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“Attorney Stark and I don’t think that Spencer Lee was responsible for your son’s death,” Hulan said. A grim look came over Guang’s features as she continued. “While we were in Los Angeles, Attorney Stark and I made some interesting discoveries. We hope you can help us understand them.”
“Anything. Anything I can do.”
“This may not be pleasant for you,” she said.
“My son’s death was not pleasant for me, Inspector. There is nothing you can say that will change that.”
“We believe that your son was involved in smuggling…”
Guang Mingyun flinched at the news.
“Not narcotics,” Hulan amended, “but medicines that are illegal in the United States and China.”
Guang’s denials echoed those of the ambassador. Finally, Hulan put a hand up to silence the entrepreneur, explained what the boys had been doing, then said, “We need you to answer some questions.”
Hearing her formal tone, Guang obediently sat up in his chair. Too many years in the labor camp, Hulan thought.
“Do the names Cao Hua, Hu Qichen, or Wang Yujen mean anything to you?” she asked.
Guang look confused. She read down the list of other names they had found in the Immigration computer of people traveling on the same dates as Guang Henglai and Billy Watson.
“I have never heard of them.”
Hulan moved on. “Your son attempted to get one of your brothers in California to sell the bile.”
“I don’t believe it.”
Hulan didn’t give Guang a chance to elaborate. Instead she asked, “What are your connections to the Rising Phoenix?”
“I told you before, I don’t know anything about them.”
“Have you been involved in the smuggling of human beings?”
“No!” Guang’s polished demeanor seemed to be crumbling. Hulan had to keep pushing him.
“Have you been involved with the smuggling of this bear bile? Did you sponsor your son and Billy Watson in this business?”
“How many times can I tell you? I know nothing of this.”
“You were not aware that your son was smuggling products made by Panda Brand, one of your own companies?” Hulan asked.
“I own Panda Brand,” he acknowledged, “but I can’t believe that my son was smuggling anything from there. What’s to smuggle? Panda Brand products are perfectly legal.”
“Bear bile isn’t,” she pointed out.
“I do not know much about each of my businesses, but I do know that our pharmaceutical company does scientific research.” He appeared to regain his composure now that the subject had shifted back to business. “We are one of only five companies in all of China that has received permits for the purpose of investigating the uses and attributes of bear bile. I’m sure there are scientists in America doing similar work. China is trying to save its bears from extinction. Our bears are bred in captivity. When the bears reach maturity, we extract the bile. We do not use the primitive forms of extraction used on illegal farms.
“But don’t ask me to reveal our process,” Guang went on. “It is a secret. Anyway, our country’s plan is working well. The gall produced annually by a single bear is equal to that obtained from killing forty-four wild bears. Over a farmed bear’s five-year production period, two hundred and twenty wild bears are spared. Potentially, thousands of wild bears will be ‘saved’ each year. So yes, we do keep bears and other animals for research and display at Panda Brand, but that doesn’t mean we have done anything wrong. This is why our facility is open to the public. Tourists come from all over to see our little zoo.”
“Then can you explain how we happened to find Panda Brand bear bile being smuggled into Los Angeles?” David asked.
“You are wrong,” Guang said, but there was no mistaking the uncertainty in his voice.
“I’m afraid not.”
“Check my records. We have never manufactured that product for public use,” Guang insisted, “let alone exported it to the U.S.”
“Guang Mingyun, you know our policy,” Hulan said. “Leniency to those who confess—”
