Chapter 11: The Answering Thread

The police brought the crate into Wang Traditional Martial Arts at eight twelve Tuesday morning, and Lieutenant Vega's written authorization arrived with it. Mo examined the document while two crime scene technicians rolled the pallet across the practice floor. Three signatures permitted him to view the crate, the photograph, and one paper fragment removed from beneath a wooden brace. He could answer questions in the presence of Detectives Su and Hollis. He could not touch anything. A fourth signature confirmed that he had been told not to touch anything. "Your lieutenant has improved the formation," Mo said. Su stood beside the pallet with a paper cup in one hand. "She knew you'd appreciate the reinforcement." Lili had closed the school until noon and moved the weapon racks against the wall. She watched the technicians lay blue plastic under the pallet. The crate sat beneath the inherited sign over the practice…