Double-Crossing Delancey Read Online Free Page B

bringing what. Even in the face of stress and strain, standards must be maintained. “What, Charlie?”
     
    In a voice as apologetic as his face, Charlie answered, “Bear gall.”
     
    I counted to ten. When I spoke, my tone was ice. “Your cousin — no, all right, his cousin — brought bear gall from China into the US?”
     
    Charlie nodded miserably.
     
    Rajesh Shah spoke. “Excuse me, I am sorry, please: what is bear gall?”
     
    My eyes still on Charlie, I answered, “It’s gooey brown stuff from the gall bladders of bears. Certain uneducated, foolish, ignorant Chinese people think it has medicinal properties. It doesn’t, and besides that it’s very painful to the bears to have it collected, and besides that it’s illegal to bring it into this country.”
     
    Charlie stared at the floor and said nothing.
     
    “How much, Charlie?” I asked. “How much did he bring?”
     
    Charlie mumbled something I couldn’t hear. Rajesh Shah also leaned forward as I demanded again, “How much?”
     
    Just barely louder, Charlie said, “Four pounds.”
     
    “Four pounds!” I exploded. “That could get him put away for twenty years! And your jackass brother-in-law. And you, Charlie!”
     
    “Me?” Charlie looked up quickly. “I don’t know they doing this! Just brother-in-law, his cousin!”
     
    “Tell that to the judge,” I said disgustedly.
     
    “Judge?” Charlie’s eyes were wide. I didn’t bother to explain.
     
    “I say this,” Charlie said, shaking his head slowly. “I say, stupid guys, now what you think? Selling bear gall on street? Sign, big characters, ‘Bear gall here?’ But brother-in-law say, so much bear gall, make twenty thousand of bucks, send Charlie to college. Someone in family get to be smart, then everyone listen smart guy.”
     
    “Sounds to me like in your family it’s too late for that.”
     
    “Excuse me.” This was Rajesh Shah again. I frowned and Charlie blushed but we both turned to him. It was, after all, his office. “I must admit surprise on hearing these numbers. Four pounds of this bear gall can bring twenty thousand dollars, actually?”
     
    “Probably more,” I grumbled. “If it’s a well-known brand people will pay close to five hundred dollars an ounce in this country because it’s so hard to get. Because it’s illegal,” I snarled in Charlie’s direction. “Because you can get arrested and put in jail for selling it. Or deported. Does your brother-in-law know that?”
     
    “Brother-in-law know very little, I think. But say, know guy, going buy. Then brother-in-law, cousin, don’t have bear gall, don’t get arrested. Jeff Yang, on Mott Street?”
     
    “Jeff Yang?” The words came slowly from my mouth. “Your brother-in-law is dealing with Jeff Yang?”
     
    “Not dealing yet. Doesn’t really know guy,” he admitted. “Just hear guy buys bear gall.”
     
    “Jeff Yang,” I said, emphasizing each word, as though I’d just discovered Charlie was a slow learner, “is the scum of the earth. I went to grade school with him, Charlie, I’ve known him forever. He used to steal other kids’ lunch money. He’d sell you his grandmother if he could get a good price. Charlie, listen to me. You will not do business with Jeff Yang. Your brother-in-law, your cousin, his cousin, your kitchen god, nobody will do business with Jeff Yang. You will go home and flush this disgusting stuff down the toilet immediately.”
     
    Charlie looked stricken. I stood. “Well, so much for our plan, Charlie,” I said. “Come on. Mr. Shah, I’m sorry we wasted your time.”
     
    Shah stood also. Reluctantly, so did Charlie.
     
    “It is unfortunate we cannot do business,” Shah said. He smiled in a kindly way at Charlie, then returned his gaze to me. “I must tell you, though, Miss Chin, that my door will continue to be open, if other possibilities occur to you.”
     
    “I don’t think so,” I said. “No offense, Mr. Shah, but I should have