Chapter 3

At John's words, Meg let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding and stood to face him. "I have a room at the Movenpick by the airport. We should all head back there. But first - disguises," Meg said, beginning to pace back and forth, ticking off points on her fingers. "You guys are still going to look Chinese, of course, but hopefully American-Chinese. I'll need to take your mother and sister shopping for American threads, then I'll do what I can with their hair and make-up. I brought some -"

"Meg," John interrupted suddenly.

"Yeah?" she asked distractedly, mind on disguise options.

"It will only be Mia. Our mother is dead." Meg paused in mid-stride, then slowly made her way around the table to stand at his side. She hesitated a moment before putting a hand on his arm.

"I'm so sorry, John," she told him softly. He nodded, accepting her condolences, but not looking at her. The muscles in his arm tensed under her palm and she let go.

"I will get Mia," he said, turning to the door and exiting. He returned a moment later with Mia.

"America?" she was saying. "Will we be returning?" Meg couldn't tell if the thought was appalling or appealing to the girl. John stole a look at Meg before answering.

"We will discuss it later. Pack your belongings, but take only what is necessary. Do as Meg tells you, I have things I must do." John motioned Meg outside where they walked to the edge of the garden. She was irritated and let him know it.

"What do you mean 'things you must do'? We shouldn't be separating. In fact, that is the exact opposite of what we should be doing." She would've kept going, but John put his hands on her shoulders.

"Meg, there are things I must do," he repeated. "People to speak to . . . matters to attend to. If I am not coming back to China, they must be taken care of now."

"Then we'll come with you," Meg insisted.

"No, we will accomplish more apart. I will meet you at the hotel, what is your room number?" She wanted to argue more, but when she looked into his eyes, she realized it would be pointless. She sighed and looked away.

"Two-sixteen," she told him finally, pulling the key card out of her pants pocket and holding it out to him. "In case you get there first," she elaborated. "I'll tell the front desk I lost mine and get another one."

"Meg, I will be fine," he told her, letting his hands drop and taking the proffered key card. She instantly missed his touch. "Please look after Mia for me."

"You know I will," she told him quietly.

"I know," he replied softly. He waited a few seconds longer, but Meg made no further response. He turned and started walking away. Well, shit, I can't leave it like this. What if I never see him again? That thought was so unwelcome, she immediately kicked its ass.

"Hey!" she called out after him. He turned to look at her questioningly. "Remember when I said I had a problem with you dying? I still do. So don't." She held his gaze until he nodded. He then continued on his way.

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Back in the house, Meg followed the sounds of speed packing. She had a lot of experience in this area and recognized the sound. She entered a small room with a single bed, simple desk and chair, and a dresser. Books in several different languages lined much of the available shelf space.

Mia had tossed what looked like the entire contents of her room onto the bed and was sorting through the pile. Meg's attention was caught by some items on top of the dresser. She stepped closer to look at two small black and white photographs, creased with age, that were propped against a bronze statue of Kwan Yin, the Buddhism Goddess of Compassion. One was identical to the photo John had carried, a much younger Mia standing next to her mother. The second was of a young man, standing ramrod straight, unsmiling and grim. Looking closer, Meg realized he looked familiar.

"Mia, is this John?" Meg asked, pointing to the picture. Mia stopped packing and came to stand beside her.

"Yes. That is when he went to work for Mr. Wei. I was a baby at the time, I do not remember. But our mother often spoke of it." She paused. "John was very unhappy." She went back to her packing, leaving Meg to look at the picture.

"So John didn't like working for Wei?"

"No. He was studying at university to become a teacher. Mr. Wei and our father served in the Chinese Army together. When our father was killed, we had no means to support ourselves. Mr. Wei offered John work, out of respect for our father. John had to leave school. Over time, Mr. Wei gave John more work, more responsibility. He was away from us for long periods, sometimes a year or more. He sent us money, made sure we were safe, but did not visit us often. I think he did not want us to see what he had become," Mia finished sadly, staring off into space.

Meg was fascinated and would've liked to pursue the subject, but time wasn't really on their side. Maybe later. Definitely later.

"Mia, let's finish up, we have a lot to do today." The young woman nodded, throwing some more items in her bag, then stepping back to the dresser to pick up the pictures. The sound of the front door opening and quick footsteps coming down the passage had Meg immediately tensed. She pushed Mia to the left of the door frame and stepped protectively in front of her, hand going unconsciously to the small of her back for a gun - a gun which wasn't there because she was in friggin' China! She quickly glanced around for a weapon, picking up the bronze statue of Kwan Yin from the dresser. She sent silent apologies to the lovely, compassionate goddess as she hefted the heavy object above her head.

She thanked her excellent reflexes when she just managed not to bash in the skull of Soom Meng as he walked through the doorway. The poor man looked startled when he finally spotted her, weapon in hand. He recovered quickly though.

"There are men in the temple, suspicious. John warned me before he left that men would come for him and Miasu." Meg dashed to the living room to grab her tote and knapsack, then back to the bedroom.

"How many? Did they see you?" Meg asked as she guided Mia to the rear of the house. There had to be a back door, right?

"Four. No, I do not believe so. I remained in the shadows." Meg finally found the back door and opened it, ready to push Mia through. Mia, however, had other ideas as she broke from Meg's grasp and ran to Meng to give him a hug.

"Xiexie," she told him as she stood back. Thank you. He put his hands in prayer position and bowed, reciting a Buddhist blessing in Chinese.

They were wasting precious seconds, but who was Meg to snub a monk's blessing? Mia turned and ran out the door. Meg gave the monk a nod before exiting herself.

There was a narrow strip of grass between the rear of the house and the high stone wall, which was lined with trees. Mia was some distance to Meg's left, waving to her. Meg quickly ran over just as Mia was parting the shoulder high grass and low lying tree limbs to reveal an ancient looking thick wooden door. She then pulled an honest to goodness heavy iron skeleton key from around her neck and unlocked the door. They crossed through into the alley behind the temple grounds, turned a corner at the end, and hailed a taxi.

Sitting together in the backseat, the two women sat silently, staring straight ahead. After a few moments, Meg looked over at Mia, expecting her to be at least somewhat hysterical, but she seemed perfectly calm if a little out of breath from the run. Way to go, Lee family disposition.

"Let's hope," Meg finally said, "that is the only excitement we run into today."