Devin had hardly slept. The thought that a man had tried to kill him overshadowed his own actions in his nightmares, but he couldn’t quite shake the guilt he felt for drugging his father. Thankfully, when they had ridden to the airport that morning, his father had actually thanked him for his help the night before and apologized for not being able to spend more time with him.
Devin wasn’t sure what to think of his father’s lack of concern over losing consciousness in the elevator. Had it not been for Ghost’s message that his father’s room was clear, Devin would have thought his dad knew what had really happened. That message had arrived around three in the morning. It had also contained the instruction for him to make the hand-off to Fai when the time came.
That was another thing Devin wasn’t looking forward to. Now that he’d let Fai think he’d manipulated him, what would he be asked to do next? Though it was a struggle, Devin tried to put that thought out of his mind on the flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong. He knew Ghost was somewhere on the plane with him, but he hadn’t caught sight of him despite watching the various people who had boarded. Still, knowing someone was there to watch out for him helped him relax enough to sleep for most of the five-hour trip.
By the time he got off the plane, all he wanted was to get back to his apartment and pretend he lived a normal life. Unfortunately, reality wasn’t following his plans. Fai stood waiting for him a few yards past the security checkpoint.
Devin assumed he would know what was on his father’s laptop before he was faced with handing over the copy to Fai. He hated the idea of passing it off without knowing the damage the information might cause for him, his father, and his country.
“How was your trip?” Fai asked the moment Devin cleared the guard stand.
“Fine.” Devin fell into step beside him. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I knew you needed a ride from the airport.”
Devin didn’t respond. The last thing he wanted was to get in a car with Fai, but he couldn’t see a way around it.
“Did you check any luggage?” Fai asked.
“No.” Devin followed him to his car and loaded his suitcase in the back seat, keeping his computer bag in hand.
As soon as they were in the car, Fai put the key in the ignition and said, “I believe you brought something back for me.”
“Yes, but before I give it to you, I want proof that Grace is okay.”
He put the car in gear and didn’t look at Devin as he backed out of his parking space. “Exactly what kind of proof do you want?”
“I don’t know.” Devin hadn’t planned to make demands, but the idea that he could be handing over valuable information terrified him. It didn’t matter that he had been told to do it by his superiors. “Let me see her or at least talk to her.”
“The best thing you can do for her is to leave her alone. She doesn’t know we have people nearby, and I’m sure you prefer she go about her life without knowing what is at stake.”
“A photo, then,” Devin improvised. He hoped more than anything that what he asked would be beyond Fai’s capability to provide, but he had to be sure. “Surely you can at least give me that much.”
“Yes. I can get you that much, but first I need the information.”
Devin reminded himself once more that giving the drive to Fai was part of Chee and Ghost’s plan to trace the leak they had been working so hard to uncover. Reluctantly he unzipped a small pocket of his backpack and pulled out the flash drive.
Fai kept one hand on the wheel and stretched out the other one. Devin dropped the drive into it, and the corner of Fai’s lips curved up. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Devin didn’t respond. Instead, he watched the road as they made their way from the airport to his apartment. When they reached the front of his building, Devin climbed out and retrieved his suitcase. Before he could close the back door, Fai said, “I’ll make sure I have that other information you wanted by next week.”
With a nod, Devin turned and retreated inside. He prayed the information he had just handed over was nothing more than boring memos and contracts, but deep down, he knew there was more to it than that. Making his way upstairs, he prayed this would be over soon.
* * *
The guests had started to depart, and Grace searched for Jun among the kitchen staff. She caught a glimpse of the woman’s black and gray hair as she disappeared out a side door, a bag of trash in her hand.
Grace followed her, catching up to Jun near the front of the house where the older woman was returning from the outside trash can.
“Jun,” she called out. “I was looking for you.”
“I was hoping to find time to speak with you. How is Devin?” Jun asked. “I haven’t heard from him in months.”
Grace hesitated. She hadn’t trusted anyone except her grandfather with her suspicions, and she wasn’t sure she was willing to do so now.
“You do know where he is, don’t you?” Jun asked. “Devin is like my own child. I will do anything I can for him. I’m worried he has been silent for so long.”
“I’m worried about him too,” Grace admitted. She offered what little truth she could. “His work is very complicated right now. It’s hard for him to communicate with me.”
Jun looked down at Grace’s stomach. “But you are about to have his child. He must be calling you to see how you both are.”
“I haven’t talked to him since I told him.” Grace saw Jun’s surprise. “We were supposed to meet in London a few weeks ago, but he had to cancel. Then things happened, and we lost touch.”
“That doesn’t sound like my Devin.”
“I know, but I told him I was having morning sickness, and he acted like I had a cold.”
Jun shook her head and muttered something to herself in Mandarin. “That boy doesn’t have a clue, does he?”
“What do you mean?”
“Devin is an only child, and he’s never been around anyone having babies. I’m not sure he knows what morning sickness is.”
Grace stared at her, stunned. How many times had she replayed her conversation with Devin, furious one moment that he had been so callous and then wondering in the next if he’d truly heard what she had said.
“What can I do to help?” Jun asked.
“If Devin comes looking for me, will you give him my number so he can call me? My old phone was stolen.”
“Of course.” She grew quiet. “I can’t be sure I’ll be here though. I haven’t been able to find much work lately, and my rent went up this month. I may have to move to a bigger city if things don’t change soon.”
“What kind of work are you hoping to do?”
“Something that will allow me to keep a roof over my head. Nanny, housekeeper, kitchen help.”
“I may have another option. You would have to move though.”
“I can move.”
“I need to make a phone call. Can you give me a minute?”
Jun nodded. “I will go help clean up.”
“I’ll find you before you leave,” Grace promised.
They both walked back inside, Jun heading for the kitchen and Grace retreating to her temporary bedroom. She dialed her grandfather’s number.
“Hi, Grace. Is everything okay?”
“It is. In fact, it may be better than okay.”
“What’s going on?”
“How would you feel about having a live-in housekeeper, one who would also be able to help with the bungalows?”
“If it’s the right person, I’d consider the idea. You have someone in mind?”
“I think so. Devin’s childhood nanny is looking for work. I ran into her at a dinner party. She’s been working odd jobs, serving at parties and doing housework.”
“Have you already talked to her about this?”
“I mentioned the possibility of a job but didn’t give her specifics. I thought if you were okay with it, she could stay in the room by the nursery, at least until we can afford to pay her enough for her to get her own place.”
“You’re the one who would have to supervise her.”
“I know.”
“That also means that if it doesn’t work out, you’ll be responsible for letting her go.”
Grace considered that possibility. “How about if I offer her a temporary position? We can make it for six months and renegotiate from there.”
“Not a bad idea. That would help you get through your pregnancy and Devin getting home.”
“Exactly.”
“Go ahead and make an offer.”
They discussed the terms Grace could present to Jun.
As soon as Grace hung up, she went in search of Devin’s former nanny once more. This time she found her drying stemware in the kitchen.
“Jun, can I talk to you for a minute?”
Jun looked over at the woman who stood beside her as though silently asking permission.
“Go ahead. You can take a five-minute break.”
Not sure where else she would be able to find somewhere private, Grace led the way into her room. “That job I was telling you about is available if you’re interested.”
“Yes, I’m interested. What kind of work is it? And where?”
“It would be at a resort in Colorado.” Grace explained the job offer, including the living situation. “I’m sorry it’s not that much money, but at least you wouldn’t have to worry about rent.”
“The money is fine,” Jun said. “But if I come with you to Colorado, who will give Devin your number? You seemed concerned that you haven’t heard from him either.”
“Actually, I have an idea. Would you be willing to e-mail him before you move to Colorado? You can make sure he has your phone number so he can contact you. Once he does, you can give him my number.”
“I’m happy to do that. We have to make sure he is there when the baby is born.”
Grace didn’t dispute her assumption that she was carrying only one baby. She simply nodded. “I agree.”