White Jade

Chapter Twelve

Choy was in a bad mood. The Mercedes was old, the motor pool mechanic slow. When the car was ready, one of his men rushed to the toilet complaining about food from the night before. The passenger seat would not move all the way back. Choy crammed in as best he could, knees up against the dash, his head touching the roof of the car.

The men in the car sensed his mood and kept quiet. The driver was named Li. Everyone called him "noodles" because of his long, thin looks. He clenched the wheel, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar exit signs and heavy freeway traffic. Twice he made a wrong turn and had to backtrack for miles before they could continue.

The second man, Chung, squirmed in the back seat, trying to control his uncooperative intestines. They stopped twice more so he could relieve himself, using up more time. But for the last two hours there had been no more delays. Now they were past Marysville, heading for the house marked on Choy's directions. Li kept to the speed limit, watching for the Highway Patrol.

Choy hoped they would find the book quickly so he could get back to the Consulate. There was a woman who worked there, cleaning halls and meeting areas. He would make her pay another visit to his bed. She had been satisfying, if uncooperative at first. He was sure she secretly wanted what he had done to her. When they got back he would bring her to his room. Choy settled into the uncomfortable seat, his mood improving as he thought about her.

They swept across a long, curving bridge over a river. The highway narrowed and began to wind about.

Choy peered out the window. "Slow down, we should be getting close."

"There's a truck behind me."

"Never mind him. The place should be up here somewhere on the left."

Li looked in his rear view mirror and began to slow. Choy wasn't sure where they had to turn.

"Look for a bridge," he said. "There should be a bridge on the left."

"There it is!" said Chung. Just then the truck following behind blasted his horn and the Mercedes shot forward as Li floored the gas pedal. They missed the turn.

"Fool! That was it."

"Yes, Sergeant."

"Keep going until we get rid of this dung behind us and turn around."

Soon they saw a marker pointing to the town of Smartsville.

"Take that road."

They pulled off the highway toward the town. As the truck roared by the driver stuck his arm out the window and lifted his finger in salute.

Choy controlled his rage. "Fucking Americans," he said. "Turn around."

Back on the highway, Li drove slowly until they came to the turnoff. He pulled in and stopped.

"Why are you stopping?"

"The bridge, Sergeant. It doesn't look safe."

"Just drive over it. It has to be strong enough. There's a house back there."

The car crept over the bridge and onto the road. They crested the rise and saw the house below. Parked in front was a silver pickup.

"Pull over behind those rocks," Choy said.

"Do you think they saw us?"

"I don't know. Maybe the woman is there. That would be good. Out here no one will notice if we have to question her."

The thought of questioning Connor's niece excited him. Choy licked his lips. They got out of the car.

Each man checked his pistol. All three carried Chinese copies of the Beretta 9mm. From the trunk, Li took out three micro-Uzis, lethal at close range, although not very accurate. Choy reached into a box and took out two type 82-1 grenades, stuffing them into his jacket pockets.

"Do you think we'll need those?

"Do you want to find out we do if we don't have them?"

"It's just a woman."

"We don't know that. Now shut up and let's get going. Remember your training. Noodles, you go that way. Stay low and work around to the back of the house. Chung, you come with me. We'll circle to the right and approach the front from the side. If it's the woman, we go in and take her. If there's anyone else, take them too. Remember, any trouble, don't kill the woman."

The three men moved toward the house.