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need my life any more complicated right now.”
    â€œOh don’t worry, I understand perfectly. We’ll forget all about the Taiwan question maybe getting resolved after sixty years of tension. I’ll make sure I let the Chinese know this is all about you.”
    â€œThanks, I appreciate it. And USA Gymnastics is also grateful. By the way, they want you to take someone along with you.”
    â€œForget about it. Deal breaker. No mothers, no coaches, no suits, no reality TV crews. Dealing with the Chinese on this is going to be hard enough.”
    â€œThey want you to take a doctor.”
    â€œA doctor? Did the Chinese work her over?”
    â€œNo idea,” said Marquand. “Same as I have no idea why they want to send a doctor with you. Just that they do. Are you going to argue about that, too?”
    Avakian rolled his eyes. “Okay. How long am I going to have to wait around for this doctor to show up?”
    â€œYou mean the lady sitting outside? The one you walked right past.”
    â€œ Her? She’s a doctor?”
    â€œYeah, one of the team physicians. Doctor Rose.”
    â€œ Really? Interesting. I’m kind of relieved to hear she’s a doctor.”
    â€œNow what the hell are you talking about?”
    â€œWell, I saw her at the embassy party. The one to welcome the team to China? She just struck me as a little…well, severe.”
    Now Marquand was amused. “What?”
    â€œI pictured her as some kind of no-nonsense, tightly-wound coach. Very focused, with that low-maintenance hairstyle—essential makeup only look. You know, puts on sunblock to get the mail? Makes little girl gymnasts cry, runs ultramarathons for fun, vegan, every conversation’s a lecture. Wouldn’t crack a smile if Robin Williams spent the weekend at her house. Drives a car that runs on used French fry oil, writes an angry letter to the editor every time the circus comes to town. That’s just what I thought. But being a doctor puts a whole different spin on it.”
    â€œDo you do this for everyone you meet?”
    â€œI just noticed her, that’s all.”
    â€œThen it’s good you’re not into making snap judgments about people. By the way, the team is very anxious to have this taken care of.”
    â€œI’m pretty sure I got that part,” Avakian said. “What did our gymnast do, anyway? I’ve heard about five different stories.”
    â€œShoplifting. Got caught, pitched a tantrum, started throwing stuff. Then slapped a cop.”
    â€œThat’ll do it,” said Avakian. “Contempt of cop is the one offense that always lands you in jail. So there’s face involved. Anything else? Want me to wash your car while I’m at it?”
    â€œNo, thanks. I think this ought to cover it for now.”
    Marquand opened his door and disappeared into the outer office. Avakian was glad he’d at least smiled and said hello to her on his way in.
    Marquand returned with the doctor. “Doctor Rose, Pete Avakian.”
    She extended her hand. “Judith Rose.”
    Judith, Avakian thought. Any tighter and her ass would squeak when she walked. So much for snap judgments. He looked up into the brown eyes that were about two inches higher than his and took the hand lightly. “Nice to meet you, Doc.” She was most certainly the palest white girl on the face of the earth. But she had really big eyes.
    â€œI’ll leave you to it,” said Marquand. “Call me when it’s done.”
    â€œAlmost forgot,” said Avakian. “Where’s she being held?”
    â€œThe Beijing Bureau of Public Security downtown.”
    â€œOh, then they are pissed,” said Avakian. “The one just south of the national ministry building, right?”
    â€œYeah, the city police headquarters.”
    â€œHave somebody call and tell them we’re on our way over.”
    â€œYou think that’ll make the wait