John Ball - Five pieces of jade

Halfway to his destination he stopped at a phone booth and called in to the duty sergeant. "If things work out there may be a little more action at the Wang place tonight," he reported. "You might let the guys on the stakeout know."

"Will do. Any instructions?"

"You might pass the word that if I turn on the porch light, that will mean that I need help. I'll check it after I go in to be sure it's in order. If I can't do that, then I'll try to throw something out a window. The house has heavy drapes that are almost always closed, so that may not work out. Who's going to be there?"

"Out front, Sanderson and Gamer. In back, Thistle and Hamois."

"Outstanding. Pass the word that if there's any doubt, they can play it by ear, but not to get jumpy. I'm after proof of guilt."

"Understood; I'll pass it on. Nakamura wants to know if you need him tonight; he's home and available."

"I'll call him on the land line if I do; I have the number."

"Fine. Good hunting, Virg."

"Thanks. Ten four."

Once more he parked his car well away from his destination and continued on foot. The stage was set now; there was httle more that he could do except to wait and see if his careful web-spinning was going to produce any results. This was no simple case of murder, if there was any such thing, and the comphcations which confronted him made matters several times more difficult He comforted himself with the thought that he could but try, and then rang the doorbell.

Yumeko admitted him. As soon as he was inside she looked up at him as though she was about to say something, but remained silent. Her appearance suggested an idea and he pondered it for a moment. "Would you like to get out of here this evening?" he asked. "It might be a good idea if you were out of the way. I can arrange a comfortable place for you to stay."

She shook her head. "I want to be here. I am female, I know, but I do not wish to be absent"

"All right, but I want you to keep entirely out of the way, upstairs in your room. Don't turn on any lights and keep absolutely still-no matter what happens. Is that clear?"

"That is yes."

"Good." He looked at her sternly. "If you interfere in any way, Yumeko, it will be very serious-do you understand that?"

"I understand."

"You'd better. Now go on up, take off your shoes, and lie down. That's the best thing. And if you hear any noises down here, don't get any sudden ideas or go to the bathroom."

"I wiU be still."

"That's fine." He turned to Chin Soo, who was close by. "You can be excused if you like-this is a police matter."

The houseboy spoke calmly. "No thank you, sir. It is also my responsibihty and I wish to be here."

"Very well, but you will remain quiet."

"My shadow, sir, will make more noise than I will."

"I hope so. Now get this; you are to do nothing, nothing whatever, unless you see me move first-is that clear?"

"Very clear, Mr. Tibbs."

"I trust that we may have some company before the night is over. But I am most anxious to see what takes place before we do a thing. This house is supposed to be empty."

"One question, sir: if I see that you are taking some action, then may I have a piece of it?"

Virgil did not want to commit himself on a firm answer to that. "Exercise judgment," he directed. "Too much help can be as dangerous as too httle at some times."

"I understand. May I suggest, sir, that you remove your shoes."

"I intend to."

"I beg your pardon."

"Forget it; now listen." Carefully he spelled out his orders to the houseboy; when they had been delivered he required that they be repeated back. As he was listening, he measured his own physique and trainiug against the lithe figure of Chin Soo. He accepted fully the statement that the young man before him was highly skilled in Gung Fu and with his buHd he could be extremely fast. He did not expect that he would be coming to grips with the younger man, but he was leaving nothing to chance. He had his gun, of course, but he was disinclined to use it except as a last resort. Accurate and effective aim under emergency conditions was always difficult and dangerous-innocent people could get hurt-or worse. And it was not up to him to administer justice with a bullet unless he literally had no choice. Of course if someone else fired first, or tried to, that was different; he certainly had the right to protect himself, and the community.

When he had finished with his briefing he checked the porch light and made sure that it was functioning properly.

If Chin Soo understood the purpose of that maneuver he gave no indication; he stood by quietly waiting. Yumeko had gone and there was no sound from upstairs.

In the dining room, which was set off on the right side of the house, there was a mother-of-pearl inlaid Chinese screen. Tibbs carefully placed a small chair behind it and then adjusted the position until he could sit comfortably and still peer out through the narrow vertical slot formed by two adjacent panels. The position was a good one since it allowed him to see a portion of the small entrance foyer and, at a fairly sharp angle the other way, the door of the jade room.

When he had finished Chin touched his arm. *'I also have a place," he said. He led the way to the door of the study which was ajar. "I will wait behind here. I do not think anyone will want to come into this room."

Tibbs weighed that and decided that the gamble was a good one. "I don't think anyone will either. In any event, I'll be on hand."

"I am not concerned, sir. It is fortunate that from here I will be able to see where you are."

Virgil stepped behind the door and checked through the crack on the hinged side. The view was adequate and the line of sight covered the comer of the dining room where he would be. He would have much preferred to have had a police officer stationed inside the house with him, but there was an excellent reason why he had chosen Chin Soo instead. Furthermore, he was satisfied that the houseboy had not figured that point out yet, despite the fact that he had demonstrated a definite ingenuity. It would be much better if he did not know.

Tibbs had been on stakeout many times, often when it had been possible to move around a bit, sometimes when, as now, he had had to remain quiet and still. Before he took up his position he removed his shoes and put them where they were well out of sight. With a short, silent prayer that Yumeko would remain as quiet as she was at the moment, and that Chin Soo would not somehow blow the show, he sat down behind the screen and composed himself. Presently the houseboy moved almost like a disembodied spirit into the study and positioned himself behind the door. Virgil had not suggested a chair for him: if he wanted one he would get it. He tested his own once more to be sure that it did not creak when he stood up, hitched his trousers up a little to make himself more comfortable, and then began his vigil.

Hopefully, it would not be an extended one this time; if someone was coming, it should not be too long.

Twice during the following hour he was forced to bestir himself a little to relieve muscle cramps in his body, but he saw no indications that Chin had felt a similar need. One thing at least was going well-the girl upstairs was entirely quiet and there was a reasonable chance that she would remain that way.

At eleven minutes after nine he caught the sounds of someone approaching the house. Very shortly after that the doorbell rang, loud and clear through the still house. For one unnerving moment Tibbs was fearful that Chin Soo would be stupid enough to answer it, then he remembered the intelligence that the houseboy had shown and the careful instructions that he had given to him. When the bell rang a second time he waited and listened: it could be an innocent caller who, having come as far as the front door, was not going to go away without ringing despite the darkness of the house.