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“I knew it! When I told Lo you were coming, he got very jealous. Wanted to know how someone with your face always ended up with beautiful women.”
Chase snorted, rubbing his flat, oft-broken nose. “Guess it’s because I’m just such a great bloke.”
“That’s what I told him! So, tell me about her. Are you in love?”
The skyline disappeared as the taxi descended into the tu
Shanghai’s Grand Theatre was an ultramodern structure of steel and glass on the western side of the People’s Park. Mei pulled the taxi over by the plaza in front of the building. “Okay, this is it. You got everything you need?”
“My ticket’s right here,” said Chase, holding it up.
“Sorry I couldn’t get you a better seat. Very short notice.”
“I didn’t come here to see some fat bloke singing,” he reminded her with a grin.
“What about a signal when you want me to get you?”
“Just keep your eyes open. You’ll know it when you see it.”
Mei frowned. “Eddie, please don’t blow up the Grand Theatre. I like it, I saw Les Mis there.”
“Sounds like a good reason to blow it up!” The frown deepened. “Okay, okay, I promise I won’t completely destroy the place.”
“Thank you.”
“Might be some breakage though.”
“Eddie!”
“Just kidding. Okay, time to go.”
“Hold on.” Mei reached back and adjusted his bow tie. “There. Perfect.”
“Aren’t I always?” He tugged the lapels of the tuxedo she had obtained for him.
“Take care of yourself,” she told him as he stepped out of the taxi. He winked in reply, then set off across the plaza.
Chase had deliberately arrived early, and he hung around in the Grand Theatre’s glass-walled foyer to observe the other audience members as they came in.
He was quickly able to distinguish the genuine opera fans from the corporate show-offs. The former were excited to be there, filled with anticipation for the performance. The latter were more interested in braying loudly, displaying a dismissive, seen-it-all-before attitude to prove this was just another in a long line of expensive perks. Fancy phones, expensive watches and showy jewelery were on open display. Yuppies were as obnoxious in China as anywhere else.
There was another division, as well. The auditorium in which Don Giova
Keeping watch on the main doors, he familiarized himself with the lobby’s layout, then climbed the stairs to the balcony level. Theater staff at the end of a velvet rope cordon examined tickets to make sure that only the wealthy gained access-and beyond them were a couple of heavyset, thick-necked men in di
He looked back down at the main entrance-and saw the people he had been waiting for.
Yuen swept into the lobby as if it were his own personal domain. Four men surrounded him in a protective square, tuxedoed hulks who could have been stamped from the same mold as the guards along the corridor. A few of the yuppies made moves as if hoping to get a personal audience, but glares from the goons deterred them.
Sophia followed a couple of steps behind her husband. She was wearing a long cheongsam in shimmering red silk, and even her hair had been pi
The group headed for the elevators at the back of the lobby. Chase made his way through the guests on the balcony level, also heading for the elevators.
The doors opened and the four bodyguards emerged to clear a space, followed by Yuen and then Sophia. Chase stepped forward. One of the goons moved to block him-
“Eddie!” Sophia cried.
Yuen froze, regarding him suspiciously. “Mr… Chase, isn’t it?” he said slowly. The bodyguard stepped back, allowing Chase to approach. “This is kinda unexpected.”
“I’m a huge opera fan,” Chase said. “Never miss a performance.”
Yuen’s suspicion deepened. “It’s a long way to come from New York.”
“I get around. But it turned out well, because it means I can apologize to your wife.” He turned to Sophia. “I was… rather rude to you the other night. I’m sorry about that.”
“Thank you,” she replied. “I know we had some problems in the past, but I wouldn’t want you to still be angry with me.”
“I’m not. So, where are you sitting?”
“Box number one,” Sophia told him. “Best seats in the house.”
“I’m down in the cheap seats, I’m afraid. Oh well, maybe we can meet up later.”
“We’ll be leaving as soon as the performance finishes,” Yuen said pointedly.
“That’s a shame. Some other time, then?”
“It’d be a really big coincidence if we met again.”
Yuen nodded slightly at one of his guards, who interposed himself between Chase and the group. “We have to take our seats. Enjoy the opera, Mr. Chase.”
“Nothing I like more. Oh, by the way, Sophia… nice shoes.”
She stopped, tipping her right shoe on its toe to show it off to him. “They are rather good, aren’t they?”
“Very high heels. What are they, five inches?” Sophia nodded. “They can’t be good for your feet. You really should take them off once you’re in your seat.”
“I didn’t realize you were a podiatrist, Mr. Chase,” said Yuen cuttingly. “Or are you more of a shoe fetishist?”
“Hey, they’re very handy when you need to get something off a high shelf.” Chase flashed him a grin. It wasn’t returned. “Anyway, nice to meet you again.”
“You too,” Sophia said quietly as she was led away.
From his seat on the auditorium’s main floor, Chase used his program to locate Yuen’s box. By hanging around in the lobby until just before the performance began, he had spotted two of the bodyguards who arrived with Yuen heading downstairs, apparently not opera fans. With luck that meant there were only two men in the box with Yuen and Sophia.
There were still the two goons in the corridor, but he was sure he could handle them when the time came.
It came roughly twenty minutes into the performance. He left his seat, earning a
That just left the two armed guards.
Chase peered around the corner. They were stationed almost directly outside the entrance to Yuen’s box. One leaned against the wall by a fire hose on a large reel, looking bored out of his mind, while the other fidgeted and ran a finger around his shirt collar. Chase knew the feeling.
He unfastened his di
Or rather, he staggered into view. The two guards straightened, watching him cautiously. As he got closer, he saw that both men had radios, coiled wires ru
“Ay up, lads!” Chase said in a loud, slurred voice as he approached. “Couldn’t ‘elp me out, could you? Think I’ve ‘ad a bit too much to drink, an’ I’ve got a bit lost. Lookin’ for the bogs, but all the signs are in Chinese!” He was only ten feet from them, six… “Can you point me int’ right direction?”