Страница 14 из 14
Ma
They parked up in his space outside his tower block and walked to the entrance. ‘Fuck it – they’ve just changed the code,’ he said to Ng, who was patient as ever. ‘I’ve forgotten what it is.’ He waved at the security guard. The old man behind the desk gri
‘Hello, sir. You forget your number? No problem,’ he said, letting them through the gate. ‘Your cleaner was here earlier, sir.’
‘My cleaner?’ Ma
They took the lift up to the fortieth floor.
‘Jesus, what kind of cleaner is she?’ Ng stood in the doorway. ‘This place looks like a student’s bedroom and it smells like a brewery.’ He stood amidst the remnants of meals left untouched and copious amounts of empty bottles. The louvre blinds were closed, the air in the room was dark and rank. Ng stepped over the piles of papers and document folders mixed up with the mess. He stood in the middle of the small lounge and surveyed the carnage.
‘What’s going on, Genghis?’ Ng had called Ma
Ma
Ng went to snatch the packet away. ‘You quit, remember?’ But a look from Ma
Ma
‘What are these papers?’
‘These are my father’s life.’
Ng looked around at the mountains of paperwork. ‘All this?’
Ma
‘What about that pile?’ Ng turned and pointed to a pile left just behind the door of the flat.
Ma
Chapter 18
Ma
Ma
Ma
He took the lift up to the top floor, the private landing. He showed his ID. He walked on past the bowing hostess, her cheongsam in CK’s colours: black and gold. CK was well known at Happy Valley. He had invested big money in horses. It was a great way to launder money. The private viewing room was in the centre of the stadium, prime position to look down on the races below.
‘Good evening, Inspector. Thank you for accepting my invitation to meet here. The first race of the season is always the most exciting.’ CK stepped forward to greet him. ‘People have contained their eagerness for two months, not a small feat in Hong Kong. I see you have already placed your bet.’ He pointed to the slip in Ma
‘Yes. Have you got one ru
‘Asian Gold.’
Ma
CK acknowledged Ma
‘And you, Inspector?’ He looked at Ma
Ma
‘Walk with me.’ CK led Ma
The track was lit up like day. The thunder of hooves echoed around the auditorium. The screams of the people became one massive roar. Last Chance was coming up on the outside. Asian Gold was hanging on to first place. The jockey’s whip was flying around its head. A huge scream of dismay went up in unison, a gasp of disbelief. Asian Gold had fallen. Last Chance was in second place. He was gaining on the lead. His head nosed in front. He was ten metres away from the finishing line. He was a nose ahead when he seemed to slow just before he hit the line. He came second. The crowd’s roar dropped to a rumbling silence as they stood and watched the team of vets and medics run across to where Asian Gold lay. The jockey was up and on his feet. There was a few minutes’ wait and then the sound of a shot echoed through the auditorium.
‘I’m sorry,’ Ma
‘One more beautiful creature lost to this world. But I must also apologize. The jockey on Last Chance is one that I bought some time ago. He held him back at the end.’ He turned to Ma
The balcony door opened. The jockey who had ridden Asian Gold stood before them, still looking shaky from his ordeal. He was holding his arm. He had hurt himself in the fall. From below came the strange sound of sadness as Asian Gold’s carcass was winched up and onto the back of a transporter.
‘But first I would ask you to excuse me for a few minutes.’
The slight Irish jockey stood with his head bowed. The elfin-faced hostess appeared to escort Ma
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Полная версия книги есть на сайте ЛитРес.