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“The historical vault you mentioned before,” Gray said, “is it on this level?”
Kwong glanced up. “No, above us are offices and a research lab.” The director looked at Gray with a raised brow. “And our historical vault.”
Gray glanced at his watch, less to check the time as to silently communicate that the tour needed to come to an end.
Kwong got the message. “I can take you there right now.”
He turned abruptly toward the stairwell and nearly collided into the petite researcher who carried a huge spider pinned to a cardboard tray.
“Maafkan saya,” he apologized in Malay to the young woman.
She tossed her tray aside and revealed the pistol clutched beneath it. She jammed the weapon into Kwong’s ribs. The other researchers from the pinning room rushed out with weapons in hand. Boots pounded up behind them.
Kwong’s captor glared at Gray and Seichan.
The woman had dark hair, bobbed short, with smoky eyes. Her features were a shade of almond. Gray knew all of it was fake. In his mind’s eye, he stripped away the wig, the make-up, the contact lenses, even the sculpting latex that widened her cheekbones. He pictured the pale woman beneath, the blank canvas over which she had layered her disguise.
“I think your tour has come to an end,” Valya said.
11
January 23, 2:22P.M.ICT
Phsar Réam, Cambodia
Captain Tse Daiyu intended to defend her turf. She had expended considerable time and energy to establish this research installation on Cambodian soil. She refused to let another division of the military commandeer the project. To be shoved aside would be a blemish on her record, carrying with it a measure of dishonor.
Still, she greeted the astrophysicist with respect. She stood behind her desk as her secretary led the man into her office. She offered a small bow. “Welcome to Cambodia, Dr. Choi.”
“Xièxiè nín,” he responded formally and crossed to the seat offered to him.
After being alerted to his pending arrival, Daiyu had already read up on the visitor. Choi Aigua was in his late sixties, two decades older than her, and had served most of his life in the PLA, specifically at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, where Chinese taikonauts were flown into space. He had risen to the rank ofzhongjiàng, a lieutenant-general with PLA Strategic Support Force, before retiring from service. Still, he stayed on as a consultant with the China Academy of Space Technology.
And now he’s here.
She waited for him to sit before she settled behind her desk. She was suddenly all too aware of the spartan nature of her office. Beyond theutilitarian steel desk, which supported a desktop computer and a neat stack of folders, there were two file cabinets and a spare chair pushed into a corner. Daiyu seldom greeted visitors in her private space. There was a conference room down the hall for any organizational meetings.
The only bit of drama in her office was the large window that overlooked the warehouse’s docking bay.
Aigua cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to intrude, Captain Tse. And thank you for allowing me to bring my son.” He waved to a young man leaning on her secretary’s desk with a hat in hand. “Xue is a major with the Strategic Support Force.”
She nodded, hearing the pride in his voice. Clearly, his son had followed in his father’s footsteps, likely gaining his rank at such a young age due to his paternal connection. Irritation shot through her, knowing how hard it had been for her to gain her captaincy.
Still, she kept her voice even. “How may I help you?”
“My son and I have come to view the bodies recovered from theChangzheng 24. It seems the goals of the PLA Navy and the Strategic Support Force have grown aligned in this matter.”
“How?” she asked, voicing the question that had plagued her all day. No amount of research had revealed any explanation. “Of what interest is this to the space agency?”
“Because we were the ones who sent theChangzheng 24to its doom.”
Daiyu failed to hide her surprise and rein in her reaction. “I... I had not been told.”
“Very few in the PLA were informed. Most believed the new submarine was on a shakedown cruise, to test its capabilities.”
Her jaw muscles clenched, but she spoke calmly. “That is what I was informed.”
“And now you will know the truth.”
