I sealed my lips and said, "It's clear that the people at Skyray Medical are interested in winning this partnership. They might even send someone to follow us. When they see that we're going to the herb production plant, they'll try to sway our assessment."

Spencer smiled and said, "Don't worry, Ms. Lanka. We have ways of evading Skyray Medical's operatives."

Relieved to learn they had an idea, I nodded and stopped there.

At around 2:00 p.m., a car booked by Spencer came to the hotel to drive us off. Almost immediately after we got in, the driver cast a glance into the rearview mirror and told us, "We're being...