At this abrupt segue, Temple glanced anxiously at Ryder and blurted out, “I hadnothingto do with that. That was not my call. I argued against it, in fact.”
Steers said menacingly, “You disavow all responsibility for this debacle? Is that really what you are telling me?”
Temple sputtered, “I didn’t mean. . .I just wanted to point out that . . .” He glanced at Ryder and saw her smug look deepen even as he squirmed.
Before he could say anything else, Steers raised the pistol, causing Temple to put up his hands and flinch backward. Nash prepared to leap at the woman before she could fire.
Steers then pointed the gun to her left, pulled the trigger, and shot Ryder in the head. The woman fell to the floor, blood and other bits of her spraying all over her clothing and white hair. Some of the blowback also dotted Steers’s cheek, hand, and sleeve. One of the guards hustled forward and used a wet cloth to thoroughly clean her off. Two other men rushed in, wrapped Ryder in plastic, and carried her out. The chair in which she had been sitting was also removed and the marble floor underneath the chair thoroughly mopped. Temple and Nash sat there, stunned, while Steers had her eyes closed.
When all traces of the woman had been removed, Steers opened her eyes and studied the two men.
“Death can be awkward,” she said quietly. “And unpleasant.”
“Yes, it can,” said Nash evenly, though he felt sickened.
“And alsonecessary,” Steers added. She looked at Temple. “Decisions that led to my agents being in the custody of the FBI are. . .not. . .good.”
“No,” agreed Temple quickly. He still looked horrified by what had just happened.
Steers once more turned to Nash. “I trust that you understand the implications of what has just transpired, Mr. Hope?”
Nash said cautiously, “You mean Ryder’s death?”
She shook her head. “You disappoint me. I thought it rather obvious.” She held up the pistol. “You and your weapon have just committed a terrible crime in Hong Kong. And though Hong Kong does not have the death penalty, China does. It is done by lethal injection, or else they shoot you.” She handed the gun to one of her men. “That choice will be theirs. But you also have a choice to make.” She glanced at Temple. “And as an accessory, Mr. Temple, your fate will not be much better: life in prison. But again, you have a choice as well.”
“You mean we canchooseto work with you?” Nash said grimly.
She shook her head once more. “To workforme.”
“And if we refuse?” said Nash, already knowing the answer.
“Then steps will be taken to demonstrate that my colleague’s murder occurred in China, and all necessary evidence to implicate both of you in her death will be provided. The rest is assuredly known to you. One of you will be executed, and the other will spend his life in a Chinese prison.” She added coolly, “I think I would prefer death, actually. The Chinese are often not kind to their own law-abiding citizens. And they are completely ruthless with respect to their criminals.” She glanced at Temple. “And Americans in particular are not at all popular in China at present.”
“To work for you doing what exactly, Ms. Steers?” asked Temple in a tremulous voice.
Nash thought he knew the answer. But it would turn out that he could not have been further from the truth.
She said, “My mother is being held in a prison in another country. And you both are going to help set her free.”
CHAPTER
3
WALTER NASH STARED UP FROMhis bed at a ceiling that was a frothy shade of seafoam green. It was so calming and neutral that he almost forgot he was in Hong Kong and that his life was in serious peril.
Almost.
It was two in the morning local time. He had been asleep for only three hours and now was wide awake. And it had nothing to do with jet lag. The reason was two floors above him in the penthouse, where, he assumed, Victoria Steers was sleeping just fine inherbed.
Nash had no idea what they’d done with Ryder’s body, but he was certain that if he didn’t do what Steers wanted him to do, he would be taken to China and charged with Ryder’s murder.
But rescue her mother from a prison in another country? How the hell are we supposed to do that?
Yet he had one thing going for him: His Army veteran father had had an unstoppable motor, powering through every obstacle to reach his goals under the most hellish of conditions. And though he and his father had been estranged for over half of Nash’s life, he had apparently inherited this attribute from him.
He listened for sounds from the adjacent bedroom where he knew Temple was sleeping. His boss had mentioned he was looking for an exit from this nightmare with Steers. However, Nash thought it far more likely that they would both leave Hong Kong in body bags.
But her mother being in a prison did answer the question of where Masuyo Steers had been all this time.
