Chapter Fifteen: Impossible

Qiu Fengyu had no idea whether Saoirse and David Birkin had left town or not. Ever since that night, there had been no trace of the two of them anywhere. There was no word from the police station about their arrest either, so he supposed they'd left. News traveled fastest in the bar, so when Qiu Fengyu sat down, Breckin sidled over with a grin. “David and Saoirse have vanished. That calls for a drink.” He poured two glasses, clinked with Qiu Fengyu, downed his in one gulp, and wiped the rim with his sleeve.

After their toast, Qiu Fengyu realized that no one in town seemed any different for their absence. If anything, there were two new girls at the bar, likely Breckin's latest recruits. “Looking for some company?” Breckin asked with a sly smile, leaning in.

Qiu Fengyu glanced at the girls in the dim light; they were decent enough, good figures. But he turned instead to Breckin. “You think that wound on your head’s healed enough already?”

Breckin recoiled a little, chuckling. “I don’t mind. Who hasn’t taken a beating? Without a girl, the night drags on forever.”

“Enough out of you, you old crow,” Qiu Fengyu replied, pressing a twenty under his glass and preparing to leave. Who didn’t want a woman? But Qiu Fengyu never touched working girls—he had his principles. He didn’t mind a fleeting encounter, though. After so long in Ukraine, he’d learned to read people in bars, searching for women craving a night’s passion.

But a small town like this meant awkward run-ins the next day. So he restrained himself; if he was desperate, he handled it alone.

Alyssa was a good woman, but not his type. He knew trouble might find him any day—falling in love was a luxury he couldn’t afford.

Outside, he pulled his coat tighter and strolled down the street. The town was only so big, three streets across. Passing the clock shop, he saw the lights still on and stepped inside. A voice called out, “We’re closed, come back tomorrow… Oh, it’s you, Mr. Qiu. Good to see you. Need anything?”

Breslin had his head down, but when he saw Qiu Fengyu, his face lit up with a grin.

“I want to trade in for a sports watch—something with a compass, waterproof. Does that cost extra?” Qiu Fengyu asked.

“One hundred dollars. I’ll set you up,” Breslin replied crisply.

“Deal.” They shook hands. A few minutes later, Qiu Fengyu left with a new digital watch—stopwatch, compass, waterproof, and a mess of other features he didn’t care about. He just needed a couple.

He thought timing a kill was pretty cool—had done it often in Ukraine. This was his first time in America. He’d tried to escape that life, but it had found him again almost immediately.

“Character is destiny—whoever said that had it absolutely right,” Qiu Fengyu muttered as he stopped, lit a cigarette, and took a long drag.

“Jung. That was Carl Jung, the famous Swiss psychologist, Freud’s favorite student.” A figure stepped from the shadows and came to stand beside him, watching with a half-smile.

“I don’t know him,” Qiu Fengyu said, stubbing out his cigarette and moving forward.

“Tell me this was just a coincidence, not something you longed for inside.” The woman hurried ahead and blocked his path, facing him directly.

He laughed, looking at her. “You’re a persistent one. I told you, I didn’t do anything. What’s in it for you?”

“I was… a little worried about you. This isn’t Ukraine—”

“I know, it’s not Ukraine, just like you said. Everything has its order, nothing’s out of place. I promise,” Qiu Fengyu said, raising his hand to Officer Coffin.

“Character is destiny.” Officer Coffin smiled at him. “I’ve been patrolling at night these past few days, thinking—if I’d been officially on this case, would I have named you the prime suspect?”

“No,” Qiu Fengyu answered flatly.

“Why not?”

“Because you once told me—‘Well done!’” He grinned. “A cop who says that wouldn’t make me a suspect. Like you said, character is destiny. And if the man who said that was Freud’s student, he must’ve been an obsessive, and so are his believers.”

“You’re right—I wouldn’t,” Officer Coffin laughed, too. “Now that I’ve figured that out, I feel much better. It’s been troubling me, but now I’m at peace.”

“You’re not a good cop,” Qiu Fengyu joked, turning away. After a few steps, he called over his shoulder, “But you’re a good woman. If you didn’t object, I’d ask you to be my girlfriend.”

“I’d never let a scoundrel be my boyfriend!” Officer Coffin shouted at his back.

“That’s why you’re still single!” Qiu Fengyu cupped his hands to his mouth and yelled, “When no one else will marry you, you’ll see how good this scoundrel is!”

Officer Coffin cheerfully flipped him the finger and headed back. She had been out of sorts lately, certain Qiu Fengyu had done it—no proof, just a gut feeling, perhaps her own obsession. The struggle was that she couldn’t let anyone know. As a police officer, she was supposed to report her suspicions, which left her torn. But now, at last, she felt relieved.

Back at home, Qiu Fengyu’s eyes immediately fell on the key he’d tossed on his table—Saoirse’s house key. He hesitated, then took it up to the attic and placed it in his bedside drawer.

Saoirse was a good girl; he rather liked her, straightforward and genuine. David, idiot though he was, had risked himself for her—that counted for something. He hoped they’d last together, and that they wouldn’t get caught again. Leaving for good was their best ending.

Life in the town went on as before.

Qiu Fengyu’s noodles still sold well. Alyssa’s brother, Kevin, had come for noodles a few times, always paid generously, even tipping him five dollars once.

“So, what are you going to do about my sister?” Kevin asked after finishing his meal, smiling as Qiu Fengyu came to clear the table. “She’s leaving for Los Angeles in a few days. Don’t you want to ask her out, say something before she goes?”

“Alyssa?” Qiu Fengyu looked at Kevin, then nodded. “Well, I wish her all the best.”

“Oh, my God. Alyssa said you were funny, but… that’s actually funny.” Kevin slapped his forehead. “Honestly, I never wanted you two together—you’re from different countries, after all…”

“We’re in the same country now,” Qiu Fengyu interjected.

“Okay, fine, but have you thought about the cultural gap? That’s not important. What matters is—do you actually want to be with Alyssa?”

Qiu Fengyu smiled as he gathered the dishes. “Who told you that? Have you ever seen me pursue Alyssa? I know some people want to set us up, but… everyone knows it’s impossible.”

“Aha—I knew it!” Kevin laughed and bolted out.

Later, that conversation ended up on Alyssa’s recorder. She played it twice, then glared at Kevin. “Who told you to do this? When did you start interfering in my life?”

“I just don’t want an Asian brother-in-law, that’s all,” Kevin shrugged. “You heard him—he doesn’t care about you.”

“Get out. If I ever find out you went to him again, you know what I’ll do. I’ll turn that boat you love in your warehouse into scrap. I swear I will!”

“Fine, I’m just looking out for you, Alyssa!” Kevin shot from her room like a rocket.

“The nerve of him—says it’s impossible? Really… Impossible? Ha…” Alyssa muttered through clenched teeth.