The man dusts his hands , eyeing the darkness . “ Would you like to be the next one ?”
It ’ s not a question . The arm around the lady ’ s waist is gone , and the second man stumbles out of the black , throwing his friend over his shoulder and running .
The lady is quivering , and she goes up to thank Cole Bennett fervently , who gives no other reply than to takes off his coat , wrapping it around the woman ’ s shoulders . “ It ’ s raining .” Is his reasoning , “ Young ladies like you won ’ t want to catch a cold .”
He watches as he leads her away , hand placed courteously around her shoulder , disappearing at the corner to leave him with the rain and misty feelings .
There ’ s no use being here at the police station . He knows that they ’ re just as bad , but his thoughts have brought him here , confused feelings leading him to the reception .
He spots a policeman behind it , legs kicked up on the desk like a Westerner . However , he puts them down when he spots him . “ How can I help you ?”
His words stumble over each other . “ My boss , he , he ’ s called Cole Bennett , he sells opium . Isn ’ t that illegal ?”
The policeman looks at him for a moment , before laughing , shaking his head . “ Kid , kid .” He titters , and he wills his hands not to curl into fists . “ Alright , yes , it is illegal . They passed a law for it at one point . But can you really call it illegal when no one cares ?”
The legs kick themselves back up onto the desk . “ I could help you tell , try and find some policemen who actually do care . See if they can help you get your boss . What was his name again- Cole Bennett ? How does he look like ?”
His answer is abrupt . “ He ’ s a foreigner . His hair and eyes are black . He ’ s young .” And with that , he stomps out of the police station .
Things are confusing . Life is confusing . His boss , Cole Bennett , is confusing . Everything is as clear as yapian smoke .
It ’ s late . They ’ ve just finished sending off the last of their cargo . A Fei and the others have already left , anxious for dinner . He doesn ’ t have an appetite .
He goes to retrieve his belongings , or what little he has of them . The smell of cigarette smoke stops him short .
Cole Bennett sits at the desk , the room illuminated by the lit end of his cigarette and a halfway done candle , providing the littlest of light . His shadows are the other way around , giving him a ghostly look .
Inky eyes look down at a photo frame ; he ’ s unsure whether it is the wavering flame that makes them look watery .
He must ’ ve made a noise , some creaking in the floor , because Cole Bennett looks up . Immediately , an apology waits on his tongue , and his body tenses , ready to run . But what he gets instead , from the way the man motions with his head , is an invitation to come in .
He treads lightly , and when he gets to the desk , the blanket of silence he first felt when coming in is now stifling . “ Um ,” He starts , looking down briefly . “ What ’ s that ?”
There is no need for him to refer to what he is talking about . After a heavy beat , Cole Bennett turns the photo frame around .
It ’ s a little girl with a wide smile , a stuffed bear held tightly against her chest . Her hair is dark , curly , and her eyes are a brilliant , shining coal .
He has a hunch . “ Your daughter ?”
A simple nod is his reply as Cole Bennett turns the photo back to him . Slowly , slowly , a smile cracks through the man ’ s face , and it ’ s almost -dare he say it- fond . “ She lives with her mother . I just send money that I make here back to her . I wonder if she remembers me .”