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proud man, and I know that is another reason why we are involved. He wants to keep this whole affair as private as possible. Inside the company they are blaming this Jim Cousins for concocting the scheme and they are saying that Louis Marx did not do his job properly. That is the official line, and I am not sure anything we find will change that, internally at least. You need to understand that, in Manila, Ordonez is a superstar in the business community. He has hardly put a wrong foot forward. If it comes out that he was swindled by his own brother, he will become a cheap headline in the Manila Star and every other newspaper in the country. And in the Philippines image is important. The idea of people laughing behind his back makes Ordonez crazy.”
    â€œChang told you all this?”
    â€œMost of it.”
    She sat quietly for a moment, calculating costs. “Uncle, what if we prove Chew’s culpability? What if I find out where the money went and there is no money to be retrieved?”
    â€œWe have a standby fee of one million dollars.”
    â€œHow much time do they expect us to devote to this?”
    â€œI told them that if we could not find answers within a week, then we would part ways.”
    â€œThere isn’t much downside to that,” she said.
    â€œI think not.”
    â€œThen let’s take the job.”
    He smiled. “As I said, a practical girl.”
    â€œAnd a greedy one. I want that fee.”
    She started to rise, assuming their conversation was over, but Uncle remained in his chair. “There’s something else I don’t know?” she asked.
    Uncle sipped his beer. “The fat man you saw me with at the airport in Hong Kong.”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œHis name is Lop Liu.”
    â€œYou implied he ran the Triad in Mong Kok.”
    â€œHe does.”
    â€œWhat does that have to do with me?”
    â€œDo you remember Jackie Leung?”
    â€œThe toy manufacturer just outside Guangzhou? The one who tried to move the business to Vietnam without telling his partner? I caught up with him in Ho Chi Minh City.”
    â€œYou beat him, yes?”
    â€œHe came at me with a crowbar.”
    â€œAll he remembers is that you beat him and took his money. Lop told me that Jackie has become very successful, and he has guanxi — connections and influence — with some of my old adversaries. The fat man told me that Jackie wants repayment for the misery we put him through.”
    Ava was accustomed to threats and wondered why Uncle was taking this one to heart. “You’re not nervous, are you?”
    He waved his hand. “Me, they would never think about harming. It is you that pig Leung has targeted.”
    â€œUncle, why are you telling me this?” she asked.
    â€œI want you to be careful.”
    â€œI always am.”
    â€œAva, these are serious and competent people who have been well paid, with promises of more if they can kill you. You need to be alert until I can resolve this.”
    â€œAnd how will you do that?”
    â€œI am going to have Leung taken care of.”
    â€œThen what do I have to worry about?”
    â€œI have to find him first.”

( 6 )
    Bald-headed Chang Wang sat like a small Buddha in the hotel lobby, where he was being fussed over by female staff. When he saw Uncle and Ava, he pushed himself to his feet. “I made a reservation for us in the Old Manila restaurant here in the hotel,” he said without a flicker of emotion. “They have excellent filet mignon. You do eat red meat, I hope, Ava.”
    â€œI’m Chinese, Uncle Chang. I eat everything,” she said.
    He noted her show of respect with a slight smile. “It has been a difficult day for all of us,” he said. “I appreciate your patience.”
    They all ordered Caesar salad and the filet mignon. The two men drank beer with dinner; Ava had white burgundy from the bottle Chang insisted on ordering for her. He