Sword of God(60)

“I know,” Payne replied. “But it shouldn’t be me.” They both looked at Kia, who appeared less than thrilled with the concept.

“Fine.” She groaned. “What do you want me to ask?” Jones handed her a manila envelope filled with pictures that had been e-mailed by Randy Raskin. “We need to know who the kid saw. Who was alive, who was dead, who was being tortured, and so on. After that, we’ll have a much better grasp of things.”

“Right now the timeline is pretty fuzzy,” Payne admitted. “The kid walks into the cave and sees people covered in blood but claims they were alive. If so, how did he get so much blood on him? Maybe he saw the killers after the fact. Or maybe he walked in during an interrogation. Either way, we need to know who he saw so we can figure out what happened.”

Kia grimaced. “You know, this isn’t going to be easy. I can barely get the kid to talk, and when I do, it’s about silly things. What he likes to eat. What he does for fun. Now you want me to ask him about the cave?” She took a deep breath. “Any recommendations?”

Payne nodded. “Yeah. Make a game of it.”

“A game?”

“The kid’s eight and scared out of his mind. The lighter you make it, the better.”

“Easier said than done.”

“I realize that, but you’ve been doing great with him. I have the utmost confidence in you.”

“I do, too,” echoed Jones. “I’ve been watching you in there, and the kid really likes you. You’re a natural at this.”

“Thanks. But I’m still nervous.”

“Don’t worry about it. You’ll do fine.... Of course, if you think it would help, I’d be happy to give you a kiss for good luck.”

Kia laughed, thankful for the levity.

“Yeah. Didn’t think so.” Jones started to back down the hall. “But if you change your mind, let me know. Just wink at the camera and I’ll come running.”



Payne and Kia sat on one side of the table, the Parks on the other. Kia spread twenty pictures in front of Yong-Su and told him they were going to play a game. The rules were simple. Some of the men in the photos had been to Jeju, while many others hadn’t. For every one he got right, he would be given a piece of candy—his favorite food in the whole world. However, for every one he got wrong, a piece would be taken away.

“Do you understand?” Kia asked. “If you aren’t sure about someone, you shouldn’t guess. Only choose the ones that you’re absolutely positive about. Okay?”

Yong-Su glanced at the pictures and nodded.

He could taste the candy already.





34


Before the incident, Yong-Su was a typical eight-year-old boy. He was adventurous, active, and loved getting dirty. His hair was black and grew way too fast, falling into his eyes if he didn’t get it trimmed every other week. Three of his front teeth were missing—two on top, one on the bottom—giving him a jack-o’-lantern smile that was common among his age group.

Of course, during the past nine days there was little lo smile about. From the moment he stumbled out of the bloody cave, he was a changed person. Partly in shock. Partly in grief. Dealing with things that would devastate most adults.

And yet there he was. Staring at all the pictures, playing Kia’s game.

Looking forward to all the candy he was going to win.

In a complex world, sometimes it is the simple pleasures that get us through.

He studied the images for several seconds, choosing all I he people he saw in the cave. Selecting them in his head before he made his choices. Finally, without saying a word, he picked up a photo. Then another. And another. Two over here, three over there. Gathering them in his hands like a deck of cards. Tapping them against the table to make sure they were nice and straight. Sixteen photos in all. Some Americans. Some Arabs. A wide variety of ages.

When he was done, he handed the stack to Kia. It was much larger than she was expecting.

She said, “You saw all of these people?”

Yong-Su shook his head and pointed to the desk. “No, those people.”

Four photos were spread across the surface. Payne recognized them at once.

It was Trevor Schmidt and his crew.

“Can you tell us where you saw them?” she asked.

He nodded, then explained what happened that day.



Yong-Su had been playing in the woods when he smelled the blood. A strong, pungent odor that piqued his curiosity and gave him the courage to investigate the one spot he was forbidden to go. He knew he should have turned around and run in the opposite direction, but he couldn’t help himself. He was drawn to the place. He had to see it for himself.