Emerald (14 page)

“What the hell? Sir, May I ask what you want?”

Josef offered no response.

“Who are you anyway?” Tam asked him.

The waiter appeared and placed a tall colorless drink and an inch high stack of cocktail napkins before Josef. Josef paid him in cash and waved an acknowledgement to the waiter who said, “Thank you, sir,” and walked off. Josef took a sip of his drink, looked at Tam, and smiled. Tam angrily stared at the man, unbelieving he was even sitting there. Josef then raised his glass again, like in a toast, and nodded to Tam and took another sip. Tam took a long swig of his martini and then said looking at Josef, “Who are you?” Josef picked up one of the napkins, pulled out a ball-point, wrote
Josef
, and handed the napkin to Tam who stared back and forth at the napkin and at the man sitting before him.

“Can’t you talk?”

Josef wrote
No
.

“Well, I’m sorry sir, but I’d like my privacy, if you don’t mind.”

Josef smiled and nodded his head up and down showing he understood and remained seated. He wrote again on the same napkin,
what are you doing in Geneva?

“I’m trying to have a quiet drink by myself. That’s what. What do you want?”

Josef wrote,
I understand, and so am I, but no one will talk to me because I intimidate them or they feel sorry for me and you at least are talking to me, which I appreciate. The next round’s on me. What is your name?

“Tam,” he said disarmed and relaxing a little. “Where are you from, Josef?

I live here in Geneva but I enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world such as you. I am an haute cuisine chef
.

“
What’s that?”

Oh, just a fancy name for a cook. What brings you to Geneva, Tam?

“I’m here representing a group of businessmen to do some business for them, some possible buying, you might say.”

Tam finished his martini and really liked the fact that Josef was buying the next round. This relieved his conscience about whether or not to order another drink. This Josef guy seemed harmless enough and he, too, didn’t mind the company in this new and strange city.

“Cooking, huh? Most cooks are fat because they eat their own creations, but you look in prime shape, Josef. Do you work out a lot?”

Yes. I do Judo and Karate, both routines from your part of the world. Do you?

“I try, mainly because I have to be on my toes to stay out of trouble. I do know Karate, more for self-protection than to keep in shape.”

Are you in danger? Where do you live?

“Not here. I’m from Hong Kong. It’s different there.”

Josef waved to the waiter to bring another round of drinks, which he did. Josef got a fresh napkin to continue the conversation and wrote,
what kind of products are you buying, Tam?

“Well, Josef, I’m not actually buying products in the normal business sense. I’m bidding at an auction for a syndicate of jewel collectors.”

Tam thought about what he said, but decided Josef seemed a safe person to talk to because he knew he wouldn’t say anything, unless he was faking. Tam wished he hadn’t told Josef that. He became intent now on checking out Josef’s truthfulness about not being able to speak. He began observing the man closely.

That sounds like an easy job. What kind of jewels?

“Yeah, bidding is easy enough. By the way, Josef, if you don’t mind me asking, how come you can’t talk?”

No tongue
.

“My God! Were you born that way or were you in an accident? Could I see?”

Josef opened his mouth to verify to Tam that he indeed was missing his tongue. All Tam could see was a swollen stub at the back of his mouth.
This guy’s not faking. Wow! That would be terrible
, he thought and started to feel sorry for Josef but remembered what he had said about most people felt sorry for him, so he guessed he’d better just ignore it and go on.

A savage man who held me prisoner in the Sudan cut it out. The scar on my eye was from the same man, in case you are wondering about that too. It’s a long story, but I was rescued and came here to live. I’m okay now though
.

“I know what you mean by a savage man, Josef. I work for a man like that now. He not only tortures, but he also kills them and cooks them, if you’ll pardon the expression.”

Why do you work for him? Can you leave him?

“I wish. I would not be here now if he hadn’t sent me. I’m their errand boy, you might say, and have to do their dirty work while they stay hidden and safe.”

Tam’s second drink was empty, so Josef ordered another round just for Tam. He asked again,
what are you bidding on
, after Tam took a big gulp of the martini that the waiter sat before him.

“An emerald.”

Is that all? Just one emerald?

Tam’s speech began to slur a bit,”Yep, just one emerald, but it’s a big one and is a perfect natural stone. I wish I had it for my own, and I could get out of the mess I’m in.”

How much will it cost? Does it have a special name or is it a special variety?

“Probably around three to five million tops. It’s called the Whittelsbach Emerald.”

Who are the people that want the emerald? Is there a way you can get it for yourself?
Josef added the last question to get Tam’s mind on himself so he would talk more freely. He could not believe the openness of this Tam person, so he was going for broke.

“A bunch of thugs and criminals. You know, like the mafia. They’re very powerful, and there’s no way I could ever get that stone. I couldn’t steal if I wanted to because they’d hunt me down and I’d be dead in twenty-four hours, and that’s a fact.

Why don’t you get out of the- - -what did you say their name was?

“The Triad. That’s their official name. Some people refer to them as a Tong. I’d be dead if I tried to get out too. I’m totally stuck, Josef. I’m not free like you. You’re lucky, man- - -even with no tongue and no eye. You’re luckier than I am. Do you want another drink?”

Sure. I’ll have another drink. Thanks. Hey, I’m buying, remember? So when is this auction taking place and where?
Josef motioned to the waiter again.

“It’s July first at the Rohrschemond Hotel at high noon. Remember that movie, High Noon? You know the Gary Cooper movie? Well, we’re going to have a bidding shootout at high noon there, Josef. Why don’t you come too?”

I will if I can. I’ll sit by you and keep a lookout for you, Tam
.

“Yeah, I could use a lookout man like you. I’m a dead man probably anyway, Josef. They’ll probably send a guy to grab the emerald and knock me off. I really don’t care any more though. My life is shit anyway.”

Do you know who else is bidding on the emerald, Tam? Who is putting the emerald up for auction?

Tam was pretty drunk now and continued, “It doesn’t matter who else is bidding on it. I have to buy it or I’m dead. It could be the State of Israel, and for all I know they want to sell the stone and get cash. Probably to build bombs with so they can blow all those terrorists off the face of the earth. That’s what you’ve got to have these days - - - a bomb. Guns don’t do it any more nowadays. That’s kid’s stuff- - -guns and knives. This world is going to blow itself up anyway one of these days, so none of us have anything to live for, really.”

Josef noticed his glass was empty again and he had learned all he was going to find out for now, so he offered to take Tam to his room since he was getting sloppy drunk. Tam refused and wanted another drink, so Josef said he would get a fresh bottle at the bar and take him to his room so he could relax and not have to worry about anything. Tam looked tired, and Josef had to leave anyway, so maybe they could talk another time, okay. Tam wasn’t much in favor of it, but he finally agreed. Josef got a bottle at the bar before he helped Tam up and walked him to his room on the fifth floor of the hotel.

He is in room 515
, wrote Josef to Servette. Josef then wrote out the gist of the conversation, telling Piet why Tam was in town and what his business connections were and that he was bidding for the Whittelsbach Emerald.

“Josef, you did magnificently. Seems that auction is going to be very interesting, Goodnight, Josef. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Tam awoke with another hangover, but it wasn’t as bad as usual. Last night he stopped drinking before he passed out, for a change. He lay in bed thinking of the previous evening with Josef. It felt good to get things off his chest. He said things to Joseph that he never talked about. Josef was a good guy. It had been a long time since he’d had a conversation with someone who wanted nothing more than a little companionship.

He showered, did his daily exercise routine, and went down to the restaurant off the lobby for breakfast. Afterwards, he felt pretty good. Everyone seemed so friendly here in Geneva- - -nothing like in Hong Kong. He greeted people he passed and they responded to him. He decided it on the spot: he would take the emerald to Dr. Yang and stay in Geneva. It was time to put his life back together. He had his evening with Josef to thank for this new resolve. But, he didn’t have Josef’s phone or address. I guess I did most of the talking, he thought, and then smiled at the implication. I know he enjoyed it as much as me. I have a hunch I’ll see Josef again. He’d make a good friend and how long had it been since I’ve had a friend. He thought about Sue Mai Lee. One day he would tell Josef about her. He wondered if Josef had ever been in love.

He walked outside breathing the fresh morning air. Geneva even smelled good. He never wanted to think of Hong Kong again. He continued for a few blocks until he came to a lake where a huge fountain shot a spout high into the bright blue cloudless sky. He strolled along beside the lake on a paved walkway bordered with colorful flowers and verdant landscaping. Invigorated he walked back to his hotel, and decided to rent a car since he would now be spending some time in Geneva. Then he got back down to business. His most pressing need for now was to get his instructions on how he was to conduct himself at the auction. In addition, he needed to fill out those forms that the woman at Christie has had given him or he would not be able to get into the auction at all. Now is the time, he thought. Tam entered his hotel and took the elevator up to his room.

M
ax telephoned Inspector Servette and informed him that the bank’s lawyers determined that the Klein’s had no surviving heirs and the emerald could be auctioned with the proceeds going to the Munich Residenz Museum.

“Why there?” Servette asked.

“I’m not sure, but I think because that’s where the Wittlesbach Emerald was housed at one time. I’ll look into that further.” He added, “You’ll be interested that Christies has decided to add that stone to their next regular auction at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, in two weeks.”

Servette told Max what Josef had found out from an Asian man named Tam who planed to bid on the emerald on behalf of a Hong Kong group.

“without being able to speak, Joseph can get more information in a short time than I can talking all the time.” The Inspector laughed. “You’re right there, my friend.”

“I will get in touch with our two Israeli friends and let them know about the auction time and make sure they know where it is to be held. I guess that’s about all we can do for now. Keep you ears open for anything else you hear from the streets and I’ll see you tonight for dinner as usual.”