Page 89 of Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)

“Ma,” Tilly says, “when we get there, you are not to get out of the car. Do you understand me?”

“Why not get out of car? Then how I can see action?”

“You don’t. That’s the whole point. You let the police do their job. We’re just going to be bystanders.”

“I never been bystander in my life. That sound like very boring thing to be.”

“It’s a safe thing to be. Also, Selena says she will end our relationship if any of us gets in her way.”

Vera gasps. “That is emotional blackmail!”

“She learned it from you.”

Vera grunts. “Very good lesson from me,” she says grudgingly.

“They might have guns,” Oliver says.

“Yeah, that’s a really good point,” Tilly says. “These are actual hardened criminals we’re dealing with.”

“I know,” Vera says.

From the rearview mirror, Qiang Wen can see that her face is alight with excitement. He sighs. “Vera, I don’t think they are telling you these things to make you happy. They want to keep you safe. I think you better stay in the car.”

“Of course,” Vera says. “I won’t get in way.”

They all look at her dubiously, but none of them says anything more as the car zooms down the freeway toward their destination.

Surprisingly, Vera stays true to her word. When they get to the industrial park, she stays put inside the car even after Oliver parks. Maybe it has to do with Tilly clinging on to her like she’s the last float in a shipwreck, but Qiang Wen likes to think it’s because Vera has taken their warnings to heart.

Oliver has chosen to remain outside of the industrial park, well away from the action, but Qiang Wen can see that in the parking lot of the industrial park, there are already four police cars with their red and blue lights flashing.

“Oh my,” Vera says, watching as the cops pile out of the car. “They look good, don’t they? Oh, there’s Selena! Ah, she looking very pretty, as usual.” She looks around at the others, as if waiting for a reply from them.

“Yep, she is very pretty, Ma,” Tilly says after a beat.

Qiang Wen and Oliver murmur their agreement.

“You know, she is so pretty, she probably get hit by men all the time.”

“I think you mean ‘gets hit on,’ ” Oliver says.

“That is exactly what I just say. And don’t interrupt me, I am saying important lesson.” Vera turns back to Tilly. “If you don’t propose to her fast, she might get impatient and then leave you. Then how?”

“Are we really talking about this right now?” Tilly moans.

“When else to talk about it?”

“Maybe when we are not watching very exciting police raid,” Qiang Wen offers. Although, he thinks, he would like to be present for this conversation as well.

“Yes, exactly,” Tilly says. “Thank you, Uncle Qiang.”

Qiang Wen flushes with pleasure at the honorific.

The next few moments, they watch in silence as the police, with guns drawn, break into one of the industrial buildings.

“Wah, they break down the door like is paper,” Vera says. “Selena is very strong. We will have big and strong grandbabies.”

Tilly takes in a breath, as though to say something, but then purses his lips instead. “Not worth it,” he whispers under his breath.

---