The Poisoned Pen: A Guardian Story

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Protective Measures

Shen Wei's breath caught in his throat.  When he asked his question, he had hardly dared to hope, even despite what Da Qing had told him a day earlier.  To be honest, his lack of self-confidence when it came to his own value to another person was still whispering in his ear that Zhao Yunlan was not referring to him and their undefined relationship.

"I don't...I mean, I didn't think..." he stammered, but was prevented from saying more when the gate intercom on the wall in his office buzzed.

"Wei, it's me."  Shen Ling's voice sounded almost robotic through the small speaker.  "I know the code, so don't worry about letting us in.  I just didn't want to show up on your driveway without at least some warning."  Without waiting for a response, she rang off.

Looking up at Zhao Yunlan, the writer gave a small, apologetic shrug.

"You go into the drawing room and I'll make some refreshments," the detective said, resignedly.  "I think some of Chef Yu's fresh lemonade is still in the fridge."

"I can do it!" the author offered, quickly.  "After all, you don't have to pretend to be my assistant now.  There's no reason why you should have to do things like that anymore."

Zhao Yunlan smiled mischievously at the younger man.

"No way!  I want to do it.  If I keep making myself useful here, you might let me stick around on a more permanent basis when all this is over.  After all, your bedroom is bigger than my entire apartment."

Then, he was gone, before Shen Wei even had a moment to process the wider implications of his words.

***

"I think you should ask for police protection," Shen Ling said, nervously, as she tapped her nail against the glass of lemonade in her hands.  "I mean, no offence to Detective Zhao, but this person has basically admitted that he intends to do something horrible to you soon."

Zhao Yunlan held up his hands.

"No offence taken at all, Ms Shen.  In fact, I was about to suggest the same thing, and if I know Detective Chu like I think I do, he will insist on it."

"That's a relief.  Wei, Gao Han and I could come and stay too if you want?"

"No, please don't trouble yourselves," the writer said, hurriedly.  "I'll feel far more at ease with you two as far away from here as possible."

"I'm afraid that won't be an option," Gao Han spoke up.  "Ling is insisting that one or both of us call in every day, and I know from experience that when she gets like this it's impossible to change her mind."

"That's true," Shen Wei admitted, as he watched his sister hit her boyfriend good-naturedly on the arm.  "I'm grateful for your care.  Truly."

"Don't be ridiculous," Shen Ling replied.  "You're my little brother.  Of course I'm going to look after you."

It took over an hour before the older Shen sibling was satisfied enough with Wei and Zhao Yunlan's proposed enhanced security measures to leave them alone in the house once more.  Back in his study and sitting at his desk, the author took a deep breath and enjoyed a peaceful moment of calm before he turned his exhausted mind back to the conversation that had been taking place just before his sister arrived.  To his great frustration, he found that he still had no idea at all what to say to the other man, who was presently pacing around the drawing room on the phone to Chu Shuzhi.

"How many men did you say?" Zhao Yunlan queried.

"Four.  Two to patrol the grounds around the house, one to stay inside with you and Mr Shen, and another so that the men can rotate shifts and get some rest."

"It's a big property.  Isn't a team of four a bit like taking a knife to a gun fight?"

"I'm aware of that, but it's all I can spare at the moment.  I need men here at the station investigating the murders and all of the other crimes people seem to be committing in droves these days.  Has Mr Shen considered hiring private security?  Other than you, I mean."

"We're not doing that," the private detective replied.  "I'll just about tolerate having some of your men here on a permanent basis.  I trust your judgment when it comes to your team.  But I'm not letting any other strangers through the gate, and there simply isn't time to vet new people thoroughly."

"Understood."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a while, and Zhao Yunlan could almost sense Chu running his hand across his face in frustration.  After what felt like an age, the police detective spoke.

"Email me a floor plan of the estate so I can brief my guys this afternoon.  They'll be with you first thing tomorrow.  In the meantime, don't leave Mr Shen alone for more than a few minutes at a time, if that."

"I don't intend to."  Hanging up, the detective made his way back into the author's study.  It was time to continue their conversation from earlier.  Unfortunately, the sight that greeted him was one fast asleep author, his head resting on the desk in front of him.  This was starting to become a regular occurrence.

Letting out a large sigh of resignation, Zhao Yunlan made his way over to the man and rested the back of his hand gently against the other's forehead.  No fever.  He was clearly just completely exhausted.  The detective was not surprised.  He had noticed how tired the writer had looked when his sister and her boyfriend were there.  He had probably not slept much in the last couple of days.  Ever since the attack.

As he thought back to two nights ago, his gaze drifted unconsciously to Shen Wei's neck, where the angry red marks the stalker had made were only just beginning to fade.  He reached out to trace a finger over the damaged skin, then thought better of it.  He did not want to wake someone who was clearly in desperate need of rest.

In a repeat of his actions that now felt like a lifetime ago, Zhao Yunlan picked the author up as if he weighed nothing and deposited him gently on one of the two comfortable chairs in the room, then covered him with a blanket.  Whatever they had to say to each other could wait for a little while longer.

Walking across to the large windows, he closed the curtains, shutting out the worst of the midday sun.  He had to admit as well, preventing the world outside from watching the sleeping man inside brought him a measure of false reassurance.  The fact was, if the murderer was hell-bent on getting his hands on Shen Wei, it would take more than some glass and a few drapes of material to stop him.

Zhao Yunlan suppressed a shudder.  As much as he liked having the writer to himself, tomorrow's additional police support couldn't come soon enough.  He only wished he could ignore the nagging voice inside of him that told him it wouldn't be in any way sufficient.  No.  He had a strange feeling in his gut that, when it came down to the wire, it would just be him, Shen Wei, and the stalker in a final fight for survival or death.  Perhaps it was always meant to be that way.

Chasing away his dark thoughts. he sank into the other armchair opposite the sleeping man and fired off a quick text message to Da Qing asking him to do a quick drive by the Shen estate and look out for any suspicious vehicles parked nearby.  Then, he squirmed around until he found a more comfortable position, and settled himself in for a long session of staring at the oblivious author in front of him.