Chapter One: The Stranger on Open-Source Day

The western night market was closing. Rain streamed from plastic awnings. Chen's stall was lit but locked. After Lin pounded on the shutter, a boy in a school uniform ran over from the convenience store. “Are you looking for my mom?” “Where is she?” “Inside. She messaged me two minutes ago and said to wait until the rain eased.” He showed Lin the message. “The door's locked from inside. She won't answer.” From beneath the shutter came a dry, cold draft smelling of old paper and ozone. A market guard forced the door. The rear exit was bolted from within, the windows welded shut, every wall intact. Half a cup of soy milk was still warm. Chen's phone lay beside her ledger, playing the video of her son's sports day. Only the floor was wrong.