Marcus Lee didn’t seem surprised to be hearing from his daughter, but then he never did. Whether it was six days, six weeks, or six months since their last contact, he always acted as if they had just had breakfast together.
“Hi, sweetheart,” he said, “are you in Hong Kong?”
When she had phoned his office the receptionist had said he was in a meeting and wasn’t to be disturbed. “Could you tell him that his daughter Ava called?” she said.
“Ah, wait,” the woman said. “For you, I can disturb him.”
For some reason it made her feel good to hear that, and then to hear him “sweetheart” her when he came on the line.
“I am.”
“That’s funny. I talked to Mummy this morning and she didn’t mention that you’d be here.”
“A last-minute change of plan. I’m really heading to Bangkok, but I need to do something here first.”
“Where are you now?”
“I just got off the Star Ferry on the Hong Kong side.”
“You know, it’s almost lunchtime. Do you want to join me?”
“Why not?”
“They have very good dim sum at the Shangri-La Hotel. Why don’t you grab a taxi and meet me there in about ten minutes.”
When Ava arrived at the hotel, her father was already standing by the restaurant host, waiting for her. He was just under six feet and slender, with no hint of middle-age spread. His hair was still jet black and fashionably long at the back. God, he’s handsome, she thought. He wore a charcoal grey suit with a white dress shirt and a red silk tie — the very picture of conservatism.
Her mother swore that Ava bore the closest physical resemblance to him of any of the children, even though she’d only seen pictures of the four sons from the first wife and knew nothing of those from the third. It wasn’t just that Ava was lean and easy on the eyes. Her entire appearance was striking: a combination of good looks, the ability to carry herself well, and an aura of self-confidence.
Marcus Lee saw her and waved, then walked across the lobby to meet her halfway. He threw his arms around her and they hugged. She could feel a hundred eyes on them.
“You look gorgeous, sweetheart,” he said.
“Thanks, Daddy. You look great too.”
“I’m still running, still watching what I eat.”
“It shows.”
The restaurant was jammed but a table had been held for them. He ordered from the dim sum menu without asking her what she wanted. Her mother loved that about him, that he always took charge.
“I told Mummy this morning that I’m planning to come over to Toronto in May, when the weather improves. I’ll stay maybe for the whole month. I hope you’ll be there,” he said.
“It’s a long way out, and with my work — ”
“Anyway, I’m giving you notice. I told Mummy that maybe we could have a family holiday. You know, take your sister and her kids and you and go on a cruise, or down to the Bahamas.”
“How is everyone here?” Ava asked as if she hadn’t heard him.
“Good, really good. Jamie and Michael are in business here. Neither of them is married yet, although Michael is now living with a girl for the first time. David is in Australia finishing up a Ph. D. and trying to find himself. Peter has just joined Barclay’s Bank.”
It always amazed her that he could talk about the children from his first marriage with such ease in front of her. What was as surprising was that her mother spoke about them and took pride in them as well, as if they were part of her extended family. Ava wondered if it cut both ways. Did they even know she existed?
“Yes, Mummy keeps me posted,” she said.
The waiter put a small tureen of hot and sour soup on the table. Her father filled her bowl.
“So, what brings you east again?”
“Business,” she said.
“Are you still working with Chow?”
“Yes, of course I am.”
“I can’t help but wish you weren’t.”
“But I am.”
“Be careful,” he said. It was the same thing he said every time Uncle’s name was mentioned.
“Daddy, I’m an accountant,” she said.
His eyes flickered in her direction. She felt a nervous flutter in her stomach, her face flushed, and she found herself confronting the fact that this man was nobody’s fool. He knew what she did for a living, and though she never discussed her work in detail, he’d been in business long enough and knew Hong Kong and China well enough to know what it could entail.
“So what is this business?”
“The usual. Someone took off with someone else’s money, and I’m trying to track it down and have it returned to its rightful owner.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“It is.”
“Do I know any of the principals?”
“I don’t think so, and even if you did I couldn’t acknowledge it.”
“So why did you call me, then?”
The question was asked gently but the point was direct; she couldn’t lie to him. “I need to speak to a man named Frank Seto. He is Carter Chan’s son-in-law. I’m quite sure that if I approach him on my own I’ll be put off. I was hoping you could help me.”
“I don’t know Frank very well,” he said. “Still, I can’t imagine him getting himself immersed in anything untoward.”
“It isn’t him. He has a brother who I’m trying to locate, and so far there’s nothing but dead ends. I’m hoping that Frank can help me.”
Their food arrived: shu mai, fried turnip cake, scallops fried with salt, and steamed duck feet with mushrooms.
“I’m not sure my calling Frank will do any good. He might not remember me,” he said. “On the other hand, Carter and I have had a long and uneventful relationship. In his own strange way, he may even consider me a friend. I’ll call him and see what he can set up. You want to meet with Frank, correct?”
“Yes, thank you, Daddy.”
“Would you find it upsetting if I came along?”
She glanced up at him.
“It might make things easier all around,” he said.
“What would you tell him? I mean, what would you tell him about me?”
“That you are my daughter, of course. What did you think I would say?”
“I don’t know. I mean, Mummy and me and Marian are in another world. This is your world here. I don’t know who knows what about what.”
“You aren’t a secret, if that’s what you think.”
“I don’t think I need a complete explanation,” she said.
“Well, anytime you do, just ask,” he said. “I know it seems to Westerners that some of us Chinese have very complicated lives. Actually, the opposite is true. There are rules to this tradition of ours, and as long as everyone — and that includes the wives — plays by the rules, the family remains harmonious. What are the other options? Divorce? Secret mistresses? Messy and hurtful.”
She sat mute, a shu mai between her chopsticks.
“I know it’s old-fashioned, but I was raised that way, and it can’t be helped,” he said.
“No, I guess not,” she said.
They finished lunch and went into the hotel lobby. He turned on his cellphone. “This could take a while,” he said to her. “I have to get past a receptionist and then at least two personal assistants.” He was sitting directly under a harsh overhead light and still looked ten to fifteen years younger than he was. Ava saw several women close to her own age glancing at him as they walked past.
“Marcus Lee calling for Carter Chan,” he said. It took less than a minute. “Hello, Carter, this is Marcus… I’m well, thank you. And you and the family?… Actually it’s a family matter I’m calling about. I need a personal favour. My daughter Ava needs to speak with your son-in-law. It’s about a matter that does not involve him directly, or you or any of your interests. She’s a forensic accountant, and the issue concerns Frank’s brother. I don’t know much more than that… He is? Can you give me a number where she can reach him?” He took a small notepad and pen from his inside jacket pocket and wrote down two phone numbers. “And Carter, could you contact Frank yourself and ask him to speak with her? If she calls directly, well, you know… Thanks, Carter.”
“Frank is in the U.K.,” he said to Ava. “This is his Hong Kong cell number, and Carter says he normally has it on. The other is his hotel number. Carter will have someone call him and tell him to be cooperative. You should wait until that happens.” He checked his watch. “It’s about six in the morning there. Give it a few hours.”
He walked her out to the taxi stand. They hugged, his intensity catching her off guard. “I am really happy you called me,” he said. “I love you, you know, and I’m very proud of you. Just be careful, huh?”
“Thanks for making that call. I love you too.”
“Try to join us in May, will you?”
“I’ll try.”