Treasure Hunt (Part II)

I would have expected Andy's selection of a restaurant to be out of the ordinary. He passed by the town's two most popular eating places, a large western ranch house specializing in man-sized steaks and a brightly lit establishment featuring Tex-Mex food. A few blocks off the main thoroughfare, he pulled into the paved lot next to a neat, light-colored building and parked. The words “House of Chen” were brush-stroked over the door, while down one side of the entrance appeared a series of Chinese symbols in red.
“I figured we needed a quiet place where we could talk. The owner is saving a private booth for us,” Andy explained, helping me out of the car.
The narrow foyer was just large enough for a coat rack, a cushioned bench, and two black lacquered vases. A pagoda-shaped lamp hung overhead, providing a softly muted light. At the door to the dining room stood a beaming Oriental in a sedate black suit. “Andy!” he said, hurrying forward. “What pleasure it gives me to see you again.” Glancing in my direction, he added, “and to be honored by the presence of your friend.”
Andy was obviously equally delighted. “May I present Mr. James T. Chen, otherwise known as Jimmy. Kathryn Gilliam, a colleague of mine from the museum.”
The grin on the restaurant owner's broad face kept his bow from being overly formal. “Welcome to the House of Chen,” he said. “I must say, Andy, if Miss Gilliam is an example, then you are most fortunate in your coworkers.”
“Watch out for this fellow, Katie,” Andy warned. “Beneath that Oriental courtesy lies a wayward spirit. The string of broken hearts he's left stretches from here to Hong Kong .”
“Ah, my friend, how you malign me! I beg you, Miss Gilliam to ignore Andrew's spurious remarks. They are the most gross exaggeration. Once you know me better, you will see.”
“I'll reserve judgment, then,” I answered, laughing. “In the meantime, on the theory that birds of a feather flock together, I think I would do well to be wary of both of you.”
“Now see what you've done, old chum,” Andy said. “And just when I was sure she'd soon be eating out of my hand.”
“A grave mistake in tactics, my friend, of which I shall take advantage,” Jimmy countered. “Come with me, Miss Gilliam. I shall present my offering on the finest china.”
“Maybe so,” Andy responded, “but be warned you'll only get a set of wooden chopsticks with which to enjoy it.”
I sighed. “It's that or a hand-to-mouth existence. Between the two of you, what chance does a girl have?”
Still laughing, Andy and I followed Jimmy through the dining room. Huge pink-cast lotus blossoms adorned the papered walls. Each red-clothed table held its own Chinese lamp. An illuminated pillar in the center of the room, however, was the major source of light. Two fire-breathing dragons, tails intertwined, encircled the translucent glass column, adding shades of green, yellow, and red to the room.
Jimmy led us to a far corner where the wall had been screened off. He parted the bamboo curtain to reveal a small, secluded table. The flower-splashed paper that decorated the main dining area also covered the partitions that separated the booth from its neighbors.
I slid into the banquette, and Andy joined me on my right. Jimmy laid two menus in front of us and asked, “Shall I make you one of my Hong Kong gimlets, Andy? For old times' sake?”
“You never fail to remember, do you, old friend?” Turning to me, Andy explained. “Jimmy's gin concoction is a special favorite of mine.”
“Then may I try one, too?” I asked.
Jimmy departed, and suddenly I became aware of the intimacy of our closed-off quarters and of Andy's tapered fingers resting only inches from mine. For the first time, I found myself noticing the wiry athletic frame under his well-fitting jacket. Fascinated by the discovery, my eyes traveled upward to the angular face with its generous mouth, to find him studying me quizzically. “Is my tie not straight?” His hand reached for the knot. “And I was so hoping to make a good impression.”
Here was the mercurial, never serious Andy I knew, though now I was beginning to suspect there was more depth behind the quick quips and lazy smile than had been revealed. I cast around for something to say. “I gather you and Jimmy have known one another for a long time,” I began tentatively.
“Almost six years now. He was working at a restaurant and bar in Hong Kong .”
“You've been to the Orient?”
“After college, I decided to see the world before settling down. For several years I knocked around from one spot to another.” His smile flashed in the dim light. “ Hong Kong was just one of them.”
“But what about a job?”
“Oh, I had any number of them. Tour guide in Peru , janitor in a store in Tuscany , bank guard in Alexandria , Egypt . While I was working out arrangements to travel to Mainland China , I applied for a dishwashing job in his uncle's establishment just off Queen's Road.”
He must have seen my confusion.
“You're wondering how, with that deplorable work record, I managed to land a position at the Vista Linda." Leaning forward, he whispered conspiratorially, "Pull, my dear. Pure and unadulterated."
”Aren't you ever serious?”
“Not when I can make you smile like that. But if you really want to know, I did take advantage of the opportunities along my route to pursue an interest in ancient art. That, of course, could have been a factor in my being hired as librarian, but I've always felt it was my scintillating personality that got me the job.”
I was about to question him further when Jimmy appeared with our drinks.
“Light on the powdered sugar, Andy, just the way you like it.”
Raising his glass, Andy took a sip. “Just right, my friend. Thanks. Now, for dinner I was thinking of hop po gai ding.” He turned once more to me. “Jimmy's walnut chicken has to be tasted to be believed.” Since I was unfamiliar with most of the dishes on the menu, I was glad to let him choose.