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Malone shook his head “Really bad idea What do you think you can learn? Cassiopeia’s been there She owes him We have a reason to show up”
“I do not like that plan Look what happen last time I listen to you”
“He probably is thinking himself clever at the moment,” Cassiopeia said “One of those people down the street watching this spectacle is surely working for Pau So he knows I’m alive”
He caught what she hadn’t voiced
And one of his men isn’t
“I want to know all about Pau Wen,” Malone said to Stephanie “Before we go You think you can get us soround?”
She nodded
He stared at Ivan “We’ll find out e need to know”
The burly Russian nodded “Okay Give try”
“I have to leave,” Viktor said
Malone motioned with his arms “Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out”
Cassiopeia blocked Viktor’s path “Not before you tell me where Sokolov’s child is You told me you knew”
“I lied, so you’d take me with you”
“Where is the child?” she asked, the plea in her voice clear
But Viktor see ant to hear from me Of course, histo make him happy”
“Get back to him,” Ivan said “Do what you do best”
“Lie” Malone couldn’t resist
“I can handle Tang,” Viktor said “But there’s so you people should know”
Malone was listening
“Tang ordered a strike on Pau Wen He may not even be alive”
“And you’re just nowthis?” Malone asked
“You know, Malone, I’ve only been around you a few h”
“You’re welcome to take your best shot”
“Settle this later,” Stephanie said “Right now, I’m concerned about this Pau Wen Cotton, you and Cassiopeia check hiet what you need, and Ivan and I ait to hear froo do what you have to do”
“Who die and e?” Ivan asked
“We don’t have tiue”
And he saw that Ivan agreed
Malone watched as Viktor hustled off a the parked cars
“You could have been a little easier on hih spot”
Malone could not care less “He didn’t save my life Twice”
THIRTY-SIX
LANZHOU, CHINA
7:20 AM
TANG DISLIKED LANZHOU NEARLY AS MUCH AS HE DID CHONGQING The town hugged the banks of the Yellow River, crammed into a narrow valley and he kilns dotted its outskirts, everything cast in the saateway to China, the last place to change horses and buy provisions before heading west into the harsh desert Noas the capital of Gansu province—skyscrapers, shopping centers, and a convergence of railway lines sti commerce No trees, but plenty of chimneys, minarets, and power lines, its overall impression one of bleakness
He stepped from the car that had driven him from the airport He’d been infor entered the house where Sokolov had hidden
He approached the apart but dirt and deada sky tinted the color of ash The odor of fresh cey exhaust of cars and buses A labyrinth of alleys and lanes radiated in all directions, bisecting blocks of le of pushcarts, peddlers, bicycles, and farulfed him The faces ray, the only bright colors coed clothes, discarding his tailored suit for trousers, an untucked shirt, running shoes, and hat
He stopped before the granite-faced building, a flight of wooden steps leading to the upper floors He’d been told it contained housing for ers at the nearby petrochemical refinery He clis piled with boxes, baskets, and more bicycles On the second floor he found the pocked wooden door, aoutside
“There wereus,” the man reported
He stopped at the door and waited
“They work for Minister Ni”
“How many?”
“Five We dealt with them”
“Quietly?”