Part 11 (2/2)

There was only one light on in the dance hall. It was over the cash desk where Yu-Ian was checking the cash. The desk was covered with money. She glanced up as the two men came in. Her head jerked up when she saw Yo-Yo.

Blackie didnat say anything to her. He continued across the floor to his office, followed by Yo-Yo who had paused for a moment to stare at the money on the desk.

In his office, Blackie sat down behind his desk. Yo-Yo stood in front of the desk, chewing on the thin leather strap that hung from his hat.

aWell? What is it?a Blackie said.

aTheyare offering 20,000 piastres for information about the American,a Yo-Yo said. aI know he hasnat been kidnapped and I know where he is. I thought Iad better talk to you first before I claim the reward.a aWhat makes you think itas anything to do with me?a Yo-Yo picked at a food stain on his coat.

aIsnat it?a he said, not looking at Blackie. aHeas the man I saw in the villa at Thudaumot. The man Nhan visited.a aHow do you know?a Yo-Yo looked up and his thick lips parted in a sneering grin.

aI know, Mr. Blackie. I thought Iad come to you first. Youave always been good to me. I didnat want to get you into any trouble.a Blackie breathed heavily through his wide nostrils. He felt a cold clutch of fear at his heart, but his face remained expressionless.

aWhy should I get into trouble?a Yo-Yo shrugged his shoulders. He didnat say anything.

To give himself time to think, Blackie lit a cigarette. As he flicked out the match, he said, aIt would be better if you didnat go to the police. Iam thinking of the girl. I donat let any of my girls get into trouble if I can help it.a Yo-Yoas grin widened.

aI know that, Mr. Blackie.a aWell, okay. You keep away from the police. Just keep quiet about this. Police informers arenat popular around here.a Yo-Yo nodded.

There was a pause, then Blackie went on, aItas time you settled down to a job of work. Come and see me tomorrow. Iall find something for you: something good,a and he made a little flicking movement of dismissal.

Yo-Yo didnat move.

aHow about the reward, Mr. Blackie?a Iall have to give him the money, Blackie thought, but it wonat stop there. As soon as he has spent it, heall be back for more. Iave got this little rat on my back now.

aThe police wonat pay you,a he said. aTheyall listen to you, but they wonat pay you. I shouldnat have to tell you that.a aI think they would, Mr. Blackie,a Yo-Yo said and a hard note came into his voice. aI want 20,000 piastres.a Blackie looked at him for a long moment, then he got to his feet.

aWait here,a he said, aand keep your hands off my things.a He went out closing the door after him. He crossed to a door leading to his living quarters at the back of the club, ignoring Yu-lan who was looking anxiously at him from across the hall. He went to Charlieas bedroom and entered.

There was a flickering nightlight under a large photograph of Blackieas and Charlieas father that stood on a shelf on the wall. The nightlight provided enough light for Blackie to see his brother sleeping in the bunk across the room.

As Blackie shut the door, Charlie opened his eyes and sat up.

aWhat is it?a Charlie asked.

Quietly Blackie told him of his meeting with Jaffe.

aHe has the diamonds,a he said. aHe has given me one more.a Charlie held out his hand and Blackie gave the screw of paper containing the diamond. Charlie examined the stone and nodded.

aThis is another of mine,a he said. aHe agrees to the price?a Yes.a aI fly to Phnom-Penh tomorrow morning.a aThere is a complication,a Blackie said and told Charlie about Yo-Yo.

aThese things happen,a Charlie said philosophically. aYou must pay him. Heall come back for more, of course. When we have the diamonds we may have to do something about him, but not until we have the diamonds.a aThatas what I thought. All right, Iall pay him.a aDo you think heall go to the police after you have paid him? He might be tempted to try for the reward as well.a aNo, he wonat do that,a Blackie said. aThe police know too much about him. I donat think they would give him anything: he knows that as well as I do.a Charlie nodded. Then pay him.a

chapter twelve.

I.

Nhan had pa.s.sed a bad night. She had had a dream that had terrified her. As soon as she had got her three brothers off to school and before her uncle had got out of bed, she took a pousse-pousse to the Tomb of Marshal Le-van-Duyet. At the entrance she bought an a.s.sortment of vegetables and fruit as gift offerings. She entered the Temple and laid her gifts among the other gifts already on the long table.

She knelt and prayed for some time, and then calmer in mind, she bought two candles, lit them and fixed them to the already overcrowded candle rack.

Then kneeling, she picked up a quiver containing a number of strips of thin wood, each strip bearing a number. Very gently and carefully she began to shake the quiver in both hands until one strip of wood toppled out and fell on the stone floor. She looked at the number and noted it was 16. She went over to a numbered rack on the wall and drew from a pigeonhole numbered 16 a strip of pink paper.

She took this strip of paper to an old man who was sitting at the entrance to the tomb. He was one of the five fortunetellers attached to the tomb. He read what was printed on the pink paper, then he stared at Nhan for some minutes. He was the best as well as the oldest fortuneteller at the Tomb and Nhan had great faith in him.

He told her that she must be very careful what she did during the next two days. These two days, he said, were the most critical of her life. After the two days, she would have no need of fear, but it would be better for her to return home and pray and keep on praying until the two days had elapsed.

Instead of returning home, Nhan caught the nine oaclock bus to Thudaumot. She felt an urgent need to be with Steve to feel his arms around her. He could, she felt, give her more comfort and more hope than prayer.

While the bus was leaving the Central Market for Thudaumot, Lieutenant Hambley was arriving at his office. He found on his desk a number of files and a request for a comprehensive report on the pilfering of stores belonging to the Emba.s.sy. The report and the files would keep him fully occupied for at least two days, and as he got down to work, he remembered that he was to have gone to the Tomb of Marshal Le-van Duyet to talk to Nhan Lee Quonas uncle.

Well, I canat do everything, he told himself. Iall give her name to NgocLinh and he can handle it.

It wasnat until eleven oaclock when his secretary brought him a cup of coffee that he paused in his work to telephone the Inspector.

aYour theory that Jaffe was a degenerate is so much baloney,a Hambley said when the Inspector came on the line. aI have talked to his friends and thereas no evidence at all that he was queer or that he chased girls. He had a regular girl. Youad better talk to her. Sheall tell you there was nothing wrong with the guy.a The Inspector, listening, half closed his eyes with exasperation.

aIf I could find the girl, Lieutenant,a he said, controlling his irritation, aI would most certainly talk to her, but I donat know who she is and I canat find out who she is.a Hambley grinned to himself.

aYou surprise me, Inspector. I had no trouble finding out who she is. I got her name from that Chinese tart you found Wade with. As easy as that.a The Inspector leaned forward, gripping the telephone. aWho is she?a aSheas a taxi-dancer at the Paradise Club,a Hambley said. aHer nameas Nhan Lee Quon. I donat know where she lives, but I do know her uncle is a fortuneteller at Marshal Levan-Duyetas tomb. Heall tell you where to find her.a The Inspector drew in a long breath.

aThank you, Lieutenant, I will act on your suggestion,a and he hung up.

For a long moment he sat still, staring in front of him, then he picked up the telephone and called Colonel On-dinh-Khuc. He told him he now knew who Jaffeas girl was.

aI will question her myself,a the Colonel said, a grating note in his voice. aArrest her quietly. Bring her to me immediately.a It didnat take the Inspector long to find Nhanas address. A register of all the taxi-dancers was kept at headquarters. The Inspector took two plainclothes men with him and drove in his car to Nhanas home. Leaving the car at the corner of the street, he walked with one of his men to the apartment block.

Nhanas mother came to the door.

Her daughter was out, she told the Inspector. She didnat know where she had gone. She would be back at midday or failing this, then she was certain to be back at six.

The Inspector left his man at the apartment. He told him to wait for Nhan to arrive and that her mother was not to leave the apartment on any pretext until her daughter did arrive.

When the Inspector had gone, his man sat on the bench near the door and lit a cigarette. Nhanas mother squatted on the floor looking at the man in terror. After a while the man got bored with smoking. He locked the door and then began to examine the contents of the apartment, opening and shutting cupboards, opening drawers and turning over their contents while Nhanas mother continued to watch him.

Jaffe was surprised and pleased when his room door opened and Nhan came in. He thought she looked tired and he could tell by her kiss that she was nervous about something. He led her to the bed and sat on it, pulling her down beside him, his arm round her. He told her of his meeting with Blackie. He didnat mention the policeman.

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