Page 35 of Shadow Lies

“I’m more interested in hearing about your life here.” She glanced around the sparse room.

The monks weren’t much for interior décor in the crude building that served as their living quarters, but the grounds were lovely. And she’d taken his advice and visited the public buildings of the temple.

It seemed more tourist destination nowadays than solemn holy ground. But the commercialization of Shaolin didn’t diminish her appreciation for the architecture or the rich history of the place and its people.

The monastery’s abbot Shi Yongxin had adapted to the changing times. Perhaps too much. But the monastery now thrived, thanks to him.

She was grateful the abbot seemed to spend the bulk of his time elsewhere, which allowed her and Kane to use this small office in the monk’s living quarters building.

His crooked grin lit his face. “What would you like to know?”

“Well, for starters, are you like a monk now? Or a monk in training?” She had some personal reasons for asking that.

She was pretty sure she shouldn’t be having the thoughts she had about Kane if he had taken his vows—or whatever—to become a full-fledged monk.

“There are monks and then there are practitioners. I’m studying to be a practitioner.”

“And the difference is?” she prompted, hoping the answer was that practitioners could have sex.

She resisted the urge to watch for the lightning strike after having that thought here.

“Generally, monks have devoted their lives to the temple, although some do leave. Practitioners usually move on, most likely to teach their skills elsewhere.”

“Ah, interesting.” And very good news. “Is that what you want to do? Teach when you leave here?”

“I don’t think past being here,” he said flatly.

That dishonorable discharge, and no doubt the knowledge that he’d killed the wrong man, weighed on him still. She could see that.

“Good plan.” She nodded. It wasn’t her plan, but it was fine for him.

She did nothing but think about the future. Unfortunately, finally completing her degree and getting a good job—a real job—seemed so far away.

The cell on the desk between them lit then vibrated on the table.

“Charley,” she said, unnecessarily since Charley was the only one that she knew of who had the number to the burner phone.

“Yup. Let’s see what she has to say.” He reached forward and swiped to answer the call.

“Hello? Who’s this?” he asked, feigning ignorance.

Alexis bit her lip to stifle a laugh. She could imagine Charley’s annoyance at Kane’s joke. If only she could see her expression. She’d bet it was hilarious.

Meanwhile, they shouldn’t be joking. A man’s life hung in the balance. But this whole situation was so surreal, and getting more so, maybe they had to laugh.

“It seems you were correct,” Charley said, sounding pretty unhappy about being wrong and having to admit it.

“Excuse me? Say again?” Kane said, poking the bear one more time.

He’d heard Charley’s annoyance just as clearly as Alexis had. He was just rubbing it in now. She almost felt sorry for Charley. Almost…

“You were right,” Charley said with short, clipped words. “Now if we can move on, I’d like to discuss future steps.”

“Whoa. You do what you want but there is no future for me with you,” Kane said.

Alexis briefly pondered if those were close to the words he’d used when dumping her sister after college graduation.

Back then, she’d mourned the loss of Kane’s presence in their lives but had secretly celebrated the breakup. Now, imagining being on the other end of those cold, harsh words from Kane, she realized she probably should have had more empathy for Brittany.

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