The Armageddon Machine by Mike Ramon
Chapter Fourteen
Seoul, South Korea
June 2 -- 14:16 UTC/11:16 pm local time
David admired the confidence of Violet Rhee as she led him around in a neighborhood that looked tough enough to make him nervous. They had left Violet’s unmarked car several blocks away, where she said there was less chance of it being stolen.
Bright neon sings flashed on and off all along the street, every color of the rainbow blinking into existence in brief flashes of light, then each winking out before flashing again, each sign acting like a flame to a moth, attracting hard men and their hard women to this bar here, that club there. There were shouts in the night, and words passed in whispers, furtive looks and challenging stares. Captain Violet Rhee didn’t seem to notice, or at least not to be bothered in the least. She walked calmly, blithely stepping over discarded wrappers and broken beer bottles in her path. She seemed more interesting to David with each day that passed.
He followed a few steps behind her; this was her backyard, and he trusted her not to lead him into anything that they couldn’t get out of. Several times she led him into an establishment, told him to wait by the door and went off alone for a minute before coming back.
“Not here,” she would say cryptically before walking out and continuing on.
They came to a stop in front of a club that had a sing hanging out front that was different than the other sings along that street in that it was not in Korean. It wasn’t in English either, but French. David thought it strange. He read the sign: LE TAS DE SALETÉ
“I wonder what that means,” he said, pointing to the sign.
“The Pile of Dirt,” Violet said.
“Who would name their club that?”
“You’ll see. I had hoped to speak with someone else tonight, but I’ll have to settle for him. Come with me.”
David thought of asking who the “him” was that she was referring to, but figured he would know soon enough. They walked past a bouncer who looked like a bulldog; the man glanced at them but said nothing. Once inside Violet stopped David.
“They will search you and take your weapon,” she said. “Let them.”
She turned and walked away before he could ask her who she was talking about. He followed her, wary now. His gaze shifted around, looking for any sign of danger. Violet led him around the interior of the club, staying near the wall, until they at last came to a set of carpeted stairs that led to a raised area populated by a single table. At the foot of the stairs David realized who Violet had been talking about when two men stopped them as they got close to the stairs.
“Remember what I said,” Violet whispered to him.
The bodyguards didn’t say a word as they walked behind both David and Violet and started patting them down. David had to fight to keep his arms up and to the side as the man who was searching him did his work, against trusting Violet Rhee’s judgment. The bodyguards took possession of David’s service-issue Glock Model 23 and Violet’s Ruger.
David threw an indignant look Violet’s way, though she didn’t seem to notice it. She was looking at a third bodyguard for some sort of confirmation. This man looked her over, then David, and turned his attention back to Violet. He nodded his head toward the stairs and Violet started up. David wasn’t sure if he was supposed to follow her or stay put at the foot of the stairs; he made a decision and started up after her as she neared the top steps.
Up top they came to a large area with deep red plush carpeting. There was a large table, in the center of which sat a short, chubby man facing out toward the dance floor, and he was surrounded by several attractive women and at least a dozen mean-looking boys who David could only assume were more bodyguards. Mr. Popular was wearing an expensive suit and dark sunglasses, which he wore in spite of the dimness of the club. He wore three thin gold chains around his neck and nearly ever finger had a ring on it, each with a different gemstone set in it. David thought the man looked ridiculous.
“Hello, Kenny,” Violet addressed the man in English.
“Ah, Violet; I was beginning to think that I would never see you again,” Kenny said. “It made me so sad.”
He laughed and the rest of the table laughed with him.
“Who is your friend?” Kenny continued. “I don’t think I’ve seen him around here before.”
“This is Agent David Diehl,” she answered, waving a hand toward David. “From the United States.”
“Oh, an American. I spent some time in America. New York City. Sadly, I can never go back. I guess America just couldn’t handle me.”
Kenny laughed again, and again the women and bodyguards laughed along with him.
“David, this is Kenny Kim,” Captain Rhee said, completing the introduction.
“The one and only,” Kenny said. “Please sit, you two.”
Violet took a chair facing Kenny Kim, and David sat next to her. David noticed that a couple of the bodyguards were watching him closely, as if they thought he posed a threat to their boss. He wondered what would happen if he made a sudden move toward Kenny, but thought it better not to test the men.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Captain?” Kenny asked as he lifted a goblet up to take a drink.
David thought the goblet was a bit much, and had to suppress a smile.
“I would like to speak to you about a sensitive matter,” Violet Rhee replied.
“Go on, go on; I’m all ears.”
“Perhaps you should ask your friends to excuse us,” she said.
She cast a glance at the bodyguards.
“All of your friends,” she stressed.
“It’s all right, Captain; my friends can hear whatever it is you have to tell me. They can keep a secret. Can’t you guys?”
Kenny laughed; this time the bodyguards did not laugh with him, instead burning holes into Violet with their eyes. Evidently they did not appreciate her attempt to have them dismissed. Violet said nothing; she simply held her gaze on Kenny, and waited. His laughter dissipated.
“Okay, okay,” he said. “Leave me alone with the pretty Captain and her friend.”
The women started moving at once, sliding out from behind the table and heading down the stairs. The bodyguards hesitated.
“You, too,” Kenny commanded his men. “Go! Hurry, hurry.”
The men moved then, but slowly. One of them bumped hard into the back of David’s chair as he passed behind, but David didn’t react. He was staying, and they were leaving; that was enough.
“Thank you,” Captain Rhee said when the men were gone.
“You are most welcome,” Kenny said. “Now let’s cut to the chase, shall we? I know that you didn’t come here tonight just for the pleasure of my company.”
“Of course not,” Violet said, and the smile that had been spread on Kenny’s face dimmed a little.
“Go on, then,” Kenny said, all mirth gone from his voice and demeanor.
“There are some people who are trying to smuggle something dangerous into this country,” Violet began. “There is a possibility they may have smuggled it in already.”
“You came to ask me about smuggling? Well, you’ll have to narrow it down some, Captain. A lot of things are smuggled into Korea every day. What is it that you are interested in--a shipment of drugs, guns, women?”
“A weapon,” Violet said.
“Guns then.”
“No, not guns. A weapon.”
“What kind of weapon?” Kenny Kim asked.
“You don’t need to know that,” Violet said.
“How am I supposed to help you if I don’t know what it is that you are looking for?”
Kenny took a drink from his goblet. Violet thought for a moment; David could see her calculating just how much she should reveal to the man.
“It would be the biggest thing you would have heard about in your life, Kenny,” she said at last.
Kenny looked at her for a moment without saying anything.
“I…may know something, Captain,” Kenny sai
d. “I am not certain. I forget a lot of things.”
“You wouldn’t forget this.”
Kenny Kim leaned over the table, his gut pressing flat against the tabletop. David could smell the alcohol on his breath.
“My father always told me that the greatest cure for forgetfulness is money,” Kenny continued.
“Is my gratitude not enough?” Violet asked with a smile.
“Gratitude cannot buy me anything, Captain.”
Violet moved quickly, both hands moving to Kenny Kim’s neck, grasping and squeezing. David looked toward the stairs as he reflexively reached for his holster, which was empty. He couldn’t see any of the bodyguards, which meant they couldn’t see him; more importantly they wouldn’t be able to see Violet choking out Kenny Kim.
David lowered his hand from the empty holster and looked back at Violet and her captive. Kenny Kim’s face had gone red as he tried to pry her hands from his thick neck. He was making pathetic strangled sounds. The music in the club was too loud for anyone who wasn’t within a few feet of the table to hear the struggle.
“How many times have I looked the other way while you conducted your business?” Violet asked. “How many timed have I gotten you out of a jam? How many times have I saved your ass when you’ve angered men who are really bad, not just little boys who act bad like you do?”
By this time Kenny’s face was turning purple, and David feared the man would pass out. Violet squeezed down a little tighter on his windpipe, cutting off even the low squealing sounds he was making.
“And why did I do all this?” Violet asked. “For one reason only--because you are useful to me. But if you are no longer useful, what shall I do then?”
She released the man and Kenny lurched back in his chair, sucking in air desperately. David looked toward the stairs again, but there was still no trouble there. He feared that Kenny would call for help now that he was free of Violet’s grip, but instead the man just sat and caught his breath as his face went from purple to red, and then the red began to fade.
“Talk,” Violet demanded.
“You are an insane person, you crazy bi--”
“I would be careful what you say,” David cut him off. “Next time I don’t think she’s going to let go.”
Kenny looked at David for a second, then turned back to Violet Rhee. He had mostly caught his breath by then. Captain Rhee held his gaze.
“I don’t know if it’s what you are looking for,” Kenny Kim began, “but a little birdy told me about some shipments that have come in over the last couple of months from the North. Very hush-hush.”
“North Korea? What about from China?”
“From China? Guns, women. You know, the usual. But these shipments from the North were strange. For one there is very little that comes in from the North. Some weapons shipments from time to time, some Army General trying to make a few extra bucks by selling surplus guns to gangs here in the South. But this was different. Nobody knew what was being brought in, who was sending it, or who was receiving it. Word is some North Koreans hired some gangsters from around Seoul, who in turn hired others to act as protection when the shipments came in.”
“Sounds to me like these North Koreans were putting a buffer between themselves and the shipments,” David said. “If the South Korean muscle got pinched, they would give up the people who hired them, who were themselves South Koreans. By the time those guys were rounded up and interrogated, the guy pulling the strings would have had plenty of time to skip town.”
“Yeah, but one of the North Koreans was always there when the shipments came in,” Kenny said.
David shrugged his shoulders.
“The guy who was left to supervise could have been under orders to kill himself if he was about to be taken into custody,” David surmised. “Or at least trained to stand up to enhanced interrogation long enough for the others to get away.”
“You said that nobody knew who they were,” Violet said, getting back on track. “Then how do you know they were from the North?”
“I don’t know anything,” Kenny said. “This is just what I heard. I heard they were from the North, but that they used nicknames.”
“What were their nicknames?” Violet asked.
“I don’t remember. Cobra, Rattlesnake, stuff like that. Supposed to sound scary, I guess.”
David and Captain Rhee passed a look.
“How about Viper?” she asked. “Or Scorpion?”
“I don’t know. I told you that I don’t remember.”
“What are the names of the middlemen from the South who hired the protection?”
“I don’t know. I heard this from somebody who heard it from somebody who heard it from somebody. I don’t know the names.”
“So, the Northern boys wanted protection for these shipments,” David said. “How many men?”
“Well, like I said, there were a few different shipments on different days. At least three or four. From what I heard they had about a dozen guys for each one, heavily armed. But it was weird.”
“What was weird?” David asked.
“Usually when a black market shipment comes in there are a lot of containers or crates to take off a ship. But not for these shipments. The man from the North would board the ship alone, and come back minutes later with nothing; not a crate, not a box, nothing. Then he would have the muscle escort him to a location where he would change vehicles, and then he would go his way and they would go theirs.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” David said. “Why all of that protection for nothing? He must have taken something off of those ships.”
Kenny shrugged, as if it made no difference to him whether or not David believed him.
“How do you know so much?” Violet asked. “Maybe you were involved.”
“I wish I was involved,” Kenny said. “I heard the muscle hired for the arrival of the shipments were paid ten million won apiece for each shipment. That’s almost ten thousand U.S. dollars for your American friend. Like I said--it was weird. People talk about it, and I keep my ears open. It’s always a good idea to keep your ears open.”
“What would muscle normally be paid for a job like that?” David asked.
Kenny Kim thought about it.
“A million won,” he said. “Maybe a little more, maybe a little less.”
“And the goons were paid ten million wons for this guy to climb aboard a ship and come back with nothing,” David said.
“I know it sounds crazy,” Kenny said. “What can I say? North Koreans are fucking crazy.”
“Have you heard of any more of these strange shipments coming in the future?” Viloet asked. “Maybe from China?”
“No, no. The last shipments came in almost two weeks ago. As far as I know there are no more.”
“If you should hear something new, about another shipment coming in or whatever, I want to know about it immediately,” Violet said.
Kenny rubbed at his neck; faint handprints could still be seen on his skin there.
“Do you understand, Mr. Kim?” Violet pressed.
“Yes, I understand.”
“All right then. Agent Diehl, it’s time to go.”
Violet Rhee stood and headed for the stairs.
“Thank for the hospitality,” David told Kenny Kim as he rose from his seat to follow Violet.
Kenny sneered at him.
At the bottom of the stairs Kenny’s bodyguards gave hard looks to both Violet and David as they passed before heading back up top to join their boss. The guards posted at the foot of the stairs retuned the weapons they had taken off of David and Violet. As they headed for the exit David kept looking back, half expecting for the guard to come chasing after them, sure that Kenny Kim would not be able to let them walk out after being so humiliated. Nobody followed.
Outside, away from the noise, David breathed in the cool night air. He checked his watch and found that it was past midnight.
“Do you think he was telling the truth when he said t
hat he didn’t know the names of the middlemen from the South?” he asked.
“Probably not,” Violet said. “But he was in a tough spot. If he had told us those names he would be a dead man. And even if we got him to give us those names, what could they tell us if we questioned them? That men with codenames paid them to hire third-party protection? We already know that. Plus, if we need to we can always question Mr. Kim again, and more thoroughly.”
“How does all this fit in with Dragon’s Breath?” David asked. “Our assumption is that Violet Dawn was trying to smuggle it out of China, but these black market shipments came from North Korea.”
“The men from the North said the shipments came from North Korea, which doesn’t mean they didn’t really come from China.”
“Good point. But why multiple shipments? Intel says there is only one Dragon’s Breath weapon. And why didn’t they take anything off those ships?”
“I don’t know,” Violet admitted. “I just don’t know.”
They found the car where they had left it. Captain Rhee had to shoo away some teenagers who were leaning against the vehicle, but they didn’t start a fuss about it. In the car Violet started the engine, then sat for a minute staring out into the night.
“What’s wrong?” David asked.
She looked at him with troubled eyes.
“What if we can’t stop this?” she asked.
Captain Rhee shifted into drive before he could answer, and pulled away from the curb before reaching to turn on the radio.
Seoul, South Korea
June 2 -- 14:16 UTC/11:16 pm local time
David admired the confidence of Violet Rhee as she led him around in a neighborhood that looked tough enough to make him nervous. They had left Violet’s unmarked car several blocks away, where she said there was less chance of it being stolen.
Bright neon sings flashed on and off all along the street, every color of the rainbow blinking into existence in brief flashes of light, then each winking out before flashing again, each sign acting like a flame to a moth, attracting hard men and their hard women to this bar here, that club there. There were shouts in the night, and words passed in whispers, furtive looks and challenging stares. Captain Violet Rhee didn’t seem to notice, or at least not to be bothered in the least. She walked calmly, blithely stepping over discarded wrappers and broken beer bottles in her path. She seemed more interesting to David with each day that passed.
He followed a few steps behind her; this was her backyard, and he trusted her not to lead him into anything that they couldn’t get out of. Several times she led him into an establishment, told him to wait by the door and went off alone for a minute before coming back.
“Not here,” she would say cryptically before walking out and continuing on.
They came to a stop in front of a club that had a sing hanging out front that was different than the other sings along that street in that it was not in Korean. It wasn’t in English either, but French. David thought it strange. He read the sign: LE TAS DE SALETÉ
“I wonder what that means,” he said, pointing to the sign.
“The Pile of Dirt,” Violet said.
“Who would name their club that?”
“You’ll see. I had hoped to speak with someone else tonight, but I’ll have to settle for him. Come with me.”
David thought of asking who the “him” was that she was referring to, but figured he would know soon enough. They walked past a bouncer who looked like a bulldog; the man glanced at them but said nothing. Once inside Violet stopped David.
“They will search you and take your weapon,” she said. “Let them.”
She turned and walked away before he could ask her who she was talking about. He followed her, wary now. His gaze shifted around, looking for any sign of danger. Violet led him around the interior of the club, staying near the wall, until they at last came to a set of carpeted stairs that led to a raised area populated by a single table. At the foot of the stairs David realized who Violet had been talking about when two men stopped them as they got close to the stairs.
“Remember what I said,” Violet whispered to him.
The bodyguards didn’t say a word as they walked behind both David and Violet and started patting them down. David had to fight to keep his arms up and to the side as the man who was searching him did his work, against trusting Violet Rhee’s judgment. The bodyguards took possession of David’s service-issue Glock Model 23 and Violet’s Ruger.
David threw an indignant look Violet’s way, though she didn’t seem to notice it. She was looking at a third bodyguard for some sort of confirmation. This man looked her over, then David, and turned his attention back to Violet. He nodded his head toward the stairs and Violet started up. David wasn’t sure if he was supposed to follow her or stay put at the foot of the stairs; he made a decision and started up after her as she neared the top steps.
Up top they came to a large area with deep red plush carpeting. There was a large table, in the center of which sat a short, chubby man facing out toward the dance floor, and he was surrounded by several attractive women and at least a dozen mean-looking boys who David could only assume were more bodyguards. Mr. Popular was wearing an expensive suit and dark sunglasses, which he wore in spite of the dimness of the club. He wore three thin gold chains around his neck and nearly ever finger had a ring on it, each with a different gemstone set in it. David thought the man looked ridiculous.
“Hello, Kenny,” Violet addressed the man in English.
“Ah, Violet; I was beginning to think that I would never see you again,” Kenny said. “It made me so sad.”
He laughed and the rest of the table laughed with him.
“Who is your friend?” Kenny continued. “I don’t think I’ve seen him around here before.”
“This is Agent David Diehl,” she answered, waving a hand toward David. “From the United States.”
“Oh, an American. I spent some time in America. New York City. Sadly, I can never go back. I guess America just couldn’t handle me.”
Kenny laughed again, and again the women and bodyguards laughed along with him.
“David, this is Kenny Kim,” Captain Rhee said, completing the introduction.
“The one and only,” Kenny said. “Please sit, you two.”
Violet took a chair facing Kenny Kim, and David sat next to her. David noticed that a couple of the bodyguards were watching him closely, as if they thought he posed a threat to their boss. He wondered what would happen if he made a sudden move toward Kenny, but thought it better not to test the men.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Captain?” Kenny asked as he lifted a goblet up to take a drink.
David thought the goblet was a bit much, and had to suppress a smile.
“I would like to speak to you about a sensitive matter,” Violet Rhee replied.
“Go on, go on; I’m all ears.”
“Perhaps you should ask your friends to excuse us,” she said.
She cast a glance at the bodyguards.
“All of your friends,” she stressed.
“It’s all right, Captain; my friends can hear whatever it is you have to tell me. They can keep a secret. Can’t you guys?”
Kenny laughed; this time the bodyguards did not laugh with him, instead burning holes into Violet with their eyes. Evidently they did not appreciate her attempt to have them dismissed. Violet said nothing; she simply held her gaze on Kenny, and waited. His laughter dissipated.
“Okay, okay,” he said. “Leave me alone with the pretty Captain and her friend.”
The women started moving at once, sliding out from behind the table and heading down the stairs. The bodyguards hesitated.
“You, too,” Kenny commanded his men. “Go! Hurry, hurry.”
The men moved then, but slowly. One of them bumped hard into the back of David’s chair as he passed behind, but David didn’t react. He was staying, and they were leaving; that was enough.
“Thank you,” Captain Rhee said when the men were gone.
“You are most welcome,” Kenny said. “Now let’s cut to the chase, shall we? I know that you didn’t come here tonight just for the pleasure of my company.”
“Of course not,” Violet said, and the smile that had been spread on Kenny’s face dimmed a little.
“Go on, then,” Kenny said, all mirth gone from his voice and demeanor.
“There are some people who are trying to smuggle something dangerous into this country,” Violet began. “There is a possibility they may have smuggled it in already.”
“You came to ask me about smuggling? Well, you’ll have to narrow it down some, Captain. A lot of things are smuggled into Korea every day. What is it that you are interested in--a shipment of drugs, guns, women?”
“A weapon,” Violet said.
“Guns then.”
“No, not guns. A weapon.”
“What kind of weapon?” Kenny Kim asked.
“You don’t need to know that,” Violet said.
“How am I supposed to help you if I don’t know what it is that you are looking for?”
Kenny took a drink from his goblet. Violet thought for a moment; David could see her calculating just how much she should reveal to the man.
“It would be the biggest thing you would have heard about in your life, Kenny,” she said at last.
Kenny looked at her for a moment without saying anything.
“I…may know something, Captain,” Kenny sai
“You wouldn’t forget this.”
Kenny Kim leaned over the table, his gut pressing flat against the tabletop. David could smell the alcohol on his breath.
“My father always told me that the greatest cure for forgetfulness is money,” Kenny continued.
“Is my gratitude not enough?” Violet asked with a smile.
“Gratitude cannot buy me anything, Captain.”
Violet moved quickly, both hands moving to Kenny Kim’s neck, grasping and squeezing. David looked toward the stairs as he reflexively reached for his holster, which was empty. He couldn’t see any of the bodyguards, which meant they couldn’t see him; more importantly they wouldn’t be able to see Violet choking out Kenny Kim.
David lowered his hand from the empty holster and looked back at Violet and her captive. Kenny Kim’s face had gone red as he tried to pry her hands from his thick neck. He was making pathetic strangled sounds. The music in the club was too loud for anyone who wasn’t within a few feet of the table to hear the struggle.
“How many times have I looked the other way while you conducted your business?” Violet asked. “How many timed have I gotten you out of a jam? How many times have I saved your ass when you’ve angered men who are really bad, not just little boys who act bad like you do?”
By this time Kenny’s face was turning purple, and David feared the man would pass out. Violet squeezed down a little tighter on his windpipe, cutting off even the low squealing sounds he was making.
“And why did I do all this?” Violet asked. “For one reason only--because you are useful to me. But if you are no longer useful, what shall I do then?”
She released the man and Kenny lurched back in his chair, sucking in air desperately. David looked toward the stairs again, but there was still no trouble there. He feared that Kenny would call for help now that he was free of Violet’s grip, but instead the man just sat and caught his breath as his face went from purple to red, and then the red began to fade.
“Talk,” Violet demanded.
“You are an insane person, you crazy bi--”
“I would be careful what you say,” David cut him off. “Next time I don’t think she’s going to let go.”
Kenny looked at David for a second, then turned back to Violet Rhee. He had mostly caught his breath by then. Captain Rhee held his gaze.
“I don’t know if it’s what you are looking for,” Kenny Kim began, “but a little birdy told me about some shipments that have come in over the last couple of months from the North. Very hush-hush.”
“North Korea? What about from China?”
“From China? Guns, women. You know, the usual. But these shipments from the North were strange. For one there is very little that comes in from the North. Some weapons shipments from time to time, some Army General trying to make a few extra bucks by selling surplus guns to gangs here in the South. But this was different. Nobody knew what was being brought in, who was sending it, or who was receiving it. Word is some North Koreans hired some gangsters from around Seoul, who in turn hired others to act as protection when the shipments came in.”
“Sounds to me like these North Koreans were putting a buffer between themselves and the shipments,” David said. “If the South Korean muscle got pinched, they would give up the people who hired them, who were themselves South Koreans. By the time those guys were rounded up and interrogated, the guy pulling the strings would have had plenty of time to skip town.”
“Yeah, but one of the North Koreans was always there when the shipments came in,” Kenny said.
David shrugged his shoulders.
“The guy who was left to supervise could have been under orders to kill himself if he was about to be taken into custody,” David surmised. “Or at least trained to stand up to enhanced interrogation long enough for the others to get away.”
“You said that nobody knew who they were,” Violet said, getting back on track. “Then how do you know they were from the North?”
“I don’t know anything,” Kenny said. “This is just what I heard. I heard they were from the North, but that they used nicknames.”
“What were their nicknames?” Violet asked.
“I don’t remember. Cobra, Rattlesnake, stuff like that. Supposed to sound scary, I guess.”
David and Captain Rhee passed a look.
“How about Viper?” she asked. “Or Scorpion?”
“I don’t know. I told you that I don’t remember.”
“What are the names of the middlemen from the South who hired the protection?”
“I don’t know. I heard this from somebody who heard it from somebody who heard it from somebody. I don’t know the names.”
“So, the Northern boys wanted protection for these shipments,” David said. “How many men?”
“Well, like I said, there were a few different shipments on different days. At least three or four. From what I heard they had about a dozen guys for each one, heavily armed. But it was weird.”
“What was weird?” David asked.
“Usually when a black market shipment comes in there are a lot of containers or crates to take off a ship. But not for these shipments. The man from the North would board the ship alone, and come back minutes later with nothing; not a crate, not a box, nothing. Then he would have the muscle escort him to a location where he would change vehicles, and then he would go his way and they would go theirs.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” David said. “Why all of that protection for nothing? He must have taken something off of those ships.”
Kenny shrugged, as if it made no difference to him whether or not David believed him.
“How do you know so much?” Violet asked. “Maybe you were involved.”
“I wish I was involved,” Kenny said. “I heard the muscle hired for the arrival of the shipments were paid ten million won apiece for each shipment. That’s almost ten thousand U.S. dollars for your American friend. Like I said--it was weird. People talk about it, and I keep my ears open. It’s always a good idea to keep your ears open.”
“What would muscle normally be paid for a job like that?” David asked.
Kenny Kim thought about it.
“A million won,” he said. “Maybe a little more, maybe a little less.”
“And the goons were paid ten million wons for this guy to climb aboard a ship and come back with nothing,” David said.
“I know it sounds crazy,” Kenny said. “What can I say? North Koreans are fucking crazy.”
“Have you heard of any more of these strange shipments coming in the future?” Viloet asked. “Maybe from China?”
“No, no. The last shipments came in almost two weeks ago. As far as I know there are no more.”
“If you should hear something new, about another shipment coming in or whatever, I want to know about it immediately,” Violet said.
Kenny rubbed at his neck; faint handprints could still be seen on his skin there.
“Do you understand, Mr. Kim?” Violet pressed.
“Yes, I understand.”
“All right then. Agent Diehl, it’s time to go.”
Violet Rhee stood and headed for the stairs.
“Thank for the hospitality,” David told Kenny Kim as he rose from his seat to follow Violet.
Kenny sneered at him.
At the bottom of the stairs Kenny’s bodyguards gave hard looks to both Violet and David as they passed before heading back up top to join their boss. The guards posted at the foot of the stairs retuned the weapons they had taken off of David and Violet. As they headed for the exit David kept looking back, half expecting for the guard to come chasing after them, sure that Kenny Kim would not be able to let them walk out after being so humiliated. Nobody followed.
Outside, away from the noise, David breathed in the cool night air. He checked his watch and found that it was past midnight.
“Do you think he was telling the truth when he said t
“Probably not,” Violet said. “But he was in a tough spot. If he had told us those names he would be a dead man. And even if we got him to give us those names, what could they tell us if we questioned them? That men with codenames paid them to hire third-party protection? We already know that. Plus, if we need to we can always question Mr. Kim again, and more thoroughly.”
“How does all this fit in with Dragon’s Breath?” David asked. “Our assumption is that Violet Dawn was trying to smuggle it out of China, but these black market shipments came from North Korea.”
“The men from the North said the shipments came from North Korea, which doesn’t mean they didn’t really come from China.”
“Good point. But why multiple shipments? Intel says there is only one Dragon’s Breath weapon. And why didn’t they take anything off those ships?”
“I don’t know,” Violet admitted. “I just don’t know.”
They found the car where they had left it. Captain Rhee had to shoo away some teenagers who were leaning against the vehicle, but they didn’t start a fuss about it. In the car Violet started the engine, then sat for a minute staring out into the night.
“What’s wrong?” David asked.
She looked at him with troubled eyes.
“What if we can’t stop this?” she asked.
Captain Rhee shifted into drive before he could answer, and pulled away from the curb before reaching to turn on the radio.