On the waiting room wall of the drab building that sat behind Lhasa’s temple complex a plaque proclaimed that the Bureau of Religious Affairs was the “lifeblood of cultural responsibililty in Tibet.” Shan sat for nearly half an hour, contemplating the many ways the words might be interpreted, before he was ushered into a surprisingly elegant meeting room.

The two men waiting for him seemed almost excited to see Shan. “Welcome, Comrade Inspector. We are so grateful to at last receive some recognition from the government of Lhadrung County,” declared the older man, who introduced himself as the regional director. He pushed a porcelain cup of tea across the table to Shan.

“I just had some questions about a criminal case,” Shan said, unable to disguise his confusion.

“Yes, yes, so the note you sent up explained. Religious Affairs is a pillar of cooperation.”

“A man named Metok Rentzig sent you some photographs.”

The regional director looked down into his folded hands, then glanced at his companion. “That case is closed, we hear,” the younger man offered.

“Just tidying up the file,” Shan said. “Did Rentzig send any explanation, perhaps a description of the subjects of his photos? Perhaps a detailed location or even some suggestion why he, as an engineer, would be sending them to you directly?”

The two men exchanged wary glances. “The photos from the Five Claws are safe in our warehouse on Kunming Road. We are willing to make a compromise.”

His hosts seemed to think Shan came to negotiate. “A compromise?”

“Surely that is why you came, to resolve things with Deputy Director Jiao.”

Shan took a deep breath. “There’s much to resolve.”

“But still two years before the Chairman comes for his glorious visit.”

“To visit the Five Claws, you mean.”

“Exactly. Surely Jiao must understand our claim to jurisdiction is well-founded.”

“I am here about Rentzig.”

“Yes, well, we are willing to say the photos came from Jiao himself,” the regional director suggested. “We can be practical. The involvement of a criminal was just coincidental. We will, of course, support development of the project, even postdate the report if he prefers.”

“I would have to understand what Metok said.”

“But there is no need to include his name anywhere, I assure you. We were already asserting jurisdiction.”

Shan’s mind raced. “So you can have a place at the table when the Chairman visits,” he said.

“Astutely put, comrade. You have pierced the essential point. And, of course, Colonel Tan will be there. We can add his name to our report if he wishes. We just want Jiao to provide some reciprocity. Where would he be if we had not already tamed the Tibetan reactionaries?”

Shan had to swallow his bile. “You did assess the photos from Metok, but your report will dismiss the artifacts as unnoteworthy.”