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True Sue Lee was tired. It had been questions since early this morning, but there was no way she would rest now; this was too interesting.
“Please continue, I’m all right,” she answered with a smile.
“Well, then, where was I, oh yes, the letters? When I heard you would be here, it made me think of Sir Edward; we uncovered more facts about him with some help. His wife passed away while living with her sister in Clovelly in North Devon. The sister, Clara is still alive, provided us with letters, including photographs that Sir Edward sent to his wife during his travels.” Sir Jonathan opened a large envelope filled with photos. “Fortunately, his wife was a meticulous record-keeper; everything is dated and labeled. Do you recognize anyone in this photo?” He asked, handing Sue Lee a photo dated March 25, 1922?
Sue Lee turned it over—A man she didn’t know standing next to her father.
On the back, it said Edward and Jiro. She looked up at Jonathan as she set the picture on the table. He then handed her a letter dated April 5, 1922. Sir Edward was telling his wife in the first paragraph, he was worried and decided to use another means to preserve his find. He told her he was with his friend Jiro. They were making the new arrangements. She stopped reading and looked over at Jonathan.
“This letter explained the missing time before he returned to Singapore,” Jonathan said. He then handed her another photo, along with a large magnifying glass. “Do you recognize the men in the background at the cafe?” She looked through the glass at a group of people on a busy street and two men sitting at an outside table.
She recognized Mr. Yin and Hans Bader, the phony priest, killed in Bodega Bay. Sue Lee looked closer at the surrounding area.
“These photos are Mr.Yin sitting with Hans Bader, but where was the picture taken?”
“In Singapore, we had Bader under observation, suspicious character but no cause to bring him in. We knew the Chinese man as Chin Ling, a businessperson in Singapore. They took the photo in May, of 41, before your priest arrived in Bodega. We later identified Chin Ling as Mr. Yin. He was the same man who escorted my friend Robert Merman out of Singapore during the occupation.”
“Jimmy Han’s partner, Robert Merman, was your friend?” Sue Lee asked with surprise.
“Yes, we spent many good years together while I lived in Singapore. We would meet at the Raffles Hotel. It was one of his favorites for high tea. We discussed antiques. I believe Robert’s teaching helped both Lucie and myself to volunteer our spare time at the museum. Unfortunately, he was killed while escaping from Singapore. The antique jewelry he was taking out is missing. The last transmission from him told us he was perfectly safe and on his way out. Mr. Yin had a plausible story of his accident, knowing nothing of the jewelry, but we have no way to confirm this. He said they were escaping to a port village during a heavy rainstorm. Robert was caught in a mudslide. His body was washed out to sea. Mr. Yin told my people in Melbourne that they lost everything. They were lucky to get out alive,” He said while pouring more tea for both.
“I would be interested to know if you have a conclusion after gathering all of this information?” Sue Lee asked.
“I have a theory. I believe Sir Edward Lang asked your father to be the caretaker of the Kazaritachi sword; he brought in his brother Yoshi to help. After the death of your father, your uncle Yoshi took over. However, I believe something happened during or before the shipping of the sword. Regardless, your uncle Yoshi was cleverly leading the priest along with others on a merry chase, as he secretly kept hunting for it. I met your uncle in 39. Lucie and I were on the inaugural flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong, on the California Clipper. He entertained my wife while I spent my time in meetings. They solved puzzles together. It was unbelievable how fast Yoshi could make up a game. What a wonderful man; I’m sorry about his passing.”
Sue Lee remembered when he left on that trip. He was negotiating a contract for their shipping line. She smiled, thinking about the puzzles.
“He was a man who loved puzzles, creating them to teach me when I was young. Perhaps it will help me to solve the mystery of the missing sword. If the Raffles collection survives the war, it shall be theirs,” Sue Lee said, as she passed the tray back.
“That is very admirable of you, Sue Lee. I, too, hope Raffles survives. I do envy you. I love puzzles and would enjoy joining you on your treasure hunt. Unfortunately, if my theory is correct, some unscrupulous people have been after this precious Kazaritachi sword for some time. Mr. Yin maybe now involved, perhaps Yin and Bader formed a partnership, or Yin was the financier. We know Bader had no means; he was living with a waitress in a cheap flat, shortly after that, he disappeared from Singapore. We questioned her, she claimed she did not know where he went, but we noticed later an improvement in her lifestyle, brand new flat, modern clothes, and so on,” Sir Jonathan said, setting his cup down.
“Then you lost track of him until you were in San Francisco consulting at the Presidio. My debriefing explained the missing time. I’m I correct, Sir?”
“Yes, our Department shared information about Bader with your FBI; since I was there, they shared what they knew. We thought then the Germans paid him to spy. Now I’m not so sure about that. I see a pattern that I don’t like. We don’t have a complete dossier on Mr. Yin, but we know he has gained a significant amount of wealth quickly during the war. He could be selling information to the highest bidder. Bader and your store clerk were pawns. There you have it. Now you know what I know. Unfortunately, Mr. Yin is a small fish; we are busy dealing with the sharks. Nevertheless, I’m asking, unofficially, of course, to keep me informed. If you need help, here is a code you can use at any of our embassies worldwide. And do be careful,” Jonathan said, handing her his card after writing the code on the back.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Now, I know you wish to spend some time relaxing, but before you go, he paused. There was a tap on the door. His secretary looked in, Jonathan nodded. There is someone who would like to thank you.”
In walked the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.