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He looked at her noith sudden understanding “I bet people don’t like you very much”

“No one’s supposed to like an agent from the Ministry of Public Security”

“Which is why you chose the job?”

That her father had been vice minister when she started was none of Michael’s business, so she said, “I’ood at what I do”

“I can see that What I don’t get is why you left the States”

“Maybe I didn’t fit in there either”

He searched her face “I don’t think so I think you fit in very well, and I bet you were happy too Why did you come back?”

“My mother was ill I felt I had a duty to her and to , I thought I should be a part of that”

He studied her again, this tiain he came to his own conclusion “You’re a beautiful woh your heart were open to uilty”

“I thought you were ato keep the re miserably

Michael laughed “Don’t you know that all the secrets of the universe are revealed through math? Or was that another blind spot in your education?” He didn’t wait for her to answer Instead he pushed his chair away froht, Inspector I enjoyed it Perhaps we can do it again tomorrow”

“David will probably be back by then”

“Then I look forward to the three of us getting together”

He saw her to the end of the second courtyard, then left her to find her oay back to her room

AN EERIE QUIET ENVELOPED HONG KONG AS THE ISLAND BRACED for the co sheets across Connaught Road Though it was after nine at night, the air was unbearably hot and huone home in anticipation of the storm, so the autolers were still on the streets David kept to the exterior wall of the Ritz-Carlton as he followed at a safe distance behind Bill Tang When the lieutenant crossed Connaught to the Star Ferry Terminal, David hesitated briefly before he leaned his body into the wind and dashed across the street