“I’ve been trained how to appear aloof and detached from my surroundings. It’s kept me alive, but it’s also kept me single.”
Harper glanced over at Kwon’s face. For the first time, he showed a hint of emotion. Perhaps he was human after all.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Xinjiang University
Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
Kwon led the way with Harper close on his heels. The two sensed the greater police presence. The Communist Party didn’t rule with the same sadistic, iron fist that North Korea used, but every one of its citizens lived with a sense of fear of crossing those in power. The fact that both the security police and the military were sweeping the streets in search of someone who hadn’t committed a murder, much less a violent crime, was a testament to how important it was for them to crush dissent.
“This will help,” said Kwon, pointing at a three-sided monument sign portraying a map of the campus and a legend of its buildings. He took a moment to get his bearings, and then he pointed at a three-story building on the far edge of the university adjacent to a park. “This is the School of Journalism and here is the closest dorm. It appears there’s a dorm in close proximity to each of the major fields of study. It’s just a hunch, but with a little luck, the nephew lives here.”
Kwon traced his finger from the School of Journalism along the sidewalk adjacent to the park until he rested it on the nearest dormitory.
“This is all we’ve got to go on,” said Harper as the two walked briskly across the open compound. They gave the campus security officers a wide berth and walked on the outskirts of the grassy area where dozens of students had gathered. “Somehow, we’ve gotta get lucky and convince one of these students to talk to us.”
“Luck is predictable,” said Kwon as he picked up the pace. Since being noticed by the security police on the streets, his innate sense of urgency had kicked in. “You apply your experiences, street smarts, and preparation to limit your options. This improves your odds of getting lucky.”
Harper raised her eyebrows and nodded. “Common sense told you to forget about interviewing hospital contacts or anyone in Dr. Zeng’s apartment building because those were logical stops for the police.”
“Exactly. Of course, the nephew’s dorm is a logical place for the MSS to investigate, too. But these kids despise authority and would absolutely pretend they didn’t know Zeng Fangyu even if they were classmates.”
“You think they’ll treat us differently?” asked Harper.
“Well, yes. With a little luck.” Kwon smiled. He’d made an attempt at being funny twice in one day.
Harper chuckled and the two made their way to the sidewalk, entering the School of Journalism. Kwon immediately began stopping students who made eye contact. Many refused to talk with him, but several at least said they didn’t understand. Growing frustrated, he considered a different tactic.
“I look too much like a person of authority. I think you should try.”
“Me? I don’t even know how to say hello in Chinese.”
“That’s my point. Many of these students can speak conversational English. In fact, they’d love to speak with a genuine American. Let’s try the dorm, and instead of me approaching them, you do it.”
“Kwon, are you sure about this?”
“We’ve got nothing to lose. Just speak slowly and enunciate your words clearly. Don’t use contractions or slang and definitely don’t yell.”
Harper tilted her head and a puzzled look came over her face. “Why would I yell?”
“Because that’s what Americans do when they speak to someone from another country. They think they have to yell to get the non-English speaking person to understand. They’re not deaf.”
Harper thought for a moment and realized Kwon was right. On all counts. She might have better luck with the students because they’d be curious about her and she was nonthreatening. And his point about yelling was well taken. She wondered if she’d been guilty of that in the past.
They walked through a tree canopy and found the entrance to the dorm. There was a group of students hovering around the double doors, staring at a glass-enclosed bulletin board. A dorm administrator had just posted something inside it and was locking the door. The students gave him room, and once he entered the building, they crowded around to see what the post was about.
Kwon and Harper inched closer. The excited voices of the students grabbed their attention.
“They have been searching for Fangyu.”
“I heard they destroyed his dorm room looking for something.”
“He has disappeared.”
“Is he in trouble?”
“No, the notice says his uncle is looking for him.”
“That cannot be true. He was with his uncle the other night. I saw them in the common area.”
They spoke over one another, but Kwon clearly understood what they were saying. He whispered to Harper, “Now’s your chance. One of them knows the family. Remember, they’ll be helpful to you because—”
“I’ve got this,” said Harper, cutting him off. The students appeared ready to disperse and she wanted to speak to them before they left. She confidently approached the group. The students weren’t wearing masks. She didn’t want to appear shady, so she removed her mask. She arrived behind them and announced herself.
“Hello. Can somebody help me?”
Their heads whipped around to observe Harper.
She asked again, “Hi. I am looking for someone. Can you help?”
A young woman stepped forward. “Are you an American?”
“Yes, I am. My name is Eloise.” Harper winced. She immediately realized she was supposed to be someone else when in public. Hopefully, it wouldn’t matter.
“Hello, Eloise. I am Sun. I like your shirt. We are all netizens.”
“Yes, so is my friend. His name is Fangyu. Do you know him?”
Now all of the students were crowded around Harper. They were assessing her, studying her face and her body language. Two of them spoke to her in Chinese, but she truthfully shrugged, indicating her inability to understand them.
The young woman was about to answer when one of the male students at the back of the group spoke up in English.
“Is this you?” he asked, pointing at the bulletin board.
Harper towered over the students so she was able to view the post the young man was referring to. Next to the posting about Fangyu was a photograph of Harper at the airport with her mask on. Harper reached to pull her mask up and thought better of it. Out of nowhere, Kwon appeared by her side.
He studied the posts and he tensed up. “Please, you must help us. Fangyu and his family are in grave danger. The MSS and Security Police are trying to locate them because Dr. Zeng spoke out against the Party.”
He was taking a great risk exposing the purpose of their inquiry to the students. However, he trusted these young people to keep quiet more than any other strangers he might encounter.
Before anyone could answer, the glass doors to the dormitory burst open. The same dorm administrator who’d made the posting rushed into the opening. His cell phone was pressed to his ear as he spoke frantically to the party on the other end.