Taut: The Ford Book

“No. It’s a business property, used for… recruitment.”

“Ah,” I say with a little too much enthusiasm. “I see.”

Li takes a seat at a massive desk. There are diplomas on the wall and this is yet another thing that takes me off task. “You’re a doctor?”

“Not my certificates, I’m afraid. I have employees who man this house when it’s in use. Please,” he says, motioning to the two chairs in front of his desk. “Sit.” And then he looks at my accomplice and nods. “I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure.”

“Yes, well, she’s my secret weapon, Mr. Li. Pam, my personal assistant, has been with me since I graduated college. I can’t do anything without her these days.”

My good little assistant is busy texting on her phone and does not even grace Mr. Li with a polite hello.

She’s perfect. Thank you, God.

“Well,” Li says clasping his hands together like this is a pleasant social call. “What can I do for you?”

I take the passports out of my pocket and hold them up in the air. “I just wanted to return these to Ashleigh. She left behind all her stuff, mostly just old clothes and baby things that are easily replaced, but getting a new passport is a bitch. I figured she’d want them back.”

“Yes,” he says reaching across the desk. “I can take those and deliver them the next time I’m up at the family home.”

I tuck the passports back into my inside pocket. “Well, Mr. Li, that’s great. Really great. I’ll be relieved to be relieved of them, but to be perfectly honest, I’m not here to return the passports.”

He smiles, like my pathetic passport ruse was so amateur.

“I’m actually here to request one short visit with Ashleigh and Katelynn. I’m worried, Mr. Li. You see, Ashleigh mentioned that she was not on speaking terms with you or her sister. So I’m wondering if something nefarious is going on. I like Ashleigh. I’d like to make sure she’s OK, and I’d like to request a visit today, if you can swing it. One fifteen-minute visit, and then I’m afraid I have to be going. I’m leaving the country, we’re filming on location for the next six weeks.”

He stares at me. His eyes narrow. His face whitens just a smidge. His hands steeple under his chin and he smiles. He senses the trap. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to refuse, Mr. Aston. She’s not well. She’s recovering from a severe depression.”

“Is she medicated?”

He pauses again, mulling over what kind of danger answering this question could lead him into, then decides none. “No. She’s combative in that regard. The…” He pauses. “The breastfeeding. She’s still breastfeeding because the child won’t accept formula. The transition hasn’t been as easy as we’d hoped.”

Transition to what?

But I lock that shit away. Later, Ford, the voice in my head warns me.

“Fifteen minutes. I’m going to have to insist.”

And this time his smile is real. Because I just laid out my hand. I’m here. I want something. I’m not leaving until I get it.

Li opens his top desk drawer and removes an envelope. He places it on top of the immaculately varnished wooden desk, then pushes it in my direction with a single fingertip. “Your compensation, Mr. Aston. For taking care of my youngest daughter when she was ill.”

“Thank you.” I smile and nod but do not take the money. I don’t know what the f**k he thinks I am, but desperate for a few thousand dollars is not it.

“It’s two million dollars, Mr. Aston. You might rethink your reluctance.”

“Was she checked into a facility, Mr. Li?”

He pushes the envelope a little closer.

“I need a face-to-face, Mr. Li. I’m worried about her. You see, my father was a rather well-known psychiatrist and he had a lot of friends in So Cal.”

His eyes narrow again.

“I called them immediately after she was taken away. They’ve been keeping tabs on all the local facilities. Now maybe you took her to a place far away, that’s entirely possible. But if that’s the case I need to know where. I need to check up on this and I won’t let it go. All I want is fifteen private minutes, then I walk away, get on my plane, and never bother you again. But I will get that visit, Mr. Li. I have another associate, one with skills that match or exceed my own, who has been doing a little digging.” I stop here to see if this registers.

He tips his chin up in a defiant gesture and that’s my proof that yes, it does in fact make a difference.

“He’s been researching you, Mr. Li. Or should I call you Dr. Matigan?”

He looks quickly over to my assistant who is still busy on her phone. He studies her for several seconds before dragging his gaze back to me.

“She’s deaf, Mr. Li. That’s why she’s so valuable.”

“Mr. Aston,” he says in a totally different voice than the placating one he’s been using on me since I arrived. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”

I’d like to laugh in his face. And if I wasn’t so close to getting what I want, I might. But now is not the time for childish antics. Ashleigh needs me. “I’m afraid I do. And that’s why I will insist on a visit. Right now. I already know she’s in the Rancho Santa Fe house. It’s a forty-minute drive up, a fifteen-minute private visit, and then we’ll be out of your life.”