J. Robb - Survivor in Death

“How can I serve you?”

She wore a red robe with a black dragon flying across the bottom. Her head was shaved clean, the shape of her skull somehow as tidy and lustrous as the room.

“Roger Kirkendall.” Eve showed her badge.

She smiled, showing white, even teeth. “I'm sorry, Mr. Kirkendall isn't with us. May I inquire as to the nature of your business?”

“No. Where is he?”

“I believe Mr. Kirkendall is traveling.” Despite the clipped response, the woman's tone never altered. “Perhaps you'd like to speak with Mr. Lu, his partner. Should I inform Mr. Lu that you'd like to speak with him?”

“Do that.” She turned, rescanned the room. “Pretty kicked for a dojo. Must do a hell of a business. Not bad for former Army.”

“Mr. Lu will come out and escort you. May I serve you some refreshments? Green tea, spring water?”

“No, we're good. How long have you worked here?”

“I've been employed in this capacity for three years.”

“So you know Kirkendall.”

“I have not had the pleasure of meeting him.”

One of the screens slid open. The man who came out wore a black gi, with the black belt around it scored in a way that told Eve he was a master.

He was no more than five-eight in his bare feet. Like the woman, his head was hairless. And like her, he put his palms together and bowed.

“You are welcome here. You inquire about Mr. Kirkendall. Do you require privacy?”

“Never hurts.”

“Please, then.” He gestured to the opening. “We will speak in my office. I am Lu,” he told them as he escorted them down a narrow white hallway.

“Dallas, Lieutenant. Peabody, Detective. NYPSD. What are these rooms?”

“We offer privacy rooms for meditation.” He bowed to a white robed man who carried a white pot of tea and two handleless cups on a tray.

Eve watched the man slip through one of the sliding screens and close it behind him.

She caught the sounds of hand-to-hand ahead. The slap of flesh, the thud of bodies, the hiss of breath. Saying nothing, she moved passed Lu and walked to another opening.

The studio spread out, in sections. In one she saw a class of six executing the sharp, silent movements of an elaborate and graceful kata. In another, several students of various ranks fought under the supervision of another black belt.

“We instruct in tai chi, karate, tai kwon do, aikido,” Lu began. “Other forms and methods as well. We offer instruction to novices and continuing instruction and practice to the experienced.”

“You offer anything but tea and meditation in those privacy room?”

“Yes. We offer spring water.” He neither smiled nor seemed insulted by the question. “If you would like to examine one of our meditation rooms, not currently in use, I would only request you remove your boots before entering.”

“We'll leave that for now.”

He led her through another doorway, into a small, efficient, and attractive office. More low tables and cushions. Painted screens on the walls, a single white orchid bowing out of a red pot.

His desk space was stringently ordered with its compact d and c unit and a miniature 'link.

“Would you care to sit?”

“Standing's fine. I need to speak with Kirkendall.”

“He's traveling.”

“Where?”

“I can't tell you. He is, to my knowledge, traveling extensively.”

“You don't know how to reach your partner?”

“I'm afraid I don't. Is there a problem that involves my business?”

“He lists this as his address on his official data.”

“He does not live at this address.” Lu's voice remained smooth and untroubled. “There is no residence here. I fear there is some mistake.”

“When's the last time you spoke with him?”

“Six years ago.”

“Six years? You haven't spoken with your partner in six years.”

“That is correct. Mr. Kirkendall approached me with a business opportunity that I found interesting. At that time I owned a small dojo inOkinawa. I was afforded this by some success in tournaments and instructional discs.”

“Lu. The Dragon. I recognized you.”

There was the faintest of smiles, the slightest of bows. “I am honored.”

“You kicked some serious ass. Three-time Olympic gold medalist, world record holder. They use some of your vids at the Academy.”

“You are interested in the art?”

“Yeah, especially when it's executed by a master. You were undefeated, Master Lu.”

“The gods favored me.”

“Your signature flying kick didn't hurt either.”

A gleam of humor brightened his eyes. “It occasionally hurt my opponent.”

“Bet. What business opportunity did Kirkendall bring to you?”

“Partnership, with considerable funds, this location, and the freedom to operate this school personally. His money, my expertise and reputation. I accepted.”

“You don't consider it odd that he hasn't come to check up on you in six years?”

“He wished to travel and not to be encumbered by business. He is, I believe, eccentric.”

“How does he get his cut?”

“The business reports and figures are sent to him electronically, as is his share of the profits, which goes to an account inZurich. I am sent confirmation of the receipt of these. Has there been some difficulty with the funds and their transfer?”

“Not that I'm aware of. That's it?” Eve asked. “You don't speak with him at all, don't deal through an intermediary, a representative?”

“He was specific in his requirements for this arrangement. As it benefits me, and harms no one, I agreed to it.”

“I'm going to need the paperwork, the information on all e-transfers and communications.”

“I must ask the reason before I agree or refuse.”

“His name has come up during an investigation of several homicides.”

“But he is traveling.”

“Maybe, or maybe he's a lot closer to home. Peabody, show Lu the composites.”

Peabodytook them out of her file bag, offered them. “Mr. Lu, do you recognize either of these men?”

“They appear to be twins. And no, they are not familiar to me.” The first sign of distress eked through his considerable calm. “Who are they? What have they done?”

“They're wanted for questioning on seven murders, including two children.”

Lu drew in a breath. “The tragedy, the family, a few days ago. I heard of it. Children. I have a child, Lieutenant. My wife, who greeted you, we have a child. He's four.” His eyes weren't calm now, nor did they show distress. They were simply cold. “The media reports that this family was in their home, in their beds, sleeping. They were unarmed, they were defenseless. And the throats of these defenseless children were slashed. Is this truth?”

“Yes, it's truth.”

“There is no punishment that will balance this scale. Not even death.”

“Justice doesn't always balance the scale, Master Lu, but it's the best we have.”

“Yes.” He stood very still for a moment. “You believe the man I call partner may be in some way involved with these deaths?”

“It's a possibility.”

“I will give you whatever you require. Do whatever can be done. A moment.” He moved to his desk, gave his unit several commands in what Eve took to be Japanese.

“When would Kirkendall expect to hear from you again, to receive a report or a payment?”

“Not until December, and the last quarter of this year.”

“Do you ever contact him otherwise? With a question, a problem?”

“It's not usual, but there has been the occasion.”

“Maybe we can work with that. I'd like to send someone from our E-Division in to do a scan on your unit, on any unit you might have used to send communication to Kirkendall.”