Chapter 19

The FBI questioned him every day after the funeral and the questions were always the same and Roger's answers were always the same. When he asked if they were trying to find out who killed Lei they would often get mad at him and accuse him of knowing more than he was telling them. Agent Sermon warned him to watch out for himself as they were sure that someone wanted Roger dead. Roger told Sermon that he was crazy; Roger didn't know anything about what the FBI said that Ben Chu was involved in so why would anyone want to kill him.

It was over two weeks before Roger felt that he could function enough to return to work. When he walked into the office everyone offered their condolences and asked if the FBI or the police had any information about Lei's murder. It seemed to Roger that it took hours before he reached his office.

For the next several days Roger sat at his desk with the door closed and stared at the walls and thought. His mind raced trying to make sense out of what had happened. A silent, powerful rage kept building inside of him. He knew that if he ever found out who was responsible for what happened to Lei, that he would have no qualms about sending the murderer to hell in the most horrific way. Bart had to talk a woman in the billing department out of quitting because she was afraid of Roger. She said that Roger was a time bomb just waiting to go off and that the look on his face scared her. He started snapping at people and soon everyone who could do so avoid him did. Roger knew that what he was doing was wrong but he couldn't help it.

Finally he called Bart into his office, "Bart, I have to get out of here or I won't have a business left. I need to get away for a while."

Bart looked relieved, "I'm glad that you see what is happening to you. Get away for a while. I can run the business for a while."

Roger hesitated before continuing, "Would you feel slighted if I asked my father to come in and help keep an eye on things?"

"Of course not. Your father and I get along great. I'll probably need some help around here. You're going to be checking every now and then aren't you?"

Roger nodded, "I might be gone for a while. I've got to get my head screwed on right. I'll check in with you every day but I want you and my father to run the business with as little help from me as possible."

"You're going to let us know where you are, aren't you?"

Roger smiled, "I don't even know what I intend to do right now. I just know that I have to get out of San Francisco for a while."

Roger could see Bart start to fidget in his chair, "What's wrong Bart?"

"I don't know how to say this Roger. With Lei gone the payroll has been screwed up, bills aren't going out and a couple of the office help are complaining."

Roger tried to figure out what Bart was saying, "Why don't you just hire someone?"

"Well Roger, May called last week and said that she heard about Lei on the news and she wanted to tell you that she was very sad for you. I asked how things were going for her and she said that things weren't going too well. I got the impression that she was hoping for an invitation to take her old job back."

"Why didn't you hire her, Bart?"

"Come on Roger. What would you have thought if you walked in here and saw May sitting in Lei's chair?"

Roger nodded, "I'll call her. I have her number."

Bart stood up, "Okay, let me know when you're ready to get out of here. I'd like your father to start right away if he can. With you gone some things have slipped further than they should have and I would appreciate the help."

Bart left the office. Roger reflected on things that he had said. Roger knew that Bart could run the business for a while; Bart just needed some self-confidence. Roger knew that his father would jump at the chance to help out. His father had been driving his wife crazy since he sold his own business.

Roger found May's number in North Carolina and dialed the number. The phone rang several times and Roger was thinking about the message that he would leave once the answering machine picked up. May answered to phone on the fourth ring.

"May, this is Roger. Bart told me you called. I want to thank you for your call."

"Roger, I'm so sorry about Lei. Bart told me that you and Lei had just gotten engaged. I can't imagine what you're going though."

"Thanks May. The real reason that I'm calling is to find out how things are going with you."

May's voice cracked a little, "Things are not going too well. I'm sure you've heard that the bottom fell out of the housing market. My father-in-law can't even support himself in this market much less take on my husband. And then there aren't many Chinese in North Carolina and I'm so home sick for California."

"Well May, I have a job here if you want it. You can have your old job back right away. Would you be interested?"

"Of course I'd be interested. My husband would have to find a job out there first and then we could come out there."