She went still. “You didn’t tell me that.”

“You weren’t ready. You’d have accused me of playing on your sympathy to keep you from being with your son.” He added grimly, “But we’ve got to get her out of Tibet pretty damn quick, or it won’t be in one piece.”

“Unless she gives him what he wants.”

“I don’t believe that’s an option. She’s held out this long.”

She changed the subject. “Where is he keeping her?”

“Utset Province. Daksha Mountain, an ancient palace deep in the mountains. It was taken over by the monks when the local royal family was killed off by a warring neighbor. Kadmus moved in and kicked out the monks a couple years ago. It’s practically inaccessible from the outside.”

“Then how would you get me in?”

“A helicopter that will let you out on the left slope of the mountain. You’d have to climb up to the plateau from there and find your own way into the palace. I can give you a map of the location of Kadmus’s troops within the gates and the outside sentries. There’s a drainage pipe that we thought would be a possible way in, but we’ve crossed that out now.”

“Why?”

Venable didn’t speak for a moment. “A young village boy used it to try to get in to rescue her. He was killed, and the pipe may have been discovered as an entry source.”

She felt sick. “A young boy…”

“So you’ll probably have to climb the compound wall and come in through the roof of the palace.”

“And how am I supposed to get her out?”

“That’s up to you.”

“Thank you.” But she’d probably prefer it that way. Planned exits had a habit of going to hell when you were on the spot. “The helicopter?”

“The pilot can stay in the area if you don’t alert Kadmus’s men. If you do, he has orders to leave. Kadmus has missile launchers.”

“My alternative?”

“There’s a village on the mountain, but it’s controlled by Kadmus. You’ll have to leave the area and head for one of the other mountains. The closest one is Milchang Mountain. Sullivan might know a village that will shelter and hide you until you can get out of the country. Otherwise, you trek across the mountains until you get to a place where we can set down a helicopter.”

“Time?”

“Best-case scenario, you’re in and out in three hours with Sullivan in tow. Worst-case scenario, you’re hiding in the mountains for four to six weeks until we can get to you.”

“It had better be a best-case scenario.” She paused. “How soon can you get me there?”

“You’re going to go?”

“I didn’t say that. How soon?”

“I could have a man pick you up on the dock in three hours. I have a helicopter ready, packed with all the emergency equipment you’ll need at a heliport in town. You’ll be in Utset Province in four hours if the weather holds.”

“Is there a chance it won’t?”

“There’s always that chance. High altitude, misty snow when it’s not a blizzard, freezing temperatures. Kadmus had a reason for establishing his headquarters there.” He added quietly, “And a reason why Erin Sullivan’s chances are going down the tube with every passing day. Are you going to help improve those chances? She deserves it, Catherine.”

“We all deserve it.” But some deserved the chance to survive a little more than others. Erin Sullivan had earned that preference when she had saved all those victims in the earthquake. There was such a thing as payback. “It had better be that best-case scenario, Venable.”

“Yes.”

“And you get me out of here without Hu Chang knowing that I’ve gone, or it’s no deal.”

“No problem.”

“Liar. I can see big problems from start to finish. I’ll be on the dock in three hours.” She hung up.

She was an idiot. She should not be worrying about anything or anyone but her relationship with Luke.

You told me once that being CIA is something like being a soldier. Isn’t it your job?

Yes, it was. She had made the decision which way she wanted her life to go a long time ago. For a person of her background in Hong Kong, there had been only two paths, and she had turned her back on the corruption that would have been the easy choice.

And besides Erin Sullivan, there was Hu Chang, who would be going after her if Catherine did not. She would not be able to stay on the sidelines and worry about his running up against a bastard like Paul Kadmus.

All right, decision made.

She got to her feet and headed for the shower. She had this evening with Luke, and she would forget everything else and live for the moment. It was how she had always tried to deal with every adversity, and this one might be shaping up to be one nightmare of an adversity.

Just live for the moment and hope for that best-case scenario.

*   *   *

“Catherine is lighting up my garden tonight,” Chen Lu said to Hu Chang. Her bemused gaze was fixed on Catherine and Luke, who were going down the steps of the terrace to the garden after dinner. “She was tired when she arrived, but she seems to have made a rapid recovery.”

“Perhaps too rapid.” Hu Chang lifted his wine to his lips. “We’ll have to see.”

“You’ll have to see,” Chen Lu said. “I have nothing to do with the complicated relationship you have with Catherine. It sometimes bewilders me, so I prefer to not think about it. You’re the one who analyzes and studies. I just enjoy.”

“I know.” Hu Chang smiled faintly. “That’s a great and wonderful gift. And may you continue to enjoy it for the foreseeable future.”

“I intend to do that.” She laughed as she reached over and touched his hand with affection. “With the help of my friend.” Her gaze returned to Catherine. “That ivory brocade is magnificent on her. I thought I preferred her in color, but that caftan makes her dark hair and gold-olive skin seem to burn in contrast. She’s truly beautiful, isn’t she?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “And you’re right, she seems extremely high-voltage tonight.” He paused. “I’m going away tomorrow morning. Before dinner, I talked to Garret Flannan, your head of security. I told him to put on extra personnel and assign special security to Catherine and Luke while they’re here. They don’t go anywhere alone.” He met Chen Lu’s gaze. “See to it.”

Her smile faded. “Trouble? I suspected as much.” She grimaced. “Tell me I’m not going to have to plant another new garden. I was most upset when you let it be destroyed by that terrible man who came after you, Hu Chang.”

“Just a precaution.” He smiled. “And there will always be terrible, troublesome men who come after me. If you want to avoid the problems I bring to your doorstep, you could always throw me into the streets.”

“Not likely,” Chen Lu said. “I’m not that kind of fool. What’s a paltry garden or two compared to the gift you bring me?”

“You still have no regrets?”

“Not yet.” She was silent a moment. “When I do, I’ll come to you and beg one of those poisons that you sell for so much money.” She lifted her chin and smiled. “Or perhaps for old times’ sake, you’ll give it to me for nothing.”

“Perhaps I will. If I’m still around.”

Her smile faded. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“Life moves quickly and changes every minute. One can never be sure.” He rose to his feet. “I have a few preparations to make for my trip. I believe I’ll go and say good night to Catherine and Luke.” He crossed the terrace and started down the steps. “You’ll remember to make sure Flannan does as I told him?”

“Don’t be ridiculous; of course I will.” Her Irish accent deepened with emotion as she added, “And I’m not going to like it one bit if you’re stupid enough to get yourself killed. What would I do without you? I like the idea of a choice.”

“I’ll remember that,” Hu Chang said. “And I’ll do my utmost to oblige.”

*   *   *

“Hu Chang is coming.” Luke was looking over his shoulder. “I thought I heard his footstep.”

“Heard?” Catherine looked down at him. “He’s yards away, and how would you know it is him?”