“It’s a long way out, and with my work — ”
“Anyway, I’m giving you notice. I told Mummy that maybe we could have a family holiday. You know, take your sister and her kids and you and go on a cruise, or down to the Bahamas.”
“How is everyone here?” Ava asked as if she hadn’t heard him.
“Good, really good. Jamie and Michael are in business here. Neither of them is married yet, although Michael is now living with a girl for the first time. David is in Australia finishing up a Ph. D. and trying to find himself. Peter has just joined Barclay’s Bank.”
It always amazed her that he could talk about the children from his first marriage with such ease in front of her. What was as surprising was that her mother spoke about them and took pride in them as well, as if they were part of her extended family. Ava wondered if it cut both ways. Did they even know she existed?
“Yes, Mummy keeps me posted,” she said.
The waiter put a small tureen of hot and sour soup on the table. Her father filled her bowl.
“So, what brings you east again?”
“Business,” she said.
“Are you still working with Chow?”
“Yes, of course I am.”
“I can’t help but wish you weren’t.”
“But I am.”
“Be careful,” he said. It was the same thing he said every time Uncle’s name was mentioned.
“Daddy, I’m an accountant,” she said.
His eyes flickered in her direction. She felt a nervous flutter in her stomach, her face flushed, and she found herself confronting the fact that this man was nobody’s fool. He knew what she did for a living, and though she never discussed her work in detail, he’d been in business long enough and knew Hong Kong and China well enough to know what it could entail.
“So what is this business?”
“The usual. Someone took off with someone else’s money, and I’m trying to track it down and have it returned to its rightful owner.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“It is.”
“Do I know any of the principals?”
“I don’t think so, and even if you did I couldn’t acknowledge it.”
“So why did you call me, then?”
The question was asked gently but the point was direct; she couldn’t lie to him. “I need to speak to a man named Frank Seto. He is Carter Chan’s son-in-law. I’m quite sure that if I approach him on my own I’ll be put off. I was hoping you could help me.”
“I don’t know Frank very well,” he said. “Still, I can’t imagine him getting himself immersed in anything untoward.”
“It isn’t him. He has a brother who I’m trying to locate, and so far there’s nothing but dead ends. I’m hoping that Frank can help me.”
Their food arrived: shu mai, fried turnip cake, scallops fried with salt, and steamed duck feet with mushrooms.
“I’m not sure my calling Frank will do any good. He might not remember me,” he said. “On the other hand, Carter and I have had a long and uneventful relationship. In his own strange way, he may even consider me a friend. I’ll call him and see what he can set up. You want to meet with Frank, correct?”
“Yes, thank you, Daddy.”
“Would you find it upsetting if I came along?”
She glanced up at him.
“It might make things easier all around,” he said.
“What would you tell him? I mean, what would you tell him about me?”
“That you are my daughter, of course. What did you think I would say?”
“I don’t know. I mean, Mummy and me and Marian are in another world. This is your world here. I don’t know who knows what about what.”
“You aren’t a secret, if that’s what you think.”
“I don’t think I need a complete explanation,” she said.
“Well, anytime you do, just ask,” he said. “I know it seems to Westerners that some of us Chinese have very complicated lives. Actually, the opposite is true. There are rules to this tradition of ours, and as long as everyone — and that includes the wives — plays by the rules, the family remains harmonious. What are the other options? Divorce? Secret mistresses? Messy and hurtful.”
She sat mute, a shu mai between her chopsticks.
“I know it’s old-fashioned, but I was raised that way, and it can’t be helped,” he said.
“No, I guess not,” she said.
They finished lunch and went into the hotel lobby. He turned on his cellphone. “This could take a while,” he said to her. “I have to get past a receptionist and then at least two personal assistants.” He was sitting directly under a harsh overhead light and still looked ten to fifteen years younger than he was. Ava saw several women close to her own age glancing at him as they walked past.
“Marcus Lee calling for Carter Chan,” he said. It took less than a minute. “Hello, Carter, this is Marcus… I’m well, thank you. And you and the family?… Actually it’s a family matter I’m calling about. I need a personal favour. My daughter Ava needs to speak with your son-in-law. It’s about a matter that does not involve him directly, or you or any of your interests. She’s a forensic accountant, and the issue concerns Frank’s brother. I don’t know much more than that… He is? Can you give me a number where she can reach him?” He took a small notepad and pen from his inside jacket pocket and wrote down two phone numbers. “And Carter, could you contact Frank yourself and ask him to speak with her? If she calls directly, well, you know… Thanks, Carter.”
“Frank is in the U.K.,” he said to Ava. “This is his Hong Kong cell number, and Carter says he normally has it on. The other is his hotel number. Carter will have someone call him and tell him to be cooperative. You should wait until that happens.” He checked his watch. “It’s about six in the morning there. Give it a few hours.”
He walked her out to the taxi stand. They hugged, his intensity catching her off guard. “I am really happy you called me,” he said. “I love you, you know, and I’m very proud of you. Just be careful, huh?”
“Thanks for making that call. I love you too.”
“Try to join us in May, will you?”
“I’ll try.”
(8)
Ava phoned uncle when she got back to the Mandarin. She told him about her meeting with her father and about her possible access to Frank Seto. “I’m leaving tonight for Bangkok,” she said. “My flight leaves here at six on Thai Air. I’ve decided to take your advice and not see Andrew Tam.”
“I think that’s best. I’ll pick you up at the hotel at three thirty.”
“That’s perfect. See you then,” Ava said.
She checked her watch. Not enough time to change and go for a run. She went online and searched Frank Seto. Ninety percent of the references were about his relationship to the Chan family, and the balance were reports about Admiralty Property deals. Seto didn’t seem to exist outside of the Chans. There were photos of his wedding from multiple sources. He was as skinny as Jackson; the bride was twice his size. Some men like fat women, but all men love money. She wondered if Frank Seto had found the perfect combination.
The Mercedes was in front of the hotel entrance right on schedule. Sonny opened the back door for her and she slipped into the seat next to Uncle. He had a file folder resting on his lap. He waited until they were on the highway before he passed it to her.
“This came through this afternoon. Our friends worked quickly. Antonelli will be easy enough to contact. He is
