Fifteen Billion on the Table

Lenny Li expected to push the dean out of the way without resistance...

Arthur and Helen stood ready to watch the two visitors forced out of the courtyard.

Victoria Liu pulled back as Lenny reached for her coat.

Before his fingers made contact, Jude planted a direct front kick squarely into Lenny's chest.

The impact drove him backward off his feet. Lenny landed hard on the flagstones 10 feet back, sliding across the dusty concrete.

His briefcase and gift boxes tumbled across the alley as Lenny curled onto his side, catching his breath.

The courtyard went quiet. Up on the 6th-floor parapet, Leo watched from behind the low brick wall, eyes wide.

Jude lowered his foot to the pavement. "We came for a conversation. You lunged at someone first. That was defense of a third party."

The neighbors watching from the walkways murmured in agreement.

"He stepped right into her face," one called out.

"Saw the whole thing."