BLOOD DRAGON by Freddie Peters (books to get back into reading .TXT) 📕

“That would make sense … artistic rebellion is something that French academics like him would appreciate and understand.”

“Unless he has been planted there by the Chinese government … which is a possibility … remote, but not to be ignored.”

“I’ll see what I can find out about him.”

“Through Scotland Yard?” Nancy did not want Pole to become more indebted to MI6 on her behalf.

“Yes, Andy can do a bit of digging around for you. He’ll enjoy that.”

“Yvonne Butler has left a message on my phone. I need to call her. She was rather vague, which is unlike her.”

“More information from her contact.”

“I feel like Ariadne. I’m following the thread that someone has left for me to find and I think I’m getting closer to the goal.”

Pole made a quick mental calculation. Her father would be 77. He could still be alive.

“It would be crazy for me to think my father is still alive. He disappeared in 1992 or thereabouts according to Licot, as he went back to China over 20 years ago. People disappear there, never to be seen again, but it is rarely because they have been kept alive in some godforsaken prison …” Pole could not argue with that. Her father had been prominent enough for his whereabouts to have eventually percolated through … but perhaps this was an exception.

“Which brings me to my question … what do you think the goal is?”

“I’m still in the dark when it comes to that.” Nancy’s irritation grew in her voice, giving it a tense ring. “But I think Licot is part of the answer.”

“When are you meeting him again?”

“He gave me his card. I’ll call him tomorrow morning. My sense is that he will make himself available.”

“What about Amy?”

“Same answer as we received in London, I’m afraid. There is zero interest in finding out what has happened to her. As far as the Hong Kong police are concerned, it’s suicide, end of story.”

“The embassy should get involved.”

“That’s what Philippe is trying to do … but I gather the embassy is being a little slow to respond.”

“She’s not been kidnapped and there is no dead body … suicide is going to look very credible.”

“Yes, unfortunately.”

Pole held back. Despite Nancy’s reluctance to talk about his MI6 contact he felt increasingly sure he had to mention the CIA interest in her.

“Did you have time to look at the Ollie Wilson documents I sent you?”

“They’re all pointing in one direction. Ollie was convinced Turner was involved in some technology transfer to China that became the condition for closing some commercial deal. It may even be that the deal Viro-Tech is trying to close is completely legal … after all they own the technology they have developed. I think it was more an ethical issue.”

Pole was impressed at the speed with which Nancy had managed to read and assimilate the documentation he had forwarded to her the previous day.

“Do you mean that, although Viro-Tech were entitled to make the transfer, he felt they shouldn’t?”

“That’s my theory. These transfers have been going on for some years between the private sector and China. Tech companies both large and small want a slice of the action in the very large market of 1.4 billion Chinese people. Companies are quite happy, if I can call it that, to let China have a piece of their technology. Whether it is under licence or not makes no difference, once China has it. They will appropriate the technology and use it as they see fit.”

“I knew it happened, but didn’t realise it happened on such a large scale.”

“As far as the US and Europe are concerned … it does.”

“But why seek to eliminate Ollie, in that case?”

“Perhaps the biotechnology involved is too contentious to export, or perhaps it’s all about illegal drugs after all.”

“You’re not serious?” Pole baulked at the idea.

“I’m glad you reacted like that … I don’t buy the illegal drug idea either, but I can’t find the missing link that transforms a legitimate agreement, albeit unethical, into something completely illegal.”

“I visited their premises. Turner was extremely well prepared for my questions.”

“So, the CEO was expecting your visit.”

“Almost certainly … it didn’t yield much apart from the fact that the company had cleaned Ollie Wilson’s laptop rather thoroughly.”

“What would make the technology they were working on off-limits?” Pole was thinking aloud.

Nancy took a moment. “State or military appropriation … if that technology became of national interest then the lab that developed it would not be able to dispose of it freely.”

Pole tapped his fingers a few times on his desk. She needed to know.

“And the CIA might like to know where the technology was going …”

“Do you mean … both agencies are involved now?” Nancy couldn’t contain a laugh. “I took early retirement to lead a peaceful life … serves me right.”

* * *

His mobile phone was engaged. Cora hung up as it was about to switch to voicemail.

Branning shook his head. “You can’t do it … just leave a message.”

Cora sat back in the old leather chair. She brought the phone to her chin and tapped it a few times.

“I don’t know why, but I keep remembering coming out of Ollie’s hospital room, and then out of the lift, and seeing the same nurse leaving at the same time as me.”

“When was that?”

“Yesterday and again this morning.” Cora sat up, bringing her knees up to her chest … thinking. “I almost missed the lift but I managed to press the call button quickly enough. The door reopened. I stepped in. I didn’t notice the people there … my mind was on Ollie … and I pushed my way back to the rear of the lift. I don’t know why.” Cora thought for a moment. “Then when we arrived on the ground floor, I noticed her … I kept thinking there was something familiar about her … but she was a nurse and I don’t know anyone who is.”

“Then that’s another good reason to call Inspector Pole.” He tapped