Page 31 of No Time Off (Lexi Carmichael Mystery #15)
THIRTY-ONE
Slash
I must have dozed off, because I snapped awake when I heard someone at the door. I stood, bracing myself against one of the walls, blinking as a guard yanked open the door and hauled me out by the arm. Another guard stood nearby, holding an automatic weapon.
I stumbled over the closet threshold, squinting at the light as I was shoved down the hall and back into the office where I’d hid the recorder and my phone. Another stroke of luck for me, although I couldn’t confirm whether they’d found them.
My eyes watered slightly, still adjusting from the cramped darkness of the closet. The parrot sat on its perch, and when it saw me, it flapped its wings and squawked as if offended by my presence.
I gave it a dirty look, but it just kept squawking until one of the guards snapped something to it in Chinese and it shut up.
They forced me into the same chair where I’d sat before, retied my hands behind my back, and waited. For what, I wasn’t sure. There were three people in the office now. My gaze flicked around, noting the positions of guards. The two that had yanked me from the closet were sporting tactical vests with Chinese characters embroidered on patches and wore the insignia of the local police. The other was dressed in a similar uniform, but without the vest. A supervisor, I suspected. All were armed. My gaze swept over the statue where I’d hid the recorder, but I did not linger on it. It appeared untouched since I’d hidden it, so that was encouraging. However, I knew better than to get my hopes up.
Two of the Chinese guys said something to each other and then looked at me, smirking. I kept my expression neutral. No need to antagonize them at this point.
Finally, I heard some noise in the hallway, and two men entered. Both were dressed in suits. I didn’t recognize the first man. He was tall and heavyset, probably the chief of staff, whose office we were in. When he moved aside, a Chinese man, impeccably dressed in a gray suit and tie that looked alien in the tropical humidity, walked into the office. Our eyes met, and a jolt of shock ran through both of us at the exact same moment.
To say I was surprised to see him would be an understatement, and clearly, he had the same reaction upon seeing me.
His eyes widened and time seemed to slow before he let out a low, disbelieving whistle. “Slash?” My name rolled off his lips in sheer incredulity. “Am I dreaming? What are you doing here? You’re the last person I expected to see in this godforsaken place.”
“Jiang Shi,” I murmured.
The Chinese hacker and I had a history. A long history. Shi had once run the Chinese government’s cybersecurity division until he went rogue, almost causing World War III with a computer virus. I’d tracked down Shi’s brother and gained valuable intel for the US government before he landed in a US prison, where he still sat today.
Shi had come after me for that, and several other things, but I’d caught on to his planning and had personally placed him in the crosshairs of both the Chinese and American governments. We had all worked together to bring him down. As far as I’d known, Shi had lost everything: his job, his credibility, and, eventually, his freedom. I’d presumed Shi was rotting away in a Beijing prison. So, to now find Shi at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, orchestrating a coup in the Cook Islands at the very location Lexi and I had chosen to celebrate our honeymoon, was more than just a surprise. It was mind-blowing. That little black cloud had now topped all its previous achievements.
Without taking his gaze off my face, Shi reached into the pocket of his suit and pulled out a small silver coin and started twirling it between his fingers. I recognized the twirling as an old habit from our past encounters, a tic that revealed how Shi channeled his psychotic mind and restless focus. I had seen him spin a coin in endless loops on screens, cameras, and in person. I took note of the deep lines on his face and the subtle bitterness etched into them. That bitterness had grown even deeper since the last time I’d seen him—no surprise.
The tension in the room tightened as the silence stretched on. Everyone seemed to sense it. I was acutely aware of the shifting stances of the guards flanking me, their weapons poised but not exactly aimed, waiting for a command from Shi.
It finally came.
“Get out,” he growled at the guards and then repeated it in Chinese when no one moved. “Now!” The guards, looking slightly bewildered, snapped to attention and then left the room. The chief of staff lingered, clearly wondering if the order applied to him as well. The look Shi gave him provided him all the clarity he needed, and he exited quickly, pulling the door shut behind him.
Once they were gone, Shi rubbed the coin between his palms and let it spin between his fingers again. “I can’t believe you’re actually here,” he said, his voice quiet but laced with undisguised hatred. “I’ve dreamed of facing you again a million times. Followed your every move. But having you show up in the Cook Islands at the very moment of my comeback?” He paused with exaggerated drama. “It’s almost poetic. No, it’s fate.”
“There’s nothing poetic about it all, Shi,” I replied, my tone measured. “It’s just me being a step ahead of you once again.”
That hit a nerve. Shi bobbled the coin and then squeezed it tight in his fist. But I could see the worry and alarm on his face even as he tried to play it off. “There is no way you knew about this in advance,” he insisted. “This is coincidence. Fate.”
True, but better to keep him second-guessing. I needed him to believe we knew everything in advance and this was all part of the plan.
“Sure,” I said lightly. “You believe in whatever you want. I’m happy to lend an ear. Got anything you want to confess?”
“Confess?” Shi flashed a thin, joyless smile. “Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? Proof that somehow China engineered this coup. A reason for the US to step in, all noble and righteous. But you see, I know how you Americans do things. If your government has plausible deniability, they’ll turn a blind eye. Weak.” Shi paused, then added, “But if they had hard proof…that would be an entirely different story, wouldn’t it?”
“What proof do I need?” I asked calmly. “China’s actions already speak for themselves. No customs clearance and full authority on the island regarding your so-called law enforcement activities and the movement of Chinese citizens. The amount of money laundering, illegal weapons, drug trading, and intelligence activity flowing through the islands is certainly impressive.”
Shi laughed. “It bothers you, doesn’t it? That you prostrate yourself for meager pay in service to a government that doesn’t appreciate or see the value in your work. While here I am, effortlessly advancing China’s geopolitical influence and domination of the area, and I barely lift a finger. These poor, fourth-rate countries are so desperate, they beg us for money and recognition and, in turn, are willing to sell their sovereignty for a dime. Pathetic.”
“Oh, I’m sure the lucrative cut you’re getting makes things all better.”
That amused him. “Jealous, I see. You know nothing of what I get. I’m the richest I’ve ever been. I make money three ways, only one of which the Chinese government is aware of.”
I goaded him further. “Let me guess, you charge Chinese businessmen who want to move money or goods a particular fee for permitting them to do business on—or should I say, through—the islands.”
“You underestimate me,” Shi said. “Not only do I require an operating fee, but I get a percentage of the profits. Tariffs are a real thing these days, and my services helping them get around those sanctions and tariffs are invaluable. Furthermore, it’s not just moving money. I have many, shall we say, clients, who wish to have a secure location to place funds where they are free from the eyes of prying governments. I have a special arrangement with some bankers here, and I connect them with customers and money and charge them both a fee for my services and, of course, my discretion.”
There was a disturbance in the hall—two men arguing. The door suddenly opened and in strolled Liko Maivia. I recognized him from the photo Manny had showed us earlier. He was wearing a crisp suit and pressed a handkerchief to his sweating brow. But my eyes were immediately drawn to the sparkling coat of arms pin he wore on his lapel. The same pin Petra had showed us the night of the dinner, which was passed on by tradition, from prime minister to prime minister. Maivia had already co-opted it. The audacity of the man should have surprised me, but it didn’t.
Maivia looked at me in shock, his eyes widening, before he sidled up to Jiang Shi.
Shi was visibly annoyed but plastered a fake smile on his face as he greeted Maivia. “Greetings, Prime Minister. What brings you here?”
Maivia didn’t answer. “You know who this is, right?” he fumed, pointing at me. “He’s the guy who stopped the assassination attempt on Askari. He must be working with her. He’s an American and he’s trouble. Everything is going wrong, and that’s why I called you here.”
The prime minister and Manny had been right about Maivia. He was a simpering man put in power by Chinese influence—egotistical and easy to manipulate. He was nothing more than a veneer to maintain the illusion of a local, organic power grab, while in reality, Beijing was tightening its grip on the islands.
Maivia caught my eye, and I glared at him, wondering if he were susceptible to intimidation. I shouldn’t have wondered. He immediately lowered his gaze, revealing a trace of fear. He fiddled nervously with his handkerchief, staying well out of my range despite the fact I was tied to a chair.
But his revelation had shocked Shi. “ This is the man that stopped the assassination?” Shi asked, as if he hadn’t heard him right. “Him?” He pointed at me, apparently to ensure they were on the same page.
“Yes, him,” Maivia said irritably. “I told you we had trouble and?—”
“Shut up,” Shi said, abruptly standing up and pressing his hands to the sides of his head. “Why wasn’t I notified of this at once? I need to think.”
Maivia obliged, shifting his weight from one foot to the other anxiously, his gaze flickering between me and Shi. “I did notify you right away,” he said defensively.
Shi ignored him, lost in thought. Finally, he spoke. “What was he doing in the compound? Where was he caught?”
“The guards say they caught him here, right in this office. The parrot gave him up. They swept for bugs and searched the entire first floor but didn’t find anything or catch anyone else.”
“He had nothing on him?”
Maivia shrugged. “Just a knife and a lockpicking kit. Maybe he was looking for documents or something. You don’t have any incriminating documents about me…do you?” He suddenly looked worried.
Shi again ignored him and examined me thoughtfully. “Was there anyone else with him? Not here at the compound, but on the island. A friend, a group?”
Maivia shrugged. “Just a woman.”
My stomach tightened, but I kept my expression blank as Shi turned toward me, his dark eyes narrowing. “A woman, you say?”
“Yes, a woman,” Maivia repeated annoyed. “A girlfriend, wife, mistress. I don’t know or care. What are we going to do about him and how are we going to find the prime minister? She’s still missing. He probably knows where she is. We should torture him to find out.”
A smug grin curled on Shi’s lips as he stared at me. “Oh, don’t worry, I have plans for him. Specific plans. Plans I will enjoy implementing.”
“But what about the prime minister?” Maivia asked, his voice turning into a whine. “We need to find her. I want her gone. We can’t have the old government regrouping. We need to get rid of her once and for all.”
Shi tore his gaze away from mine to address Maivia. I could see him visibly struggle to keep his temper from flaring. “Relax. The real prime minister has no power here anymore. We have taken care of that. But if you’re wondering, we’ll find her. It’s just a matter of time.” He glanced back at me, his eyes cold. “And while we’re at it, we’ll find anyone who is helping him.”
The threat was implicit in his gaze, and I had to relax my fingers to keep them from tightening into fists behind my back.
“Tell the guards to spread their search for the prime minister to the outer islands. She may have avoided our searches by relocating there. Use your loyalists there to search every possible hiding spot. No one leaves or enters the islands without our permission. If found, bring the prime minister to me—alive. The same goes for the woman who was with him.” He pointed at me. “Get information on her from the customs office and plaster her face on posters everywhere. Say she’s a terrorist wanted for questioning about the assassination attempt on the former prime minister. Anyone who turns her in gets a reward. Add a photo of him, too. Maybe we can get some useful information as to who else might be here with him and what they are doing. Make sure the public knows they are terrorists—the both of them.”
Maivia seemed confused by the request. “This will help us find the prime minister?”
“It will. Everyone else can be collateral damage, for all I care.” He let his gaze linger on me a moment longer before he turned to Maivia and flashed a feral smile. “See? We have everything in hand.”
Maivia swallowed nervously, nodding his head. “Well, what about him? We can’t just let him sit here and not help us find her.”
“He’s mine,” Shi snapped with such ferocity that Maivia stepped backward, looking stunned. Then, realizing how badly he’d lost his composure, Shi tried to speak more calmly.
“What I mean is, don’t worry about him. I intend to extract him personally from the Cook Islands tomorrow afternoon, and you won’t have to worry about him any longer. I’ll take him to China—to an undisclosed location. One of our more discreet facilities. He’ll be…cooperative, given enough time. I’d like to have the woman, too, but he leaves with me tomorrow. I can come back for her, as needed.”
I knew exactly what Beijing would do if given an asset as valuable as me—a man with a deep well of intelligence connections and top knowledge of US cyberwarfare. I’d be tortured until I gave them everything. That was unlikely to happen, though, as the little chip in my body would be activated to prevent just that. By that point, I was certain I’d welcome it.
But I had no intention of letting that happen.
Shi turned his attention back to me, thinking. He spun the coin faster, a metallic blur between his fingers. “Anything you’d like to say to me? Because once we’re on that plane, you won’t have another chance. I might even cripple those hands you rely on so much for hacking.”
Maivia blanched and dropped his gaze, clearly uncomfortable at the sudden turn in the conversation. He spoke a good game about torture, but clearly, he didn’t have the stomach for it.
Shi, too, seemed to sense Maivia’s uneasiness, so he waved a hand at the man. “Leave us. He and I have unfinished business to discuss. Ask Chen, my chief of staff, to get my plane ready to leave tomorrow afternoon. Then find the prime minister you’re still so worried about for some reason. If you can’t or won’t do that, then perhaps I’ll find a new prime minister who can. I want the woman who was with him.” He pointed at Slash. “I’m delaying my flight a few hours, until tomorrow afternoon, so you have time to find and bring her to me.”
“But he can tell us where the prime minister is right now,” Maivia whined.
“She’ll be ours if you do your job and find her,” Shi snapped. “In fact, it would best for you to have forgotten you’ve ever seen this man. Do I make myself clear? For now, do as I say.”
Maivia clamped his mouth shut and then nodded. “Fine.” He turned and left the room, closing the door behind him, clearly unhappy his concerns had not been taken more seriously.
If it wasn’t clear who was running this show before, it certainly was now. Every word, every piece of evidence was ammunition in our arsenal. If Lexi and Manny could hear this, it would make a strong case Beijing was behind this entire operation, justifying international intervention.
But I still needed more.
I forced a grin. “You haven’t changed at all, Shi. Corruption. Threats. Torture. Revenge. It’s all so pedestrian. Still bitter over what happened to your brother?”
Shi whirled around, anger flashing. “My brother? You think this is about my brother? He’s a traitor. He gave up information instead of taking an honorable death. Oh, I’m bitter, all right, but I assure you, that only scratches the surface. You ruined my life, and you’re going to pay for it in ways you never imagined.”
“Apparently, I didn’t ruin it enough,” I replied casually. “I imagined you rotting in a despicable Chinese prison, but instead, your superiors sent you here to the Cook Islands to infiltrate from the inside, using police assistance as a front to launch a coup and install a puppet government answerable only to Beijing. Busy boy. What other grunt work are you involved in these days? It’s been such a long fall from the golden keyboard, hasn’t it, Shi?”
Shi scoffed. “You know nothing. My life is more complicated than you can imagine. Yes, you cost me my status in China and my position in the ministry. They downgraded my clearance, banned me from cutting-edge projects, and kicked me over here to oversee the political and economic capture of several of these miserable island countries. We’re just a little farther along here than in others, but despite the lack of faith in my abilities back in China, I’m now calling the shots behind the scenes in four countries now. These countries think they’re independent, but I’m their opium dealer. Except instead of drugs, I offer money and resources. They’re all addicted. All I ask for is support from them at the appropriate times. Soon, the South Pacific will be a Chinese protectorate. I intend to make my way back to the top once they see my success.” He tapped his temple with his finger. “And now, thanks to the kindness of fate, my life has gotten so much sweeter.”
Shi stepped closer to me, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I’m going to find her, you know. And trust me, your worst torture will not be physical.”
It took every ounce of my considerable training and mental fortitude to keep my expression and body relaxed. I imagined every scenario where I jumped out of this chair and snapped his neck, but the bindings around my arms held tight, and rage wouldn’t get me what I wanted.
Shi laughed, not fooled by my calm demeanor. The metal coin spun in the air once more, a flicker of silver passing between his knuckles. He caught the coin between his index and middle fingers with a flourish. “You know, I do this to remind myself that life is just like this coin. It spins, it shifts, and you never know which side will show up. Today, I’m in the Cook Islands. Tomorrow evening, I’ll be back in Beijing, a hero leading you in chains. Oh, fate is a such sweet and fickle woman. And today, she absolutely favors me.”
When I didn’t respond, Shi called out and the guards reentered the office. I didn’t know what he said to them in Chinese, but they eyed me warily and their hands rested on their weapons.
One of the Chinese guys grabbed my arm roughly. I didn’t resist. I let myself be turned around, sparing a fleeting, final glance at the statue with the recorder on the desk.
I hope you’re listening.
If the phone connection was still live, if Manny had escaped, and if Lexi was listening, there was enough evidence to blow this whole operation wide-open. But I couldn’t depend on that. I needed to get out of the compound and find a way to escape. But how? Armed guards, a locked combination door, and the entire compound on high alert. All created a formidable barrier, and my time was running out.
Back in the cramped closet, the stale, humid air weighed on my lungs. This time, they didn’t untie me, and the tight bonds were making my hands numb from the lack of circulation, so I sank back against the wall. I could not be on that plane tomorrow. I had to come up with something. Whether that involved covert cunning or a risky confrontation, I didn’t know. I just knew under no circumstances could I board that plane.
I took a few measured breaths, trying to center myself. I imagined the world outside—the real prime minister in hiding, waiting for a miracle; the puppet government tightening its grip on power day by day; the Cook Islands’ future held hostage by China’s ambition. And somewhere out there, Lexi was in extreme danger.
If the US wouldn’t interfere without proof, and if Lexi had been listening and was able to get the transmission out to the US government, I had just delivered a treasure trove of evidence, straight from Jiang Shi’s mouth. Still, there were a lot of ifs, and I didn’t like depending on others to get me out of tough situations.
In less than twenty-four hours, noon would come, and with it, the plane. I made a silent vow. No matter what, I would stop Shi. Because if fate had, indeed, brought us together again, Shi had it wrong. It was for a greater, more noble purpose.
To right a wrong.
Jiang Shi had to lose everything, for good, and I would do whatever it took to ensure that coin landed on the side of justice.