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“Talk about getting into Liu’s good graces,” Derek ift froe display of loyalty It probably raised Xiao up about three rungs on the organizational ladder Which is another reason for Liu to designate him the chosen one and to send hi and resources to becoons—and who knohat ther

eafter”

Rich took another belt of coffee “Now I understand why Xiao Long was so freaked out when the identical Rothbergs surfaced and I started tracing the provenance of the real deal It wasn’t just hi It was Johnny Liu Xiao knew there was a chance that Burbank, Fox, and Leary could identify hiet his hands on Burbank’s receipt for the Rothberg sale—and he had to scare Burbank and his partners off Heon their radar screen”

“Oh, hecat and ht Between his high visibility here, and his involveht dots, it would lead theon Head at all costs”

Rich’s brows drew together “But the rest of it; Liu’s personal agenda…”

“Sloane was right about that,” Derek broke in “Her father and his partners are all victi-distance enforcer of Liu’s vendetta Leary’s dead Martino’s on the verge of bankruptcy Burbank’s wife and daughter were both assaulted Fox I’rill hi for in Sloane’s files And Johnson…” Derek sucked in his breath “Wallace Johnson is the pri Cindy Liu work her way into his heart and then break it is only a sard as an eye for an eye God only knohat else Liu has in store for Johnson”

In the office of his palatial Hong Kong

He lifted the receiver and, as was his custo If the person at the other end was one of the select feho’d been given this number, he or she would know to speak first

“Liu? It’s Keong”

It was Sergeant David Keong, Liu’s best andPolice Department

“Yes Go ahead,” he said, using the Loong Doo dialect the two men shared

Keong followed suit, stating his business in the same prided dialect “The FBI has been on the phone with our department all weekend Many questions about Meili were asked Ansere supplied by others beyond my influence The death certificate was located They are on the verge of figuring things out I thought you should know right away”

“You thought correctly My thanks”

Liu disconnected the call

Then he dialed Xiao Long on his throay phone