Dragon Bones (Red Princess 3)

She buried her face in her hands and wept, but it wasn’t Hulan’s job to offer comfort.

“Did you see Lily again after we all said good night?” Hulan asked.

Angela shook her head and blew her nose into a tissue.

“Did you talk to her on the phone?”

Again Angela shook her head.

“Did you hear anything after you went to bed?”

Angela wiped her eyes with her palms. Her lips trembled as she exhaled and said, “My room’s in the fifth courtyard. I wouldn’t have heard anything coming from her room.”

“The killer had access to the hotel,” Hulan informed her. “He put Lily’s body in her room. So I want to ask you again, did you hear anything? Someone talking, footsteps….”

Angela shook her head, then searched her pockets for another tissue. “Was she raped? Did she suffer?”

Hulan ignored these inquiries. “Do you remember anything from last night that could relate to what happened to Lily?”

Angela shook her head again, still weeping quietly. The American was useless in this state.

“You may go. But, Miss McCarthy, I’m going to want to talk with you again. I’d like to know more about what you and Lily talked about before last night. Will you think about that?”

Angela stood up, looked around uncertainly, and said, “Thank you.”

Hom next brought in Stuart Miller, who bounded into the room as though he owned it. “I don’t mean to be unsympathetic, truly I don’t, but I have to get down to the dam today. We’ve had some glitches—a delivery of defective components and possible sabotage. People are counting on me.”

Hulan motioned to the chair opposite her. “Please sit down.”

“I prefer to stand, because we’re going to have to make this quick.”

“Mr. Miller, this is a murder investigation and you’re in China,” she explained patiently. “Don’t be stupid.”

Stuart sat down, crossed his legs, and—still trying to control the situation—hurriedly began. “I’ve known Lily Sinclair for five years in her capacity at the Cosgrove’s branch in Hong Kong. She’s—she was—a fine young woman.”

“Did you see or speak to her last night?”

“No.”

“I noticed that you and your daughter weren’t in the dining room last night. Where did you have dinner?”

“I have a boat tied up at the dock. I have my own chef.”

“Is that your hydrofoil?”

“It belongs to my company, yes.”

“Was your daughter on board with you last night?”

“My daughter and I can’t help you, because we don’t know anything.”

“You may not know what you know—”

“Don’t try to trick me, Inspector. I have very powerful friends.”

“No one’s trying to trick you.” She waited for that to sink in, then added, “You should know I was educated abroad as an attorney. I will respect your rights as though we were in America.”

“Am I supposed to believe that?”