hopeful, but the opportunity was gone. Without answering, she flung the door open and fled, tears stinging her eyes. She’d blown her cover and ruined everything. Intimidating Kathleen had been easy, but she’d only angered these guys.
Selecting the ground floor button at the elevator pad, she clutched her upper arms, rubbing them for warmth she hadn’t known in weeks. When had she become so cold? So heartless? What’s happening to me? I do care about Chai and Zhen. I do.
She scrubbed her arms harder. It didn’t help. The cold went clean, clear through. At the sound of voices, she turned. Agent Lennox and Agent Tao had just entered the hall. They stood talking to Claire at the open door.
Mei gulped. In a second, they’d see her. Ducking into the nearest room, she waited for them to pass. They’d never know what a coward she was. The sound of their voices grew closer, Agent Lennox’s laced with sarcasm.
“Young lady? You’re being mighty generous with that title, aren’t you? That chick’s got a heart of stone. I’ve never seen an Immigration Agent act like such a—”
“Do you know what Mei Xing means in Chinese, Zack?” Agent Tao interrupted quietly.
“Heck, I don’t know.” Agent Lennox stabbed a button on the elevator pad. “Cruella de Vil? Hagatha? Maybe the Wicked Witch from the West?”
Mei squeezed her eyes tight, but the tears came anyway. Yes. She’d become a witch all right. Four weeks of living hell had changed her. She peeked out the door, hoping Agent Tao wouldn’t condemn her, too.
“It means ‘beautiful star’.” He stood waiting at the elevator, shaking his head at Agent Lennox in gentle reproach. “Someone loved her enough to give her a very special name when she was born. I don’t believe she’s always been the person we saw today.”
Mei stifled a sob at his kindness. My mother gave me my name. I miss my mom. My dad. My baby.
“Whatever,” Agent Lennox grumbled. “It’s not like we’ll be seeing her again. She couldn’t get away fast enough.”
How could I stay? I lied to you. She struggled, all of her common sense screaming at her to confess, to run into the hall and tell these guys what was really going on. That she needed their help. That she needed somebody. She didn’t make a move.
“I think you may yet be surprised,” Agent Tao said as they entered the elevator.
The doors swooshed closed. Mei sank against the wall in the empty room and stifled her tears.
SEVEN
“You know what that little gal needs?”
Mei stopped short when the elevator door opened at ground level. Agent Lennox’s question seemed directed at her. Or about her. She’d planned to run straight out the front doors, but now? Was he waiting for her? Her breath hitched at the very real possibility she’d have to face him again so soon. Girding her loins, she leaned forward through the elevator doors, just enough to catch sight of the two men at the coffee kiosk.
Her heart started beating again. He and Agent Tao had stopped for coffee. That’s all. They weren’t waiting to ambush her, but what was it about broad shoulders beneath black leather that grabbed her attention? Other than the preferred view allowed for a quick getaway? She had to admit, Agent Lennox was built, a veritable V-shape that made Agent Tao look ordinary in comparison.
She angled away from them, still having to pass behind them on her way out.
“A big old teddy bear,” Agent Lennox answered himself as he tossed a handful of creamer cups into the trash bin beside the kiosk counter. He still hadn’t seen her, but she could hear him. “I’m coming back with some toys. That poor baby doesn’t even have her own blanket. She needs one.”
“What she needs is a mother and a father.” Agent Tao stirred his coffee, his back to Mei.
Her ears perked up at the unexpected conversation. These guys cared. Her feet faltered on her fast track to cowardice.
Tell them.
No, she argued with herself, picking up the pace.
Selecting the ground floor button at the elevator pad, she clutched her upper arms, rubbing them for warmth she hadn’t known in weeks. When had she become so cold? So heartless? What’s happening to me? I do care about Chai and Zhen. I do.
She scrubbed her arms harder. It didn’t help. The cold went clean, clear through. At the sound of voices, she turned. Agent Lennox and Agent Tao had just entered the hall. They stood talking to Claire at the open door.
Mei gulped. In a second, they’d see her. Ducking into the nearest room, she waited for them to pass. They’d never know what a coward she was. The sound of their voices grew closer, Agent Lennox’s laced with sarcasm.
“Young lady? You’re being mighty generous with that title, aren’t you? That chick’s got a heart of stone. I’ve never seen an Immigration Agent act like such a—”
“Do you know what Mei Xing means in Chinese, Zack?” Agent Tao interrupted quietly.
“Heck, I don’t know.” Agent Lennox stabbed a button on the elevator pad. “Cruella de Vil? Hagatha? Maybe the Wicked Witch from the West?”
Mei squeezed her eyes tight, but the tears came anyway. Yes. She’d become a witch all right. Four weeks of living hell had changed her. She peeked out the door, hoping Agent Tao wouldn’t condemn her, too.
“It means ‘beautiful star’.” He stood waiting at the elevator, shaking his head at Agent Lennox in gentle reproach. “Someone loved her enough to give her a very special name when she was born. I don’t believe she’s always been the person we saw today.”
Mei stifled a sob at his kindness. My mother gave me my name. I miss my mom. My dad. My baby.
“Whatever,” Agent Lennox grumbled. “It’s not like we’ll be seeing her again. She couldn’t get away fast enough.”
How could I stay? I lied to you. She struggled, all of her common sense screaming at her to confess, to run into the hall and tell these guys what was really going on. That she needed their help. That she needed somebody. She didn’t make a move.
“I think you may yet be surprised,” Agent Tao said as they entered the elevator.
The doors swooshed closed. Mei sank against the wall in the empty room and stifled her tears.
SEVEN
“You know what that little gal needs?”
Mei stopped short when the elevator door opened at ground level. Agent Lennox’s question seemed directed at her. Or about her. She’d planned to run straight out the front doors, but now? Was he waiting for her? Her breath hitched at the very real possibility she’d have to face him again so soon. Girding her loins, she leaned forward through the elevator doors, just enough to catch sight of the two men at the coffee kiosk.
Her heart started beating again. He and Agent Tao had stopped for coffee. That’s all. They weren’t waiting to ambush her, but what was it about broad shoulders beneath black leather that grabbed her attention? Other than the preferred view allowed for a quick getaway? She had to admit, Agent Lennox was built, a veritable V-shape that made Agent Tao look ordinary in comparison.
She angled away from them, still having to pass behind them on her way out.
“A big old teddy bear,” Agent Lennox answered himself as he tossed a handful of creamer cups into the trash bin beside the kiosk counter. He still hadn’t seen her, but she could hear him. “I’m coming back with some toys. That poor baby doesn’t even have her own blanket. She needs one.”
“What she needs is a mother and a father.” Agent Tao stirred his coffee, his back to Mei.
Her ears perked up at the unexpected conversation. These guys cared. Her feet faltered on her fast track to cowardice.
Tell them.
No, she argued with herself, picking up the pace.
Similar Books
