Kiss & Die - Lee Weeks [94]
She smiled at him and Mann could see that the sun had already brought a golden glow to her face.
‘So what’s it to be?’
Mann looked down as the sea turned turquoise in the shallow waters and folded along the shore.
‘Your beach to leave alone, unspoilt, untouched for whatever reason you choose or you can leave me to build my beach resort. It’s up to you. You have the power in your hands to build a better Hong Kong, a better world.’ She laughed. ‘But only with me, of course.’
Chapter 70
It was late by the time Mann got dropped off back at Headquarters. Mia was waiting for him.
‘What is it?’ he asked.
‘A man’s head has been dredged up by some fishermen. It has been in the water a few months. They’ve pulled it up at Aberdeen. I need you back on the job now.’
‘Caucasian?’
‘We don’t know – there’s not much of it left.’
Mann was already out of the door.
‘Do the fishermen have the exact co-ordinates where they found it?’ Mann and Mia were speeding along the road on their way to the scene.
‘No, only a rough position.’
‘Are we positive it’s not Max Kosmos?’
‘Yes. It’s in an advanced state of decay. There’s very little of it left. We’ll get divers down at first light to see if we can find any more of it.’
‘I’m going with them.’
‘You’re no longer part of the police dive team, Mann.’
‘The more divers we have on this the better.’ He changed the subject. ‘Where did Ng get to with checking out missing businessmen?’
‘We have a long list. Ng decided on cross-referencing in two areas; reported missing by family or close friends, not just work, and last seen in Hong Kong, still missing.’
‘Is Sheng here?’ Mann asked. He looked across at Mia and realized it was the first time he’d seen Mia with make-up on in a long time. She couldn’t have been at the office either when the call came.
‘No, just Daniel Lu. Sheng’s unavailable, we couldn’t find him.’ Mia didn’t look at Mann.
‘How far did you get with Victoria Chan?’
‘She offered me my own private surfing beach.’
‘She certainly knows the way to a boy’s heart.’
‘To mine, anyway. I am waiting for the killer strike. She’s laying the world at my feet, all I have to do is kiss her hand and sign a pact with the devil.’
‘What did she say about the Outcasts?’
‘She says they have a life and a direction of their own. She says she is just the figurehead, her intentions are good, that they were bound to exist even without her help; all that bullshit. I don’t believe her but some things she says ring true. She is offering me a lot to come onto her side. She wants us to work together, find a balance between her way and mine.’
‘Ouch, that’s good. She’s clever. She has made a study of you, Mann. She knows all of your buttons and she’s going to keep pushing them until they add up to a jackpot.’ Mia looked across at him. He had a look on his face that seemed to be wondering if everyone knew him better than he knew himself. ‘Use it then, Mann. We need to reverse the fishing reel and hook her in with whatever it takes. You are our bait, I’m afraid.’
Mann looked out as they drove. He tried not to look at the road. He felt sick. ‘Make no mistake, CK feels nothing for anyone. CK is as cold-hearted as they come. Maybe he’s just setting his daughter up to fail. Victoria is a chip off the old block. But, you’re right, I do need to use it.’ He looked across at her and grinned. He was a little surprised. ‘Never