She pulled her gaze away. “I’ll think about it.”
“I know you will.” He nodded up ahead. “There is Celia’s house on the corner.”
“That store?” She could see a plate-glass window displaying exquisite Chinese statues on ivory pedestals and beside it a finely carved mahogany door. “It’s not what I was expecting.”
“Once you get beyond that door, you will see a house that would rival any mansion in the city. The interior is absolutely stunning. But Celia’s clientele quite often would prefer to be seen going into a store that can be explained rather than a luxury apartment. One of her main attractions is that she always protects the customer.” He corrected himself. “Well, not main attraction, that is the product itself.”
“How did you come to know her?”
“Several years ago, she was being held in a bordello in Calcutta by Li Pradka, a criminal who was scum of the Earth. She was his pride and joy. A prize he only let be sampled by special friends and clients. Celia was superbly talented, and it was considered a rare treat if she came to your bed.” He smiled. “But Li Pradka annoyed me, and I decided he had to be punished. So I arranged to take Celia from him and give her a life of her own.”
“Did she want to go?”
“Oh, yes, she told me later that she was only waiting for the opportunity to kill him and flee the city. It was not a life that she would have chosen for herself. She’d grown up in Greece and been kidnapped by one of the sex-slave traffickers. Li Pradka had bought her from them.”
“Poor woman.”
“She never pitied herself.”
“Yet evidently she felt she had to go back to prostitution.”
“She was not forced to do anything. I set her up here in the city with enough money for schooling and living expenses.”
“Then why—”
“Ask her yourself.” He motioned to Erin and Luke, who were looking at the Chinese artifacts in the window. He moved to the door and frowned as he looked at the digital-numbered lock. “I know the code for this lock, but Celia gives very few people the code. I believe we’ll not use it. We must respect her privacy.” He knocked on the door. “And she will not be shy about answering.”
“Hu Chang!” The door was thrown open, and the woman who stood there took Hu Chang’s hand and drew him into the house. “Why can’t you give me notice? Do you think I wait around for you to come visit me? I’m a busy woman.” She kissed him lightly on the cheek. “Actually, I do wait for you. I have no other friends that I value as much.” She turned to Catherine. “And who are you?”
“Catherine Ling.”
The woman was stunning. Shining red hair, green eyes, and golden skin that seemed to shimmer in the light. Her features were beautifully symmetrical and her body graceful and sexual at the same time. She was dressed in a black jumpsuit and looked sleek and sensual as a cat. Celia Mekong might be somewhere in her thirties, but it was difficult to determine. You were only aware of the dazzling total and just wanted to keep on looking.
“Thank you for allowing us to come here.” Catherine gestured to Erin. “Erin Sullivan. And this is my son, Luke.”
“I’m happy to have you.” Her white teeth flashed as she smiled. “Hu Chang always brings me wonderful surprises.” Her brow knitted as she stared at Erin. “I’ve seen you before. Or perhaps a photo?”
“Perhaps,” Erin said. “I’m a journalist, but in this day and age, the journalist is sometimes part of the story. It shouldn’t be that way, but that’s the way it is.”
Celia turned to Luke. “And you’re such a handsome young man. But you’re also probably much more complex and interesting since Hu Chang brought you. Welcome.”
“Thank you.” Luke was smiling awkwardly, and he was looking at Celia with a bedazzled expression.
Catherine stared at him in bemusement. Good God, even boys as young and cool as Luke fell under Celia’s spell.
“We’ve had a long trip, Celia,” Hu Chang said. “I’d be grateful if you could furnish us with rooms and hot showers.”
“Of course.” She gestured toward the exquisite wrought-iron staircase. “There are several bedrooms on the upper floor. I assume you’ll wish to be close together if there are difficulties. You take the room I usually give you, Hu Chang. Perhaps Ms. Sullivan and Catherine Ling could share the second suite. There are two queen beds in that apartment. And let young Luke take the next room down the hall.” She waved a hand. “You know where everything is, Hu Chang. Why don’t you take Ms. Sullivan and Luke up and get them settled?” She smiled at Catherine. “Will you come to the kitchen and help me make a pot of tea? We can take it up to them.”
Catherine nodded. “If you like.”
“I do like.” Celia whirled and headed down the hall. “Come along.”
Catherine glanced at Hu Chang and shrugged. “I’ll see you later. I guess I’m on kitchen duty.”
“I expected that Celia wouldn’t let you disappear right away.” He gestured for Luke and Erin to go before him up the stairs. “Did I mention that she’s very curious?”
He didn’t wait for an answer before he started up the stairs.
Catherine gazed after him for a moment before turning and heading after Celia.
The kitchen was all stainless steel and exotic granites, beautiful woods and soft lights glowing in crystal chandeliers.
Celia was already pouring water into a huge brass carafe. “You don’t mind helping me, do you? If you’re tired, I can do it myself.”
“You seem to be doing it yourself anyway. Why am I here?”
“You’re very blunt.” Celia looked up and smiled. “Because I can’t resist getting to know you. I’ve heard of you for many years.”
“From Hu Chang?”
“Yes, he doesn’t come to see me often, but when he does, there is usually a mention of Catherine. He regards you as his dear friend. Hu Chang does not make many friends.” She set the tea to brewing. “And I decided I must make sure you’re worthy of his friendship.”
Catherine smiled. She was finding the woman’s frankness appealing. “And how am I to prove it to you?”
“Tell me what you feel for him.” Celia looked her directly in the eye. “I will know if you lie. I have great experience with liars.”
“What do I feel for him?” Catherine was silent, thinking. “I think he’s part of me, but it’s a part that I may never know completely. He’s my friend who will never leave me, who will never let me know loneliness, who can finish my sentences almost before I begin them. He came to me when I was just struggling to stay alive and taught me why staying alive was important. How to reach out and grasp the joy of every moment. I’ve put my life on the line to save him, and I would do it again tomorrow.” She ended simply, “Because I would not want to live in a world that held no Hu Chang.”
“Very eloquent,” Celia said slowly. Then a warm smile lit her face. “But truthful, I think. I believe Hu Chang is safe with you.”
“I’m glad you’re satisfied.”
“Not entirely. Do you sleep with him?”
Catherine blinked. “No, I told you, he’s my friend.”
She shrugged. “Friends sometimes make the very best lovers. They care about your pleasure. That’s very important. You have a son. Was your relationship with your husband very close? Was he your friend as well as your lover?”
“You have no right to ask me that.”
“But the fact that you don’t want to answer indicates that he might have been one but not the other,” Celia said shrewdly. “I will make my own guess which it is.”
“Terry was a wonderful man, older, but a good lover. He was my mentor when I first became an agent with the CIA. We wanted the same things, a home, a child, a normal life.”
“He was a friend,” Celia said triumphantly. “I knew it.”
“How nice that you can make a judgment on my marriage from only a few words,” Catherine said dryly.
“I’m very clever about reading people. I’ve had to be. My life has been filled with men who lie and cheat to get what they want. I’ve learned to know how to keep them from getting it,” Celia said. “Ask Hu Chang.”
“I’d rather ask you,” Catherine said boldly. “You’ve had no compunction about asking me personal things. Now it’s my turn.”