Kim replied, feigning a tone of boredom, as if the question hardly merited an answer:

"Deliberately setting a fire and leaving behind evidence to frame someone else is a childish ploy. You know that perfectly well, Lieutenant. I think this arson investigation unit would be better off spending its time finding the real culprit rather than wasting resources on misguided inquiries like this one."

Wesley remained silent, deep in thought. Kim’s arguments were solid, and she was sharp—formidable, even. He had heard of the young Vietnamese lawyer from the firm of Holmes, Vickens & Berry; experience had taught him not to tangle with the heavy hitters from that outfit. In truth, he had only wanted to give Lữ a hard time because he detested the man’s yellow face—Asians coming here to get rich while he scraped by on a meager forty-thousand-dollar salary. He wanted to bully them, to make them afraid, to show them who really owned this country. Finally, Wesley spoke:

"Mr. Lữ is not a suspect. We’ll pursue other leads in the investigation. However, I require you to be available over the next month should we need to question you further."

Kim signaled for Lữ to stand up. She extended her hand to Wesley:

"Very well. Mr. Lữ will be in Los Angeles throughout the coming month, ready to answer any further questions. I hope your team works quickly to find the actual perpetrator."

Wesley walked the pair to the door. He stood there, pensive, after Lữ and Kim had stepped into the elevator. He had never backed down so quickly before—and to a person of color, no less! Wesley shook his head. Maybe he was past his prime.

But that yellow man’s lawyer was stunning. He breathed in the lingering trace of her perfume in the room. How could there be women in this world so fragrant and alluring!

° ° °

Lữ sat opposite Kim in a restaurant jutting out over the sea at Redondo Beach. He gazed at her through the golden wine glass he held. Seeing Kim’s eyes shimmering mystically in the candlelight, he felt a shiver run through him. It was as if an invisible thread—emanating from her eyes—had tightened around his heart, leaving him breathless. Lữ broke the silence that enveloped them:

"You were amazing. Wesley looked completely tongue-tied; he couldn't even react. I’m so lucky to have met you!"

Kim smiled.

"He’s not done yet, though. If he can't find any leads, he won't be able to track anyone down—and he’ll likely come back to harass you again."

Lữ shook his head.

"There’s nothing more he can do. With you by my side, I don't need to worry about the police anymore."

But his enemy was still lurking in the shadows! Vấn. He had to resolve this matter immediately; he couldn't let it drag on. A thorn in one's side only digs deeper with each passing day.

Yet, this was not the moment to let dark thoughts consume him. There is a time and place for everything. Now belonged to him and Kim—a time to celebrate their first success, to gaze at one another and let their emotions settle deep within. Lữ wished he possessed the sensitivity and artistic flair of his friend, Sơn. He wanted to articulate his feelings—the emotions stirring within him as he sat there looking out at the vast, deep-blue sea, enveloped by her presence and the sparkle in her eyes, and captivated by the scent of her skin.

No! He lacked Sơn’s eloquence; he could only gaze intently at her, conveying the surging, intense emotions within him so she might sense them. He could not put them into words. And perhaps, there was no need to.

° ° °

Kim felt the impact of Lữ’s gaze like an electric shock. She knew she had consumed some alcohol, yet not enough to lower her defenses to this extent. She had remained indifferent to the passionate desire of so many other men. What was it about Lữ that had changed her? She could not say. Was it his thick brows? His resolute, proud face? His fiery, intense eyes? Or simply the potent scent radiating from his body?

Kim possessed a keen sense of smell. She could not tolerate overpowering odors, yet she delighted in unique fragrances—blends that captivated and seduced her. She had noticed Lữ’s scent the moment they met; that potent aroma had begun to stir her, the sensation intensifying by the moment. She felt a flush of embarrassment at how often she thought of him—or rather, of that scent clinging to his body. It was as if an instinct had awakened within her, demanding she pursue the allure that had reached her through her senses, enveloping her and compelling her to claim him more completely.

Kim’s cheeks flushed crimson. Her breathing grew rapid. What was happening to her? She wondered, yet sought no answer. She found herself rising, moving toward Lữ, setting aside the glass he held, and wrapping her arms around his neck. She inhaled deeply. Lữ’s scent—already becoming familiar—rushed through every cell of her body, making her skin tingle and come alive. And she heard the sound of her own voice trembling, speaking as if choked with emotion close to Lữ's ear:
 
" Take me to your place tonight, Lữ."