Read Online Black Karma by Thatcher Robinson - Free Book Online Page B

saw him?”
    â€œSeveral days ago.”
    â€œHas he called?”
    She shook her head, her expression suggesting she’d lost interest and patience with Bai’s questions.
    â€œWhen do you expect him back?”
    Wen smiled and shrugged while blowing smoke in Bai’s direction, a symbolic gesture that wordlessly ended the interrogation. Bai pulled a business card out of her pocket and handed it to the recalcitrant woman. “If you see or hear from him, give him my number. Tell him I can help.”
    â€œHelp with what?”
    â€œHe’ll know. Just tell him.”
    Wen looked at the card with indifference but put it into the pocket of her robe anyway.
    Bai started for the door then turned back on impulse. “Listen. I don’t want to scare you, but it seems Chen crossed some very bad people. If we could find this house, so can they. If you have someplace else to go, this would be a good time to be there. We can wait while you pack a bag to make sure you leave here safely. I’d feel better knowing you weren’t staying here by yourself.”
    Wen looked at Bai then at Lee, who nodded almost imperceptibly. The nod seemed to do the trick. She stood and walked into the back while they waited. When she came out a few minutes later she wore what was clearly very expensive designer clothing and carried two Louis Vuitton bags.
    â€œI’m ready,” she announced.
    Lee carried her bags and led the way. They walked down the stairs and out to her car, where he tossed Wen’s bags into the trunk and closed the lid.
    Wen hesitated. She looked Lee up and down with a calculating stare.
    â€œIf you change your mind, give me a call,” she said, pressing a card into his hand.
    â€œHow romantic,” Lee replied, palming the card.
    Frowning, Wen flopped herself into the driver’s seat, backed out of the drive a short ways, and spun the car around to drive up the hill before turning onto the road without a backward glance.
    â€œWhat do you make of that?” Bai asked.
    â€œSpoiled, rich, sexually promiscuous, and potentially dangerous. She wasn’t afraid when I held a gun on her. She seemed to be enjoying it. The only thing that frightened her was the thought of going public. She has something to hide.”
    â€œI was thinking the same thing. I got a couple of pictures of her with my phone while she was trying to seduce you. Did you manage to drop your phone into the trunk?”
    He smiled. “I liked that phone. It’s fully charged, so we can monitor her movements for the next week. Let me see the pictures. Did you get my good side?”
    â€œWhich side is your good side?”
    He smiled. “All of them.”

Chapter 9
    Bai monitored the GPS coordinates of Lee’s phone by using an application on her cell. The app provided the location of Wen’s car to within a few meters.
    â€œYou’ve got to love technology,” she said.
    They drove past the Emeryville exit on Highway 80 just north of the Bay Bridge. Moderately heavy traffic moved along at about forty miles an hour. A mist formed over the water of the bay. As they neared the bridge, blue sky turned gray.
    â€œWhere is she?” he asked.
    â€œAlmost over the bridge. Coming up on the city.”
    â€œAre we going to keep following her?”
    â€œThat depends on Miss Liu. Let’s follow her until we get some indication how far she’s going.”
    â€œDo you think she’ll lead us to Chen?”
    â€œWen is a woman with secrets. Daniel Chen is a man who also has secrets. I suspect some of those secrets are shared, but that’s just my gut feeling.” She looked down and tapped the screen on her handheld. “The map has stopped moving. It looks like she’s stopping at the Embarcadero.”
    â€œShe’s either shopping or decided to take up residence at the Grand.”
    A high-rise hotel known for its scenic bay views, the Grand at the