Notes: This is the second story in Tales from the Library, a series based on Genevieve Cogman's works. I've written a status update about the main characters for the blog I co-write with Penna Nomen, Penna Nomen & Silbrith Conversation. The post is called: Library Acquisition: The Red Chamber. See the notes at the end of the chapter for more information.
Chapter 1: The Hong Triad
Warren Mews, London, England. Alternate World: B-395.
Irene was startled by the sound of a fist pounding on the front door.
"Winters, I know you're awake. Open up!"
There was a downside to having London's greatest detective as an ally, she thought sleepily. With casual acquaintances, Peregrine Vale was unfailingly courteous. He was the Earl of Leeds, after all. His manners could be impeccable . . . when he chose. But Irene and Kai had crossed the neat hedge he maintained to exclude the general populace. Vale considered them his close friends and saw no need to maintain a decorous facade with them. Bonding over alligator automatons and killer silverfish had accelerated the transition. Irene was no longer Miss Winters, but simply Winters. With Kai, Vale alternated between his given name and what he believed to be his surname, Strongrock.
Actually, both names were aliases. In the world of the Library, Librarians chose their personal names, usually based on an author or fictional character. Kai had invented his and Irene's surnames on the spur of the moment when they first made Vale's acquaintance. Irene had initially cringed to have both names taken from such a famous work. Vale must be familiar with The Three Musketeers. He'd never commented on them, though. Perhaps he was amused by the private joke.
"I'm waiting!" he thundered even more loudly. "Do you think I failed to notice the light was on in your bedroom?"
At this rate, he'd wake up the entire street. Six o'clock in his eyes might seem like an acceptable time to pay a visit, but not for the rest of the civilized world. She and Kai had taken over the Warren Mews residence of the former Librarian-in-Residence after his unfortunate demise. The small lodgings were more than adequate for their needs and had come furnished. The mews were in Fitzrovia and convenient to the permanent Traverse in the British Museum.
She and Kai had returned late the previous evening. Irene had risen only minutes earlier and was wearing a dressing gown. She hadn't had her morning coffee yet. If Vale expected her to play the charming hostess, he'd be out of luck.
"Coming!" she called out and searched for her slippers. She found them just as Kai stuck his head out of his bedroom door. He had the knack of appearing unsettling handsome even when sleepy and grumpy.
"What's the commotion about?" he muttered, not appearing to really want to know.
"Vale is demanding a consultation. I'll handle it."
"At this hour, it's bound to be something interesting," he said, rubbing his eyes. "I'll be right there."
"What took you so long?" Vale complained when she opened the door. From his aquiline nose and high cheekbones to his silk-lined cape and silver-headed cane, he looked every inch the aristocrat that he was. With a swift appraising glance, he took in her uncombed hair and hastily tied dressing gown. He raised a brow as Kai walked out of his bedroom similarly attired and barefoot. "Late night?"
"As a matter of fact, yes." She had no need to provide an excuse. He was the one who'd barged in on them. "We caught a late train from Durham." That trip had been a wild goose chase for a rare book she'd seen an ad about. When they arrived, the bookseller claimed he'd been misled and the book didn't exist.
Vale took a seat opposite her at the small dining table in their kitchen while Kai filled the kettle to brew coffee. "Inspector Singh asked me to consult on a case which I believe you'll find intriguing."
Irene had worked with the inspector on several cases. He was astute, capable and —unlike many in the police force—tolerant of Vale's idiosyncrasies.
Vale angled the chair to stretch out his lean legs. "An elderly man was killed in Marylebone. He was a retired professor of Chinese literature. The man lived alone with his books." He chuckled as her sleepiness vanished. "Yes, I thought that would attract your interest. There are two factors which prompted Singh to contact me. In questioning the housekeeper, the police learned that the man, Chester Smedley, had recently purchased a copy of Dream of the Red Chamber. He'd described it enthusiastically to her as a unique edition, containing the final chapters as written by the author." He smiled at her mounting enthusiasm. "Worth an early visit?"
"If the book's genuine, it'd be priceless," she said, tamping down her excitement till she heard more of the details. "Current editions of the novel generally include final chapters written by later scholars."
"It's been long rumored the author wrote an ending," Kai added, "but to my knowledge nothing has ever materialized."
"So far it's not possible to verify Smedley's account. Singh has a Chinese detective working for him who combed through the books in his lodgings but couldn't find the fabled volume. The inspector is aware of your interest in rare books. I offered to inquire." Vale arched an eyebrow at Irene.
"I haven't seen any mention in the newspapers," she said. "The professor could have been mistaken."
"Possible," Vale conceded, "but not likely. Smedley is an authority on the subject, and has written critical reviews of other editions."
"You said there was a second factor," she prompted.
"Next to the body was discovered this symbol." He fished in his jacket pocket for a piece of paper and unfolded it. Written in ink was a Chinese character enclosed within a triangle.
"The Hong Triad," Kai murmured, looking at the paper over her shoulder. "I didn't realize they were here in London."
"I'm glad you're familiar with the group," Vale said. "They're a recent arrival. Singh doesn't believe they're here in large numbers but they have a formidable reputation. Supposedly they specialize in assassinations and targeted burglaries."
From the speculative way Vale was eyeing her, it was plain he expected her to comment on some relevant point, but normally she demanded at least two cups of coffee before matching wits with London's greatest detective. Meanwhile, Kai was looking hopefully at her as if he expected her to score the team's winning goal.
Cudgeling through Vale's description, she came up with one logical question which hadn't been answered. "How did Smedley acquire the book? He may have been killed to prevent the knowledge from being leaked."
Vale allowed a half-smile to cross his face. "Precisely my conclusion. The victim routinely made the rounds of the secondhand and rare book stores. Singh's men are canvassing them to see if any are aware of the book or had recent dealings with him."
"I'll check Library resources," Irene offered. "If such a copy exists, I may be able to find a reference to it."
"What do you know about the Hong Triad?" Kai asked.
"Not much," Vale admitted. "They operate by stealth. The police have yet to identify any known members."
"I assume the token they left was inscribed on a block of wood?"
"That's right," Vale confirmed. "Is that standard practice?"
He nodded. "The Triad leaves it behind as a way of boasting about their skill."
"One shouldn't exclude the possibility that it was left by someone else who wanted to implicate the Triad for the deed," Vale cautioned.
"I can nose around Chinatown," Kai suggested. "That's the most likely source of information."
Irene's warning bells jangled in her head. She and Kai had already checked out that district. It was a seedy, dangerous place with numerous gambling dives and opium dens. Many of the businesses were legitimate but were managed by criminal bosses with their own codes of conduct and justice systems. Kai was still a trainee and had never conducted fieldwork on his own. This was not the time to start, especially not when the memories of him being attacked by murderous scorpions during their recent trip to Paris were so fresh. In any case, Kai was far too young and handsome to wander around in an area thick with slavery rings.
"You'll have to wait till I return from the Library," she warned. "Then we'll go together."
Kai's aggrieved look reminded her of a teenager being grounded—not the way to make her change her mind. "I can't take you there," he argued, "not if I'm to have any chance of making contact. You don't speak the Cantonese dialect preferred in Chinatown. You're well aware that I'd hung around with gangs for a while before being recruited by the Library. I'm familiar with how triads operate and can draw on that experience."
"I'll go with you," Vale offered. "I'm conversant in the language. With the help of a little makeup I'll easily blend in."
Now it was Irene who felt left out. She made a mental note to start Cantonese lessons at the first opportunity. Why had she been wasting her time studying Korean in spare moments?
#
The permanent Traverse was in a minor storeroom of the British Museum. It opened into a location within the Library which was conveniently close to a computer terminal.
When Irene arrived at the room—a walnut-paneled chamber dedicated to French science fiction of the nineteenth century, she found the workstation vacant. After logging on, she sent an email to her supervisor Coppelia. It was possible she had private knowledge of the manuscript which hadn't been entered into the public record. Irene then settled in to search through the Librarian reports . . .
Rumors about the lost chapters for Dream of the Red Chamber existed in many alternates, and researching all the leads would take time. She was beginning to regret she hadn't brought Kai with her to assist.
"You really shouldn't frown, dear. You wouldn't want lines to sprout on your face."
"Bradamant, this is a pleasant surprise," Irene lied. Her fellow Librarian was dressed like someone from England in the mod 1960s, wearing a colorblock dress that left most of her thighs bare and high patent leather boots. The dress appeared to be a Mary Quant design. Bradamant's long espresso-colored hair was concealed under a sleek geometrically cropped wig.
Irene had long ago grown accustomed to being outshone by Bradamant. Her dowdy long skirt and high-collared blouse were appropriate for her alternate and made it easier for her to blend in. What Irene was less tolerant of was her colleague's snippy attitude.
Bradamant perched on the edge of the leather and mahogany desk, crossing her legs to reveal even more of her thighs. Irene sighed inwardly. Her hope that Bradamant was passing through and would quickly depart appeared to be doomed.
"I heard about the unfortunate accident of your trainee," she drawled. "Such a shame that you weren't able to protect him adequately. I hope the damage to your reputation will be of short duration. If you'd like me to take over for you, it will be my pleasure to help a fellow agent."
"Thank you but that won't be necessary," Irene said calmly, refusing to give Bradamant the satisfaction of seeing her upset. She focused on the computer monitor, hoping Bradamant would take the hint that some Librarians had work to do.
"What are you researching?" she asked, craning her neck to look at the screen. "I'm not due to return to my alternate for another couple of hours. I may be able to assist."
Irene had no reason to doubt Bradamant's loyalty to the Library, but there was something about her curiosity which seemed off. Bradamant didn't normally offer to help unless she perceived a personal advantage. If she'd heard about the manuscript, would she try to discover it for herself? Interfering with another Librarian's assignment was considered poor form, but that hadn't stopped her in the past.
"It's nothing I can't handle," Irene said, injecting an extra dose of sweetness in her voice. "I wouldn't want to interfere with your far more important work." She swiveled the computer so Bradamant couldn't view it and selected the option to read in Japanese, a language Bradamant didn't know. After a few moments of being ignored, her unwanted visitor finally left. By then, Irene was so absorbed in the reports, she barely noticed Bradamant's retreating footsteps on the soft Persian carpet.
The book by Cao Xueqin was one of the most famous incomplete works in existence. Despite extensive searches, there was no definitive proof of an extant version which included the author's final chapters. The closest was a report by a Librarian who'd visited an alpha alternate five years ago. The alpha designation indicated a world dominated by chaos—in other words, magic and the Fae. Although the alternate Irene and Kai were stationed in was classified a beta—a world where some technology co-existed as well as magic—recently it had been experiencing ominous signs of chaos infection. If the trend continued, it would eventually have to be reclassified.
The Librarian in the alpha alternate had meticulously recorded his efforts to locate the manuscript. He'd been given a tip that a Fae possessed it. When he located the informant's source, the man was dead. In the victim's pocket was a fragment of expensive linen stationery embossed with a stag's head. The Librarian had found no other leads. Three months later he too was murdered. The world was a dangerous cauldron of Fae plots. The two incidents might not be related. Nor was there necessarily a connection between that embossed symbol and Count Lecerf.
The count remained an enigma, but the few facts known about him were suspicious. He had the reputation of a libertine, a common failing of the Fae. He'd owned another rare book—a unique version of Candide by Voltaire. And his apartment in Paris had been guarded by scorpions which had apparently been trained to attack either dragons or Kai personally. Dragons and Fae were arch enemies. Cerf was French for deer. Was Lecerf a Fae? Was there a connection between him and Dream of the Red Chamber?
Coppelia would chide her for engaging in random speculation. Perhaps that was why Irene didn't receive a response to her email. What they both needed was facts, and Coppelia's silence indicated Irene shouldn't look to her supervisor for help.
When Irene returned to their lodgings, Kai was still out. The mail wasn't due to be delivered for another few hours, but someone had slipped an envelope through the letterbox. The stationery was of expensive quality and engraved with the address of the Liechtenstein Embassy. Irene's name had been written on the envelope in flowing calligraphy.
The enclosed card contained a short message: Lord Silver requests the pleasure of your company at your earliest convenience.
Lord Silver was the ambassador to Liechtenstein and the most powerful Fae in London. Irene had dealt with him before, and, after several encounters, they'd arrived at a fragile truce. The ambassador rarely relented in his efforts to lay a glamour on her even though he'd never been successful. Glamours were one of the favorite spells of the Fae. A combination of illusion and desire, they were used to bend humans to their will. Silver knew she was a Librarian and therefore somewhat resistant to glamours. The thought apparently intrigued him. He occasionally divulged a useful snippet of information which made putting up with him worthwhile.
Like all Fae, Silver needed to be handled with extreme caution. His ability to manipulate her thoughts was a constant threat, and higher level spells were much more difficult to overcome. Dragons were immune to Fae glamours, but Irene was glad Kai hadn't been included in the invitation. He had difficulty concealing his hostility to the Fair Folk and little patience with the game she'd need to play.
Irene could keep Silver waiting, but curiosity made her decide to go ahead and accept the invitation. She swiftly changed into an ankle-length midnight-blue velvet skirt and matching riding jacket then set off for the embassy. Many times she bemoaned the lack of telephones or other communication devices in this alternate, but today it provided her the reason to surprise him. It was time to stroke Silver's ego.
When she arrived at the elegant Georgian building on Cromwell Road, she only had to wait a few minutes before Silver's manservant Johnson came downstairs to greet her. A thin middle-aged man who appeared to dress exclusively in gray, Johnson was the epitome of the discreet assistant. He apparently fulfilled the dual roles of personal secretary and valet.
"Lord Silver is pleased you accepted his invitation so promptly," he confided as they mounted the broad central staircase, confirming the impression she wished to give.
He ushered Irene into a palatial sitting room with ornately carved gilded woodwork, heavy emerald-green drapes and matching upholstery on the Louis XIV chairs. A luxurious Aubusson partially covered the marquetry on the hardwood floor.
Silver was sitting at a small French writing desk. When she entered the room, he rose in one languorously graceful move to greet her. His long silver hair was gathered at the back of his neck into a tail. A flamboyant ascot softened the crisp tailoring of his dove-gray jacket.
As he welcomed her into his suite, Irene felt the first effects of his glamour. She suddenly longed to be swept into his arms and carried off for adventures more amorous and pleasurable than she'd ever dared imagine. It would be so easy to give in, but her Library brand on her back was already bristling indignantly at the notion.
My dear little Librarian," Silver purred gallantly, "I'm honored you accepted my humble invitation with such alacrity. I've long hoped I could acquaint you with my modest abode." His lavender eyes flicked toward an adjacent room. Irene could see the corner of turquoise silk bed hangings. The walls were paneled in brocade damask of the same color. Silver would embrace her, guiding her into the room . . .
Darn Fae glamour. Irene gave a smile meant to convey her profound appreciation of the idea while lamenting her lack of time, all the while picturing herself in a cold waterfall to wash off any lingering glamour residue. "Perhaps later." She sat down at the chair next to his desk and composed her features into polite curiosity. "Honored as I am by your invitation, I wouldn't want to waste your valuable time," or mine.
He snapped his fingers at Johnson. "Miss Winters would like a glass of sherry."
No, she would not. "I wouldn't want to impose," she murmured. Never be in debt to a Fae. Only Bad Things would come of it. She took a moment to gaze with admiration at the fine collection of books displayed in glass-door enclosed cabinets.
He quickly picked up on the hint. "I recently heard that the constabulary has been making inquiries about a certain early edition. The rarity, if it exists, is the stuff of dreams."
Silver's network of spies kept him well informed, and she wasn't surprised that he'd heard about the investigation, but that he'd mention it to her was unexpected.
"Your arrival in London has been a breath of fresh air," he continued in an apparent non sequitur. "It would pain me to see our acquaintanceship end before it's had a chance to develop. Dreams can so quickly turn into nightmares."
She decided to play a hunch. "So true. Only last night I dreamed of a stag running through the forest. As he approached a lake, the water turned a deep shade of red. When the deer leaped into the water, it transformed into a werewolf."
"What a horrific experience for you, my little librarian." Irene inwardly cringed at his repeated use of the term. She was taller than most women in London, but she was forced to simper at his endearments.
"I've been told that a stag has a unique connection to dreams," he added. Silver's eyes drifted up to the ceiling. "You may find the subject worthy of research."
#
Kai and Vale had already arrived when Irene returned to the Mews. They were still dressed as dock workers. Vale was wearing a beard and makeup which gave him a disreputable appearance. He'd added hollows under Kai's eyes and shading to make his face appear haggard. Kai looked vulnerable and ripe for exploitation—not the sort of look to make Irene comfortable about him approaching the Triad.
Irene brought the two of them up to speed. "I left when it became apparent Silver wouldn't share anything else without my giving him something in return."
"The stag Silver alluded to is likely Lecerf, the same person the deceased Librarian mentioned," Kai said. "But why would Silver warn us about another Fae?" Despite his innate hostility to the sworn enemy of dragons, Kai had difficulty accepting that Silver would betray one of his own kind. For a dragon, family relationships and proper respect to one's elders were inviolable principles.
"If he considers Lecerf to be a threat to what he views as his domain, Silver is taking the prudent course," Vale noted. "For the past several years, Silver has been a fixture in London's upper society. He takes great satisfaction in being the leader of the local Fae."
"It would be a typical Fae maneuver to manipulate others to do the dirty work while he keeps himself above it," Irene added. "Only Johnson was in attendance. Silver's words were sufficiently vague that even if someone overheard, he wouldn't be in any danger."
"Do you have an image of Lecerf?" Vale asked.
"There are no known portraits," Irene said, "but our contact in Paris provided a sketchy description."
"Her eyes glazed over as she rhapsodized about a man of almost impossible beauty with long chestnut-brown hair and cobalt-blue eyes." Kai snorted his skepticism. "The woman had succumbed to a Fae glamour. She's hardly a credible witness."
"I'll check around," Vale promised, "but if Lecerf is a recent arrival to England, he may have escaped detection."
Lecerf's possible presence in London added an additional overtone of concern about Kai undertaking undercover work. Base case, any mentor in her situation would view Kai's inexperience as a barrier to solo investigations. Lecerf added yet more justification.
But her apprentice appeared oblivious to the threat. He was glowering over the thought of Lecerf being in London. Since the attempt on his life, Kai's hostility toward the Fae had become personal. He'd have to learn to control putting it on display if he wanted to be effective in undercover work. "Did you find out anything in Chinatown?" Irene asked, seeking to divert his focus.
His scowl transformed into a smile. "We came up with a lead. When we were buying dumplings at a corner stall, I overheard two men talking about a rumored hit the Triad made."
"The men referenced the Golden Lotus," Vale added. "It's a lounge in Chinatown which doubles as a pai gow gambling den."
"I intend to go back there this evening," Kai declared. "It's best I go alone. If I'm with someone who doesn't look Chinese, I'll be viewed with suspicion."
Multiple red flags waved in front of Irene's eyes. She latched onto the most obvious one. "How familiar are you with pai gow?" The ancient game of dominoes had the reputation of being difficult to learn.
"One of my uncles is an expert at the game. I've played with him. The rules in this alternate may be different, but I should be able to adjust." He grinned mischievously "Besides, I don't intend to win. The locals will be much more accommodating if I play the part of a charming but luckless sap."
"What do you expect to accomplish?" she asked, attempting to make her challenge non-dismissive, although that was her desire. She was supposed to encourage initiative in her trainee, but not foolhardiness.
His huff didn't help his case. Surely he didn't expect her to jump with joy. "I hope to strike up a friendship with members of the Hong Triad. If I play my tiles right, they may offer me a job. Vale and I already spoke with Inspector Singh. He's agreed to stage a late night raid. The Golden Lotus doesn't have a gambling license. Usually, the police ignore such establishments, but Singh relishes the opportunity to make an example out of the lounge. I should be able to use the raid to further establish my value to the Triad." He gave her a pleading look. "You know I ran around with a gang before entering the Library, and you have no reason to question my martial arts ability."
#
It was only after Vale chimed in, seconding Kai's proposal, that Irene gave her reluctant consent. Kai appreciated her concern for his safety, but she had no concept of the extent of his abilities. He didn't expect he'd need to call up river spirits from the Thames to come to his defense, but he could if necessary.
He already purchased his clothes in Chinatown—a secondhand gray cotton Tang jacket and loose pants. The worn clothes matched his wish to appear down on his luck.
Vale offered to help prepare his wardrobe, and Kai was curious to see what the detective had in his toolkit. In addition to the expected lock picks and oilskin collection bags, Vale carried a couple of glass vials and a small container of putty to make impressions of keys or other devices. The supplies could be easily concealed within a cloth belt under his jacket.
The Golden Lotus resembled some of the gambling dens he'd visited in his uncle's alternate. Although he might have exaggerated slightly his involvement with gangs, Kai was no stranger to the type of rough hoodlum he'd likely encounter. His uncle had been tolerant of his activities, considering them valuable experience. Court intrigues were an issue in many of the dragon kingdoms. Someday it could affect his father's realm. Not even Ao Gwang, King of the Eastern Ocean, could ignore the possibility. As the youngest son, Kai's most valuable service to his father might be to infiltrate a gang someday. He had the freedom to engage in undercover work that his brothers lacked.
If he'd detailed his past experience to Irene, she might be less concerned about what she viewed to be a risky assignment. So far, though, he'd kept her in the dark about his family. Librarians weren't supposed to maintain close relationships with family members. The type of fealty he owed to his family would be a violation of the strict principles of the Library, which demanded undivided loyalty. If anyone found about his rank, he'd undoubtedly be sent packing, albeit in a highly respectful manner. So far the issue hadn't come up, and Kai wasn't about to turn it into one. The assignment he had tonight was exactly what he'd hoped for. It was the chance to prove to Irene that she didn't have to be concerned about him being able to take care of himself.
When he arrived at the Golden Lotus that evening, the lounge was already filled with gamblers. Kai drifted from one table to another. His strategy was to show complete mastery while having miserable luck. Irene had been willing to stake him with only a small amount of cash, so he first needed to win before he could lose. He took his time playing. He'd have a long night ahead.
As the evening advanced, he gambled less and spent more time observing the others while being careful to maintain a proper deferential attitude. If the master of the Hong Triad or his assistants were there, they'd appreciate his attitude. And if there was one thing court life had drilled into him, it was how to respect one's elders.
The only females were cocktail waitresses. Women were considered the equivalent of an inferior caste in Triad society, but their ignored, mute presence made them excellent reservoirs of knowledge. A friendly face and courteous manner would stand him in good stead.
One of the waitresses was particularly approachable. She appeared to be no older than eighteen and probably thought he was only a few years older. She introduced herself as Mei Song. He portrayed himself as a new arrival from Shanghai, giving the impression that he was lonely and down on his luck.
"Why did you leave Shanghai?" Mei Song asked.
He let his eyes dart furtively around the hall before answering. "I needed to lay low for a while. There was a new police chief who was making life difficult for people like me." When she favored him with a sympathetic nod, he confided, "I hope to join a family. I was told I might be able to find a mountain here." Family and mountain were code words for the Hong Triad, the head of whom was called the Mountain Master. He let his eyes drift to the lanterns hanging from the ceiling. "Perhaps it could use an additional lantern." In the Triad, the lowliest members were called Blue Lanterns.
"Mountains are difficult to climb and they can be treacherous," she commented cryptically. He detected a note of bitterness in her voice. He must have struck a nerve. Triads often conducted prostitution rings. Had she been unwillingly abused? It made Kai feel unclean to have to intimate he would ever condone such activity.
"My skills are slight," he whispered. "All I know is how to fight."
Her eyes slanted toward one of the tables. "The man sitting with his back to us is Chen Wu. He occasionally needs help with his lanterns."
Chen Wu had the lean, wiry physique of a martial arts practitioner. His sparse beard and mustache accentuated his thin lips. Kai had noticed the man studying him earlier. Kai hadn't played at that table yet, and there was a free space. "Wish me luck."
"If I did that, you would leave now while you can," she whispered and headed back to the bar.
When he sat down, he was careful to lower his head respectfully. Chen's eyes narrowed slightly but he allowed him to stay, and once Kai lost a round, a satisfied smile crossed his lips. Over the course of the next hour, Kai made it appear that his luck with the tiles worsened. He saw Mei Song give him a worried glance. He'd lost all his winnings and accumulated a satisfying large debt to the house while managing to sit close to his target. He was well on his way to a successful mission. The tiles had been scratched, indicating someone was cheating. It was revealing that no one asked for a fresh set. Chen's winning streak must have received the house's blessing.
A flurry of whistles interrupted the game as the police stormed in—at least twenty constables, waving nightsticks. Out of the corner of his eye, Kai's spotted Singh's turbaned head among them. They were deliberately causing as much confusion as possible. Kai had told Singh he'd try to sit next to the Triad leader if he were present. Constables had been directed to focus on Kai's table so he could play the hero. Kai would be able to employ seemingly lethal blows without causing injuries. He'd have to be careful, though. Chen was likely an expert fighter too and could be on the lookout for any false move.
Chen was shocked into inaction at their arrival, giving Kai the opportunity to prove himself. Overturning the table, Kai spun around with a flying kick to the constable charging them. He shielded Chen with his back as two more detectives tried to swarm them. Kai cast both men off easily while muttering to Chen, "Now's your chance to escape. I'll hold them off."
Chen tugged his jacket. "Follow me!" he hissed. Other customers, likely triad members were forming a barricade.
Chen ducked down and crawled through overturned tables to the back of the lounge with Kai on his heels. They dashed through the kitchen to a back exit. Chen took off at top speed through the alley, but Kai kept pace with him. One constable spotted them but Kai dispatched him with a twisting scissor kick followed by an apparent strike to the neck. The constable winked at him as he fell and immediately feigned unconsciousness.
By then Chen had climbed a fire escape and was heading for the roof. Kai propelled himself in a flying leap, vaulting to the second floor and reaching the roof seconds after him. When Chen took a running jump onto an adjacent roof, Kai gave free rein to his adrenaline and flew even further. Soaring over Chen's head, he spun around to face him as he landed three yards in front.
Chen broke into laughter, as he caught his breath, his hands on his knees. "Where'd you learn moves like that, kid?"
#
Irene handed Inspector Singh a cup of strong tea. He and Vale had appeared on Irene's doorstep the next morning. Kai was slouched in a chair, sipping his tea sleepily. He'd returned home shortly before dawn after she'd spent several hours second-guessing the wisdom of letting him work solo. Although he'd acquired few concrete leads, the results were encouraging. Singh was almost as enthusiastic as Kai.
"We arrested all the patrons who didn't flee," Singh said, adding a generous amount of milk to his cup. "The questioning will continue at least through the day. Up to now, we've had scant information about the Hong Triad. A few of the suspects who most likely weren't triad members coughed up the names of those who were in order to secure their freedom. Since there were so many arrested, they evidently felt they could secure our goodwill without the gang being able to figure out who ratted out on them. They confirmed the fellow Kai latched onto, Chen Wu, is the leader of the group."
"I hope none of your men were injured?" Kai asked politely.
"A few bruises. One was knifed but the wound is not serious." A half-smile crossed Singh's shrewd face. "The detective you encountered on the street was impressed at your skill and suggested we should start training in the martial arts." His expression grew serious. "To face the Hong Triad, we'll need to."
Vale had steepled his hands together in front of his face, his gaze directed inward. "Did anyone connect the Triad to Smedley's murder?"
"One of the lounge patrons claimed that a member had been bragging about a big commission they were paid for a job earlier in the week," Singh said. "The amount of funds he had to gamble lends credence to the tale."
Irene turned to Kai. "But Chen Wu mentioned nothing to you about it?"
"Not a word. After we climbed down from the roof, he invited me to a tea shop. He divulged next to nothing about himself but questioned me about my background." Kai's eyes lit up mischievously. "My performance on the rooftops impressed him. I gather he considers himself the most skilled in the Triad. He quizzed me about where I'd trained. I had researched a master in Fujian—a reclusive monk who accepts only a few students. His skill is legendary, but because of the remoteness of the location and his hermit lifestyle, Chen will have a difficult time confirming my story. I'd hoped to be accepted as a Blue Lantern, but the job he offered could be more useful."
Irene wished she could have seen his acrobatic performance. Did Chen Wu suspect he was a dragon? Caution didn't appear to be in Kai's vocabulary except when it came to her. Was feeling invincible an inherent flaw of being a dragon? Vale was eyeing her with amusement, and Irene bit back the caution she was on the point of uttering.
Chen Wu apparently had been well aware of Kai's gambling debt and asked Kai where he worked. When Kai professed to be without a job, Chen offered to speak with the owner of the Golden Lotus about taking him on as a stock boy. Singh was fine with the idea. From his perspective, simply the fact that Chen was in a position to advise the owner on who to hire provided confirmation of the Triad's close ties. Kai would be in a position to overhear potentially valuable news, but links to the book were nonexistent. Irene and Kai weren't in this alternate to serve as irregular members of the police force.
So far the police hadn't uncovered any bookseller who'd admit to having sold Smedley the Chinese classic. Vale had also examined the victim's records and discovered one seller, the proprietor of Endicott's Rare Books, with whom he appeared to have a particularly close relationship. While Kai was at his new job, she and Vale intended to pay the shop a visit.
#
Horace Endicott's shop was tucked into a narrow side street near the University of London. It would have been an area Smedley frequented often since he was a retired professor from that institution. Most of the books in the store were secondhand. Moldy covers and torn jackets were battle scars of their previous adventures. A few valuable treasures were kept in a locked glass cabinet.
Endicott was a ruddy-faced stocky man in his sixties with curly white hair. His pleasant face assumed a shadowed expression when Vale asked him about Dream of the Red Chamber. Although he denied it volubly, something, or more likely someone, had scared him badly, and Vale's eloquent appeals didn't budge him from his protestations of ignorance.
Irene disliked using the Language with humans, but in cases like this, there was no good option. She stepped up to the counter, looked him in the eye and said, "You will answer all my questions truthfully. You want to be helpful."
Vale cast a startled eye at her but didn't hesitate to roll with it. A wise decision. The effect wouldn't last long, at which point Endicott would likely never speak to them again.
"Did you sell Dream of the Red Chamber to Chester Smedley?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied even as he glanced furtively at the door. There was no one else in the shop but he continued to be nervous.
"Where did you acquire the book?"
"From Davy Roscoe."
"Did he tell you how it came into his possession?"
"No, but I'd assumed he'd stolen it. He's sold me other books he obtained illegally. I've found it best to not ask questions." His brow furrowed. "Why am I telling you this? What have you done to me?"
"Nothing," Irene lied. "Thank you for being so forthcoming." She slanted a glance at the exit but Vale didn't need any persuasion. They maintained a fast pace as they distanced themselves from an increasingly agitated bookseller.
"Why didn't the effect last longer?" Vale asked.
"He was fighting against it," she explained, leaning against a lamppost. The focus required to control a human was much more exhausting than when she used the Language on an inanimate object. "But I doubt he had much more to tell us. Do you know who Davy Roscoe is?"
"He's a member of the Iron Brotherhood. If Count Lecerf had the classic, the Brotherhood would have been happy to relieve him of it."
The Iron Brotherhood was a secret society in London with a profound hatred of the Fae. Several notable engineers, dismayed at the growing use of magic, were members. The Iron Brotherhood specialized in the use of automatons. Singh was generally tolerant of their activities and had informants placed in their ranks. He operated on the theory that the enemy of his enemy was his friend. And he wasn't the only one who followed that tenet.
"I wouldn't be surprised but Silver may have dropped a hint through a friend of a friend to the Brotherhood about Lecerf."
Vale nodded agreement. "The group has been in disarray since the death of their leader. Their numbers are growing once more, and their hatred has only worsened. They're ripe for exploitation."
With possibly catastrophic results. The Iron Brotherhood had been responsible for a recent attack of alligator automatons. They'd also designed a double-decker-sized centipede to terrorize London streets. Had they now become Silver's unwitting army?
Notes: Was Irene's concern for Kai on his first solo field work assignment justified? Find out in Chapter 2: A Walk in the Park. I posted the chapters at the same time so you can continue reading.
I wrote this fic while waiting for the 5th novel in The Invisible Library series, The Mortal Word, to go on sale. My series is set between the 1st and 2nd novels. For an introduction to the world of the Invisible Library, please see the Tales from the Library page of my blog.
Visuals for the story are on the Tales from the Library board of my Silbrith's Stories Pinterest site. The board includes my dream cast of actors as well as location pics. Fanfiction doesn't allow links in notes, but there are links in my profile.
Thanks for reading and hugs to all of you who review, favorite, comment or leave kudos!