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OPENING HER EYES, JULIA FOUND herself looking down at her own legs and a concrete floor. Snapping to consciousness, her body jolted and she became painfully aware of the ankle and wrist restraints that were holding her to a chair.
Looking up, she saw a smug-looking Chinese officer watching her across a shiny metal table. She couldn’t help but think of a cold blooded smiling reptile. His head was bent forward slightly, mirroring hers as he tried to make eye contact. Upon succeeding, he raised his head in unison with hers.
“That s**t is weird. Does he realize he is doing that?” Julia jumped at the voice and then couldn’t help but smile, and then wince at the pain in her muscles as she chuckled.
“Hey stranger, fancy meeting you here,” Julia responded as even in her dire circumstances r
