Lupi 06 - Blood Magic

dilemma?"
    "Lily has a meeting with an informant. It's connected to the two enemies I told you about. I'm uneasy with her going alone." Except that she wouldn't be alone. She'd be with Cody Beck.
    That did nothing to ease Rule's mind. Why should it? he told himself. Beck might be a wonderful fellow. Rule was reserving judgment there, though he'd read the preliminary report from the detective agency. Beck was second-generation cop; his father, retired now, had been one of the first to integrate the SDPD. The man had been in rehab for alcohol, but that was several years ago, and he had apparently stayed sober since. He went to AA regularly, church not at all, and had two citations on his record since joining the sheriff's department.
    All of which was beside the point. Beck was human. Rule could protect Lily better.
    "You could send one of your bodyguards with her, or tagging along behind. Don't have to mention it to her."
    "They could be deceived by this Chimei, if she's near."
    "If your gut tells you to go, then go. I can talk to Toby for you."
    Rule hesitated only a second before giving a nod. "Thank you. You'll not tell him too much - "
    "Go." Isen waved a hand, shooing him out. "You think I can't choose the right things to say? Go."
    Rule did.

 
    THIRTY-TWO

    "Who are you?" Lily asked, her SIG Sauer held steady in one hand. Carefully, keeping her eyes on her target, she bent to set her laptop down. Her purse and jacket had already fallen to the concrete.
    The man who'd stepped out from behind one of the concrete pillars smiled. He was Chinese, probably under thirty, with a shaved head and the bulk of a bodybuilder on steroids. The suit jacket he wore was wholly inappropriate for the temperature and didn't quite hide the bulge of his weapon.
    But he held his hands out from his sides. "I am no one, but I bring you a message from Xing Zhou."
    "I'm listening."
    "The message is written. Will you allow me to come closer so I may give it to you?"
    He was young and spoke without much accent, but he'd put Zhou's surname ahead of the given name in the Chinese way. Maybe he was from Taiwan. Xing had connections there. "Please understand that I respect Mr. Xing's intelligence too much to do that. I, ah... I do not wish to offend with a suggestion, but I would appreciate it if you put the message on the hood of that black SUV near you, then backed away."
    He nodded, smiling faintly as if he both understood and was amused by her caution. "I must reach inside my jacket to get it," he said apologetically as he moved a few paces to the side, to the SUV.
    "Keep your movements slow. I'd be terribly unhappy if I shot one of Mr. Xing's people in error."
    Still smiling, he did as instructed, pulling out a white envelope. He laid it on the SUV's hood, then gave her a small bow. "Mr. Xing wishes me to express his thanks for your warning. In the envelope is an additional expression of his gratitude."
    "I hope Mr. Xing knows what types of expressions would be offensive to me."
    "I was instructed not to open the envelope, and have not. Yet I am sure it does not contain money, if that concerns you." He turned and walked away, heading up the ramp on foot.
    Lily kept her weapon out and her senses sharp as she approached the SUV and the innocent white envelope. By the time she reached it, Xing's smiling employee was out of sight.
    Could be anthrax or something similar inside, she supposed, studying it. She touched it, using the back of her hand so as not to mess up any fingerprints. Xing's man hadn't worn gloves, and it might be interesting to see if his prints were on file.
    No magic tingles.
    Lily contemplated the envelope one more second, then decided to play it safe. She took out her phone and selected a number she hadn't used yet. "This is Lily," she said. "Code Three. I'm in the garage near my spot. I'd like an extra set of ears and eyes. Also a good nose."
    She put up her phone, retrieved her laptop and jacket, and went to stand with her back to the pillar where Xing's man had waited for her - no doubt for the same reason she went there now. It was a good vantage point. Then she waited for one of Rule's bodyguards to join her.
    Caution made sense when dealing with Xing. The old snake appreciated Lily because she treated him with respect, and he respected - or feared - her grandmother. He was still a snake. If he felt a need for her to die, he'd do his best to arrange it.
    The elevator dinged. The doors opened and two men leaped out -