Chapter One: The Little Shop that Never Sleeps
Xi?ng’s cell lit up. She read the message and turned to Rinchu. “She’s at the front door,” she told Rinc ...

Chapter Two: Chasing Shadows
Rinchu escorted Leanne to the front door of the Qianji Bakery. No words passed between them. She stepped out into the lonel ...

Chapter Three: The Taxi Ride
The taxi driver was a woman. A wisp of blonde hair peeked out from under her turquoise chiffon belle head covering. Her voice ha ...

Chapter Four: An Unexpected Twist of Events
The taxi pulled into an alleyway and came to a screeching halt.“Give me your phone!” the driver demanded, reaching a ...

Chapter Five: A Passage in Time
Leanne reflected on how she had arrived at this juncture in her life. A military ‘brat’ she followed her mother from ...

Chapter Six: Game or Prey: Part One
Leanne aimlessly glanced through the window from the backseat of the cab at the passing mixture of silhouetted but familiar land ...

Chapter Seven: Game or Prey: Part Two
The proverbial knife did not drop. And a kind of calm settled over the area.Alicia stood and began to saunter down the hill towa ...

Chapter Eight: The Dangerous Game of Hide and Go Seek Begins
Ahead, the front of the house had a large veranda that ran its full width. Only one window was to the right of the door. Above t ...

Chapter Nine: A Box of Oatmeal-Walnut-Chocolate Chip Cookies
Later the same day.The rain forecasted that day had been revised for the Toronto area and its citizens looked forward to a pleas ...

Chapter Ten: A Short Dark Figure
Edward opened a bottle of Kacaba Cabernet/Syrah wine and poured some into each wine glass at the supper table. “I’m ...

Chapter Eleven: Disclosures and A Curveball Added to the Mix
The irreverent gaze that bore down on Yudi spoke loudly of outrageous fortune. They were eyes that carried a palpable hatred tha ...

Chapter Twelve: An Evening Goes Awry
Seventy-three-year-old Janet Thompson was lean, lithe, and quite spry for her age. Her unconventional femininity was often on di ...

Chapter Thirteen: A Promise Made
An eerie quietude had settled over the Slocum household until its placidity was interrupted by the cries of a small child. Leavi ...

Chapter Fourteen
Fingers Crossed as Priorities Are Set in Motion

Chapter Fifteen
Revenge is Set in Motion

Chapter Sixteen:
The Hong Kong Incident

Chapter Seventeen
The Exchange and the Unexpected Folly

Chapter Eighteen
Gloom, Boom and Bust

Chapter Nineteen
Killing Qian and Another Door Opens

Chapter Twenty
The Arrival

Chapter Twenty-One
Time Eclipsed and a Bargain Made

Chapter Twenty-Two
Goliath Meets Goliath

Chapter Twenty-Three
A Blonde Poison and Kindred Spirits Realized

Chapter Twenty-Four
A Rat Within the Pack

Chapter Twenty-Five
O, What Torment Doth the Soul Endure!

Chapter Twenty-Six
The Labyrinth Gambit

Chapter Twenty-Seven
The Rattled Door

Chapter Twenty-Eight
An Injustice Rectified

Chapter Twenty-Nine
Flowers for Qian

Chapter Thirty
Death, Two Floors Up

Chapter Thirty-One
The Cavalry Arrives