Stephen Knight - White Tiger

“What troubles?” Chee Wei asked. Ryker didn’t react to the interruption, because it meant that Chee Wei was engaging his professional self, and he had skills to bring to the table.

Xiaohui looked over as if she had forgotten he was there, then redirected her gaze to Ryker.

“You know which troubles, sergeant,” she said. “I do know some things about what went on in Lin Dan’s life, and your name is familiar to me.”

“He told you about Shannon Young, did he?”

“He told me that you were interested in making him the guilty party. But that’s not very important any longer, is it?”

Ryker shrugged, and motioned for her to continue.

“We had sex. After that, I went to the bath. I soaked in the tub, and listened to music. Wong Fei. When I called for Lin Dan to bring me a towel, he did not. I thought he had fallen asleep, even though he had promised he wouldn’t. So I got out of the tub, dried myself, and then”-she abruptly lowered her gaze to the floor once again-“I found him in the bed.”

“And then?”

She snorted humorlessly, and when she looked up at him, Ryker could see the fear in her eyes. What she had seen in the hotel suite the previous night had cracked right through what he figured was a normally unflinching demeanor as effortlessly as a high-velocity bullet would pass through rice paper.

“I got out of there,” she said. “What did you expect?”

“I would have expected you to call the police,” Ryker told her.

Xiaohui shook her head, laughing humorlessly. The sound had a nervous edge to it.

“Oh no. No, I was not about to call the police. I was going to go home, to Shanghai, and forget all about this place and Lin Dan.”

“That’s not going to happen now, Miss Zhu.”

She nodded, and hugged her knees to her chest. Her fingernails were painted a fiery red, as were those on her toes.

“I know that,” she said softly.

“Miss Zhu, if you didn’t kill Mr. Lin, then who might have?”

“I have no idea. I never thought Lin Dan was a very smart man. He was good for making money, I suppose, but he likely offended many people. He was crass and not exactly astute in social situations. But I wouldn’t know who his enemies were. We didn’t speak of those things.”

“Why not?”

She looked up at him again.

“We were lovers, but I did not love him. I really didn’t care what went on in his life, so long as I got what I wanted from him.”

Class act, sister. “So you would have no idea who would want Lin Dan dead?” Ryker kept his tone disbelieving even though his gut told him it was the truth. “Funny, his wife said the same thing. Lin Dan was certainly an international man of mystery, wasn’t he? Or is it just a common trait in Chinese women, to be so dismissive of the men in their lives?”

“I do not know Lin Dan’s wife, so I can’t speak for her, sergeant. Lin Dan was not dismissive of me, but yes, I was of him. He served a single purpose for me, and that was all.”

“So you won’t be mourning his passing then,” Ryker declared.

Xiaohui paused. She took a deep breath and let it loose in one long sigh.

“I never wished him dead. The way he died looked quite horrible. But all I can think of is, he must have brought it upon himself. And whoever did it was very professional, I would think. For me not to have heard anything-”

“Did he have an orgasm, Miss Zhu?”

The sudden swerve in the line of questioning knocked her off balance.

“I’m sorry?” she asked, blinking her eyes.

“I asked, did he have an orgasm. With you?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, what does this have to do with-”

“Indications are that he was apparently in the midst of ejaculating when he died,” Ryker continued. “Given your obvious talents, it’s pretty obvious that you’re more than reasonably capable of inducing that condition in a man.”

“Lin Dan only came with me once last night, sergeant,” Xiaohui responded slowly, and Ryker could see that the sudden revelation had put her guard up.

“I’m sorry, Miss Zhu, but you’ll be coming with us. Our criminologists will need to conduct a physical survey of your person for DNA evidence, and we’ll also need access to your residence. For your sake, I very much hope that we can find the clothes yow were wearing last night.”

The alarm that spread across her face was so genuine that it was almost surprising.

“You’re arresting me?” she asked, completely shocked.

“That’s what we call it.” Ryker turned to Chee Wei. “Detective Fong, Mirandize Miss Zhu, if you don’t mind. I’ll take her in custody, then we’ll have Taraval send a unit to transport Miss Zhu to Metro.”

Chee Wei closed his notebook and slipped it back inside his jacket. His face was expressionless.

“On your feet please, Miss Zhu,” he said, all business. He reached behind his badge holder and pulled out his Miranda card as Ryker pulled his handcuffs from their pouch at the small of his back.

Xiaohui Zhu slowly rose to her feet. Ryker took her left wrist and turned her around so that she faced the couch, then slapped the cuffs on. She gasped at the contact, and when he turned her around again, her eyes were squeezed tightly shut.

“I did not kill Lin Dan,” she whispered. “I did not do it.”

“Well, someone sure did,” Ryker said, “and until I find someone else who fits the bill, you’re the only show in town. Look at it this way, at least you’re getting all of our attention. That should mean something to a girl like you, right, Miss Zhu?”

Chee Wei shot him a disapproving look, but Ryker ignored it. It was uncalled for and wholly unprofessional, but he couldn’t resist the jibe. Xiaohui Zhu was as heartless a bitch as they came, and times were tough all around. He would get to the bottom of it eventually, so long as he stayed on the case, and one component to that was keeping the girl away from the elder Lin’s goons. After things were squared away, he would personally see to it that she got on a plane to Shanghai, and that would be that.

Tokyo, Japan

“Moshi-Moshi.”

Again, Ryoko’s voice was like smoke and bourbon in still air, revealing nothing, promising everything.

“It’s Jerry. Free tonight?”

A brief pause. “I have a calendar shoot tomorrow. They want to start early.”

“Ah.” Manning shifted the phone to his right ear, driving with his left as he drove with the sporadic traffic down Amashita-dori. “What time do you have to get up by?”

“At least seven-thirty. If I can.”

“I see. Well…I have to get up early tomorrow, too. So I’m not asking for a late night or anything. I was thinking dinner.”

Another pause. “I see. What did you have in mind?”

“Bourbon Street?”

“Mmm…” Ryoko took a moment and thought it over. “Too spicy. I would prefer Cicada.”

“Then Cicada it is. What time shall I get you?”

“Seven o’clock, please.”

“I’ll see you at seven.”

He was a little late making it to Ryoko’s due to traffic, but she didn’t seem to mind, especially when he came around and opened the passenger door for her. She touched his cheek as she slid into the Legend; Japan was a place where women didn’t often experience people opening doors for them of their own volition.

Cicada was a trendy Mediterranean restaurant situated on Gaien-Nishi streets in the Manimi-Azabu district. It was run by a Westerner who had been trained in the culinary arts of Spain, and the establishment had a rather unique focus on sherry. As the server led them to their table, Manning could see the eyes of most of the men following Ryoko as she strolled with a quiet confidence through the restaurant. She was dressed in an understated but elegant black skirt and matching silk blouse, but the clothes clung to the curves of her body in a way that was guaranteed to attract attention. When the Japanese patrons saw that she was with a tall, middle-aged gaijin , they immediately dropped their eyes. Manning could figure out their thoughts of the arrangement easily enough.