He shook his head. “I don’t know myself. Cameron only told Jack Sen. He said it was safer.”

“He could be right. Luke, Hu Chang. Let’s go.”

Hu Chang jumped from the helicopter, with Luke following. “Luke, I think since you owe Tashdon a debt, that we should strive to accommodate him.” He set off for the Gulfstream jet on the tarmac.

Catherine started after him, then stopped and turned back to Tashdon. “Do you know if Cameron is all right? Have you heard from him since we left the mountain?”

He shook his head. “No, he was probably busy.”

“That’s what I thought. I just thought he’d tell someone he was safe.”

He frowned, puzzled. “But Cameron is always safe.”

“Always? Why?”

“Because he’s—”

“The Guardian?” she finished mockingly for him as he stopped.

“I don’t know what you mean.” He added, “I was going to say competent. Cameron is … competent.”

“No one can argue with that.” She said, “And I’m sorry that my son … well, I’m not sorry you got what you deserved, but I’m sorry that Luke was the one who did it.” She didn’t wait for him to answer but hurried and caught up with Erin. “He hasn’t heard from Cameron. I thought I’d check.” She smiled ironically. “Though he informs me that Cameron is competent. Isn’t that a shocker? I’m losing faith in Cameron’s personnel choices. He almost slipped and called him the Guardian.” She glanced at Erin. “You don’t seem surprised that I know that term. I found out a little from Cameron and Hu Chang but damn little. It would help if you’d open up and tell me more.”

“I’m not surprised,” she said quietly. “I knew you’d dig until you found out all you could. You’ll never stop. But I told you that it will have to come from Cameron.”

“I have to know. It’s the only way I can protect you,” she said. “We both know that we’re not free yet. We won’t be free until Kadmus is dead, and I’ll bet he’s already started searching again.” She added in frustration, “And he knows more about all this than I do, dammit.”

“Look, I’ll hide out. I’ll let you and your CIA people guard me. I’ll cooperate fully. I appreciate what you’re doing, and I don’t want to be a burden.”

“Then tell me why Kadmus—” She broke off. She’d gone down that path before and gotten nowhere. New path. “That lotus pendant you wear that Kadmus seemed to be so fascinated with. Where did you get it? Did Cameron give it to you?”

Erin’s hand flew to her necklace. “Sort of.” She quickly shook her head. “Leave it alone, Catherine. That’s out of bounds, too.”

“I’ll stop questioning you, but I won’t leave it alone.” They had reached the jet, and she stopped at the steps. “I’m not going to endanger anything or anyone you’ve suffered to protect, but I will know what this is all about. So far I’ve only been concentrating on getting you free and keeping us alive. But I’ve got breathing room now, and it’s a long flight from here to the U.S. I can think, and I can research. However, it would be easier if I learned it from you.”

Erin shook her head.

“Fine.” She turned to the small, dapper Eurasian, wearing a brown leather flight jacket who was coming down the steps. “Jack Sen? Catherine Ling. Tashdon tells me that you’re the only one who’s been advised of Erin’s destination. Where are we going?”

“San Francisco.” He shook her hand. “Well, actually, an airport east of the city, but we’ll have transport for you. Everything will go smooth as clockwork.” He had a faint British accent and pleasant manner. “Cameron will have nothing to worry about.”

“Thank you. It seems we’re all primarily concerned that Cameron suffer as little distress as possible.” She started up the steps. “Come on, Erin. Mr. Sen, since we’re on a five-minute deadline set by Cameron, perhaps we’d better take off.”

*   *   *

“He got away?” Kadmus asked incredulously. “How could that be? He was alone. He’s only one man.”

“He just slipped away,” Brasden said. “He must have been helped by the villagers.”

“You said that the villagers had all abandoned their towns and gone upland.”

“What do you want me to tell you?” Brasden asked. “We’re still looking. I’m not giving up, but I think we’d better start using those photos.” He pulled out his phone and dialed up the photos. “This last one is fairly decent. Anyone who saw it would recognize him. He has a memorable face.”

Kadmus glanced at the photo. “Yes, he does.” He thought about it. “Start asking questions. I want a name to go with that face.” The bastard looked like he was enjoying himself, he thought sourly. That would end when he got his hands on him. “And a location to go with that name.”

“It may take a while to find any villagers who will talk about him. We haven’t been able to find any—”

“Then leave here and go somewhere that you can find someone who will answer questions.”

“Where?”

“Fly over to Yorshoi region. That’s where Erin Sullivan was working after the earthquake. I’d bet that’s where she made contact with him. There’s a chance he’s well-known there.”

“Right away. What about the registration on the helicopter?”

“I’ve checked it. The registration number is bogus. But send someone to Hong Kong with a description of the helicopter and see if they can get a lead. I want to get my hands on that pilot.”

Brasden nodded. “Though it may be too late for a strike at him. Erin Sullivan is probably well on her way home to the States.”

“And will feel all the safer for it.” She wouldn’t be safe. Things weren’t as bad as he’d thought. He might have temporarily lost Erin, but he had a lead on the man who had taken her from him.

He looked down at the photo and the face that was glowing with excitement and recklessness and scorn.

You made a mistake. And you made it for Erin Sullivan.

Or did you make that mistake to protect Catherine Ling? It was a novel idea that had occurred to him and one that was probably without any basis. But it would be interesting if Ling could be used as a weapon against him.

Yes, things weren’t nearly as bad as he’d thought …

*   *   *

“This food is exceptional,” Hu Chang said as he took Catherine’s tray and gave it to Luke to take back to the well-equipped galley in the rear of the jet. “I spoke to Jack Sen, and he said that Cameron had it catered from the Princess Hotel in Hong Kong.” He smiled at Catherine. “You remember the Princess? You had your first meeting with Venable there.”

“And you were the one who arranged it for me.”

“I wanted you safer than you were selling information on the streets. Though that was no doubt a case of six of one, half a dozen of another.” He added, “And Cameron also arranged for a complete wardrobe for all of us to be brought to the plane this morning. Besides that case with the laptop and satellite phone you grabbed as soon as you set eyes on it. He appears to be wanting to meet our every need and wish.” He tilted his head. “Or perhaps he wants you comfortable so that you won’t strike out at him.”

“I haven’t struck out at him.”

“No, and you were ready to jump out of the copter to save him. But he didn’t know then that you’d do that when he provided all of these comforts.” He added, “Oh, that’s right, evidently he did. He reads you very well. And you hate to be predictable. Is that why you were so angry with Tashdon?”

“I was angry that he’d been stupid enough to do what Cameron told him. And that Cameron had chosen someone who didn’t know what he was doing and gave me a headache.” She glanced at Luke, who had come out of the galley with some kind of electronic game and dropped down in a seat to play it. “And that it triggered something in Luke that I didn’t want to see.”

“He’s your son, and I saw nothing that I would not approve and embrace.” He corrected, “Except a lack of control, and we’ve already discussed that.”

“But you’re no more judge than I. We’re both flawed.”