Project Perses: Redemption

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Li Hua and I are sitting across from each other in a booth in this little hole in the wall restaurant, eating the best dim sum I have ever had.  Not too surprising since I’ve never actually had dim sum before.  She’s still watching me with trepidation and confusion.  That’s actually an improvement from the look of disgust and disapproval she wore when I told her I was hungry. She had every reason to be confused by me, hell half the time I confused myself.  I ignore her stares as I wolf down bamboo tray after bamboo tray of little dumplings.  Our server keeps coming over, bringing more of the round bamboo steamers, probably wondering where I’m putting it all. 

Li has barely touched her plate, her attention solely focused on me.  I don’t blame her; she’s already had a hell of a day.  She’s probably wondering how I can eat, knowing what I know now.  Eventually she would come to understand that my metabolism didn’t care if I was depressed, angry, or sad.  I simply had to eat.

My mind drifts back to what had happened earlier.  After I had tossed her across the room, I hadn’t lessened my grip but instead kept her solidly anchored to the wall. Whether or not Mitchell had sent her, her reaction at facing off with me and more over, the look in her eyes when I showed my true nature, told me she already knew more than she should.

“The General sent you?  And why should I believe you?”

With her back still pressed to the wall, she attempted to reach for her pocket but I grabbed her wrist instead.  “In my pocket you’ll find my cell phone and a GPS tracker.  He gave me the satellite access and told me to find you.”  She licked her lips, eying me.  “He’s on his way here and said to keep you company.”

Frisking her, I pulled out the cell first and checked the log.  Sure enough, there are several calls to and from the private cell number I knew belonged to Mitchell.  That could be faked, so I hit the redial, and it rang twice before Mitchell’s voice came over the line.  My eyes flashed to her as I hung up without saying anything and flung the phone on the bed.  Next I pulled out the GPS.  The screen was incredibly detailed, a small red dot denoting exactly where I was standing.  “How did you know which room I was in?”

“Are you serious?  All I had to do was give a general description.  You’re kind of hard to miss.”  She tried to shift her weight and put on a brave face, but I held her fast to the wall.  The look of annoyance she attempted to affect humored me.

“What do you know? How much did he tell you?” I stepped back then, letting go of her.

She hesitated, massaging her shoulder while eying me suspiciously. “He just told me to be careful around you.” 

Would Mitchell really send someone in uninformed?  “I’m going to ask again.”  I whispered, turning my back to her and walking over to the bed, where I leaned down to pick up my leather boots.  “Why did he send you to babysit me?  How much do you know?”  I sit on the bed and start pulling them on.

The look on her face was telling.  Her eyes focused on me, frustration evident by the steely glare.  “I am a Secretariat for the Foreign Ministry and… an informant for the CIA.”  She struggled with indecision, with how much she should say.  “He’s taking a huge chance in my helping you.  If my cover is blown, it’ll be years of work down the drain.  Turns out you’re a hot topic in our scientific department, or I wouldn’t have agreed to do this.” She stepped over and leaned her butt on the console holding up the TV.  “He didn’t have to tell me anything, there are enough rumors swilling around about you to save him the trouble.”