“We aren’t being followed,” the Asian man said. She turned to face him. His eyes were fixed on the road in front of them but she had seen him checking the rear-view mirror as he drove. She was going to thank him for helping them but remembered Emma’s cries when the college girl first saw him walk up the laneway. “Were you following us?” She blurted the words out. He didn’t answer immediately and she added, “Emma, the girl with us said you followed her from the university.” “I didn’t follow her.” He spoke calmly and without any emotion. She studied his profile. He was ordinary looking, slightly disheveled but so was she, everyone was. “Are you with the police or military?” “I’m nobody—just a man. My name is Chen Gong.” He turned and gave her a quick look. “What’s your name?”
