David Rotenberg - The Hua Shan Hospital Murders

“The bovine young man?”

“Bovine means cowlike?”

“Yes.”

“Yes with the bovine young man.”

Robert looked at Fong hard – “With, as in lives with?”

“Yes,” said Fong. “They share many things. They are a better couple than she and I.”

“And the baby?”

“She stays with me when I can manage. I have . . .” Fong didn’t complete his thought because over Robert’s shoulder he saw Joan Shui walk into the restaurant and raise her hand to him. Robert sensed her approach and turned.

He looked back at Fong questioningly.

Fong raised his shoulders and said, “A little faith and things work out, Mr. Cowens.”

Robert pulled out a chair for Joan Shui who offered her hand to him. He took it and was amazed by the supple pleasure of her touch.

She took off her coat. She was wearing a large T-shirt that had emblazoned on its front: LIFE IS A JOURNEY, NOT SOME STUPID GUIDED TOUR.

As she moved toward the kitchen both men watched her. Then Robert turned to Fong and said, “I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you. May I offer you a piece of advice?”

After a moment Robert said, “Certainly.”

“You think you are back in Shanghai just to find out about your sister but that is not the only reason you are here. You just won’t admit it. Please don’t try to protest. You will have to have a little faith and call her.”

Robert sat very still. “I assume you have Tuan Li’s phone number.”

“I’m a cop so of course I do.”

“Good.” Fong flipped him his cell phone and said, “Have a little faith, make the call.”

As Robert dialled, Joan Shui returned from the kitchen bearing a large chocolate cake with a single brilliant candle lit in the middle. Every eye in the canteen watched as she moved toward the table and deposited the cake in its centre. “It’s Wu Fan-zi’s fifty-third birthday,” she said.

Fong smiled sadly.

Joan met his smile.

Together they blew out the candle and – as an act of faith – made a wish.

“I’m porous with travel fever

But so happy to be on my own”

“Hejira” by Joni Mitchell