Death of a Red Heroine

zigzag gracefully. Chen remained sitting at the table, alone, in the flickering yellowish light of the small candle.
    He was so different from her husband—almost his opposite in every aspect. But they had become friends.
    She began to walk over to him. She saw the surprise on Chen’s face, but he lost no time in standing up.
    “Could I dance with you?” she said.
    “I’m honored.“ He added in a whisper, “What has brought you here?”
    “The tickets you gave Guangming. He’s here, too, but he wants me to speak to you.”
    “But he should not have—” Chen paused before he spoke loudly, “You’re marvelous.”
    She realized that it was meant for other ears. Smiling, she took Chen’s extended hand.
    Chen was not as gifted as her first partner, but it was a two- step, sensually slow, and not difficult for either of them. She put what she had just learned into practice. Immediately she found it natural to follow the beat of the music.
    “Yu wants me to tell you something,” she said in a low voice, her mouth nearly pressed against his ear. “He’s found a witness who saw Wu Xiaoming in Qingpu County on the night of the murder.”
    “Qingpu County?”
    “Yes, Qingpu County, about five miles from the crime scene, at a local gas station. Wu stopped there for gas. The car was a white Lexus, and the witness is a gas station attendant with a good knowledge of cars. He also has a copy of the gas ration coupon the driver used to get the gas at half-price. The coupon can be matched to a car registration.”
    “That is incredible.”
    “And something else—”
    “You are so breathtaking tonight,” Chen said with an engaging smile, “absolutely breathtaking.”
    “Thank you.” She blushed despite her knowledge that the compliment was not meant for her ears. Still, it was good to be complimented. Especially by a man who had complimented her behind her back. According to Yu, Chief Inspector Chen had more than once commented on his subordinate’s luck in the choice of his marriage partner.
    Then she chided herself for thinking about such things. She was merely performing a task for her husband. Period. What possessed her, she wondered. She must be incorrigible—from having read The Dream of the Red Chamber so many times. She lowered her chin to conceal her blush. But she admitted to herself that the evening was enjoyable, finding herself more stimulated than she would have imagined by the touch of Chief Inspector Chen’s hand on her waist. Earlier there had also been some element of excitement when she moved in that young man’s arms.
    “Yu has also interviewed Jiang Weihe and Ning Ying,” she said in a hurry.
    “Ning Ying—who’s she?”
    “Another woman involved with Wu Xiaoming. Jiang gave Ning Ying’s name to Yu.”
    “Why?”
    “Jiang did not know anything about the relationship between Guan and Wu. Ning was the one who was Wu’s girlfriend after Jiang, so Jiang believed that Ning might know something about Guan.”
    “And did she?” He grinned broadly at a passing pair of dancers, who almost collided with them.
    “Not much. But Ning met Guan at one of those parties in Wu’s home.”
    “You’re dancing so wonderfully,” he said, looking over her shoulder, alertly.
    “Thank you,” she said, blushing again.
    They were moving to a fast tune. The incessant changing of lights made the scene surreal. She could sense Chen’s reluctance to hold her tight.
    “And something more—”
    “That’s a great step.”
    “Oh,” she said, not sure what he was referring to. “What’s the next step?”
    “Let me think—”
    Conversation was difficult. Chen would switch topics whenever there were people near them. In the ballroom, dancers bumped against one another all the time. And she was not sure if Chen could hear her whisper amidst the blaring music.
    Chen then introduced her to the elderly American gentleman who had come in with Chen.
    “You are beautiful,” the American said in Chinese.
    “Thank you,” she said in English.
    She had been learning English at a night school, off and on, for several years. It was mainly for her son’s benefit. She did not want to be ignorant of Qinqin’s homework. She was pleased with her ability to exchange some simple sentences with her American partner.
    Chief Inspector Chen also danced with someone else.
    She understood that all this was necessary. It was for Yu. And for herself.
    When she went back to her table, her soft drink was no