Half the World Away - страница 43

‘We need to change that on the flier,’ I say to Tom, ‘on the website too.’

He nods. ‘Is there anything else?’ Tom asks the consul.

That seems to be it.

‘What happens now?’ I say.

‘The search will continue,’ Peter Dunne says, ‘and Superintendent Yin says he is hopeful that Lori will be found safe and well. That she is travelling in China, perhaps, as she thought of doing.’

‘Where are they looking?’ Tom says.

An exchange in Chinese, and Peter Dunne says, ‘These are operational matters. When any information comes to light you will be informed.’

‘What about the gay scene – was Lori part of that?’ Tom says. ‘Is there a gay bar, a club? Have they talked to people there?’

Peter Dunne speaks to Superintendent Yin, who gives a smile, uneasy. I wonder if he is embarrassed.

‘In due course,’ Peter Dunne says.

‘In due course? It’s over two weeks since they were alerted,’ Tom says. ‘What are they waiting for? He does know she’s gay? That she and Dawn were together?’

‘He does.’

Superintendent Yin sits stony-faced.

‘Is there going to be a problem?’ I say to Peter Dunne. ‘Will this affect how he does his job?’

‘Not at all,’ Peter Dunne says. ‘Homosexuality is not illegal in China any more but is often viewed with suspicion, and there are no civil-rights laws protecting gay people as there are in the UK. But Superintendent Yin is aware of Lorelei’s sexuality and her relationship with Dawn.’

Peter Dunne speaks to the detective and Superintendent Yin frowns, says something, frowns again. Peter Dunne talks some more and finally Superintendent Yin gives a swift nod.

‘I told him you will be visiting the apartment and talking to Lorelei’s friends,’ Peter Dunne says, ‘and that the appeal is on the Missing Overseas website and we’ll be doing some leafleting where Lorelei lives and where she spends her time to publicize the case. Do you have the draft for the leaflet?’

I find it. ‘We need to alter the date,’ I say, and pass it to Superintendent Yin who scrutinizes it. He points to the phone number for the police and they seem to be debating it. Then Peter Dunne changes some of the figures.

‘Is there CCTV where Lori lives?’ Tom says.

They speak, and Peter Dunne says, ‘No, but there is a security gate at the entrance and the guards there have been spoken to.’

‘And?’ Tom says.

‘No help, I’m afraid.’

I swallow. ‘I have things of Lori’s, for the DNA.’ I’d wrapped the freezer bags in brown paper, and now I take the parcel from my bag.

‘Thank you.’ Peter Dunne gives me a look of sympathy and explains to Superintendent Yin, who takes the bag from me.

The officer closes his folder, placing the bag I have brought on top of it. He speaks, looking from Tom to me.

‘Superintendent Yin says that Chengdu is a very safe place,’ Peter Dunne translates, ‘and the Chinese people very law-abiding. The PSB will do all they can to find Lorelei.’

The policeman adds something.

‘He wishes to emphasize that Chengdu is very safe,’ Peter Dunne says.

Superintendent Yin gives a nod. ‘Chengdu very safe,’ he says, in a thick accent.

‘Right,’ Tom says sarcastically.

‘It’s true,’ Peter Dunne says, unruffled. ‘There is very little crime, compared to London, New York or Paris. This is a very safe city.’

‘Try telling that to the dissidents,’ Tom says.

‘You’re entitled to your opinions, Mr Maddox, and you’re right, critics of the regime are dealt with harshly, but that has little to do with the situation we find ourselves in.’ It’s a smooth put-down. Tom compresses his lips and looks away.

We are dropped back at the hotel, and as soon as the car has left, I round on Tom. ‘What are you playing at? We need the goodwill of that policeman, not to get up his nose making sarky comments.’

‘He couldn’t understand,’ Tom says.

‘He probably got the gist,’ I say.

‘What did we learn?’ Tom complains. ‘They’re keeping stuff from us, Jo, the text to Shona, the lesson on Sunday. We should have been told about that as soon as they found out. They say we can be involved but it’s lip service.’

‘OK, so we know that now. We’ve met the man leading the search, we know they don’t have CCTV at her place, that she was still here as normal on Sunday. It all matters. Yes, we’re here by invitation, on sufferance, if you like, that’s just how it is. Just fucking grow up-’