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“Let’s get in my Uber and talk.” I pointed at the car about 20 feet behind me. “It’s dry, and we can – ”

“Are you fucking insane? I’m not getting in there withyou.”

“If you don’t want to talk in the car, let’s at least step away from the main road so you don’t get arrested.”

She looked conflicted, but finally agreed. “Send the Uber away first.”

“Alright,” I said happily.

I wasn’t even thinking about how I would get back to the Continental.

In my fantasy, I wouldn’t even return to my hotel.

Instead, I would go to her apartment and make love to her till dawn.

…or get shot and die in the alleyway.

I didn’t seriously believe that last part, though. It was only a fleeting bit of dark humor.

I was with Mei-ling now; nothing else mattered.

I turned towards the car, then glanced back at her. “You might want to hide the gun.”

She scowled but stuck her hand inside her trench coat pocket. The barrel poked quite obviously against the material. “Don’t try anything – I’m still pointing it at you.”

“I gathered,” I said drily as I walked towards the car.

I rapped my knuckles on the door. My driver started awake with a jolt and rolled down the window.

“You can go,” I said. “Thank you.”

I emptied my wallet and offered him the rest of my cash – a fairly thick wad of bills.

He stared at me in confusion, then looked at Mei-ling.

I wasn’t sure if he could see the shape of the gun barrel poking through her trench coat, but I could tell he didn’t trust her.

I glanced over my shoulder at Mei-ling. “He only speaks Cantonese. Please tell him he can go and that I won’t need his services anymore. And thank him for me.”

She spoke several sentences.

The driver looked up at me questioningly. “…okay?”

He was asking if I was alright.

I smiled and nodded. “I’m okay.”

“…okay…” he said warily as he took the money. Then he said something in Cantonese.

“He said ‘thank you,’” Mei-ling translated.

I smiled at him again, gave a single nod, and held up one hand in farewell.

The driver nodded, looked worriedly at Mei-ling one last time, then cranked the engine and drove away.

48

Iturned back to Mei-ling.

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