“Paper designs,” Medina said. “We built some models, but nothing functional. I was in the process of modifying one of Professor Liu’s propeller designs when I was expelled. My husband was dead, my daughter taken by the same government that killed him. All I had was my mathematics, and that, too, was ripped from me. One day I was a respected student, fully integrated into the program, the next Party officials came into my room without knocking and ordered me to pack my belongings. I was to return immediately by train to Kashgar. I telephoned Professor Liu’s private number from the train station, begging for an explanation. He assured me that this was all a misunderstanding, a mistake on the part of the government and that it would all work out. He said not to worry, that I was vital to his work…
“But I was not vital and it did not work out. Whatever the reason, it must have been far above Professor Liu’s head. The government changed my mobile number and his, effectively putting a fence between us. They are very skilled at that. In any case, Hala was still a virtual prisoner at her gymnastics school. There was nothing for me in Kashgar. One of my childhood friends had joined the group you call Wuming. I contacted her and… you saw the rest.” She looked back and forth between Chavez and Yao. “There is something you are not telling me.”
“There is,” Yao said.
Chavez gave a little shrug, exhaled sharply, and then nodded. They wouldn’t get anywhere unless Medina learned at least some of what they knew, though it was classified above top secret.
“Our government has reason to believe,” Yao said, “that a Chinese submarine is in trouble, stranded on the seabed, unable to surface or communicate. It’s highly likely that Professor Liu is aboard this submarine and that it has been outfitted with a quiet gearless ring-propulsion drive the Chinese call—”
Medina finished his sentence. “
“Was Mirage one of the projects you worked on with Liu?” Chavez asked.
“It was
“Was he working on a similar project?” Chavez asked.
“He was,” Medina said, eyes narrowing.
“Do you think it is possible the professor had you expelled so he could call the Mirage drive his invention?”
Medina shook her head in disbelief, though it was clear from the look in her eyes that this was exactly what she thought had happened. She reached for the notepad in front of Chavez. “May I?”
Yao scooted forward in his chair, looking at Chavez. “I may need to go to Huludao and take a look through the professor’s office.”
Medina shook her head. “No,” she said. “He kept everything important to him under the floorboards of his bedroom.” She looked sheepishly at the men. “I did not… I mean to say… he was my superior. There was nothing…”
“Bastard,” Ryan said again.
Yao patted the table. “We are not judging you for the actions of bad men. Now, do you believe he would have kept plans from his work in this secret spot?”
“I feel sure of it,” Medina said, scribbling on the pad. “He stored little at the labs, fearing others would steal his work and take the credit for it.” She got to her feet, carrying the pad as she walked, swaying with the motion of the truck to work off her anger, since there was no room in the back to pace.
“I must return to China,” she said.
“Not a chance,” Ding said. “We almost didn’t get you out.” He didn’t say it out loud, but he couldn’t help but think that Lisanne might well still lose her life on the mission to get Medina. He wasn’t about to let her return and risk falling into Beijing’s hands.
“Listen to me,” Medina said. “I can retrieve the files.”
“No,” Ding said. “I’m confident the professor’s home has already been ransacked by government agents a dozen times over.”
“I doubt they could find his hiding place,” Medina said. “He has an engineer’s mind. He knows how to build clever things. I would pit his intellect against the idiots from the MSS any day.”
“My friend is right,” Yao said. “We just prevented you from falling into Beijing’s hands. You are the key.”
“No,” Medina said. “The key is the plans for the Mirage propulsion drive, and that will be in Liu Wangshu’s home. I am certain of it.”
“Then we will go,” Ding said. Resolute. “Or, at least,
Medina looked stricken at the thought. “If anyone goes, it should be him.” She nodded at Yao. “You look Chinese, so you might be able to walk around Huludao for a time without being questioned, but even you will still need me to get past Auntie Pei. She is the neighbor across the street.”
“No,” Chavez said. “And that’s final. I may not be the person for the job, but you certainly aren’t. We’ll figure out another way to get around Auntie Pei.”
