Blue Dragon

negative. No sign of the virus at all. You’re clear.’
    I sagged with relief. ‘Thanks,’ I said, and rose to leave.
    ‘Wait, Emma,’ she said gently.
    I flopped back into my chair. I knew what she was going to say.
    ‘Sometimes it takes a while for the virus to appear. Up to six months. You will need to come back for another test then.’
    ‘I know,’ I said.
    She sighed. ‘Also…’ She shuffled the papers on her desk. ‘I’m sorry, Emma, but the test was really a waste of time. I asked Leo to provide a sample too, and of course he’s clear as well.’
    ‘I understand,’ I said. ‘Waste of time testing me again until Xuan Wu is gone.’
    ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered, not looking up from the papers.
    ‘Why? This isn’t your fault.’
    She smiled sadly at me. ‘You have enough misery in your life without this adding to it.’
    ‘I’m not miserable,’ I said. ‘Right now, if I had the choice, I would not be anywhere else doing anything else. Here and now, I’m happy. The future can take care of itself.’
    ‘You sound like one of the Immortals,’ Regina said.
    ‘Yep, most of them are pretty stupid too.’
    I sat in the back of my car with the door open, reading a book. The late May weather wasn’t hot but summer was just around the corner and there was a humid edge to the air. I was waiting to pick Simone up from school.
    Gold appeared in the front passenger seat.
    ‘Yes?’
    Gold’s face was rigid as he studied me.
    ‘What’s the matter, Gold?’
    ‘Lady Emma, may I hold your hand, please?’ he said, his face still rigid.
    I shrugged and held my hand out. He examined me carefully, then sighed, dropped my hand, and ran his hands over his face. ‘Thank the Heavens.’
    ‘It’s me, Gold,’ I said.
    ‘When does school finish?’ he said, turning to face the front of the car.
    ‘In about twenty minutes.’
    He concentrated, then nodded. Obviously he’d just talked to somebody.
    ‘My Lady, I think it’s important that we take the Princess and the young guard home immediately. There are…’ He hesitated. ‘There are people there that wish to see you.’
    ‘What do you mean?’ I said, bewildered.
    Trust him, Emma. Take them out of class and bring them home now. You are needed here immediately.
    I felt a shock of concern. ‘What the hell is going on? Is everybody okay?’
    Gold smiled slightly. ‘Everybody is fine. This is not a Celestial matter.’ He shrugged. ‘The police are at the Peak and wish to see you.’
    ‘Gold, pass this on to Lord Xuan for me?’ Gold nodded and I continued. ‘Tell me what the hell is going on right now or you are in serious trouble.’
    John’s voice was amused. They found you dead in a dumpster in Kowloon City. They want me to identify the body. They also think I killed you and they want to take me in for questioning. Come home, I think.
    I flung down the book, leaped out of the car and bolted up the stairs into the school.
    The police were in the living room with John. They all turned to me as we walked in.
    ‘Go into your room and do something, Simone,’ I said softly.
    ‘Okay, Emma,’ Simone said, just as softly.
    Michael followed her down the hallway, his back rigid. He didn’t want to attract any police attention; they might have a file on him because of his brief connection with the gangs.
    The police rose. There were two of them: a European in his mid-fifties, obviously quite senior from the amount of metal on his uniform; and a younger Chinese male with the red shoulder flash indicating that his English was good.
    I nodded to both of them and they sat. I shared a glance with John and he shrugged without saying anything. I couldn’t sit down next to John—we’d be too close—so I remained standing. This body language wasn’t good but I had no choice. John was unaware of the problem; he was probably still getting over the shock of the police arriving at his front door to tell him that I was dead.
    ‘I’m Inspector Parry, Miss Donahoe,’ the older police officer said. He gestured to the younger man. ‘Sergeant Cheung.’
    I nodded to both of them, then had an inspiration. I wandered over to John’s couch and leaned casually on the side, folding my arms over my chest. Much more acceptable body language. The stupid damn Turtle still didn’t get the message. Obviously shell-shocked. I smiled slightly.
    ‘I got a message to come home,’ I said. ‘Is there a problem? My visa is fine.’
    ‘Nothing like that,’ the