and the islands beyond.
Mama Lu reached into a glass of water with fingers as fast as a frog’s tongue and had her teeth in before her guests had introduced themselves. When she spoke, the windy baritone emanated from somewhere beneath the substantial bosom that hung off her like the continental shelf. By the sound of her, she had smoked for a long, long time. Maybe still did, unless the green oxygen bottle standing in the corner was more than decoration.
‘‘You honor me with this visit,’’ she said in passable English.
‘‘It is said,’’ Boldt began, ‘‘that Miss Lu’s family is very large indeed: mother to many, friend to all. You have made substantial contributions to our Police Athletic League, to the firemen and to the hospitals, and for this the city and its people are extremely grateful.’’
‘‘We are all of one family, yes?’’
‘‘I wish more were as thoughtful of the family as you, Great Lady.’’
‘‘Ya-Moia, you are friend to Peggy Wan.’’
‘‘Yes, Miss Lu.’’
‘‘She say you honest man. This man with you, Mr. Both, he honest man?’’
‘‘As honest and as good a man as any man I know.’’
‘‘That says much, Ya-Moia.’’
LaMoia bowed slightly.
‘‘Tell me about investigation, Mr. Both,’’ she said. There was no mention of
‘‘Chinese immigrants are being treated like dogs, shipped here in huge metal boxes, like kennels, without water, without food. It is inhuman and it must stop.’’
‘‘When a person runs from a monster, he is prepared to suffer.’’
‘‘But these people pay for this.’’
‘‘My grandfather and I rode in the bottom of a freighter without sunshine, without fresh air for over a month. My grandfather paid much money for this. Things not so different today. My people have been running from the Red Chinese for many generations now.’’
‘‘People enter this great country in many ways, some legal, some not,’’ Boldt said. ‘‘I am not here to judge that. But three women died in that container. Young women. Their lives ahead of them. Everyone involved is going to jail.
Mama Lu did not move, did not twitch. She sat like a piece of stone in her padded throne, all levity, all kindness gone from her face. ‘‘Yes,’’ she said deliberately slowly, ‘‘I agree.’’
Boldt was surprised by this, and spoke what his mind had already prepared to say. ‘‘The young women who survived will not cooperate with us, will not share any information with us.’’
‘‘They scared of you. With good reason, I might add. Police at home not like police here. But there are others. These children, their families, in both countries, will suffer if they cooperate.’’
‘‘And your family.’’
‘‘You give me far too much credit, Mr. Both,’’ she said, her accent suddenly lessened, her voice softer yet more severe, her hard eyes fixed on Boldt and not releasing him. ‘‘I have no influence over these children.’’ She struggled with a deep breath and said, ‘‘Three died. Yes. Very sad. But tell me this please: How many die if they stay behind?’’
‘‘I’m only responsible for Seattle, Great Lady,’’ Boldt announced.
‘‘I will make inquiries,’’ she said, nodding her large head once again. ‘‘Let an old lady see what she can find out.’’
‘‘The ship responsible,’’ Boldt said, ‘‘the captain would be a good place to start.’’
‘‘You travel in the dark, Mr. Both. Move slowly. The dark holds many unseen dangers.’’
‘‘The dark eventually gives way to the light.’’
‘‘Not always. Ask Officer Tidwell. But I will help you. In return, you will tell me of progress of investigation, will keep my good name
out of press. So tired of the lies.’’
‘‘We’re all tired of the lies.’’
‘‘Chinese blood moves in my veins, Mr. Both. These three were my sisters, my children.’’
‘‘Your customers?’’ he dared to ask.
She grinned. ‘‘You bite hand that feeds you?’’
‘‘When I’m hungry enough,’’ he answered.
She lifted her soft pudgy hand and held it for a moment as if expecting he might kiss it. Then she waved, dismissing them.
Boldt stood, and LaMoia along with him.
LaMoia said, ‘‘I thank you, Miss Lu.’’
‘‘You be nice Peggy Wan, Ya-Moia. She my niece.’’ Directing her attention back to Boldt, she said, ‘‘Move slowly. The dark holds many challenges. Maybe I offer some light.’’
‘‘Thank you.’’
‘‘You will visit whenever you like, whenever you have something to tell me. You always welcome.’’
Boldt caught himself in a bow, lifted his head and grinned at her.
Back on the street and well away from the Korean grocery LaMoia
said, ‘‘Are you crazy, Sarge? You basically accused her.’’
‘‘I communicated my suspicions.’’
‘‘Oh, you communicated all right.’’
‘‘If she’s smart, she gives them up. They’ll never bring her into it, not with her reach. They wouldn’t last a week in lock-up. She gives us this operation, and she skates. What was that about Tidwell?’’
LaMoia warned, ‘‘You remember Tidwell. Organized Crime?’’
‘‘Retired?’’
‘‘Retired! He went out for a morning jog, came back on a stretcher. Every damn bone broken. Claimed he’d been hit by a car. Car with four legs is more like it. Left the department on a medical disability ’cause he can’t walk right.’’
‘‘Mama Lu?’’
‘‘Remember that semi with the Mexicans in the back? Dead of fumes? Word was Mama Lu had a piece of that trucking company. That was Tidwell’s baby until his unfortunate accident.’’
‘‘Are you trying to warn me, John?’’
‘‘She was, that’s for sure,’’ he said emphatically, eyes wide. The leather soles of his ostrich boots slapped the sidewalk loudly with each long stride. He said to Boldt, ‘‘I’m just trying to tell you to listen up. Either that, or I’d up my Blue Cross if I was you.’’
CHAPTER 8
elissa accepted the digital camera from Stevie along with two very small tape cartridges and an extra battery. They talked in the corner of KSTV’s news studio while all around the crew prepared for the live broadcast of
‘‘I understand.’’
‘‘Don’t be so glib about it.’’
‘‘I understand that you have to say that. You have to protect yourself and the station.’’
‘‘It’s not that at all. It’s you I’m trying to protect.’’
