71 |
71 |EQ Hotel & Casino Shanghai, China
Kane walked into the hotel’s restaurant, Tien on his arm, and strode toward Zhang’s table, the thin man enjoying his breakfast with several of the high-priced talent on display the night before. “Good morning, Mr. Zhang.”
Zhang looked up at him, his eyes darting toward Tien for a moment. “Ahh, Mr. Kane. I trust you had an enjoyable evening.”
Kane lifted Tien’s hand and gave it a gentle kiss. “A wonderful time, thank you.”
Zhang motioned to two empty chairs. “Please, join me.”
Kane pulled out a chair for Tien, then pushed it in for her before sitting. “I have excellent news for you, Mr. Zhang.”
Zhang paused. “Oh?”
“We have found your yacht.”
Zhang’s eyebrows shot up, a smile spreading. “That is good news!” He paused. “Where?”
“Macao.”
Zhang’s eyes narrowed. “Someone actually thought they could steal my yacht, my custom built yacht, and sail it into Macao?”
Kane leaned back in his chair, putting his arm around Tien’s shoulders. “Which is why my company has its suspicions.”
Zhang put down his fork, clearly not pleased. “Oh?”
“Yes, they feel this may have been an attempt at insurance fraud on your part. We pay you for the yacht, then you sell it, or, perhaps even more boldly, reclaim it without telling us.”
Zhang’s cheeks burned red. “You dare accuse me!”
Kane laughed, dismissing the anger with a wave of his hand. “As I said, my company has its suspicions. I, on the other hand, have none.” He leaned forward, the flushed cheeks waning. “I’ll tell you my theory, and it’s the one that will go in the official report.”
“I’m all ears.”
Kane smiled, Zhang’s ears prominent. “My theory is that a rival, or perhaps merely a local gang, stole your yacht, with the intention of selling it. When they reached their buyers in Macao, they realized it was simply too unique to sell. Your yacht did not exactly come off an assembly line.”
Zhang leaned back, a slight smile on his face, the yarn being spun apparently to his satisfaction. “No, it definitely is not.”
“Exactly. Which is why I think once they realized they had stolen something that could never be sailed by a new buyer, they abandoned it.” Kane leaned forward slightly, removing his arm from Tien’s shoulders. “So, my final report will indicate that you were the victim here, that your property was recovered, and nothing untoward happened.”
Zhang smiled broadly. “This is good news.” He stood, extending his hand across the table. Kane rose, shaking it. “If you ever need anything, Mr. Kane, I am at your service.”
“I’m glad you said that.” He placed a hand on Tien’s shoulder and smiled at her. “I find I am quite taken by your gift to me.” He turned to Zhang. “I would consider all debts paid if you were to give her to me.”
Zhang’s jaw dropped slightly, his eyes widening as he sat back into his chair. Then he laughed, holding out his hand toward Tien. “This? This is what you ask of me, when you could have asked for almost anything?”
Kane bowed slightly. “I am a man of simple tastes.”
Zhang laughed, flicking his wrist at Tien, Kane’s steadying hand unable to halt her trembling. “Fine, take her. I have a dozen more.”
Kane bowed even deeper. “Thank you. And one more thing?”
Zhang’s smiled eased slightly. “Yes?”
“Nobody ever touches her, or her family.”
The smile disappeared as Zhang realized what was actually going on. “Agreed.”
“Thank you.”
“And Mr. Kane?”
“Yes?”
“I better never see you, or her, again.”