Restraint. He had been looking into Brasden’s claim that he could take over his forces at any time. There was some evidence that Brasden did have some influence with the men and he had to be careful. He did not want an uprising at this crucial moment. But he had already started to reinforce his power, and he wouldn’t have to put up with Brasden for much longer. “Please, see to it.”
“I’ll do it right away.”
“And arrange for me to get to San Francisco right away. I’m not going to trust anyone else to zero in on Cameron.” He smiled gently, imagining all the torture he was going to inflict on this asshole. “If you please, Brasden.”
CHAPTER
15
“Aren’t you two going to bed soon?” Catherine shook her head at Luke and Hu Chang sitting over the chess board before the fire in the library. “It’s almost midnight. You’ve been playing for hours.”
“I almost beat him the last game.” Luke didn’t look up from the board. “I’m close this time.”
“Not close enough.” Hu Chang smiled. “But you’re making it interesting.” He glanced at Catherine. “Run along to bed. I’ll tell you how I triumphed in the morning.”
Luke snorted. “Someday I’ll beat you. Maybe tonight.”
“A competitive spirit is good. A humble spirit is even better.”
“I don’t think so.”
Hu Chang chuckled. “Actually, neither do I.” He moved his knight. “No word from Cameron, Catherine?”
“No,” she said curtly. “Not unless he contacted you.”
Hu Chang shook his head. “I believe any communication will be with you from now on. I sensed a change today.” He waved his hand. “Now go away and do not distract me. I’m having to concentrate on this game. I did not think he’d reach this degree of expertise for another year.”
She shook her head ruefully as she left the library and closed the door. Luke had been changing, making all kinds of advancements, since the day she had arrived in Hong Kong. It was even surprising Hu Chang. He was busily adjusting and accepting. She must do the same.
God, it was hard. It was like dealing with an adult and she wasn’t ready for that yet. She needed a little time to—
“Good. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to search the house for you.” Cameron had blown into the hall like a strong wind. His eyes were glittering, and Catherine could almost feel the tornado of excitement and exhilaration that surrounded him. “Come on.” He grabbed her wrist and was pulling her toward the front door. “I have something to show you.”
“What?” They were outside, and she was having to half run to keep up. “Where are we going?”
“The trap. I’ve found the trap.” They had stopped beside an orange-and-blue motorcycle, and he handed her a helmet and large-lensed protective glasses. “Tuck your hair under the helmet.” He was putting on his own orange-striped helmet and dark glasses. For the first time, she noticed he was still in the jeans he’d worn earlier in the day but had somewhere acquired biker boots and a black leather jacket. He got on the bike and revved up the engine. “Jump on.”
She got on the broad seat of the bike behind him, her arms around his waist. “Where’s the Mercedes?” she asked as he tore down the street. “And where did you get this motorcycle?”
“The Mercedes is discreetly dumped in a place that will lead Kadmus to step into the trap. The bike I bought from a man in a bar along with his gear.” He smiled. “It’s as close as I could come to a bona fide disguise that would allow us to move around Chinatown. The young people love their bikes. Not surprising, considering the terrible traffic.”
He was right—the helmet and glasses were a decent disguise. “It took you long enough. If you’d taken me along, I could have split up the search by—”
“And I would have been distracted,” he interrupted. “I didn’t need you. I got everything done. Now be quiet and enjoy the ride.”
And she was enjoying the ride, she realized suddenly. Why? A roaring motorcycle wasn’t the place to enjoy a conversation and yet she was having no difficulty hearing or communicating. Cameron? It didn’t feel like intrusion but that didn’t mean it wasn’t a more subtle form of manipulation. Hu Chang had said he didn’t know the extent of Cameron’s skills.
Oh, what the hell, if it was an intrusion, it was minor.
“I’m glad you’ve decided to give me the benefit of the doubt,” Cameron said. “Now relax and enjoy. I haven’t ridden a motorcycle for years. Have you?”
She tried to remember. “Once when I was in Moscow trying to track down Luke.” Her arms grasped him tighter. “It was no joyride.”
“No, nothing about that time contained any joy for you. But it’s over, and you have Luke.”
If Cameron didn’t lure him into his camp, she thought dryly. He seemed to have an incredible amount of magnetism where her son was concerned.
“I wouldn’t try to take him away from you,” he said quietly. “And I won’t use him as a pawn. You have my word on it.”
“Is your word any good?”
“Yes.” He added simply, “Because it’s all I have that doesn’t belong to the committee. I have to keep something for myself.”
“And yet you’re going to go against them when you kill Kadmus.”
“It’s an exception. In most cases, I’m in agreement with them.”
“Why do they want to keep the bastard alive?”
“He’s a big investor and financial force in keeping that tourist town of Shangri-La going. There are a few reasons why the committee wants all the public attention fixed on that town the Chinese swear is the location of Shangri-La.”
“Because it’s not the true location?”
He was silent. “How can a mythological place have a true location except in the imagination?”
“How indeed?” she whispered. She laid her cheek on his back. She could feel the silky smoothness and smell the leather of his jacket against her flesh. “Or perhaps they want the entire myth to have a tawdry image and be totally discounted.”
“I said there are a few reasons.”
“And some you’re not going to divulge,” she said. “That’s okay with me. When I really want to know, I’ll go searching for myself. In the meantime, it’s enough to know that you realize that your committee isn’t right all the time.” She added, “And that you’re willing to help me take Kadmus down.”
“Oh, I’m definitely willing to help you do that.” He swerved around the corner, and they were suddenly bombarded by light and tourists and music. “It will be my pleasure.” He paused. “By the way, I like the feel of you lying against me.”
She started to straighten, then stopped. She liked the feel of him, too. Why cheat herself? “How far away are we?”
“About six blocks. In three blocks, I’m going to cut left and start going down the alleys. We’ll be able to ditch the bike in the alley and climb the fire escape to get into the building.”
“What building?”
“The home of Moon, Stars, and Heavenly Wonder,” Cameron said gravely. “And, hopefully, the place where we’ll be able to bury Kadmus and Brasden.” He cut left and roared down the neon-lit street and then turned the bike into darkness.
Glowing feline eyes. Garbage cans. Foul smells. Alley. They were in the alley.
After ten minutes of weaving in and out of the maze of alleys, Cameron brought the bike to a stop. “We’re here.” He got off the bike and lifted her off the seat. “Come on. Let’s get moving.” He set her on the ground and jumped up to bring the fire-escape ladder down. “There’s an open window on the third floor. I’ll go first. I climbed the ladder before, and it’s none too steady. If you feel it going, yell, and I’ll grab for you.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll bellow loud and strong.” She watched as he climbed the steps until he reached the first-floor landing. She loved watching him move. He was all animal grace and clean definition.
He glanced down at her. “Coming?”
“Right behind you.” She was climbing the first steps as she spoke. She said maliciously, “I wanted to give you a chance to fall before I risked my valuable neck.”
“Very wise.” He had turned and was rapidly climbing. “I feel just as cautious about risking your neck and other delectable body parts. It would be punishing myself.” He had reached the third level and turned to look down at her. His eyes were gleaming with mischief as he reached out a hand to her. “Give me your hands. I’ll pull you the rest of the way up. It will be quicker.”