Chinese Dragon by Dave Barraclough - HTML preview

Chapter Forty-eight

'I hope you appreciate that we have allowed you a certain amount of latitude on this case, Moon', he said. 'You cleared up the Chang Chu-chu problem so neatly that I let I'm talk me into allowing you to go after Bae. But I want you to realise that it isn't to be taken as a precedent'.

I  mumbled something about being so involved that it had been difficult to withdraw.

'You were fortunate to have I'm Sun-taek keeping an eye on you', said Na severely. He closed the folders and replaced them in their file. Then he took out another folder and placed it on his desk. 'Now, about your next project . ' he began, but was interrupted by the telephone.

The call was for I'm, who went into the adjoining office to take it. While we were waiting for him to return, Na opened the bottom right-hand drawer of his desk and took out a video-camera.

'You may as well have this back now', he said. I took and gave it a quick glance, then handed it back to him. 'This isn't mine', I said.

'Then that explains the switching of the films', Na said, reaching down and producing another camera from the drawer. 'This is the one that was found with Doyle's body'.

'Yes, they got mixed up accidentally at the Chinese Dragon. Doyle's had just been returned by the police; it was stolen from his hotel on his previous visit, a month or so earlier. That would be when he took the film of the accident'.

'Yes, that's right', Na agreed. 'They're both the same make, and the cases are almost identical'.'It was Kong So-ra who first put that idea in my head', I went on. 'She tried to make me believe that Doyle had picked up my camera by mistake, and then used my video to blackmail Kim Su-mi. It was an accidental switch all right, but Doyle didn't need my video for blackmailing purposes - he'd already found out who Bae was. That's why he was blackmailing her'.

'Perhaps it was lucky you got the wrong camera', Na said with a smile.

'Very occasionally, mistakes do turn out for the best, but we never accept that as an excuse in this department. However, you've made a good job of this assignment'.

I said: 'I'm glad you were proved right about Chang, sir'.

He gave a little shrug. 'I suppose you thought I was unduly sentimental. As he was  dead, what did it  matter whether he was  innocent or guilty? Well, it mattered to me'.

This was one of the things about Na that ensured the full support of the men who worked for him.

I'm Sun-taek returned, and Na reopened the folder on his desk.

'Now, about the next assignment, Moon . '