family bloodline. And there was no chance that Lin Dan would keep his seat on the board of directors of Lin Industries, in either the U.S. or China.”
Manning thought about that. “I guess it didn’t work,” he said finally. “Lin Dan still had his ladies on the side.”
Baluyevsky sipped from his cup so delicately that it was almost comical. “No, it did not work. Apparently this woman is quite the artist.”
“What do you know of her?”
“Nothing. Only that she is a native Shanghainese, and that she has exorbitant tastes. Lin Dan was literally spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a year maintaining her. It was only when he brought her to California for their liaisons that Valerie Lin found out about Lin Dan’s ‘other life’, so to speak, and took action.”
“So Lin Dan wasn’t a very cool cat, then.”
Baluyevsky blinked. “What do you mean by ‘cool cat’?”
“I meant he wasn’t the paragon of discretion.”
“No. He was obviously not at all discreet,” Baluyevsky agreed.
“Ryker investigated him earlier for something else?”
“Yes. Lin Dan had cost his father much face before. He was an embarrassment to the family and the business more than once.”
Manning sipped some more espresso. “Maybe Lin should send his son’s killer a thank-you note.”
Baluyevsky glared at Manning. “Be mindful of your place, Manning. And hold your tongue.”
“Take a step back, Baluyevsky. I know what I’m here for.”
The two men stared at each other for a time. Baluyevsky defused the moment by draining his cup and setting it on the silver tray.
“At any rate, you will see for yourself that Valerie Lin is not capable of murder, or of arranging a murder. She will be here tonight.”
“Really? That’s…surprising.”
“She knows her place in Mr. Lin’s world, and even the death of her husband cannot excuse her from her duties just yet. As I meant to say, she is a very dutiful woman, and because of this I truly do not believe she is capable of murder.”
“I guess we’ll see about that.” Manning finished his espresso and placed the cup on the tray as well. Baluyevsky checked his watch and rose to his feet. Manning mimicked him.
“I will need to make some inspections before the guests arrive,” the Russian told him. “Perhaps you’d like to accompany me?”
“Why not,” Manning said.
At dusk, the limousines began to arrive.
Manning and Baluyevsky watched from one side of the driveway as the long, shiny vehicles disgorged their passengers, elegantly-dressed men and women who were obviously representatives of the upper echelons of both American and Chinese societies. Manning recognized an action movie star from Hong Kong, the U.S. senator from California, and two high-ranking congressmen. He wondered what they were doing for Lin, and what had Lin promised them in return? Lin greeted them personally in the entry hall, and he looked resplendent in a fine but conservative tuxedo. He had spared Manning only the quickest of glances as he stood aside and watched the arrivals stream in.
A black Audi A8 pulled up in front of the house, and a graceful woman alighted from it. Her hair piled high on her head, and she wore a long dark gown that was graced with a sparkling heron that ran from hip to hem. Over her shoulder was a leather purse so small as to be almost useless. She looked at once regal, yet weary as she glided down the covered walkway on high-heeled shoes. Lin’s greeting was muted and subdued, and the woman nodded to him obsequiously.
“Valerie Lin,” Baluyevsky rumbled.
Manning watched the elegant woman step into the house unchaperoned as one of the valets took her Audi around the house and parked it next to Manning’s GTO. Apparently, the wife of Lin’s deceased son did get at least one perk.
“A handsome woman,” Manning said.
Another limousine rumbled up the wide driveway, this one a large stretch Bentley. Several Chinese alighted from it, and Lin advanced to meet them, smiling broadly. He extended his hand toward an older Chinese man who seemed to be Lin’s contemporary, but where Lin was polished and poised, the newcomer seemed rough and unfinished, even while wearing an expensive tuxedo.
“That must be Ren Yun,” Manning said. “Lin’s pal from the good old bad days.”
“Yes,” Baluyevsky said. “He and Mr. Lin are among the most powerful men inside-and outside-China.”
“They don’t seem very much alike,” Manning observed.
“They are exactly alike. Mr. Lin is simply…more refined.” Baluyevsky checked his watch. “I need to confer with my staff. You needn’t come with me. I think it would be acceptable for you to mingle with the rest of the guests, so long as you hold your tongue.”
“What do you expect me to tell them, Alexsey? I’m here to bump off Lin Dan’s killer?”
Baluyevsky glared at Manning, something Manning now recognized as the big Russian’s default expression. “I do not expect you to say any such thing.”
“I wasn’t being serious.”
Baluyevsky blinked, and looked as if the thought had never occurred to him. “Was that American humor? It was not very funny. At any rate, you should tell them that you are in Mr. Lin’s employ as a security consultant only, and that you represent Mr. Lin’s interests in Japan. He has an office in the Komeito Tower in Tokyo. Do you know it?”
“Of course. I’ve actually worked there in the past.”
“Then you should have no problem coming up with something very boring to say, should anyone ask. Follow me.”
Manning followed Baluyevsky to the covered walkway and moved past the crowd surrounding Lin as discreetly as possible. As they did so, Manning took a moment to study the group. Ren Yun spoke animatedly to Lin; his voice was gruff and loud, and his manner was somewhat crude. Lin laughed at something the man said, and clapped him on the shoulder while the rest of the group tittered politely. One woman stood at the edge of the crowd, wearing an immaculate blue silk
“
“Good evening,” she responded, and her English was devoid of almost any accent. She smiled slightly, and Manning smiled back. She turned her head and looked back at Ren and Lin, and Manning slowed an instant to study her profile. The overhead lights were bright enough to reveal her face, and he saw she had fine features that would have bordered on breathtaking if they hadn’t been somewhat severe. She had the face of a woman who didn’t laugh very much, someone who might be the usual officious sort who served the Chinese elite. She didn’t look back at him, so Manning continued after Baluyevsky.
Baluyevsky led Manning into the vast entry hall and turned back to him. “I will leave you here, Manning. I’ll look for you within an hour or so, which is when Mr. Lin and his guests will sit down for dinner.”
“Very well,” Manning said.
With that, Baluyevsky turned and left without another word. Manning watched him leave for a moment, then sighed. He had never been particularly good at social events even with people he knew, so skulking about a mansion amidst a cast of international elites promised to be less than entertaining. He slipped his hands into his pockets and looked around the entry hall, wondering what to do. Before he could arrive at a decision, Lin led the entourage through the front door. He was all smiles, and still had a hand on Ren’s shoulder. His eyes met Manning’s for a brief instant, and Manning got the hint. He faded down the hallway that led to the kitchen, his shoes clicking on the hard marble floor. Behind him, the assemblage erupted into raucous laughter as Ren barked out some joke in a dialect Manning did not understand.
