Page 72 of The Team

Yin put the heel of his hand to his sternum, to his stomach, and he peered up at Rhett. He looked about ready to puke. “Please.”

Rhett nodded. “We’ll find her.”

Director King made a face. “Agent Yin, I need to ask you some questions. Personal questions.”

Yin’s face crumpled, but Chen nodded. “He will answer.”

Yin turned to Chen then, disbelieving, and mumbled something in Chinese.

“They will help,” Chen said to him. Then he looked at Rhett, then to the others. “It’s okay. They are different. Not like home. You must trust them, Tao. You trust the captain. Tell him.”

Yin’s chest was heaving but he was utterly defeated. He had tears in his eyes and was still pale and distraught.

But it was King who spoke first. “Her name is Yin Jun-mei.”

Yin sagged, his head down, eyes closed, but he nodded.

“She has your surname, yet we can’t find any record of marriage,” King said. “We can’t find any record of her at all.”

Yin’s face screwed up in pain and he shook his head, and he let out a shuddery breath.

“The fuck are you lying about?” Sid said.

“I’m not lying,” he said, desperate, again looking at Rhett. Then he turned to the rest of the team, and to King and Zihao. “I’m not lying. I’m... I need to protect her.”

“To protect her,” King said. “We’ll need her real name.”

“Her real name,” Yin snapped, “is Jun-mei.”

“Tao,” Chen whispered gently, prompting him, pleading.

Yin looked at him, then sagged with a long sigh. “Her government name,” Chen said quietly, “is Shi Yufei.”

Shi Yufei . . .

Zihao cocked his head, staring at Yin as if that name meant something.

“Who’s that?” Rhett asked him. “You know who she is? You know that name?”

Zihao’s gaze eventually drew to Rhett’s. “No, I don’t.But...” He turned back to Yin. “That’s not a woman’s name.”

Yin’s gaze shot to Zihao, dark and murderous.

“What’s going on?” Coyote asked.

Yin ran his hand through his hair, looking as if he wanted to bolt. If they weren’t on a plane, Rhett was certain he would have.

“Jun-mei is,” Chen said. “How is word for . . . ?”

“Trans,” Jay offered beside Rhett.

“Yes,” Chen agreed.

Yin turned to Zihao and spoke rapid-fire Mandarin, but Chen shook his head. “No, no. Tao,” Chen said, holding Yin’s arm. Yin shook him off, and all Rhett could see was a desperate man.

“Hey,” Rhett murmured. Yin was still looking at Zihao, so Rhett stood in front of him and put his hand on Yin’s chest. “Hey,” he said, firmer this time. Yin’s eyes met his and he seemed to snap out of his tirade. “We will find her, okay? Us, all of us,” he said, gesturing to his team. “We will find her.”

Yin’s eyes became glassy, and he nodded, blinking back his tears. Chen clapped him on the back, his big hand giving him a squeeze.