The Risk Agent by Ridley Pearson Read Free Book Online Page B

embroidered with hummingbirds. The smell of sandalwood incense hung in the air. Selena Ming delivered green tea and there was five minutes of small talk.
    Finally, Marquardt said, “You have filed a grievance with Human Resources.”
    His executive assistant took shorthand.
    “A minor misunderstanding is all, I assume,” Grace said.
    “You are displeased with your accommodations?”
    “I believe it is nothing. I was informed my residence would include lobby security and workout facilities.”
    “Yes?”
    “In fact, my present accommodations do not.”
    “I am deeply sorry if there has been a misunderstanding,” he said.
    “No misunderstanding. It is in writing.”
    “We will resolve this immediately, Ms. Chu. With your permission, we will have your belongings transferred to a new residence”—he checked a note on his desk—“to the Kingland Riverside Luxury Residence serviced apartments in Pudong by the close of business today.” He passed Grace a brochure. Selena Ming looked up from her steno pad, clearly intrigued, then lowered her head. “The keys will be on your desk before you leave for the day. I trust that will be satisfactory.” His tone and demeanor were pitch-perfect.
    “That would be lovely. Thank you.”
    “Now,” he waved away Selena, “please allow me to show you the view.”
    Selena left, and Marquardt led Grace out onto a narrow balcony, closing the elegant French doors behind them.
    She spoke softly. “I mentioned before that I need access to the end-of-year records—more than just the GA. I would appreciate the passwords required for access.”
    “You’ll have them,” he said.
    Fifty floors below, the traffic crawled ant-like through intersections. The smog-encrusted skyline was broken by towering cranes, the air alive with the percussive sounds of construction and the steady drone of traffic.
    He pointed. “To the right of the Jin Mao Tower, just past the World Financial Center. You see the building with the yellow crane on the very top?”
    “Yes.”
    “That’s ours—the Xuan Tower.”
    “Yes,” she said.
    Marquardt nodded proudly. “It’s a beautiful building. And so far we’ve been tolerated by your government, though clearly our participation is unwelcome.” He turned and looked at her. “We are Beijing’s token foreign construction project, authorized only to show the rest of the world they don’t favor their own. We’ve pissed off a lot of Chinese, Grace. I know we have. But just how far, I had no idea.”
    “It appears nearly finished,” she said, noting the building’s upper twenty stories were wrapped in a green fabric, strung over elaborate scaffolding, noting that he thought the kidnapping directly related to the construction of the tower.
    “There’s much yet to be done. Is it coincidence that as we near completion, Lu Hao is abducted and therefore the incentives stop, and we encounter problems? We’re only a couple days into this and we’re already experiencing costly slowdowns—materials, labor. Our vendors and suppliers aren’t getting their payments.” Marquardt paused to make full eye contact with Grace. “Our problem is, only Mr. Lu knew their identities. This is critical work you’re doing, Ms. Chu.”
    “It benefits your Chinese competitors.”
    “If you go down that road, start with Yang Cheng. Yang’s a devilish prick who has taken every opportunity for nearly a decade to remind me foreign builders don’t belong here. He’s never accepted our being awarded the Xuan.”
    “I will start with Lu Hao’s apartment,” Grace said. “The sooner I have the end-of-year accounts, the better. I can help keep auditors from realizing the exact nature of Lu Hao’s work for you. Important should we fail in his recovery.”
    “Yes, of course,” he said, though didn’t sound at all certain.
    Her BlackBerry vibrated.
    “Take it, if you want,” he said.
    “I’m fine,” she said, noting that the call was from her mother. She flushed