China Box by Diana Deverell

Author:Diana Deverell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Sorrel Press
Published: 2016-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

24

“We seem to be following parallel paths.”

Holger blessed us with a grandfatherly smile.

“It would be a shame if we found ourselves working at cross purposes. Perhaps we should pool our knowledge. Develop a plan to assure we achieve our separate goals.”

He spoke slowly and his voice was kindly. Relying on the same saccharine win-win arguments he used to draw new parishioners into his church.

But his gray eyes had turned the color of pewter. The colonel was nudging the pastor offstage.

While Holger could sweet-talk churchgoers into doing what he wanted, he found commanding soldiers more efficient.

“Your lovely sentiments don’t quite ring true.” Sipping coffee, I eyed him over the rim of my mug.

“So far,” I continued, “you haven’t put one drop of knowledge into this pool you mentioned. Dawna and I have no clue what your goal is. Bella informed you of ours. What’s yours?”

He widened his eyes, a pantomime of surprise. He was still trying to act conciliatory.

“I assumed you had worked that out,” he said to me. “Surely, it’s obvious that I also wish to help a Chinese national defect to your country.”

Dawna cleared her throat. The sound grated with irritation.

“What’s obvious to me is that you’re Danish. In no position to aid anyone coming to the US.”

“Your position is not better.” Holger’s clipped English made his short sentences abrupt. His tone turned his words abrasive.

“Your role is not to aid defectors,” he continued to Dawna. “You were tasked to expedite fugitive arrests.”

Dawna’s backbone stiffened. Her hands clenched into fists.

Holger seemed determined to offend all my best pals. I had to intervene before Dawna punched him.

“Whoa, girl.” I held up my open palm toward her.

“Remember, English isn’t Holger’s mother tongue. He can’t do nuance. He’s blunt in Danish. When he switches to English, he gets in your face. You have to pay attention to his meaning and ignore his failures of diplomacy.”

Dawna slowly uncurled her fingers. “You mean this old cuss isn’t calling us hopeless fools?”

“No. You pointed out that he has no standing in this country when it comes to aiding defectors. He noted that you have the same problem. So do I.”

My laugh was bitter. “Not one of us has the authority to do this. We’ll have to be creative.”

I turned toward Holger. “Okay, we know your goal. A good start. Now, flesh it out. Tell us how you got into this situation. Key facts concerning the person you’re helping. Why the US is the preferred destination.”

Holger shifted in his seat as though uncomfortable. “I cannot provide details of how contact was established. Let us say that I was made aware of an individual I will call Mr. Zane.”

“Zane?” I frowned. “Spelled Z-A-N-E?”

He nodded and I wrote it down.

“Doesn’t sound Chinese.” Dawna sniffed. “I suppose that’s the point.”

“It approximates the way Westerners spell the third most common surname in China,” Holger said. “The Danish equivalent is Jens Jensen. Your John Smith.”

I twirled my hand in a move-it-along gesture. “Good enough. Tell us about Mr. Zane.”

“He was a journalist when he lived in China.

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