She was checking her watch yet again when Li and Margaret finally returned. A few heads lifted to cast curious glances in their direction, but for the moment the work in hand was serious and took precedence. The smart comments they would save for later. Lily’s annoyance intensified when Li and Margaret failed even to acknowledge her, and passed straight through into Li’s office. Neither was smiling, and they brought in with them a strange, strained atmosphere. Qian followed them through. Li had already picked up the phone.

“That’s us, Chief. Any time.” He hung up and turned to Margaret. “The Chief’ll be through in a minute. He wants to say thanks.”

“Does he.” Margaret’s voice was flat.

Qian handed Li the fax from the Centre. “Dental records confirm the identity of the burn victim, boss. As you thought, his name was Chao Heng. Apparently he was the scientific adviser to the Minister of Agriculture before retiring six months ago through ill health. Lived in an apartment in Chongwen District.”

Li read quickly through the report from the Centre and looked up at Margaret. “You were right on both counts,” he said. “Identity, and sedation.” He waved the fax. “That’s the test results from the Centre. They show a high level of ketamine in his blood.”

Margaret nodded dully. Had she had a continued involvement in the case, then her interest would have been keener. As it was, she felt deflated, depressed. Others would unravel the crime she had identified. She had nothing further to contribute, or at least she would not be asked to do so. Li’s sudden mood change was having a more profound effect on her than she could have imagined. She had only been in China twenty-four hours, but already it seemed like a lifetime, and she was ready to go.

Li risked a couple of quick glances in her direction as she gazed absently past him and out of the window. He found annoyance welling up inside at her apparent lack of interest. She was happy, it seemed, to swan in for a couple of hours, demonstrate her superior knowledge, and swan out again. Well, to hell with her! He returned the fax to Qian. “Thanks. We’ll talk in a minute.”

Qian turned and passed Section Chief Chen on the way in. Chen shook Margaret’s hand warmly. “Dr. Campbell, I am so very grateful to you for your help. It has been invaluable, Li Yan, has it not?”

Li nodded solemnly. “It has.”

“And has my deputy looked after you well?” Chen asked Margaret.

“Oh, very well,” said Margaret. “He took me to lunch at a Sichuan restaurant. My mouth is still burning.”

“It was my pleasure,” Li said.