“I am about to attend a strategy meeting,” the Police Minister said. “The Ruling Committee members will be in attendance. You will join me.”
Shun Li almost moved; she almost let her eyeballs twitch down to look directly at him. She almost asked, “Sir?” But she did none of these things. She waited as befitted a servant of the Police Minister.
“Hmm,” Xiao Yang said. “You have great poise, Guardian Inspector. It speaks of an honest heart.” The barest of smiled appeared. It seemed strange on the Police Minister’s face. “I am an excellent judge of character. My nose sniffs out traitors and liars, who I eliminate as I would a fly. Watching you, Guardian Inspector, gives me confidence in our police apparatus. The best has risen to the top, as it should. Your record also speaks for itself. Your purity of motive is unequaled and your rigorous work schedule demands a reward. Yes, I will reward you.”
“I labor for my love of China,” Shun Li said.
“As do we all,” he said. “You will accompany me to the Ruling Committee meeting. I will have you give a verbal report of this unique find.”
Shun Li’s neck twitched as one of her muscles there spasmed. She gazed into the Police Minister’s face.
He stared at her with his expressionless features. Something didn’t seem right to her. She blinked and snapped her head back up, looking again at the distant point.
Her heart thudded. Why would he have her give the report? The single glance into his eyes had shown her something awful. Xiao Yang wasn’t human. He was a demon in human guise. The soullessness of his stare had almost caused her to shriek.
“Are you well, Guardian Inspector?”
“Yes,” she said, in as normal a voice as she could manage.
“Good. We leave in nine minutes. Go outside, refresh yourself and then wait for me in the car. We will ride together.”
Guardian Inspector Shun Li turned smartly and marched for the door.
What part will my doctored report have in the meeting? The idea left Shun Li faint. This was far more than she’d bargained for, far more. In the next hour, maybe longer, she would no doubt be playing for the highest stakes of her life.
***
The Ruling Committee met underground in Mao Square in the center of the city. The security procedures were amazing, like nothing that Shun Li had been through before.
Hulking Lion Guardsmen frisked her several times, each a thorough and embarrassing probe. They searched the Police Minister, too, which surprised her even more. Did Chairman Hong distrust his closest ally? That did not speak well of the Leader’s confidence.
Soon she stood in the opulent underground chamber. Its golden conference table was massive and must have weighed tons. Each seat had its own embedded computer. Giant screens adorned the walls. A map of the Midwestern United States showed on one screen. On others displayed details of various American states or cities. Vast chandeliers lit the chamber. They were unmilitary, but impressive, and poured illumination everywhere. Lion Guardsmen were present, eleven security personnel wearing body armor and cradling submachine guns.
There are so many people here. She hadn’t expected that.
Eleven guardsmen, three waiters ready to serve food, drink, and seventeen other aides, a few for the various Ruling Committee members. Like the others, Shun Li stood against a wall. She was directly behind Xiao Yang’s seat.
There was a Navy Minister, an Army Minister, an Agricultural Minister and a Foreign Affairs Minister and lastly a Minister for the Pan-Asian Alliance. Only three Ruling Committee members had served here for over a year: the Chairman, Xiao Yang and the Agricultural Minister. Everyone else had been elevated only a month before the Texas-New Mexico invasion.
A side door opened and Chairman Jian Hong entered briskly. The Lion Guardsmen froze in their positions, and others along the walls did likewise, seemingly becoming statues.
The Leader’s eyes darted about the room, and in seconds, they focused on Shun Li. The medium-sized man in the black suit stopped abruptly. He had dark hair and pale skin, as if he never stepped outside.
“May I speak, Leader?” the Police Minister asked.
“She belongs to you?” Hong asked.
“Yes, Leader,” Xiao replied.
“Tell her to cease twitching. I find it annoying.”
The Police Minister’s chair scraped back. He stood and approached Shun Li. Without any preamble, Xiao Yang slapped her across the face. It was a stinging blow, twisting her head to the side.
“In the Leader’s presence, you will remain still and respectful or I will have you shot,”