Sam continued: “You have told us a great deal but there’s a lot of virology information that will need to be discussed with people who will know what you’re talking about.”
Sam looked at Dr. Wu, leaving space for him to comment.
“I would like to see my daughter’s body. I can tell your scientists everything they need to know, but I want to see my daughter first.”
“Yes, that’s fair” offered Sam.
Sam’s phone buzzed. “Would you excuse me for a moment please?” and he left the room.
“Deputy Director?”
“Sam, something’s come up. It’s not good. I’m sending you a video file.”
Sam opened the downloaded file on his phone. It was a video of a man and a woman, duct-taped, obviously being held captive. The voiceover had a heavy Chinese accent.
“We have your
You have some items that belong to us.
We would like these things back.
Bring them to Milan, and we tell you how we make the exchange.”
Then at the end, someone out of frame held up an Italian newspaper in front of the camera, showing today’s date.
“This your proof of life. Bring us the vials you took from the lab. See you tomorrow.”
He turned the newspaper over for the camera, revealing an Italian mobile number.
“Call us when you get here. Otherwise, maybe chop head off for CNN.”
Sam touched his screen to bring the Deputy Director back up.
“Why Milan?” Sam asked.
“Yes, that is strange. We don’t see the connection at all. Maybe they want the vials in Italy for some reason. We have people working on finding an answer to that question.”
“So we have to go in, right? Those are the adoptive parents of my operative. Retired CIA officers.” said Sam, continuing: “Maybe take some prisoners of our own while we’re at it?”
“I agree Sam. We can’t have our CIA statesmen being mistreated by the Chinese. I suggest you get going now. Take the vials in case you need to bait and switch. Hash out some potential plans of action on the plane. I’ll get a team in place in Milan. Maybe you go in heavy, maybe you don’t. Either way, you have to get your ass over there. Decide on a plan once you are on the way. Check in with me before you land. You can take your ‘Snow Forest’. I’m sure she’ll insist anyway.”
“What about Roet? Isn’t he on his way?” Sam asked.
“I think you and I both know that Roet is a clumsy fuck and needs to be chained to a desk in the library. I’ll let him know that he can debrief his assets. That’ll give him something to keep busy with.”
“We are done interviewing them anyway. I doubt they’ll give him anything we don’t already have, but you never know. Maybe he’ll surprise us. I still have to watch the tape. I figured it was best to let Snow Forest sweet talk him. She said it went well. She’ doesn’t have any field experience in interrogation but I’ll let you know after I watch the footage on the plane.
“Very good Sam. That is all. Call me when you have some options. I’ll organize your transport. It can’t be commercial of course. Go to the armoury. I’ll send a blank requisition form for you. Anything you need.”
Xue Lin walked out into the morning sun, still unaware of the situation that had developed in Milan. Sam had decided to take twenty minutes to make a few calls and get things moving before taking the time to sit down with her to show her the video on his phone.
The base was full of American soldiers, all looking relaxed. Xue Lin found a seat in the warm morning sunshine and waited for Sam to get back from his errands. She felt that the interviews had gone well, and was confident that both Dr. Wu and Jimmy would be a good fit in America if they made it through the induction process. She felt sorry for Dr. Wu, who would likely have quite a miserable life ahead of him. She felt that Sam’s softer account of Roet’s botched rescue attempt was a wise way to avoid Wu locking up on them in anger. She wondered how things would go with Wu when Roet arrived from Langley.
Sam’s phone rang and he wrote down the details of the private jet that had been requisitioned for him and Xue Lin. They had an hour to get organized before wheels up. He figured it was time to sit down with her and give her the bad news.
Sam found Xue Lin still sitting eyes closed in the sun. He thought it best to give it to her straight. Mentally, she was equipped to deal with stressful information, but this was closer to home than any scenario she had been faced with in her career.
“It’s good to be warm again. They don’t have sunshine in Wuhan. They do have a nice blanket of smog going though.”
“Xue Lin, we’ve had a development. It’s not good.”
She sat up and Sam gave her the news, finishing with the video. She took it like a pro, saying only: “I’m going with you.”
