“I’ve forgotten more than you’ve ever learned,” Kadmus said. “You’re going at it backwards. Find the kid. He was with Hu Chang and Sullivan in the taxi. Ling is going to have to leave him with someone if she’s not with him. If we grab the kid, Ling will hand us Cameron.”
Brasden was silent. “You may have a point. We’ll see how it goes.”
“It better go damn quick. Scour those streets in Chinatown and find someone who knows something.” Kadmus got in the passenger seat of the Cadillac. “And get me Ling’s cell-phone number. I want a way to contact her when I’m ready.”
“No problem.” Brasden got in the driver’s seat and started the car. “It will take a few hours, but I can get it.”
“You’re being very accommodating,” Kadmus said sarcastically. “What’s happening?”
“I don’t mind cooperating. I just had to make sure that you realized I had the upper hand. I told you, I want a percentage, not the entire pot. I’m willing to listen to you on occasion. I’d prefer to be the silent partner who skips away if the situation becomes too hot to handle.” He smiled maliciously. “And watches from a distance as they tear you limb from limb.”
Kadmus didn’t reply.
Smother the rage. It would only be for a little while. He would be able to deal with Brasden soon. He was getting closer all the time to the prize. They were in the same city as Cameron and Cameron could lead him to Shambhala.
And the key to Cameron was no longer Erin Sullivan, who had proved to be such a disappointment.
It was Catherine Ling and a boy named Luke.
* * *
“You slept later than I thought you would,” Hu Chang said when Catherine came into the dining room. “It’s nearly ten.”
“I was up late.” She sat down and poured herself a cup of tea. “Where’s Luke?”
“With Erin and Celia in the garden. He’s playing badminton with Celia.”
“What? Badminton? I can’t see him playing that. I always imagine women in old-fashioned long white gowns and big hats playing the game.”
“Badminton is an Olympic sport these days, and the play can become fairly intense. Not the way Celia plays it. She prefers it slow and easy. But she has a tiny garden, and badminton fits the area requirements. Besides, she likes the game.” He added dryly, “Of course, after playing with Luke, she may change her mind. He doesn’t know how to be slow and easy. And he can sometimes be overenthusiastic. He’s like that with every competition.”
“Did he beat you at chess last night?”
“No, but he came exceptionally close. He wanted to start playing after breakfast, but I told him to go outside and clear his mind.”
“I’ll take my tea and go out and join him.” She started to get up. “It may be the only time I get the chance before you take him back to that library.”
“Have your tea,” Hu Chang said. “You look like you need it.”
“Do I?” She smiled with an effort. “I’m fine.” It wasn’t the truth. She had woken an hour ago with a strange languor and a feeling of emptiness. It had filled her with panic. She did not want to have any lingering sensations from her time with Cameron. She wanted to be totally sharp and completely her own person. She had jumped out of bed, showered, dressed, and come down to face her world. “As I said, I had a late night. Cameron came to the house after I left you and Luke. He found the place he wants to set his trap for Kadmus.” She sat down again and lifted her cup to her lips. “It’s a fireworks factory on Clement Street. Moon, Stars, and Heavenly Wonders. Weird name, isn’t it? Three floors and shops on the street level. Cameron was already in the process of buying it from the owner, but wanted me to see it and make sure I was familiar with every floor.”
“Yes, very weird name. And did you examine it thoroughly?”
“Yes, of course. I won’t have any problems when the trap’s sprung.”
“No, I have the utmost confidence in you when it comes to overcoming problems of that sort.” He took a sip of his tea and leaned back in his chair. “But sometimes other problems of a more personal nature tend to challenge you. Did you face a few of those last night, Catherine?”
She met his eyes. Wise eyes, eyes that could see into her soul. She would not lie to him. “Yes.” She moistened her lips. “He makes me—I’ve never met anyone who—He’s different. I have to fight for control with him all the time. Sometimes I lose. I don’t like that, Hu Chang.”
“No, you wouldn’t.” He paused. “But evidently he sometimes loses, too. Can you imagine how difficult that must be for him? He’s the Guardian. He has to win. He was chosen and trained to win.”
“Then let him go and win with someone else.” She steadied her hand as she raised her cup to her lips. “I’m my own person. I can’t let him dominate me. I won’t let him take and take, no matter how I—” She stopped. “I don’t want to talk about him any longer. All I know is that we have to get Kadmus and make sure Erin is safe.” She got to her feet. “And we have to do it right away. I want to go home with Luke and be what I am and not what Cameron wants me to be.” She drank the last of her tea. She was already feeling better and more herself now that she had talked to Hu Chang and voiced her thoughts. “Now I’m going out to the garden and see my son. Do you want to come with me?”
“Delighted.” He rose to his feet and followed her toward the French doors. “I believe the sun is shining. We haven’t had much of that since we arrived. Celia always says this city is wonderful, but I could use less fog and more sun.”
The sun was shining. The brilliant rays were glinting on Luke’s dark hair as he leaped to hit the shuttlecock over the net at Celia. Catherine stood in the doorway, watching them for a minute.
Then Luke saw her and stopped. “Hi, Catherine. Want to play?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never played badminton.” She made a face. “I’ve never really learned to play any games. I didn’t have time when I was growing up.”
He grinned. “Neither did I. But I’ve been learning since you brought me home. Come and play. I’ll teach you.”
She stared at him in surprise.
“Yes, go on and play, Catherine,” Hu Chang murmured.
Come and play. I’ll teach you.
Was a door opening? She had been the one teaching Luke since they’d rescued him from Rakovac. She’d tried to supply all he needed and give him everything he’d missed. But he’d told her that she had to accept him for what he was.
Now he wanted to teach her.
Did he mean come and play, be my friend, not my mother, not my teacher? She didn’t care if she was overanalyzing it. She’d take it.
She smiled and started toward him. “You probably just want to have an easy mark. Celia looked like she was pretty good.”
“I’ve been savaged. Your son is a whirlwind.” Celia grimaced. “Please, take over for me.”
Catherine took the racquet Celia handed her. “Okay, Luke, show me how to play this game.”
* * *
“She’s not very good at this, is she?” Cameron asked Hu Chang from where he stood at the French doors. His gaze was on Catherine across the garden. She was laughing, her cheeks flushed, and she leaped forward, then sent the ball into the net. “I’m surprised. She’s always seemed so competent at everything.”
“She’s only been at this for a couple hours,” Hu Chang said quietly. “And she doesn’t care if she doesn’t win. She’s playing with her son. She figures she’s already won.”
“I can see that.” Cameron had never seen her like this. She looked almost as young as Luke. No wariness, no edge, just pleasure. He felt a surge of warmth that was rare for him. “I … like it.”
“She doesn’t care if you like it or not,” Hu Chang said. “And I like her like this, too. I don’t want her disturbed.”
Cameron’s glance shifted from Catherine to his face. “Do I detect antagonism?”
“I haven’t decided. I usually don’t interfere with Catherine’s choices. But you seem to have pulled out all the stops, and you’re very formidable.” He added thoughtfully, “Now, if you’d just walk away, it would solve a lot of confusion.”
“I’m not going to walk away.”
“Then I’ll just have to observe the situation and see if she regains her equilibrium. I believe that will be the way to handle it. Everything may resolve itself.”