Read Online The Typhoon Lover by Sujata Massey - Free Book Online Page B

see you again, will you?”
    “I left it at the security desk in a bag with your name on it.” There was no way I would trust that pen anywhere in my household. It could be a camera or another bug or even a weapon.
    “Well, then, thank you very much.” Michael sounded almost amused. “By the way, Elizabeth told me you had a very productive time.”
    “It was productive, but not quite enough.”
    “What do you mean?”
    I explained that I wanted to examine more ceramics from that time period, at other museums. In each place, I’d need hands-on access, and a curator to help me.
    He paused after I’d told him what I wanted. Then he said, “Do you have a few museums in mind?”
    I told him the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, the Metropolitan in New York, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I’d done research at these museums before, and they were all within a few hours of Washington.
    “All right,” Michael said when I was done, “I’ll fund your travel to those places. But first, let me contact each museum with a plausible story, and we’ll have some business cards made up for you. But it’s got to be done quickly, since our goal is to have you out to Tokyo by the end of next week.”
    “I still don’t know if I can take the job,” I said. “Aside from learning more about ceramics, I have to be sure that Hugh is comfortable with my going.”
    “What, you have to ask his permission?” Michael sounded impatient.
    “I didn’t say I needed permission. But he’s never taken a job that I didn’t want him to do—”
    “What about Edinburgh?” Michael Hendricks said. “He went back there, supposedly to help draft the new Scottish constitution, and he wound up with Lady Fiona.”
    “It was a brief engagement, which he terminated,” I finished. “So, it seems like you examined news clippings from the Tatler party page. Why didn’t you include them in the slide show for everyone’s amusement?”
    “It wasn’t pertinent, just as I think the exact nature of your work for your government isn’t pertinent knowledge for Hugh. It’s enough for him to know that the Smithsonian is sending you to look into buying some Japanese ceramics.”
    I hung up, thinking that Michael didn’t know about Hugh’s instinct for sensing trouble. Even though Hugh was sick, he was still sharp.
     
    “What’s the crisis?” Hugh asked when I called him at work—something I very rarely did.
    “I wanted to see if you’re feeling better,” I said.
    “I’m hanging in,” Hugh said. “But I’m swamped with work. I don’t think I’ll make it home till late tonight. Sorry.”
    “Don’t apologize to me,” I said. “It’s more of a shame for you, trying to recover, and your brother in town for just a few more days—”
    “Angus and I already said our good-byes. He’s heading off for Philadelphia today, remember?”
    “Oh. I’d forgotten. Well, anyway, when you get home, maybe we can go out for a quick bite. There’s something we need to talk about.”
    “Over food? Have you forgotten the state I’m in?” Hugh laughed weakly.
    “No, it’s just that…I would rather get out of the apartment to talk to you, that’s all. It doesn’t have to be a restaurant, it could be a coffee bar—”
    “That place around the corner closes by six, and I doubt I’ll be through till ten. I’d rather just see you at home.”
    “What are you doing for dinner, if you’re staying so late at work?”
    “I thought I’d pick up a takeaway soup, if I can find a delicatessen that’s open after six. Downtown is pretty dead at that hour, so it might not be worth the walk.”
    “Let me bring you food,” I said. “It’ll save you time.”
    I must have worn Hugh down, because he reluctantly agreed. We made plans for my arrival bearing tom yum goong in three hours’ time. In the meantime, I went home and told Chika that we were going out to eat at my favorite Thai restaurant and that afterward, while she packed her suitcase for