Beijing

President Zhou sat in his office brooding. He had finished reading for the second time the report that State Security forwarded to him on Mei Ling’s activities.

He was astounded to learn how close she had come to capturing the presidency when she had challenged him. He was also amazed to read the transcript of a telephone call Qin Ping, a member of the Central Committee, had with Mei Ling, prepared pursuant to Zhou’s directive to record all calls which Central Committee supporters of Mei Ling conducted. The call didn’t last long enough for State Security to pinpoint Mei Ling’s location. Only that she was somewhere in France. But the substance of the call astounded Zhou. Ping told her that Zhou had boasted that he was responsible for President Dalton’s assassination and that he planned to launch a military action against the United States.

Ping had also told her about the arrest and execution of Bao, the former Intelligence Minister. Ping had called Zhou a monster and Mei Ling promised to enlist Craig Page’s help to stop Zhou.

When he finished the transcript, Zhou was spitting bullets. The nerve of those two traitors.

Though Zhou despised Mao for destroying his parents, he still had studied Mao’s methods to preserve his rule. When advantageous, Zhou was prepared to emulate Mao. One thing Mao did was eliminate all of his adversaries.

That meant killing Ping and Mei Ling. In the case of Ping that would be easy. He was in Beijing. Captain Cheng could easily arrange for him to have an accident.

With Mei Ling, there was a problem. France was a large country. Zhou had to locate her. There had to be a way.

Then it struck him. She had a son in the Chinese navy who was currently at sea. He might know where his mother was.

The power of the Chinese president was awesome. In five minutes, Zhou had on the phone the Captain of the ship on which Mei Ling’s son was serving.

Zhou gave the Captain an order to arrest Mei Ling’s son. “I want you to interrogate him, using extreme torture if necessary, whatever it takes to get his mother’s location. Then toss him overboard. Call me back as soon as you have the information.”

While waiting for the ship Captain’s call, Zhou studied a report Jiang Hua forwarded to him “for your eyes only,” describing in detail the American PGS system and its schedule for implementation. The Pentagon was formulating a proposal to install it in California, outside of Los Angeles. Cost analyses were being prepared by Rogers Laughton. “I need that technology,” Zhou said aloud. “Orlov had better get it for me or…”

The intercom rang. Zhou’s secretary said, “Captain Cheng is here to see you. He says it’s an important matter.”

“Send him in.”

Cheng looked worried.

“What is it,” Zhou asked.”

“I was just informed by one of our military intelligence people stationed in Pakistan that Craig Page traveled to Islamabad for a meeting with Colonel Kahn, the head of ISI.”

At the mention of Page, the veins began protruding in Zhou’s neck. “Do we know what happened?”

Cheng nodded. “The Colonel gave our man a complete report. He said that Page has proof that Orlov was responsible for arranging Dalton’s assassination. Page also has information that Orlov met with you in Beijing.”

That damn Mei Ling, Zhou thought. That must be how Page found out. She must have a line of communication with him. Probably through Elizabeth Crowder. He should have killed Crowder in Marbella.

“What else did he say?” Zhou asked.

“That Page was anxious to have the Colonel implicate you in the Dalton assassination, but he refused to do that. So Page only has Orlov.”

Zhou thought of tipping off Orlov, but decided against it. Orlov might break off his effort to get PGS and go into hiding. Zhou couldn’t risk that.

“I want you to do two other things for me,” Zhou told Cheng. “In the next couple of days, arrange for Qin Ping to have a fatal accident.”

“I can do that,” Cheng said. “What else?”

“I’ll let you know shortly.”

Four hours later, Zhou received a call from the ship captain. “Mei Ling son’s broke after only mild torture. He’s now food for the sharks.”

“Where is his mother?”

“Paris, France. Room 610 at the Hotel Burgundy on Rue Duphot.”

Zhou gave Captain Cheng the information about Mei Ling’s location. Then he added, “After you dispose of Qin Ping, I want you to go to Paris and kill Mei Ling.”