AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Then how do you explain papers with Knight’s letterhead and a list of businesses with your account numbers? How do you explain how there’s another set of papers showing other deposits and your name spelled out in code?”
“If I were guilty, would I come to you?”
David didn’t answer the question. Instead he said, “When I first got here and opened my office, I was surprised at all the extra fees I had to pay as a foreigner. Are you telling me that you have never received money from Henry since he decided to open the factory?”
Sun looked at him in bewilderment. “I never took money from Henry, except…” A tortured look crossed his face, and he moaned in anguish. “But it wasn’t a bribe. I took money, yes, but it was a fee paid straight to the contractor through me. I wanted Henry to have someone good. No delays. No bad materials. How was Henry going to find a reputable construction company? So I interviewed people, I got recommendations, I went out and looked at various work sites—some under construction, some completed. When I found the right company, I negotiated the contract and Henry’s money was the first payment. I did all this as a friend. I received nothing, not one of your American pennies.”
“Can you prove it?”
“Brilliant Construction is in Taiyuan. You can call them when they open. They’ll have the records.” Seeing David’s skepticism, Sun said, “I’m telling you the truth. Why would I lie?”
“To cover up the other payments.”
“That is not my money!”
There was a gentle tapping at the window. David looked up. Hulan had a tray with teacups and tea. David nodded and she brought it out, set it on the table, and left.
“Someone is trying to frame me,” Sun said.
“Who?”
“Henry, but why would he do that to me?”
The conversation had become circular.
“Let’s assume for a minute that what you say is true,” David said, changing tactics. “What would someone get out of it?”
“I don’t know why Henry—”
“Forget Henry. Look bigger, smaller, wider. Who out there would do this to you
and for what gain?”
“To destroy me.”
David shook his head impatiently. “That doesn’t mean anything. That’s vague. Why? Why?”
“I don’t know.”
The more Sun denied the charges, the more David was convinced of his guilt. David said, “I want you to understand that you can find another attorney—”
“I want you.”
“Look, I don’t know enough about Chinese law. This is a Chinese problem and you’re in serious trouble.”
“I’m aware of that.” For the first time a small smile came to Sun’s lips. “Attorney Stark, you haven’t asked me why I came here in the middle of the night. I’m here because I am trying to avoid being arrested.”
David looked at him in shock.
Sun seemed glumly pleased at David’s reaction. “Someone has spoken to the press. Tomorrow there will be an article. I’m in it. You and Liu Hulan are in it. I’m not sure of all the details, but my friends say it’s very bad.”
David opened his mouth to speak, but Sun cut him off. “I don’t want to be arrested in Beijing. I don’t want to be arrested anywhere in China. As you perhaps know, justice moves very quickly here.”
David did know. A trial with few if any defense witnesses, sentence, and punishment within a week. If Sun was found guilty of corruption, he would be executed and his family would be billed for the bullet.
“But if I’m to be arrested,” Sun continued, “I’d prefer to go—”
“No, don’t tell me! If you tell me, I might be obligated to tell the authorities, because I don’t know if my American privilege will be respected here.”
