indicated on the map. He was stunned to find a whopping great edifice that looked like it had been transported brick by brick from Versailles. The Palace, as Robert referred to it, was situated on six acres of land that included numerous fruit trees, vast raised rose beds, and even a half-acre fishpond that Luke passed on the way up the long drive from the automated gates. When he pulled up to the house there was a middle-aged Hispanic gentleman dressed in overalls waiting to take Luke’s open Jeep to the garage. When Luke appeared confused, the man pointed to the graying sky that soon promised rain. Luke nodded, handed over the keys, and grabbed his bags.
The expression on Luke’s face when Robert greeted him at the front door caused his host to break into a broad grin. “I’ve been waiting in gleeful anticipation of this moment. Just to see the look on your face is reward enough, but in fact this pile of vanity isn’t mine. My father acquired it in lieu of a very substantial debt, and I live here more as a live-in caretaker than anything else. In fact, the only part of this place that’s furnished is the north wing, but it has three bedrooms, two baths, a living room, dining room, and its own kitchen. There’s even a marble-trimmed swimming pool out back. Come on in, put up your feet and stay awhile.”
Luke saw at once that what Robert said was true. The foyer and the south wing were naked, but Robert’s apartments in the north wing were handsomely furnished with expensive copies of fine antiques, which Robert said came with the house. And knowing his son’s busy schedule, Robert’s father had also employed a housekeeper named Mrs. Martinez, two gardeners, and a Chinese cook who made the best green chili con carne and shoestring fries Luke had ever tasted.
After supper the rain started to come down in buckets. Robert and Luke retired to the living room, where Mrs. Martinez had set a comforting blaze in the ornate-mantled fireplace. When he was sure they were alone, Robert began to discuss the purpose of their meeting.
“I hate to say this, Luke, but I’ve come up with nothing at all useful. And the sad fact is that I know why. Despite my family name, I just don’t have the rank or chops to get anyone to cooperate with me. It’s going to take the efforts of someone far more powerful than myself to loosen sealed tongues.”
Luke nodded. “I haven’t made any progress either. Every thread I follow leads nowhere.” Luke changed the subject. “But that’s enough bad news; I must assume you wouldn’t have invited me all the way up here if you didn’t have something more interesting in mind.”
“Well, I don’t know how viable this suggestion will sound, but I’m serious all the same. I just couldn’t make a move without consulting you first.” Robert paused to gather his thoughts. “I think we need to bring in a third party. Someone who just might have as strong an interest in this affair as we do. And since the search, if it goes on much longer, is going to start costing us some serious bucks, we’re also going to need someone with deep pockets as well as deep interest.”
Luke nodded. “I know you well enough to assume you have someone in mind.”
“I do in fact. I think we should talk to my father. He’s a man of legendary discretion with a passion for Chinese history. I’ve refrained from mentioning anything about this to him, per our agreement, but I believe he can help us if he has a mind to. In addition, my father has the ability to help us set up an appropriate corporation to secure our interests. But most important of all, no one in the Chinese communities or the existing tongs would dare refuse any request made in his name.”
“That sounds most convenient.”
Robert shrugged self-consciously. “I haven’t mentioned this before, I suppose because I foolishly believed I could do this all on my own. I thought my old man would be really impressed if I could pull this off, but that proved little more than conceit on my part. Even so, this entails a subject very close to his heart. Let me tell you a little something about my father. His company is the largest Asian import-and-export concern in the United States. They handled three and a half billion dollars worth of trade last year alone, and even more than that the year before. He gives fortunes to domestic Chinese charities, and every Chinese of any importance refers to him as Grand Master Wu. They deny him nothing. If anyone can help us, he can. So what do you say? Do you feel okay about talking to him about all this?”
Luke sat back and thought for a few moments. He tried to flash through all the possible scenarios and pitfalls. He’d speculated about arriving at just such an instance, but he hadn’t bothered to carry on the daydream because it seemed patently improbable. Finally, with no handy negatives on which to hang an objection, he gave in to the moment. “Well, we’re just spinning our wheels right now. The whole thing seems to hang in expectation of acknowledgment from somebody. So okay, I’ll go along for the ride if you think it’s in our best interest, but only if you and I get the intellectual credits. Otherwise we’d just be doing all the legwork for somebody else’s benefit, and I’m not up for that.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you. I know my father pretty well. You’d be surprised how many spectacular things he could have taken credit for if he’d wanted to, but that’s just not in his nature. He’s a quiet and modest fellow at heart, which is why so many people trust him with their fortunes.”
“Okay, I’m in. But what’s all this business about a suit?”
Robert smiled. “I’ve already taken care of that. You’ll find everything you need in the closet of your room.”
“Why do I need a suit?”
Robert blushed slightly. “Well, there’s something about my father you’ve got to understand. He’s a man of great formality. Do you know that in my whole life I’ve never seen him without a suit and tie? When I was a kid he once took me to the beach to watch a surfing competition. It was eighty-five degrees in the shade, and he wore a three-piece blue pin-striped suit and a black fedora. My father believes that one doesn’t dress well from a standpoint of self-respect, but out of respect for others. He also taught me that if you’re looking for money or influence, dress like you’re in need of neither. People with money and power rarely invest time or effort in those who look like they’re in desperate need of it.”
“I suppose that makes sense, but then I’ve never had either, so I wouldn’t know.”
“Well, tomorrow you’re going to look like you’ve got both. Now, did you bring all the paperwork?”
“Yes, of course I did.”
“Good. And if my father wishes to see the originals, how long would it take for you to get your hands on them?”
“One day at the most. The material is relatively close by. But what have you got planned?”
Robert got up and went to warm himself by the fire. “I took the liberty of inviting my father to come down here for lunch tomorrow. After lunch we’ll make our pitch. I bought a display easel today. We’ll set it up in the south wing with a couple of chairs and no distractions from household interruptions. We can show him what you’ve discovered and tell him what we believe is needed to further the search. Now, I warn you, my father is a cunning and circumspect fellow, and he chooses his words very carefully, so you probably won’t see any appreciable
