>>5608634A cooling zephyr rolls through another stifling night of overbearing heat. The breeze passes into a small hidden back street in Blue Ridge, picking up and gently blowing bits of scattered trash that lie on the pavement. The trash drifts past motionless forms, limbs skewn at awkward angles, darkening red stains on their clothes and the walls around them. Above the sounds of the city, the hum of traffic and night light, a dull wet thwacking sound repeats itself several times, followed by a clattering of steel as a bloodied metal pipe is dropped next to the last body on the ground, which gives one last twitch before lying still.
Mei Lin removes her gloves and inspects her suit. Not a crease or tear to be found. Lovely. She takes a moment to catch her breath, still feeling the thrum of adrenaline flowing through her body, and looks over her handiwork. Fat Cheng had brought five bodyguards, tough survivors of the Triad wars. Five wasn't enough. She allows herself a small smile of satisfaction.
Stepping out of the alley, Mei Lin walks the short distance to her classic Bravado, slides into the leather seat. As she's about to start the engine, her car phone rings, a jarring sound in the otherwise quiet night. Annoyed at the interruption, she remains professional as she presses the phone to her ear. "Mei Lin speaking," she says, her voice cool and composed.
"Hey Mei, it's Angela." A voice thick with restrainted frustration. "Is this a good time? Are you working?"
"Just clocking out for the night," Mei Lin says, examining her fingernails critically. "You sound mad. Is this about Ray?"
A sputtering noise. "No -- I mean, it's -- that's not--"
"Angela, I'm hanging up now."
"No, wait! Please. Okay, yes, I lost a race to Ray earlier tonight and I'm mad, I swear to god he cheated, it wasn't fair, I absolutely cannot stand that guy, but ..." Angela lets out a deep breath of anger and calms herself. "But I didn't just call to complain. I've got a job coming up. A big job, one that could get messy. My role's important, I have to come in clutch here. I could use somebody I trust to help out. So I thought of you."