Moments later, they’re seated beside each other in the back seat. The bodyguard and a driver up front.

“Sorry, my girlfriend is still upset. I didn’t want to say this in front of her.”

“It is a strange thing to hear a mature man such as yourself refer to an equally mature woman as a girl. Friend or no.”

“With all due respect, sir, would you like the information or not?”

Edison laughs. “I see why my son liked you now. He enjoyed being flattered, but he didn’t respect anyone who did it. You’re not one to flatter.”

“No, I’m not. Let me get to the point. When I was looking into Clementine’s overdose, I came up against some bikers who work with Three Phoenix to bring product into Vancouver. I may have made some enemies, but they know something.”

“Hells Angels?”

“No. Another group with a much lower profile, but they are believed to have links to a larger biker syndicate. The main person involved was a longshoreman named Curtis Parnell. He was able to directly confirm a relationship with Three Phoenix.”

“A longshoreman means the ports.”

“Yes, that’s how they got some of their illicit product in, at least. Dao has been in touch with Three Phoenix.”

“Thank you for the information.”

“I’m not done yet. The second line of inquiry you could take would have to go through WIN Security.” Brazuca glances at the bodyguard and driver.

“My friends here are not with that company, but I’m familiar with them. What do they have to do with Dao?”

“Ray Zhang was a client. Dao was head of his private security, but he’d work with WIN if he needed a larger detail.”

“You just gave me two lines of inquiry to find the man who might have been with my son when he died. How can I repay you?”

“Just find Dao. This is speculation on my part, but I don’t believe he simply witnessed your son’s death.” Brazuca isn’t sure why he doesn’t tell them that he saw Dao shoot Bernard Lam. Maybe he’s just gotten so used to holding back that it’s second nature.

Edison Lam exchanges glances with his bodyguard. “You think he was involved? What would he have against my son?”

“He’s mentally unstable and has been recovering from a serious injury. I think your son tried to buy him off, and that didn’t sit well.”

In a move that seems to shock Bernard Lam’s father as much as it shocks Brazuca, Edison reaches over and puts his hand over Brazuca’s. “Thank you.” In this moment he’s not a pillar of industry, a respected, ruthless businessman. Here in this car he’s a father grieving for the loss of his only son. “You were a police officer,” he says.

Brazuca nods. “A detective.”