“Did Andrew ever ask about a company called Quadrant?”

“No. The space company? Why would he ask about Quadrant?”

“I believe he was interested in them.”

Lau looked blank. He shook his head.

“When did you last see him?” Kudus asked.

“In Melbourne, late June last year.”

“What did he say? Was there anything to suggest the situation might be changing?”

“He told me to be prepared—the game might move. He asked about a place called Ascension Island.”

Both Kudus and Taylor nodded, restraining their expressions of interest and resisting the temptation to look at each other.

“What did he ask about Ascension Island?” Kudus asked.

“Whether I had heard it mentioned. Whether I knew anything.”

“Had you heard it mentioned?”

“No. And I didn’t know anything, either.”

“Did he say why he was interested in Ascension?”

“No.”

“Have you ever sailed around there?”

“No.”

Taylor could see that Lau wasn’t going to throw much more light for now. She needed to find Andrew himself, if he was still alive.

“One challenge we’ve got is that Andrew may have left the service or moved roles,” she said, registering Lau’s expression of disbelief.

“You don’t know where he is?”

“We’re struggling to locate him. Andrew probably wasn’t his real name. Can you tell me what he looked like?”

“He was very tall, with fair hair going gray. Probably fifty or so. At least.”

“What else do you remember about him?”

“One time he told me he had briefly lived in Russia. That’s pretty much it.”

“Ever meet him with anyone else?”

“No.”

“Where was he currently based?”

“I don’t know.”

“Would you say he seemed confident handling this operation?”

“Yes.”

“What languages did he speak?”

“English, Chinese. I don’t know what else.”

“And he asked about Ascension Island.”

“The last time I saw him, yes.”

“And then?”

“A message canceling the next meeting.”

“From him?”

“Hard to say.”

“Any further contact from anyone?”

“Until now, absolutely nothing. That is what I am trying to explain to you: My life is in danger and I need the help you promised. I never asked for any of this. All I wanted to do was explore wrecks.”

“We’ll do what we can. Have you noticed anything that makes you believe you may be under threat right now?”

“Aside from my crew being slaughtered? No.”

“How long have you been based in this house?”

“Three hours.”

“Okay. We’ll be in touch very soon with arrangements. In the meantime, keep moving.”

27

“He said Ascension might be a new area of interest, then disappeared into thin air forever.”

“Just like that.”