isn’t too late.”
Ava shook her head. “No, I’ve come this far.”
“Good.”
“Tell me, though, what happens if this doesn’t work?”
“We go back to waiting. It’s been four days now and I figure Kung can keep hanging around for weeks. It’s making me crazy already, so I don’t even want to think about failing.”
She looked at her Citizen watch. “Well, it’s almost six, so I should get into position.”
“You’re sure you know what he looks like?”
“Thick head of hair combed straight back, a round face with a small nose and mouth, and he’s broad across the shoulders and chest.”
“Right, and he’s short, and when he left earlier today he was wearing a red shirt. His guys were in jeans and T-shirts. One of them always walks in front of him and the other is about two steps behind.”
“Okay, I won’t miss him.”
Ava walked towards the elevators and then veered off to the left. She positioned herself next to a table that was against a wall. She had a clear view of the entrance and could see both Andy and Carlo.
Ten minutes passed, and Ava began to feel increasingly uncomfortable. Loitering in a hotel lobby, especially looking the way she did, wasn’t a natural state for her. She suspected that she was beginning to draw the attention of a man in a black suit. He stood on the other side of the elevators, watching people come and go. She was sure he was security and would soon come over and ask her to move along and take her business elsewhere. She was contemplating this when she realized that Andy was waving his arms at her. She shook her head to clear it and then focused on the hotel entrance.
A huge man, at least six foot four and built like a truck, led the way. Just behind, she saw the flash of a red shirt.
They started across the lobby towards the elevators. A third man, as large as the first, trailed, his eyes darting in all directions.
Ava began to walk towards them. When the first man was almost parallel to her, she turned sideways and glanced at the man in the red shirt.
“Mr. Kung, what are you doing here?” she said.
He looked quickly in her direction, turned away, and then stopped walking and stared at her. Ava could see she had his interest. The bodyguards moved protectively closer to him, their eyes now taking in Ava and everything around her.
“Do I know you?” Kung said.
“Yes, of course you do. I’ve met you several times at the import office in Mong Kok. My aunt, Fan Ying, introduced us.”
“The receptionist?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t remember,” he said, and then smiled. “And I have an excellent memory for pretty women.”
“Well, the last time was about a year ago and I was probably wearing jeans and a sweater. I’ve graduated since then and found a job, so I’m dressing a bit better.”
“Obviously,” he said, taking advantage of the clothing reference to examine her more closely. “What brings you to Shenzhen?”
“I have a sales call early tomorrow morning, so I decided to take the train over today. So I wouldn’t have to get up at dawn.”
“You came alone?”
“Yes, I did, and I have to say I find it a bit overwhelming. I’ve never been to Shenzhen before and it isn’t quite what I expected. It’s so big, but not like Hong Kong big. There’s all this construction and the dirt and the noise. It just feels so disorganized. It’s nice to see a familiar face.”
He smiled again. “You’re staying here?”
“No, I’m at another hotel nearby, but my boss is supposed to be staying here and I just came by to see if he’s checked in. He hasn’t, so I was just heading out.”
“Where to?”
“I thought I’d stop at one of the restaurants on the way back to my hotel.”
“Eat by yourself?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t allow that,” Kung said, moving closer. “Let me take you to dinner.”
“I don’t feel right imposing myself on you and your friends like that,” she said.
“It’s no imposition. And besides,
Ava shook her head. “No, I’ve come this far.”
“Good.”
“Tell me, though, what happens if this doesn’t work?”
“We go back to waiting. It’s been four days now and I figure Kung can keep hanging around for weeks. It’s making me crazy already, so I don’t even want to think about failing.”
She looked at her Citizen watch. “Well, it’s almost six, so I should get into position.”
“You’re sure you know what he looks like?”
“Thick head of hair combed straight back, a round face with a small nose and mouth, and he’s broad across the shoulders and chest.”
“Right, and he’s short, and when he left earlier today he was wearing a red shirt. His guys were in jeans and T-shirts. One of them always walks in front of him and the other is about two steps behind.”
“Okay, I won’t miss him.”
Ava walked towards the elevators and then veered off to the left. She positioned herself next to a table that was against a wall. She had a clear view of the entrance and could see both Andy and Carlo.
Ten minutes passed, and Ava began to feel increasingly uncomfortable. Loitering in a hotel lobby, especially looking the way she did, wasn’t a natural state for her. She suspected that she was beginning to draw the attention of a man in a black suit. He stood on the other side of the elevators, watching people come and go. She was sure he was security and would soon come over and ask her to move along and take her business elsewhere. She was contemplating this when she realized that Andy was waving his arms at her. She shook her head to clear it and then focused on the hotel entrance.
A huge man, at least six foot four and built like a truck, led the way. Just behind, she saw the flash of a red shirt.
They started across the lobby towards the elevators. A third man, as large as the first, trailed, his eyes darting in all directions.
Ava began to walk towards them. When the first man was almost parallel to her, she turned sideways and glanced at the man in the red shirt.
“Mr. Kung, what are you doing here?” she said.
He looked quickly in her direction, turned away, and then stopped walking and stared at her. Ava could see she had his interest. The bodyguards moved protectively closer to him, their eyes now taking in Ava and everything around her.
“Do I know you?” Kung said.
“Yes, of course you do. I’ve met you several times at the import office in Mong Kok. My aunt, Fan Ying, introduced us.”
“The receptionist?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t remember,” he said, and then smiled. “And I have an excellent memory for pretty women.”
“Well, the last time was about a year ago and I was probably wearing jeans and a sweater. I’ve graduated since then and found a job, so I’m dressing a bit better.”
“Obviously,” he said, taking advantage of the clothing reference to examine her more closely. “What brings you to Shenzhen?”
“I have a sales call early tomorrow morning, so I decided to take the train over today. So I wouldn’t have to get up at dawn.”
“You came alone?”
“Yes, I did, and I have to say I find it a bit overwhelming. I’ve never been to Shenzhen before and it isn’t quite what I expected. It’s so big, but not like Hong Kong big. There’s all this construction and the dirt and the noise. It just feels so disorganized. It’s nice to see a familiar face.”
He smiled again. “You’re staying here?”
“No, I’m at another hotel nearby, but my boss is supposed to be staying here and I just came by to see if he’s checked in. He hasn’t, so I was just heading out.”
“Where to?”
“I thought I’d stop at one of the restaurants on the way back to my hotel.”
“Eat by yourself?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t allow that,” Kung said, moving closer. “Let me take you to dinner.”
“I don’t feel right imposing myself on you and your friends like that,” she said.
“It’s no imposition. And besides,
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