Diamond Head by Charles Knief Read Free Book Online Page A

himself from his two attendants. “Walk with me to the river.”
    Chawlie’s girls remained behind and we left the restaurant through a side door to a narrow alley. I followed him through the passageway to the broad promenade beside the Nu’uanu Stream. Chawlie stopped in the shadow of Sun Yat-sen’s statue.
    â€œThompson is not to be trusted. He will tell you one thing, but do not believe him. Look for the lies. Acch! Pit!” Chawlie spat toward the river into the darkness, oblivious to the passing pedestrian traffic.
    â€œWhat do you want to know, Uncle?”
    â€œI have a son, a good boy. Thompson claims he owes him money. Garrick likes to gamble. He is not skilled. He likes girls, too, but not the ones I can get him. It has become a problem. He now has tastes I cannot provide.”
    I frowned. I did not need another client. Especially one for free. I had enough of those at the moment.
    â€œThe boy would not come to me, I learn this from friends. I find this out two days ago and wonder what to do. I think of you and then you come to me with your request. I think, This John Caine, he might be the answer. So I get you police file and find the answer there.”
    â€œThompson is into gambling?”
    â€œAmong other things.”
    â€œLike what?”

    Chawlie hocked again and lofted another gob into the night. I’ve spent a good portion of my adult life in Asia, but I’d never accustomed myself to the habit. I’d heard somewhere that the Chinese spit to rid themselves of evil spirits. If that was the case, the mention of Carter Allen Thompson’s name brought the evil spirits with it.
    â€œVideos,” said Chawlie, so quietly I nearly missed it.
    â€œI beg your pardon?”
    â€œMr. Thompson makes videos and sells them to Japan and Taiwan. Some to Hong Kong. Mostly Japan. Always blondes.”
    My brain finally caught up. For a moment I had pictured stacks of pirated copies of Dumbo and Dances with Wolves. Now I understood. Blondes in Asia are as valuable as the gold their hair resembles. Natural blondes are considered the crème de la crème. Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan all had enough males in their thirties and forties with enough disposable income to indulge their fantasies in that specific kind of pornography. Thompson had taken a specialty market and refined it.
    â€œHe is Australian. Had trouble at home and can’t go back,” continued Chawlie, his voice soft. I could hear the antagonism. “He is not here with all the proper papers. But he thinks he is big businessman.”
    â€œWhere can I find him?”
    â€œPacific Tower on Bishop Street. Thirtieth floor.”
    â€œImpressive address,” I said.
    Chawlie grunted. To a man who owned entire blocks of downtown Honolulu, a man who merely rented one floor of a high-rise was of no consequence.
    â€œWhat would you like to know about him?”
    â€œFind out where he gambles, where he has his games. My son will not tell me.”
    â€œYou have no other way to find out?”
    Chawlie smiled. “Jasmine, my young woman, the one you met last night. She works for him. Receptionist at his movie production office. Most trusted employee. She will help you.”

    â€œWhy me?”
    â€œUse your head, John Caine. I help you, you help me. Best to get Garrick out of Islands before it is too late. I have him locked up now, but can’t keep him there forever. I can handle this Thompson, but need to know more about him first. You do that for me.”
    â€œPut your son on a plane.”
    â€œIt is worse than that.”
    I understood. Chawlie’s son had been threatened by Thompson and Chawlie was frightened for him. It must have been a shock to find his son hooked on the same vices he purveyed to others.
    â€œWhat else is Thompson into, besides gambling and pornography?”
    â€œDrugs, girls, guns, movies. Everything people want.” It occurred to me that