“As I told you — I always find a way to make a living, with or without the casinos.”
“It seems a shame that rumors of an attack would cost you a good deal.”
“It is heartbreaking,” the man said. “The total would have been substantial.”
Teddy reached into his pocket and pulled out a stack of bills and handed them to the man.
“I’m sorry to hear about these events. Centurion hopes to be a good ambassador of the American film industry, not to cause trouble.”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t carry substantial amounts of cash on me, but I do hope that can help with the goodwill we would have enjoyed while working together highlighting your beautiful city.”
“You are a good man, Mr....”
“Barnett. Billy Barnett,” Teddy said, holding out his hand across the counter. “Centurion Studios.”
“You are a good man, Mr. Billy Barnett,” the man said, shaking Teddy’s hand, “unlike Sonny Ma.”
Teddy didn’t like where this was going. The story was too easy. It fit too perfectly with Kwok Lin’s revised story. Teddy never trusted anything that was too easy.
“Sonny Ma attacked the other film sets?” Teddy asked.
“Not himself, of course. He is above that now from his high-tech penthouse apartment. But he still commands respect on the street. It would be easy for him to find many men to do this in his name.”
“Is it possible that Sonny Ma doesn’t know these things are being done in his name?”
That possibility was immediately diffused by the horrified look on the old man’s face.
“Nothing is done in Sonny Ma’s name without Sonny Ma’s permission.”
“Maybe he’s too busy with his new investment to keep up with what’s happening on the street the way he used to,” Teddy said.
“The street is his life. It’s his identity. They are showing a movie about him at the film festival, all about his criminal life.”
“I’d heard that.”
“Sonny Ma authorized the film,” the old man said. “Sonny Ma will be at the premiere. Sonny Ma bathes in this image.”
“That seems dangerous to his new investment opportunity.”
“It’s his brand. He needs a way to stand out, and his criminal background makes his gambling product more enticing.”
Teddy wasn’t sure he bought that, but he’d gotten enough from the old man to help with the rest of his investigation. They shook hands again and Teddy headed back to the casino to see if he could find Dale.
When Billy Barnett left the pawnshop, Bingo emerged from the back office where he’d been watching the visit on the security monitors.
“You told him what he needed to hear?” Bingo asked the old man.
“I gave him as much truth as I could spare to make him believe.”
Bingo wondered if the man was lying. The audio on the security feed was terrible and Bingo had missed much of what was said.
“You’re not lying to me?”
“No, sir.”
The man looked at the ground at Bingo’s feet. Even though he’d done terrible things and would do many more, Bingo hated being an intimidating presence. It made him uncomfortable. Intimidation was for people like Ziggy Peng who were evil, lacking in empathy. Bingo told the old man to look at him. The eye contact was awkward, but Bingo kept it until the look of terror was gone from the old man’s face.
“You’ve been very helpful. Thank you. You have my gratitude, and you have Arrow Donaldson’s gratitude.”
25
Teddy was halfway back to the casino when he sensed someone following him. He wasn’t sure how long he’d had the tail, but he’d likely picked it up shortly after leaving the pawnshop. His gut instinct had told him the story he’d been fed by the old man was nonsense — now he knew he’d been spot-on.
Glancing in a storefront window, he spotted the tail that was a block back. The man didn’t seem to be trying too hard to avoid being seen — either he was an amateur, or he wanted Teddy to know he was there. Teddy slowed his walk, and the tail seemed to speed up. He looked to be getting himself in position to make a move. Teddy didn’t think the man wanted to kill him — not in such a public place — which was a relief because, once again, Teddy found himself without a weapon. Nevertheless, Teddy was on high alert, hoping to turn this into an opportunity. Maybe the tail had information worth knowing about what was really going on.
When the man was just a few feet back, Teddy moved toward a small group of European tourists. Teddy was a legend of disguise, but that didn’t mean he was only good with wigs and makeup. After studying with the world’s greatest actors, mimes, illusionists, and hunters, Teddy was able to see how they contorted their bodies and faces into new shapes and used natural cover to manipulate what was right in front of someone. This knowledge and years of practice in high-stress operations gave Teddy the skills and comfort level to make himself virtually invisible in a public space.
By the time his tail realized Teddy was behind him, Teddy had maneuvered the man off into an alley and quietly disarmed and subdued him.
“We haven’t met yet,” Teddy said, “but I feel like we already know so much about one another.”
The man squirmed quietly but was unable to get out from under Teddy’s grasp.
“This city brings out the dealmaker in me. So, instead of killing you right here and dumping you in one of the many convenient trash bins along this street, I’m going to give you a choice.”
The man continued to squirm, getting harder to control. His grunts and growls were also getting louder through Teddy’s hands.
“I need information and I need it quicker than going from person to person looking for the right piece of the puzzle at the right time. We’re going to go to the casino and play baccarat while you give me the answers I need. No one dies and maybe we even walk away with a few more bucks in our pockets.”
The man didn’t answer in any discernible way, but he continued to struggle. It was getting to the point where Teddy would have had trouble controlling him discreetly. Finally, tired of the whole thing, Teddy slipped one of several small syringes he kept in his coat pocket into his hand and jabbed the man in the leg.
In the taxi back to the casino, Teddy pretended he was trying to keep his drunk friend awake while searching his tail’s pockets. He found the man’s wallet and learned the man’s name was Bing-Wen Jo. Based on what Kevin had told him about Bingo doing Arrow’s dirty work around Macau, Teddy had suspected the man’s identity. But confirmation was always nice. The mild tranquilizer was wearing off and Teddy had Bingo’s arm over his shoulder, stumbling them across the floor as if he were bringing his drunken friend back to their room.
When the tranquilizer had fully worn off, Teddy and Bingo stood at an empty baccarat table with drinks in hand. Bingo had a glassy look in his eyes as he took several slow sips from his drink.
“Let’s get started,” Teddy said.
Bingo nodded.
Teddy wondered if he’d measured the medication properly, because Bingo should have been fully recovered from the dose he’d been given. Had he used the wrong syringe?
“I always wanted to be James Bond,” Teddy said to the dealer, “but it’s harder than it looks.”
26
When Agents Malmon and Parks finally made their way over to interview Millie, she was ready.
“We talked to the agents at the hotel before we came over here,” Parks said.
“Good,” Millie said.
“They weren’t exactly complimentary of you or your leadership skills.”
“Leaders sometimes have to tell people who work for them that they’re morons. Those people don’t generally appreciate the criticism and therefore speak poorly of their leaders.”