Free Descent from Xanadu by Harold Robbins

was in Mexico working his oil tanker deal with Pemex.”
    “He’s back in Hong Kong now,” Judson said.
    “Okay, I’ll try him,” Judd said. “Anything else?”
    “Nothing that can’t hold,” Judson said.
    “I’ll be in touch then,” Judd said. He turned to Li Chuan. “You get to S. Yuan Ling and tell him I want to meet him this afternoon.”
    “He only works in the morning,” Li Chuan said. “He takes his lunch on his yacht, swims for an hour and afterward sleeps until dinnertime.”
    “I don’t care if he sits on the crapper for an hour. You tell him that I want to see him.”
    “Yes, sir,” Li Chuan said. “Then I’d better get into town right away.”
    “Okay,” Judd said.
    “What about the pharmaceutical deal?” Li Chuan asked on the way out. Despite the impassive Oriental face, he seemed anxious.
    “You heard my decision. If it’s tied to their Quaaludes, I’m not interested.”
    “The Quaaludes are where the money is.”
    “It may be for them,” Judd said. “But not for us. You can tell them I’ll triple the offer for the interferon, though.”
    “I’ll tell them,” Li Chuan said. “I’ll call you from town the minute I hear from S. Yuan Ling.”
    “Thank you,” Judd said. He watched the Asian leave the lounge, then pressed for Merlin. Fast Eddie came in before Merlin arrived.
    “Need a lift, boss?”
    Judd nodded. “That’s an idea.”
    “Cherry Coke an’ all the fixin’s?”
    “You got it.”
    The glass of cherry Coke was on the table as Merlin came into the lounge. He waited until Judd spooned the cocaine into the cola drink. Judd emptied the glass. “That’s the way it was made in Atlanta when they did it first.”
    Merlin nodded. He had heard it many times. Caffeine was substituted for the cocaine sometime in 1903—or was it 1912—by the Food and Drug Act.
    Judd looked at him. “Telex Security for more on Dr. Ivancich. Ask them how come they had no information that the doctor spent a year with Mao Tse-tung before he died. Also have them put a blanket on Li Chuan. I have a feeling he may be trying to make the Quaalude deal for himself.”
    Merlin looked at him. “Yes, sir. Anything else?”
    Judd shook his head. “I’m going to get a nap. Wake me up when Li Chuan sets up a meeting with Mr. Ling.”
    ***
    The French salesgirl looked at them haughtily, spoke in snob accent. “We have the latest magazines—
L’Officiel
, French
Vogue
and others. We can make anything you select from any photograph in twelve hours.”
    Sofia replied to the girl in French. The salesgirl nodded for a moment, then gestured for two chairs for them and walked away.
    “What did you ask her?” Ginny said.
    “I told her that we were not interested in
haute couture
. Everything has to be
prêt à porter
and we’ve only three hours in Hong Kong.”
    The salesgirl returned with another woman who seemed to be the manager. “What exactly would madame be interested in?”
    Sofia replied in English. “Two simple suits, one in wool, and one in lighter fabric. Three afternoon dresses, one cocktail dress, black, and one long dress, also black. Accessories to match and shoes also to match. Three skirts, one white, beige and black. Six silk shirts, all colors. Two pairs of slacks, one navy blue, one black. Three pairs of jeans.”
    “Yes, madame,” the manager said respectfully. “Would you be kind enough to follow me to a dressing room?”
    A moment later Sofia was in a large dressing room. Ginny sat in a chair while Sofia undressed. The manager made a face when she saw that Sofia’s undergarments were cotton.
    “Perhaps madame would like to see some of our lingerie?” she said. “We have the latest styles, French and American. Silk or nylon.”
    Sofia smiled. “Thank you, madame. Perhaps I can use a selection of both kinds.”
    The manager came with a tape measure and Sofia undid her brassiere and slipped from her panties. Professionally the saleswoman checked her measurements. A