jamesclavell.noblehouse-第14章

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　The　elevator　doors　opened　and　Sandra　Yi　ushered　the　two　police　officers　in；　then　left　reluctantly。　Brian　Kwok　watched　her　go。　He　was　thirty…nine；　tall　for　a　Chinese；　just　over　six　feet；　very　handsome；　with　blue…black　hair。　Both　men　wore　civilian　clothes。　Claudia　chatted　with　them　politely；　but　the　moment　she　saw　the　light　on　line　two　go　out　she　ushered　them　in　and　closed　the　door。
　〃Sorry　to　e　without　an　appointment；〃　Armstrong　said。
　〃No　sweat；　Robert。　You　look　tired。〃
　〃A　heavy　night。　It's　all　the　villainy　that　goes　on　in　Hong　Kong；〃　Armstrong　said　easily。　〃Nasties　abound　and　saints　get　crucified。〃
　Dunross　smiled；　then　glanced　across　at　Kwok。　〃How's　life　treating　you；　Brian？〃
　Brian　Kwok　smiled　back。　〃Very　good；　thanks；　Ian。　Stock　market's　up　…　I've　a　few　dollars　in　the　bank；　my　Porsche　hasn't　fallen　apart　yet；　and　ladies　will　be　ladies。〃
　〃Thank　God　for　that！　Are　you　doing　the　hill　climb　on　Sunday？〃
　〃If　I　can　get　Lulu　in　shape。　She's　missing　an　offside　hydraulic　coupling。〃
　〃Have　you　tried　our　shop？〃
　〃Yes。　No　joy；　tai…pan。　Are　you　going？〃
　〃Depends。　I've　got　to　go　to　Taipei　Sunday　afternoon　…　I　will　if　I've　got　time。　I　entered　anyway。　How's　SI？〃
　Brian　Kwok　grinned。　〃It　beats　working　for　a　living。〃　Special　Intelligence　was　a　pletely　independent　department　within　the　elite；　semisecret　Special　Branch　responsible　for　preventing　and　detecting　subversive　activities　in　the　Colony。　It　had　its　own　secret　ways；　secret　funding　and　overriding　powers。　And　it　was　responsible　to　the　governor　alone。
　Dunross　leaned　back　in　the　chair。　〃What's　up？〃
　Armstrong　said；　〃I'm　sure　you　already　know。　It's　about　the　guns　on　Bartlett's　plane。〃
　〃Oh　yes；　I　heard　this　morning；〃　he　said。　〃How　can　I　help？　Have　you　any　idea　why　and　where　they　were　destined？　And　by　whom？　You　caught　two　men？〃
　Armstrong　sighed。　〃Yes。　They　were　genuine　mechanics　all　right　…　both　ex…Nationalist　Air　Force　trained。　No　previous　record；　though　they're　suspected　of　being　members　of　secret　triads。　Both　have　been　here　since　the　exodus　of　'49。　By　the　way；　can　we　keep　this　all　confidential；　between　the　three　of　us？〃
　〃What　about　your　superiors？〃
　〃I'd　like　to　include　them　in　…　but　keep　it　just　for　your　ears　only。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃We　have　reason　to　believe　the　guns　were　destined　for　someone　in　Struan's。〃
　〃Who？〃　Dunross　asked　sharply。
　〃Confidential？〃
　〃Yes。　Who？〃
　〃How　much　do　you　know　about　Lincoln　Bartlett　and　Casey　Tcholok？〃
　〃We've　a　detailed　dossier　on　him　…　not　on　her。　Would　you　like　it？　I　can　give　you　a　copy；　providing　it　too　is　kept　confidential。〃
　〃Of　course。　That　would　be　very　helpful。〃
　Dunross　pressed　the　inter。
　〃Yes　sir？〃　Claudia　asked。
　〃Make　a　copy　of　the　Bartlett　dossier　and　give　it　to　Superintendent　Armstrong　on　his　way　out。〃　Dunross　clicked　the　inter　off。
　〃We　won't　take　much　more　of　your　time；〃　Armstrong　said。　〃Do　you　always　dossier　potential　clients？〃
　〃No。　But　we　like　to　know　who　we're　dealing　with。　If　the　Bartlett　deal　goes　through　it　could　mean　millions　to　us；　to　him；　a　thousand　new　jobs　to　Hong　Kong　…　factories　here；　warehouses；　a　very　big　expansion　…　along　with　equally　big　risks　to　us。　Everyone　in　business　does　a　confidential　financial　statement　…　perhaps　we're　a　bit　more　thorough。　I'll　bet　you　fifty　dollars　to　a　broken　hatpin　he's　done　one　on　me。〃
　〃No　criminal　connections　mentioned？〃
　Dunross　was　startled。　〃Mafia？　That　sort　of　thing？　Good　God　no；　nothing。　Besides；　if　the　Mafia　were　trying　to　e　in　here　they　wouldn't　send　a　mere　ten　M14　rifles　and　two　thousand　rounds　and　a　box　of　grenades。〃
　〃Your　information's　damn　good；〃　Brian　Kwok　interrupted。　〃Too　damn　good。　We　only　unpacked　the　stuff　an　hour　ago。　Who's　your　informant？〃
　〃You　know　there're　no　secrets　in　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃Can't　even　trust　your　own　coppers　these　days。〃
　〃The　Mafia　would　surely　send　in　a　shipment　twenty　times　that　and　they'd　be　handguns；　American　style。　But　the　Mafia　would　be　bound　to　fail　here；　whatever　they　did。　They　could　never　displace　our　triads。　No；　it　can't　be　Mafia　…　only　someone　local。　Who　tipped　you　about　the　shipment；　Brian？〃
　〃Tokyo　Airport　Police；〃　Kwok　said。　〃One　of　their　mechanics　was　doing　a　routine　inspection　…　you　know　how　thorough　they　are。　He　reported　it　to　his　superior；　their　police　phoned　us　and　we　said　to　let　it　through。〃
　〃In　that　case　get　hold　of　the　FBI　and　the　CIA　…　get　them　to　check　back　to　Honolulu　…　or　Los　Angeles。〃
　〃You　went　through　the　flight　plan　too？〃
　〃Of　course。　That's　obvious。　Why　someone　in　Struan's？〃
　〃Both　of　the　villains　said　。。。〃　Armstrong　took　out　his　pad　and　referred　to　it。　〃Our　question　was；　'Where　were　you　to　take　the　packages？'　Both　answered　using　different　words：　'To　15　go…down；　we　were　to　put　the　packages　in　Bay　7　at　the　back。'　〃　He　looked　up　at　Dunross。
　〃That　proves　nothing。　We've　the　biggest　warehouse　operation　at　Kai　Tak　…　just　because　they　take　it　to　one　of　our　go…downs　proves　nothing　…　other　than　they're　smart。　We've　got　so　much　merchandise　going　through；　it'd　be　easy　to　send　in　an　alien　truck。〃　Dunross　thought　a　moment。　〃15's　right　at　the　exit　…　perfect　placing。〃　He　reached　for　the　phone。　〃I'll　put　my　security　folk　on　it　right　n…　〃
　〃Would　you　not；　please；　just　for　the　moment。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Our　next　question；〃　Armstrong　continued；　〃was；　'Who　employed　you？'　Of　course　they　gave　fictitious　names　and　descriptions　and　denied　everything　but　they'll　be　more　helpful　soon。〃　He　smiled　grimly。　〃One　of　them　did　say；　however；　when　one　of　my　sergeants　was　twisting　his　ear　a　little；　figuratively　speaking　of　course〃　…　he　read　from　the　pad　…　〃　'You　leave　me　alone；　I've　got　very　important　friends！'　'You've　no　friends　in　the　world；'　the　sergeant　said。　'Maybe；　but　the　Honorable　Tsu…yan　has　and　Noble　House　Chen　has。'　〃
　The　silence　became　long　and　heavy。　They　waited。
　Those　God…cursed　guns；　Dunross　thought　furiously。　But　he　held　his　face　calm　and　his　wits　sharpened。　〃We've　a　hundred　and　more　Chens　working　for　us；　related；　unrelated　…　Chen's　as　mon　a　name　as　Smith。〃
　〃And　Tsu…yan？〃　Brian　Kwok　asked。
　Dunross　shrugged。　〃He's　a　director　of　Struan's　…　but　he's　also　a　director　of　Blacs；　the　Victoria　Bank　and　forty　other　panies；　one　of　the　richest　men　in　Hong　Kong　and　a　name　anyone　in　Asia　could　pull　out　of　a　hat。　Like　Noble　House　Chen。〃
　〃Do　you　know　he's　suspected　of　being　very　high　up　in　the　triad　hierarchy　…　specifically　in　the　Green　Pang？〃　Brian　Kwok　asked。
　〃Every　important　Shanghainese's　equally　suspect。　Jesus　Christ；　Brian；　you　know　Chiang　Kai…shek　was　supposed　to　have　given　Shanghai　to　the　Green　Pang　years　ago　as　their　exclusive　bailiwick　if　they'd　support　his　northern　campaign　against　the　warlords。　Isn't　the　Green　Pang　still；　more　or　less；　an　official　Nationalist　secret　society？〃
　Brian　Kwok　said；　〃Where'd　Tsu…yan　make　his　money；　Ian？　His　first　fortune？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　You　tell　me；　Brian。〃
　〃He　made　it　during　the　Korean　War　smuggling　penicillin；　drugs　and　petrol　…　mostly　penicillin　…　across　the　border　to　the　munists。　Before　Korea　all　he　owned　was　a　loincloth　and　a　broken…down　rickshaw。〃
　〃That's　all　hearsay；　Brian。〃
　〃Struan's　made　a　fortune　too。〃
　〃Yes。　But　it　would　really　be　very　unwise　to　imply　we　did　it　smuggling　…　publicly　or　privately；〃　Dunross　said　mildly。　〃Very　unwise　indeed。〃
　〃Didn't　you？〃
　〃Struan's　began　with　a　little　smuggling　120…odd　years　ago；　so　rumor　has　it；　but　it　was　an　honorable　profession　and　never　against　British　law。　We're　law…abiding　capitalists　and　China　Traders　and　have　been　for　years。〃
　Brian　Kwok　did　not　smile。　〃More　hearsay's　that　a　lot　of　his　penicillin　was　bad。　Very　bad。〃
　〃If　it　was；　if　that's　the　truth；　then　please　go　get　him；　Brian；〃　Dunross　said　coldly。　〃Personally　I　think　that's　another　rumor　spread　by　jealous　petitors。　If　it　was　true　he'd　be　floating　in　the　bay　with　the　others　who　tried；　or　he'd　be　punished　like　Bad　Powder　Wong。〃　He　was　referring　to　a　Hong　Kong　smuggler　who　had　sold　a　vast　quantity　of　adulterated　penicillin　over　the　border　during　the　Korean　War　and　invested　his　fortune　in　stocks　and　land　in　Hong　Kong。　Within　seven　years　he　was　very　very　rich。　Then　certain　triads　of　Hong　Kong　were　ordered　to　balance　the　books。　Every　week　one　member　of　his　family　vanished；　or　died。　By　drowning；　car　accident；　strangulation；　poison　or　knife。　No　assailant　was　ever　caught。　The　killing　went　on　for　seventeen　months　and　three　weeks　and　then　stopped。　Only　he　and　one　semi…imbecile　infant　grandson　remained　alive。　They　live　today；　still　holed　up　in　the　same　vast；　once　luxurious　penthouse　apartment　with　one　servant　and　one　cook；　in　terror；　guarded　night　and　day；　never　going　out　…　knowing　that　no　guards　or　any　amount　of　money　could　ever　prevent　the　inexorability　of　his　sentence　published　in　a　tiny　box　in　a　local　Chinese　newspaper：　Bad　Powder　Wong　will　be　punished；　he　and　all　his　generations。
　Brian　Kwok　said；　〃We　interviewed　that　sod　once；　Robert　and　I。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes。　Scary。　Every　door's　double　locked　and　chained；　every　window　nailed　up　and　boarded　over　with　planks　…　just　spy　holes　here　and　there。　He　hasn't　been　out　since　the　killing　started。　The　place　stank；　my　God　did　it　stink！　All　he　does　is　play　Chinese　checkers　with　his　grandson　and　watch　television。〃
　〃And　wait；〃　Armstrong　said。　〃One　day　they'll　e　for　both　of　them。　His　grandson　must　be　six　or　seven　now。〃
　Dunross　said；　〃I　think　you　prove　my　point。　Tsu…yan's　not　like　him　and　never　was。　And　what　possible　use　could　Tsu…yan　have　for　a　few　M14's？　If　he　wanted　to；　I　imagine　he　could　muster　half　the　Nationalist　army　along　with　a　battalion　of　tanks。〃
　〃In　Taiwan　but　not　in　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃Has　Tsu…yan　ever　been　involved　with　Bartlett？〃　Armstrong　asked。　〃In　your　negotiations？〃
　〃Yes。　He　was　in　New　York　once　and　in　Los　Angeles　on　our　behalf。　Both　times　with　John　Chen。　They　initialed　the　agreement　between　Struan's　and　Par…Con　Industries　which　is　to　be　finalized　…　or　abandoned　…　here　this　month；　and　they　formally　invited　Bartlett　to　Hong　Kong　on　my　behalf。〃
　Armstrong　glanced　at　his　Chinese　partner。　Then　he　said；　〃When　was　this？〃
　〃Four　months　ago。　It's　taken　that　time　for　both　sides　to　prepare　all　the　details。〃
　〃John　Chen；　eh？〃　Armstrong　said。　〃He　certainly　could　be　Noble　House　Chen。〃
　〃You　know　John's　not　the　type；〃　Dunross　said。　'There's　no　reason　why　he　should　be　mixed　up　in　such　a　ploy。　It　must　be　just　coincidence。〃
　〃There's　another　curious　coincidence；〃　Brian　Kwok　said。　〃Tsu…yan　and　John　Chen　both　know　an　American　called　Banastasio；　at　least　both　have　been　seen　in　his　pany。　Does　that　name　mean　anything？〃
　〃No。　Who's　he？〃
　〃A　big…time　gambler　and　suspected　racketeer。　He's　also　supposed　to　be　closely　connected　with　one　of　the　Cosa　Nostra　families。　Vincenzo　Banastasio。〃
　Dunross's　eyes　narrowed。　〃You　said；　'seen　in　his　pany。'　Who　did　the　seeing？〃
　〃The　FBI。〃
　The　silence　thickened　a　little。
　Armstrong　reached　into　his　pocket　for　a　cigarette。
　Dunross　pushed　across　the　silver　cigarette　box。　〃Here。〃
　〃Oh；　thanks。　No；　I　won't　…　I　wasn't　thinking。　I've　stopped　for　the　last　couple　of　weeks。　It's　a　killer。〃　Then　he　added；　trying　to　curb　the　desire；　〃The　FBI　passed　the　info　on　to　us　because　Tsu…yan　and　Mr。　John　Chen　are　so　prominent　here。　They　asked　us　to　keep　an　eye　on　them。〃
　Then　Dunross　suddenly　remembered　Foxwell's　remark　about　a　prominent　capitalist