Donovans 02 - Jade Island

number one mistress is the sister of a Red Phoenix overlord.”
    Lianne remembered the composed, intelligent woman who had acted as unofficial hostess for the Tang post-auction party. “No wonder he could afford that bracelet for her.”
    “You noticed that, too?” Kyle asked dryly. “That central ruby must have been twenty carats.” He turned backto Archer. “Red Phoenix again, huh? Those boys sure do get around.”
    “In the U.S. they do. They’re Uncle’s number one Asian headache.”
    Lianne set aside her coffee mug and focused on Archer. “So you believe that Johnny wanted me to pick up Kyle in order for the Tang family—and thus the Red Phoenix—to find a way into Donovan International?”
    “You have a better idea?” Archer asked calmly.
    “Not at the moment. But why would it be so urgent? Johnny was almost frightened the night of the auction. He said I had to meet Kyle before he and my mother went to Tahiti.”
    “Ask Johnny when he gets back,” Archer suggested.
    “What makes you think he’ll be speaking to me?”
    “He’s your father,” Kyle said, surprised.
    “He’s my mother’s paramour,” Lianne said coolly. “There’s a difference. A big one. In any case, Johnny is a Tang. First, last, always.”
    “Why—” Archer began.
    “I believe it’s my turn,” Lianne interrupted. “The government wanted Kyle to infiltrate the Tang family. Why?”
    Kyle started to answer, then fell silent. He could always start talking if Archer didn’t tell enough of the truth. Until then, Lianne seemed to do better with Archer.
    That didn’t make Kyle happy, but there wasn’t much he could do about it until he got Lianne alone again. First he would get her naked and wrapped around him. Then he would try reason. If reason didn’t work, he could always go back to a more hands-on approach.
    “The U.S. government believes that the Tang family brokered the sale of the Jade Emperor’s Tomb,” Archer said.
    Lianne opened her mouth, found nothing to say, and closed her mouth.
    “No comment?” Archer asked.
    “I’m…stunned,” she said simply. “How would the Tangs get their hands on such a treasure trove? Theyhaven’t been powerful in mainland China for almost seventy years.”
    “The triads are,” Archer said bluntly. “Red Phoenix, for example. Ever since China decided to try a semi-Socialist version of capitalism, Red Phoenix has gotten very, very wealthy on extortion, gambling, sex, and drugs. SunCo has made several billion dollars on money laundering alone. The Tang Consortium hasn’t done as well. Wen isn’t into gambling and has a moral aversion to drugs. He prefers straight import-export deals, influence peddling, immigrant smuggling, brand-name pirating for the folks back at home, and extortion.”
    Lianne let out a long breath. “If what you say is true, you know more about the Tang Consortium than I do.”
    “How do you see the consortium?” Kyle asked.
    “All I know is that the Tangs have international business deals ranging from realty to trade goods to banks. Jade is more a passion for the consortium than a profit center.”
    “Are you saying that you’ve heard nothing about the Jade Emperor from the Tangs?” Archer demanded.
    “Yes.”
    Archer muttered something under his breath and looked out at the awakening land. It was that magic time when the sky was new, radiant, and lights glittered like gemstones against the black satin body of the city.
    “Whether or not you believe me, it’s true,” Lianne said. “I’ve heard speculation about the Jade Emperor, but not from the Tangs.”
    “Odd, isn’t it?” Kyle asked. “Wen should have been fascinated by the idea.”
    “When the rumor mill started heating up a few months ago, I talked to Wen about it.”
    “What did he say?”
    “That he was too old to believe in fairy tales. When I tried to pursue it, he was impatient. He said I had much to learn, he didn’t have much time left to give me, andwe should spend it on jades we could touch instead of setting snares for a phoenix.”
    “What about Johnny?” Archer asked. “What did he think about the Jade Emperor?”
    “He knows less about jade than you do. Finance is his passion. Numbers and deals, buildings and banks. The only Tang who is interested in jade is Daniel.”
    “Your half brother?” Kyle asked.
    “Johnny’s son.” Lianne’s voice was clipped. “He has become Wen’s apprentice.”
    “Shoving you out?” Archer asked.
    “No shoving