“She’s loyal,” Xiaokai said. “She is one of only two people who I trust in this company. She’ll make the delivery.”

“How long has she been—”

“It doesn’t matter. I trust her, and she’ll make the delivery.” Xiaokai stood. “Go ahead and head out. We’ll all want to lay low after the delivery, but we should keep an eye on the news just in case. You’ll have a lot of people contacting you about their jobs, but just tell them to hold on while the authorities carry out the investigations.”

“Should we tell them to go on vacation?”

“I don’t think that’s necessary at this point. It’ll just alarm them more. If they start seriously investigating you for some reason, we can discuss it then.” He picked up the folder and the flash drive. “I’ll walk out with you.”

The Director came out with the two men, the folder that President Liu’s companion had previously had tucked underneath one arm. “Just go back to the house,” he said. “If anyone contacts you wondering where you are, just tell them you’re working from home. There shouldn’t be anything they need from you that you can’t give them digitally.”

“Are you coming back too?” asked President Liu, and the Director nodded.

“I’ll be a few more minutes while I talk to Miss Huang. And Weiran—”

The president’s companion lifted his head and met the Director’s eyes.

“Keep cross-checking the names in the Files. If it looks like anyone could possibly be Bai Xue, flag it and we’ll go through it again.”

It was comforting, at least, that the Director seemed like he had control over the situation. Fei’er would hate it if she had to watch the new President Liu order the Director around like he was better than him.

“Do you want me to stay here? I can work here until you—”

“That won’t be necessary. Miss Huang, if you can follow me back into my office.”

“Yes, sir.” She left the two men standing in the waiting room and trailed after the Director, hugging her notebook to her chest.

“Do you remember everything I told you yesterday?”

“Yes, sir.” She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it, actually.

“These are the files you need to deliver to the police. I’ve already told you the person you need to get it to, so don’t let it into anyone else’s hands until you’ve accomplished that.”

“Yes, sir.” She gripped her notebook tighter, resisting writing these instructions down—resisting leaving any evidence of this conversation.

“Don’t make any stops anywhere. As soon as it is in that person’s hands, send me a text and then throw the phone away.”

She’d told him that she would do anything, but the prospect of never seeing the Director ever again—