Having been granted immunity, Andrew Martin represented Cartwright in negotiating a plea agreement with Arthur Larkin. Under its terms, Cartwright dropped out of the presidential race and agreed to a five-year jail term with the possibility of parole after two. Paul presented the agreement to Judge McCardle, who immediately signed it.
Wilkins was fired from his post as national security advisor, and the ten million dollars disappeared from the Trinidad bank. Alistair Singh claimed he had no idea where it went.
Once Cartwright’s plea agreement was accepted by the judge, Kelly knew she would not need Xiang as a witness. The next day, she drove to Charlottesville in an unmarked car with two US marshals. Their plan was to pick up Xiang at the FBI safe house and drive him to Dulles Airport, where he would be taking a plane to his place of resettlement under the witness protection program. The marshals had all of the papers, identification, and cash that Xiang would need to start a new life.
In the car, one of the marshals explained to Kelly, “Director Forester told us not to provide you with this man’s new name or his place of resettlement. He said that was for your protection. We will take Xiang to the airport, and Agent Rolfe will drive you back to Washington.”
Kelly understood. If Liu ever decided to find and kill Xiang, he might use Kelly to do so. It would be better if she didn’t know his name or location.
Xiang was standing on the porch in the bright sunlight with Rolfe when Kelly and the marshals arrived. She asked the marshals to remain in the house while she went out to talk with Xiang one final time. Rolfe nodded at Kelly as she approached and withdrew into the house.
“It’s all over,” she told Xiang. “They’re taking you to Dulles Airport to fly you to your resettlement location.”
“I was hoping we could be together from this point on,” Xiang said.
“That’s not possible.”
He nodded. “I understand. You should know that I’m extremely grateful to you. You’ve given me a new life and freedom.”
His words echoed what her father had tried and failed to do for Fritz Helfund.
“Return to being the person you were our junior year at CMU,” she said.
“I will, and I’ll never forget about the Kelly Cameron I fell in love with that year.”
One of the marshals stepped out onto the porch. “Ms. Cameron, we have to leave to make his plane.”
She looked at Xiang and said, “Go now.”
Xiang reached for her hand and squeezed it. Then he walked through the door and into his new life.
Watching him go, Kelly tried to imagine what her life might have been if Xiang had defected fifteen years ago.