Harper's eyes remained fixed in space for a long time. Finally, he admitted solemnly, "We don't. All we can do is wait and hope until she makes contact with one of our West Coast district offices."

"And if you never hear from her?"

Harper gazed down at the polished surface of the table as if seeing the unthinkable. "Then I send a letter of condolence to her parents and assign someone else to follow in her footsteps."

The meeting finally concluded at four o'clock in the morning. Sandecker and Gunn were ushered from the President's secret quarters and returned through the tunnel to the White House. As they were driven to their respective homes in the limousine, each man was lost hi gloomy thoughts. Finally Sandecker broke the somber mood.

"They must be desperate if they need NUMA to help bail them out."

"I'd probably call in the Marines, the New York Stock Exchange and the Boy Scouts too if I was in the President's shoes," said Gunn.

"A farce," snorted Sandecker. "My sources in the White House tell me the President has been in bed with Qin Shang since he was governor of Oklahoma."

Gunn looked at him. "But the President said—"

"I know what he said, but what he meant is a different thing. Naturally, he wants the flow of illegal immigrants stopped, but he won't order any measures that might upset Beijing. Qin Shang is President Wallace's chief campaign fund-raiser in Asia. Many millions of dollars from the Chinese government were funneled through Hong Kong and Qin Shang Maritime into Wallace's campaign fund. It's corrupt influence peddling of the highest order. That's why Wallace stops short of any head-to-head confrontation. His administration is riddled with people working on China's behalf. The man has sold his soul to the detriment of American citizens."

"Then what does he hope to gain if we nail Qin Shang's ass to the wall?"

"It won't happen," said Sandecker acidly. "Qin Shang will never be indicted nor convicted of criminal activities, certainly not in the United States."

"Then I gather it's your plan to push ahead in the investigation," said Gunn, "regardless of the consequences."

Sandecker nodded. "Do we have a research ship operating in the Gulf?"

"The Marine Denizen. Her scientific team is conducting a study on the diminishing coral reefs off Yucatan."

"She's served NUMA for a long time," Sandecker said, visualizing the ship.

"The oldest in our fleet," Gunn acknowledged. "This is her final voyage. After she returns to port in Norfolk, we're donating her to the Lampack University of Oceanography."

"The university will have to wait a while longer. An old marine-research ship with a crew of biologists should prove an ideal cover to investigate Shang's port facility."

"Who have you in mind to lead the investigation?"

Sandecker turned to Gunn. "Our special projects director, who do you think?"

Gunn hesitated. "Asking a bit much from Dirk, aren't we?"

"Can you think of a better man?"