Year of the Tiger

‘Parma-san.’ The waitress has returned, with a little green can of cheese. ‘More beer?’

‘Yes, please,’ says Trey.

‘The Uighur,’ Suit #1 continues. ‘He was staying with a friend of yours, Zhang Jianli. An artist of some sort, right?’

I don’t say a word.

‘In Mati Village. You went to Mati Village yesterday. You spend a lot of time there.’

I drink some beer. I turn to Trey. ‘What have you been telling them about me?’

‘It’s not him, Mrs Cooper,’ Suit #1 says.

‘Who is it, then?’

He smiles. ‘We have an interest in Mati Village. A lot of interesting people go there.’

‘Listen, Ellie.’ Trey gives me a look, as warm as can be, like he really cares. ‘You help these guys, they can help you.’

‘Oh, yeah?’

‘They’ll set you up with a job – you won’t even have to go to work if you don’t want, but you’ll get your visa. So you can stay here after I leave, if that’s what you want.’ He stares at me, and those green eyes turn hard. ‘’Cause I’m leaving. I’m divorcing you, and I’m gonna marry Lily, and I’m taking her home to the States with me.’

I have to blink a few times. Because for a moment – and it’s the weirdest thing – I just want to cry. I know he doesn’t love me, and I don’t love him either. He’s a shit. A total shit and a hypocrite. Why should I care what he does?

‘Oh, I get it,’ I say furiously. ‘They promised you something, didn’t they? Like a no-hassles green card for your girlfriend.’

Suit #2 slaps the table. ‘This is a waste of time.’

‘I don’t think so,’ Suit #1 says calmly. ‘We just need to get things back on track. I’m sure that Mrs Cooper wants to help, and maybe we can help her with a few things.’ He turns to me. ‘You’re receiving, what is it, a seventeen-percent disability?’

I don’t bother to ask him how he knows that.

‘Seems a little low.’

‘That’s what they rated me,’ I say.

‘Those leg injuries looked pretty severe. And I don’t know why they turned you down on the PTSD. Obviously you’ve had significant adjustment problems. Working part-time in some dive bar in China – not exactly what I’d call a career choice.’

I really want to tell him to go fuck himself, but I don’t like being repetitive.

‘Look,’ I say, ‘I met a guy named Hashim, maybe for all of five minutes. The last thing I would have figured him for was a terrorist. He was just an ordinary guy. We said hello, we ate some dumplings, and that’s all I know about him.’

‘And your friend, Zhang, what’s his association? Have you heard him express any anti-American sentiments, or –?’

‘He’s an artist,’ I say with emphasis. ‘He’s not political. This Hashim guy was just a friend of a friend. That’s all.’

‘You’ve never heard him express any political opinions?’

‘No. We don’t talk about that kind of stuff.’

‘What do you talk about?’ Suit #2 interjects.

‘I don’t know … just … stuff. Movies. TV shows. Beijing traffic. He’s not political,’ I repeat. He just likes taking in strays, I want to say. But I don’t say it, because these two already think I’m some kind of psychotic low-life.

‘He’s your lover, right?’ Suit #1 asks casually.

I flinch. I hate that expression, ‘lover.’ Like this is some kind of fucking romance novel. ‘I don’t think that’s any of your business.’

‘I assume you know he sees other women,’ Suit #1 says.

I feel like I’ve been slapped.

‘So?’ I manage.

‘Well, I wasn’t sure how close you two were.’

I don’t say anything.

Suit #1 locks his eyes on mine.

‘I’m sure Zhang is a great guy. But he’s gotten himself involved with some questionable people. You’d be doing him a favor if you helped us with this.’

‘So, what is it you want me to do?’ I finally ask.

‘Are you in touch with him?’

I shrug. ‘No.’

‘But there’s a good chance he’ll contact you, isn’t there?’

‘What if he does? You want me to ask him about the Uighur?’

‘Well, it depends,’ Suit #1 says. ‘On what kind of relationship the two of you have. On the level of trust.’

Suit #2 snorts. ‘If Zhang contacts you, the main thing is, you tell us. If you can find out where he is, that’s a bonus.’

I lean back in my chair, push my fingers through my greasy hair. ‘And what? You’ll get me a Z visa? Up my disability? That’s a promise?’

‘We’ll do what we can for you,’ says Suit #1. ‘The more you help us, the easier it is to make the case. Being a pair of eyes for us in places like Mati … that could be very helpful.’

I gulp down the rest of my beer and stand up. I turn to Trey. ‘Tell Lily I said hi.’

‘Ellie –’ Trey begins.

Suit #2 stops him. ‘Let her go. She doesn’t want to help, it’s her loss.’

‘Mrs Cooper.’ It’s Suit #1. ‘If you hear anything, anything at all …’ He holds out a business card. ‘Call us. It’s very important.’