skin and kept a warding hand hovering over his no doubt painful jaw. Still, the man was clever. If he seemed cowed now, she knew he schemed like a rat. It would be good to let him see the whip.
“You are slated to die,” she said.
Ha! His lower lip trembled. Yes, maybe he wasn’t so clever after all. Maybe she could—
“But I have decided to change your fate,” she said.
“You’re giving me mercy?” he asked in surprise.
The concept and the novelty of it struck her hard. Indeed, it felt as if a kung fu fighter heel-kicked her in the chest. Her mouth dropped open. What an interesting notion. Mercy, maybe by showing mercy she could repay Fate for all the blood she had shed. How much mercy would that take?
The thought made her frown. Maybe it would take several lifetimes of mercy, but she didn’t have that long. She needed a way out now.
The major’s lower lip trembled even more. “Guardian Inspector,” he said in a weasel tone, “I would like to show you something if I may?’
“Stay in your chair. Tell me this something instead.”
He nodded meekly and perspiration appeared on his face. “I have uncovered a fact the Chairman might find significant.”
“Have you filed it?”
The major shook his head.
“Why have you waited to inform your superiors about this knowledge?” she asked.
He looked down at his desk. “I’m due back in China. I leave in two days, in fact. I-I had planned to report this directly to Police Minister Xiao.”
He’s lying. There is something else going on here.
“Well, what is this significant something?” she asked. “Hurry up and tell me.”
He glanced up at her. The cunning was plain in his eyes. Yes, this one thought he was very clever.
“I will trade you the information,” he said.
Shun Li couldn’t help but grin. She had heard similar words so many times that it seemed impossible he believed it would work. Still, today…today, she would be merciful. She had to be careful, though. The major might have hidden recorders.
“I don’t understand this talk of trades,” she said, while looking at him significantly, letting him see she was trading. “I have personally come to inform you of tasks well done. Headquarters is pleased with your efforts.”
He grinned at her, and his eyes shone with newfound hope. He even took his protecting hand away from his jaw.
Shun Li found herself smiling in return. She smiled enough to let her lips part and reveal the tips of her teeth. Mercy felt good. Usually, she would have made the offender squirm and plead for his life. Today, she gave him hope, even though he was a pig of a drug addict and he had lost his better judgment. He deserved a nasty end, but not today because her conscience needed balancing, needing purging from its excessive bloodletting.
“You were saying,” she prompted.
“Yes, yes, I was going to personally tell Police Minister Xiao that I have discovered two pieces of vital information for the war effort.”
“Tell me now. I will decide how vital this information is.”
“Yes, of course.” He cleared his throat. “Firstly, I have discovered that there is but a single American Behemoth manufacturing plant.”
“This is true?” she asked. The Behemoth tanks were a nightmare, although they had remained hidden during the summer and fall offensives. It seemed inconceivable to her the Americans only built them in one location, as the tank had struck Chinese Command as a war-winning weapons system.
“It’s an amazing thing,” the major agreed. “But I have clear proof it is true. I have also discovered where the single plant lies: in Denver, Colorado.”
Hmm. She could see why the major wanted to be the one to show this to Xiao. This was incredible news. Still, how true was it?
“What proof do you have?” she asked.
“May I open my drawer?”
“Do so,” she said, although she dropped a gloved hand onto the butt of her holstered pistol. If the major brought up a weapon, he would die.
Slowly and carefully, the major opened a drawer, taking out a folder. He opened it, turning the papers to face her, and he began to explain how he had stumbled onto the information.
Shun Li craned for a look. Soon, she nodded in appreciation. This was incredibly vital news. The Behemoth tanks had gone a long way toward defeating the Californian invasion earlier this spring. She knew Army High Command dearly wanted to know where the Behemoths were hiding. If China could knock out the sole manufacturing plant—