Chapter Sixteen
An hour later I was sitting opposite my chief in the smoking room of his club, sipping soju. I smiled to myself; from the tone of my voice on the telephone he'd guessed I was in a disgruntled frame of mind, and it was typical of him to choose a stamping ground where the laws of hospitality forbade a guest to enter into a heated argument with his host.
He sipped his sherry in silence, allowing me to simmer down. Then, putting his glass on the table between us, he said conversationally, 'Well, now, Moon? What's on your mind?'
'The Chang Chu-chu Affair', I said dryly. 'There are developments which I would like to discuss with you, sir'.
'I imagined there might be', he said, with a wry smile. 'Suppose you bring them out where we can take a look at them'.
'I'll begin with a name', I said, leaning back in my leather armchair. 'Bae. I told I'm about a phone call that came through while I was in Kim Su-mi's flat on the night Doyle was murdered. It was from Kong So-ra and she mentioned the name Bae Yeon-seok'.
His expression betrayed no more than polite interest.
I hesitated, then went on a little tentatively: 'I'm Sun-taek had obviously heard that name before'.
'It's possible', Na said blandly.
I leaned forward in my chair. 'It's no use, Na', I protested.
'You've got to trust me. I must know more about the background of the Chang Chu-chu case'.He reached for his glass and sipped his sherry thoughtfully. Then, rather to my surprise, he said: 'That's a reasonable request, Moon. I think the time ha come for me to take you more deeply into my confidence'. Returning his glass to the table he relaxed in his chair, fingering his chin. 'During the past twelve months we've been very worried about a certain organisation. We've good reason for believing that the head of this organisation is someone called Bae Yeon-seok'.
'And this organisation', I prompted, when he had lapsed into a frowning silence, 'what does it deal in?'
'Blood diamonds', he replied, coming out of his reverie. 'They're smuggled from North Korea, via China. Bae's little group provides a highly efficient system for buying and selling them'.
'But surely', I said, drumming my fingers on the arm of the chair, 'blood diamonds are police business? I don't see what interest your department can have in a matter of that sort'.
'We're not directly interested in Bae's organisation. As you say, it's purely a matter for the police', he agreed. 'However, that are two angles which involve my department. Some of the diamonds smuggled into this country are industrial diamonds. Quite a brisk traffic there; mainly with the agents of other foreign governments'. He smiled. 'That is why my department comes into the picture.
We've already creating a list of possible agents'.
'I see', I said untruthfully. I hadn't a clue what he was leading up to.
Twisting my glass around on the table, I said: 'But where's the connection between all this and Kim Su-mi? Or Chang Chu-chu, for that matter?'
'That's the second angle in this business of the smuggled diamonds. And to me, at any rate, it's the most important angle'. His face clouded. 'Two months ago I was told that the Shanghai police suspected Chang Chu-chu of being mixed up in this affair. As you can imagine, I was disturbed by this news. I trusted Chang implicitly. He'd been working with us for some time and possessed quite a lot of valuable information'. He pursed his lips ruefully, then continued, with a shrug: 'Apart from that, I pride myself on choosing the right man for the job. I didn't think I'd made a mistake about Chang - but, for security reasons, I had to check up on him. So I asked him to come to Seoul'. He paused. 'He was on his way to the airport when he was knocked down by Kim Su-mi's car'.
In the silence that followed, I studied his face. This was a new Na. I had always thought of him as a man ruthlessly dedicated to the efficient running of his department; now, for a moment, I had a glimpse of the warm, sensitive nature he normally concealed behind a mask of indifference to the feelings of his subordinates.
Vaguely touched, I said quietly: 'Was Chang Chu-chu a friend of yours?'
He straightened in his chair, shooting a glance at me, which was at once resentful and amused. 'A leading question, that, Moon', he said sharply. Then, with a small gesture of acceptance: 'I'd known him for some time. He played the piano superbly. He and his brother, Joong-ki, were at the Academy of Music in Shanghai; both brilliant musicians. But, of course, I had other reasons than authentic background for employing Chang Chu-chu as an undercover agent.Although their mother was Chinese, the father of both the Changs was a Korean army officer'.
'Did Joong-ki know his brother was working for your department?'
'Of course not', said Na emphatically. Then his brow furrowed. 'I could wish you hadn't brought that up. I don't want to have doubts about Chang . But if he did tell his brother, or anyone else, he was working for our department, then I have to admit I made a mistake'. He spread his hands. 'I don't often misjudge people, Moon, and until I have definite proof of Chang's innocence in this matter I'll have no peace of mind. Apart from my personal feelings, I don't want it on my conscience that I've let the department down'.
I smiled inwardly. This was the ruthlessly dedicated Na. 'What happened to the metronome Chang Chu-chu was carrying when he was killed?' I asked. 'Did I'm examine it?'
'The Shanghai police handed it over to him. There were no diamonds in it, if that's what you're thinking. Nor in the one belonging to Doyle'. He smiled blandly. 'We usually find Scotland Yard co-operative, you know, Moon'.
'I'm glad to hear it', I said, returning his smile. 'Then perhaps you can persuade them to hand over one of the articles they found when Doyle was murdered?'
Na looked at me through half closed eyes. 'Which article, Moon? The chronometer? I assure it's been examined down to the last detail'.
'Not the chronometer', I said casually. 'I happen to be interested in the auction catalogue'.