Stealing the Dragon

Chapter Fifty

The driver’s license spun like a leaf as it fell, tapping sounds chasing after it as the plastic edge ricocheted off the rungs of the ladder.

The guard nearest the tunnel turned as the card hit the stone floor. Bending down, he saw there was a note wrapped around it, Chinese characters drawn in short bold strokes. He quickly stepped across the room and dropped the license onto the desk, then bowed and returned to his position at the bottom of the ladder.

The first thing Sally saw as Dong unwrapped the note was Cape’s picture on the license.

“Ta ma de,” muttered Sally. Oh shit.

“That doesn’t even look like him,” said Dong, taking the license. “How does the Department of Motor Vehicles do that? You know, in Hong Kong-”

“Dong.” Sally’s voice was full of warning. “What does the note say?”

Dong read aloud. “‘Bring the heart.’”

“That’s it?”

“It gives a location-Buddha’s Universal Church.”

“Just a few blocks from here, on Washington.”

“At this hour, the church will be deserted,” said Dong miserably. “Yan has set a trap, and your friend is the bait.” He blew out his cheeks as he handed the note out to Sally.

Sally’s eyes grew wide as she looked at the slip of paper.

“Yan didn’t write this note.”

“How do you know?” Dong reached for the note but stopped when he saw the grim expression on Sally’s face. When she looked up, her eyes were hard and her voice flat.

“I recognize the handwriting.”