“I do not like that word. I prefer to call it multiexperienced.”

“Call it what you like. We’re not normal, and I want a normal life for Luke.” She held up her hand. “I know, he made it clear that he couldn’t be what I wanted him to be. I just want him not to enjoy killing someone because he thought I was hurt.”

“You were hurt,” Hu Chang said. “And I have no quarrel with his receiving pleasure from punishing the person who did it. I would do the same. And so would you if that act were aimed at Luke or me.”

“You see? The case rests. Flawed.”

He smiled and shook his head. “Multiexperienced.”

She chuckled reluctantly. “Whatever. But it will be better if I get Luke away from this situation as soon as possible. Agreed?”

“Better for your peace of mind. Not necessarily better for your relationship with Luke. You would see that for yourself if you were not so torn by what other people think is correct.” He waved his hand. “But I will agree that your heart will be soothed if you’re not confronted by other situations like the one with Tashdon. So what is your solution?”

“Find out what is going on with Cameron, Erin, and that ugliness with Kadmus.”

“I suspected that would be your answer.”

“Of course you did,” she said curtly. “But it didn’t lead you to point me in the right direction.”

“I told you facts and reasonable surmises. I only held back a few wild guesses.”

“Which can sometimes be the most valuable of all. Go ahead, hold them back. I’ll work around them.”

He gave her a pleased smile. “Indeed? I will enjoy watching you.”

“Bastard.” She settled down in her seat. “Go away. I’m going to take a two-hour nap and clear my mind before I get to work on the computer.”

*   *   *

Cameron?

She woke two hours later with the thought of him in her mind like a persistent pop song.

No answer.

Of course not. And there was nothing to worry about. It was just Cameron doing his own thing and ignoring everyone else.

And it was time for her to do her own thing.

She straightened in her seat and reached for her bottle of water. She took a drink and then set it aside and took the computer out of the case and flipped it open.

First, verify what Hu Chang had told her about Cameron’s identity being erased. She accessed Langley’s database.

Thirty minutes later, she exited the Interpol database. She had also scanned NSA, FBI, and Scotland Yard. It was probably a waste of time to go any further when she was getting the same answer. She sat back and let the information sink home. The sheer power that it would take to make a man invisible on so many fronts was astonishing. They must have believed that Cameron was totally unique to even make the effort.

And who were “they”?

The committee, whoever they were.

Skip that one. She didn’t have enough information to even make guesses.

What she did know was that Erin had made contact with Cameron sometime after she had come to Tibet. He had “sort of” given her that lotus necklace, and it had attracted the attention of Kadmus. When had Cameron given her the necklace? She apparently always wore it.…

She started to access stories about Erin in the computer. There were a couple photos of her before the earthquake. No sign of the necklace. The day she had received the Pulitzer she’d worn a simple, round-necked dress. No necklace. The next story was a feature about Erin working with the orphans of Yorshoi.

Around her neck was the lotus necklace.

What date?

Six months after she had been given the Pulitzer.

So it was only a fairly recent gift from Cameron.

And during that time Erin had just been doing her job, nothing that was unusual. No contact with Kadmus or his men. She had just been writing stories about the Tibetan people and their problems.

But Beijing didn’t like stories written about those problems. It was very bad public relations.

But Venable hadn’t thought there was any direct link with Beijing to Erin’s kidnapping.

Forget Beijing. Back to the necklace.

She closed her eyes and mentally went over the details of the necklace.

Time to Google it and see if anything it brought up struck a spark.

She typed: Eight-sided lotus.

Good Lord.

The search results appeared to stretch into infinity. Everything from water plants to mythology and ancient history.

This was not going to be easy.

She sighed and clicked on the first link.

How to grow the eight-sided lotus.

*   *   *

“The transfer was made?” Cameron asked. “You saw the plane take off, Tashdon?”

“Yes, as you instructed. Everything went well.” He paused. “Well, almost. I only meant to stun Catherine Ling and get her away from the door. But she was unconscious for a few minutes.” He added hurriedly, “But she was fine when she woke.”

“Not good. That’s not what I wanted.”

“I know. She was angry, but there was a distraction, and I think that may have made her less upset with me … and you.”

“What distraction? Never mind.” He was too impatient to wait for an answer that would be defensive. He quickly scanned Tashdon’s memory. “The boy?” He started to laugh. “I’d be angry with you, but you appear to have had a hard enough time.”

“He was a kid. I wasn’t expecting—”

“That’s when you have to be most on guard. When you don’t think you have to be. You did well enough, considering the circumstances. I wouldn’t say the same if you’d really hurt her.” He changed the subject. “Leave the helicopter at the heliport and get out of Hong Kong. Lose yourself until I tell you it’s safe.”

“Yes, sir. I’m on my way.”

Cameron was still smiling as he closed the connection.

The boy …

It was no more than he had anticipated after he had read Luke. He was unusual and on his way to being extraordinary. In the years to come Catherine would have to deal with a boy in her own image. It would be interesting to watch.

She was interesting to watch. Not only that body, which was a constant temptation, but the way she moved, the quickness of her mind.

Even now, she was probably trying to solve the puzzle, go forward instead of sitting still on that long flight to San Francisco.

And she would eventually solve the puzzle. What would he do then? He knew what the committee would say. She wasn’t one of the accepted. She hadn’t been sanctioned. She was therefore unsafe. There was only one thing to do with anyone in that category.

Kill Catherine Ling?

No!

He violently rejected the thought immediately. There were other alternatives and he would find them. He did not have to—

His phone rang and he smiled as he looked at the ID. Hal Beecham was the only committee member who had never been comfortable enough with mental telepathy to give up his beloved electronic communication. It didn’t really bother Cameron. He liked Beecham, and that fault made him all the more human. “Erin Sullivan is on her way to San Francisco,” he said when he picked up the call. “The problem is partially solved.”

“Kadmus has your photo,” Beecham said.

“I know. Brasden got it. I’ll take care of it.”

“Brasden has started showing it in the villages in Yorshoi region. Will he get your name there?”

“Probably. The villagers are simple people. I said I’ll take care of it, Beecham.”

“Will we have to do an erasure?”

“A minor one, perhaps. I’ll let you know.”

“Kadmus is getting too close to you. The committee is becoming troubled.”

“There are two solutions to that problem. Let me get rid of Kadmus.” He paused. “Or get rid of me.”

“Cameron.”

“It’s very logical.”

“I told you that long term, Kadmus is of value to us.” He added, “And there’s no way the committee would ever let you go. You’re one of us. Sometimes, I think you’re the best of us.”