Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine, Vol. 44, No. 4, April 1980

While fishing on Pete Foley’s boat Shayne had kept in touch with Lucy and office routine by radiophone.

Shayne patted her cheek, then kissed her. “Missed you, Angel.”

Lucy returned his quick kiss, then said in a brisk voice, “Urgent telephone call for you yesterday afternoon.” She looked at her notes. “A Dr. Feldman from the Institute of Oriental Studies, and that’s out at the University of Miami in case you didn’t know. He comes across as a very nice man. I’ve made reservations for you to fly out of here tomorrow for Los Angeles and from there to Taiwan. Your passport is in order and on your desk.”

Shayne scowled. “You know I seem to have missed something. You’d better run that past me again, Lucy.”

“All right. You had an urgent phone call yesterday from a Dr. Feldman. I’ve made reservations for you to fly...”

“Hold it right there.” Shayne held up his hand. “I’m to fly to. Los Angeles and from there to Taiwan. My passport is in order and on my desk.”

“You really are a quick study,” Lucy said.

“And you are sending me up,” Shayne said in a good-natured voice. “You haven’t mentioned why I’m on my way to Taiwan tomorrow.”

“Didn’t I?” Lucy was all innocence. “How very careless of me. It seems Nationalist China has an extensive collection of early Buddhist art that has been loaned to Dr. Feldman’s department for a tour of the United States.”

“As a cultural counter to the recent warm-up of relations between United States and Communist China and withdrawal of diplomatic recognition of Nationalist China,” Shayne told Lucy while she gaped at him. “Among the collection is the famous Golden Buddha carved from solid gold to resemble the original Hsinkao Shan temple Buddha cover with gold leaf. It is reputed this collection may outshine the recent King Tut artifacts sent to tour this country.” He grinned at her astonishment. “So what else is new?”

Shayne reached across the desk and gently raised Lucy’s lower jaw. “It was my turn to be a smart aleck,” he told her. “Now tell me what I’m supposed to do when I reach Taiwan.”

Lucy had recovered and glanced at her notes again. “The collection will be coming by ship and accompanied by a Dr. Scott. It seems Dr. Scott wants someone with your accomplishments to accompany him and the collection until it is safely here in Miami to begin the national tour. I take it there are rumors adrift that somebody, somewhere, isn’t pleased with the publicity Nationalist China is about to receive.”

“I’m in the picture,” Shayne told Lucy.

“Tim Rourke wants you to meet him for lunch at the Scotch and Sirloin,” Lucy said. “He wants a favor so the lunch is on his expense account.”

“I have a sneaking hunch what he wants, Lucy. Can’t you phone him that I’m still fishing?”

“Michael...”

Shayne shrugged his wide shoulders, “Okay, okay. I’ll meet him at twelve thirty.”

He went into his office, closing the door behind him, and cleared a space on his littered desk for his feet. Rolling back in his swivel chair, he picked up the phone. Because Lucy was phoning Tim, he had to wait a minute before she answered.

“Angel, get me this Dr. Feldman who sounds so nice on the phone,” Shayne told her. “By the way, you’ve arrived at a fee with him?”

“Certainly.”

“Any complaints?”

“He haggled a bit. Pled departmental budget, but I strongly suspect the Nationalists are picking up the tab.”

“Glad that’s taken care of,” Shayne said. “Now ring him for me, will you?”

Shayne heard the call go through the university switchboard before a cultured voice said, “Yes?”

“Shayne here.” Studying the toes of his oxfords, Shayne decided he’d better get them shined. “Miss Hamilton has made all the arrangements for me to fly to Taiwan, Dr. Feldman. I thought you might want to fill me in on a few more details. I understand that I’m to accompany Dr. Scott back with the Buddha exhibit.”

“Ah yes. Just a moment.” Shayne could hear the murmur of Dr. Feldman’s voice as he spoke to someone in his office before He came back on the line. “Yes,” he said again. “Can we meet somewhere for lunch? There’s a rather decent cafeteria here on the campus.”

“I have a lunch date,” Shayne said. “Can I run out there this afternoon?”

“I’m afraid not,” Dr. Feldman told him. “I have a seminar on oriental art scheduled and then a faculty meeting, the bane of a cloistered existence, I assure you, but it can’t be helped. Since we’re to deal with budgetary matters it will last into the evening.”

“What can you tell me over the phone that I should know before I leave?” Shayne asked.

“You’ll meet Dr. Scott at the International Hotel in Tapei. We are informed there are some very ugly rumors circulating.”

“Rumors of an attempted hijack?” Shayne asked.

“I believe so. Our phone connection was not very good and Dr. Scott is dedicated but somewhat of an alarmist. So much is involved, however, that we don’t dare take any risks. Direct orders and more information will come from Dr. Scott when you reach Tapei.”

“Just out of curiosity,” Shayne said, “what is this Golden Buddha part of the exhibit worth?”