Ava dropped the knife and with a swipe of her foot kicked it against the wall. Her arm was bleeding badly. She lifted the hem of her T-shirt, wrapped it around the gash as best she could, and pressed her arm against her side. Then she walked out of the alley and onto High Street. The hotel entrance was only twenty metres away; she could see the doorman helping a couple out of a taxi. As Ava walked past him, he smiled at her and tipped his cap.
She was almost across the lobby, her arm throbbing and blood seeping through her T-shirt, when her cellphone rang. Why now? she thought.
“Ms. Lee, this is Andrew Hawkins, Minister Simmons’s executive assistant. We met last night.”
Ava stopped walking. “I know who you are.”
“I’ve been asked to call you.”
“Why?”
“It’s about the subject you discussed with the Minister last night.”
“We discussed a lot of things. Can you please get to the point? I’m rather busy right now,” Ava said.
He hesitated, and Ava wondered if Simmons was listening to their conversation. “I’m calling to see if you would be available for a meeting this afternoon.”
“With the Minister?”
“No, actually, it would be with his daughter, Lily, and her lawyer, George McIntyre.”
“And why would I agree to that?”
“I’m not privy to all the details, and neither, I assure you, is the Minister. I am told that Ms. Simmons and Mr. McIntyre have reviewed the material you left with her yesterday and have decided, upon second thought, that you have made a strong and compelling case for return of the money that was represented to her as company profits.”
“The stolen money?”
“As I said, I’m not privy to the details, so I’m not in a position to say yea or nay to your characterization.”
“What are you in a position to say?”
“Ms. Simmons has indicated that she is prepared to meet with you and to execute the document that you wanted signed.”
Ava was standing by the elevator, blood now dripping on the marble floor of the lobby. She noticed the concierge staring at her in shock. “Can you get me a towel, please?” Ava asked. “I had an accident outside.”
“I beg your pardon?” Hawkins said.
“I wasn’t speaking to you.”
“Oh.”
“Give me a moment.”
The concierge walked quickly towards her, holding a small towel he had taken from a drawer in his desk. She took it from him and, seeing the panic in his face, said, “It’s not that serious. I’ll be okay. Now please excuse me, I have to finish this phone call.”
“I can get a doctor here in minutes.”
She waved off the offer and put the phone back to her ear. “Mr. Hawkins, you were telling me that Ms. Simmons is going to sign my transfer request.”
“Those weren’t my exact words,” he said cautiously. “I said she was prepared to do that.”
“It sounds as if there are conditions attached.”
“Well, there is one complication that I’ve been advised about. The request you mentioned — the paper you evidently left with her yesterday — she doesn’t have it anymore.”
“She lost it?”
“She tore it up.”
At least he’s honest, Ava thought. “That isn’t a problem. I have another copy.”
“I am sure she will be relieved to hear that.”
“Is that all, then?” Ava asked.
“No, there is one more thing.”
“I’m listening.”
“It’s in regard to the conversation you had with Minister Simmons last night.”
“Yes?”
“You expressed the opinion at one point that he may have violated the integrity of his blind trust.”
“Yes, I did imply that was possible.”
“And then things may have been said or implied that could be construed as inappropriate, in terms of his experiences doing business in Asia or with certain Asians.”
“Yes, he did express some opinions that I thought were out of place.”
“Ms. Lee, that was simply a case of his emotions getting the better of him. He was obviously upset about his daughter. Surely you can understand that.”
“Where is this leading, Mr. Hawkins?” Ava asked.
“Would you be prepared to attest, in writing, that the Minister did not directly discuss any issues, financial or otherwise, connected to The River?”
“Are you asking if I would swear that he didn’t breach the integrity of the blind trust?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I can do that.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“Is there anything else?” Ava said.
“Yes, there is one last thing. Can you also, again in writing, attest to the fact that the Minister did not disparage Asian business culture in general or specifically anyone who works in that culture?”
“And if I can’t, is Ms. Simmons still prepared to sign the transfer?”
“I really don’t know,” he stumbled. “I was asked to make the request, and I have.”
“So it isn’t a condition?”
“You’ll have to take that up with Ms. Simmons.”
“Mr. Hawkins, tell whomever you are reporting to that I am prepared to forget both the Minister’s views on how business is conducted in Asia and the issue about the blind trust.”
“It is being requested that you put something in writing.”
“If something short and to the point is acceptable, I’ll consider it.”
“Thank you.”
“Is that it?”
“No, I have also been asked to inquire whether you need time to consult with anyone overseas or if you need to involve legal representatives from your side.”
“No.”
He paused, and she knew he hadn’t expected that answer.
“When do I meet with Lily Simmons?” Ava asked.
“I believe that may be possible today. Mr. McIntyre’s office is in Knightsbridge, just down the road from you.”
“What time?”
“I believe the plan is that, after I pass along my report of our conversation, either Ms. Simmons or Mr. McIntyre will call you directly.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
“Ms. Lee, I’d like to know…” Hawkins began awkwardly, and then stopped.
“Know what?”
“Actually… I’d like to know who you are.”
“What do you mean?”
“I spent close to an hour with Daniel Anderson this morning. He’s a friend of my older brother, and it was Daniel who arranged for my appointment to Minister Simmons’s staff. He grilled me about your meeting with the Minister last night. I was honest with him — I’d like you to know that. I found the Minister’s comments about Mr. Ordonez to be completely inappropriate, and I confirmed to Daniel that they had indeed been uttered. He told me that the Prime Minister had a personal interest in the matter. I was taken aback. Who are you, to bring this about?”
“Is that Daniel Anderson asking or you?”
“Me. Daniel seemed to know.”
“Then you ask him,” Ava said, and then cut off the line.