Next day Joan Lafayette was put on a China Eastern flight from Shanghai to New York. There she was put on a military plane and debriefed en route to Andrews Airbase near DC, where Pauline met her.
Dr Lafayette was an athletic middle-aged woman with blonde hair and glasses. Pauline was surprised to see her looking refreshed and immaculately dressed after her fifteen-hour flight. The Chinese had given her smart new clothes and a first-class suite on the plane, she explained. That was clever of them, Pauline thought, for now Dr Lafayette showed little sign of having suffered at their hands.
Pauline and Dr Lafayette took a photocall in a conference room crowded with television and still cameras. Having made an unpleasant diplomatic sacrifice, Pauline was keen to get media credit for bringing the prisoner home. She needed some positive coverage: James Moore’s supporters were hammering her every day on social media.
The American consul in Shanghai had explained to Dr Lafayette that the media back in the States would be less likely to chase and harass her if she gave them the pictures they wanted as soon as she landed, and she had gratefully agreed.
Sandip Chakraborty had announced in advance that they would pose but would not answer questions, and there were no microphones. They shook hands and smiled for the cameras, and then Dr Lafayette impulsively hugged Pauline.
As they were leaving the room, an enterprising journalist taking pictures on his phone shouted: ‘What’s your policy on the South China Sea now, Madam President?’
Pauline had anticipated this question and discussed it with Chess and Gus, and they had agreed a response that did not break her promise to the Chinese. She kept her face stonily expressionless as she said: ‘The US continues to support the United Nations’ position on freedom of navigation.’
He tried again as Pauline reached the door. ‘Do you think the sinking of the Vu Trong Phung was retaliation for the bombing of Port Sudan?’
Pauline did not answer, but as the door closed behind them, Dr Lafayette said: ‘What did he mean about Sudan?’
‘You may have missed the news,’ Pauline said. ‘A drone attack on Port Sudan killed a hundred Chinese people, engineers building a new dock plus some members of their families. Terrorists were responsible but somehow they had got hold of a US air-force drone.’
‘And the Chinese blamed America for that?’
‘They say we shouldn’t have allowed our drone to fall into terrorist hands.’
‘So that’s why they killed Fred and Hiran?’
‘They deny it.’
‘That’s evil!’
‘They probably think that taking two American lives in exchange for one hundred and three Chinese lives is a restrained reaction.’
‘Is that the way people think about this kind of thing?’
Pauline decided she had been too frank. ‘I don’t think that and nor does anyone on my team. For me, one American life is very precious.’
‘And that’s why you brought me home. I can never thank you enough.’
Pauline smiled. ‘It’s my job.’
*
That evening she watched the news with Gus in the former Beauty Salon at the Residence. Joan Lafayette led the bulletin, and the pictures of her with Pauline at Kennedy looked good. But the second lead story was a press conference given by James Moore.
‘Determined to upstage you,’ Gus said.
‘I wonder what he’s got.’
Moore did not use a lectern: it did not suit his folksy style. He sat on a stool in front of a crowd of reporters and cameras. ‘I been looking at who gives money to President Green,’ he said. His tone was chatty and intimate. ‘Her biggest political action committee is run by a guy who owns a company called As If.’
It was true. As If was a smartphone app hugely popular with teenagers all over the world. Its founder, Bahman Stephen McBride, was an Iranian American, the grandson of immigrants, and a top fund-raiser for Pauline’s re-election campaign.
Moore went on: ‘Now, I been wondering why our lady president is kinda soft on China. They murdered two Americans and nearly killed a third, but Pauline Green really hasn’t laid into them. So I ask myself: Do they have some kind of hold over her?’
Pauline said: ‘Where the hell is he going with this?’
Moore said: ‘Turns out As If is part owned by China. Now ain’t that interesting?’
Pauline said to Gus: ‘Can you check that?’
He already had his phone out. ‘On it.’
‘Shanghai Data Group is one of the biggest Chinese corporations,’ said Moore. ‘Course, they pretend it’s an independent company, but we know that every Chinese business takes orders from the all-powerful President Chen.’