Heart of the Dragon

  Nine

  Madame Piathip sat in her modern offices high above Bangkok, looking masterful in a blue business suit, a silver-haired tyrant with her own sincere but frustrating reasons for what she’d done. “How else could I show her that my family will never believe her father’s story?” Madame asked plaintively. “Her father must have stolen the earring when he lived here. I’ve been thinking about her story for days. I’m convinced that explains how he acquired the earring.”

  Kash paced the floor, too furious to sit down as he should have, too worried about Rebecca to care about politeness. “But you know that Rebecca didn’t steal it.”

  “But she did! She inherited it! It’s the same thing!”

  Kash halted and faced her formally. “You’ve made your point. Now please use your connections to have her released.”

  “No. Let a judge hear her case. Let her stay in an unpleasant jail cell until then, and meditate about her mistakes.”

  “There’s no evidence against her.”

  Madame shrugged. “I know, but maybe she’ll be so tired of bothering us that she’ll go home as soon as she’s released.”

  “It could be weeks or even months before her case is heard.”

  Madame smiled impishly. “She’ll learn patience, then.”

  Kash boiled with anger. Through gritted teeth he said as calmly as he could, “If you’ll have her released, I’ll guarantee that she won’t pursue her story about being Mayura’s half sister.”

  “Oh? How will you do that?”

  He bowed ironically. “I have a certain amount of control over her.”

  “Hmmph. I don’t trust you anymore. You’ve fallen in love with her!”

  “No.”

  “Yes! It shows in everything you say and do concerning her!” Madame Piathip leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “I will not drop my charge against her. She stays in jail.”

  “Then consider this the end of my work for you. I’ll call my people in Switzerland immediately. I suggest you find someone else to take care of Mayura there and to negotiate with the Nalinats here.”

  “You can’t do this! My old friend Audubon won’t desert me! He’ll insist that you stay!”

  “My father was your husband’s friend, not yours. Don’t expect him to approve of your revenge against an innocent person.”

  “You’d leave my niece unprotected in a foreign country just to impress that clumsy, boring American woman? Where is your honor?”

  “Rebecca has been thrown into a Bangkok jail. She’s the one who needs protection at the moment. Don’t ever forget, Madame, that I can be ruthless when it’s needed. That’s one reason you hired me.”

  “The truth is, you can be ruthless because you’ve betrayed our contract! I didn’t hire you to fall in love with that woman!”

  “That has nothing to do with this argument. I’ll never stand by and let an innocent person be abused.”

  “You love her, admit it! What a fool you are! Do you think a respectable woman could ever love you?”

  “I didn’t ask her to love me. Her problem isn’t personal to me. I wouldn’t sanction your tactics or your lack of decency against any innocent person, not just Rebecca. I don’t understand your motives, and I’ve begun to suspect them. I have doubts about everything you’ve told me. I’m going to get some truthful answers.”

  “There are no hidden motives here except your own! Your own blind belief that you can impress that woman so much that she won’t care what you are!” Madame Piathip lowered her voice and hissed, “I know what you are! The son of a whore, and yourself a—”

  “Good afternoon.” He bowed and made a respectful wai to her. Inside he was deadly calm. His ability to shut off his emotions had come into play for self-preservation. Now he could proceed with his plans to help Rebecca. “Whatever else I am, I’m now the man you should fear most.”

  Her stunned silence followed him as he left the office.

  Shoo, Rebecca ordered silently, then clutched the edge of the bamboo mat on which she lay and watched a rat scurry through the bars of the cell. Dim light filtered in from a ceiling fixture out in the hall, making the rat look shadowy and sinister. This wasn’t a fat small-town rat, minding its own business, this was a hungry urban rat. She pictured a cartoon rodent with tattoos and tiny little brass knuckles and a bad attitude. At that moment her real live rat headed toward the other five women in the small cell, sniffing at their bare feet. Rebecca lurched upright. “Shoo! Scat!”

  It halted, raised up on its hind legs, and bared its teeth at her. The other women stirred quickly, looked around, and kicked at the rat, which leisurely crawled out of the cell. “You worry too much,” one of them said to her, not unkindly. The young woman wore a tight, short dress, now stained with dirt and sweat. Her long black hair was tangled, and her face was dirty. But it was a delicate, intelligent face with beautiful eyes. She was the only Thai cellmate who spoke English. In the two days since Rebecca’s arrival, the girl had watched her warily but said very little.

  “The rat is gone,” the girl said patiently. “Stop shivering. He’s only trying to make a living.” She hesitated. “What is shoo? What is scat?”

  “Magic Iowa words.”

  Slowly Rebecca’s muscles relaxed to their constant level of tension. Shoo? she thought giddily. Scat? She laughed to cover the desperation clawing at her throat, then leaned against the cool stone wall, hugging her knees to her chest. The girl sat up and leaned beside her. They were about the same age, Rebecca guessed. Both barefoot, both dirty. Rebecca tucked the tail of her tunic around her hips and remembered how pretty it had been two days ago. Where was Kash? She’d gone through a thousand different horrors in the past two days, wondering where he was. Couldn’t he have found a way to see her or at least send a message?

  She thought back to his harsh words. He’d made it clear that there was nothing permanent about their relationship. But he’d also said that when they parted, it would be her choice, not his.

  “What law did you break?” her companion asked.

  “The law that says mild-mannered cartoonists should be satisfied with dull lives. ” Rebecca smiled pensively at her. Looking bewildered, she smiled back. “I’m accused of stealing a piece of jewelry. I didn’t do it.”

  “Isn’t anyone coming to get you out? You’re an American, after all.”

  Rebecca swallowed hard. “Someone’s supposed to be working on my case. I hope he hasn’t forgotten me. What about you? What did you do?”

  “Made an important man angry. So this is my punishment. I’ll get out in a few weeks, maybe. He told them I stole from him. I didn’t. I just kept money that ought to be mine. I earned it.”

  “What kind of work do you do?”

  “I work at a bar.” The girl’s black lashes fluttered with awkwardness. She looked away and added coolly, “You wouldn’t understand.”

  “I’ll try. Tell me about it. How long have you worked there?”

  “Many years. I was sold to the owner by my family.”

  “Why?”

  “My parents needed money. They had too many daughters.”

  “Can’t you leave?”

  “Not unless I pay back my price. That’s hard to do. I have two children to raise.”

  “Who’s taking care of your children now?”

  The girl’s lip trembled. “One of the others who works there.

  Rebecca hesitated, wondering how the girl would react, then took her hand. The girl flinched and looked at her askance. “What do you want?”

  “Nothing. Just somebody to talk to. My name is Rebecca.”

  Wide-eyed, the girl said slowly, “I’m Rungsima.”

  “Tell me about your work.”

  “It would only shock you.”

  “No, it would only make me understand. I want to understand.”

  “You’re different. Not afraid of anything.” She smiled. “Except rats.”

  Rebecca shook her head. “I’m afraid of everything right now.
I’m so scared, I can hardly stand it. I’m discouraged, and depressed, and nothing makes any sense.”

  “Then you’re not so different from me.” They huddled closer together. Rebecca refused to cry, but her chest filled with aching despair. She’d never been trapped before, never felt like a piece of property, and never been so helpless. It hurt worse because she thought of Kash and for the first time understood the forces that had turned him into a man who couldn’t let anyone own him, even with love.

  “I’m bribing people right and left,” Kash told Audubon over the phone. “If I don’t get to see her soon, I’m going to have myself arrested just to be near her.”

  “Dammit, son, you’ve pushed me too far. I’ll send Traynor to stop you. If he has to use force, he will. I’ve never heard you talk this way before. Don’t let emotion ruin what you’re trying to do. This is the first time I’ve had to worry about your judgment.”

  Kash paced his apartment, feeling frantic. “How would you feel if you hadn’t been able to save Elena? If she’d been taken back to Russia? Or if she were in jail?”

  “I’d be crazy with worry, but I’d make myself think calmly. One wrong step and the police could keep her, and you, locked up for a long time.”

  “I won’t make a wrong step.”

  “Don’t do anything reckless. There’s a lot more at stake here than you realize. If you’ll give me a chance, I’ll tell you what we just found out.”

  “The only thing at stake here is getting my personal Mary Poppins out of hell.”

  “Listen to me. Madame Piathip, damn her coy little heart, may have been lying to you about everything. Rebecca probably is Mayura’s half sister. I suspect that Mayura doesn’t even know it. If I’m right, it’s been a family secret for almost thirty years.”

  “What’s been a secret?”

  “I had Traynor investigate your art smuggler, the one who claimed that Reverend Brown was involved in something illegal, and that he never married a Thai woman or had a child by one. Madame Piathip threatened the man. He’s elderly; he lied to you to protect his past history from investigation. She set you up.”

  Kash cursed darkly. “Did the man know Reverend Brown at all?”

  “Yes, but only because Rebecca’s father started an orphanage for Thai children, and the art smuggler wanted to contribute. Mike Brown was a practical chaplain. He accepted bad money but used it for good purposes.”

  “And our smuggler got to know him pretty well?”

  “Yes. He says Reverend Brown did marry Mayura’s mother, and they were very happy together. Everything happened just as Rebecca told you.”

  “I never doubted that Rebecca believed it. But why is Madame Piathip so determined to hide it?”

  “There’s a possibility that Rebecca’s father invested his own savings in his wife’s family business. Vatan Silk. It was just a small family operation then. Mike Brown put money into it. He bought stock, in other words.”

  Kash was stunned. “How much?”

  “Fifty-one percent. Mike Brown owned a controlling share in Vatan Silk, according to the glimmer of information Traynor got. If it’s true, Rebecca has inherited a silk company.”

  “Good God.”

  “You can’t discuss any of this. It hasn’t been confirmed. Don’t tell her, because it would only hurt her if it can’t be proved.”

  “For now, I’ve got to get her out of jail.”

  “Son, don’t lose your objectivity—”

  “I’ve already lost it. I’ve lost everything. I can’t promise you I’ll be objective, but I’ll do what’s right. Take care. I’ll call you when I can. Don’t worry if you don’t hear from me.”

  “Kash! Dammit! I’m sending Traynor! Wait!”

  “No time to wait. Good-bye.” Kash cut the connection and dialed a new number. He had dangerous plans to make. He wasn’t waiting for help, advice, or the law to set Rebecca free.

  “You come now. Hurry,” the guard said in a low, strident voice. “If you want to leave, you come.”

  Rebecca froze, a grubby towel hanging from one hand, a tepid pail of wash water by her feet. She looked around the courtyard furtively, disbelieving. The noonday sun beat down with white heat, leaving sharp shadows in the corner of the high stone walls. She stood in one of the shadows. Several dozen women milled around near the walls, trying to wash themselves and keep out of the sun.

  “Escape?” Rebecca asked numbly. “Isn’t that illegal?”

  “Now,” the guard repeated, jerking her head toward a narrow steel door in one corner.

  Rebecca glanced over at Rungsima, who stood with head down, washing her arms. One look at Rungsima’s strained face told her the girl was listening. “Go,” Rungsima whispered, stepping closer to her. “What are you waiting for? Your man has come to get you. You are lucky. I wish I were so lucky.”

  Rebecca grabbed her hand. “You come too.”

  The guard, a wiry woman with sharp eyes, nearly yelped in surprise. “You think you make the rules? Are you crazy?”

  “Are you crazy?” Rungsima echoed. “What do you care about me for?”

  Because I can help you the way I wish I could have helped Kash when he was a child. Rebecca shook her head at the guard. “She’s my friend. I’m not going without her. If you take us both, there’ll be twice as much money for you. I guarantee it.”

  The guard said something dire in Thai, but her eyes flashed at the mention of money. “Hurry, both of you.”

  She led them into a maze of dirty hallways with ceilings so low that Rebecca, who was much taller than the other women, had to stoop painfully. The air was stagnant and suffocating, and soon a terrible stench crept into it. Rebecca covered her mouth to keep from gagging. They reached the end of the hall. High on the outer wall a narrow opening in the stone, covered in wire, provided the only ventilation and light. Below their feet, a large iron grate covered a gaping hole. Peering into it made Rebecca’s skin crawl. All she could see was an occasional glimpse of swirling water as it caught a trace of sunlight. The water gurgled thickly, and dank air rose from it.

  Rungsima moaned. “We have to go down there?”

  “After dark,” the guard replied. “Your friend will come for you through the sewer. You must wait here until then. Don’t make a sound. Don’t talk. Sit down by the grate and don’t move.” She started away but halted long enough to look back at Rebecca. “I’ll send someone to your man for the money you promised. If I don’t get it, you’ll wish you were dead. Both of you.”

  After she left, Rebecca motioned to a spot beside the frightening sewer hole. She and Rungsima sat down against a slimy wall. The heat made it difficult to breathe. “Do you think we’ll survive until nighttime?” Rungsima whispered in Rebecca’s good ear.

  “Yes. I’m not going to die a prisoner. And neither are you.”

  They put their heads on their drawn-up knees. Time crept back with maddening slowness, and there were times when claustrophobia rose in Rebecca’s chest and made her heart struggle like a panicked bird. Rungsima whimpered. Finally they both curled up on their sides and pressed their faces to the cool, sticky floor.

  Rebecca wasn’t sure if she slept or passed out, but when she opened her eyes, the room was growing dark. She forced herself to sit up. Her head whirled. Rungsima was limp on the floor beside her. Rebecca pulled her upright and shook her lightly. Rungsima nodded and made a reassuring sound. The night air’s coolness revived them a little, but the room’s blackness combined with the gurgling water to produce an eerie feeling of disorientation. Rebecca’s imagination began to picture every sort of creature, real and fantastic, that might slither into the pitch-dark room at any moment.

  Afraid she might become hysterical, she forced herself to concentrate on images of Kash’s face and body. She built a picture of him from head to foot, concentrating on details. The tiny brown mole beneath his right nipple. The sensual curves of his lips. Faint scars on his arms and legs, from boyhood escapades he wouldn’t discuss, and she
knew better than to ask about. She remembered the smell of his skin when he was aroused and the feel of his thighs between hers, the shifting emotions in his eyes during a conversation, the expressions that played dramatically over his handsome, intelligent face, the lilting drawl in his voice.

  In the disoriented darkness he became so vivid that she suddenly realized she was crying because she loved him so much and feared she’d never see him again. Rungsima grasped her arm. “Look.”

  A ray of light snaked through the darkness below. They watched, hardly breathing, as it came closer. Rebecca tilted her good ear down and heard the sound of someone walking through the shallow water. Suddenly the light tilted up, blinding her and Rungsima. Shielding her eyes, Rebecca looked down into the weird shadows and made out Kash’s face. “Becca!” he called in a throaty whisper. “Can you pull the grate aside?”

  “Yes.” She and Rungsima panted weakly and struggled for several minutes, but finally tugged the grate away from the hole. “Who’s with you?” he asked. “I thought the guard was lying just to get more money, but I paid.”

  “This girl is my friend. She hasn’t done anything wrong. I want to help her.”

  “That’s good enough for me. Hurry.”

  “I’ll send her first.”

  Rungsima slid into the hole, clutching its sides. Rebecca tried to help her, but they were both so drained of strength that Rungsima dropped limply. Kash caught her and handed her to someone. “Kovit is with me,” he called. “Now you come. Don’t be afraid. I’ll catch you.”

  She dragged herself to the edge of the hole and swung her legs down. For one horrified second she was too afraid to push herself free, but then her tired mind remembered that Kash was below. “I trust my elephant,” she mumbled weakly, and let herself fall.

  He caught her, and though she couldn’t see him in the darkness, she felt his welcome in the hard grip of his arms underneath her shoulders and legs, and in the kiss he placed on her forehead as he lifted her high against his chest. Rebecca said his name hoarsely and heard him make an agonized sound of relief.