Swift left the cubicle, walked out of the command center building.
The Green Zone at dawn was eerily silent.
The spotlight on the high wall swept slowly, casting moving light spots on the concrete road. In the distance, the low roar of a diesel generator provided electricity to this sleepless military fortress.
Swift did not return to his office, but went straight to the dormitory area.
His single dormitory was at the end of the second floor of Building C, with windows facing the interior of the Green Zone, relatively secluded.
Open the door, turn on the light, lock.
He did not act immediately but stood behind the door listening for a full minute.
Confirming there were no footsteps in the corridor, no unusual movements in adjacent rooms.
Then he walked to the bedside, knelt down, and dragged an unnoticeable gray suitcase from under the bed.
The box had a combination lock; he entered an eight-digit number.
This was the date he first received Song Heping's "gift."
Click.
