“Either you can believe it or we can do this in the manner of your worst nightmare. Don’t forget”—she leaned forward and tapped a finger on his knee—“we are far from any of your powerful friends.”
Stuart stared at her finger, and she withdrew it. She wondered if she’d pushed him too far, but then he responded in the way she’d anticipated. He laughed long, hard, and appreciatively. As David might have said, Stuart Miller was a successful businessman. He knew how to play his hand.
“Ask away, Inspector, ask away.”
But after all that, he had little to offer. He’d last seen Lily the previous afternoon at the dig. Yes, he had a teasing relationship with her, but he felt she’d understood it in the spirit he intended. He couldn’t imagine that Lily had any enemies, certainly none that would be here as part of the archaeological team.
“Did you know that she represented the family that owns this hotel?” Hulan asked.
“The Wangs, yes. I enjoy Madame Wang’s company myself when I’m in Hong Kong. She’ll be sorry to hear what happened.”
“Did you spend the night on board your boat?” Hulan inquired, shifting her focus.
“Of course. My daughter did too.”
Hulan thought about asking him about the conversation she’d overheard him having with Catherine yesterday but decided against it. Hulan had been the headstrong daughter of a headstrong man. Her only hope for a remotely honest answer was from Catherine.
“At lunch yesterday you mentioned the All-Patriotic Society. Do you know if Lily was a member?”
If he was surprised by the question, he didn’t show it.
“That would be very hard to imagine.”
“You’re sure she wasn’t a follower?”
“Let me put it this way, Inspector,” Stuart answered adroitly. “Lily was about as secular as you can get. If she practiced a religion, it would have to have been free enterprise.”
“Do you know of anyone else in the hotel or affiliated with the dig who could be a member?”
“It’s good manners not to talk politics or religion—” Seeing the look on Hulan’s face, he added, “No, not that I know of.”
“How about you or your daughter?”
“Of course not.”
“Thank you. Now I have just one last question and you can be on your way. Why did you come to the guesthouse for breakfast?”
“I didn’t. Like I said, I’m going down to the dam, but Catherine’s going to stay here. I came up to say good-bye to everyone.” Hulan waited until Stuart explained sheepishly, “I was trying to be polite.”
Hulan smiled again. “You see, Mr. Miller, that wasn’t so bad. You can go, but I’d like you to leave contact information so I can reach you if need be.”
“No problem,” he said as he stood. “And I want to apologize for my earlier outburst.”
“No apology needed. Have a good trip, and don’t—”
“Leave the country?” Stuart grinned, shook his head in amusement, then ducked out the front door and into the rain.
While Hom went for another foreigner, Hulan jotted down some notes. Stuart Miller probably thought the world revolved around him, and to some extent it probably did, but that didn’t mean he had anything to do with Lily’s murder. At least Hulan hoped it didn’t, because she liked him. He was charming in the way he tried to dominate through humor. On the other hand, lots of killers were charismatic, loved to take control, and were—like Stuart—chauvinists.
She interviewed Professor Schmidt and Dr. Quinby, who had nothing to add, except that they felt terrible about Lily’s death. Then Hom brought in Michael Quon. It was interesting how each of these people responded to the situation—with acute sadness, mild belligerence, musty indifference, or a desire for control in an uncontrollable situation. Michael Quon managed to work in all of these emotions.
He’d seen Lily in the dining room last night, but he hadn’t spoken to her then or later. He liked her as a person, but he didn’t have much respect for her profession. “It’s not personal,” he said. “I just don’t like the idea of artifacts falling into non-Chinese hands.”
“Do you mean foreign hands or non-Chinese hands?”
He regarded her quizzically. “I’m not sure I understand your question.”
“Well, you’re Chinese but you’re a foreigner.”