"No, I think it's superstitious," Rhyme said. "It's woo woo and we don't have any time for--What the hell are you laughing at?"
"Woo woo. You say woo woo. You speaking Chinese. 'Woo' mean fog. So you say something woo woo, it foggy, unclear."
"Well, to us it means supernatural bullshit."
Even facing Rhyme's considerable bluster, Li wouldn't back down. "No, this not bullshit. Find that driver. You got to, Loaban."
Sachs's eyes were studying the small, persistent man. "I don't know, Rhyme."
"No way."
"Fuck good idea, I'm saying," Li assured the criminalist.
There was thick silence for a moment.
Sellitto intervened. "How 'bout if we put Bedding and Saul on it, give 'em a half-dozen guys from Patrol, Linc? They can check corporate and lease X5 registrations in Manhattan and Queens, only those--Chinatown here and the one in Flushing. And if there're any other breaks and we need bodies, we'll pull 'em off."
"All right, all right," Rhyme said angrily. "Just get moving on it."
"Half-dozen just six, right?" Li complained. "Need more than that." But Rhyme's glare silenced him. "Okay, okay, Loaban."
Pecking crows, stone monkeys and The Register of the Living and the Dead . . . Rhyme sighed then looked over the team. "Now, if it's not too much to ask, can we get back to some real police work?"
GHOSTKILL
* * *
Easton, Long Island, Crime Scene
* Two immigrants killed on beach; shot in back.
* One immigrant wounded--Dr. John Sung.
* "Bangshou" (assistant) on board; identity unknown.
* Ten immigrants escape: seven adults (one elderly, one injured woman), two children, one infant. Steal church van.
* Blood samples sent to lab for typing.
* Injured woman is AB negative.
* Vehicle awaiting Ghost on beach left without him. One shot believed fired by Ghost at vehicle. Request for vehicle make and model sent out, based on tread marks and wheelbase.
* Vehicle is a BMW X5. Checking registered owners.
* No vehicles to pick up immigrants located.
* Cell phone, presumably Ghost's, sent for analysis to FBI.
* Untraceable satellite secure phone. Hacked Chinese gov't system to use it.
* Ghost's weapon is 7.62mm pistol. Unusual casing.
* Model 51 Chinese automatic pistol.
* Ghost is reported to have gov't people on payroll.
* Ghost stole red Honda sedan to escape. Vehicle locator request sent out.