Captain Fang Zhi had just received radio reports from his three-man teams posted outside the north, south, east, and west buildings of the castle. They were in position. No issues to consider, other than one man had been bitten by a dog while trying to assume his post.

Fang was still waiting to hear from the two-man team inside the central building, where the Spring Tigers were just now gathering to welcome Vice Admiral Cai, the last to arrive. Fang himself was up on the fifth floor of that same building, where he could quickly access the roof to view the entire castle, and he wasn't the only guard with that vantage point.

Two snipers had been posted in the hills, one along the eastern ridge, the other along the steeper banks to the north. They had been first to communicate with him and would check in every fifteen minutes throughout the night.

Fang had warned his entire team to sleep as much as they could throughout the prior day, but even he had found it difficult to take his own advice.

He'd spent most of the day reliving the incident on Basilan, taking himself back through his disgrace, back through the moments when they'd told him he was being discharged, that they had no use for a coward like him. And all of the old wounds were reopened and infected with his rage.

Now, on the eve of justice, he yawned deeply then finally listened to a report coming in from Sergeant Chung, the fool who'd accused him of being a spy. "This is Tiger Twelve. All clear here."

Fang was about to speak into the boom mike at his mouth when he turned, nearly knocking into someone.

"Sorry, Captain, but I came to tell you that they have all gone to the dining room. The meal has been prepared exactly as you'd asked."

Huang stood there, a man beaten and broken. Perhaps one day his time would come. But this day . . . this day was Fang's.

"Thank you, Huang."

"And, sir, not to alarm you, but the power company has been upgrading the transformers for the past two weeks. They will shut down the power sometime within the next few hours, but we will only be in the dark for less than thirty minutes."

Fang frowned. "Why didn't you tell us about this sooner?"

"I had not thought it very important."

Fang sighed through his teeth. "Everything is important. Still, you have served us well. After the meeting tomorrow, I will be leaving behind my truck. It will be yours."

Huang lowered his head and scampered away.

Fang wished the man had put up a greater fight, for only then would he truly respect Huang.

As it was, Fang had no intention of leaving behind his truck--or leaving Huang alive.

TWENTY-FOUR

TWENTY-FOUR

EN ROUTE TO HAKKA CASTLE
XIAMEN, CHINA
APRIL 2012