And Lena didn’t want to betray China. She hadn’t stopped believing in Jinshan’s vision for the future. She still wanted China to prevail. But the stronger motivation was to make sure her child wouldn’t be harmed as the war progressed.
So… would she betray Chase? Street work could be very dangerous. No one would know what really happened if he were to meet an untimely end. She could stick a meat cleaver into his neck while he slept. Then she could walk right out the door and onto the Chinese base. Her life would start again.
She turned and snuck a look back at Chase. He was staring at her, speaking quietly to one of his men. She felt the slightest tug of affection for him. Nothing like the tsunami of motherly instinct that gripped her when she looked at her child. At their child. Maybe that was the odd feeling of loyalty she felt? The bond of parenthood? She shook away the thought.
Lena made up her mind. She would keep her word to the Americans. It was her parting gift to Chase, her down payment for a lifetime of taking care of their child.
But her decision didn’t mean she wouldn’t ditch the Americans the moment the mission was complete. Lena felt a rush of adrenaline just thinking about it. She wanted back in the game. Maternal instincts aside, she needed to get her fix. Her life’s work was coming to a climax. And she needed to do what made her a star. She needed to kill.
14
The major was starting to like this assignment.
His vehicle came to a halt outside the riverside bar. Muddy water flowed by, and lush green vegetation surrounded the two-floor establishment. Latin dance music echoed in the surrounding jungle.
And those stiletto-heeled beauties strolled in, eyeing him, sizing him up.
“Sir, they look like they remember you,” the Chinese officer’s driver said.
The major looked at his driver, a corporal who’d entered the service only a year ago. China’s military was growing fast, and some of these new recruits still didn’t know when to keep their mouths shut.
“They remember my wallet is all,” he replied.
“Stay with the vehicle, Corporal,” the veteran sergeant said, hopping out and pounding the hood in excitement. “Major, we will be out back securing the perimeter.”
“Fine.” The major knew the sergeant and two other veterans were going to drink and talk up whores at the bar. He couldn’t care less. They would all be in combat in a few weeks anyway.
The major walked into the brothel. A plump older woman serving as the house madame gestured for him to take a seat on a worn velvet couch. The major placed his arms back on the couch as a column of barely clad women lined up before him.
In broken Spanish, he said, “This one… and that one there.” He pointed at the ones trying not to make eye contact. The others seemed too desperate.
“Move along, ladies,” the madame called. The girls scattered. Turning to the major, she said, “You can go upstairs to your room. The girls will join you shortly. First door on the right when you get up the stairs.”
The major cracked his knuckles and rose from the couch. He walked up the creaking wooden stairs, entering the first door on the right. He began unbuttoning his shirt, stopping when he heard the knock at the door. Turning around, he expected to see his two evening companions.
Instead, he saw a ghost.
“Hello, Major. Good to see you again.” Lena Chou shut the door behind her. “Have a seat. And keep your clothes on, if you please.”
“Miss Chou…” The major sat down on the bed, stunned. “I was told that you had been captured.”
She arched her eyebrows. “I escaped.”
He was dumbstruck. “Why are you here?”
Lena said, “I need your help. I will need you to transport me onto base.”
He began to stand. “Of course.”
Lena took a seat on the single cot across the small room. “But I need to ask you a few questions first.”
The major appeared confused. “Of course, Miss Chou. But would you like me to get my battalion officer? I’m sure he can…”
She held up a hand. “Listen and answer me precisely. Before I escaped the Americans, I learned that they were very interested in a certain scientist. They believed him to be held at our base in Manta. Are you aware of such a man?”
“Yes. Yes, I know him. He was here. But they moved him.”
“To where?”
“I don’t know. They flew him out on a transport aircraft days ago. A different base. He needed a bigger research facility to support his work. What does this have to do with…”
“Which base?”
The major paused. “The MSS was overseeing the project, along with our engineers. I wasn’t involved.” He shook his head. “Why are you…”
A knock at the door. Lena rose.
“Sir, we have a problem. Please open up,” a gruff voice yelled in Mandarin.
Lena watched the major closely. The first hint of suspicion flashed across his eyes as he yelled, “Come in.”
The door burst open. Two PLA soldiers marched Chase Manning into the room at gunpoint. The soldiers each wore the uniform of the major’s special operations unit.
“Sir, this man was sitting down by the bar,” one of the soldiers said. “The locals didn’t know him. I think he’s an American. He had these.”
He tossed a mobile phone and a 9mm handgun, magazine removed, onto the bed.
Lena cursed to herself. Chase was not supposed to be in this building. The microphone clipped to her bra would have transmitted the fifty yards to where his team was waiting in the jungle. He was here because he didn’t trust her. And now he’d pay the price, unless she did something about it.
Lena said, “You are correct, Sergeant. This man works for the Americans. He has been following me. Take him down to your vehicle and keep him under guard. Once we are at the base, I will want to question him.”
The two soldiers looked at the major.
He looked between Lena and Chase. Finally, he nodded to his men and they walked out of the room. When he and Lena were alone again, the major said, “We need to take this to the battalion officer immediately. I can’t…”
A string of gunshots erupted from somewhere outside. The major’s eyes widened, and he began heading toward the door.
Lena’s blow came quick and strong.
She rotated her body, snapping her arm around and catching the major’s trachea with her knuckles.
He fell to his knees, gripping his throat, his face turning blue. Lena removed his sidearm from the holster at his waist. She placed the weapon’s barrel into his mouth and pressed the trigger.
The loud gunshot exploded the back of his head.
Lena moved into the hallway and then down the stairs. She held the pistol casually at her side so it wouldn’t draw attention. Somewhere in the house, women were screaming. Then Lena heard the sound of more gunshots outside. Both American- and Chinese-made rifle fire. Lena reached the bottom of the stairs and peered out the open front doorway.
A Chinese military jeep was parked in front of the brothel, smoke rising from bullet holes in the hood. A streetlamp bathed the jeep in yellowish light as bugs swirled around in the humid air. Two dead Chinese soldiers lay face down in the mud. A third was slumped over the steering wheel.
Chase stood a few yards away beside a Chinese special operations soldier pressing the barrel of his long gun into Chase’s side. Another gun lay in the dirt near Chase’s feet. A thick concrete wall stood between them and the Americans in the jungle.
Lena assessed the scene. Chase, possibly with the assistance of his gunmen in the nearby jungle, must have killed his captors before he was recaptured by the lone remaining soldier. Neither Chase nor the soldier were looking in Lena’s direction.