Surrey? wondered Bien. A third man who was also arrested? Petya, Styp’, and Surrey ... all important names to remember for Jack.

“It was stupid of them,” said Thao. “I still do not understand why they did that. We would have paid them more money if they had let us keep them.”

“Thao is right,” said Húu. “Why did you drive the girls to that place for Peter and Styp’? There is much demand for them in our business. Men pay much money.”

“That is what they wanted,” shrugged Dúc.

Bien looked at the big man watching him from the back of the cell. Peter ... Styp’ ... they have Linh!

Bien scratched his throat and the big man started yelling for the guard, saying he wanted to speak to his lawyer.

The guard arrived and told the big man he would have to wait. Bien was being released first.

Bien was led into an office where Jack, Laura, and Connie waited.

“I have the names,” said Bien excitedly. “Write them down! Quick! The two men who have taken my daughters.”

Connie grabbed her pen and notebook.

“Their names are Petya and Styp’!”

“Shit,” said Connie, putting her pen away.

“There is maybe a third man,” said Bien. “His name is Surrey!” Bien looked at the three forlorn faces looking back at him. “What is wrong? Do you not know these men?”

Jack cleared his throat and said, “Petya, or Peter as it is called in English, is a Russian we have been referring to as Moustache Pete. His partner is Styopa. They are the two men Laura and I followed to Hanoi.”

“They have Linh! Arrest them now! Search their houses!”

“They share an apartment together. It is not a house. They do not have Linh.”

“Then it is the man called Surrey! Do you know him?”

“Surrey is a city near Vancouver. It is where Hang was found. It is not a person.” Jack saw the tears fill Bien’s eyes. “Tell us what you heard,” he asked softly.

“Thao spoke with Dúc when he arrived. He asked him if they might be in jail because of Peter and Styp’ over the two girls. I am sure it is Hang and Linh they talk about!”

“Please ... tell us the rest,” said Jack.

“Dúc said it had nothing to do with them. He said it is only because of prostitution. He said the Vancouver police are behind it. He said Surrey is only a coincidence.”

“Did he say what kind of coincidence?” asked Connie.

“No. Thao said it was stupid of Peter and Styp’. He said he did not understand why they did that. He said they would have paid them more money for my daughters.”

“He said they were sisters?” asked Jack.

“No ... he said girls ... but I know he is talking about my daughters. Then Húu asked Dúc why he drove the girls to that place for Peter and Styp’. Dúc said it was because that is what they wanted.”

“What place?” asked Connie.

“Now I do not know,” cried Bien. “I believed he meant to one of the homes of the three names I told you.”

“Take it easy,” said Jack. “What you have done has helped us.”

“I did not do this right!” shouted Bien. “I should have asked questions!”

“No,” replied Jack. “I told you not to ask any questions. That would be very, very dangerous for Linh.”

Bien grabbed Jack’s sleeve and said, “But now we know that Dúc and those two Russians know where they are. You can find them easy now.” His eyes flashed and he added, “I would like to be there when they talk!”

Jack closed his eyes while briefly massaging his temple with one hand.

“What is it, Jack?” asked Bien. “Why are you still sitting here? Linh is in great danger!”

“It is not that easy,” explained Connie. “We know that they do not have Linh. If we question them about it, then they will tell whoever has her to kill her and hide her body.”

“You do not ask them politely!” yelled Bien. “You are the police! You make them talk! Do not let them talk to anyone until Linh is safe. You must act now!”

“I’m sorry, Bien,” said Connie. “It does not work that way in Canada.”

Jack looked at Bien and thought, I’m sorry, buddy, there was a day I would have glady beaten the information out of them. I just can’t. Please understand, I have someone I love in my life now. I have to do the right thing.

“It has to work that way!” said Bien. “It is my daughter’s life! She is a child!”

Jack looked at Bien and sighed. Why do I feel so much shame and hate myself if what I am doing is the right thing? “Bien ... no,” said Jack. “You said that Húu told Dúc that he should not have driven the girls to that place.”

“Yes, that is right.”

“‘That place’ ... does not mean that Linh is still there. It could have been a temporary drop-off place. Neither Dúc nor the Russians may know exactly where she is. Even if they were made to confess ... they may not know where Linh is now. Whoever has Linh might hear about it and kill her.”

“Then what will you do?” asked Bien.

“You have given us a good lead,” said Jack. “We can now focus our attention on Dúc and the two Russians.”

“It sounds like whoever has her is known to both Dúc and the Russians,” said Connie. “We have phone records. I will work on it tonight with many investigators. If there is a common denominator, we will find out.”

“Is there anything else they said?” asked Laura.

“There is only one more thing,” said Bien, bitterly. “Dúc mentioned that you only found half his money.”

Connie glanced at Jack and Laura and said, “I’ve already got Proceeds of Crime looking at his financial transactions.”

Jack nodded and looked at Bien and asked, “Did you tell Dúc about using lots of different girls to smuggle heroin?”

“Yes, I told him,” replied Bien. “He did not ... what do you call it? Steal the bait.”

“Bien, believe me,” said Jack. “We will find her. You’ve got my word on that.”

Bien nodded as he silently committed one other piece of information to memory.

The Sacred Phoenix at one o’clock.

chapter thirty-three

Linh tried to ignore the sound of the bat slapping against Pops’s hand as she got to her feet. Until now, she had remained defiant ... angry at the man she knew had killed her sister.

Pops had been wickedly controlling. A slice of bread ... perhaps allowing her to temporarily have an article of clothing to lord his power over her. But he had not caused any physically lasting pain. With the exception of her fighting with him and being slapped and punched when he first chained her up and tore off her clothes, she had not yet suffered much physical torture.

There were times when he would urinate on her, but he seemed to take more joy with marking an X on the calendar each day, while verbally tormenting her about the box that was out of her reach and what she might expect on the red-circle day.

Linh had refused to show any interest in the calendar or the box ... at least when Pops was in the room.

Tonight, something is different about his face. He does not look as evil—he looks ... afraid! The bat ... the hose ... because I do not play his game, he is going to kill me!

“Please, Mister Pops,” said Linh, pointing at the calendar. “I must know. Tomorrow is the first red-circle day. Please tell me! What is in that box?”

Pops stopped and stood staring at her. He was panting, as if he had just been using the exercise equipment that Linh had seen in the basement when she first arrived.

“Mister Pops! I must know. Don’t make me wait. Please ... tell me now.”

Pops turned to look at the calendar and looked at Linh and smiled. “It is your first red-circle day tomorrow,” he said.

Abruptly he stepped forward again, raising the bat menacingly over her head and she stepped back.

“No!” Pops shouted. “I will not tell you now! You will wait until tomorrow.” He lowered the bat and, almost as an afterthought, he said, “It is Saturday tomorrow. When I come home from work I will be off for the next two days. I think it will be best if I give you all the surprises during that time.”