Chapter Two: Blank Takes the Job

On-screen, Lu's seat was occupied by a receipt printer. Tang glanced from it to his real face, startled but composed. “You were last night's cat.” “Special effects.” “The platform has no such effect.” She showed him footage of a capped girl placing the safe in a subway locker. Three minutes later it vanished. Every camera showed the door remaining shut, interrupted only by a seagull stealing fries. “What's inside?” “Original accounts from a seller of fake medicine. Three people died. If I don't recover them by midnight, my witness withdraws.” Tang held his gaze. “One hundred thousand. Twenty up front.” His bank instantly took 18,700 for overdue interest. Looking at the remaining 1,300, Lu nodded. “Deal. Don't ask my name.”