Red Light

Then and Now

The receptionist at the Xinhua News Agency's front desk frowned at the large box left behind her desk. She had almost tripped on it twice.

There was no one listed as a recipient on the box. Just Xinhua News Agency. In a fit of annoyance, she opened the box with a jerk.

Papers. It was filled to the brim with carefully labeled files. Laid neatly on the top was an envelope.

She removed the letter and began to read.

Within this box is accounting information regarding the human trafficking Jin Guangshan, Mayor of Beijing, is actively protecting and participating in.

Her hand started shaking.

She had been the receptionist for fifteen years. Over that time, she had seen a wide variety of anonymous information dropped at her desk. Ranging from alien take overs of the government to the cover up of deaths caused by poor constuction, she had seen it all. It didn't matter that she wasn't a reporter. She had a good eye for solid information.

She took out the first file. Page after page of carefully documented information.

This was legit.

She placed the letter back in the envelope and gently closed the box.

"Chen-chen? Can you get me a dolly**, please? I need to take this up." Her voice was almost too casual. She didn't dare leave the box for even a second.

"I can take it up." the young man said with a smile.

"No, I need to get my steps in. Move around a bit or I'll turn into a lump!" she laughed. It sounded a little forced. A little odd.

He had laughed in return anyway. "You could never look like a lump!"

But he went to get it for her.

She was beginning to sweat as she took the dolly to the main elevator bank. It was against policy but it was the closest and most public way to do it. Less chance of someone trying to take the information back and hurt her in the process.

She waved off the few people who wanted to join her in the elevator. Smiling apologetically and indicating the dolly.

'Fifteen stories. Fifteen stories and I can drop off this time bomb.' she thought.

The Xinhua News Director's office staff was quite surprised as the receptionist maneuvered her way in with the dolly.

"I need to see the Director." her voice was quite firm. "Now would be best."

"Excuse me?" the secretary asked, flabbergasted at the request.

"I do not ask this lightly. He needs to see this." the woman was dead serious.

The secretary was just shaking her head.

"Then would you give him something? Ask him to read it immediately. It is quite short." the receptionist was beginning to sound desperate.

She opened the box and removed the letter.

"Just ask him to read this. If he doesn't want to see the rest, I'll deliver the box anywhere he wishes."

The secretary checked the time. There was fifteen minutes before the Director's next meeting.

"I'll take it in and see what he has to say." the secretary was still reluctant but what if it really was important?

A soft knock, a muffled voice from within and the secretary slipped into the office.

Three minutes later the Director himself was at his office door.