MACAU, CHINA
Those words release us from the lock holding us back and spur us to action. We head out of the suite without another word. As we ride the elevator, no one speaks. Sun shifts the Dreamscape computer from one hand to the other. Tony sticks both earbuds into his ears, instantly bobbing his head to the music. Jake's hand reaches out for mine, and for this brief ride, we hold hands as if clinging to each other by a mere thread because the truth is we don't know how this is all going to go down.
The doors to the elevator slide open and our team strides out into the bustling lobby. Jake's hand slips out of mine and he nods once before veering left with Tony and Sun. Meanwhile, Danny, Tony, and I bolt straight out of the hotel where Danny gives the concierge his name. A car pulls up to the curb and a bellhop opens the doors for us.
The sun is just dipping below the rounded mountain tops as we take off on the left side of the road, merging into the lane with heavier traffic.
"You trust this driver?" Tony asks, fidgeting with the wires of his headphones.
"Absolutely," Danny says.
Danny's confidence relaxes me, and I try to focus on taking in the beautiful city rather than the task we are about to do. Hong Kong is an eclectic mix of modern buses and cars along with bikers and rickshaws. Glass skyscrapers tower on either side of the road, their windows glittering golden from the sun's final rays. Large banners hang on street posts and against walls, announcing the Lunar holiday celebrations.
Our car swerves down to the port of the bay. Danny explains that's where we will take the ferry to the other side of the city. Along the sides of the bay, red lanterns dangle from long strings, casting off a light glow in the growing darkness. Vendors have set up their wares and food stalls along the river's edge, already calling out to the crowds of people working their way to stroll along the banks. I spy children laughing as they race each other, flying dragon kites while others watch and cheer for the dragon parade.
Soon we make our way to the IFC Towers in the Shun Tak Center where we park and then head to the Hong Kong Ferry Terminal where we board the high-speed Turbo boat.
"This boat is incredibly fast," Danny explains. "Worth every penny for the fifty-five minutes it'll take to get there. Before we take off, you need to check out the view of the city at night from this vantage point."
As we head up onto the ferry's second level, Tony whistles. "This is incredible!"
He's right. Through the windows, the buildings glisten along the shoreline, scattering all the way up to the base of the mountains. Then above the city line, the mountains stand dark against the purple sky as if giants are guarding the city. A junk sails beside our ferry, the jagged red flags highlighted against the last tentacles of sunset.
"It's all so lovely," I tell Danny. "I can see why you come back here often."
He smiles. "It's not bad if I must say so myself. I grew up on the other side of the harbor. Sun doesn't remember much of when we lived in Hong Kong, but we still have the apartment here to stay at when we come to visit my father or deal with business operations."
We sit in our arranged seats, which remind me of an airplane seat. Once I clip in my seatbelt, I review my lines, what I'll do tonight, and imagine how the events will play out, deliberating over the various outcomes. Most importantly, I envision finding Dad and rescuing him. I dig into my purse and pull out the quote that I chose for tonight:
The way to know the future is to create it yourself.
I sigh, wishing I could believe my quote. There's still so much uncertainty. After all, we don't have any idea of where they could be holding Dad. Danny didn't think they would be holding him at the Casino Kam Pek. The sickening reality is that Dad might not even be in this county! I stare out the window. Thousand upon ten thousands of buildings spread out within my eyesight. Here I am, so close, but seeing this huge city, it feels like an impossible task.
Once our high-speed ferry reaches the Outer Harbor Terminal, we hail a taxi and head deeper into Macau. My nerves are fried by the time we enter mainland China, and I check my purse for like the hundredth time to make sure I've got all my supplies.
"You good?" Worry fills Tony's face, knitting his forehead. "You sure it has to be this way?"
"I can't think of a better idea," I say. "You?"
He shakes his head and I attach the comlink behind my ear while Tony and Danny do the same. I decide to test my com.
"Alpha to Echo," I say into the air. I wait, anxious.
After everything that has happened, I can't depend on anything going right. I can only hope the other half of our team, whom we named Echo, is okay.
"Echo reading," Jake's voice comes through my ear. My heart thrills at hearing his voice, which feels so close and near to me. "We are in position and ready when you are."
"Good to hear your voice," I say.
"Right back at you," Jake says, and I can hear a smile in his voice.
"Hey, you two," Sun says. "No flirting during the mission."
Our car pulls up to Casino Kam Pek Paradise and an attendant in a tuxedo strides to my door and opens it. I step out, trying to keep my balance. The bright, flashing lights of the drop-off area momentarily blind me as I step onto a crimson-red carpet. Fortunately, Danny slides to my side and holds my elbow for support. Tony remains in the car where he'll be dropped off at the service entrance.
"You good?" Danny asks me.
I nod and we ascend the stairs. Pop music pumps out of the speakers and attendants dressed in black suits with crimson lapels whisk open the doors for the two of us.
"We're in," I say into my com.