Jackpot

67

Teddy went back to the Tower to piece together what else had happened while he’d been fighting Bingo. He arrived just in time to see Sonny Ma and the festival organizers giving a press conference about how they had used the skills and talents of the local film community to stage the fake death that also served as a lesson to show kids contemplating a life of crime what was in store for them.

“The only reason I am standing on this stage instead of lying in a street is because I turned away from crime. I found my salvation in technology, but you can follow your own heart, whether it’s in books or paintings or music or business. Follow the voice of passion, not the voice of violence.”

The speech seemed to be going over well with the crowd, even if Teddy thought the wording was a bit corny. Violence was as much a product of passion as music and painting, and history had shown that violence and art were more intertwined than society ever liked to admit. But Teddy kept those thoughts to himself as he strolled through the scene of his most recent violence.

In the crush of bodies and screaming audience members, someone protected Li Feng. The woman, who had been part of the security crew for the film festival, escorted Li Feng out through a series of hidden access ways. They emerged on the opposite side of the chaos and caught their breaths before catching up.

“Thank you,” Li Feng said.

“You should thank her, too,” Dale said.

The woman named Millie Martindale from the CIA stepped into view. Dale Gai left the two of them alone.

“I was on my way over here to try and convince you one more time that I can protect you better than Arrow. Sounds like you’re ready to believe that now.”

“He had his man Bingo try to kill me.”

“I have a car ready to take you to the airport right now,” Millie said.

“My family has eyes at the airport. They have eyes everywhere. Arrow has eyes everywhere. The only way I was able to get in and out of the country before undetected was using Arrow’s private plane.”

“Don’t worry about Arrow. He’s not going to be a problem anymore. We’ll make a stop first. I know a guy who’s pretty good with disguises.”

“But my papers. My new identity. You can make me look like whoever you want, but my passport will betray me. My identity will betray me.”

“This is what we do at the CIA,” Millie said. “It’s called extraction, and we’re one of the best agencies in the world at it.”

“I’m not a good person. I’m a terrible person.”

“In exchange for getting you out of Macau and giving you a new life, my government is going to give you plenty of opportunities to do the right thing.”

“I’m going to have to testify for real this time?” Li Feng asked.

“Maybe not in front of a big room of politicians, but yes, you’re going to have to tell some people what really happened, all of it, and who was really responsible.”

“That sounds like a terrible idea.”

“Well, I can’t say I didn’t try,” Millie said. “I thought I saw something in you that was worth redeeming. I’ll just leave you here. I have some cash I can give you, but I’m not sure how far that will go with everyone in the country looking for you.”

Millie stretched her face in a mock terrified look. Li Feng rolled her eyes and followed her latest ally into a waiting car.

“You made your point. Well done. Let’s go see your magical disguise friend.”