“All warfare is based on deception.” — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

  Hangzhou, China – October 18th, 11:00 PM

  Blue swirls of color light up the narrow streets of Jianggan District. The sirens blare over the pop music from the bars and KTVs lining the street. Police vehicles block off the area in front of an old building discolored by years of grime and graffiti. A dozen men wearing leather jackets and a few women in barely-there skirts are taken away in handcuffs or on stretchers, depending on their condition.

  In his ten years on the force, Man Zhu Bai has only been involved in two incidents relating to guns, and both occurred in the last ten days. Tonight makes three, at least this time he wasn’t in the line of fire. He’s lucky he went home to see Lina after all because it looks like he’ll be working overtime again.

  Man Zhu Bai studies the bullet pattern, the blood splatter on the checkered linoleum and faux leather couches of the KTV, adds an extra level of shady to atmosphere. Disco lights rotate over a large tiger mural with a few chunks missing from it. But what’s strange about the scene is the number of holes in the ceiling.

  Either the perp met resistance, is a terrible shot, or he did it deliberately.

  “He’s going to start a war,” Man Zhu Bai mutters.

  He doesn’t want to imagine the level of panic and mass hysteria it will cause if news gets out—the city would be a powder keg. Luckily, this mess is easy to contain, but what about next time? They need to act before things get out of control.

  ***

  Another sleepless night of Anna wandering around the apartment like a ghost. The restless anxiety has become overbearing, so she shuffles to the window to let in some fresh air. She manages to crack it open but knocks over the plant on the sill in the process. Damn it- what’s with her and windows.

  The light comes on.

  “Up again?” Hailee asks sympathetically, coming out of her room.

  No point in pretending. Anna finishes pushing the window the rest of the way up. Hailee grabs a dustbin and broom from the kitchen. “Once I’m home in my own bed, I’ll be able to sleep again.” Anna gathers up the pieces of the pot.

  “I hope so,” Hailee says, bending down to sweep up the dirt.

  “Come with me, please?” Anna pleads softly, “I need you”. She knows it’s not fair of her to ask when Hailee is half-asleep and vulnerable, but she does it anyway.

  Hailee stops sweeping for a moment. “Alright,” she says, giving in.

  Anna feels like a weight has been lifted from her shoulders, but when she sees Hailee’s hunched-over form cleaning up the last bit of soil, Anna wonders if she simply transferred it to her sister. Anna doesn’t understand why Hailee is reluctant to leave in the first place. It’s better for everyone if she comes home. Everything will go back to normal.

  With nothing left to say to each other, Anna and Hailee dump the remains of the plant into the trash and take their seats on the couch. Hailee hands Anna the remote. Anna flicks through the channels until she sees a movie she recognizes. They watch an all-night marathon of cars turning into gun-blasting robots that save the planet. When the sun rises, Hailee gets ready for work.

  ***

  Hangzhou, China – October 19th, 10:00 AM

  Hailee fills up her coffee cup in the teacher's lounge for the third time. Chris comes in, radiating energy as he grabs water from the fridge.

  “Hangover?” Chris asks, seeing the dark circles under her eyes.

  Hailee shakes her head. “No, I just can’t sleep.”

  “Don’t worry,” he says cheekily, looking at the clock, “there are only five more hours till the end of the day.”

  Hailee groans, but either the caffeine kicks in or Chris’s good mood is contagious because she perks up. It is short-lived, however, because when she gets to the classroom, Pengshi is at it again.

  “Hey, Lina, what did your mom pack you for lunch today?” He purposely asks louder than necessary. “Sorry, I forgot you were such an ugly baby she ran away.”

  A few kids snicker while others avert their eyes. Unfortunately, Ju Zhong isn’t here today, so Lina sits silently with her head down. Hailee crushes her instinct to scold Pengshi, because she doesn’t want to embarrass Lina any further. She’ll let it slide—for now.

  Hailee makes sure to make noise before she enters the classroom. The students immediately snap to attention. This is one of the things she will miss when she goes home. The level of respect students give their teachers is vastly superior.

  Hailee is normally a sweet and gentle person, but there are a few things that will bring out her vindictive side. A smile of anticipation grows on her face as she looks over her classroom.

  “Let’s have a pop quiz,” she announces, getting the expected groans in response.

  “Peter,” she uses the English name Pengshi chose at the beginning of the year, “stand up. Tell the class about your father’s job.”

  Pengshi stands. “My... my dad... uh,” His face turns red as he stammers, “he actua... act-choo-airy? No—uh, actu...”

  Hailee had assigned the kids to write a short paragraph the night before about their parents' jobs. English isn’t Pengshi’s favorite subject. She knew he would panic when put on the spot. She lets him struggle a bit longer than she normally would.

  “He do number thing!” he finally finishes and takes his seat.

  Hailee isn’t quite done. “Lina, would you please go next?”

  Lina stands up quietly. “My dad is a police officer. He saves people’s lives. He is my hero.”

  “Great job!” Hailee says, making sure to praise her. “Your dad has a very important job. You should be very proud.”

  Lina sits back down, her shoulders a bit straighter. This time, her blush is from sheepish delight.

  ***

  Anna is dressed and ready when Kang picks her up in the morning. Hailee got a text saying he was taking her to Shanghai to pick up her passport at the embassy. Anna was going to insist she could go herself, but it’s an hour away by train, and the last thing she, or anyone, needs is for her to get lost again.

  Kang knocks on the door two hours after the arranged time, but Anna doesn’t hold it against him. When you work in emergency services, things come up, and it’s not like she has anything else to do.

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  He greets in a tone she recognizes from her dad and brother, “Zhǔn bèi hǎo le ma?”

  Anna isn’t sure of the direct translation, but she can take a guess.

  “Ready, when you are.” She doesn’t even need to grab a bag. She goes to step through the door, but Kang blocks her with his arm. She turns to him, wondering what his problem is. He rubs his fingers together in the universal sign for money. She takes the money Hailee gave her out of her back pocket and hands it to him. I guess police duties don’t include escort services.

  He takes out his wallet and tucks her money safely in a separate compartment away from his. He’s keeping it safe from pickpockets, she realizes with a twinge of shame over her earlier cynicism. The feeling doesn’t last long, halfway to the car a thought crosses her mind—did he checking out her ass?

  ***

  Ryan hangs up the phone after getting the call he’d been expecting. The Black Tigers are ready to do business. Once they retaliate against the Red Serpents, it will be an arms race. Every two-bit criminal in the city will be looking for weapons. The citizens will be so afraid that they’ll want protection, too. Next thing you know, Hangzhou will be the Detroit of the East.

  If there is a supply.

  Ryan looks down on the city through his office window. He debates the pros and cons of flooding the market or keeping the quantity minimal. More products at a low price for maximum damage or limit the quantity, jack the price and lessen the casualty byproduct.

  Knowing that the fate of the city rests in his hands is a rush. Cheerfully, Ryan removes his blazer and grabs a leather jacket from the closet. It’s a beautiful day to go for a ride.

  ***

  To Kang’s surprise, the trip to Shanghai is uneventful. Anna spends the time watching the landscape blur by through the train window. It’s mostly urban areas, but green fields and rivers to break up the monotony as they pass through the countryside. She doesn’t even bother to glare at him or make a snarky remark the whole two hours of traveling.

  They spend approximately fifteen minutes at the embassy. The clerk gives Anna a quiz on her personal information, and Kang presents his credentials to vouch for her identity. It is mission accomplished and back to the train.

  If only everything was as simple and straightforward, Kang thinks, enjoying the downtime. Last night, he and other ASB officers made a show of claiming jurisdiction over the crime scene and pushing out the locals. He wants Ryan’s focus to be fully on him so that Man Zhu Bai and the team can get into position.

  Kang has spent a lot of time tracking Ryan’s movements using public CCTVs. It’s relatively easy since Hangzhou is equipped with AI-powered cameras and facial recognition. He found Ryan’s office in Bianjing as well as an apartment, but he spends most nights at his grandfather’s.

  The problem is that without a warrant, he is limited to public areas. What disturbs him is that Ryan was recorded going into the market near Anna’s apartment six days ago. The camera accessibility in the market is spotty, but he did catch flashes of a familiar red there as well.

  Kang watches Anna flip through her passport for the hundredth time since she got it. She is going to wear it out before she gets a second stamp. Does she just miss her home, or is she eager to leave the country for another reason?

  He can’t say she doesn’t look like a criminal because they come in all shapes and sizes, but she doesn’t have the temperament for intrigue. Her face is too expressive. When she is scared and angry, she gets a defiant tilt to her chin, and when she is happy, her eyes light up.

  He doesn’t think she has anything to do with Shi Zi, but there are too many unanswered questions. Why was Anna at the market at the same time as Ryan? Did she meet him there? Was she his mistress in the USA?

  If she is allied with Ryan, how did she end up at Wu’s party? Did they have a falling out? Is she using the police in some game?

  Even if she isn’t connected now, it doesn’t mean she won’t be in the future. If she is innocent and Ryan finds out that she pointed the police in his direction, she could be in danger.

  As of right now, Ryan doesn’t appear to be concerned about anyone tracking his movements. Kang never saw his face, so he should feel comfortable that his position as head of Shi Zi is still anonymous. As long as Ryan stays in the dark about Anna’s presence at the party and her ability to identify him at the container yard, he won't feel threatened.

  But it’s only a matter of time.

  Kang watches as Anna’s eyes flutter, and she drifts off to sleep in her seat. He places a hand on the hard edge of the window frame before her head hits it. He gently guides her back to the headrest and a more comfortable sleeping position.

  ***

  After cruising the highway outside the city, Ryan isn’t surprised when, on his way back, he finds himself at the market in Gongshu again. He parks his motorcycle and orders a Bao bun from a street vendor. The savory filling is the perfect complement to the crisp evening air. After his recent brush with death, it tastes sweeter.

  Ryan strolls around, checking out the cheap merchandise, pretending he isn’t hoping to run into Anna again. A poor residential area like this is ripe territory. Anna would probably be upset if it was no longer safe to walk around here at night. He wonders if she has tried any of the local specialties or bought trinkets to take home.

  In the future, they could shop together, but not in this common place. He’ll take her to Hangzhou Tower, where she can pick out a nice bag at Louis Vuitton and a dress from Chanel. Then they can go for a nice dinner, she can experience Hangzhou in style. The taste in his mouth is no longer satisfying. He tosses what’s left of the bun in the trash and hops back on the bike—decisions, decisions.

  ***

  A stack of work packets, freshly stapled, is piled high on Hailee’s desk. Almost everyone has gone home except for maintenance. One of her co-workers had a last-minute dentist appointment and asked Hailee if she could prepare her lessons for tomorrow.

  Of course, Hailee agreed, not knowing it would take her all evening. She would have been done sooner, but she realized one of the pages was out of order and had to restart. She didn’t want anyone to think she was incapable of doing something so simple.

  Not that it matters, Hailee muses; she won't be here much longer. She should have talked to Principal Song about her resignation, but instead, she let herself be assigned to the craft table at the upcoming Grandparent Day festivities- the duty teachers dread the most.

  Last year, one of the grandfathers got into a tug of war with the elderly lady next to him, and when Hailee tried to intervene, the glitter exploded all over her. She is still finding green sparkles. Maybe it is better to go home, but even as she thinks it, she knows she will miss it here.

  She came to China to find her independence. She has always been a people pleaser, not wanting to cause problems for anyone. She is the first person to volunteer to help and the last to ask for it.

  She wanted to start fresh where people didn’t know her and transform into a self-confident and assertive woman. However, based on the today it is clear, her experiment is a failure. She still doesn’t know how to say no. She might as well go home.

  Finally finished, Hailee gathers her coat and reaches for her bag. On the floor, she notices a piece of paper. It must have fallen off her desk. Crud, did she miss a page somewhere? But instead of a worksheet, it is a hand-drawn picture of a woman with red hair and a girl with a ponytail with a pink umbrella. The figures are holding hands. Inside the card, there are only two words written in English: "Thank You."

  It should make her smile, but instead, Hailee feels the urge to cry.

  ***

  Anna wakes up as the train pulls into the station. She panics when she realizes that her passport is missing. She searches her seat frantically until Kang’s voice breaks through her consciousness.

  “Wǒ yǒu le,” he says, pointing to the inner pocket of his coat.

  Anna is relieved; she does not want to be stuck here any longer than necessary.

  They get off the train, but it is much busier now than before, with commuters trying to get home. Anna sticks close to Kang as they push through the crowd.

  Behind her a deep voice shouts angrily. Anna and the rest of the bystanders turn to see a large man in gym clothes punch a guy in a suit. The suit topples to the ground.

  Anna’s first instinct is to run and help, but Kang grabs her wrist.

  “Bù yào.”

  Anna tugs harder. “Let go.”

  Kang repeats “Bù yào.”

  Anna doesn’t have time to argue with him, the man could be seriously hurt if someone doesn’t intervene.

  Kang realizes Anna isn’t going to walk away, she isn’t thinking of the danger. That this could be a staged distraction. After the ambush at the station, he couldn’t be too careful, especially with civilians around. Too bad he can’t toss her over his shoulder again. Instead, he drags her to a pillar away from the crowd so no one can sneak up on her six.

  He’ll shut this down fast.

  Kang pushes his way through the crowd to find the suit in a ball on the ground. His attacker is a big man who probably spent all his time pumping iron and chugging protein shakes.

  “Lawyer scum! She is still mine.” The big guy kicks his downed opponent. “Your paper don’t mean shit!”

  Kang steps in between the wife beater and the attorney.

  “Get out of the way.” The bully spits on the ground.

  “You’re done,” Kang tells him calmly. “Let him go.”

  The jerk draws back for another kick, but Kang stands in the way.

  The man retaliates by sending a fist flying toward Kang’s face.

  Kang dodges and glances over to where he left Anna.

  She isn’t there.

  Son of a---.