1000 Yards

10

The car had been a Volvo, a 1440. Major Kim Shin-Jo recognised the badge despite the damage that the fire had done to it. The car was blackened with ash and soot, the metal buckled in places. They had needed to pry the boot open with a crowbar. Kim and his deputy, Captain Yun Jong-Su, stood at the rear of the car, peering through the acrid black smoke at the body curled up in the narrow space.

“Get him out,” Kim said to the two privates who had found the car.

“Should we not wait for the forensic department?”

“It will serve no purpose. This man is Peter McEwan. He is an English businessman. This” — he indicated the smoking wreck with an irritated flick of his wrist — “has been arranged for our benefit. Our enemies would like us to believe that Mr McEwan went out for a walk after dinner at his hotel this evening, was kidnapped in Monbong Park and then met his fate. None of that is true.” He turned away from the car before either of the baffled privates could ask him what he meant. When he was out of earshot he turned to Yun and said, quietly, “You agree, Captain?”

“You are undoubtedly correct, Comrade-Major. The question is not who this is, but where the person who was pretending to be McEwan is now.”

“And, more to the point, what he intends to do now that he has eluded our surveillance. This was not a simple thing to arrange. There must be more to it than this.”

“You think it is something for the Parade?”

“For our sake, I hope not.”

They walked towards Kim’s state-issued car.

Kim reached inside and took out the best photograph of the imposter from the airport. “Who is he?”

“We do not know, Comrade-Major.”

“We have had this photograph for hours! Why is it taking so long?”

“We are checking. The Computer and Records Directorate is giving it priority.” He paused. “What do we do while we wait for them?”

“McEwan said that he was arranging a delivery of luxury cars. Thankfully, that was not a lie. There is an authorisation at the Ministry of Trade for such a delivery, I have checked. The cargo originated in Dandong and crossed the border yesterday evening. It is due to arrive in the capital tonight. We must assume that anyone involved with it is complicit.”

“Where is the cargo now?”

“That is what we must find out.”

Yun paused, a little awkwardly. “Do we mention this to the Lieutenant-Colonel?”

Kim had already considered that. He had a hundred men at his disposal: one hundred good men, excellently trained, diligent and loyal to the Fatherland. That might be enough to see off this threat but the chances of success would increase with more men. That was his problem: if he wanted help, he would have to speak to his superior to get it, and that would mean admitting that mistakes had been made under his supervision.

He would wait. There was no need to panic. They could find this man without causing undue alarm. “I think we can manage this ourselves, Captain. Do you agree?”

Yun seemed relieved at that. The consequences of failure would extend to him, too. “I do, Comrade-Major,” he said.

Neither man needed to speak the obvious: they were already in a situation of the utmost gravity. If they could find the imposter themselves, then so be it. They could keep it between themselves and no-one else need know. But if they failed, and something happened, and it was discovered that they had not requested assistance; then that would be the end of them both.