Chapter Twenty-Five
Leander could've groanedwhen the officer led him back to the same small, dirty interrogation room he had been sitting in for what must've been two days.Without windows, it was hard to tell.However, he was playing at being a cooperative prisoner.So far that had earned him a lack of handcuffs and regular meals of plain rice and overcooked vegetables.It was better than he had anticipated.
He stepped into the room and spoke before his bathroom escort could disappear, leaving him alone with a bottle of water and copious amounts of anxiety.“Do you have any word on Nie Heng?Is he going to live?”
Leander wasn’t terribly surprised when the guard left without answering.Once the door had closed with an ominousthunk, Leander returned to the metal folding chair that had been his world for the last day or two.
Leander kept running possibilities through his mind.He could ask to speak to the American consulate and they would likely allow it, but that would bring too much attention not only to himself but also to Shanlin.If the Chinese knew there was an American child in the country illegally, one hunted by assassins willing to shoot Chinese citizens, they would exile Shanlin from the country.
That was not going to happen.Not on Leander's watch.
So Leander chose to sit and wait and hope that some solution would present itself.If Heng woke, he would have a better chance of handling his own government.Until then, Leander was staying quiet.
It was ironic.In the United States, Leander had done everything to deserve prison, and yet those brain-rotted, inbred morons in the police had never caught him.And now in China where he had scrupulously avoided breaking any law, he was going to go to prison unless Heng had some plan.Hopefully he would be able to use his talents to make life in prison a little more bearable.
With nothing better to do, Leander slumped in the uncomfortable metal folding chair and waited.Another meal of overcooked vegetables and cold rice had come and gone before the door to the interrogation room opened and a very loud presence made herself known.
“Then what would you expect of him?He is from that abominable country where those with magic are enslaved.Are you truly shocked that he would distrust a government official?”
“His distrust is not the concern.His refusal to explain the circumstances leading to three dead bodies is.”
Auntie Daiyu pushed through, leaving an official in a fancy uniform to stumble out of her way.“Boon Lian, what shall I do with you?”
Leander blinked at her for a moment, his brain unable to process the sight of her in all her magical clothing and elaborate embroidery as she plopped down in the metal folding chair across from him.
She clucked at him.“Were it not for your excellent magic, I would think you were not worth the trouble you manage to create.”
“Auntie Daiyu?”
“Who else did you expect to sort this mess?Your father-in-law is coming, but as he has no ability to maintain flight, he is limited by how fast he can travel in one of those infernal automobiles.”She pronounced the last word as if it were something vile.
“Father-in-law?”Leander was confused.
“Yes, your father-in-law.Nie Xiaobo.The father of Nie Heng,” she snapped.
Leander realized what had happened.Like Xi, he had learned Chinese by using a language pill, back when he was on Druwolf’s payroll.While the magic of pills was formidable, it was not infallible.At some point when the pill had still been processing through his system, he must have confused adopted father for father-in-law, leaving his brain switching the two.He knew that could be a danger when using language pills instead of learning naturally, and there was no way to correct the error once it had settled into the brain.
“I had not wished to disturb them,” Leander said.He wasn't sure what story Auntie Daiyu was weaving, but he did not want to contradict any lie she might tell.
She made a dismissive sound and glared at the police commander as if he were an inferior life form that had slimed its way into her presence.“You were no doubt fearful given your experience with law enforcement.”She made it clear that this officer had not improved matters.After a moment, she turned her attention back to Leander.“Your mother-in-law remains behind with her grandchild.That boy will be insufferable if you do not insist on discipline.Doting grandparents are no replacement for a parent, so we must return home.”
“Yes, Auntie Daiyu,” Leander said.He was not going to argue, but Auntie Daiyu gave him a suspicious look, as if she didn't trust his agreement.
She sat in the chair across from Leander, leaving the officer the only one standing.“Now tell this officer of questionable competence how Nie Heng ended up bleeding on the floor of a warehouse.”
