Point Blank (Sisterhood Book 26) (9 page)

“Okay then, let’s go topside and start opening those boxes. We have a lot of packing to do and quite a bit of preparing.” Espinosa was on his feet in a nanosecond to escort his ladylove topside. There was a brief scramble as everyone gathered up their papers and files and jammed them into their respective folders.

“It’s happening, isn’t it?” Myra whispered to Annie.

“It is, Myra, it truly is. Are you having second thoughts?” Annie whispered in return.

“Good Lord, no. I am heartsick over that little girl, and I want Harry and Yoko to have her in their arms again. It’s just been a long few days with so much preparation. I worry that maybe one of us missed something crucial along the way that might come back to bite us at some point.”

Annie watched as Myra fingered the pearls around her neck. “You have to leave those behind, you know. I’m referring to the pearls, Myra.”

“I know what you meant. I will be sure to leave them in my jewelry box. By the way, Annie, I made an important decision last evening.”

“Oh. Care to share that important decision?”

“I’m leaving my pearls to Lily in my will.”

Whatever Annie was expecting to hear, that wasn’t it. Suddenly, she was at a loss for words. Next to Nikki, Myra’s adopted daughter, and Charles, the most important thing in the world to Myra was her pearls. All she could think to do was bob her head.

“It was a big decision, and I didn’t make it lightly, Annie.”

“Hmmnnn. Why are we having this discussion, Myra?”

“I was trying to get you to relax. You’re strung too tight, Annie. Not only can I see it, but I can feel it. Things will be okay.”

“China is a scary place these days,” Annie said.

“I have an idea, Annie. While we’re over there, why don’t you see if you can go straight to the horse’s mouth and find out why all those Chinese stocks you talked me into buying are falling so rapidly.”

“No one likes a smart-ass, Myra,” Annie snapped.

“Takes one to know one, but I would like an answer on those stocks.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Annie snapped again.

Myra giggled all the way up the moss-covered stone steps that would take them to the chaos that was going on in the kitchen.

 

T
he morning was exceptionally cool, with a brisk wind ripping across the tarmac. The caravan of cars came to an organized stop at the private airfield where Annie’s private plane and Dennis’s corporate plane were housed. They were out on the runway, the Welmed plane behind Annie’s Gulfstream, poised for takeoff.

Nikki was first out of the car. She stared at the weak winter sun shining on the skin of the sleek jets, making them look like sheets of glistening silver. She smiled when she saw the logo on both:
CRESCENT CHINA TOURS
. She almost believed it for a minute.

She felt rather than saw Kathryn Lucas step up behind her. “What do you think, Nikki?”

“What I think is, we’re all going to China to rescue a little girl. What are you thinking? Is something wrong, Kathryn? You don’t seem like yourself. Are you worried about us, Lily, or Bert?”

Kathryn raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sun that was getting brighter by the moment. She tensed as she struggled to find the words she wanted. “It’s Bert. We had an understanding, but he’s stepped off the grid and is pressuring me. He does this every so often—we fight, we make up, then it happens all over again. I can’t take it anymore.”

Alarm registered on Nikki’s face. “And yet, here you are. You should have recused yourself this time around. Your thought processes are not one hundred percent on the mission. One little slip and you could put us all in jeopardy. You realize that, don’t you?”

“Of course I do, and it’s not true, Nikki. I can do my job. You don’t have to worry about me. Bert didn’t have to go to Macau. The person who should have gone is Dixson Kelly. Bert chose to go because of me. I resent it. I really do.”

“That’s what I’m talking about, Kathryn. You’re dealing with emotion here. This is not good. I’m going to have to tell the others. Sometimes I simply don’t understand you, Kathryn. What is it you really want? What can’t you come to terms with? We’ve gone over this so many times that I’ve lost count.”

Kathryn’s facial features went taut. “Let me assure you that the one thing you do not have to worry about is me. Listen to me. I’m going to tell you something in confidence, friend to friend, girl to girl. Bert and I parted company. We’re done. We’ve had a very long, contentious relationship, but it no longer works for me. I’m not sure why he was so insistent on doing this China thing, which, as I said, in my opinion is a mistake. And before you can ask, Nikki, all I feel is a sense of relief. Like a thousand pounds have been taken off my shoulders. I’m good here, I really am. Just so you know, I moved all my stuff out of Bert’s place. I’m back at my home space in Virginia with Murphy, who, by the way, is at doggie camp until I get back. If you want me to sum this up, it’s that I need to be free to be me. Right now I actually feel as if I could fly to China with my own wings. Look, Bert wants to get married and have a family. That’s not in the cards for me. I care about him enough to want him to have those things. Just not with me.”

Nikki stared into Kathryn’s eyes, and whatever she saw there satisfied her. She smiled. “I think you are good. I understand. Your word is good enough for me. I do have a question, though. What happens if you come face-to-face with Bert in Macau?”

“Two old friends meeting up on the other side of the world. Nothing more, Nikki. Please, you need to believe me.”

And, Nikki realized, she did believe the long, lanky truck driver. Kathryn might be many things—outspoken, bombastic at times—but she never lied. The two women eyeballed each other one last time. Kathryn spoke first: “I know, I know, if I screw up I go to the sidelines. It ain’t gonna happen, Nikki. For the first time in a good many years, I finally feel as if I’m my own person again. I like the feeling, and I intend to keep it that way.”

“Okay. Come on, we have a plane to catch.”

“Ah . . . Nikki . . .”

“This conversation never happened. You’re back in your own ballpark again.”

Kathryn laughed, a sound of pure mirth. Nikki felt stunned for just a bare moment as she tried to remember the last time that she’d heard Kathryn laugh like that. Probably never, was her best guess. She ran then to keep up with Kathryn’s long-legged stride.

Ten minutes later, the two private planes were airborne and climbing steadily to their cruising altitude of thirty thousand feet. The occupants settled back for the long, twenty-hour and thirty-minute flight that would bring them to their destination.

“First,” Annie said, “we’re going to have some breakfast. Eggs Benedict. Mimosas. Fresh Hawaiian coffee from Kona. Then we can get down to business and work on our plans.” The announcement was met with hoots of approval. They laughed outright when Annie said lunch would be shrimp scampi and beef medallions in a red wine sauce, basil risotto, and a fresh garden salad. Dinner, she went on to say, was going to be a surprise because the caterer had not told her what it was before boarding. “I’m sure it will meet with our approval. In the meantime, the coffee and wine are at your disposal.” More hoots of pleasure.

The group paired off. Alexis and Isabelle went to the back of the plane to start separating the outfits they would all don before disembarking in Hong Kong. Maggie and Ted had their heads together as Crescent China Tours tour leaders. Dennis settled himself next to Espinosa to talk about what he called the snatch and grab. “I hope those guys over there buy our cover that we’re doing a pictorial for the paper,” he fretted. Espinosa assured him they were pros, and neither one had a thing to worry about. “Listen, kid, everyone likes to have their picture taken and nice things written about them. That’s what we’re going to do. But first we’re going to have breakfast. And then we’ll map out our strategy.”

Harry and Yoko were huddled together whispering to each other. Cooper snoozed at their feet, happy and content.

Nikki and Kathryn sat side by side, speaking softly about the upcoming Christmas season, shopping, and decorating, while Myra, Annie, Charles, Fergus, and Jack shared what each knew about Buddhism and the monks at the monastery at Song Mountain in China—which wasn’t all that much, and more than anything was just a bunch of words to pass the time.

“I’m tired of talking about monks. Let’s decide what we’re going to buy when we get to Hong Kong. I think we girls should have some gowns made for our New Year’s Eve party,” Myra said.

“What party?” Charles and Fergus asked in unison.

Myra laughed. “Actually, it was Annie’s idea, and it is such a good idea, I immediately agreed. We want to have a party at the farm for all the people we’ve helped these past years. To see how they’re doing, to see if they need our special brand of help. Basically, to show them all we’re still here should they ever require our services in the future.”

“That’s a great idea, Annie. Count me in,” Jack said enthusiastically. “Are you sure you can fit everyone at the farm? It’s a very long list.”

“It may be a little crowded, but I don’t think anyone will mind. I’m going to bring it up after breakfast to see if everyone approves. If so, then Annie and I will get on it when we get back to the farm,” Myra said, glee ringing in her voice.

Further conversation came to a halt when the hostess appeared with the food trays.

Cooper bounded down the aisle and took up his position next to Jack as he waited for his plate. Jack leaned toward the dog just long enough for a thought to work its way through his head. “I think the dog wants six slices of bacon, three sausage links, and one scrambled egg.”

The hostess blinked. “The food came already prepared. I don’t think anyone requested that kind of meal.”

“Maybe you should check again,” Jack said. Cooper barked to show he was in agreement with Jack’s suggestion.

The hostess served the plates from the cart, then scurried back to the galley to return, carrying a dish with a cover on top. Even from where he was sitting, Jack could read the note on the cover:
SPECIAL FOOD
. He didn’t need to lift the cover to know the plate held six slices of bacon, three sausage links, and one scrambled egg. He looked down at Cooper and grinned. The dog barked twice, sharp and shrill.

“I don’t want to know how that happened, do you, Annie?”

“I absolutely do not. Eat your eggs, Myra.” Annie giggled.

Myra dug into her eggs Benedict with gusto.

How the hell does he do that? Jack wondered as he watched Cooper devour his breakfast. Realizing he wasn’t going to get an answer, he attacked his breakfast like a starving man.

An hour later, when all the breakfast trays had been gathered, the group settled down to review the materials they’d carried with them. One eye on the written pages and the other on Harry, Jack did his best to absorb what he was reading. He’d always wanted to visit Hong Kong with Nikki but not under the current circumstances. He wondered after this mission if he would still feel that way. Probably not, he decided.

Satisfied that Harry was dozing or pretending to, Jack forced himself to concentrate on the papers in front of him. They would be staying at the Peninsula Hotel, the flagship property of the Peninsula Hotels group. It was known for its fleet of Rolls-Royces painted the distinctive Peninsula green. He wondered what it would be like to ride in one.

Visitors were encouraged to have high tea at four in the afternoon. Because . . . he read on, Prince Charles always made a point of having high tea there when he visited. Jack knew that Charles would be over the moon at the thought.

The hotel had a helipad. Great in case they needed a quick getaway. He hoped Charles knew about it. He hoped they had time to dine in one of the famous restaurants. Even though he’d just finished his breakfast, he drooled at the thought of dining at Gaddi’s or Felix. Maybe lunch at Spring Moon or Imasa because they specialized in Cantonese, Japanese, and Swiss cuisine. He did love good food.

He knew that the girls would be thrilled with the oldest arcade in Hong Kong, which housed the shops of Chanel, Dior, Hermès, Gucci, Prada, Shiatzy Chen, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier.

Jack set his folder aside and closed his eyes. He hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in over a week. A little nap might be just the thing. His eyes snapped open to take one last look around the cabin. Everyone was doing their thing. Cooper was sleeping peacefully at his feet. He sighed, closed his eyes, and was asleep within minutes, his dreams invaded by a little girl with big dark eyes and shining black hair. “We’re coming, Lily, we’re coming,” he mumbled in his sleep. The only one who heard his mumblings was Cooper, who cracked one eye, then closed it

 

 

The path Yuke Lok and Lily were following spread out to make for easier walking. It was cold, and both young girls were shivering despite their quilted outerwear. “I know you’re tired, Lily—so am I—but it is not much farther. I can see smoke straight ahead. That means the little temple where I will be leaving you is near. Can you make it, little one, or do you want me to carry you?”

“I am not a baby, Yuke Lok, I can walk.” Always truthful, the little girl added, “But I am getting tired. And hungry.”

“There will be food at the temple and a nice warm bed. And, best of all, a nice hot bath.”

“Will whoever is there tell us why I have to stay there? I want to know.”

“I don’t know, Lily. I hope so. Look, Lily, there it is! We have arrived safely,” Yuke Lok said, relief ringing in her voice. “They are coming to greet us.” She pointed to four monks swaddled in bright yellow robes who were advancing, their arms outstretched.

“Welcome! Welcome, my children,” a giant said, scooping Lily up in his arms. She laughed.

“Come, come, we have food for you and a warm bed. We can talk later. Now it is a time to relax from your journey.”

Yuke Lok fell into line. She looked up at the giant carrying Lily and boldly asked in English, “Then, when we talk, will you tell us why we are here and what is going on in this child’s life that she is to be kept safe?”

“We will converse when it is time,” the giant said in Mandarin Chinese.

Yuke Lok’s facial features hardened. “Brother Hung said we were to speak English only. Lily’s Chinese is not as fluent as ours is. Do you not speak English, Brother?”

“I do, of course. We all speak English. We will, of course, obey Brother Hung’s orders.

“It is only natural that I speak my native language. My apologies. We must hurry, the temperature is dropping, and it will snow this night. Not much, but it will turn very, very cold here where we are situated.”

Both girls almost swooned when the parade of brothers led them through a heavy wooden door, down a long hallway, and into a toasty kitchen full of fragrant scents. A long table with benches took up the center of the floor. The room sparkled with cleanliness.

The girls were shown into a small bathroom, where they could wash the weariness away and brush their teeth.

“That felt good, didn’t it, Yuke Lok? I was starting to itch. I can’t wait to take a nice warm bath. Did you ever take a bubble bath?”

“No. What is a bubble bath?” Lily explained. Yuke Lok giggled. Lily went on to describe that one time she had dumped the entire bottle of Mr. Bubble into the tub and the bubbles filled up the room, and she couldn’t see Cooper. Yuke Lok giggled again. She loved hearing her little sister tell her tales of her other life in America.

“Come, I am starving. Did you smell the fresh bread? I hope they have jam. I wish for something sweet. Do you?” Lily nodded. She went on to explain about Hershey’s Kisses. Both girls were still giggling when they sat down on one of the benches and waited to be served. But first there was a prayer of thanks for their safe arrival, then a prayer of thanks for the food they were about to eat. Then there was another prayer of thanks for the hot bath that awaited them. Under her breath, Lily prayed for an end of the prayers so she could eat.