I ignored Habib's instruction and moved forward to the wheelhouse enclosed in a transparent cocoon. There were dials, screens and switches and flashing lights. Habib stood, with the machine pistol hanging by a shoulder strap, steering the yacht. The engine was purring quietly now, no need to shout. What he'd said about sensors and cameras must have been true because he saw me coming and swung towards me with the gun lifted.
'What the fuck are you doing?' I said.
'I feel safer out here. Call up Chang. We'll put him on the speaker and hear what he has to say. We'll deal or no deal.'
'And what if it's no deal?'
'Then you and Gretchen can swim for the shore and I'm gone.'
'She's in no condition to swim.'
'Too bad. You must have your bronze medallion or whatever they called it back in your day. You can save her. She'd be grateful, Hardy. Believe me, she can show her gratitude. Call Chang!'
The gun was pointed at me and Habib looked poised and confident, in charge of the yacht, the situation. I reached into my pocket for the mobile but it chirped just as I took it out. I answered.
'Hardy, this is Chang. May Ling called me. I'm on a police boat and we've got you in sight. What's going on?'
'Hang on,' I said.
I stepped out of the wheelhouse and looked around the wide, fast-running river. We were in midstream and the lights on either shore looked distant in a rising mist-further than I'd want to swim with someone in tow these days. A blue light cut through the haze and, squinting against it, I saw a water police boat moving quickly towards us.
'Better stay back, Inspector,' I said, loudly enough for Habib to hear. 'Habib's armed and dangerous, but he wants to… negotiate.'
Habib did something to the controls and the boat slowed. He came out to the rail and rammed the gun into my kidneys. 'Tell him I have hostages.'
'He has hostages,' I said, 'me and Gretchen Nordlung.'
Chang said, 'We can't communicate like this. I'm coming aboard.'
I told Habib what Chang had said. He shook his head.
'He can come close but not on board. I can get clear of that tub in a few seconds.'
I communicated this to Chang and the police boat drew nearer. Habib reached into the wheelhouse, flicked a switch, and the engine noise became a whisper. The yacht wallowed a little and I gripped the rail.
Habib laughed. 'What's the matter, Hardy? Getting seasick? This is a mill pond.'
'There'll be weapons on that police boat,' I said. 'If I were you I'd put that gun of yours down or you might give the wrong impression.'
'You've got a point. Now you just back off a few steps. That's right.'
As I moved away he unslung the gun and hung it on a hook within easy reach.
'I'm not sure this is going to work,' Habib said. 'Too many eyes and ears. I think…'
A sound inside the wheelhouse distracted him. He turned to look and I took two long strides and grabbed the gun. He grappled for it but lost balance as I swung away. I dropped the gun into the river. Sun Ling stepped from the wheelhouse holding my. 22. She seemed steady, eye and hand, and trained the pistol on Habib.
'Stand up, Richard,' she said.
Habib struggled to his feet. He leaned back against the rail.
'Don't move a muscle,' Sun Ling said. 'I learned to shoot in the States. I was good at it.'
'Easy, Sunny,' I said.
'You too. Back off.'
'I thought you took a hit, darling,' Habib said.
'I didn't.'
'I've got some if you want it.'
Sun Ling laughed, but the pistol didn't waver. 'We used to make love in his flat up there. He said he'd take me to Venice, Hardy. Venice! But he wasn't going to take me to Venice, was he?'
'No,' I said.
'I heard him. He was going to dump me in the fucking Parramatta River.'
She fired the full magazine into Habib's chest. He sagged against the rail. The police boat crashed heavily into the yacht and Habib went over the rail and into the water.