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"Eight civilians," Sandecker repeated "And none of them looked remotely familiar to you?"

"I'm not sure their own mothers could identify them," said Pitt

"Why? Was I supposed to know somebody?"

Sandecker shook his head "I can't say"

Pitt couldn't recall seeing the adht The iron arent eyes seemed stricken Pitt watched for a reaction as he spoke

"If I had to venture an opinion, i'd say someone snuffed the candle on half the Chinese embassy"

"Chinese?" The eyes suddenly turned as sharp as ice picks

"What are you saying?"

"Seven of the eight civilians were from eastern Asia"

"Could you be in error?" Sandecker asked, regaining a foothold

"with little or no visibility-"

"Visibility was ten feet And, I'm well aware of the difference between the eye folds of a Caucasian and an Oriental"

"Thank God," Sandecker said, exhaling a deep breath

"I'd be ed if you would inform me just what in hell you expected Al and me to find down there"

Sandecker's eyes softened "I owe you an explanation," he said, "but I can't give you one There are events occurring around us that we have no need to know"