The Lion Guard said nothing more, just returned her stare.
Something about his eyes unsettled Shun Li. Yes, he had the eyes of a killer, and he seemed…bored. How many people had this Lion Guardsman murdered for the Chairman, perhaps even in his presence? He protected the most powerful man in the world. What did the Guardsman see and hear that gave him this confidence and the boredom?
Chairman Hong had climbed the rungs of power, beating out some of the most dangerous people in existence. There was a reason he had succeeded where others failed. It was more than likely that men like this were part of the reason.
Shun Li slid off the bed and padded to her uniform on the dresser. She swam among sharks. She was a barracuda, a deadly killer in her own right, but dwarfed by their larger size and viciousness. She would need all her craft and skill to maneuver correctly among them.
Why does Chairman Hong wish to see me? Was this an opportunity, or had she already stumbled? Unease touched the base of her neck.
The Lion Guard said nothing more as they left the hotel room several minutes later. Two others waited outside a limousine. Each held a submachine gun, with the strap around his thick neck. One of them opened the car door for her. She thanked him, but the guard said nothing.
She sat alone in back, and the drive took them through the eastern part of Beijing. This was the wrong way if they were taking her to Mao Square.
A moment of panic struck. Was this an assassination team? Were they taking her to a lonely place to kill her and dump the body?
Calm, calm, practice calm, she told herself. Try to enjoy the ride.
The city was huge, the biggest in the world. It had the widest streets and the largest, most expensive cars. Even with the amazing war with America, people still displayed their luxury. Perhaps that was as it should be. Beijing, after all, was the heart of the greatest empire on Earth.
The limousine hissed across wet streets. Snow from last night rested on many windowsills and she saw an elderly man slip on an undoubtedly icy sidewalk.
Soon, they exited the suburbs and drove in the countryside. Here, huge trees dominated the landscape, clustered around three story mansions with vast yards. Party officials must live here. She doubted the Lion Guardsmen would murder her among the mansions.
Why don’t the guards say anything?
Shun Li kept still. She felt a hidden inspection then. Someone watched her. Probably there were video cameras recording everything. She kept still despite the seething unease building in her chest. She was innocent. Therefore, she must act like the innocent.
Where did I make my mistake? Could it be the Behemoth Plant forgery?
The number of trees grew. They drove through a forest of huge conifers and evergreens, several miles of them. She didn’t spy any more homes, and the troubled her. The limousine took a sharp bend in the road and slowed as they approached an elaborate iron gate. There was a guard shack to the side.
“Is this the Chairman’s country estate?” she asked.
None of the Lion Guardsman paid her any attention. They acted as if she didn’t exist. They stopped at the shack and the driver’s window opened. Stern-faced guardsmen looked in, big men with submachine guns. They spoke in low voices to the driver, soon waving them through.
Shun Li allowed a small smile to play on her features. Whoever watched her through hidden cameras, she let them see how composed she was. She was innocent, and if she was riding to her death, she would do so with calm and with grace.
Large buildings appeared. They reminded her of the French Palace of Versailles. Glass predominated as the construction material. There were towers, spires and gargantuan domes.
The driver turned onto a different lane. Shun Li felt the vehicle dip, and she noticed walls outside. The sun disappeared and she realized they sped down an underground ramp and tunnel. It was dark, and the echo of the wheels almost unnerved Shun Li. It reminded her of a bad time in a tunnel as a young girl with her uncle.
In moments, the limousine came to a halt in a vast underground garage. A guard opened her door. It was the man who had seen her naked. He led the way, and the other two followed close behind her. Their footsteps echoed in the empty parking garage. The lead