Code Name Komiko by Naomi Paul

Author:Naomi Paul [Paul, Naomi]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Law & Crime, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Computers
ISBN: 9781623240233
Google: gIGWAgAAQBAJ
Amazon: B00HESW90K
Publisher: Scarlet Voyage
Published: 2014-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

“Honestly,” Lian said to the guard. “Two pat downs to get into this thing? Where do you imagine I’d hide something in a dress like this, anyhow?”

The woman, clad in the uniform of the hired private security company Baochi Anquan, had reached Lian’s ankles with her scanning wand, and now stood back up. “I’m the only pat down here, miss,” she said. “The guy who felt you up at the gate doesn’t work for us.”

Lian blanched. “What?”

The guard’s straight face broke into a smile, and she laughed. “I’m joking. Trying to get you to relax, miss. It is a party, after all.” She handed back Lian’s clutch and waved her onto the walkway to Harrison’s luxury yacht, the Seaward.

Lian took a deep breath. It’s a party, after all, she thought, starting up the ramp. Just like any other party: drinks, music, hors d’oeuvres, snooping for secrets about a corrupt multimillionaire clothing mogul. Maybe a round of charades.

The boat had looked impressive from the dock, but it was almost unbelievable to behold once you were on deck. Every chrome surfaced gleamed, and every inch of teakwood was perfectly polished. Lian could only guess at the dimensions, but two decks rose above the main one she was on, and the guests standing at both the bow and the stern were a bit out of focus from where she’d boarded amidships.

This deck and the one above it were filled with well-dressed partygoers from seemingly every corner of the globe, men and women in designer labels to complement their diverse skin tones and bone structures. These are the beautiful people, Lian thought . . . and the ones who aren’t beautiful must have to find consolation in their insane wealth. She felt acutely aware of being neither, and the same fraudulent sensation she’d had at the Fàn Xī dinner crept over her once more. Then she chided herself for the moment of self-pity: here she was, spending Friday night on a yacht, while people like Zan were stuffed into a musty shoe-box apartment in the Chungking Mansions.

Perspective was important, she reminded herself.

She looked both ways down the deck, then shrugged and started for the stern, hoping she’d spot someone she knew. As she rounded the corner, she did. Rand Harrison, glass of champagne in his hand and spiritless smile on his face, was holding forth among a crowd of his guests.

Lian stopped in her tracks. The European couple who had been walking behind her didn’t notice, and bumped into her, causing her to stumble. So of course it was at that moment that Harrison looked up, pausing between words as their eyes locked. He just as quickly looked away and continued speaking, and Lian apologized to the European couple, ducking around them to walk the other direction. Harrison’s gaze was an appraisal and a threat, all at once. She wanted to move away from it quickly. As quickly as she could in high heels.

On the opposite end of the yacht, she found Mingmei front

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