“Briefly, after her husband’s death, but Jenny had no interest in him. He offered little to her and she moved on to others.”
“So I have heard,” said Yeong, a little too quickly.
“Do you want to explain that comment?” asked Park, a hint of anger in his voice.
“I didn’t say that to offend you. I only know Jenny has dated others.”
Park seemed somewhat satisfied with the answer and continued. “I don’t wish to speak ill of the dead. Cho had some success in business but was a weak man who constantly demanded reassurance of his manhood. He was much too needy for my daughter, demanding to have his ego constantly stroked.”
Yeong thought briefly, then nodded. “Maybe you are right.”
“He also talked too much.” Park flapped his fingers as if imitating lips moving.
Yeong nodded and took a long sip of his tea. “By that do you mean you suspect he was speaking to the police?”
“What do you think? He knew few of my secrets and could discuss my work only in generalities. He could, however, tell them of your activities in more detail,” said Park.
“But do you suspect him of being an informant?”
“I spent little time with the man but I must say a man who likes to talk often seeks a listening ear. If the police or FBI offered that listening ear he might have spoken at length.”
Yeong put the teacup down and looked out toward the street, his mind questioning whether his business associate would have revealed secrets to the authorities. It never occurred to him Cho could be an informant. Fear washed over him as he reflected on all the crimes he committed or discussed in Cho’s presence that would be of interest to the authorities.
“Did he have enemies?” asked Park, changing the direction of the inquiry.
Henry Yeong turned toward Park and shrugged, throwing open his hands. “We all have enemies but I know of none who would wish him dead. There may have been men who would like to see him fail in business but that doesn’t call for his murder.”
“Possibly he cheated someone in the past who was now seeking retribution.” Then Park smiled, knowing Cho was heavily engaged in several of Yeong’s criminal enterprises. “He spent time in prison. Could the Americans have recruited him while he was locked up?”
Yeong understood the smile, tugged at his collar, and replied, “Perhaps.”
“Was he working on any special projects for you?”
Now Yeong smiled. “Those ‘special projects’ as you call them do not concern you.”
“Then I think we have nothing further to discuss. I can assure you I had nothing to do with his death. I’m sorry for your loss,” said Park.
Yeong waved the back of his hand, as if saying Cho’s death was not that important. “My concern is not his death but our survival. We have both received orders from those who dispatched us here many years ago from our home country. The message I received said we are to cooperate in the distribution of certain currency.”
Park simply nodded.
“The courier also said we will be informed in the next few days about other matters in which we are to cooperate.”
Park nodded again and said, “Yes, that is so. But I suspect you already know something of these other matters since you went to the meeting at Kish Island.”
“How do you know I went to Kish?” asked Yeong.
“I have my sources.”
“Well,” Yeong continued, “I do not know all that was decided in Pyongyang after the meeting at Kish, so we should await the new instructions. But until then, I wanted to make sure you and I are not at odds or that somehow you blamed me for an indiscretion and took it out on my associate. I did not want to see a war between friends because of a misunderstanding.”
“We are fine.”
“Good. Los Angeles is a large city. There is much we can accomplish without stepping on each other’s toes. I would hope if we have concerns we can bring them to each other over a cup of tea rather than an assassin’s bullet,” said Yeong.
Park held up his cup and smiled. “I would prefer doing this over a glass of soju.”
Gabe watched as the two men rose and bowed. What he had just witnessed was a treasure trove of intelligence that went far beyond Cho’s unresolved murder. The young clandestine officer did his best to conceal his excitement but knew he couldn’t just run out of the restaurant and report to Wilson.
What he didn’t see or hear was the call Candy made on her cell phone from the kitchen, nor did he know… Kareem answered on the second ring.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
As Park’s people cleared the room, there was a collective inaudible sigh of relief the meeting had ended without incident. Gabe tracked them out the door and watched as Park and his security team entered a dark GMC Yukon parked on the street.
The CIA operative walked back into the restaurant, where Yeong was talking quietly with the other two members of his three-man security detail. Concern still covered Yeong’s face.
“Were you satisfied with his answers?” asked Gabe in Korean as he approached Yeong.
“I’m not certain. Did Cho ever strike you as the type of man who would cooperate with the police?”
“No. I thought of him as a loyal soldier,” said Gabe.
“I do not understand why Park would have suggested otherwise,” said Yeong, shaking his head.
Gabe knew the real answer. Few living in Beverly Hills were willing to trade a luxurious lifestyle for a crowded cell and prison cuisine. The thought of being sent back to a minimum-security lockup was enough to turn Cho into an informant and spill all he knew about his closest associates.
“You knew him best and you’re a wise judge of character. Did you ever see a flaw in this man’s core?” asked Gabe, knowing the irony since an undercover government operative was asking the question.
“I never saw any such flaw, but I wonder if Park did and had Cho killed to prevent a problem in the future?”
“Wouldn’t he have told us tonight if that were so?” asked Gabe.
“No, I don’t think he would and he certainly hasn’t reassured me of his innocence in this matter,” said Yeong.
“So why Cho was murdered is still a mystery?”
“Yes, it is.”
Gabe saw an opportunity to get out of the restaurant and deliver the information he collected. “Do you want me to see what more I can find out from Li, the guy on Park’s security detail I was standing next to during the meeting? He and I did the advance before everyone else arrived. I got to know him. His family and mine are from the same Pyongyang neighborhood.”
Henry Yeong thought for a long moment before answering. “I don’t think that’s wise. We’ll leave it for the police. I’ve asked on the street and haven’t found any satisfactory answers, but further inquiry might lead the police back to me.”
“Then we’ll abide by your decision.”
Candy approached as Yeong and Gabe completed their exchange. “If nothing else I go home unless you want me lock up.”
“No, Candy, we are fine. I will have Gabe close up. Thank you for being here tonight. You can go now.”
She bowed and before departing rewarded the CIA operative with one of her sought-after smiles.
Turning to Gabe, Yeong said, “You seem anxious to leave. Were you planning to accompany her?”
“No, sir,” said Gabe, perhaps too quickly, for he really was hoping to get off duty and report to Wilson.
“You don’t mind closing up, do you?”
“Of course not,” said Gabe, reconciled to a delay in delivering the explosive information he had just obtained. At least this will give me a chance to “bag” Yeong’s lair for more intelligence after they leave.
“Make sure you turn off the lights in my office upstairs,” said Yeong.