“You didn’t tell him you were going to Macau, did you?”
“No, of course not. I told him I had a meeting in Aberdeen, and I even called my office and gave them the same story in case he calls for me there. But I was still a bit jumpy. And I usually leave for work earlier and I don’t normally wear this kind of shoes, and of course there’s the makeup.”
“Looks good, by the way. I mean, less makeup.”
“Thanks. Michael actually said the same thing.”
“How is his mood?”
“He seemed pleased enough when I told him about the meeting with Jessie last night. I know he was worried about her.”
“Did you tell him about Marcus?”
“I did. No problem — he doesn’t feel like telling him anything anyway.”
“And he’s going to check his computer at noon for the photo?”
“He said he would, and I told him to call you when it arrived.”
“Did he ask you what I was doing today?”
“I said you were trying to organize the money and that you’d be calling him later.”
“Good, that’s just about right,” Ava said.
Amanda tensed, and Ava knew something was bothering her. “What’s the matter?” she asked.
“I didn’t really know how much money was involved until last night. I mean, it never came up in any discussion. When Michael told me I almost fell over.”
“Don’t worry about it. I have it under control.”
Amanda seemed to be gathering herself to ask more questions, but Ava cut her off. “Did you call Jessie this morning?”
“No, but I called her last night at ten o’clock and we chatted for about ten minutes. She was a bit anxious at first, but I repeated what I’d said earlier and it seemed to work. I told her I’d call her every day at one and every night at ten.”
“Structure gives comfort,” Ava said.
“So I’m realizing.”
“Now today is going to be a bit unstructured, unfortunately, but I think you’re up to it.”
“What are we going to be doing?”
“Not we — you,” Ava said. “I have some things to do with Andy. Carlo has a project of his own and you have your own job.”
“Alone?” Amanda said.
“Relax, I don’t want you to rob a bank or anything.” She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a slip of paper on which she’d written the address of the house in Coloane and the address of the Macau land registry office. “This is where Kao Lok lives. I need you to go to the registry office and ask to see the actual registration documents. It isn’t an uncommon request; real estate agents do it all the time. If they question you, just tell them you’re thinking of making an offer on the property and you want to confirm some particulars.
“When you get the documents, there should be a reference to an architect, maybe an engineering firm, and for sure a construction company. The house was custom-built and that information should be on record. Write it down. If all three names are available, then contact the architect’s office first, if it’s in Macau, and arrange to go see them. If it isn’t in Macau, go after the construction company.
“What I want are the floor plans for the house. Tell them you saw the house and loved it and that you want to build one just like it, but your husband wants to see more details. If you get to the architect first, tell him that your husband might want to make some changes, and ask him if he’d be prepared to work with you on the project. If it’s the construction company, ask them if they could build a duplicate for you,” Ava said. “And that’s it. That’s your job for today, to get me those floor plans.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“I don’t think it’s that hard.”
“What if they say no?”
“Amanda, there is no no. Tell them whatever the hell you have to tell them. Use all that natural charm you have and never accept the word no. If they seem reluctant, come at them from a different direction. Use your imagination, girl. And here,” Ava said, pulling something from her other pocket, “is one thousand U.S. dollars. That should be the last resort, but if you have to, use them.”
“I wasn’t expecting anything like this,” she said slowly.
“What did you think, that we’re going to Macau for dim sum?”