He did not know what to say. It would not be an easy job to convince an American partner when he shared the same doubts. He would have to move as carefully as if he were treading on thin ice. Politics. Chief Inspector Chen had had enough. He put down his cup.

“I’m afraid I cannot take the case, Party Secretary Li. In fact, I came to discuss another investigation with you. A body was discovered in Bund Park this morning. The wounds on the body suggest it may be a triad killing.”

“A triad killing in Bund Park?”

“Yes, both Detective Yu and I have reached the same conclusion, but we have no clue yet as to which gang is responsible. So I’ll be focused on investigating this homicide case. It could damage the image of our new Shanghai -”

“That’s true,” Li cut him short. “It may well be a matter for your special squad, but Wen’s case is far more urgent. The Bund Park case can wait until after Inspector Rohn leaves. That won’t delay matters too long.”

“I don’t think I am a good candidate to take charge of Wen’s case. Someone from Internal Security or the Foreign Liaison Ministry would be more suitable.”

“Let me tell you something, Chief Inspector Chen. This is the decision of the ministry in Beijing. Minister Huang himself recommended you for the job during the teleconference.”

“Why, Party Secretary Li?”

“Inspector Rohn can speak Chinese. So Minister Huang insisted that her Chinese counterpart must not only be politically reliable, but speak English as well. You are an English-speaking young cadre with experience in escorting Westerners.”

“Since she speaks Chinese, I don’t see why her partner here has to be an English speaker. As for my experience, I have worked only as a representative of the Chinese Writers’ Association. That was totally different-we discussed literature. For this job, an intelligence officer would be more qualified.”

“Her command of Chinese is limited. Some of our people met her in Washington. She did a good job escorting them, but for the formal meetings, they had to hire a professional interpreter. We believe you will have to speak English most of the time.”

“I’m honored that Minister Huang has thought of me,” Chen said slowly, trying to come up with some other official-sounding excuses. “I’m just too young and inexperienced for such an assignment.”

“Do you think it is a job for an old-timer like me?” Li sighed, his baggy eyes sagging in the morning light. “Don’t let your years slip away without accomplishing something. Forty years ago, I liked poetry, too. Remember these lines by General Yue Fei? Do not waste your youthful time doing nothing / until you’re white-haired, / regretting in vain.”

Chen was taken aback. Li had never before spoken of poetry with him, much less recited lines from memory.

“And there was another criterion discussed in the ministry meeting,” Li continued. “The candidate should present a good image of our police force.”

“What does that mean?”

“Isn’t Inspector Rohn quite presentable?” Li took up the picture. “You will present a wonderful image of China ’s police force. A modernist poet and translator, with an intimate knowledge of Western literature.”

This was becoming absurd. What was really expected of him? To be an actor, a tourist guide, a model, a public relations specialist-anything but a cop.

“That’s the very reason that I should not take the job, Party Secretary Li. People have already been talking about my exposure to Western culture. Bourgeois decadence or whatever. For me to accompany an American woman officer, dining, shopping, sightseeing-instead of doing real work. What will they think?”

“Oh, you will have work to do.”

“What work, Party Secretary Li?”

“Wen Liping is from Shanghai originally. She was an educated youth in the early seventies. She could have come back to Shanghai. So you’ll do some investigating here.”

This sounded far from convincing. It did not take a chief inspector to interview Wen’s possible contacts, unless he was supposed to put on a show to impress the American, Chen reflected.

Li stood up and put his hands on Chen’s shoulders. “This is an assignment you cannot say no to, Comrade Chen Cao. It’s in the interests of the Party.”

“In the interests of the Party!” Chen also rose to his feet. Below him, traffic came to a bumper-to-bumper stop along Fuzhou Road. Further argument would be futile. “You always have the last word, Party Secretary Li.”

“Minister Huang has it, actually. All these years, the Party has always trusted you. What was it you just quoted from Confucius?”

“I know, but-” He did not know how to continue.

“You take over the case at a critical moment, we understand. The ministry will provide you with a special fund. No limit to your budget. Take Inspector Rohn to the best restaurants, theaters, cruises-whatever you decide. Spend as much as you can. Don’t let the Americans think we are all as poor as those boat people. This is foreign liaison work, too.”

Most people would consider such an assignment desirable. First-class hotels, entertainment, and banquets. China must not lose face before Western visitors: one of the government foreign liaison regulations Chen had learned. There was another side, however, to such an assignment, the government’s secret surveillance. Internal Security would lurk in the background.

“I’ll do my best, I’ve just got a couple of requests, Party Secretary Li.”

“Go ahead.”

“I want to have Detective Yu Guangming as my partner on the case.”

“Detective Yu is an experienced cop, but he does not speak English. If you need help, I would like to suggest someone else.”

“I will send Detective Yu to Fujian. I don’t know what the local police have done so far. We need to establish the cause of Wen’s disappearance,” Chen said, trying to catch any change of Li’s expression, but seeing none. “Detective Yu can keep me informed about all the latest developments there.”

“What will the Fujian police think?”

“I’m in charge, aren’t I?”

“Of course, you have complete control over the whole operation. Your orders have already been cut.”

“Then I will have him fly to Fujian this afternoon.”

“Well, if you insist.” Li agreed. “Do you need any help here? You’ll be fully occupied with Inspector Rohn.”

“That’s true. I have some other work pending. And there’s the body in the park, too.”

“Do you really want to work on the Bund Park case? I don’t think you have the time, Chief Inspector Chen.”

“Some preliminary work has to be done. It cannot wait.”

“What about Sergeant Qian Jun? He can serve as a temporary assistant for you.”

Chen did not like Qian, a young graduate of the police academy with an old head for politics. It would be too much, however, to turn down Li’s suggestion again. “Qian’s fine. I will be out with Inspector Rohn most of the time. When Detective Yu calls in, Qian can relay messages.”

“Qian can also help with the paperwork,” Li added with a smile. “Oh, there’s a clothing subsidy for this job. Don’t forget to go see the bureau’s accountant.”

“Isn’t that allowance only for people going abroad?”

“You will have to put on your best suit for people coming from abroad. Remember, present a worthy image of our police force. You can also have a room at the Peace Hotel. That’s where Inspector Rohn will stay. It will be more convenient for you.”

“Well-” The prospect of staying in that famous hotel was tempting. Staying in a room overlooking the Bund would not only be a treat for him. He had invited Detective Yu’s family to come over to take a hot bath when he had stayed at the Jing River Hotel. Most Shanghai families did not have a bathroom, much less hot water. However, it would not necessarily be wise, Chen concluded, for him to stay in the same hotel as a female American officer. “That won’t be necessary, Party Secretary Li. It’s only ten minute’s walk from here. We can save money for the bureau.”