‘You’d be surprised,’ King said, thinking back to all the betrayals he’d been privy to over the years. ‘Sometimes it’s the ones you least expect. Or, in this case, the one you most suspect…’
‘I don’t suspect him.’
‘You should.’
‘He couldn’t kill Winston like that.’
‘I mean, I’m sure he was physically capable. Whether he wanted to or not — that’s another thing.’
‘It’s not him.’
‘You’re certain?’
Parker paused, and rubbed his brow, and finally said, ‘No. I’m not certain.’
‘There we go.’
‘But it’s unlikely.’
‘Most of my career is based on “unlikely.”’
‘So what are you going to do?’ Parker said.
‘Slater and I will set off on the same route you were heading along until we get further intelligence. Trust me — every asset we have available is scouring Nepal for signs of your daughter.’
‘That’s good to hear.’
‘You don’t sound relieved.’
‘I’m not an idiot,’ Parker said. ‘I know how most kidnap cases involving the government and private security often end up. I didn’t get where I am today by being a giddy optimist.’
‘And where exactly are you today? That seems … unclear.’
‘You know how it is,’ Parker said. ‘It’s black operations. There’s no official ruleset for anything we do.’
‘If you had to narrow it down to a single sentence.’
Parker sat still. Thinking hard. Then he said, ‘It’s tough.’
‘Why?’
‘If I told you, it’d be exposing something I’ve been trying to keep secret for a few months now.’
‘You’re going to have to tell me if you want the best chance of finding your daughter.’
‘Why?’
‘Because it sounds juicy,’ King said. ‘And if it’s juicy, then there’s the chance it’s leaked. And if it’s leaked, then there’ll be people wanting to make some money off it.’
Parker winced. ‘Maybe you’re right.’
‘What do you do, Aidan?’
Parker took a deep breath.
‘I’m planning a move into politics.’
King said nothing.
Parker said, ‘The highest level of politics.’
‘What — you’re just going to come out of nowhere and make a run for President? You’re not even in public office.’
‘I have connections. I’ve spent my whole life doing work behind the scenes. There’s people in high places who appreciate that.’
King bowed his head. ‘That’s dynamite leverage to the right person.’
Parker seemed to know what he was going to say. ‘Perry didn’t know.’
‘You sure?’
‘I didn’t tell him anything.’
‘That doesn’t mean he didn’t know.’
King said, ‘I’m guessing a move into politics at the level you’re talking about comes with a bunch of big political donors.’
Parker paused, then gave a reluctant nod.
‘So if Perry found out, he knows you’re now swimming up to your eyeballs in cash.’
‘I’m not.’
‘But you could be. If you phrased it nicely to the donors.’
Another pause.
Another reluctant nod.
King said, ‘It’s the bodyguard.’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘You’re not looking at it objectively, then.’
Parker bowed his head again, and took his face in his hands, and a guttural sob wracked him from head to toe.
King watched closely.
And a lightbulb went off in his head.
In an instant, he knew Aidan Parker was faking it.
22
Slater knew within a couple of minutes that he wouldn’t get the information he needed.
He sat Sejun down at one of the tables in the communal area. The guide was shy and reserved, but accommodating. He seemed to know only a smattering of English, but he didn’t look down or look away to accentuate the language barrier. He kept his attention squarely focused on Slater, and clasped his hands together in his lap, and sat up straight, and waited for the first question.
Slater played the bad guy, but almost immediately realised he wouldn’t need to keep up the shtick for long.
‘Sejun, right?’
The guide nodded. ‘Yes. That is my name.’
‘Tell me about the missing porter.’
‘Of course, sir. His name Mukta. He with company for three year, but he take other job sometimes.’
‘Is that normal?’
‘Yes. Porters work for different company. They take any job they offered. Not much money, you know? Need to keep getting…’
He trailed off, snapping his fingers together, scrunching up his face, searching for the right word.
‘Consistent work?’ Slater said.
Sejun nodded excitedly. ‘Yes. That’s it. Consistent. They need work all the time, to make enough. Very difficult work.’
‘Don’t you do the same thing?’
Sejun half-smiled and shrugged his shoulders. ‘I no carry pack. That’s hard part of job.’
‘What did you think of Raya?’
Sejun hesitated. ‘Of girl who was taken?’
‘Yes.’
‘Very nice. I sometimes hear her and father … arguing.’
Slater raised an eyebrow. ‘Is that so?’
Sejun waved his dirty palms. ‘Yes, but not father who do this. I know that for sure. They argue about … father not being home. Not make father want to get rid of her, you know?’
‘Her father is always at work? That was her problem?’
‘Yes. She not happy. She want to see her dad.’
Slater nodded. ‘Understandable.’
‘Yes. I think so too. I have little girl. I away a lot, on trek. But this is what I must do. You know? I must provide.’
Slater gave another nod.
Sejun said, ‘Do you think I have part in this?’
Slater thought about how to respond, and then ultimately said, ‘No. I don’t.’
‘Why?’
‘Because if you were guilty you wouldn’t be here. You have no reason to be here, other than caring for your client’s wellbeing. You could have disappeared along with the rest of them and put your head down until this all blew over. But you didn’t.’
‘But maybe I stay to take suspicion away…’
Slater half-smiled. ‘I don’t think so, Sejun. And you don’t either.’
The guide shrugged. ‘You and your friend — you go find her?’
‘We’re going to do our best.’
‘I wish I help more than this. Do you want me come with you? No worry about payment. I hope she safe. Want her to be safe.’
‘That’s very kind of you, but we’ll be okay.’
‘You know route?’
‘Not well.’
‘I do.’
‘I don’t want to offend you, but we’re probably going to have to set a pace that’ll be hard to match.’
Sejun raised a suspicious eyebrow. ‘I hear this before. Sometimes tourists think they can go fast. But these mountains … hard to go fast.’
‘We’re not most tourists.’
‘Yes, I see. Okay. You need something from me?’
‘Tell me
