A Loyal Character Dancer

been zoned as a parking lot for the club.”
     
    “If it’s a matter of a zoning problem, I can give them a call. Perhaps you may not know that I served as the acting director of Traffic Control last year.”
     
    “Really, Director Chen!”
     
    “Now about the gang—from Fujian.” Chen put down the cup and looked Gu in the eyes. “Does that ring a bell?”
     
    “A Fujian triad. I don’t know. Oh, now I remember something else. Someone came to me yesterday. Not from Fujian, but from Hong Kong. A certain Mr. Diao. And he asked me if I had hired anyone from Fujian. A woman in her mid-thirties, three or four months pregnant. That’s so unlikely. Most of the girls working here are under twenty-five, and we have more good-looking young women applying than we can hire, let alone a pregnant one.”
     
    “Did Mr. Diao give you any description of the woman he was looking for?”
     
    “Let me think.” Gu said. “Not particularly nice looking. Sallow, wrinkled, a lot of sadness in her eyes. A woman who looked like a Fujian farmer.”
     
    “Are you sure that Mr. Diao’s not a gangster?”
     
    “I don’t think so. He would have stated his organization and rank when he introduced himself.” Gu added, belatedly, “And he would not have come to me if he were a gangster.”
     
    “Your club is not a likely place to find such a woman. Mr. Diao must have known better.” Chen said. “Why did he come here?”
     
    “I don’t know. He must have been desperate, bumping everywhere like a headless fly.”
     
    “Do you know where he is staying?”
     
    “He did not leave his address or phone number. He said he might check back.”
     
    “If he does, find out where he can be found and give me a call.” Chen had written his cellular phone number on the back of his card. “Any time.”
     
    “I’ll do that, Chief Inspector Chen. Anything else?”
     
    “Well, another thing,” Chen said. Gu seemed to be quite cooperative now that he had played the bargaining chip of the parking lot. The chief inspector decided to push his luck a little further. “A body was discovered in Bund Park a few days ago. Possibly a triad killing. There were many ax wounds to the body. Have you heard anything about it?”
     
    “I think I read about it in the Xinming Evening Newspaper.”
     
    “The victim could have been murdered in a hotel room, or in a place like yours.”
     
    “You cannot be serious, Chief Inspector Chen.”
     
    “I’m not saying it happened here, General Manager Gu. I make no accusation. But you are well-informed and move in the right circles. The Dynasty is the number-one karaoke club in Shanghai,” Chen said, patting Gu’s shoulder. “Some clubs or other places stay open all night, and they do not do a proper business like yours. The victim was in his pajamas, having just had sex. You see, I’m giving you all the details, in confidence.”
     
    “I appreciate your trust, Chief Inspector Chen. I will try my best to find out for you.”
     
    “Thank you, General Manager Gu. As it is said, ‘Some people can never understand each other all their lives, not even when they are white-haired, but some do the moment they take off their hats.’” Chen rose to his feet. “I’m glad that we have met today. Now I have to leave. Please give me the bill.”
     
    “If you consider me a friend, don’t talk about payment. I cannot bear to lose face like that.”
     
    “Oh no, you cannot let him lose face, Chief Inspector Chen,” Catherine said.
     
    “Here are two VIP cards,” Gu said. “One for you, one for your beautiful American girlfriend. You must come back again.”
     
    “Of course we will.” Catherine smiled, taking Chen’s arm as they walked out.
     
    This was a carefully calculated message for Gu: Chief Inspector Chen had his weaknesses. She did not let go of his arm until they lost themselves in the crowd. They did not start talking until they got back to the car.
     
    The Flying Axes were looking for Wen, not only in the Fujian area, but elsewhere, desperately, “Bumping everywhere like a headless fly—” just as they were. By April twenty-fourth, however, failure to locate Wen would be a success for the gangsters.
     
    * * * *
     

Chapter 15
     
     
    I
    t was not until they came in sight of the hotel that he remembered, “Oh, the dinner I promised you. I’ve forgotten all about it, Inspector Rohn.”
     
    “It’s just five o’clock. I’m not hungry yet.”
     
    “What