[A lie, like an alibi? Or just the kind of thing that seems endemic here? If she doesn't even want him intimidated, she surely wouldn't even imply the former. Then again, she may well be beyond caring overmuch at this point, to do any such calculations, and underneath all his ragged fear and too-familiar frustration he can recognize she doesn't owe him anything here. To say nothing of how little she owes Li Lianhua. He should probably take this as a courtesy, and not antagonism, despite himself.
Even his real subordinates couldn't quite be threatened into working miracles, after all. And the only truth he knows is which of the two is more likely to be dishonest, regardless of what she knows of the boy.]
no subject
Even his real subordinates couldn't quite be threatened into working miracles, after all. And the only truth he knows is which of the two is more likely to be dishonest, regardless of what she knows of the boy.]
I'm in your debt. It may not have been a lie.