Sleight of Hand - By Phillip Margolin Page 0,91

and he prayed that her death had been mercifully swift and free of suffering.

Horace’s eyes filled with tears. He could not remember the last time he had cried. Was he crying for Carrie or himself? Maybe he was crying for both. He was one of the most powerful men in America but he did not feel powerful. He felt old, empty, and alone, and he had no one with whom he could share these feelings.

“Your car is ready,” Walter said.

Horace took a deep breath and nodded, too sad to speak. Walter left and Horace pressed a napkin to his eyes to dry his tears. He had an important meeting in one hour and he could not afford to show weakness, but he did feel weak, and he had no enthusiasm for battle.

Horace levered himself to his feet. He closed his eyes and regrouped emotionally. He was free. He had won. But he didn’t feel like a victor. He felt like a tired old man.

Chapter Sixty

Dana Cutler was in a terrific mood when she left the office of the attorney who had hired her to help clear the Baltimore Ravens running back. The charges were being dismissed, thanks to the testimony of witnesses she had found, and the client had given her season tickets to show his appreciation.

Dana had a big smile on her face when she slid behind the wheel of her car. She was about to start the ignition when her phone rang.

“Dana Cutler,” she answered.

“Miss Cutler, my name is Earl Chan and I am in need of your services.”

“What would you like me to do for you, Mr. Chan?”

“I feel uncomfortable discussing the matter over the phone. It’s quite complicated. Would you join me for dinner at Venezia at eight tonight?”

Dana was intrigued. Venezia was way out of her price range, so she had never dined there; and she didn’t have any plans for the evening because Jake was in New York, talking to the owner of another gallery that was interested in showing his pictures from the Arctic expedition.

“I’ll be there,” she said. Mr. Chan thanked her and hung up.

Michelangelo’s was the fanciest Italian restaurant Dana had ever eaten in; for Dana, the words “Italian food” usually brought to mind pizza and meatballs and spaghetti. As the maître d’ at Venezia led her to Mr. Chan’s table, she didn’t spot a single pizza or meatball, and she didn’t recognize a single dish. The only familiar sight was the red wine she saw on many of the tables.

Mr. Chan stood up as soon as Dana arrived. He was a dapper, middle-aged Chinese man with straight black hair and almond eyes. Dana guessed that his suit was hand tailored, and he sported several bejeweled rings and a Rolex watch.

“Thank you so much for coming,” Chan said. His accent was British and she wondered where he’d been educated.

Dana sat down and was presented with a menu. As soon as they ordered, Dana asked, “How can I help you?”

“I am a curator of the Asian Art Museum in Seattle, and the museum would like to enlist your services.”

“Oh?”

“How much do you know about the Han dynasty?”

Warning bells went off, but Dana remained calm.

“All I know is that it’s Chinese.”

Chan nodded. “Correct. The Han dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, and it was founded in 206 B.C. by the rebel leader Liu Bang, who was known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. To the north of China proper, the nomadic Xiognu chieftain Modu Chanyu conquered various tribes inhabiting the eastern portion of the European steppe. By the end of his reign, he controlled Manchuria, Mongolia, and the Tarim Basin, subjugating over twenty states east of Samarkand.

“Emperor Gaozu was troubled by the Han-manufactured iron weapons that were traded to the Xiognu, and he placed an embargo on the sale or trade of these weapons. The Xiognu was still able to find traders willing to supply the weapons. In 121 B.C. the emperor ordered the execution of five hundred of these merchants, and Chinese forces attacked representatives of the Xiognu who traded for the weapons. In retaliation, the Xiognu invaded Shanxi province and defeated the Han forces. After negotiations, the matter was settled with a royal marriage alliance, but the Han were forced to send large amounts of tribute items such as silk clothes, food, and wine to the Xiognu. The rarest item was a jade dragon of incalculable wealth.

“The Xiognu kept meticulous records and the jade dragon is prominent in them