Nola's hands flew to her chest. She glanced at the bedside clock. Four o’clock. She swung her feet off the bed. “Okay.”

“Difficult trip. Rough couple of days.”

Nola nodded. Somehow, Ming-Ji had gotten in through the guarded corridors. She’d know how to get her out.

“Do you have money?” Ming-Ji asked. “You need lots.”

“Will two thousand dollars be enough?”

A movement at the door leading to the connecting room made her catch her breath. Leslie in his plaid, ankle-length nightshirt glanced suspiciously at Ming-Ji before he recognized her. “Dr. Liang!” he whispered.

Nola's heart skipped a beat. Leslie wouldn’t let her leave. This would be the moment he would revert to his old self, entrenched in his artistic visions, of which she was the center.

She kept her voice low. “I’m getting out of here.”

His mouth opened as though he were about to say something, then closed.

“Please bring me whatever jewelry and yuans you can lay your hands on,” she said, observing him.

“You can’t do that.” He grabbed her hands. “You’re like a declawed kitten; you can’t go out alone. You haven’t bought a cup of coffee on your own in years.” His eyes glistened. “I’m coming with you.”

Ming-Ji shook her head. “No place for another person.” She turned Lulu onto her stomach. Her hand, holding something, went inside the diaper.

Nola rushed to her. “What are you doing?”

“Suppository. For sleep. Mild.”

Nola swallowed. “Just tell me first next time, okay?”

“Like American. Don’t trust doctor?” Ming-Ji smiled. “Good mother.”

Nola turned to Leslie. “The money and jewelry, please? And a credit card.” The expensive pieces were locked in Wade's vault, but Leslie kept her gold watch and several bracelets, rings and earrings in small Ziploc bags in the bottom drawer of his makeup valise, as though they were merely costume baubles.

“Are you going to cross the Tibet mountains on foot?” Leslie asked Ming-Ji.

“Too difficult. Too much time.”

Leslie shook his head toward Nola. “I can’t let you do this—”

Nola shivered. “Please don’t try to stop me for my own protection.” Her tone pleading, she said, “Leslie, you’d donate a kidney for me if I needed one. Please let me leave. I have to.”

He gazed at her for a moment, his deep-set eyes examining her. Then, with his face raised to the ceiling in a silent prayer, he walked out.

What if he woke up Wade? Nola rushed to the door and put her ear to it. She heard nothing until Leslie returned a moment later and handed her a pouch. He pointed at the bottoms of a pair of her sneakers. The security tags had been removed.

“Thanks,” she said, in the absence of better words.