Read Online The Scratch on the Ming Vase by Caroline Stellings - Free Book Online Page A

either.”
    â€œThinking about your uncle?”
    â€œHe goes through my mind all the time. I put in another call to the Massachusetts state police today, but they can’t tell me anything. Or won’t.” T’ai stood up. “I think I’ll get a soda. What can I get you?”
    â€œSparkling water would be great, thanks.”
    Nicki looked around while T’ai was gone. Circling the club, she scanned everyone on the dance floor and at the tables.
    She watched as Mac and Margo moved across the floor. Dancing and talking, they were oblivious to the fact that they were being watched. And not only by Nicki.
    Just outside the washrooms, two young men in black leather never took their eyes off Mac. And across from them, in an alcove near the fire exit, stood an older man, watching everything from behind dark sunglasses. He didn’t remove them until Mac and Margo left the floor.
    Peter Byron!
    Nicki returned to the table.
    â€œWhere were you?” asked Margo. “And why aren’t you dancing?” She waved to some friends of hers across the aisle.
    T’ai came back, carrying the drinks. He passed Nicki her water.
    â€œAren’t you going to ask Yin to dance?” Margo gave T’ai a nudge.
    â€œI did.” He sat down. “Anyway, who wants to compete with you two?”
    â€œWhere did Mac go?” Nicki asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” said Margo. “He was here a minute ago.”
    She twisted around and saw him talking with the disc jockey.
    â€œJust a second,” she said, and headed there herself.
    â€œT’ai,” said Nicki, “I saw Byron.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œI’m sure it was him.”
    â€œWhy would he be hanging out here, I wonder.”
    â€œI don’t know, but”—she looked up and over T’ai’s head—“here he comes.”
    â€œMay I join you?”
    â€œSure.” T’ai pushed out a chair with his foot.
    â€œMac here?” asked Byron.
    â€œYes,” said Nicki. But you already knew that .
    â€œHe’s requesting a song,” said T’ai, pointing to Mac and Margo. “Here he comes now.”
    â€œYou guys are no fun,” said Margo. “Who can resist this one?” she asked, while “I Will Survive” blasted across the club.
    â€œYour selection, Mac?” asked T’ai caustically. Mac ignored him and swung past the table with Margo in tow.
    Nicki followed Byron’s gaze to the washroom, and to the two guys in black leather. One of them, who appeared to be Chinese, pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and handed it to the other, a blond, who left the room to make a call.
    â€œFriends of yours?” asked Nicki.
    Byron didn’t reply.
    The blond returned, signaled the other guy, and the two bounced onto the dance floor and headed straight for Mac.
    Byron jumped up.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” asked T’ai.
    The two guys grabbed Mac and dragged him to the fire exit door. Margo stood in horror as one of them pulled out a knife and forced Mac outside.
    Nicki ran after them.
    They threw Mac against the wall.
    â€œCome on, Quon,” said Mac. “Give me another couple of days.”
    â€œYour time’s up, pal,” said Quon. “Pay me now, or you’re history. Understand?” He punched Mac in the face. “Your turn, Phil,” he said with a smirk.
    Phil held the knife under Mac’s neck, then kneed him hard in the stomach. Mac fell to the ground. Quon picked him up and punched him again. “You’re all out of options, MacDonald. Give me the money or we’ll use the blade.”
    â€œDon’t even think about it.” Nicki deftly kicked the knife out of Phil’s hand, then shoved it with her foot so it slid underneath a parked van. “Let him go.”
    Quon laughed. “Why should I?”
    Before Nicki could reply, the fire exit door flew open and two bouncers muscled