Ava was standing by the elevator, blood now dripping on the marble floor of the lobby. She noticed the concierge staring at her in shock. “Can you get me a towel, please?” Ava asked. “I had an accident outside.”
“I beg your pardon?” Hawkins said.
“I wasn’t speaking to you.”
“Oh.”
“Give me a moment.”
The concierge walked quickly towards her, holding a small towel he had taken from a drawer in his desk. She took it from him and, seeing the panic in his face, said, “It’s not that serious. I’ll be okay. Now please excuse me, I have to finish this phone call.”
“I can get a doctor here in minutes.”
She waved off the offer and put the phone back to her ear. “Mr. Hawkins, you were telling me that Ms. Simmons is going to sign my transfer request.”
“Those weren’t my exact words,” he said cautiously. “I said she was prepared to do that.”
“It sounds as if there are conditions attached.”
“Well, there is one complication that I’ve been advised about. The request you mentioned — the paper you evidently left with her yesterday — she doesn’t have it anymore.”
“She lost it?”
“She tore it up.”
At least he’s honest, Ava thought. “That isn’t a problem. I have another copy.”
“I am sure she will be relieved to hear that.”
“Is that all, then?” Ava asked.
“No, there is one more thing.”
“I’m listening.”
“It’s in regard to the conversation you had with Minister Simmons last night.”
“Yes?”
“You expressed the opinion at one point that he may have violated the integrity of his blind trust.”
“Yes, I did imply that was possible.”
“And then things may have been said or implied that could be construed as inappropriate, in terms of his experiences doing business in Asia or with certain Asians.”
“Yes, he did express some opinions that I thought were out of place.”
“Ms. Lee, that was simply a case of his emotions getting the better of him. He was obviously upset about his daughter. Surely you can understand that.”
“Where is this leading, Mr. Hawkins?” Ava asked.
“Would you be prepared to attest, in writing, that the Minister did not directly discuss any issues, financial or otherwise, connected to The River?”
“Are you asking if I would swear that he didn’t breach the integrity of the blind trust?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I can do that.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“Is there anything else?” Ava said.
“Yes, there is one last thing. Can you also, again in writing, attest to the fact that the Minister did not disparage Asian business culture in general or specifically anyone who works in that culture?”
“And if I can’t, is Ms. Simmons still prepared to sign the transfer?”
“I really don’t know,” he stumbled. “I was asked to make the request, and I have.”
“So it isn’t a condition?”
“You’ll have to take that up with Ms. Simmons.”
“Mr. Hawkins, tell whomever you are reporting to that I am prepared to forget both the Minister’s views on how business is conducted in Asia and the issue about the blind trust.”
“It is being requested that you put something in writing.”
“If something short and to the point is acceptable, I’ll consider it.”
“Thank you.”
“Is that it?”
“No, I have also been asked to inquire whether you need time to consult with anyone overseas or if you need to involve legal representatives from your side.”
“No.”
He paused, and she knew he hadn’t expected that answer.
“When do I meet with Lily Simmons?” Ava asked.
“I believe that may be possible today. Mr. McIntyre’s office is in Knightsbridge, just down the road from you.”
“What time?”
“I believe the plan is that, after I pass along my report of our conversation, either Ms. Simmons or Mr. McIntyre will call you directly.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
“Ms. Lee, I’d like to know…” Hawkins began awkwardly, and then stopped.
“Know what?”
“Actually… I’d like to know who you are.”
“What do you mean?”
“I spent close to an hour with Daniel Anderson this morning. He’s a friend of my older brother, and it was Daniel who arranged for my appointment to Minister Simmons’s staff. He grilled me about your meeting with the Minister last night. I was honest with him — I’d like you to know that. I found the Minister’s comments about Mr. Ordonez to be completely inappropriate, and I confirmed to Daniel that they had indeed been uttered. He told me that the Prime Minister had a personal interest in the matter. I was taken aback. Who are you, to bring this about?”
“Is that Daniel Anderson asking or you?”
“Me. Daniel seemed to know.”
“Then you ask him,” Ava said, and then cut off the line.
(43)
Ava went directly to her bathroom to look at the cut. It was longer than she’d thought, maybe fifteen centimetres, but the wound was shallow. She washed her arm in cold water, smeared some Polysporin on it, and wrapped it tightly in gauze.
She walked back into the room and sat on the bed to phone Uncle.
“Did Ko call Li?”
Andrew Hawkins had driven Leung’s hired killers from her mind. “Eventually,” she said.
“Eventually? Did you have problems with them?”
“None worth mentioning.”
“Good. I am glad it is over.”
“Li conveyed his apologies.”
“I will thank him from my end. He is a useful man to keep close.”
“You’ll be happy to know that Lily Simmons has decided she wants to keep close as well. They used her father’s executive assistant as the middle man. He says she’s prepared to execute the transfer.”
“That is good news.”
“But it isn’t done yet. I came to London needing just one signature, and after everything I’ve gone through, I still need that one signature. I’m not taking it for granted.”
“Still, we see movement in the proper direction,” Uncle said, blunting his optimism.
“I’m told we’re probably going to meet sometime later today at her lawyer’s office. They’ll want me to sign
