Part 20 (1/2)

'Before we talk business, why don't we order?'

'As you wish, Mr. Kingsley. Are you familiar with j.a.panese dishes or shall I order for you?'

'Thank you. I can order. Do you like sus.h.i.+?' Yes.

Tanner turned to the waiter. 'I'll have hamachi-temaki, kaibas.h.i.+ra, and ama-ebi.'

Akira Iso smiled. 'That sounds good.' He looked at the waiter. 'I'll have the same.'

While they were eating, Tanner said, 'You work for a very fine company, Tokyo First Industrial.'

'Thank you.'

'How long have you worked there?'

'Ten years.'

'That's a long time.' He looked Akira Iso in the eye and said, 'In fact, it might be time to make a change.'

'Why would I want to do that, Mr. Kingsley?'

'Because I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse. I don't know how much money you make, but I am willing to pay you twice as much to leave them and come to work for KIG.'

'Mr. Kingsley, that is not possible.'

'Why not? If it's because of a contract, I can arrange-'

Akira Iso put down his chopsticks. 'Mr. Kingsley, in j.a.pan, when we work for a company, it is like a family. And when we can no longer work, they take care of us.'

'But the money I'm offering you-'

'No. Ai-shya-sei-s.h.i.+n.'

'What?'

'It means that we put loyalty above money.' Akira Iso looked at him curiously. 'Why did you choose me?'

'Because I've heard very flattering things about you.'

'I'm afraid you have taken a long trip for nothing, Mr. Kingsley. I would never leave Tokyo First Industrial.'

'It was worth a try.'

'There are no hard feelings?'

Tanner leaned back and laughed. 'Of course not. I wish all my employees were as loyal as you are.' He remembered something. 'By the way, I brought you and your family a little gift. An a.s.sociate of mine will bring it to you. He'll be at your hotel in an hour. His name is Harry Flint.'

A maid found Akira Iso's body hanging from a hook in a wardrobe chest. The official verdict was suicide.

CHAPTER 24.THE MANDARIN HOTEL was a seedy, two-story building in the heart of Manhattan's Chinatown, three blocks from Mott Street.

As Kelly and Diane got out of the taxi, Diane saw a large billboard across the street with a picture of Kelly in a beautiful evening gown, holding up a bottle of perfume. Diane looked at it in surprise. 'That's who you are.'

'You're wrong,' Kelly said. 'That's what I do, Mrs. Stevens. It's not who I am.' She turned and walked into the lobby, and an exasperated Diane followed.

A Chinese clerk was seated behind a desk in the small hotel lobby, reading a copy of the China Post.

'We would like a room for the night,' Diane said.

The clerk glanced up at the two elegantly dressed women and almost said aloud, Here? He rose. 'Certainly.' He took a closer look at their designer clothes. 'That will be a hundred dollars a night.'

Kelly looked at him, shocked. 'A hun-?'

Diane said quickly, 'That will be fine.'

'In advance.'

Diane opened her purse, took out some bills, and gave them to the clerk. He handed her a key.

'Room ten, straight down the hall, on the left. Do you have luggage?

'It's coming,' Diane told him.

'If you need anything, just ask for Ling.'

Kelly said, 'Ling?'

'Yes. She's your chambermaid.'

Kelly gave him a sceptical look. 'Right.'

The two women started down the dreary, dimly lit hallway.

'You paid too much,' Kelly said.

'What's a safe roof over your head worth?'

'I'm not so sure this place is such a good idea,' Kelly said.

'It will have to do until we think of something better. Don't worry. Mr. Kingsley will take care of us.'

When they reached number ten, Diane unlocked the door and they stepped inside. The small room looked and smelled as though it had been unoccupied for a long time. There were twin beds with rumpled bedcovers and two worn chairs next to a scarred desk.

Kelly looked around. 'It may be small, but it sure is ugly. I'll bet it's never been cleaned.' She touched a cus.h.i.+on and watched the dust rise. 'I wonder how long ago Ling pa.s.sed away.'

'It's only for tonight,' Diane a.s.sured her. 'I'm going to phone Mr. Kingsley now.'