The addressed officer of the RCMP looked up from his plate and raised his eyebrows. "Indeed. It is evident that Mr. and Mrs. Lee put a great deal of care into the preparation of this meal." His napkin, as usual, was tucked into his collar, though for once he was wearing casual clothes and not his dress reds. His hat sat on the table by his left hand.
"Course they did," Ray said between mouthfuls, hoping to forestall a point-by-point lecture on Chinese cuisine. "They're grateful to us for saving them from Charlie Wong."
"I'm sure the quality of the food is just as excellent for all of their customers, Ray."
"What customers? We're the only ones here--again."
Fraser paused, glancing around. Ray caught his 'I'm going to solve this puzzle if it kills me' expression and slammed down his fork. "Oh, no you don't. We are going to have a nice, relaxed meal celebrating our recovery, and we are absolutely not getting involved in another case. Do you hear me? Fraser? Are you listening to me?"
Fraser returned his attention to his dining companion. "Really, Ray, I should think you would be more solicitous of our friends' well-being. If the Lees are in trouble, it is our duty to help them."
"No. No! Don't give me that look, Fraser, you know I hate that. It's not going to work this time. I mean it."
The Mountie's gaze never wavered.
Finally Ray could stand it no longer. "All right," he sighed. "We'll ask them--once!--if they need our help. Will that satisfy you?"
"I knew I could count on you." He twisted around in his chair and beckoned the man of whom they had been speaking.
Henry Lee stopped by their table. "Is the food to your liking? Is there something else I can get for you?"
"The food is delicious, Mr. Lee," Fraser said with an amiable smile. "We were wondering why there were so few people here tonight to enjoy it. Is there a special event going on of which we are unaware?"
Mr. Lee shook his head. "No...nothing like that..."
Ray rolled his eyes. "What Benny's trying to say is, we want to know if someone's trying to shake you down again, and if there's anything we can do to help."
The restaurant owner didn't exactly blanch, but he did wince and clench his hands together tightly. "There is a...visitor...in town. A very important man. That is all."
Fraser persisted. "Are you certain there is no trouble? We are more than willing to do our part to keep this community safe. Who is this visitor?"
Mr. Lee shook his head. "Please, do not get involved. This is not an affair for the police. I cannot tell you anything more."
"But surely you know that you can trust us?"
Mr. Lee glanced around the room and hunched his shoulders. "You do not understand. It is not about trust, it is that I would not wish you hurt. This man is too powerful for you, for anyone. He has ways of finding out things..." The thin man shuddered.
Ray had been reluctant to open the subject, but now, seeing the man's fear, his cop instincts came to the fore. Something was terribly wrong here, and they had to get to the bottom of it. He didn't protest as Fraser leaned forward, eyes intense, his voice shifting into persuasive mode. "We will help you. Tell us the man's name."
Mr. Lee searched the room again and, finding nothing, acceded to the request. "Very well, because of the debt I owe you. His name is Bon Bon Hai. But I warn you!" His whole body tensed with emotion. "Do not attempt to find him! He would kill you as soon as look at you. He is pure evil."
"Mr. Lee, there is no one on earth who is pure evil." He caught Ray's dubious expression and emphasized his point. "No one."
Their host uttered one final sentence before returning to the kitchen. "There is now."