A teenager appeared to greet Victor Zhou.
"Boss Zhou, you're back!"
Victor Zhou exchanged a few words with him, then turned to me.
"Through here."
He opened a piece of corrugated metal and led me down a dank staircase into a bomb shelter.
It was surprisingly large inside, and well-equipped: several sets of computers, one of which was still running. A world map dotted with markers. A very long dining table. An American-style refrigerator.
And a bag from Roxana Hotel, with a room key attached—matching the one circled on his map.
Victor Zhou pulled out a chair for me, then rummaged through the fridge and brought me a Mojito. He took a beer for himself.
This seemed like his hideout. Before he ran, he'd probably stowed supplies here.
"Before I say anything," he opened his beer and took a long swig. "I want to know how you found me."
"I didn't. They gave me your address."
"Who's 'they'?"
"The cops."
Victor Zhou's expression shifted—was he doubting me?
"Marcus, you'd better not be lying to me."
"Would a cop lie to you?"
He looked at me, then shook his head with a bitter laugh.
"Cops can lie too. Trust me."
He set down his beer. His entire demeanor... just looked so, so tired.
"Remember what I told you? Go home. It's too late."
He sat across from me. Twirled the beer bottle between his fingers.
"Marcus, you're a cop. Let me ask you a question."
"Shoot."
"Is there anything you would trade your entire life for?"
"What?"
"Nobel Prize physicists spend decades on a single experiment. Many die without results. Their entire lives, traded for their work.
"Presidents devote their lives to politics. Before taking office, many can't even be good parents.
"If you could trade your whole life for one thing, what would it be?"
I thought about Jessica. To save her, I came back ten years and picked up a knife.
"My girlfriend."
He stared at me for a long time, then finally raised his beer.
"I'll drink to that."
He chugged his beer, then set the empty bottle on the table with a thud.
"Marcus. What I'm about to tell you is the greatest secret in the history of human civilization.
"Whether you believe it or not, it's all true."
I nodded.
"The secret is: there is a 'Gate' that can achieve time travel."
"I've traveled through it."
Victor Zhou was not as shocked as I expected. Instead, he gave a bitter, hard laugh.
"When?"
"About five minutes ago. From ten years in the future."
"On whose orders?"
"The military."
His face twitched.
"Let me guess. They want me dead."
"Right."
"Because of... the Gate?"
"Because every major power thinks no one should have the Gate. Destroying it isn't enough—it must never have existed in the first place."
Victor Zhou nodded slowly.
"Then you've come to kill me."
"The thought crossed my mind."
He studied me carefully.
"Marcus, promise me something."
"What?"
"Let me jump on my own."
I thought I heard wrong.
"Jump?"
"Off a building."
My eyes widened.
He took a deep breath.
"Jump, or whatever. What I mean is, I'll die on my own. I'll choose the time and place. I'll choose the manner.
"You just need to make sure my death is reported as a suicide.
"Can you do that?"
"Wait."
"It's the only way, Marcus."
"The only way for what?"
He hung his head. He looked like a man at the bottom of a pit.
"The only way to save my daughter."
His head slowly lifted again.
In that moment, I realized Victor Zhou had far deeper reasons than I'd imagined.
"I don't know how much the future military told you. But even if they sent a hundred people back to kill me..." His voice rose with fervor. "They still won't get what they want. Because killing me won't destroy the Gate's parameters. Someone else will find them eventually.
"But if I die—if I'm reported as a suicide—then according to the version the public knows, Victor Zhou killed himself out of guilt over the Gate.
"If I die a suicide, my daughter becomes someone whose father killed himself.
"The organization hunting me wouldn't dare touch her, because a second death would draw too much attention.
"And if I'm just murdered... they'll find my notes, find my secrets, and then no one will be safe.
"My daughter, my wife, they'd all be in danger.
"Marcus, I can't win. But my sacrifice can keep Jessica safe.
"I know my daughter will hate me forever.
"But that's better than her being dead."
After saying this, Victor Zhou stared at me intently.
"Marcus, do we have a deal?"