Maybe most, but not all. Mei thought hed neatly skirted the facts surrounding both his marriage and divorce. You certainly have an interesting, eclectic background. Youre no doubt aware that the extent of my investigative experience is local, or in some cases tracking leads into bordering states. I look forward to learning how you hunt criminals and question potential witnesses in other countries.
Cullen glanced over her head and made no comment, but waited for Freda to enter and collect the tray from his desk.
Sorry to interrupt, she said. I wanted to give you a heads-up about the children beginning to stir. It seems that no matter how hard I try to keep them from invading your office when youre working, they manage to finagle their way around me.
Thats fine, Freda. Belinda, especially, needs to start her day with hugs.
The woman asked if either of them needed anything else; when both Cullen and Mei said they were fine, Freda cleared the desk and left in a rattle of dishes.
Your children are lucky youre so easygoing, Mei Lu remarked in the ensuing silence.
Yes. Well, kids lose enough stability when parents part ways.
From the little I saw of them, they seem remarkably happy and well-adjusted.
Cullen shifted in his chair, acting almost flustered by the compliment. Mei wondered if fatherhood was an area the coolly competent Mr. Archer had reservations about. If so, shed find that hard to believe.
Cullen rearranged his features quickly. Two of the homicide detectives last night were also present when the first courier was found. To date theyve turned up no leads. Both men said trying to get information out of witnesses near the nightclub parking lot was like hitting a brick wall. Witnesses either dont speak English or pretend they dont. I hate to say this in front of another of Houstons finest, but I felt solving these murders isnt a high priority.
Mei returned her teacup to its saucer. Do you consider the officers derelict in duty, or have they truly exhausted every lead?
I wasnt at the first site initially. I joined the case several days later. I cant fault how the team swept the dock for clues last night. They were thorough. I saw one officer walk along the row of parked cars and take down the license numbers of two that still had warm engines. He planned to pay the owners visits this morning to see if they saw or heard anything significant.
It sounds to me as if they plan to work the case.
Cullen let out a breath. Youre right. Im just a man who likes speedy results. Its difficult to accept that if people saw a man killed before their eyes, theyd stonewall the cops.
Sometimes cops are the last ones witnesses want to speak with.
I know. But Im sure you know that in the past our police departmentor I should qualify and say some cops in the city have been as underhanded as the crooks.
Mei stiffened automatically. It was an accusation of long standing, one shed heard Catherine gripe about often enough. On a force our size, there are bound to be a few bad apples. Mei found herself quoting the chief. Chief Tanner cleaned house after she came on board. She outright fired officers proven to be on the take. She reprimanded and demoted others.
Hey, Im not accusing your chief. I occasionally run into the city manager at community events, and he says shes tough. Yet murder is on the rise.
And Homicide is a division thats spread thin. I have a good friend who works in the Chicano section. Thats another area of the city where witnesses clam up and suddenly become deaf and blind. Ill be glad to ask Crista for some tips on how she interrogates. She has a high degree of success.
Cullen opened his folder and turned to a new page in his notebook. All right. That would be good. Id like us to go around to the nightclub and talk to people who mightve seen our first courier before he was killed. How many dialects are you conversant in?
Im fluent in Mandarin and passable in Cantonese.
Thats great. I told you I spent some time trying to work a case in Guangdong province. I took a crash course in Cantonese. The taped kind, of course. I learned little and retained less. Luckily, I found that the Asians I came in contact with were very tolerant of my frequent goofs.
Mei laughed. Our language is one of the more difficult. So few foreigners make an effort, and they were probably pleased you did. The knot in her stomach loosened a bit as they talked. Shed been so sure the first thing out of Cullens mouth would have to do with her father.
They understood my pathetic attempts far more easily than I was able to decipher what they said. Maybe I have a bad ear, but many of the words sound alike to me.
Its not you at all. Chinese is a tonal language. Words have different pitch patterns, but none of the emotional rise and fall you get in English or other European languages. Changing the subject, she said, Ill be happy to go poke around the nightclub after it opens today. Just give me a list of people the homicide crew interviewed. If nothing else, the bartender may be able to provide some other leads. Is the bar open all day, or only nights? Where is it located?
Cullen absently read off the address. Doug Whitsell said they open at noon. He glanced up and narrowed his eyes as he watched Mei jotting it down in her notebook. Listen, I dont want you going into that part of town alone. Not even in daylight. Its too dangerous.
At first Mei thought he was teasing. But the minute she stopped writing and looked up, she realized he was dead serious. Cullen. His name rolled easily off her tongue. Too easily. The address you gave me is two blocks north of the market where I do my grocery shopping.
Impossible. Ive been there, remember. This area is run down. According to the lead investigator, its a high-crime neighborhood.
Mei pursed her lips. Honestly! Now you sound exactly like my parents.
He seemed taken aback by her vehemence. Lets forget the nightclub for a moment and discuss your parents. Your father, anyway.
Mei tried to control her nerves. It was clear that Cullen intended to say more. But his office door banged open and two excited children came thundering in, shouting and trying to see who could gain their fathers attention first.
Daddy, Daddy. The twins ran past Meis chair. Instead of grappling a white rabbit as they had on her previous visit, they were now in a tug-of-war over a portable phone.
Its Mom! Belinda screeched loudest, but her brother succeeded in wresting the instrument out of his sisters hands.
Shes calling from way far away, Bobby declared importantly. Freda said Bangkok.
Yes, and Freda said Mom wants to talk to you before Bobby and me get to say a word. Cullens daughter slipped anxiously between the desk and her fathers chair and somehow managed to drape herself over his arm. Hi, police lady!
Bobby, too, said hello, and Mei smiled at them both.
When she looked at Cullen again, he had the phone pasted to one ear.
Jana?
Mei shut her notebook and stood, fully prepared to give the family privacy.
Whats so important that you have to speak with me before you talk to the twins? You missed calling from your last stopover. Cullen combed his fingers through Belindas over-long bangs and gazed at his son, who raptly awaited news.