Trophy Taker Read online

  The man stood at the doorway and opened his shirt to reveal a bare chest. Then he removed his shoes and stood barefoot. It was tradition that he should make himself appear poor and dishevelled. In his hand he carried a yellow piece of paper, on which he had written his name and his pledge to Chan and the Wo Shing Shing.

  Stevie led him forward and stopped beneath the symbolic gateway of the east lodge, over which was hung the sheet of yellow paper.

  ‘Swear to your identity,’ Chan said.

  ‘I swear I am Sun Yat-sen.’

  Chan took the man’s hand and shook it with the new secret handshake that he must use. His index outstretched to press into Sun Yat-sen’s palm, his middle and fourth finger tucked away, and with his little finger he tapped the outside of the minister’s hand three times. The two bodyguards picked up the swords and held them aloft to form an arch. This would represent the mountain of knives which had been part of the triad initiation since the beginning. After leading the minister beneath the archway, Stevie lit the two candles on the altar and handed the minister three red stones, which he held in his hands as he began to read the thirty-three oaths.

  I shall not disclose the secrets of this society, not even to my parents, brothers or my wife. I shall never disclose the secrets for money. I will be killed by a myriad of swords if I do so.

  I will offer financial assistance to sworn brothers who are in trouble. If I break this oath I will be killed by five thunderbolts.

  I must not give support to outsiders if so doing is against the interests of any of my sworn brothers. If I do not keep this oath I will be killed by a myriad of swords.

  If I should change my mind and deny my membership of this society I will be killed by a myriad of swords.

  And so on.

  The oaths done, Stevie handed Sun Yat-sen a small bowl of cleansing tea, which he drank. Then Stevie filled the bowl with wine and picked up the small knife from the altar and handed it to the minister. Sun Yatsen pricked his middle finger and squeezed two drops of blood into the wine. He sipped the wine first, then he handed it to Stevie, who took a sip before passing it to every man in the room to drink from, ending with Chan. Each man sipped from the cup so that the oath of secrecy was shared. Then Stevie smashed the cup on the floor. He handed the list of oaths and the yellow paper, on which was written the man’s name and his pledge, to Chan. Chan burnt them in the bowl on the altar. Chan then took a new cup of wine and spilled his own blood into it before addressing the minister:

  ‘From this moment on your old life is finished. You are reborn in this room as a triad brother. Together we will make this society the most wealthy and the most powerful ever known in the world. I will give to you the opportunity to realise your dreams. You will have your heart’s desire – whatever it may be. In exchange I expect your absolute loyalty to me. Until death we are joined.’

  He passed the cup around. Each man repeated the oath: Till death we are joined.

  48

  The next morning Johnny Mann arrived at Headquarters as Max was leaving, having just finished giving his statement to Ng when Mann passed him on the stairs. Police stations were obviously not his favourite places, and ‘rat out of a barrel’ came to mind as Mann watched Max’s small wiry frame slip elusively past the men in the hallway and disappear.

  Only Ng was in the office, deep in files. The room was sweltering. The men’s three desks were set out along each of the three walls; the door and a filing cabinet took up most of the fourth. There was so little space in the centre of the room that the three men’s chairs clashed if they all chose to stand at the same time. Their office was originally part of a fine Georgian room with high ceilings, ornate coving and a marble fireplace. It had been subdivided and partitioned to create several smaller rooms. That meant that the only Georgian feature left in there was one large sash window.

  As soon as he entered, Mann stripped off his jacket and threw it over a chair. Ng looked up and nodded his greeting, deep in thought.

  Mann went around behind his desk to pull the blind down. The sun was blasting in – thank God for the breeze. He opened the window as far as it would go. His eyes were dark-rimmed, aching with tiredness. Just as he allowed the blind to slip through his fingers he caught his reflection in the window and thought of Helen. She’d have told him to get some sleep, that he was getting the look of a trapped animal about him. She’d have made him close his eyes, sit down, whilst she rubbed his shoulders and soothed his brow. She always showed him how much she cared, always told him how much she loved him. He wished he’d been able to return that love in the way she wanted. Wherever she was, he hoped she knew that he missed her.

  He scanned down towards the harbour and felt the presence of the sea. His eyes closed for a second; he was calm again. He smiled to himself, and in his head he saw Helen smile back. Then he saw Georgina. He snapped his eyes open. Shrimp came in, grinned at Mann and headed for his desk. Shrimp’s desk was the most untidy – littered with files, sticky drinks cans and hair products. Ng’s was the tidiest – everything in neat, chronological piles. Mann’s desk was as empty as he could make it – he hated clutter. Mann looked over Ng’s shoulder. Ng had started writing up the interview he’d had with Max.

  ‘Any good?’ Mann asked.

  Ng saved his work and looked up. ‘Max, or Fong Man Tak is his real name, has been a taxi driver for thirty years. He says he doesn’t really know the girls, he just gives them lifts. Lucy always does all the talking. His English isn’t brilliant – so that part must be true. But he’s nervous, shifty, couldn’t look me in the eye. I don’t know what it is he’s guilty of, but he’s done something he doesn’t want us finding out about. Somehow I don’t think it’s murder. He’s not young any more, either, can’t see he’d be able to do it. He’s shorter than most of these women, and he’s slighter. Bernadette must be at least twice his size. He’s much smarter than I thought, though.’

  ‘Any form? What’s his history?’

  ‘He has no previous. Never married. He lives with his father and brother. The brother works for the Ho Young Dim Sum manufacturer. His father is Doctor Fong. He was a well-known medical practitioner. The family had money once.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘The practice went into decline after the death of Max’s mother. The old man remarried but the business collapsed, and then the new wife seems to have disappeared. He has family connections, though.’ Ng looked up and grinned. ‘You’re going to like this. The doctor’s first wife was Chan’s mother’s sister. That makes Max and Chan cousins.’

  ‘It also makes Max a fully paid-up member of the Wo Shing Shing, whether he likes it or not. I wonder what he has had to do for them? Shrimp – go and find out all you can about any new developments in the New Territories. Our women are co-connected with the area somehow. The Butcher knows it well. He always dumps the bodies out there. Maybe he has some business concerns there. Find out if anybody’s been buying up land, Shrimp. Any new business going on.’

  Shrimp reappeared two minutes later, popping his head around the door.

  ‘That was quick,’ said Mann.

  ‘Just to let you know, boss, the Super’s on his way back.’ Shrimp disappeared again.

  Superintendent White came straight in – he didn’t knock.

  ‘Have you seen these headlines?’ He threw the South China Morning Post onto Mann’s desk. BUTCHER CARVES HIS WAY THROUGH HONG KONG …

  ‘They even know what the investigation is called. They’ve got some facts spot on. Some of it is rubbish designed to cause panic. They’re even suggesting that people shouldn’t come to the region right now. No woman is safe, it says. Bloody hell, Mann! We’d better sort it fast. Get hold of the papers and put out a statement telling people there’s absolutely no need to panic.’

  ‘You mean unless you happen to be young and white and female?’

  ‘You know what I bloody mean. Tell them we need the public’s co-operation on this. Tell them we need to know if anyone’
s acting suspiciously, that kind of thing. It seems we have no choice. We may as well throw it open, get people involved. Now let’s get something positive to tell them.’

  49

  Bernadette sat at the dressing table staring into the mirror. She was arranging her hair. It hadn’t been the best feckin’ start to this new life. She’d been there a week already. But things were definitely looking up. She looked over at the costume hanging above her bunk. A kimono. Japanese shite. She hated wearing it, and the stupid shoes, the white make-up and that feckin’ irritating black wig with the dangly bits that smacked her in the face. The way those men sat around her in a circle with a box of tissues, a razor and that feckin’ flannel! Weirdos! They could feck right off!

  Bernadette looked disdainfully at the outfit. Well, this was the last time. She’d been offered a real acting part – costumes, director, the works. She’d made some influential new friends through the club. Soon she’d be starring in her own film. The director and the rest of the cast were on their way to the club right now.

  50

  During the following two weeks Georgina and Ka Lei set up home together in the tiny flat. They made it their own. Sometimes they cocooned themselves and didn’t step outside all day. They painted each other’s nails and brushed one another’s hair. They were twins: not identical, but matching. They slotted into each other and made a complete person. That was their secret; they were in each other’s souls. They said they would never be parted – all they had to do was look in the mirror and find the other one.

  Two was a magical number, but three didn’t work. They were usually asleep when Lucy came in and they went out before she got up. They walked through Hong Kong’s streets, window-shopping. They went down to the harbour to watch the boats, or they picnicked in the park, people-watching. They went to the malls and markets to look at clothes and took pictures in photo booths, and pasted them all around the flat.

  When Max picked Lucy up for work in the evenings she was glad to get out of the house. She was beginning to feel like a stranger in her own home.

  On Friday evening Max picked her up as usual. He watched her in his mirror. She was checking her makeup, busy adding a highlight here and a touch of gloss there. She looked up and caught him staring.

  ‘You all right, Max?’

  ‘Of course.’ He turned his attention back to the road, adding, ‘Make sure you take care tonight, Lucy.’

  ‘Oh, I think I’m pretty safe.’ Lucy smiled sweetly, grateful for his concern. ‘Whoever it is seems to be targeting Gwaipohs.’ She snapped the compact shut and met Max’s eyes in the mirror. ‘Or so the police think.’

  ‘Have they been to see you?’ he asked, his eyes flicking from the road to her face.

  ‘Yes.’ Lucy stared out of the window. ‘I’m surprised they haven’t asked to interview you, Max.’

  ‘I had to make a statement this morning. I don’t know why.’

  ‘Because they’re speaking to everyone who knew Roxanne. You knew her quite well.’

  Max shifted uneasily and was just about to object; but then instead he just shrugged.

  Lucy continued: ‘Well, you did. When you think of all the times she got in your cab, you probably knew her as well as anyone.’ Lucy hid her smile behind the compact mirror, as Max started to shake his head in denial. ‘Oh well, we all need to help them find this madman, or madmen. Who do you think it could be, Max? Any ideas?’ Lucy laughed. ‘Don’t look so worried, Max, they can’t think it’s you!’

  Lucy was in a good mood, and Mamasan Linda was pleased to see her. She greeted her outside the Dressing Room. She was always happy to see her best girl arrive at work.

  ‘Has the big American been in?’ Lucy asked.

  Mamasan Linda thought for a moment. ‘Big Flank?’

  ‘Yeah, Big Flank, has he been here?’

  ‘No.’

  Lucy was disappointed. She still held out hope that one day she would be able to get herself and Ka Lei out of Hong Kong. Then they could put all this bad luck behind them – get back to being just them again. Lucy had felt Georgina coming between them. She felt her sister slipping away from her little by little. Lucy needed to get back on track – get a passport – get out – find a good husband for Ka Lei. Big Frank was her latest hope.

  Lucy walked into the Dressing Room, momentarily deflated by the disappointing news about Big Frank. Candy sauntered over.

  ‘Hey, Lucy, how’s things?’

  Lucy screwed up her face and shrugged. ‘No bad. And you? Deli in New York ready now?’

  ‘Yeah, almost, shelves are goin’ in, stock is ordered.’

  ‘Good, huh? You pleased, huh?’

  ‘You know, Lucy, I am pleased, just somethin’ inside tells me I need to be careful. It’s hard to trust in this business. I really hope Giovanni is getting the right stock in. I told him I want those big fat silver anchovies in those ornate little jars. Don’t get those cheap shitty little ones in salt – nobody classy eats those! Oh well …’ She shrugged. ‘What the fuck! I just have to trust, right?’

  ‘Right!’

  Candy looked about her to make sure no one was listening and whispered: ‘I’m working my butt off, trying to get me as much money as I can. I wanna get outta here. Christ knows who’s gonna get killed next. It’s scary!’ she said, with her eyes wide and her mascaraed lashes like squashed spiders. Then she looked around. ‘Still no Georgina?’

  Lucy shrugged.

  ‘She’s not coming back or what? She’s scared about the murders, isn’t she? First of all, no one wants to tell us anything. They want to keep it quiet. Now everyone’s talkin ’bout it.’

  Lucy sat down in front of the mirror and began retouching her make-up. An amah brought her a bowl of food. Candy sat down next to her. Lucy picked at her food, placing each morsel at the end of the chopsticks and depositing it carefully inside her mouth so as not to disturb her lipstick.

  ‘Did you hear about Roxanne?’

  Lucy nodded.

  ‘And then there’s that other woman. God knows what they found of them! I couldn’t make it out, body parts. They were talking about parts, not wholes! And because some of the bodies were found near a restaurant, people are sayin’ that they have got into the food chain – that they’ve been made into some kind of dumplin’ thing. Like what you’re eatin’ now!’

  Lucy spat her food out into the bowl and went back to applying her make-up. ‘What about Bernie, huh? Any news?’ She looked up from pencilling in her eyebrows.

  ‘Nope!’ Candy shook her head dramatically. ‘Christ, Lucy! It could happen to any of us! We could be next!’

  ‘I know, I know, we better make money now, huh? Maybe soon too late!’ She chuckled as she zipped up her make-up bag. Secretly smug that for once in her life it paid not to be white.

  ‘Yeah, you’re right. Hey, what about her stuff – you know, Roxanne’s things at your flat? You said you were going to bring them in for Mamasan to look after.’

  ‘Oh yeah – police took them. Sorry, huh? But don worry, I save you manicure set. Hundred Hong Kong, okay?’

  Before the two had time to strike a bargain, Lucy was called to Chan’s table.

  Chan waited till Mamasan Linda left them alone. Lucy’s heart hammered in her chest. She dreaded what was to come.

  ‘So, Lucy. I thought we had a deal? No cousin? That’s disappointing to me.’

  ‘I am sorry, Mr Chan. I did my best. I am working very …’

  He held up his hand for silence. ‘And I am under a lot of pressure, Lucy, to recover the debt. Your sister Ka Lei must come and work here instead of your cousin.’

  Lucy gasped. ‘Please, Mr Chan. Not Ka Lei. She is innocent. She is so young. She …’

  ‘Innocent? With a sister like you?’

  ‘I promise you, Mr Chan, she is a good girl. She’s never even had a boyfriend. Please don’t make me do it to her.’

  Chan sat back. He smiled smugly. He was enjoying this game immensely. He had all the info
rmation he needed. An innocent – perfect.

  ‘Okay, Lucy. Because I am fond of you I am willing to compromise.’

  In the gloom Lucy saw that his eyes were alight with malice.

  51

  Lucy stood beside Ka Lei in front of the mirror. Everything inside Lucy told her that it was wrong, but she had to ignore it – she had a job to do. It had to be done and she’d better get on with it. She busied herself in the preparations. It took time to choose an outfit: young but not too girly, sexy but innocent.

  Lucy placed her hands on Ka Lei’s shoulders and assessed the result of her preparations. Ka Lei looked like your average department-store worker in her smart clothes: neat blouse and tight pencil skirt.

  Ka Lei stared numbly back at her reflection and said nothing. She had said nothing for two hours, since Lucy had told her what she had to do. She was about to sell her virginity to a man she’d never met. She was to become just another commodity on the open market. She needed Georgina so badly, but Lucy had tricked Georgina into leaving early for the pub, and now Ka Lei must face it alone.

  Lucy smiled into the mirror and squeezed her sister’s shoulders while her eyes filled with floating tears.

  ‘It will be all right, Ka Lei, I promise.’ She couldn’t hold her sister’s gaze and looked away briefly to gather her courage. If she fell apart they’d have no chance of going through with it. ‘Believe me, I only did it to try to make enough money so that we could be happy. You know that, don’t you, huh? I would suffer anything for you. Please believe me, Ka Lei. I would die rather than see you hurt, but tonight is just one night out of your whole life. You are brave, strong, you can do it. He will be gentle with you. He gave me his word. It won’t hurt.’