The Scottish Banker of Surabaya - By Ian Hamilton Page 0,19
“You’re leaving today?”
“How did you know?”
“Theresa called me late last night. She’s very grateful. I’m very grateful.”
“I made no promises, and don’t you make any either. I’ll do the best I can.”
“I’m just happy that you’re trying.”
“Trying is the correct word.”
“Are you going through Hong Kong?”
“Yes.”
“Are you spending any time there?”
Ava hesitated. She knew where this would go. “Just a few hours. I only have enough time to meet with Uncle.”
“Call your father anyway when you’re there. If someone sees you and tells him you were in Hong Kong and you didn’t at least call, he’ll be hurt.”
“I’ll call him.”
“Good. When he calls me tonight, I’ll tell him to expect it.”
Ava started to protest and then caught herself. Marcus and Jennie talked every day, and she was sure there wasn’t a day when she and Marian weren’t part of the conversation. And if Jennie talked to Marcus, Marcus would mention it to Michael, and Michael to Amanda, and Amanda to May Ling. Ava’s life had been much simpler six months before.
Her cellphone rang. “Mummy, my other phone — I need to answer it.”
“Keep in touch.”
“Only if you promise not to ask me how I’m doing with Theresa’s case.”
“Ava, don’t be so mean.”
“Love you,” Ava said, hanging up and reaching for her cell.
It was Theresa Ng, sounding depressed. “I just talked to Joey Lac, and he’s not sure he wants to meet with anyone.”
“Not sure or won’t?”
“You’ll have to phone him and find out.”
“Theresa, when you said your brother hit him, what exactly happened?”
“They argued and my brother lost his temper.”
“Did he hurt Lac?”
“A bit.”
“What does that mean?”
“He hit him in the leg with a baseball bat.”
“Oh, for God’s sake.”
“I’m sorry, Ava. But he didn’t break his leg or anything. He just bruised it, I think.”
No wonder Joey Lac isn’t keen on meeting, Ava thought. “Give me his phone number,” she said, exasperated.
Ava dialled the number, for a Richmond Hill accounting firm, and was put on hold for a couple of minutes. She was beginning to think Lac was going to duck her call when he came on the line with a timid “Hello.”
“Mr. Lac, my name is Ava Lee and I’m an accountant. I was given your number by Theresa Ng. She told me that you had an unpleasant conversation with her brother some time ago. I just want you to understand up front that I’m calling you in a professional accounting capacity. I’d like an opportunity to meet with you — just the two of us — for a far more civilized and polite discussion about Lam Van Dinh and his fund. Do you think that could be possible?”
“I don’t know anything,” he said.
“You don’t know anything about what?”
“The Emerald Lion Fund. I told Bobby that.”
“Bobby is Theresa’s brother?”
“Yes, and I told him I knew nothing about the actual fund.”
“But you do know Lam Van Dinh?”
“Of course. We were schoolmates and we were friends.”
“Then I really need to sit and chat with you.”
“I don’t understand.”
Ava wondered how much to tell him. “Have you been in touch with him since he left Canada?”
“No. I don’t actually know for sure he’s gone, although I haven’t heard from him, and I know everyone is saying he ran away.”
“Well, he almost certainly did leave, and we think we know where he is. My plan is to go to see him to find out what happened to the money.”
“Good luck,” Lac said sharply.
“Why do you say it that way?”
“I don’t think you’ll find any money.”
“And why not?”
He paused, and Ava knew she had to meet with him. “Look, rather than having this awkward kind of talk, why don’t I buy you lunch today? I have to go to Richmond Hill anyway. Do you know where the Lucky Season restaurant is?”
“Times Square?”
“Yes, exactly,” Ava said. “I’ll meet you there at one o’clock. I’ll be wearing a blue nylon Adidas jacket.”
When he didn’t answer, Ava said, “If you prefer, I can come to your office . . . Mr. Lac, I’ll be there alone. There is absolutely no reason for you not to talk to me. All I want is to understand the kind of person Lam is — or was — and I think you can help me do that. I have no other motive.”
“I can’t get away until one thirty,” he said slowly.
“Then I’ll see you at one thirty. And Mr. Lac, thank you, I really appreciate this.”
Ava turned on her computer. There was a long email from May Ling; Ava debated telling her