White Jade (The PROJECT) Read Free Page A

screamed when his finger had been snipped off. He smiled, showing the gaps between his yellowed teeth.
    "You are sure the book was not in Connor's home?"
    "Yes, sir. I am positive it was not there. His heart gave out too soon, before he revealed its location."
    "That was unfortunate. But you did well. Now I have another task for you."
    Wu watched Choy perk up. He's like a good dog , Wu thought. Give him something new and interesting to do and he's happy.
    "The American owned a house three or four hours from here. Take some men tomorrow and search for the book. Use a vehicle from the black pool."
    The black pool was a small fleet of cars untraceable to the Chinese Consulate.
    Wu took an envelope from his jacket and slid it across the table to Choy. "Money and a driver's license. The directions to the place are also there."
    Choy put the envelope in his jacket pocket as the waiter returned with steaming plates of food.
    "Sergeant," Wu said, "enjoy this delicious dim sum. It's as good as we get at home."
    Across the room, the elderly Chinese man took a last sip of his cold tea. He folded his newspaper and rose. He shuffled by the cash register to pay and carefully made his way down the steep stairs. His superiors would be pleased when they learned of the meeting he had just overheard.

Chapter F ive
     
    Nic holas Carter and Selena Connor stood in the heat of the parking lot. All the parked cars were still empty. Carter put his phone away. Two and a half hours before Triple A could get him out of here.
    " Can you give me a ride into town? My rental 's no good . " He gestured at the mess under his car.
    " Of course. I ' m parked just over there. "  
    A new Mercedes CL600 gleamed in the late afternoon light. T welve cylinders and over five hundred horsepower . A fast, luxury car. A driver's car. A money car . Not many women drove cars with that kind of power. It said something about her . Nick got his bag from the rental and climbed in.
    " Nice car. "
    " I just got it a few weeks ago. "
    She started up, drove out of the lot.
    " Where are you staying? " he asked.
    " The Mayflower Renaissance. I stay there when I'm in Washington and leave the car there when I'm out of town."
    " T hat ' s not far from my place . Where do you live when you ' re not in D.C.? "
    " San Francisco . I ' ve got a loft in North Beach . "
    They pulled onto the Interstate. The interior was quiet except for the whisper of the air conditioner . Carter relaxed into the leather.
    They were doing a little over seventy. S elena glanced in the rear view mirror and switched lanes. A BMW 740 with blacked out windows passed her and cut sharply in front.
    " Jerk, " she muttered under her breath. In the side mirror Nick saw a black Suburban pull in behind, riding their tail. His ear began itching .
    The y entered a construction zone . The right lane of the highway was bordered by heavy cement barriers laid end to end. O range signs warn ed of doubled fines and men at work .
    The Suburban rammed into them and drove the Mercedes into the cement . The car rebounded from the barrier in a shower of sparks and fishtailed back onto the roadway. In front, the BMW blocked them . Selena fought for control. The Suburban came alongside on the left and broadsided her back into the barrier.
    The front right fender and hood buckled . S omething flew over the roof. S parks streamed by Nick's window . T he Mercedes slid along the cement in a din of screeching steel.
    D rivers swerved around them , horns blaring.
    Carter pulled out his .45. Selena ' s eyes narrowed.
    "Hang on," she said.
    S he hit the brakes and the big discs on the Mercedes grabbed the wheels . Carter wasn ' t ready . T he seat belt stopped his head inches from the dash. The Suburban surged past on the left, scraping strips from the car , taking the mirror with it . Selena shifted down . She floored the accelerator and the f ive hundred horses came to life. She cut across panicked traffic into the outer lane.
    The y shot