*Xin Lei*
We entered the Ditan Park through the North Gate. It was a long time back when I had visited it with Dad and big brother. I think I was seven at that time.
Ditan Park is the second-largest altar and once served as a site to worship Gods in ancient China. There is a famous Gingko path or Gingko Passage lined with tall Gingko trees, which is even more beautiful when it's the autumn season. The leaves are a shade of brilliant golden color. Walking through the passage at that time feels magical as if a golden light was shed on us.
Right now, we depended on this giant park to cover for us from the cops. Thankfully, the cops had still not made their way here.
Guard Wu said, "We will quickly exit through the West gate, passing through the Bell Tower."
As we walked through the park, I saw some people were out for a stroll, and some were doing exercises. Then on the other side, some were gathered, practicing martial arts from a master and a group of children playing tag.
Cocoa seemed to be just as excited.
We reached the Bell Tower. Guard Wu asked, "Do you want to rest a bit?"
I shook my head.
Bai Li said, "I will get some water for Cocoa, and then we can leave."
I typed. "I see a drinking water area in the front. I will bring a bottle."
As I reached the shop and asked for a bottle, from the corner of my eye, I saw a cop at a far distance. He was talking to a group of people.
Shit!
I ran back and hurriedly typed. "Cop! Let us leave!"
"Damn!" Bai Li cursed. "Hurry before they barricade the West gate."
From the Bell Tower, we took a left, and at a crossroad, it was a right turn, all the way straight till the West gate.
As we approached the gate, I heard one guard say, "Did you hear? The cops are coming. Apparently, some criminals have escaped, and they are suspicious that they can be here in Ditan Park. So, they have ordered to look out for two men, one of which is an older man and the other is blind, one woman and a German Shepherd dog."
We stopped in our tracks.
"Don't they have sketches of the criminals?"
"Not right now."
Bai Li said, "We need a plan to get out of here."
"Damn right, we do!"
"Well, if they are looking for the four of us together, then we have only one option."
I typed. "We have to act separately."
"But we have to be quick. The cops will be coming at any moment."
---
I held Bai Li's arm, and we walked towards the gate. I saw two guards standing in front. I tugged his arm and signaled him.
As he got the cue, Bai Li smiled at me. "Honey, isn't this park so beautiful?"
Honey!?
It surprised- no shocked me when he said that. We were supposed to act like a couple, but that still...took me aback.
Hearing the endearment from him, I felt a fuzzy feeling in my chest.
I smiled and nodded.
We were approaching the gate, and the guards looked at us. They seem to observe us.
Before they could question us, Guard Wu started with the next step.
"Ahhh!!!"
We stopped and turned. The guards also looked that way.
Guard Wu feigned to collapse on the ground.
"Chest…It pains…" He was clutching his chest, showing a troubled face.
Bai Li and I rushed towards him.
"Are you all right, old man?" Bai Li's sight of direction was on Guard Wu.
I feigned to press his chest with my palms. I took his pulse.
"Hey, what happened?" The guards also came running.
Bai Li said, "I think it's a heart attack."
I nodded.
"What? We need to call the ambulance."
"No, it's alright. My wife is a doctor. Her hospital is nearby. We will take him in our car."
The guards shared a look at each other.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, My wife can treat him for temporary relief. Calling the ambulance will take too much time."
We did not give them time to mope on and supported Guard Wu on our shoulders.
He coughed. "Ah...it pains…Is this my last day..."
"No. Don't worry, my wife is the best doctor out there."
The guards nodded. "Okay."
We quickly passed the gate. The cop car was still nowhere in sight.
'Thank God.'
When we were far enough from the guards, Bai Li said, "Cocoa."
From around the corner, Cocoa jumped out. It wasn't difficult for him to find another passage for a dog to go through.
"Nice acting, old man. For a second, I thought you really got a heart attack."
"Heh! Weren't you such a loving couple too?" Guard Wu sneered.
I coughed and looked away elsewhere, embarrassed.
*Xin Lei*, ---
We reached the tea house that Guard Wu talked about. There were only two customers. We stood at the counter, and Guard Wu rang the bell that laid at the side.
Then I saw a familiar figure. A woman stood at the other side of the counter; only this time, she was wearing a waitress uniform as compared to the bartender uniform that day in the Micro Pub.
The same woman, aka barmaid, aka a waitress now.
She smiled. "Good to see you...again."
I was at a loss for words.
'She seems to be everywhere. So, she knows Guard Wu too.'
I nodded.
Bai Li said, "So, it's you...again. Nice to meet you. What exactly is your job?"
"There are too many. Which one are you interested in?"
I think she was finding all this really amusing.
"The kind that gives us some really nice powerful stuff, no questions asked."
The woman smiled. She took out two guns and placed it on the counter.
If she was keeping this so openly, that meant the two customers knew all about this 'under the table' thing. They were not any innocent customers.
Bai Li took the guns and moved his hand through them.
"Glock 17 and Sig Sauer P226. I like it. Great choice you have there."
"My pleasure."
"We need ammo too."
"No problem."
"Where do these guns trace to?"
"Nowhere. That is the beauty of how I work, isn't it?"
"No doubt about it."
Guard Wu said, "Let me crash at your place, will ya'? I'm kind of in a tight spot."
The woman shrugged.
Bai Li said, "Well, Xin Lei."
I looked at him.
He handed me the Sig Sauer and smiled. It took my breath away for a second. "Let's visit Gen Gen."