Golden Lies - Barbara Freethy [66]
"I could ask you the same thing," she retorted.
"We'd like to speak to Benjamin Fong," Paige said, giving Ben a questioning look.
"That would be me," Ben replied. "You're Paige Hathaway, aren't you?"
"Yes, and this is Riley McAllister. We'd like to speak to you about the article you wrote regarding the dragon belonging to Mr. McAllister."
"It seems that many people are interested in that story. Do you all know each other?" Ben asked, his gaze moving back to Alyssa.
"We've met," Alyssa said shortly. "They spoke to my mother earlier. You know she has sold several of her paintings to the House of Hathaway."
"What do you want to know?" Ben asked.
"Paige and I have read about a legend involving two dragons, a box, and a flute," Riley said. "Have you heard of such a thing?"
Alyssa started. This was the first she'd heard that there might be two dragons. Or a box. Or a flute for that matter. She glanced over at Ben and saw a spark of excitement flash in his black eyes.
"I know the story," Ben replied. "It is believed that an emperor had the box and dragons made out of bronze to protect a flute that his daughter, the first daughter of his second wife, found in the woods. When the daughter played the flute for her father, his violent headaches would ease. He was so happy that he treated the daughter like a princess and her mother like a queen. The first wife, however, did not like the change in status. She had a son who was meant to be emperor, but now there was talk of this girl becoming an empress. In a fit of rage, she stole the dragons and the box. With the flute gone, the father's headaches returned. In a violent frenzy, he had his daughter killed for losing the flute and swore a curse on all first daughters of anyone who should touch the dragons or the box or the precious flute."
"That's very similar to the story we read," Paige said. "Do you know if the pieces ever resurfaced since the origin of the legend and the curse?"
"I believe there have been several sightings of the pieces, whether as a unit or individually I'm not sure. However, the age of the bronze alone would make it of great value today. Of course, if all three pieces of the unit were together, it would be even more valuable. Where did your grandmother get her dragon, Mr. McAllister?"
"She has no idea, unfortunately. She found it in the attic."
"Too bad. It would be easier to trace." Ben paused. "If there was a curse on the dragon, it might have affected your grandmother."
"I don't believe in curses," Riley said sharply.
"You might want to rethink that," Ben said. "To not understand the power of the past is to be a fool."
"Is that a Chinese saying?" Riley asked.
"No, it's good advice." Ben checked his watch. "I'm afraid I have a meeting."
"Thank you for your time," Paige said. "If you think of anything else, please call me." She took out a business card and handed it to Ben.
Alyssa lingered behind as Paige and Riley left.
"I guess I don't need dinner after all," she said. "Interesting story. You could have shared that with me when I asked."
He smiled. "I needed a bargaining chip so you'd come to dinner. We haven't seen each other in a long time. I'd like a chance to get reacquainted." He paused. "If you give me a few hours, I'm sure I can find out something else about the dragon."
"That sounds like bribery."
"Whatever it takes."
She hesitated, then said, "All right. I'll come to dinner."
"Good. I'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about— including how you know Paige Hathaway and why you're both interested in a dragon statue from thousands of years ago."
* * *
"I can't believe Alyssa came here, too," Paige said to Riley as they waited in the hall for Alyssa to emerge from the newspaper office. "She obviously knows Benjamin Fong."
"Yes, she does," Riley mused. "There are a lot of players getting in this game."
"It's not a game."
"I think it might be," he said.
"You think everyone is conspiring against you. That's called paranoia."
"That's called being