Reese lay on a blanket held at the corners and sides by six men. Ping led the small group through the dark alleys as sure and quietly as a bat. They moved in quick shuffling steps that took them rapidly through the darkness. It had been luck that Ping had seen the shooting. When she called for help, the response was immediate. She was the woman of the American Tiger who worked for Chow Ling. No one dared to refuse help.
Ping turned into a narrow alley, stopped and pushed open a door made of heavy timber. Yellow light spilled out as she signaled they should follow her. Inside, she led the way up a stairway, and then into a small room where they lay Reese on the floor.
“It is enough,” she said to them. “You will be rewarded for your bravery and… your silence.”
After the men left, Ping kne
