liu nodded. Zai slowly loosened his grip, disappeared for a few seconds, then stepped through the door.