《Repercussions of Fate》
Chapter 1- Tangled Strings of Fate
"If fated to meet, no distance can keep you apart; if not, no matter how close, you will not see them." ¨CChinese Proverb
Hangzhou, China ¨C October 9th, ¨C 8:00 AM
After twenty exhausting hours on a cramped flight, Anna Westcott steps into the bustling arrivals hall of Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. She scans the crowd, but her twin sister Hailee is nowhere to be found. Before she can spiral into imagining all the possible emergencies that could have befallen her sister, her phone rings.
"I''m sorry," Hailee''s soft voice comes through the receiver. "There''s road construction. Traffic''s a nightmare."
"I guess traffic is a universal evil," Anna muses, forcing a light tone. "Don''t worry, it gives me a chance to stretch my legs a bit."
Relieved there isn''t a major issue, Anna ends the call. Her disappointment dissipates as the tantalizing aroma of fried food wafts through the air. If she can''t feast her eyes on her sister, she might as well feast on something greasy.
Anna zooms past the noodle shops and Starbucks to the familiar red and white sign: KFC. It might have been morning in China, but her stomach is still on Eastern Standard Time, and she is too tired to experiment with the local flavors.
Other passengers seem to have had the same thought because six people rush to form a line ahead of her. Anna''s mouth waters at the savory aroma; she can almost taste it.
After ten minutes, it is finally her turn to order, but before she can say, "Number 10 with a coke," a handsome man in a suit staggers out of a door marked VIP ONLY.
The man''s high cheekbones and sharp jawline are made even more prominent by the lack of color in his face and the blue tinge to his lips. His tall figure collapses, and the crack of his skull hitting the hard floor reverberates through the hall.
People circle the body, shouting in various languages for help or holding up phones to video. Hunger is put on hold as Anna pushes her way through the crowd, repeating, "I''m a nurse."
A security guard beats her to the unconscious man and immediately starts chest compressions. Anna kneels at the victim''s head. The officer shouts at Anna, words she can''t understand, but she gets the hint he isn''t happy she is there. Unfazed, she takes out her phone.
Another security officer grabs her arm. She drops her phone as he pulls her to her feet and tries to drag her out of the way. Anna digs in her heels and stares him dead in the eyes.
"I''m a nurse," she says. She rips her arm from his grip and rushes back to the man.
The security guard attempts to move her again but is blocked by a college-aged skater boy. The kid points to Anna and says something in rapid Mandarin. The officer relaxes and allows Anna to stay.
Anna picks up her phone. It has a cracked screen, but the flashlight still works. She tilts the man''s chin up and uses the light to look down his throat. As expected, something is lodged in his esophagus.
While additional security personnel worked to remove unwanted spectators, Anna carefully reaches into his mouth, hooks her finger around the offending object, and gently extracts the chunk of what looks to be a bagel. The man''s color rushes back with his airway clear again.
***
Ryan Anderson''s body throbs with pain and indignation. He can''t believe he almost met such an undignified demise, and hell smells like cheap takeout.
He forces his eyes open, and for the first time in his life, he believes in heaven. A red-haired angel, with a smattering of freckles across her cute, slightly upturned nose, is haloed in light above him. At that moment, all he feels is a sense of recognition, as if his soul is saying, "It''s her."
Ryan sits up and is immediately brought down to earth when a pile of dust tumbles down his throat, sending him into a coughing fit.
His angel takes a water bottle from some skater boy and hands it to him. The cool liquid soothes his raw throat. After a moment, he regains his composure and manages to choke out a thanks.
"What is your pain level on a scale of one to five?" his dream girl asks him, her voice calm and professional.
Ryan glances at the security and bystanders. "Do you think we can do this somewhere else?" he grimaces.
The security officer offers Ryan a hand and pulls him to his feet. Ryan ignores the stab of pain that courses through his skull and forces the urge to vomit down.
The security personnel grab what must have been his savior''s luggage and escort them back into the VIP room. With the show over, what is left of the crowd disperses.
Inside the VIP room, the ceiling is lined with chandeliers creating ambient lighting that gives a warm glow to the marble floors and the polished wood accents of the plush furnishings. Ryan relaxes and his confidence returns once he enters the elite domain.
***
Anna feels like she has stepped through a magic portal and into a different world from the utilitarian hustle and bustle. She doesn''t take the time to appreciate her surroundings for long, instead, she focuses back on her patient.
She motions him to take a seat in one of the more secluded areas, away from the prying eyes of the few travelers able to afford to be there.
"Let me take a quick peek for cuts or swelling," Anna touches his head to tilt it, but he winces and jerks back.
Anna moves his hands out of the way and gently feels the lump forming on the back of his head. "What''s your name?"
"Ryan Anderson. What''s yours?" he says with a charming orthodontic-perfect smile.
"Anna Westcott," she replies automatically, holding up a finger. "Where do you live?"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Ryan''s eyes follow her finger as she moves it back and forth in front of his face. "I have a condo in the Seaport District in Boston, an apartment in Binjiang District when I''m in Hangzhou, and¡ª"
"Any dizziness or nausea?"
Ryan shakes his head. "I''m fine."
Anna is skeptical, but he passes the basic exam. "If you start having any symptoms, go to the hospital for a scan. You could have a concussion."
She checks the time on her phone. It has been about twenty minutes since she talked to her sister; she will hopefully be there soon. She sends her a quick text asking for an ETA.
***
Ryan has the suspicion that for the first time in his life, a woman doesn''t seem to be interested in him. His combination of looks and money has never failed to attract more than his fair share of attention. While the novelty is refreshing, he doesn''t want to miss his opportunity with Anna.
"How can I thank you?" he asks, hoping to regain her attention. He wonders what she will ask for¡ªa date, his number, or money.
His tactic works. She looks up from her phone, but the reply isn''t what he is expecting.
"Chew your breakfast next time," she says with a joking smile.
Ryan''s practiced smile slowly transforms into a genuine one. She is truly sweet and na?ve, he thinks, and his protective instincts rush forward. He wants to be the man to protect her from the harsh world.
***
Anna''s phone dings with a reply from Hailee: traffic is at a standstill. As her adrenaline wears off, her hunger kicks back in. If she was at the hospital, she would have had the excuse of moving on to the next patient, but she isn''t sure how to walk away from this guy. He keeps looking at her expectantly.
"Well, bye," she says as she grabs her luggage and turns to go back out the way she had come.
"Wait!"
Anna pastes back on her Florence Nightingale smile. "Is there something else?"
Then Ryan says the magic words, "How about breakfast?"
He gestures toward the back of the room. Anna''s eyes are drawn to the buffet table lined with silver chafing dishes, steam rising from them; stacked trays of pastries, piled in an artistic display; and a basket overflowing with assorted bread.
***
Ryan isn''t sure how he feels about competing for a woman''s attention with a plate of bacon and eggs¡ªand losing. They had exchanged names and basic small talk, and his belief in fate had grown when he found out she was also from Boston. She answers his questions in between savoring each bite but doesn''t ask much back until he asks why she chose to visit China.
Her eyes light up while she tells him all about her twin sister and their plans for her visit. The chandeliers reflect the sunshine from the windows into her ponytail, creating sparkles in the auburn wave. Ryan grapples to think of the next conversation topic when he notices her winding down.
"It''s been a year, so I''ve missed her, but I kept busy with work."
"So you''re a doctor?" he asks.
***
Anna has to give him props for going straight to the top of the food chain but proudly corrects him, "I''m a nurse."
Her stomach finally satisfied, Anna takes the time to study the man across from her. He has thick, wavy black hair, gorgeous almond eyes, and a Grecian nose. His features are evidence of his mixed heritage.
He tells her about spending the summers in China with his w¨¤ig¨ng, his grandfather on his mother''s side, and his plans to merge both sides of his families'' businesses into one international company. As she listens to him talk the thought crosses her mind that he would be a perfect match for her sister.
Hailee loves her job in China. She was only supposed to stay a year but she signed up for a second when she was offered the chance. Her sister has two dreams: traveling the world and falling in love. If Hailee dates Ryan, it would kill two birds with one stone.
"Are you seeing anyone?" Anna asks before she fully thinks it through.
"No, I''ve been busy with work, but I am willing to make time for the right woman," Ryan answers, staring into her eyes.
Anna realizes she might have given him the wrong idea, but she isn''t sure how to backtrack it. The alarm on her phone goes off, it seems she like she hasn''t used up all her luck in this lifetime yet she thinks.
"Sorry," Anna says. "Where is the restroom?"
Ryan points to a tastefully inconspicuous set of doors.
Anna takes her purse and a glass of water with her to the ladies'' room. Inside, the sinks are equipped with the latest automation, and everything a woman might need is provided in baskets lined with silk and decorated with ribbons.
She puts the glass on the counter and digs through her purse for a prescription bottle. She dumps a handful of pills in assorted sizes and colors into her hand.
***
Ryan''s world is back on an even keel; she is going to be his. He waits for his interest to wane, but instead, as the minutes tick by, his sense of anticipation grows. His phone rings, interrupting his self-analysis.
"What is it?" Ryan answers.
"You were right; he''s been embezzling funds and merchandise,"a smooth voice replies in Mandarin.
Ryan grins in anticipation. "That makes it easier. W¨¤ig¨ng won''t be able to complain about his termination."
"Do you want me to take care of it?"
Ryan thinks for a moment. "No," he decides. "I need to send a message to all my shirt-tail relatives that I am not someone they can take advantage of."
"I''ve canceled your flight, and the car will be there in ten minutes."
Ryan hangs up the phone and signals the VIP room manager.
"Have my luggage sent to this address." He tells him, handing him a card.
Ryan checks the time on his phone and looks over to the women''s restroom.
***
Anna arranges the assortment of pills on a paper towel, their multiple colors and sizes making an interesting mosaic. She takes the largest in her hand and shoots it down with a sip of water in one practiced movement.
The door marked "Employees Only" creaks open. A young woman with a pretty face and a crisp uniform pushes a cleaning cart. Her doe eyes widen when they land on Anna.
"Excuse me," she says in heavily accented English.
Anna waves her in. "Do whatever you need to do."
The young woman hesitates and looks over her shoulder before pushing the cart fully inside. She glances at the rainbow assortment of medications on the counter, then back to Anna, curiosity mixing with unease.
Anna can see the young woman in the mirror peeking at her as she continues to take pill after pill. Anna can guess what the girl is thinking. She takes the last pill, tosses the towel into the trash, and stores the bottle back in her purse.
Anna enters one of the stalls that has yet to be cleaned. The young woman and Anna both finish their business without a word. Just as Anna is about to open her stall, a door slams open with a bang.
The cleaning girl gasps and speaks in hesitant Mandarin.
"Sorry, wrong door," a cocky male voice says in English, but instead of backing out, he steps in further.
Another deeper male voice joins him. "Do you know how to get to departures?"
"I...I don''t speak good English," the young woman stammers.
Anna opens the stall door two college-aged men are in the women''s room. The first has brown hair and a preppy, jock-like vibe, he is holding onto the girl while his companion, a lanky guy with shaggy blonde hair and a skater-boy style, holds a hypodermic needle.
Before Anna can react, the needle plunges into the girl''s neck. The young woman collapses and her eyes roll back into her head.
"Hey!" Anna shouts, swinging her purse at the jock. It hits him in the head, and he stumbles back with a curse. She ducks back into the stall before he can retaliate and fumbles for her phone.
"You better leave; I''m calling 911!"
The phone is ripped out of her hand from above. An automated voice mocks, "This call cannot be completed as dialed."
"It''s 110, stupid," Skater Boy taunts, then he tosses the phone into the toilet and jumps down into the stall.
Anna bursts through the door and into the jock''s arms, which lock around her in a bear hug. Anna twists and hammers her fists with all her might. She lands a lucky blow to his groin, and the jock falls to his knees. Anna goes down with him, her head hits the edge of the granite counter, and darkness swallows her.
***
Ryan signals for the manager, irritation sharpening his tone.
"Send someone to check on my guest."
"Yes, sir," the manager hurries to carry out his orders.
Ryan''s phone buzzes again. "The driver can wait," he answers curtly.
"Customs is refusing to let the ship dock."the cool voice on the other end replies. "To meet the client''s deadline, the cargo needs to be loaded and shipped tonight."
Ryan freezes. "I''ll be there soon."
Ryan scribbles on a napkin and hands it to the waiter. "Give this to the pretty redhead when she returns," he says before striding out of the airport.
Chapter 2 – The Knot Tightens
"What is meant to be will always find its way." ¨C Western Proverb
Hangzhou, China ¨C October 9th, ¨C 10:00 AM
A ball of lead grows in Hailee¡¯s stomach, but it isn¡¯t from the jerking start-stop of the taxi. She immediately calls Anna. Her heart races when the robotic voice says, ¡°The number you are trying to reach is unavailable."
Hailee can see the entrance of the airport in the distance, a long line of cars stands between her and the door. She urges the driver to pull over and she runs.
Her breath comes in gasps as she scans the crowd, her eyes desperately searching for Anna¡¯s red hair. There is no sign of her sister.
Inside, Hailee scours the terminal, then the women¡¯s room, calling Anna¡¯s name frantically. Each time there is no answer, her heart sinks deeper.
A security guard in his fifties jogs over to her. ¡°Ma¡¯am, what is the problem?¡± he asks in careful English.
Hailee explains between breaths, ¡°My sister is missing!¡±
The guard sighs. He has dealt with the situation many times before. ¡°Have you tried calling her?¡±
Hailee explains that her sister''s phone is not accepting calls. ¡°Have there been any medical emergencies? Has she been taken to the hospital?¡± she asks.
He assures Hailee that no one has been taken for treatment in the last few hours. ¡°We will call her to customer service. Please try to remain calm.¡±
Hailee paces as the announcement echoes through the speakers. Fifteen minutes tick by. Another announcement is made, and then another. Hailee snaps, ¡°Can we check the security footage?¡±
The guard takes down Anna¡¯s flight information and snaps a picture of Anna from Hailee¡¯s phone. Hailee waits anxiously for the security guard to return. When he comes back, his attitude is less sympathetic.
¡°A maintenance worker saw her leave with two Caucasian guys. They found needles in the restroom trash. She¡¯ll probably call when she sobers up.¡±
Hailee recoils from the surge of disbelief and anger at his words. ¡°My sister doesn¡¯t do drugs!¡± she protests.
¡°People hide their worst sides from their family,¡± the guard says flatly.
¡°You don¡¯t understand¡ª¡±
The guard cuts her off. ¡°She left the airport; there¡¯s nothing more we can do.¡±
***
Anna pounds against the doors of a cargo container, her knuckles bleeding against the cool metal. Her vision blurs from unshed tears. Her futile efforts drain her of energy. She slides to the floor, her head buried in her knees.
Her heart throbs against her chest like a tight fist squeezing the air from her lungs. Anna takes deep breaths to calm herself.
Her eyes adjust to the dim light, a shadow of a phoenix looms above her. Her eyes follow the shape of its body to down to a cute young woman putting on a shadow puppet show. Her audience is two other victims who give Anna the impression of a bedraggled princess and a disheveled fairy. She is not alone.
Further back, another captive channels her anxiety into doing sit-ups. Sweat drips down her stunning face. As for her last cellmate, Anna wouldn¡¯t have seen her if the light hadn¡¯t shifted revealing her in the shadows. The teen is fragile like a porcelain doll, the type that will break at the slightest touch.
Anna¡¯s eyes search the dark until she spots the cleaning girl from the airport lying in the corner. Anna scoots over to her side. She takes the delicate wrist in her hand and checks her pulse- it is slow. The girl¡¯s breathing is shallow and labored. Anna places her hand against her forehead. It is hot to the touch and beaded with sweat.
Anna lifts the girl''s head gently onto her lap and strokes her hair back from her face. ¡°We¡¯ll be okay,¡± she whispers, though she isn¡¯t sure who she is trying to comfort the girl or herself.
***
The rookie cop at the front desk¡¯s dismissive attitude pushes Hailee¡¯s gentle nature to its limit.
¡°We can¡¯t do anything for twenty-four hours,¡± he says, going back to the game on his phone.
¡°By then it could be too late,¡± Hailee insists through gritted teeth.
The cop rolls his eyes. ¡°The rules don¡¯t change because you¡¯re an American. If you have a problem, go to your embassy.¡±
¡°I already did. They said to talk to you!¡± Hailee¡¯s voice raises in exasperation. Her anxiety makes her switch back and forth between Mandarin and English.
¡°Come back in twenty-four hours,¡± he repeats.
Knowing she is hitting a brick wall, Hailee calls Principal Rose Song, her boss¡ªstrict, but the first person there when you need something.
¡°Do you have any connections at the Public Security Bureau?¡± Hailee asks.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Principal Song says with concern.
Hailee explains the situation, and Principal Song listens, only interrupting with relevant questions. ¡°One of the girls in your class, Man Li Na, her dad is a detective. I¡¯ll look up her emergency contact information and send it to you.¡±
Hailee thanks her profusely as she hangs up the phone. Moments later, the phone dings with a text.
***
Detective Man Zhu Bai finishes the last line on his report and is ready to go home after working a double when the call comes in.
¡°Is this Detective Man Zhu Bai?¡± The voice on the other end of the phone is soft and melodic, despite the anxiety and accent.
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°I¡¯m Lina¡¯s teacher Hailee Westcott.¡±
Man Zhu Bai¡¯s eyes snap to the photo on his desk of his daughter. At ten, she still holds the innocence and the roundness of her baby face. His shoulders stiffen with concern.
¡°Is she okay?¡±
¡°She is perfectly fine. Sorry to worry you, but I need help and don¡¯t know who else to call.¡±
The competent police officer replaces the tense parent.
¡°Where are you? What is the situation?¡± He picks up his coat from the chair.
***
Before Hailee finishes explaining the situation she feels a hand on her shoulder. She jumps at the surprise contact and then turns to find a handsome man holding a cell phone to his ear.
¡°Sorry to startle you¡±. His deep voice resonates through the air and the phone.
***
Man Zhu Bai reviews the footage in the airport security office. On the screen, Anna is led out of the airport by Jock and Skater Boy stumbling like she is drunk or high.
The security guard folds his arms. ¡°See, she must have shot up in the bathroom and called her friends to get her. Left her luggage and everything.¡±
¡°What is she doing in the VIP area?¡± Man Zhu Bai asks.
The security guard shrugs.
¡°Can you show me the restroom where you found the needles?¡±
Inside the ladies'' room, Man Zhu Bai inspects the counter and floor, but it has been wiped clean.
He walks through the ¡°Employee¡¯s Only¡± door. A cleaning woman in for fifties mumbles about extra work and unreliable kids while she cleans graffiti from the wall.
¡°Auntie, are you the only person on duty today?¡± Man Zhu Bai asks politely.
¡°Humph, the young woman who is supposed to be on shift took off without telling anyone. The boss got a text saying she quit. No work ethic.¡±
¡°Did she have a habit of leaving work?¡±
The cleaning auntie''s lips twist in consideration, ¡°No, she is always on time and did a good job. Most of the time I need to go back in and fix things, but she kept her areas tidy. Makes it more disappointing.¡±
¡°Her name?¡± Man Zhu Bai reminds her.
¡°Cao Niu Ju.¡± The auntie replies looking down at Man Zhu Bai¡¯s shoes.
¡°Hope you don¡¯t track any dirt in there. I just cleaned. What a mess.¡±
Man Zhu Bai''s instincts perk, ¡°What kind of mess?¡±
The cleaning auntie explains, ¡°My guess is someone tripped and hit their head on the counter. There was blood there and on the floor.¡± She complains. ¡°Whoever it was tried to clean it up, but instead they swished it around and made a bigger mess.¡±
Man Zhu Bai hands her his card, ¡°Thank you, you¡¯ve been very helpful.¡±
The woman turns back to scrubbing the graffiti. Man Zhu Bai touches the paint. It is mostly dry, but still sticky and has a strong chemical smell.
There is no particular pattern or symbolism only random scribbles going down the hall. The security camera¡¯s faces are blacked out.
Man Zhu Bai goes back to the security office.
¡°Pull up everything from the time Anna Westcott gets off the plane until she leaves.¡±
***
Anna silently counts the beats of the unconscious cleaning girl''s pulse, her eyes trained on the door. Barely a breath can be heard in the container. It is as if they were all quiet enough and could focus hard enough the door would open by the combined strength of their wills.
The sudden jolt of the cleaning girl''s body breaks the silence; a reverberating clang of metal echoes through the container. The girl¡¯s eyes blink rapidly as the seizure takes over her body. Anna removes her hoodie and rolls it in a ball under the girl''s head.
Cries erupt around her and a few of the girls hurry over to help
¡°Stay back! Give her room!¡± Anna barks, her voice cutting through the chaos as she shields the girl with her arms.
The girl¡¯s body writhes, and her eyes roll back. Anna loosens the girl''s top, rolls her onto her side, and waits with bated breath. The fit subsides as abruptly as it had begun, but so does her pulse.
¡°No, no, no!¡± Anna gasps, rolling the girl back. She positions her hands over the girl¡¯s chest and begins compressions, her voice firm yet pleading. ¡°Come on, sweetie. Fight! Don¡¯t give up on me now.¡±
The others watch, their terror giving way to a solemn silence. One girl mutters a prayer.
¡°You can do it, don¡¯t give up¡± Anna pleads giving all her strength to her patient.
Finally, the girl inhales a faint gasp that sounds louder than any shout. Anna sits back, her body trembling with relief. ¡°Thank God,¡± she whispers, wiping her face with a shaky hand before carefully cradling the girl¡¯s head back in her lap.
As Anna wipes the drool from the girl¡¯s pale lips with the edge of her shirt, another captive kneels beside her¡ªthe young woman who had been making shadow puppets. She places a comforting arm around Anna.
Anna leans into the support, she remembers how her mom would comfort her when she was a scared child. She caresses the unconscious girl¡¯s forehead and sings in a whisper.
¡°Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me¡±.
If she wasn¡¯t so tired, she would have been more surprised when other voices joined in. The language is different, but the meaning is the same.
Like moths drawn to the warmth of the moment, the girls gather around all except one, the fragile doll lost in the shadows afraid of hope.
***
Man Zhu Bai slumps into the driver¡¯s seat of his car. He knows the worst part of his duties is awaiting him at the station.
He runs a hand through his thick black hair and pounds the steering wheel, ¡°damn it¡±.
***
Hailee stops pacing when she sees Detective Man enter the station. ¡°Did you find her?¡± she asks, her voice tight with dread, though she already knows the answer.
Instead of responding, he gestures for her to follow him. He leads her through the station to his office, pulling out a chair and waiting until she sits. Then he crouches so they¡¯re eye to eye. ¡°We¡¯ll do everything we can to find your sister,¡± he says, his voice steady with confidence.
Hailee swallows hard, choking back tears. ¡°What happened?¡± she asks, her voice unnervingly calm.
Man Zhu Bai pulls a thumb drive from his pocket and plugs it into the computer. He brings up security footage from the airport and plays it. The screen shows Anna rushing to Ryan¡¯s aid in the terminal. He freezes the frame, zooming in on a security guard pulling Anna away. Behind the guard, a young man looms in the background¡ªSkater Boy.
¡°Do you recognize him?¡± Man Zhu Bai asks, studying Hailee¡¯s face carefully.
¡°No,¡± she says, her brows knitting together in confusion. ¡°What is going on?¡±
He zooms in again, this time on another man¡ªThe Jock. ¡°What about this guy?¡±
¡°No,¡± Hailee repeats, her voice rising slightly. ¡°Tell me¡ªwhat do these guys have to do with Anna?¡±
Man Zhu Bai exhales, then shuts off the video. ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed all the footage. These men were stalking an airport employee, a member of the cleaning staff. She¡¯s missing too. There¡¯s footage of your sister leaving the airport through an employee exit with these men, but shortly after, the cameras were sabotaged.¡±
Hailee¡¯s face tightens as the implications settle in. Fear churns inside her, threatening to take over, but she forces it down, composing herself.
She pieces it together in her mind, but she needs to hear it said aloud to fully grasp the gravity of the situation.
¡°Where is my sister?¡±
***
In the container, Anna focuses on keeping the cleaning girl as comfortable as possible. There¡¯s no point in trying to escape, and conversation isn¡¯t an option, but she has learned their names.
Anna has seen all sorts of reactions to trauma in the hospital, and the five girls in the container are perfect examples.
The puppet girl, Chai Lai Luan, is the eternal optimist. She believes a miracle will happen at any moment. Right now, she¡¯s practicing the CPR technique Anna showed her on a rolled-up sweater.
The girl doing sit-ups is Huan Rong, the realist. She knows things are bad, and there¡¯s nothing to do but wait for the inevitable.
The Princess lives in a state of disbelief, convinced this nightmare will end any second, while the Fairy is a crier. She spends most of her time clinging to anyone nearby and using them as a tissue.
The saddest of them all is the Doll. She¡¯s given up completely. It¡¯s hard for Anna to look at her without being dragged into dark thoughts.
Anna knows she has to stay strong. At twenty-five, she¡¯s the oldest here, though she guesses the others are somewhere between eighteen and twenty. They¡¯re all uniquely beautiful, which makes it easy to guess what¡¯s in store for them.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Maybe, if they worked together¡ª
Her thoughts are interrupted by an argument breaking out between Chai Lai Luan and Huan Rong.
Anna watches as the two get in each other¡¯s faces. She doesn¡¯t understand what Huan Rong says, but it¡¯s bad enough for Chai Lai Luan to whack her across the face. In the next instant, hair is being pulled out and nails are scratching.
¡°Knock it off!¡± Anna shouts, stepping between them. A bigger problem soon steals her attention. That familiar sound of vibrating metal begins again.
Anna rushes to the seizing girl just as the convulsions stop. She immediately mounts and resumes CPR.
Amid the chaos, Anna doesn¡¯t notice the sound of chains being removed from the doors or the flood of light pouring into the container.
The girls scatter into the shadows, pressing themselves against the walls as several thugs come in, swinging bats to crush any thoughts of escape.
Anna focuses entirely on her patient until she feels rough arms wrap around her waist.
¡°Get your hands off me!¡± she screams, struggling against his grip.
¡°I won¡¯t lose her!¡± Anna shrieks, kicking and fighting against the inevitable. It takes two men to drag her away.
As the doors slam shut behind her, Chai Lai Luan rushes forward and takes Anna¡¯s place beside the dying girl.
***
At the station, Hailee sits curled up in a ball in one of the chairs. She hugs her knees to her chest, but no tears fall from her red-rimmed eyes.
The cool touch of plastic against her hand draws her attention.
A water bottle is held out to her by a strong hand. Her gaze follows the line of a white, long-sleeved arm to meet Man Zhu Bai¡¯s sympathetic eyes.
¡°We¡¯ve contacted your embassy.¡± He states. ¡°You¡¯re listed as your sister¡¯s emergency contact, but we can call your parents--¡±
¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Hailee quickly unfolds herself. ¡°I don¡¯t want them to wait again, helpless to do anything.¡±
Hailee¡¯s fists clench as she fights against the urge to release her frustrated tears. She takes a deep breath forcing her emotions down.
¡°You can cry,¡± Man Zhu Bai says, watching her pull herself together.
Hailee waves off his suggestion, unable to speak.
¡°There is no one here you need to be strong for,¡± Man Zhu Bai places his hand on her shoulder.
Hailee¡¯s resolve collapses and all her sobs swell up unable to be contained any longer.
When the last tear dries, Hailee wipes her face with the sleeve of her sweater and steels herself. Her resolve hardens as determination replaces despair.
While Detective Man and the officers canvas the streets, interrogating known associates and questioning informants, Hailee turns to social media. Her fingers fly over her phone¡¯s keyboard as she crafts posts, sharing pictures and descriptions of her sister. She pleads for any information, any leads, hoping the digital world will reach where the physical search cannot.
Unwilling to sit and do nothing, she hits the streets herself, showing a photo to everyone she sees, hoping for a miracle.
***
At the family mansion, Ryan tosses his suit jacket on his king-sized bed. The room is elegantly appointed with a blend of traditional and modern d¨¦cor. Dark wood floors and furniture are offset by soft gray and blue linens and rugs. He opens the walk-in closet to find a change of clothes for the evening.
The phone ringing interrupts his decision between the black or the navy blazer. ¡°The ship cleared customs and I made sure the cargo was unloaded. Everything is back on track.¡± He says hanging the navy blazer back in place and pairing the black one with a fresh shirt. ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon. I have another call coming in.¡±
Ryan accepts the incoming call. His fingers freeze on the top button of his shirt. ¡°What do you mean she disappeared?¡± he growls into the phone. ¡°She¡¯s a human not luggage how can you lose her?¡±
His jaw tightens, anger crackling in his voice.
¡°I¡¯ll be there to get her belongings,¡± he snaps. ¡°You¡¯d better hope I find her¡ªbecause if I don¡¯t, the only VIP lounge you¡¯ll manage will be in hell.¡±
Ending the call, Ryan immediately re-dials the previous number as he strides through the house.
¡°Change of plans,¡± he says, his voice sharp. ¡°You¡¯ll have to handle it for me.¡±
He steps into the garage and grabs the keys to a sleek sports car. The engine roars to life, echoing in the enclosed space. Ryan floors the accelerator, the tires screeching as the car tears down the road.
An hour later in the dimly lit airport garage, Ryan places Anna¡¯s luggage into his trunk. Sliding into the driver¡¯s seat, he grabs her purse and sets it on the passenger side. His hands move swiftly as he rifles through its contents, extracting her passport.
Flipping it open, he skims through the pages. Only one stamp. His eyes pause on the page with her photo and details, taking in her information.
With a quick motion, he snaps a picture of the passport page with his phone. He attaches the image to a text and types out a curt message¡ªFind Her.
***
Not far from the city in a villa decorated in the tacky styling of the nouveau riche, a party for the wealthy and depraved is in full swing. The men are dressed to the nines showing off their wealth while the women are barely dressed. Alcohol flows and an assortment of pills and powders are available to suit any addiction.
Kang Jia Zan sits in a chair on the fringes, where he can observe, but doesn¡¯t need to engage. His sharp eyes watch his host Wu Bambang snort a line of coke, his vapid eyes light up with manic energy. Wu pulls one of the whores near him onto his lap. He lifts a glass of whiskey to her lips and then pours it down her throat causing her to choke.
Before she can recover, Wu Bambang smashes the thick glass into her face. Blood and liquor stream down her nose. He shoves her to the floor.
Kang Jia Zan¡¯s quells his instinct to help. He doesn¡¯t enjoy these scenes, but this is the world he is in. All he needs to do is make the deal. He looks around at the drunks laughing and jeering, a bunch of second-generation thugs who can¡¯t wipe their asses without daddy¡¯s say so.
The woman looks around the room at the men. Kang thinks he sees a bright flash of defiance in her eyes, but it is hidden by her long straight dark hair as she picks herself up off the floor. She lowers her eyes and slinks out of the room.
He sips his drink slowly savoring the burn. He glances across from him at the only man in the room who could pose a genuine threat; Li Jing Sheng. He is an enigma, he recently appeared beside Wu Bambang acting as his right hand, but there was no way a loser like Wu could command loyalty from a man like that.
Even though Li is in the room, he appears to be in his own world. An invisible barrier separates him from the rest of the party. Like a tiger resting after a kill, he is not interested in the easy prey playing around him.
Kang watches as Li folds a piece of paper with meticulous precision. Each crease sharpens the design, his long, thin fingers moving like a swordsman honing his blade.
He knows that Li¡¯s relaxed posture is a fa?ade. The man¡¯s face is delicate, but his lean body is honed and ready to uncoil into action at any moment. He looks up to meet Kang¡¯s stare. His dead eyes are what Kang found most unsettling.
Kang is confident in his abilities in a fight. He has killed and brushed up against death more than once but it is better to avoid an opponent like Li when given the option. Then again, it is rare to find such an interesting challenge.
Kang and Li¡¯s attention is diverted toward Wu Bambang as he clinks his glass.
¡°Even though it is my birthday¡± Wu announces, ¡°I have decided to share my present with everyone.¡±
Screams coming from down the hall get louder and louder. One of Wu¡¯s lackeys comes into the room with a woman over his shoulder. Her red hair matches the fire in her eyes.
***
In a bar so shady that Man Zhu Bai could arrest every patron for the illegal dealings he¡¯s witnessed in the past fifteen minutes, he hits up a snitch for information. Like everything else he¡¯s tried tonight, it¡¯s a dead end. No one knows anything¡ªor no one¡¯s willing to talk.
Man Zhu Bai tosses some cash on the bar and steps out of the noisy hellhole. He isn¡¯t prepared to give up, but he is running low on options. He hopes the other officers are having better luck.
He doesn¡¯t want to face the disappointment in the blue eyes waiting for him at the station. The way she tries to keep it together is harder to witness than the tears. He¡¯d been told she was out pounding the pavement along with the patrolmen.
The problem is, there are no leads. He¡¯s already spoken to the cleaning girl¡¯s father. Cao Niu Ju had been living in a shared apartment in Hangzhou, working three part-time jobs to help support her disabled dad. The man had received no ransom note¡ªonly a text from an unknown number, claiming her phone was broken and telling him not to worry if he didn¡¯t hear from her.
The criminals are buying time, covering their tracks. The crime is meticulously planned, and if it wasn¡¯t for Anna¡¯s interference and Hailee¡¯s persistence, they might not have even known this type of operation was happening in their city.
A part of him wants to deny what all the evidence points to. Human trafficking is a scourge his comrades in the south contend with, but Hangzhou? Hangzhou is supposed to be a safe city. He¡¯s dedicated his life to keeping it that way.
He wishes he was wrong, but he knows down to the fiber of his bones that he isn¡¯t. If he believed in God he would pray, but he can only keep searching. However, time is not on his side. Every minute the odds of finding Anna and Cao Niu Ju alive dwindles.
His phone buzzes with a message that could only be called a miracle.
***
¡°Did a skunk crawl up your ass to die? Put me down you limp dicked monkey twat!!¡± Anna curses.
The thug drops her unceremoniously in front of a table with a bunch of men in gaudy suits that scream money and taste that scream otherwise.
Anna squirms against the zip-ties binding her wrists behind her back and biting into skin. The greasy thug stands behind her holding her in place. She looks around the room, but there doesn¡¯t seem to be any help, a bunch of thugs, drunks and strangely a guy idly folding paper in the corner.
Her eyes make contact with another figure on the edge of the room. He is different from the others, solid and cold as an ice. A shiver travels down her spine. She looks away.
The man in front of her is short and ugly but seems to be the leader of the pack of hyenas laughing at her distress. He approaches her with a napkin soaked in liquor.
She tries to jerk her head back, but the thug tightens his grip on her hair, forcing her still. Anna hisses in pain as the alcohol seeps into the cuts on her face.
Anna lashes out and aims a kick at Wu¡¯s gut, but he is faster than she gave him credit for. Her defiance earns her a slap in the face. Her ears ring, and her arms wrench painfully as the thug behind her keeps her upright.
Wu says something, sparking a fresh wave of cheers. The man who has been lounging disinterestedly in a chair places down a crumpled paper bird. A new level of fear takes over as he stalks closer.
Anna feels like a sleeping beast has awoken and she is in his line of sight. She has discovered a newfound empathy for the princesses staked out in front of the dragons. Even though she knows it¡¯s useless every instinct screams for her to run. She tries to break free, but the thug''s hold on her is too strong.
The man¡¯s hand lifts and she closes her eyes, she is afraid to move or breathe, as if she can make herself disappear. She feels a tug on the back of her head and a tingling along the back of her neck. She cracks an eye open to find the man holding her hair elastic.
He mechanically smooths down her hair. Anna trembles, goosebumps have her hair standing on end. The man bends down and lowers himself to one knee. Anna doesn¡¯t know where she got the guts, but she takes the chance to kick at his head. He grabs her foot like it is nothing. One by one, he pulls off her sneakers, dropping them to the floor.
Left with only her pants and shirt, Anna utilizes the only weapon she has left, she shrieks. Wu and his friends cover their ears, and laughter dies at the onslaught. The only two unaffected are the beast at her feet and Iceberg, as Anna mentally dubbed him, scrolling on his phone unaffected.
Wu shouts over the piercing noise. The beast draws a knife from his boot as he stands. He touches the blade to his lips.
Anna¡¯s throat locks. Tears and snot drip down her face. She forces her screams down.
The beast lowers the knife to her stomach and slices the bottom of her T-shirt. He uses the rag to wipe her eyes and nose then discards it on the table covered with drugs.
He stands to the side so the audience can get the best view of Anna. He draws the knife up to Anna¡¯s neck. The sharp edge catches and glides down making a slit in her shirt. Anna¡¯s skin is exposed inch by inch. He suddenly stops, and the room goes silent.
A mess of surgical scars is carved over her heart. The jagged ugly web is a stark contrast to her pale delicate skin.
Crash, the table is overturned. Glass shatters, pills and pipes scatter across the floor. Wu shouts in anger before storming off.
The beast and the other guests follow him to continue the party in another room, but the hired thugs and Iceberg remain. Anna feels like a slab of meat surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves.
***
The tension in the room could be cut by a knife. Everyone is waiting to see who will make the first move. Anna is frozen in place without any means of escape.
Suddenly, her world is upended as she is thrown to the floor. The thug holding her pins her down, his weight crushing the air from her lungs. She struggles against him, but even if she could break free, the other men have formed a circle around her, shouting and cheering like schoolboys at a playground fight.
Anna lashes out in pure survival mode. The stink of sweat, the shouts of strange voices blending into incomprehensible noise, and the crushing weight all blur together. Her heart pounds so loud in her ears, that she fears it might burst.
The sound of shattering glass cuts through the chaos, and the pressure on her chest eases as the man shifts. For a brief moment, she can breathe again. Relief surges through her, but it¡¯s short-lived. She feels his meaty fingers digging into her waistband. Desperation takes over, and Anna twists and kicks with all her might.
Another man stumbles into the thug pinning her. It should have been Anna¡¯s chance to escape, but instead, the thug¡¯s head collides with hers. More weight crushes down on her, forcing the wind from her lungs. Stars explode in her vision, but she can¡¯t tell if it¡¯s from the pain in her skull or the lack of oxygen.
The men scramble to untangle themselves. Adrenaline and instinct push Anna to act. She manages to free one foot and kicks the thug in the chest, sending him toppling backward.
Renewed energy surges through her as she scrambles to her feet, her eyes locking onto the closest door. With tunnel vision, she sprints toward it. But freedom is snatched away when her foot catches on a body lying on the floor. Pain jolts through her arm as she crashes onto her side, unable to break the fall with her hands still tied behind her back.
A sharp pain follows as the thug hauls her up by her arms and shoves her face-first into the ground. He flips her over, his weight settling on her again. The sickly stench of his breath and the curses he spits in her ear make her stomach churn.
Dizzy and in pain, Anna refuses to accept her fate. She hasn¡¯t survived this long for it to end like this. Fighting may be useless, but she won¡¯t go down easy.
Anna closes her eyes, summoning whatever strength she has left. A scream of pain tears through the room, and suddenly, the weight on top of her disappears. A heavy silence falls.
She opens her eyes to find a shadow looming over her. Her heart sinks when she realizes who her new captor is¡ªIceberg.
The door, only a few feet away, feels miles out of reach. Anna tries to stand, but her legs won¡¯t hold her. Before she can attempt another move, the man scoops her up and slings her over his shoulder.
From her vantage point, Anna sees the room for what it is¡ªa battlefield littered with bodies. Her hoarse screams echo through the air as she¡¯s carried out of the room.
***
Hailee paces outside of the meeting room at the public security bureau, her nerves taunt with dread and anticipation. Through the glass, she watches Detective Man Zhu Bai distributing firearms. A rookie cop''s hand trembles as he grips his gun.
The door opens, and officers file out one by one, they give a nod of acknowledgment as they pass by. Hailee meets Man Zhu Bai¡¯s gaze when he steps into the hallway but doesn¡¯t know what to say. She forces a tight lip smile. He squeezes her shoulder gently in reassurance before he and his team disappear down the corridor, leaving her to wait alone.
***
Anna finds herself in a secluded room that looks like it was once a library, but there aren¡¯t any books on the shelves, instead, it holds liquor bottles. A red velvet chaise lounge and matching chairs dominate the space. The room once dedicated to intellectual pursuits was renovated into a brothel.
The blood gathered in her head rushes back down when Iceberg drops her onto the chaise. She tries to rise, but his hand clamps down on her shoulder, forcing her back down. He takes a knife out of his boot. Anna decides it is better to sit still.
To Anna¡¯s surprise, he slices one of the couch¡¯s matching pillows into shreds.
¡°It¡¯s ugly, but isn¡¯t that a little overkill,¡± Anna mutters, her nervousness bringing forth her sarcasm.
The man turns his cold gaze on her, and Anna snaps her mouth shut. He brings his arms around her and pulls her into his chest. Anna¡¯s teeth are ready to bite down when a stinging pain radiates through her wrists.
Anna pushes away from him, her hands free of their bindings. She shakes out the pins and needles. Before she can process what is happening he takes a strip of fabric and wraps it around her raw and bloody wrists. Instead of her hands together behind her, they are now in front with individual cuffs linked in the middle by the fabric ends in his hands.
The man uses one hand to pull the soft chain forcing her hands up and moving her like he is her puppet master. His other hand wraps around the back of her head as she is pushed down into the sofa. Once again Anna finds herself trapped under a strange man''s body.
The man turns his head and barks out indistinguishable words and Anna seizes the opportunity, she bites down on his ear. He jerks up.
Tears sting Anna¡¯s eyes and she can see several red hairs wrapped around his fingers.
¡°Du¨¬buq¨«¡± the man grumbles. He sits back up and finishes securing the fabric on her wrists, then flips her over his shoulder again.
Her hands are no longer trapped together, but her fists are useless against him. She pounds on his back, but it''s like hitting a stone wall. He loosens his grasp on her and for a second Anna drops head first toward the floor before he locks in his grip.
Anna changes tactics and pinches his side. This time he reacts with a quick sting on her backside. More indignant than hurt, Anna fumes. Her parents had never even spanked her, even if she deserved it.
When they reach the door, shouts and running sounds can be heard on the other side. Anna pushes against his back to lift herself enough to see blue lights whirling through a window.
If she can escape this brute she will be saved. Anna is set on her feet and the man grabs her chin and directs her face to the windows.
¡°T¨¢o ch¨± chu¨¡ng w¨¤i¡± he commands in a firm voice. Anna¡¯s mouth drops open when he leaves, closing the door and securing her inside. She doesn¡¯t know what he is thinking, but she knows what her plan is.
¡°Don¡¯t run away? Yeah, right.¡± Anna dashes to the windows.
Outside the party goers are running to vehicles and into neighbor¡¯s yards. Anna sees one woman trip and a man haul her up into a van.
She unlatches the top, but the windows have been painted shut. She tries them all but is only able to jimmy one of them up about nine inches.
¡°I can squeeze through,¡± she mutters, turning her head sideways to fit through the narrow opening.
***
Kang Jia Zan waits in the hall where he can observe the action happening in the foyer. The local cops have shown up. He hopes that they don¡¯t ruin everything. He needs to finish the business his spicy American girl interrupted.
He watches Wu and a few of his cronies open the door for the police. He is disturbed by the fact that he doesn¡¯t see Li with them. If they are smart they will keep their mouths shut.
It wasn¡¯t meant to be. Wu with his intoxicated ego fueled by the presence of his buddies opens his big mouth. ¡°Good evening officer, what can I help you with? A donation?¡±
Kang had to give the cop credit he maintained his cool professionalism.
¡°I¡¯m searching for--¡± Man Zhu Bai starts to speak, but is interrupted when window glass shatters and blood pours out from Wu Bambang¡¯s chest.
Man Zhu Bai and everyone in the room dives to the ground. A bullet lodges itself in the wall above his head. He grabs his radio.
¡°Send in backup.¡±
Kang sees his opportunity has officially gone to hell. He dives into the foray with no hope of salvaging the mess.
***
Anna hears bullets flying and gives up on trying to get through the window. There isn¡¯t a chance she is fitting though. She wiggles herself back into the room.
A thought pops into her head, it¡¯s clich¨¦ but if she had money to burn she knows exactly what she would do with a library. Anna checks along the shelves and low and behold she finds an exposed button where it normally would be covered by books.
She presses it and the shelves open to the next room. She slips through. The room is empty and the door is unlocked allowing her to slip into the hall.
She slides along the wall toward the gunfire.
When she nears the foyer she can see bleeding bodies on the floor. There are a few police officers in the room, but most are outside shooting in through windows and the open door, while the Iceberg is trapped behind an overturned table with two other thugs on the ground beside him.
A cop shouts, ¡°Bi¨¦ k¨¡iqi¨¡ng¡±
The police cease firing and Iceberg comes out with his hands behind his head. A young officer races in with handcuffs. Anna waits till she sees Iceberg¡¯s hands go behind his back then she bolts into the room.
Her nursing instincts take over. She checks the pulse on the body closest to her, one of the thugs, no telltale thump of life. With efficiency, she moves on to the next, a wounded officer.
She finds the wound on his hip quickly. It¡¯s just a flesh wound, she checks his pupils and brushes off his clinging hand as she moves on to the next patient.
She performs triage on each body she comes across as she makes her way through the room. For the most part, they are either dead or barely grazed, till she reaches Wu. He is barely alive, no longer her captor he is simply a patient.
Hyper-focused she doesn¡¯t realize someone is behind her clearing glass and debris, so she can work safely. She can only see the wound in front of her.
¡°Bullet went through his chest, collapsed lung. Get two pieces of plastic, bandage tape!¡± she doesn¡¯t look up as she orders the police standing in front of her.
The officers look at her confused, but Man Zhu Bai is already there with a first aid kit. He places it in front of the woman who looks very much like her sister back at the station. However, instead of an aura of delicate strength and grace, she is a fireball of efficiency. Neither of them are the damsels in distress one would expect in such situations.
Anna seals the entry wound on three sides, and tapes down the plastic. Then she waves an officer over to apply pressure and repeats the process on the exit point. She finishes as the paramedics arrive.
In a daze, she watches the EMTs load the wounded onto stretchers, while the man behind her stands over her protectively. She starts to sway.
Man Zhu Bai squats down in front of her, ¡°Anna Westcott?¡±
The events of the day flash through her mind from the airport, to the cargo container, and the present; it seems to blend into a long nightmare. Anna¡¯s heart pounds and she feels the strength seep out of her limps. The shouts and faces in front of her blur into the distance.
¡°Ryan. The girls.¡± She whispers. She tries to stand but collapses. A pair of masculine hands catch her before she hits the ground.
The ambulance roars through the night. Blurry movements, lights, and sirens mix as Anna floats in and out of consciousness. A distorted voice talks to her. She tries to move her hand, but it is held in place. The only thing she can recognize is the sound of a low voice singing ¡°a-b-c-d¡¡±
Chapter 3 – Strings are Knot Quite What They Seem.
"What the eyes see is not necessarily true." ¨C Chinese proverb
Hangzhou, China ¨C October 10th, ¨C 11:00 AM
Anna wakes up disoriented, a dull ache radiating through her body. She tries to move, but a firm hand holds hers down. Panic swells in her chest until she hears a familiar voice.
¡°Hey,¡± Hailee says softly, squeezing Anna¡¯s hand.
¡°Hey,¡± Anna croaks, her throat raw from the yelling she did the night before. She coughs, and Hailee quickly brings a cup of water with a straw to her lips.
¡°Sip,¡± Hailee urges.
Anna obeys, taking slow sips until she feels strong enough to speak. ¡°The girls... the girls are still¡ª¡± Her voice breaks, rasping like sandpaper. Alarms from the heart monitor blare.
Hailee leans in, wrapping her arms around her sister. She rubs her back gently, her touch grounding Anna. ¡°Shh, shh. They¡¯re safe,¡± she whispers. ¡°The police found them.¡±
Anna¡¯s head swims with relief, but disbelief lingers. ¡°What about¡ª¡± she stutters, her thoughts darting to the injured girl.
Hailee anticipates her question. ¡°She made it. She¡¯s in the ICU, but the doctors are optimistic.¡±
The news finally sinks in. Anna relaxes against the pillow but keeps a firm grip on her sister¡¯s hand. Letting go feels impossible right now.
¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything,¡± Hailee begins, but a knock on the door interrupts her.
Man Zhu Bai steps into the room, carrying two bouquets of carnations mixed with wildflowers and greenery. Hailee gestures for him to come closer. He hands her both bouquets.
¡°For your sister and for you,¡± he says, his tone gentle.
¡°Thank you,¡± Hailee says, a shy smile curving her lips. She sniffs the flowers delicately and places them on the bedside table.
Anna observes the exchange, her thoughts tinged with dry humor. I get kidnapped, and my sister gets a date. At least something good came out of this.
¡°Hello, Miss Westcott,¡± Man Zhu Bai addresses Anna formally, his gaze respectful.
Hailee quickly steps in to make introductions. ¡°This is Detective Man. He helped rescue you.¡± She turns to him. ¡°Please, no need to be formal.¡±
Man Zhu Bai pulls out a chair for Hailee and then stands beside Anna¡¯s bed. Before Anna can ask how he found her, another knock sounds at the door. A man enters, holding a simple vase with a vibrant red plum blossom sprig.
Anna¡¯s heart rate monitor spikes wildly. She recognizes the man instantly.
¡°What the hell!¡± she exclaims, glaring at him. She turns to Man Zhu Bai, her voice sharp. ¡°Arrest him.¡±
Iceberg stops mid-step at her outburst. Anna refuses to look away, daring him to make a move. He does, he places his foot down and then strolls into the room like he has every right to be there.
¡°He¡¯s a police officer,¡± Hailee explains, her tone calm. ¡°He came with you in the ambulance.¡±
Anna¡¯s breathing slows, but her eyes remain locked on Kang. He steps forward and places the vase in her hands.
¡°Sorry,¡± he says, articulating the word carefully.
Anna shoves the vase back at him, ¡°Sorry? Sorry isn¡¯t going to cut it, asshole.¡± Her fists clench, her temper flaring.
¡°He¡¯s the one who contacted the police,¡± Hailee interjects, her voice steady. ¡°His name is Agent Kang Jia Zan. He was undercover.¡±
Anna¡¯s jaw tightens as she processes this. Her glare doesn¡¯t waver. ¡°Then why did he tell me NOT to run away?¡± she snaps. Picking the first piece of evidence against him that came to her mind.
Hailee frowns, translating Anna¡¯s accusation for Kang. He listens, a faint smile playing on his lips.
¡°W¨¯ shu¨: T¨¢o ch¨± chu¨¡ng w¨¤i,¡± Kang replies, his voice calm.
Hailee lips quirk up with mild amusement at the miscommunication. She turns to Anna. ¡°He said, ¡®Go out the window.¡¯¡±
Anna scowls. ¡°He could¡¯ve just opened it.¡±
Kang¡¯s eyes narrow slightly, but he says nothing. Anna crosses her arms, undeterred by his stare. With her sister and the detective in the room, she feels she doesn¡¯t think he¡¯ll try anything.
Kang pulls out his wallet and flips open his badge, holding it out for her to see. Anna''s eyes narrow, ¡°Is it real?¡± she challenges.
Hailee translates the question, though it feels unnecessary. Anna glances at Man Zhu Bai, seeking confirmation. He nods a glimmer of enjoyment in his eyes.
Anna scrutinizes Kang. His expression is stoic, but she senses a faint trace of a smirk. Reluctantly, she mutters, ¡°Thank you.¡±
Kang inclines his head slightly, acknowledging her thanks. Satisfied for now, he shifts his attention to Man Zhu Bai, his demeanor turning cold once more. He recognizes him from the night before. Detective Man Zhu Bai, graduated with honors from the academy and quickly rose through the ranks. The only smudge on his background is a divorce.
Man Zhu Bai meets his stare sensing the tension in the room. Kang notes the shift in the man¡¯s posture, protective towards the sister instead of the victim. Then again, the spitfire can cut a man in half with her sharp green eyes.
He pulls up a chair from the empty side of the room and positions himself between Anna and anyone entering the room. He continues to study Man Zhu Bai. He can¡¯t blame the detective for blowing his cover; it was his own decision to stay in the room with Anna instead of following Wu out.
Then again, the situation had been salvageable up until the shootout in the foyer. Now, a year¡¯s worth of effort had been destroyed. Now it will be much harder to infiltrate the organization.
Anna and Hailee are grateful when a nurse comes in breaking the awkward silence in the room. The nurse, a no-nonsense woman in her fifties, wheels the portable table in front of Anna and places down her medications.
¡°The patient needs rest. Family only¡ª doctor''s orders,¡± the nurse says firmly eyeing the two men.
Man Zhu Bai takes the hint, offering a polite, ¡°I¡¯ll come back later¡±. Hailee sees him out.
Kang stands and waits for Anna to look at him. ¡°Rest,¡± he commands. He knows she can¡¯t understand the word, but she is smart enough to get the meaning.
Kang leans toward the nurse lowering his voice. ¡°Please, bring some tea and honey for her throat.¡± Without waiting for a response, he returns the chair to its original place and leaves.
Anna watches his retreating figure and can¡¯t help herself, she sticks her tongue out at his back.
Hailee crosses her arms and raises a brow at her sister¡¯s antics, her lips twitching trying to hold down her mock frown.
Getting into the spirit Anna continues to indulge in her childishness. ¡°He started it.¡± She says feigning innocence.
Hailee snickers, unable to keep a straight face.
Anna sinks down into the bed as Hailee adjusts her blankets.
¡°Did you tell Mom and Dad?¡± Anna asks.
Hailee sighs. ¡°I told them you got stuck in customs because of your meds, your phone broke, mine died, and then jet lag hit. But Mom won¡¯t let that excuse fly for long.¡±
Anna rubs her face. ¡°I need to figure out how to tell them without making it sound¡¡± She pauses, searching for the right word. ¡°Dramatic.¡±
Hailee snorts, and then a giggle escapes, it is contagious.
¡°Oww,¡± Anna says between gasps ¡°it hurts to laugh¡±
That only makes it worse. The sisters dissolve into helpless laughter, tears streaming down their faces. After more than twenty-four hours of fear and tension, the release is overwhelming. They laugh so hard they cry and cry so hard they laugh, clinging to each other as their emotions finally spill over.
***
Kang is satisfied to find Man Zhu Bai waiting for him outside the hospital; it saves him the trouble of calling. It¡¯s time for the locals to step back. The fewer people involved, the less chance of someone getting hurt.
¡°Send me any reports and files. Thank you for your assistance, but this is now an ASB matter,¡± Kang states continuing to his vehicle. No surprise, the detective isn¡¯t happy and follows him.
¡°That''s bullshit. This is my case.¡± Man Zhu Bai says tersely.
Kang opens the door of his black SUV, but Man Zhu Bai shoves it closed. Kang doesn''t flinch at the display. He turns to Man Zhu Bai and lays out the facts.
¡°A local station doesn''t have the resources to handle a case like this.¡±
¡°If you could handle it, I wouldn''t have a bunch of bodies with bullet holes in my morgue,¡± Man Zhu Bai scores a direct hit.
¡°If you want to point fingers, find out who on your team is trigger-happy. Have everything related to the case turned over by the end of the day.¡± Kang says bluntly, opening his door again. He slips into the driver¡¯s seat, done with the argument.
Man Zhu Bai isn¡¯t finished. He can¡¯t stand the fact that something serious is happening in his city and Kang and the ASB are unwilling to share information. He steps between the open door and the vehicle, blocking it from closing.
¡°There were six more girls last night. How many of our own were you willing to sacrifice for the sake of whatever op you were running?¡±
Man Zhu Bai watches Kang¡¯s face closely, noticing the twitch around his mouth and the spark of emotion in his eyes. He doesn¡¯t think he is going to respond, but he does.
¡°I didn''t know about the girls. The investigation--¡±
Man Zhu Bai changes his mind, he doesn¡¯t want to hear bullshit excuses. It won¡¯t change the fact that his case is taken away. Man Zhu Bai steps away from the car and slams the door shut before Kang can finish his sentence.
Kang watches Man Zhu Bai stride away, his knuckles white on the wheel. He didn¡¯t know about the human trafficking, but even to himself, it was a lame excuse. He should have, he has a feeling that what he has seen of this operation is only the edge of the battlefield and the real fight is still hidden behind the horizon.
***
Finally recovered from their earlier fit, Anna and Hailee squeeze together on the narrow hospital bed in a video chat with their parents. The face on the screen is their mother, Liv Westcott, the type of woman who wears jeans with her pearls. She married their father at 18 and a year later gave birth to their brother Vin. After a series of miscarriages, she gave up on having more children until she found herself pregnant with the twins eight years later.
When Anna was born with congenital heart disease she gave up her job at an architectural firm to stay at home. She somehow managed in between Anna¡¯s hospital stays to be active in Hailee and Vin¡¯s lives as well.
Despite years of stress, the toll of medical bills, and endless worry, Liv¡¯s face retains a youthful energy, her features a mix of Hailee¡¯s elegance with Anna¡¯s girl-next-door looks.
¡°I found a flight. I can be there in 48 hours.¡± Liv says determined to be by her girl¡¯s side when they need her.
Anna is prepared, as much as she would love to be comforted by her mom¡¯s embrace right now it isn¡¯t practical. ¡°Mom, I need you to gather my proof of ID and mail it to the embassy.¡±
¡°Your father can¡ª¡± Liv starts, but then cuts herself off, realizing the suggestion is unrealistic. ¡°I¡¯ll book it as soon as I¡¯ve got everything.¡±
Their father, Al Westcott, doesn¡¯t take offense at his wife¡¯s doubt in his paperwork abilities. Give him a hammer and nails, and he¡¯ll build anything you want but don¡¯t ask him to handle anything administrative.
He rubs Liv¡¯s shoulders, knowing her distress over being so far away from their girls. He feels the same. He wishes he could reach through the screen, pull them close, and protect them.
¡°I can''t believe waited this long to tell me you got mugged. Does the hospital have your med list?¡±
Hailee interjects hoping to ease her mom¡¯s fear and anger, ¡°Everything is taken care of. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡±
Liv scoffs, ¡°I''m your mother, I''m worried about you 24/7.¡±
Sensing an argument starting, Al cuts in. ¡°We¡¯re sending money for your tickets home.
Anna hastily nods wanting to defuse her mother''s anxiety.
Everyone is caught off guard when the never-a-problem daughter Hailee says, ¡°I don¡¯t have time off until January.¡±
¡°You¡¯re coming home, where you¡¯re safe,¡± Al says, his tone brokering no argument.
Hailee stands her ground. She doesn¡¯t want to worry her parents, but she has no intention of leaving China before her teaching contract ends.
¡°It could have happened anywhere,¡± She counters, ¡°Statistically, Hangzhou is as safe as Boston.¡±
Through the screen and across the ocean, Hailee still feels a tinge of fear and regret as her mother slams her hand on the table. ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn about statistics,¡± Liv says, her voice trembling with anger and frustration as tears spill down her cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re coming home.¡±
Al puts an arm around Liv, and she leans on his shoulder drawing strength from his support.
***
Boston, USA ¨C October 10th, ¨C 1:00 AM
The golden dome of the State House gleams in the moonlight, while George Washington stands watch over the Common. In the harbor, the tea ship sways gently in the water. A few miles out in the Atlantic, a luxury yacht races toward international waters.
On the deck, a tuxedoed butler drags a bulky, blood-soaked sheet across the surface. Blonde hair peeks out from an open fold. With a grunt, he hefts the bundle over the railing and into the dark ocean below.
***
Anna ends the call with her parents along with her fa?ade of bravado. Exhaustion settles over her, and the pain from torn muscles in her arms and the myriad of cuts and bruises all over her body were making themselves known.
¡°I miss Mom and Dad,¡± she murmurs, leaning on Hailee.
¡°Me too¡± Hailee replies, her tone tired as well.
Anna considers pointing out that Hailee could go home if she wanted to, but she bites her tongue. She doesn¡¯t understand her sister''s reluctance but isn¡¯t ready to deal with whatever is holding Hailee back. So she says nothing.
Hailee¡¯s heart twists with guilt, her parents¡¯ upset voices still fresh in her mind. She knows this conversation was just the first step in a much larger battle. A battle she¡¯s not even sure she wants to win. The thought of going home to the comfort and security of their family is undeniably tempting, but deep down, she knows she¡¯s not ready yet.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
¡°Do you think they¡¯ll ever let me out of their sight again?¡± Anna¡¯s voice breaks the silence.
¡°Nope,¡± Hailee says, deadpan.
***
Ryan runs a hand over his exhausted face, his jaw tightening as he checks his phone again. Nothing. No updates. No answers. The gnawing frustration claws at him¡ªhe hates when things are out of his control. His network of contacts is already working at full capacity, but it¡¯s not enough.
The summons from his w¨¤ig¨ng couldn¡¯t have come at a worse time. Wan Chong Jin, ever cagey and sharp as a wolf, has an uncanny ability to sense weakness, and he doesn¡¯t tolerate it. Taking a deep breath, Ryan buries his frustration and steels himself.
The servant leads him to the garden pavilion, where his w¨¤ig¨ng sits at a tea table overlooking a rockery that slopes down to the koi pond. With his still posture and austere demeanor, Wan Chong Jin could easily be mistaken for one of the wooden carvings tucked into the greenery.
Age has taken its toll. The once-commanding figure from Ryan¡¯s childhood is now thin and frail, but his mind remains razor-sharp. This is the man who taught Ryan everything he knows about finance and strategy. It¡¯s time for him to step aside and enjoy his retirement.
The table is set with Jingdezhen porcelain and jade-handled utensils, signaling that Ryan isn¡¯t the only guest.
¡°W¨¤ig¨ng,¡± Ryan greets him, bowing slightly before taking his seat.
Wan Chong Jin¡¯s shrewd eyes scan his grandson, taking in the tension in his jaw and the dark circles under his eyes. He gestures for Ryan to sit.
¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to return to the USA?¡±
¡°I adjusted my schedule to stay,¡± Ryan replies evenly. ¡°This way, I can celebrate your birthday with you. Mother is sending over the coffee you like.¡±
The excuse is thin, but Wan Chong Jin doesn¡¯t press the matter, giving only a faint nod of approval.
¡°Your Uncle Song will be arriving shortly,¡± his w¨¤ig¨ng says, setting down his teacup. ¡°With his daughter.¡±
Ryan nods, his expression carefully neutral. Song Li Jun is one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the country. The ¡°Uncle¡± title is purely honorary, a sign of respect for his w¨¤ig¨ng¡¯s longstanding alliance with Song¡¯s family.
What it boils down to is the line of people lining up to kiss Song Li Jun¡¯s ass was longer than the great wall and the Wan family gets to pucker up first.
Right now, Ryan couldn¡¯t afford to give offense, so there is no way to avoid the meeting. He can only hope the daughter didn¡¯t show up. He wasn¡¯t interested in catering to a vapid, spoiled heiress.
His luck holds. Song Li Jun arrives alone, and the servants discreetly remove the extra place setting. The conversation unfolds predictably¡ªa homage to Song¡¯s ego peppered with pointed compliments about Ryan¡¯s capabilities.
Ryan listens with polite composure, but his thoughts remain elsewhere. This meeting only strengthens his resolve. Securing his w¨¤ig¨ng¡¯s company and finalizing the merger is the only way forward. Power is the shield he needs to protect what is his and command the respect he deserves.
This time next year, Ryan resolves as he sips his tea, it will be the Song family currying for my favor.
***
Kang pours a bottle of Baijiu over a grave, the memorial photo of a soldier stares back at him. The date on the stone is just over a year ago. He bows deeply to his comrade.
¡°I failed, but I won¡¯t give up on finding the man responsible for both of your deaths.¡±
His gaze shifts to the headstone beside them, where a young woman¡¯s name is etched. The date of her death is only a week before the soldier¡¯s. He pays his respects.
¡°You said you couldn¡¯t live without her,¡± Kang says wearily, ¡°I guess you were right.¡±
Kang turns away, but his shadow lingers on the grave as the sun sets.
***
Hangzhou, China ¨C October 11th, ¨C 9:00 AM
Man Zhu Bai opens the door to Hailee¡¯s apartment, quickly scanning the area before stepping aside to let them in. The apartment is a small one-bedroom with an open kitchen and living room. Hailee¡¯s uncluttered, feminine style gives the space a cozy, inviting atmosphere.
Anna settles on the couch while Hailee prepares tea. The trip from the hospital had been uneventful, but neither of them had slept well the night before, leaving them both worn out.
Anna wanted to get the questioning over with, so she agreed to Man Zhu Bai¡¯s offer to pick them up. The sooner she could put the situation behind her, the better.
The door knocks, and Man Zhu Bai isn¡¯t happy but isn¡¯t surprised when Kang is on the other side. Like Man Zhu Bai, Kang takes a moment to assess the space.
¡°Is this a good time?¡± He directs his question toward Hailee, ignoring the detective¡¯s presence. It isn¡¯t worth getting into a pissing match in front of the woman. Anna and her sister should be given a sense of security.
¡°Come on in.¡± Hailee invites, and Man Zhu Bai steps aside.
Kang goes directly to the couch, taking the space next to Anna. Anna scoots as far away as she can without being blatantly rude. Her attitude is still strong, he notes, which is good because this next part isn¡¯t going to be easy.
Hailee brings Anna a cup of water, along with her medications and a cold pack for her shoulder. She hasn¡¯t had this many people in her tiny space before. She isn¡¯t sure what the proper behavior is when the police are there to question you, but she figures it is better to be over-polite than under. She returns to the kitchen to pour the tea.
Man Zhu Bai pulls a stool over from the breakfast bar leaving the more comfortable chair for Hailee. He knows the past couple of days have been difficult for her, he doesn¡¯t need the tea, but he can tell it is her way of dealing with her nervousness. She serves the tea and settles into the chair. With the hospitality rituals complete, it¡¯s time to get down to business. He is interested to see what Kang''s questioning will reveal about the ASB¡¯s case.
Kang pulls out his phone, opens a recording app, and begins with the formalities¡ªnames, time, and date. He asks for Hailee to act as an interpreter, the expressionless voices of computer translations are not ideal during an interrogation. A familiar voice will subconsciously influence Anna¡¯s willingness to answer truthfully as well.
He asks for everyone¡¯s consent to record the conversation. Hailee and Man Zhu Bai quickly agree, and Anna nods her acknowledgment.
Kang stares at Anna, waiting for it to click, but she only stares back at him with an annoyed and impatient expression. He rubs his eyes with his hands, he can already feel a headache forming.
Anna looks at her sister for help. Hailee repeats Kang¡¯s request. ¡°Permission to RECORD this conversation.¡±
The lightbulb clicks, and Anna pushes down a wave of embarrassment at her brain lapse. She leans over so the phone can clearly pick up her ¡°Yes.¡±
Anna has to give Kang the first point for of today¡¯s round, but since she didn¡¯t sleep last night, she¡¯s giving herself leeway for being a bit slow on the uptake.
Kang eases into the questioning by showing her photos of the two men who kidnapped her.
¡°Do you know these two men?¡±
¡°Hard to forget,¡± Anna mutters dryly.
¡°BEFORE you arrived in Hangzhou?¡± Kang clarifies. He can tell she is taking her nerves out on him. He¡¯s happy to let her use him as a target.
¡°No,¡± Anna answers, without hesitation he notes. He observes her face for any signs of dissembling. She only appears impatient to be done.
He places a photo of Cao Niu Ju on the table.
¡°What about her?¡±
Anna shakes her head. Hailee prompts her, ¡°Out loud.¡±
¡°We were strangers,¡± Anna says. Kang can hear frustration creeping into her voice. It seems he has struck a nerve.
¡°What¡¯s your relationship with the two men? Why did you meet them in the bathroom?¡± He circles back to his original line of questioning.
¡°I told you, I didn¡¯t know them,¡± Anna repeats, growing defensive. ¡°I didn¡¯t even see them until they barged in.¡±
He can see her temper flaring up. The harder he pushes her now, the sooner he can remove her as a suspect. Kang disregards any sympathy and presses further. ¡°This will go easier if you tell the truth.¡±
¡°I am telling you the truth!¡±
The sister glares at him, unhappy he is getting Anna worked up. Still, she does the translations¡ª an inherent rule follower. He can tell she softens his words, but it doesn¡¯t matter. Anna is so focused on him she understands the underlying tone.
Kang opens a file on his phone, showing footage from her rescue at the airport. He points to the figures of Skater Boy stopping the security guard and the Jock behind him. He waits for her reply.
¡°I never noticed them,¡± Anna claims. ¡°If you couldn¡¯t tell, I was a little busy at the time.¡±
Kang tests her. ¡°What did he say to you?¡±
¡°Nothing,¡± Anna responds quickly. ¡°He didn¡¯t even speak English.¡±
Kang raises an eyebrow. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t talk to him?¡±
Her temper flares at his underlying accusation. Her eyes flash and her nostrils widen. The more emotional she is the harder it will be to conceal anything. However instead of taking the bait, she takes a steadying breath.
¡°I didn¡¯t. The security guard was getting in the way, and the guy didn¡¯t speak English, so he must¡¯ve said something to him in Mandarin to make him back off.¡± Anna holds his gaze, the expression written on her face clearly telling him she is onto his game.
¡°Why did they follow you to the bathroom?¡± Kang continues, his tone cool.
She answers his question in a blas¨¦ tone, ¡°They didn¡¯t follow me. I was in the stall. They didn¡¯t even know I was there.¡±
¡°A witness said there were drugs¡ªpills and needles. Were you the buyer or the seller?¡±
Hailee translates with a noticeable edge to her voice. She doesn¡¯t like it when he questions Anna¡¯s integrity. He can tell the sisters are close, an insult to one is an insult to the other.
¡°Since you¡¯re a cop, you might¡¯ve gotten a clue from the scars on my chest,¡± she looks at him pointedly, ¡°that everyone was staring at. I had a heart transplant. I take immunosuppressants and a laundry list of other medications.¡±
Kang was surprised to learn the full extent of her surgery. He had known it was serious, but finding out her heart had been completely replaced was more than he had anticipated. Her resiliency continues to impress him, but he doesn¡¯t relent. ¡°What about the needles?¡±
¡°The assholes drugged us,¡± Anna says bluntly.
¡°Then why are you fine, and the other girl is still unconscious in the ICU?¡±
Kang can see his words are a direct hit, she winces as if he physically struck her.
Anna¡¯s heart twists at the mention of the unconscious young woman. She hasn¡¯t been far from her mind since Anna woke up in the hospital. Unfortunately, HIPPA or PIPL, whatever letters they use here, prevented the doctors and nurses from telling her anything.
She wonders if he¡¯ll be more forthcoming. She puts her attitude aside and asks softly, ¡°Can you tell me her name¡please?¡±
Kang stares at Anna for a minute, she doesn¡¯t think he¡¯ll answer, but then he responds, ¡°Cao Niu Ju.¡±
¡°Thank you,¡± Anna replies, grateful to finally have a name to call her. ¡°Is she ok?¡±
This time he doesn¡¯t answer. Looks like they are playing a new game, tit for tat. Anna figures it is her turn. Fine, if it will get him out there looking for the criminals instead of wasting time on her she¡¯ll cooperate.
¡°My condition was congenital, so I spent a lot of time in the hospital and had frequent surgeries. My tolerance for opioids is higher than normal.¡± She explains, ¡°Cao Niu Ju had an allergic reaction to whatever drug they used.¡±
This is usually the part when people bombard Anna with a million questions about her surgery, but he doesn¡¯t. He simply says, ¡°She is still unconscious, but the doctors are optimistic.¡±
He continues interrogating her, asking pointed questions about her experience from the airport to the container. Her sister¡¯s translations, like subtitles on the television, becomes less noticeable as they get into a rhythm. The nice cop, Detective Man peppers in a few questions here and there but mostly listens.
Anna knows she shouldn¡¯t have given him a hard time at the beginning, but as soon as Kang walked through the door it felt like she was back at that house. Her fight-or-flight instincts kicked in and she was too tired and sore to run.
When he sat down beside her on the couch, she could remember what it felt like when he was on top of her. His chest¡ª hard and unyielding, his scent like a cold winter morning, sharp and clean. Different from the first greasy thug, but the same feeling of being trapped and helpless.
Anna was used to being powerless against her heart condition, but her enemy had always been death. Death was a cold and ruthless opponent, but a worthy one.
What she went through in that house, the life that was awaiting the girls in the container - it is degradation, at the mercy of scum. An existence like that is a much crueler fate.
She owes Kang a lot for saving her, even if she isn¡¯t a fan of his method. She is taken out of her reverie by his clipped tone as he repeats a question.
¡°Did you see anyone at the cargo yard?¡±
Anna refocuses, ¡°The men who brought me to the house.¡±
Kang pulls out a series of photos. Anna examines them closely and then points to one.
¡°Neck tattoo, definitely. The others, I¡¯m not sure.¡± It¡¯s a bit hard to distinguish features when you are fighting for your life she thinks, but keeps the snarky attitude to herself this time.
¡°Think back. Did you hear or see anyone that stands out?¡± he asks the same question using different words.
Anna mentally replays the events of the ride to Wu¡¯s house. A memory surfaces, but she dismisses it. It was probably a hallucination fueled by desperation at the time.
¡°Nothing,¡± she says flatly.
Man Zhu Bai had stayed quiet for most of the questioning. He understood Kang¡¯s tough approach with Anna¡ªhe would have done the same if he were in charge, but it was time for a little good cop.
Anna¡¯s face was an open book; she had clearly thought of something but was holding back. People often withhold information during questioning for one of two reasons: they fear it might incriminate themselves or someone else, or they¡¯re worried it could steer the investigation in an unwelcome direction."
¡°Even if you think it¡¯s nothing, the smallest detail could be important.¡± Man Zhu Bai says suspecting it was the latter. The sisters are the victims and Anna doesn¡¯t know anyone else in the country.
Kang notices the conflict in Anna¡¯s expression. It¡¯s better not to let her think too much, but he doesn¡¯t want her to get defensive again.
¡°Tell us,¡± he says, in a tone of gentle authority.
¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Anna admits. ¡°There was a guy I thought I saw, but it can¡¯t be him.¡±
¡°Tell us anyway,¡± Kang prods.
¡°Ryan Anderson, my patient in the airport video.¡±
Kang and Man Zhu Bai can tell she¡¯s reluctant to get someone involved with the police.
¡°Even if it¡¯s not him, something about the guy you saw was probably similar.¡± Man Zhu Bai urges her to tell them what she remembers.
Anna closes her eyes and thinks back.
The bang of the container door as it closes, the clang of chains echoing as she is dragged away. No matter how hard she fights she can¡¯t get away. She¡¯s restrained and thrown into a car.
It drives past endless rows of colorful containers, a malicious wall of building blocks. Near the exit, another car drives in with the back window rolled down. Anna recognizes Ryan. She bangs on the window.
¡°Ryan! Ryan! Ryan!¡± she screams. He never looks up and the car passes by.
Kang and Man Zhu Bai both listen intently, their expressions unreadable, but the wheels are turning in both of their heads.
¡°Tell us what you know about Ryan Anderson,¡± Kang says.
Anna is too tired to point out how improbable it is that Ryan is involved. He was supposed to be on a plane when it happened. It seems like a waste of time, but she recounts everything she can remember about their conversation at the airport.
Kang notices Anna¡¯s eyes struggling to focus, and she¡¯s gradually leaning more and more heavily into the sofa. Her fingers tremble slightly. There are more questions, but they can wait.
Turning off the recorder, Kang says, ¡°Thank you for your time.¡±
The interrogation is over.
Hailee gets up stiffly from the chair. Her back aches from sitting on the edge the whole time. The mental strain of translating every word between Anna and Kang had consumed all her focus, leaving no room to process everything being said.
It¡¯s only now when it is over that the words she spoke are sinking in. Before it was only conjecture. Hearing what Anna went through from her own lips made it horrifyingly real.
Hailee leads Man Zhu Bai and Kang to the door. Even though she should be grateful for their help, she is glad it is over. After the door closes, she turns back to Anna, ¡°You okay?¡±
Anna doesn¡¯t even lift her head, ¡°My brain is done. Where do I sleep?¡±
Before Hailee can answer, Anna lays down on the couch, her body too heavy with exhaustion to remain upright. Asleep seconds later, Hailee adjusts Anna¡¯s position, putting her legs up on the sofa and adding a pillow under her head. Hailee grabs the blanket from her bed and tucks it around her sister.
Outside the building, Kang and Man Zhu Bai make their respective phone calls.
¡°Get me everything you have on Ryan Anderson, American national, he may or may not currently be in Hangzhou,¡± Kang commands.
Beside him, Man Zhu Bai gives his orders, ¡°Beef up patrols around the address I¡¯m texting you.¡±
***
A security guard stands outside the hospital room door. Kang flashes his badge, waiting for the guard¡¯s nod before stepping inside the stark, silent room. No flowers, no signs of visitors¡ªonly the steady beeps of machines to keep Wu Bambang company.
Kang approaches the bed. Wu reluctantly opens his eyes and Kang holds up a photo of Ryan close to his face.
¡°Is this your boss?¡± Kang¡¯s voice is flat and emotionless.
Wu¡¯s eyes widen in recognition, but his lips press into a thin, resolute line.
¡°That¡¯s what I thought,¡± Kang mutters with quiet satisfaction.
***
A few hours later, Kang stands before the chief of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau, handing over a neatly compiled file. The chief flips open the folder, the first page revealing Ryan Anderson¡¯s American passport. The second page shows a Chinese passport bearing the same name and photo.
¡°Dual citizenship has been prohibited since the ¡¯80s,¡± the chief remarks, his gaze settling on Kang. While it¡¯s a minor infraction in the broader context, it speaks volumes¡ªproof of Anderson¡¯s willingness to flout the law and his lack of loyalty.
¡°His father is former diplomat Charles Anderson. His mother is Wan Chang Yin, the manufacturing magnate¡¯s daughter,¡± Kang replies.
¡°Politics and money,¡± the chief frowns with distaste. ¡°What evidence do you have?¡±
¡°A witness¡ªan American tourist¡ªcan place him at the container yard,¡± Kang offers. He knows it¡¯s insufficient, especially given Anderson¡¯s powerful family and connections. Without an airtight case, pursuing Anderson directly would be a futile effort. It would also give him time to cover his tracks and fortify his defenses.
No surprise, the chief discards the idea. ¡°It¡¯d never hold up. What else?¡±
¡°He has the mean and ability, but the evidence is all circumstantial,¡± Kang states bluntly. Wu isn¡¯t talking, and Anna¡¯s testimony, along with his instincts, isn¡¯t enough to bring to the prosecutor¡¯s office.
The chief flips through the file again before closing it with a sharp snap. ¡°I¡¯ll pass it to a team for further investigation.¡± He studies Kang¡¯s face for any sign of protest, then continues, ¡°A week of operational rest. Decompress. Then I¡¯ll assign you something new. Dismissed.¡±
Kang nods respectfully but doesn¡¯t move. The debriefing went as expected, but he isn¡¯t satisfied with the result. The chief waits, watching him.
After a long pause, Kang breaks the silence. ¡°It¡¯s my case. Based on how this organization operates, there¡¯s a high probability they have an insider.¡± He knows the chief shares the same suspicions, based on the reports he¡¯s been sending, but this is the first time it¡¯s been said aloud. A traitor in their midst would be a slap to the chief¡¯s face, a direct insult to the loyalty and honor he demands from his agents.
¡°This case is too big for one person,¡± the chief says, his lack of argument indicating his agreement with Kang¡¯s assessment. After the fiasco, taking the criminals down from the inside is no longer an option. They can only send a team headfirst into battle.
¡°Are you willing to lead the team?¡± the chief asks, his tone pointed.
Kang doesn¡¯t respond, his impassive expression conceals the storm brewing inside. There¡¯s no way to work the case alone from the shadows, but a direct confrontation with organized crime is dangerous. The police are always at a disadvantage, their hands tied by the very laws they¡¯ve sworn to uphold. Not everyone survives.
The chief¡¯s disappointment flickers briefly, though his voice remains steady. ¡°Didn¡¯t think so. Dismissed.¡±
This time, Kang leaves.
***
Ryan opens the door to his w¨¤ig¨ng¡¯s elegant study. The room exudes a quiet authority, from the unfinished chess game waiting on a side table to the bookshelves lined with volumes on finance and the classics every Ivy League scholar is expected to know. At its center stands an antique desk, a symbol of the empire the generations of family heads have built and preserved.
He settles into the high-backed chair behind the desk, pouring himself a glass of whiskey from the decanter stashed in the bottom drawer. The amber liquid burns as he downs it in one go, the sharp heat dulling the edge of a chaotic day. He pours another, swirling it slowly this time, as the knock he¡¯s been waiting for sounds at the door.
Li strides in, his face a mask of unreadable calm. Behind him, two thugs step inside and flank the doorway, their presence silent but imposing.
Ryan sets his glass down and rises, his gaze scanning Li¡¯s form. He tugs the hem of Li¡¯s black button-down shirt free from his belt and lifts it, revealing the crudely sutured wound marring his torso. The stitches are raw, the flesh angry and red. Too close for comfort.
¡°How many stitches?¡± Ryan asks, voice low.
¡°Eight,¡± Li replies without flinching.
Ryan lets the shirt drop, his hand resting on Li¡¯s shoulder. For a moment, his composure cracks. Li is more than a subordinate¡ªhe¡¯s family, the closest thing Ryan has to a brother since they were kids.
¡°Another reason to kill those pig bastards,¡± Ryan murmurs, his tone venomous. ¡°No one is allowed to hurt you.¡±
The tension in the room shifts. The thugs, rigid until now, relax slightly. But Li¡¯s body tenses, anticipating the inevitable.
¡°Except me,¡± Ryan adds with a dark smirk, delivering a sharp jab to Li¡¯s torso¡ªcarefully avoiding the wound. Li doubles over slightly, bowing as if in submission. Ryan pats his head, a brotherly gesture laced with mock comfort.
Bending closer, Ryan whispers, his voice a mix of affection and menace. ¡°Little brother, you know how much it hurts me to punish you.¡±
Li straightens, standing firm as the two thugs grab his arms to steady him. Ryan¡¯s voice hardens, laced with fury.
¡°You failed,¡± he hisses, his fist driving into Li¡¯s side with calculated force. ¡°Wu¡ªgreedy, stupid Wu¡ªis still alive. And you let an undercover agent into my business.¡±
A kick to just below Li¡¯s knee buckles it, forcing him down. Ryan¡¯s hook punch snaps Li¡¯s head back, leaving blood trickling from his mouth. He grips the back of Li¡¯s neck, forcing him to meet his gaze.
¡°Why do you make me do this to you?¡± Ryan¡¯s voice cracks ever so slightly, the anguish in his eyes contradicting the violence of his actions.
For a moment, the room is silent except for Li¡¯s ragged breathing. Ryan¡¯s shoulders slump, the adrenaline ebbing away to leave behind an aching exhaustion.
Chapter 4 – It’s knot okay.
"Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong." ¨C Murphy¡¯s law
Man Zhu Bai sits at his cluttered desk, poring over a mound of victim reports, crime scene photos, and criminal records. The dim glow of the monitor casts shifting shadows over the mess of papers strewn around him. His hand reaches blindly for the cup of instant noodles hidden behind a pile of files.
He takes a bite without looking¡ªcold, soggy sludge. He grimaces but swallows it, too focused to care.
¡°It¡¯s not your case anymore,¡± his captain¡¯s voice cuts through the silence, sharp and insistent. ¡°Go home. Read your kid a bedtime story.¡±
Man Zhu Bai checks the time, he still has a few minutes to spare and still make it home before bedtime. ¡°I will,¡± he says flatly. ¡°After I wrap up.¡±
Five hours later he finally walks in the front door of the home he shares with his parents and daughter. His stomach growls, and his eyes burn from exhaustion, but there¡¯s one thing he has to do before he can think about food or rest.
He steps quietly into the small bedroom where his daughter, Lina, lies nestled in her own little world of dreams. As always, her leg is dangling off the bed.
With practiced care, he tucks her it back under the covers and adjusts the blankets until they¡¯re snug around her. A single strand of hair has fallen across her peaceful face. He brushes it aside gently and bends down to kiss her forehead.
¡°Happy dreams,¡± he whispers.
***
About fifteen kilometers away, Anna stares at the dark ceiling, wide awake on the couch. The few minutes she managed to drift off when she woke up in a panic, her heart racing in fear. Even though her body cries out for sleep, her mind won¡¯t stop thinking about everything she did, didn¡¯t do and should have done differently.
A fierce cry cuts through the dark, coming from Hailee¡¯s room. Guilt stabs her¡ª it¡¯s her fault her sister can¡¯t sleep in peace. She walks carefully through the unfamiliar space toward the bedroom.
Anna lifts the covers and slides into the bed, careful not to disturb Hailee. Automatically, Hailee turns toward her. They lie face to face, just like when they were kids.
Anna isn¡¯t the only one afraid of the dark. All over the city, the other victims from the container search for ways to cope with the night.
Chai Lai Luan¡¯s mom makes shadow puppets on the wall to scare away the monsters.
Huan Rong is surrounded by her cousins in the common room, baseball bats strategically placed by every door and window.
In a canopy bed, the Princess lies awake, propped up in her mom''s arms. On the other side of the door, her father tests a new alarm system.
The Fairy silently clutches a stuffed rabbit. The sound of her mother¡¯s wails can be heard through the walls.
The Fragile Doll is alone in her bedroom, all the lights on, staring vacantly into the bright bulb above her.
The machines track the steady rhythm of Cao Niu Ju¡¯s pulse, still unconscious in the ICU.
Anna unable to lay still, sits up and curls into a ball. She pulls her knees tightly to her chest. Her head drops down, and though the tears come fast and hard, she tries not to wake her sister. The silent sobs shake her body, each tear blurring the world around her.
***
Hangzhou, China ¨C October 12th, ¨C 11:00 AM
Hailee¡¯s features blur in the mirror from the leftover steam. She wipes away the condensation and uses a tissue to fix a makeup smudge. It¡¯s obvious Anna has been in here¡ªher dirty pajamas are still on the floor. Hailee is annoyed and comforted by the fact that Anna hasn¡¯t changed.
Anna comes out of the bedroom, wearing Hailee¡¯s clothes. She pulls on the lace edging of the blouse, ¡°Why is everything you own so girly?¡±
Hailee ignores Anna¡¯s rhetorical question while she examines Anna¡¯s face and exposed arms.
¡°You can barely see the bruises,¡± Hailee is surprised by how well Anna was able to cover them up.
Anna uses the mirror to examine her handiwork, ¡°Online tutorial. Don¡¯t be surprised if you get some domestic abuse pop-ups on your browser.¡±
Hailee knows her sister is trying to lighten the mood with her thin attempts at humor, but it is grating on her nerves. Anna shouldn¡¯t have to pretend to be strong anymore. Plus, it makes Hailee feel weak for giving in to her own tears.
After cleaning up the bathroom, Hailee continues to tidy Anna¡¯s belongings along the path to the apartment door. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re up for this?¡± she asks, handing Anna a light jacket.
¡°I didn¡¯t die this time,¡± Anna jokes again.
¡°Not funny,¡± Hailee says flatly.
***
The elevator doors open on Hailee¡¯s floor interrupting Man Zhu Bai just as he¡¯s about to knock on her door. He crosses his arms when he sees who gets off. He waits for Kang to close the distance between them.
¡°Anderson is the guy,¡± Man Zhu Bai states bluntly, he spent all night digging for information on the man, he checked all the boxes and his gut was telling him he was the guy.
¡°No evidence,¡± Kang says, but he doesn¡¯t disagree. ¡°Why are you clinging to my case?¡±
Man Zhu Bai tried to find out information on Kang, but he ran up against a big wall of red tape with the words CLASSIFIED stamped on it. Based on the implications, plus seeing him in action, he can infer Kang is qualified to handle the case. However, such an emotionless character is too detached to push the limits that this case will test. He would simply follow the steps and move on if the case went cold.
She¡¯s my daughter¡¯s teacher¡¯s sister.¡± Man Zhu Bai utilizes the personal connection. He would reminisce as a father and an officer of the law if he failed to make sure they were protected. It¡¯s a flimsy excuse and he can tell that Kang isn¡¯t buying it.
¡°Plus, Anna Westcott doesn¡¯t trust you,¡± Man Zhu Bai adds, pushing his luck. It¡¯s a risky move, one that will either anger Kang or give Man Zhu Bai the leverage he needs to get through the door. It''s also a test of what¡¯s more important to Kang¡ªhis ego or the witness.
Man Zhu Bai watches Kang¡¯s face stiffen.
***
When Hailee opens the door, she is startled to find Kang and Man Zhu Bai in a silent face-off on the other side. The tension in the hallway is palpable, and for a moment, she wonders if something has happened.
¡°Is there a problem,¡± she asks nervously.
Man Zhu Bai breaks eye contact with Kang and reassures her, ¡°No, a few follow-up questions. On your way out?¡±
¡°Groceries and shopping,¡± she says flustered by the unexpected company at the door, ¡°but we can go later.¡± She knows he is there for the case, not to socialize, but his presence gives her an urge to check the room and herself to make sure neither is a mess.
She watches him and Agent Kang look at each other in some sort of silent man-to-man communication before he replies, ¡°Let¡¯s get lunch. My treat.¡±
She is sure his smile is supposed to make her feel at ease, but instead, she can¡¯t help but notice how handsome he is. She can feel the color rush to her face. She hopes he doesn¡¯t notice, but he wouldn¡¯t have become a detective if he didn¡¯t have keen observation skills. The thought makes her cheeks heat up even more.
Anna steps up behind her, interrupting her wild thoughts. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± she asks, her voice edged with fear.
Hailee explains about the lunch invitation and the panic quickly leaves Anna¡¯s eyes. In fact, she seems a bit relieved. ¡°I¡¯m starving. Let¡¯s go,¡± Anna says, nudging her out the door.
When Hailee moves Anna pauses a beat, she must have just noticed Kang in the hallway. Hailee doesn¡¯t miss the way Anna¡¯s smile vanishes, replaced by a faint scowl. She mutters under her breath, ¡°Suddenly, I lost my appetite.¡±
This time, Hailee is genuinely amused. For the first time all day, a smile creeps across her lips.
***
Anna steps out onto the streets of Hangzhou, getting her first real taste of the city. The area is filled with low-rise buildings, their balconies adorned with potted plants, the older structures draped in vines that wind their way along the weathered bricks. The streets pulse with life¡ªpeople weaving between bicycles and delivery mopeds, blending into a noisy hum.
Street vendors shout over one another, each vying for attention. The scent of foreign foods wafts through the air. Anna¡¯s stomach rumbles signaling the return of her appetite.
She follows along down a narrow alley. Old men sit around tables, engrossed in games of cards and chess, their laughter and chatter echo off the walls. Anna wants to be as carefree and happy as them again.
Their destination turns out to be a small family-run restaurant. Anna suspects Man Zhu Bai is a regular, he exchanges a few words with the hostess, who guides them to a table tucked away from the other diners.
Both Man Zhu Bai and Kang hold out chairs for her and Hailee. It¡¯s a bit strange to be on the receiving end of such old-fashioned manners. The whole setup makes Anna feel like it is an awkward double date.
It makes Anna think of the glances she caught Hailee sneaking at the nice cop¡ªDetective Man. The name suits him, his features are masculine, but softer and gentler than Kang¡¯s sharp cheekbones and squared jaw. His eyes are also warm and friendly, not a cold penetrating stare. His hair is a bit longer and more tousled than a military cut, making him approachable.
She can see why Hailee finds him attractive. It would be good for her sister to have a distraction and it didn¡¯t hurt to be friendly with a cop. Her sister sits down in the chair Man Zhu Bai is holding out and Anna decides to bite the bullet and make the sacrifice.
Anna bypasses the seat Kang is offering and circles around the table to sit across from her sister. She mouths ¡°You owe me¡± to Hailee as Kang silently takes the seat beside her. There is only one empty spot left.
As Man Zhu Bai sits beside her, Hailee flushes with embarrassment over her sister¡¯s mechanisms. She wants to explain that she had nothing to do with it, but it would only be digging a hole for herself. So she does what any woman does when she feels things are out of control¡ª she pretends everything is fine.
¡°Please order whatever you like,¡± Hailee says, with a tight smile at Man Zhu Bai and Kang. ¡°My treat for saving my sister.¡±
Man Zhu Bai shakes his head politely. ¡°I already said it¡¯s on me. You can get the next one.¡±
Hailee agrees and then immediately starts to second-guess herself. Does he think she was trying to weasel a second meal with him? Not that she wouldn¡¯t enjoy it, but spending extra time with her is probably the last thing he wants to do. Her thoughts continue to spiral till the waiter comes over to take their order, mercifully saving her.
Kang waits for Man Zhu Bai and Hailee to place their orders, then casually adds a few extra sides¡ªbitter and cold dishes that traditional medicine considers beneficial for heart health. While they engage in small talk, his attention drifts to Anna¡¯s inept attempts to use chopsticks.
She tries every conceivable way to hold them¡ªexcept the correct way. Her fingers twist and tangle around the sticks in ways Kang didn¡¯t even know were possible. Watching her struggle is almost painful.
Clicking his chopsticks to get her attention, he demonstrates the proper grip. Anna adjusts her fingers but still doesn¡¯t get it right.
¡°Like this,¡± he instructs, repositioning her fingers.
¡°I can do it,¡± Anna snaps, pulling her hand back.
This should be an interesting show Kang thinks as the waiter brings out the food and places it in the center of the table.
Anna remembers Hailee saying food is often served family-style here, so she isn¡¯t too surprised the dishes are meant to be shared. She doesn¡¯t recognize many of the dishes, though. Vegetables should be safe enough, but as for the meat, she¡¯ll wait and see what Hailee chooses.
She tentatively reaches for something green, but the food slips right out of the chopsticks. This is going to be a long lunch, her stomach is in knots torn between hunger and nerves. All she wants is to eat and get the suspense over with.
She tightens her grip on the sticks and takes another go. She manages to get it halfway to her rice bowl before it drops again. These things are worse than a toy crane machine, she thinks.
Kang reaches over to the plate Anna has been trying to pick from and places a piece of bitter melon into her dish. Then he adds a few things from each platter in her bowl as well.
¡°Thank you,¡± Anna says automatically.
¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Kang replies without needing a translation. For once, their exchange isn¡¯t tinged with sarcasm or hostility.
Hailee¡¯s nervousness fades as Man Zhu Bai and she discuss his daughter Lina¡¯s progress in class. It is much easier to talk to him in the clear role of teacher to parent instead of the vague relationship dynamic of the victim''s sister and police officer.
For the first time in days, she felt like she was herself again. Then a kick from under the table reminded her that things were never normal. She knows Anna wants her to get a move on.
Hailee sets down her chopsticks across the rim of her bowl, ¡°What did you need to talk to us about?¡± she asks looking between both men.
¡°What is the extent of Anderson¡¯s relationship with Anna?¡± Kang responds first with a question of his own.
Hailee blinks, caught off guard. She thought Ryan¡¯s involvement was just a misunderstanding. ¡°Is he a suspect?¡± Hailee asks, her voice tinged with growing unease.
¡°What did he say?¡± Anna chimes in, but Hailee is too focused on the conversation to translate.
Kang sees that Anna still hasn¡¯t touched her food. He taps on her bowl, signaling her to eat. She ignores him, intent on getting her sister''s attention.
Man Zhu Bai answers Hailee carefully, ¡°He¡¯s a person of interest.¡±
Kang, less diplomatic, adds with a serious tone, ¡°He returned to the airport that night and claimed Anna¡¯s handbag and luggage.¡±
The implication of their words is not lost on Hailee. Anna wasn¡¯t hallucinating and she might still be in danger.
Anna waves to get Hailee''s attention. ¡°Hello, what¡¯s going on?¡± She can feel the tension and doesn¡¯t like being the only one who doesn¡¯t know what is happening.
Hailee finally tells her.
Anna¡¯s elbow knocks into her water glass. Kang rights it before it spills into his lap. A million questions run through her mind and she can¡¯t decide which to ask first. ¡°How? Why? Will he be arrested?¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Hailee falls back into the role of translator again.
¡°There¡¯s no evidence,¡± Man Zhu Bai says evenly, but with an undertone of frustration.
Kang interrupts, ¡°I was undercover investigating an arms smuggler, but thanks to you, we now know weapons aren¡¯t the only thing being trafficked. Your guy might be involved.¡±
Man Zhu Bai''s eyes narrow slightly, ¡°Did he say anything to you?¡±
¡°He¡¯s not my guy!¡± Anna snaps. ¡°He was my patient. I already told you everything: he lives in Boston, travels a lot, and mentioned something about merging his family business.¡±
Kang doesn¡¯t relent, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not like he¡¯d say, ¡®Thanks for saving me, by the way, I¡¯m a mob boss,¡¯¡± Anna quips. ¡°He was friendly, I excused myself to go to the bathroom, and¡ well, you know the rest.¡±
Kang leans forward. ¡°Did you exchange numbers?¡±
Man Zhu Bai frowns. ¡°If he has her passport, he can easily find out where she lives, works¡ªeverything.¡±
Hailee pales. ¡°But she saved him. He has no reason to hurt her.¡±
¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time before he pieces together what happened that night. There aren¡¯t many redheads in Hangzhou, it¡¯s doubtful he¡¯ll believe it¡¯s a coincidence.¡± Kang points out the grim, but obvious reality of the situation.
Hailee grips the table, her white knuckles a stark contrast to the dark wood, ¡°But it is!¡± Man Zhu Bai places his hand beside Hailee''s not quite touching, but still offering comfort.
Anna notices her sister¡¯s distress and forces herself to stay cool and de-escalate the situation. ¡°He¡¯s probably forgotten about me already.¡±
Kang scoffs when Hailee translates automatically, though the remark wasn¡¯t meant for the two men.
¡°What if he finds you when you go back?¡± Hailee is not willing to calm down.
¡°I''ll get a new apartment,¡± Anna says nonchalantly.
Man Zhu Bai points out. ¡°Good, but you should also change jobs. It¡¯s easy to follow someone from work.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not leaving my job,¡± Anna says resolutely.
¡°What if..¡± Hailee starts again, but Anna cuts her off.
¡°Let''s not borrow trouble. I won''t see him again.¡±
¡°What if you do?¡± Hailee insists.
Anna shrugs. She doesn¡¯t know what she¡¯ll do. It¡¯s not like the police in Boston have anything to do with the situation. Even if they believed the crime happened, it is way outside their jurisdiction.
Kang makes a phone gesture, his eyes fixed on Anna. ¡°Call me,¡± he says simply. Anna doesn¡¯t need the interpretation.
¡°What can you do from 7,000 miles away,¡± she points out sarcastically.
Despite her bravado, Anna¡¯s chopsticks tremble when she tries to eat again, betraying her pretense.
Kang flags the waiter, ¡°Do you have a fork?¡±
***
Careful not to spill the soup in his hands, Ryan opens the door to Li¡¯s bedroom. The room is bare of personality, unchanged since Li first joined the household at age eight. The few items in the room, a lamp, a clock, and a wireless phone charger are meticulously arranged.
The only hint of disorder is the sheets, pulled loose from the mattress. Ryan raises an eyebrow, amused that Li still holds the habit of keeping his legs unrestrained, even when secure in his own home. Li sits propped upright on the pillows. He really needs to learn how to relax, Ryan thinks.
¡°Pork rib soup,¡± Ryan says, presenting the bowl. ¡°Your favorite.¡± He¡¯d made sure the cook added an extra portion of rib meat to help Li heal faster.
Li winces as he reaches for the soup. The sheet slips down, revealing his torso, covered in sickly green, purple, and black bruises.
Ryan moves the sheet, inspecting the bandage over the bullet wound¡ªno bleeding. He takes a seat at the foot of the bed. ¡°I need to find the undercover agent and eliminate him before W¨¤ig¨ng uses this incident as an excuse to delay the merger.¡±
Li takes a tentative sip of the soup. It is his favorite, but it¡¯s too hot. He hands it back to Ryan silently, his expression waiting for the point of this visit. Ryan places the bowl on the far side of the nightstand.
¡°Why the hell were the police at Wu¡¯s in the first place?¡± Ryan asks pointedly. Li opens his mouth to respond, but Ryan¡¯s phone rings.
It must be an important client because Ryan is using his most charming persona. He covers the phone with his hand for a second to say, ¡°Heal up quick. I need you,¡± to Li before leaving.
Li watches Ryan¡¯s retreating figure and considers the situation. Wu is foolish, but not dumb enough to talk. Ryan¡¯s delay getting to the party should have kept anyone from connecting him to the incident.
The undercover cop, however, is another matter. Li¡¯s gut tightens; he¡¯s going to need to be in top condition to deal with him.
Reaching for the bowl of soup, Li stretches over to grab it and feels a sharp sting. Red blood soaks through the bandage, staining his crisp white sheets. Damn.
***
Two white towels hang outside the shower where Kang stands, letting the scalding water run over him¡ªsoothing his sore muscles and the tension from the last few days. In the military, and later undercover, he got used to quick, cold showers, but tonight, the heat feels necessary.
Anna¡¯s fiery eyes flash through his mind.
He turns off the shower and wraps one towel around his waist. With the other, he wipes down the stall and then throws it and his dirty clothes in the washing machine. The rumble of the machine breaks the dull silence of the apartment. He finds the familiar quiet for some reason tonight feels oppressive.
After drying his hair, he wraps the blow-dryer cord and tucks it neatly into the drawer. The sound of rain tapping against the window fills the room. He rubs his knee, the mess of scar tissue a painful reminder of all he¡¯s lost.
The apartment is neat, but it feels like a model house¡ªsterile and empty. It has been a year since he returned, but even before his assignment, it had never been a home, just a place to sleep.
He opens the drawer of the nightstand, his fingers brushing over a badge and a creased photograph. He unfolds it, in the picture his arms are linked around the shoulders of his comrades in a celebration of survival and homecoming.
He hasn¡¯t led a team since he left the military. The thought of being responsible for the lives of the men and women in his charge is daunting.
There is only one option.
He smooths his thumb over their faces. ¡°Forward without hesitation,¡± he vows, tucking the ghosts of his past behind his shield.
Kang picks up his phone. ¡°I want to choose my team¡and I have a few special requests.¡±
***
At the kitchen counter, Kang stares at his computer, open to the Boston Police website, while holding his phone to his ear. The repetitive hold music cuts off abruptly and a new voice speaks.
"Thank you for waiting, I am your interpreter. How may I help you?" says the voice in textbook Mandarin.
Kang makes sure to annunciate his words clearly, "This is Agent Kang, Anti-Smuggling Bureau, People''s Republic of China."
The interpreter¡¯s voice cuts in. "For international crimes, you need to call the FBI or DSS. Would you like their contact information?"
"No," Kang says firmly. "I need to speak to Lt. O''Shea."
***
Boston, MA USA ¨C October 12th, ¨C 8:30 AM
On a rocky beach, Lt. Michael O¡¯Shea a rough-hewn cop with hair streaked grey from the job and age, stands over a body caught on the rocks. Despite the grim familiarity of death, the disgust and frustration still hit O¡¯Shea like a punch in the gut.
It¡¯s not the first or the last dead body, but the wrenching sensation never fades. He knows that if it does, it¡¯s time to hang up his gun.
The body is still decently preserved despite its exposure to the elements. ¡°It wasn¡¯t an accident.¡± Sgt. Hunter Erickson states from his crouched position, pointing to the tether marks around her feet. The body shows signs of having been in the water, but not for long. The tide must have washed her to shore shortly after she entered the water.
¡°Find out the TOD and talk to the NOAA, see if we can use the current patterns to find where she came from.¡± O¡¯Shea orders, as the crime scene techs zip up the body bag.
***
On his yacht in international waters, Anton Petrov shields his bloodshot eyes with sunglasses. With a heat lamp protecting him from the brisk sea air he sprawls out on deck in cargo shorts and T-shirt. His butler hands him a mimosa.
¡°Tell Anderson I need another special order.¡± He instructs, ¡°And bring me some more antibiotic cream.¡± Nail marks running down his forearms show signs of inflammation.
He chuckles darkly, his fingers stroking the marks¡ª his precious trophies. ¡°Another feisty one!¡± he yells after his departing servant.
Hangzhou, China ¨C October 12th, ¨C 8:30 PM
Man Zhu Bai strolls into the house, tired from catching up on his other active cases.
¡°You¡¯re home. Did crime take a vacation?¡± his father, Man Chin Ning asks barely glancing up from the television. A not-so-subtle censor of his son¡¯s workaholic tendencies. His dad, a partially retired accountant, doesn¡¯t understand that police work doesn¡¯t end when your shift does.
¡°Xiao Bai, you¡¯re home? I''ll make you something to eat.¡± his mother¡¯s voice calls out.
Ignoring his father¡¯s half-hearted jab, Man Zhu Bai heads to the kitchen, where his mom, Bai Jie Su, is putting away dishes. Lina, his daughter, sits at the table, engrossed in a book.
His mother, the true head of the family, has been his rock ever since his ex-wife abandoned him and their infant daughter. He couldn¡¯t have risen through the ranks of the force without her support. The household only functions because of her.
Lina, his pride and joy, glances up as he enters. He leans down to kiss her forehead. Her smile is all he needs to remind him why he works so hard, to make the world a better place for her.
His mother starts taking out dishes she has just put away. ¡°No need, I already ate,¡± Man Zhu Bai says, knowing it¡¯s futile.
¡°Takeout doesn¡¯t count. You need something nutritious,¡± Bai Jie Su retorts, already scooping rice into a bowl.
Resigned, Man Zhu Bai doesn¡¯t argue and takes a seat beside Lina. ¡°What are you reading?¡±
Lina holds up a yellow book with a monkey on the cover, the title written in English. Thrilled to have her dad¡¯s attention, she sets the book aside.
¡°Teacher Westcott gave it to me. She said it was one of her favorites.¡±
He spoke to Hailee about Lina and school earlier, but that was to make her feel more comfortable. It feels strange to hear her name at home.
¡°You like Teacher Westcott?¡± he asks, curious.
Lina¡¯s head bobs enthusiastically. ¡°She¡¯s very pretty and very nice,¡± she says with conviction.
¡°She is,¡± he agrees, realizing too late how that sounds. He catches the sharp glance his mother throws his way from the stove. ¡°Nice, I mean,¡± he quickly clarifies.
His mother pauses, her instincts kicking in. Her son has never shown more than a surface interest in Lina¡¯s school. As long as grades and behavior are good, he lets it be. Her curiosity sharpens.
¡°How did you meet Teacher Westcott?¡± she asks casually, though her tone has a hard edge. ¡°Is there a problem at school?¡±
¡°No, she had some business at the station,¡± Man Zhu Bai says, not wanting his daughter to get into trouble. But instead of reassurance, his words spark alarm in both his mother and Lina.
Lina frowns, concern knitting her small brows, while his mother probes, ¡°What kind of business could she have at a Public Security Bureau?¡±
Sensing the conversation veering into dangerous territory, Man Zhu Bai decides to redirect. ¡°You know I can¡¯t talk about that. But she¡¯s perfectly fine and will be back at school as scheduled.¡±
The explanation reassures Lina, who relaxes and returns to her book. His mother, however, isn¡¯t so easily deterred. She eyes him suspiciously, already assembling a mental list of reasons an English teacher might need police assistance. Most of them aren¡¯t good. He makes a silent apology to Hailee for his slip-up.
He¡¯s caught off guard when Lina suddenly leans over and says, ¡°You should ask her on a date.¡±
Before he can react, Bai Jie Su sets a plate in front of him with a sharp clink. ¡°Lina, don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡±
Lina looks puzzled. ¡°Why? I thought you wanted Dad to remarry.¡±
Bai Jie Su sighs at the innocence of youth. Without getting into complexities, she replies, ¡°She isn¡¯t suitable.¡±
¡°But why? She¡¯s single, pretty, and nice,¡± Lina presses, determined to make her point.
¡°She¡¯s an American,¡± Bai Jie Su states flatly, as though that was all the explanation needed.
Man Zhu Bai senses the tension rising and tries to intervene. ¡°Mother¡ª¡±
But Lina doesn¡¯t back down. ¡°If they fall in love, she¡¯ll stay,¡± she says simply as if that solves everything.
¡°That¡¯s not the point,¡± Bai Jie Su snaps. ¡°She isn¡¯t suitable¡ª¡±
Before she can elaborate, Man Chin Ning¡¯s voice booms from the living room. ¡°Wife! ¡®Journey to the West¡¯ is on. Come watch it with me!¡±
Still riled and already re-cleaning the dishes she¡¯d put away earlier, Bai Jie Su yells back, ¡°When the dishes wash themselves!¡±
Seizing the opportunity, Man Zhu Bai tells Lina, ¡°Grab your math book. You can do your practice sheets while I work on my report.¡±
Grateful for the distraction, he forgives his father¡¯s earlier jab. He and Lina escape to the study, leaving the awkward conversation¡ªand the mess¡ªbehind.
***
Vacation plans derailed, Hailee catches up on grading papers while Anna is on another video call with their parents. From the background, she hears their mom¡¯s voice: ¡°Help your sister pack and let me know how many bags she¡¯ll need to check.¡±
The smart and easy choice is to go home. The last thing their parents need is more worry¡ªthey¡¯ve already spent twenty-five years in a constant state of anxiety over Anna.
Two years ago, a miracle happened: Anna received a heart transplant. After a year of rehab and recovery, the family could finally breathe. Hailee stopped waking up every morning wondering if it would be the last day she saw her twin.
This trip was supposed to be their chance to act like normal sisters. Now, everything¡¯s blown to hell. Hailee knows Anna isn¡¯t mentally or physically up to playing tourist, and she doesn¡¯t blame her.
After lunch, Anna crashed hard. Hailee knows her sister isn¡¯t sleeping at night. Every morning, she wakes up to cabinets left open, books scattered on the floor, and blankets tossed in every direction. It was the same before every surgery when they were kids. That kind of fear shouldn¡¯t be happening now.
Out of the corner of her eye, Hailee notices Anna on the couch, waving goodbye to their parents. Anna closes the laptop and drifts over to hover behind Hailee¡¯s shoulder, silently watching her work. Hailee knows the silence won¡¯t last long.
Before she can finish the thought, Anna finally speaks. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you talk to them?¡±
Hailee knows she should have, but she doesn¡¯t want to argue about going home¡ªor lie about her intentions.
¡°I talked this morning. They¡¯re just checking on you,¡± she replies curtly, hoping it¡¯ll be enough.
A nudge on her shoulder tells her Anna isn¡¯t about to let it go.
¡°What?¡± Hailee mutters, keeping her eyes on the papers.
¡°Are you mad at me?¡± Anna asks.
Hailee marks an error on a student¡¯s paper. ¡°No,¡± she answers shortly, hoping Anna will take the hint and let her work in peace.
¡°You¡¯ve been grumpy since lunch,¡± Anna presses. She never lets things drop.
Hailee forces a smile as she looks up. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±
¡°Did the cute cop say something?¡±
¡°No. Go away, I want to get this done.¡±
¡°So, you admit it¡ªyou think he¡¯s cute.¡±
¡°Are you twelve?¡± Hailee counters, trying not to let Anna get a rise out of her.
Teasing and humor are Anna¡¯s go-to defenses when she¡¯s worried, but Hailee isn¡¯t in the mood. She draws a smiley face on the top of Lina¡¯s paper, a small act of normalcy to help ground herself.
¡°Hey, you should go for it. A last hurrah before we head home,¡± Anna says. Her tone is light, but there¡¯s desperation beneath it.
Hailee sets her pen down and looks at her sister. Anna is rubbing her shoulder, clearly in pain. Hailee told her to take a pain pill earlier, but of course, Anna didn¡¯t listen.
Her sister isn¡¯t going to give up, Hailee realizes with a twinge of frustration. She locks eyes with Anna and says firmly, ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡±
Anna doesn¡¯t believe the words coming out of her sister¡¯s mouth, but she knows that look in Hailee¡¯s eye. People think she is the stubborn one, but when Hailee has that look, even the devil can¡¯t budge her.
¡°Why?¡± Anna asks. She can¡¯t understand Hailee¡¯s refusal to leave¡ unless it¡¯s more that she doesn¡¯t want to come home.
¡°Let¡¯s not talk about it now. Do you want a cold pack for your shoulder?¡± Hailee tries to change the subject.
There is only one reason Hailee won¡¯t tell her the truth.
¡°If I want ice, I can get it myself,¡± Anna says defensively. She¡¯s not a helpless invalid anymore. Hailee doesn¡¯t need to take care of her.
Anna walks to the freezer, but there¡¯s no ice maker, not even an ice cube tray.
¡°No ice. Cold packs are in the first aid kit under the sink,¡± Hailee directs in her ¡®I¡¯m the older sister voice¡¯¡ªas if five minutes is a big deal.
Anna refuses to admit defeat. She pulls out a frozen dinner box. ¡°This works.¡±
She places the makeshift cold pack on her shoulder and tries to calm herself down. But as much as she doesn¡¯t want to hear it, she needs to know the truth. ¡°You don¡¯t want to come home because of me, right?¡± she asks, her eyes locked on Hailee, waiting for her response.
To Anna¡¯s surprise, instead of confessing, Hailee gets angry. ¡°Not everything¡¯s about you. My job is here.¡±
Anna¡¯s guilt and sadness dissipate as her temper flares. ¡°That¡¯s a bullshit excuse. You wanted me to quit my job, but you can¡¯t quit yours.¡±
Hailee shoots back, ¡°I¡¯m not the one who flirted with a human trafficker.¡±
Anna stiffens. ¡°Since when is sticking your fingers down a guy''s throat flirting?¡± She defends herself, anger building. ¡°Plus, I wanted to set him up with you.¡±
Hailee¡¯s sharp tongue cuts through the tension. ¡°No thanks. Your taste in men sucks.¡±
Anna can¡¯t argue with that. Hailee picks up her papers from the table, but Anna¡¯s not going to let her go until she admits it.
¡°You don¡¯t want to come home because of me, right?¡± Anna presses, her voice softer, but insistent.
With a thud, Hailee slams the papers down on the table, pens scattering across the floor. Anna is taken aback. Hailee¡¯s anger is unlike anything she¡¯s seen before. It¡¯s cold, piercing¡ªa different kind of fury.
¡°Sure, Anna,¡± Hailee spits out, sarcasm dripping from every word. ¡°It has nothing to do with me or what I want. The whole world revolves around you.¡±
Hearing the words she fears the most, Anna doesn¡¯t pick up on the sarcasm only the sting of accusation. ¡°It''s not my fault, all I want is a normal life.¡±
Hailee doesn¡¯t let up. ¡°Well, you¡¯re not normal. You throw everyone around you¡¯s life into chaos. Hell, you weren¡¯t even in China for five minutes¡ª¡±
Anna¡¯s nails dig into her palms, trying to keep the emotions at bay. She knows Hailee¡¯s right, but it doesn¡¯t change the fact that Anna didn¡¯t ask for any of this.
¡°What? You want an apology?¡± Anna¡¯s voice rises, sharp and defensive.
Hailee¡¯s words hit like arrows. ¡°For what? Getting kidnapped? Being born with a shitty-ass heart?¡± Each word lands heavy, sinking into Anna¡¯s chest like a weight she¡¯s carried for far too long.
Anna¡¯s temper flares. ¡°For screwing up your life!¡±
Hailee yells back, just as loud, her voice raw with emotion. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault!¡±
Anna¡¯s throat tightens. ¡°Then why are you mad?¡± she demands, the question raw and desperate.
Hailee¡¯s voice breaks. ¡°Because life sucks!¡± All the years of resentment, pain, and fear explode in that one cry. The frustration and helplessness she¡¯s carried come flooding to the surface.
The room falls silent, both of them breathing heavily, the weight of the argument hanging in the air. Hailee, with a final look, storms off into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her with a force that rattles the walls.
Anna is left staring at the closed door. After a minute, she takes the frozen dinner box off her shoulder. She puts it back in the freezer and retrieves the ice pack from the cabinet.
Then she straightens the papers on the table and picks the pens up from the floor. For the first time, she cleans up Hailee¡¯s mess.
***
In the study, Ryan and Wan Chong Jin strategize over the Xiangqi board. Li sits in a corner like a well-behaved pet folding another paper crane, his movements still deliberate, but slower with pain.
Ryan spots an opening and moves his horse. ¡°Your palace is in danger,¡± he remarks with a smirk.
Wan Chong Jin nods in approval at Ryan''s offensive play. Without hesitation, he takes Ryan¡¯s chariot. Ryan keeps his face neutral, though suspicion tugs at him¡ªthis feels like a trap.
¡°I¡¯ve decided to postpone my retirement,¡± his grandfather announces.
Ryan¡¯s hand pauses over the board, but his expression remains calm as if the news doesn¡¯t send his plans crashing down. The reason for Wan Chong Jin¡¯s decision might not be related to recent events, but the timing feels deliberate.
At a signal, a servant approaches with a document envelope. Ryan takes it, pulling out the contents¡ªa dossier on Kang.
His grandfather offers no criticism, no explanation, only silence. Instead, the servant hands Wan Chong Jin his cane. Ryan rises to steady him as he stands.
Wan Chong Jin¡¯s eyes linger on the board. ¡°It¡¯s late. Let¡¯s finish this tomorrow. I¡¯m curious to see how this game plays out.¡±
Ryan bows his head slightly as his grandfather leaves, the door closing softly behind him. The calm shatters the moment he¡¯s alone.
¡°Call every gangbanger and two-bit crook in this city,¡± Ryan orders, his voice tight with suppressed fury.
Li completes the final fold of his crane with practiced precision. He doesn¡¯t speak immediately, but his eyebrow rises in a silent question. He knows this pattern well¡ªRyan¡¯s rage, controlled now, will soon demand an outlet. Someone or something will pay the price.
Ryan paces to the bar and pours himself a generous whiskey. ¡°The bureau sent an undercover looking for guns,¡± he says, his tone cold and clipped. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll give them guns. Enough to keep them too busy to stick their noses in my business.¡±
Li sets the crane delicately on the table, its fragile folds an odd juxtaposition to the brewing storm in the room. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s what you want?¡± he asks, his voice steady, though the weight of the implication hangs heavy. The carnage such a plan would unleash is unimaginable.
Ryan downs the whiskey, his jaw tightening. ¡°What I want,¡± he growls, slamming the glass down, ¡°is a redhead in my arms and a dead cop at my feet.¡±
The impact rattles the chess pieces on the board, scattering them across the polished wood. Li doesn¡¯t flinch, but something in Ryan¡¯s words catches his attention.
¡°A redhead?¡± Li asks, his tone carefully neutral.