Cobus took the measure of the man whose shirt was still bunched in his fist. “How much money do you think your dad could have made if he doped his horses like everyone else?” Cobus’s words hung in the air. “Imagine if he saw what you’ve become.”

Knight leaned back, but Cobus had him. “I’m not the bad guy!” he spluttered.

Cobus released Knight’s shirt, and Knight stumbled back, regaining his balance.

“Fuck you, Knight. If you’re not the bad guy, who is?”

For once, Knight was at a loss for words. Cobus lowered his voice. “I’m going to the cops and I am telling them everything. About the farms, about how you’ve been advising the triads on their supply chain. I’ll give you one last chance, Knight. If you walk away now, I’ll leave your name out of it.”

“I can’t just walk away now!”

“You’re a weak little shit, Knight.”

Knight tried to talk some sense into the South African. “You think the triads are just going to let you roll on them? You need to calm down and start thinking rationally for once in your goddamn life.”

“I’m the only one stopping you people from killing the animals,” Cobus growled.

“You’re on the losing side! Don’t get caught in the crossfire on this.”

“If you want to kill the animals, then you will have to kill me too,” Cobus said without hyperbole.

He then turned his back on Knight, leaving the horse trainer’s son alone as the doubt and shame took hold.

CHAPTER 42 POISON

CHAPTER 42
POISON

macau

Broken Tooth pushed his way along the crowded sidewalk, jostled by the flow of foot traffic coming at him. Saturday night was always mayhem at the bars and “saunas” that lined Macau’s vice district. He approached the Emperor Sauna, threading between the young women beckoning potential customers inside.

Upstairs, he found Wan holding court with several of his top foot soldiers—49s, as the triads called them—who were draped with prostitutes the boss had provided to reward their loyalty. Broken Tooth was referred to as the Straw Sandal—the top messenger in the organization—and tonight he came bearing news that he was certain would lead to violence.

The 49s watched as Broken Tooth leaned in and whispered something in Wan’s ear. Wan set down his drink as he listened, his features hardening.

Ten minutes later, Broken Tooth was hurrying to keep up as Wan marched into their warehouse at the docks. Earlier that night, three people in Macau had nearly died from strychnine poisoning after consuming rhino horn powder. Broken Tooth had investigated the poisonings after one of Wan’s dealers was arrested (having been identified to the police by a friend of one of the victims).

“Are you sure the product wasn’t poisoned by the dealer on the street?” the Red Pole asked his Straw Sandal.