Duty, Honor, Country, Family - Part 10 free porn video

Duty, Honor, Country, Family Part Ten By Danielle J Synopsis- A clash between Hiromi and her grandfather nears even after a unexpected event shakes the Watanabe Yakuza. At the same time the Swan Song committee prepares to bring Agent Ripley in from the field, whether she complies or not. Warning- There is a one scene involving violence against a woman that while not graphic could shake up sensitive readers. Thank you to John and Puddin for their help. Author's note- Readers may be confused at one point of the story by my use of cities with very similar names. I didn't properly think through the locales of two characters and their families as I wrote earlier chapters of this story.. Ai Toguchi has a sister in Nagano. Tonichi Ogawa aka Reina Shimizu aka Agent Chrysanthemum lived in Nagoya where he also worked as a policeman. During this part of the story, Ai is debriefed in Nagano by members of the Nagoya police. There is a minor character with the last name of Sato. Sato is the most common family name in Japan. ***** Hiromi went straight downstairs, wanting to get as far away from Gabrielle Tanaka as possible. Once she was on the ground level, Hiromi had no trouble finding Chuck McBride. "Kimi-chan, are you enjoying the evening?" "Yes. Can we leave now? I'm feeling a bit tired." "We better get home then." Taking each other's hand, Hiromi and Chuck went to find that evening's host Michiko Yamamoto. Hiromi wanted to say goodbye before leaving. Chuck and Hiromi were back at the apartment less than an hour later. They went straight to the bedroom. After he'd showered and enjoyed a lovemaking session with his wife, Chuck fell fast asleep. Hiromi wasn't ready to go to sleep yet. On entering the apartment, Hiromi took note of a phone message waiting for her. It was from Herman Strauss at the Strauss bank. The Swiss banker asked Hiromi to call back. The number Hiromi dialed went to Herman Strauss' secretary, not to the banker directly. Hiromi was put on hold for half a minute. "Guten Tag, Fraulein Sato." "You left me a message to call back," Hiromi said in a impatient tone of voice. She didn't like being put on hold even for short periods of time. "Yes, Fraulein. I called to inform you that the bank transfers you requested have been completed." After the Swiss banker confirmed that her instructions had been followed completely, Hiromi hung up the phone. Hiromi then went straight to bed. ***** The autopsy of Reina Shimizu's body took place the following day. An assistant coroner by the name of Hotaru Sugimoto was in charge of the examination. Hotaru was at best an average-looking woman. She was forty-two years of age and, after she'd completed her medical residency, had gone straight to work for the Kanagawa prefecture Coroner's office. Her rapid ascent to assistant coroner in barely six years was due to Hotaru's professionalism at the career she had chosen for herself. Before the autopsy could start, Hotaru had to get properly dressed and gloved. When this was completed, Hotaru stepped into Autopsy Room #2. On a wall beside the room's door, was a plaque. Inscribed on it was a phrase in Latin. 'Hic locus est ubi mors gaudet succurrere vitae.' Which in English translates to 'This is the place where death rejoices to help those who live.' Reina Shimizu's remains had been exposed to salt water for so long that it made a proper autopsy difficult but not impossible. X-rays were done before the physical exam began. This was how it was first learned that the body under examination had been a gunshot victim. One of the two bullets fired into Agent Chrysanthemum's head was still there. Throughout the autopsy, Hotaru made verbal observations about the body as she examined each lesion and organ. A tape machine was nearby to record anything the Assistant Coroner said. In addition, Hotaru had two male pathologists to assist her throughout the autopsy. The examination was difficult, but she did the best that she could under the circumstances. Decomposition was extreme to say the least. However, Hotaru was able to determine the body was an adult female. Determining the corpse's approximate age would take further tests. X- rays of the pelvic area showed the dead woman was unlikely to have experienced childbirth. Measurements of the body were done first. Then Hotaru opened Reina Shimizu's body with a Y like incision. This caused no bleeding, for Reina was long since dead. While her assisting pathologists examined the internal organs of Reina Shimizu, Hotaru concentrated on the brain or what was left of it. The gunshots fired by Hiromi Sato had blown away most of the upper skull but some brain tissue still remained. This was removed by Hotaru for later examination. Taking a pair of tweezers, Hotaru removed the one bullet out of the brain matter. This was placed in a jar, that was then tightly sealed. A police lab technician would be called to pick it up. Hotaru made note of the damage, and that the murder victim's lower jaw was mostly intact. DNA identification may prove difficult by this time, but Dental odontology might be able to do what more advanced science couldn't. All of Reina Shimizu's major body organs were examined, and then returned to the body at least partly intact. Tissue samples were taken. When the autopsy began to wrap up, Hotaru and the pathologists closed up the dead bodyguard's body. It was later placed in storage and would remain there for at least two weeks. If no family came forward after an identification was made, or if no identification was made at all, then the remains would be disposed of. ***** With Chuck and Hiromi's wedding only days away, the preparations for it began to quicken. In fact, Hiromi would spend almost all of May 24th and 25th getting ready for the big event. Before that happened, Roger had a short meeting with Hiromi and Chuck on the night of May 23rd. "Boss, I need to know what your honeymoon plans are." Hiromi did all the talking. "It is none of your business." "It is my business boss. I've been hired to protect you. That includes all trips you make, inside Japan and out." "Did you hear what I just said? Where we intend to travel or what we do with our time beginning June 1st is none of your concern till I step foot in Japan again. No one is going to ruin my honeymoon." As a sign of support, Chuck squeezed Hiromi's hand. If it was up to Chuck, he would have told Roger Hyde to go fuck himself. There would be no bodyguards on the upcoming trip. Chuck and Hiromi had recently discussed their travel plans and agreed on this. The first stop would be New Zealand. Since it was in the southern hemisphere, it was late fall there. Chuck and Hiromi had reservations at a south island resort. If the weather was right, the couple would spend a week there skiing. If not, Chuck and Hiromi would go climbing and hiking. After a week in New Zealand, Hiromi and Chuck planned to visit Thailand. After another week there, the couple would move on to a yet to be determined third locale for their honeymoon. In all, Chuck and Hiromi would be gone for three weeks. "I'll have to speak to Oyabun then," Roger said as he gathered the pen and notepad he brought with him. "You speak to Goro. Nothing will change my mind. You and the other men won't be coming with us," Hiromi said angrily. Roger did consult with Goro Watanabe. Goro approved Hiromi and Chuck's plan to honeymoon without bodyguards. The Oyabun however made two requests of his cousin. The first was that Hiromi and her husband keep him appraised of their location and what hotels they were staying in, just in case some urgent matter came up or an emergency occurred. Hiromi and Chuck immediately agreed to the first request. Roger Hyde then told his boss of the second. "Oyabun thinks it would be a wise precaution. Hiromi thought it over for a few moments. "All right, but then we're to be left alone." "Of course, boss," Roger said before leaving Hiromi's Watanabe Trucking office. Chuck and Hiromi would be allowed to honeymoon as they pleased. ***** On May 24th, Gabrielle and Oscar flew back to the United States. Gabrielle used the flight to finish a report on Operation Hornblower. After having difficulty sleeping the previous evening, Oscar decided to take a nap shortly after take-off. The Brazilian-born banker slept for almost two hours. When Oscar woke up, he undid his seat belt. "Gabrielle, can I get you anything to drink?" "No, thank you," Gabrielle replied without looking up from the computer screen. Oscar came back a minute later. He handed Gabrielle a bottle of mineral water. "I know you're busy, Gabrielle, but you have to drink liquids. Long flights cause dehydration." Gabrielle took the water handed to her, but not before she looked up at Oscar and gave him a slight smile. "I know that. Thank you." Oscar went back to his seat. He then spent his time reading a few of the magazines available on the private jet. Gabrielle sonn put her report on Operation Hornblower to rest. The FBI agent would read it, and re-read it again several times before submitting it to Grant Williamson and the Swan Song committee. Gabrielle was turning off her laptop when Oscar decided to speak up again. "I gather what you to came to Tokyo for didn't go well. Did it?" "No, it didn't." "Want to talk about it?" "I can't." "Oh. I gather what you're working on is top secret then." "You could say that," Gabrielle said at the same time her laptop finished powering down. Once that task was completed, Gabrielle stowed the PC in a computer bag next to her chair. "Oscar, I'm going to take a nap if you don't mind." "Go ahead, Gabby. I'll try to be quiet." The executive jet Gabrielle and Oscar were on was not destined for Seattle, the airport they'd originally left from, but flew to Northern Virginia instead, a trip that would normally be non-stop except for the lack of tail winds that particular day. This required a stop in Oregon in order to re-fuel. Gabrielle barely stirred during the stopover. The jet was somewhere over the Midwest when Oscar decided to wake his traveling companion. "How long was I asleep?" Gabrielle asked as she tried to shake the sleep from her head. "A long time. We're only three hours from home now. Coffee?" "Yes, please," Gabrielle said. A minute later, Oscar was back with coffee for Gabrielle. The banker even fixed the java with cream and sugar without Gabrielle having to ask. "How is it?" "Perfect," Gabrielle replied, after taking a few sips of the coffee handed to her. While Gabrielle tried to wake up, Oscar placed a phone call. Gabrielle couldn't help but eavesdrop, but her inability to understand Portuguese made it impossible for the FBI agent to follow what Oscar was talking about until Oscar was almost ready to hang up the phone. "Yes, Margarita, dinner for two tonight at 8pm." Oscar then reverted back to Portuguese for the rest of the phone conversation. "You have plans for tonight?" Gabrielle asked after Oscar turned off the phone. "Yes, Gabrielle. I was hoping you'd join me for dinner. Please?" Gabrielle didn't say anything for a minute. She still had Oscar tagged as gay, therefore whatever the banker had planned for the night, it couldn't possibly be a date. "I still have my report to finish." Oscar nodded his head. "Yes I understand. It isn't due till Monday, is it?" "No." "Then you have time for me tonight. I think after what I did for the Bureau, you can at least accept my dinner invitation." Gabrielle could have countered that she and Oscar had been having dinner together for almost a week when posing as boyfriend and girlfriend. Instead Gabrielle caved in. "Very well, Oscar, I accept." "After dinner I'll have Leo take you home. Leo is my chauffeur." From previous conversations, Oscar knew Gabrielle had a apartment in Northern Virginia. Gabrielle also knew from an early FBI briefing that the Toniguchi family had a Georgetown townhouse. Oscar and Gabrielle arrived in Georgetown a few minutes before 7pm. After checking in with Margarita, Oscar showed Gabrielle around the townhouse. When the tour was finished, Oscar took Gabrielle to the living room. Oscar then put some classical music on for his guest. "Gabrielle if you'll excuse me, I have to make a phone call." "Go right ahead." "My father called. He wants me to call right back." "Where are your parents now?" "Back in Brazil." "Do what ever you have to do. I'll still be here when you're done," Gabrielle told Oscar. Before exiting the room, Oscar told Gabrielle that if she needed anything, she should ask Margarita. Shortly after Oscar left her, Gabrielle began walking around the living room. Gabrielle was feeling restless from her flight to Japan and the short nap she had taken, so she didn't feel much like sitting down. As she waited for Oscar, Gabrielle examined some of the photos in the room. They were quite numerous, and Gabrielle theorized that a member of the Toniguchi family was a photography buff. Was that what Oscar did in his free time? Gabrielle was looking at some photos of Oscar and his family, when the banker returned. "See anything interesting?" "You have a very nice family." "Thank you. Margarita said dinner is almost ready. Want to go to the dining room now?" After Gabrielle said yes, Oscar showed his guest to the townhouse's dining area. While eating, Oscar tried to get Gabrielle talking about her life and work. Gabrielle was vague in her answers. Her mind was still going over Operation Hornblower and why it had failed. What had Gabrielle done wrong? "That meeting you did on Thursday, it didn't go well? "Oscar, besides being a banker are you a mind reader? "No, I am not," Oscar said with a slight grin. Then Oscar turned serious. "Gabrielle, you don't hide your emotions very well. Want to talk?" Gabrielle tried telling Oscar the reasons Operation Hornblower had to remain confidential. Oscar accepted the explanation but only half way. He asked Gabrielle that, as he had just been part of the Operation itself, why shouldn't he be fully briefed? "You wouldn't believe me if I told you the whole story." "Try me," Oscar told Gabrielle. Gabrielle then gave the banker the short version of Operation Swan Song. "That sounds like a bad Sci-Fi channel movie." "It's quite real." "This person codenamed Ripley is your friend?" "Yes, Oscar." "You really care for them?" Oscar's line of questioning caused tears to form in Gabrielle's eyes as she relived what happened the other night. Could the cause for Hornblower's failure be chalked up to Gabrielle not saying three words to Tom Slater? 'I love you.' Gabrielle felt so terribly guilty. Finally the dam holding back her tears burst. Seeing this, Oscar brought Gabrielle a box of Kleenex. "I've got to go," Gabrielle said after wiping the tears from her face. After pushing her chair back from the table, Gabrielle got to her feet. "You're leaving? Gabrielle, you barely touched dinner. "I'm not hungry," Gabrielle said as she walked over to where she left her purse. "Thank you for the meal." Oscar barraged his friend with questions, but Gabrielle stayed on course. She needed to get home and have a good and private cry. As soon as she exited the Toniguchi townhouse, Gabrielle began looking for a cab. None were in the area. Oscar had followed her put the door, "Gabrielle, will you listen to me for one minute. PLEASE." Feeling she owed Oscar at least that one minute he'd asked for, Gabrielle turned around to address him. "What do you want?" "Come back in and finish dinner." "I'm not hungry." "Then let me call Leo. He went to grab something to eat. I will have him drive you home. Can I do that for you?" Gabrielle thought over Oscar's proposition for a few seconds. "I accept." "Come back inside. I'll call Leo right away." Gabrielle took a seat in the front foyer of the Toniguchi home and waited. While Oscar called Leo, Gabrielle reflected on what a mess her life was then. She hadn't just failed herself, but family and friends also. Worst of all, Gabrielle had failed Tom Slater. "Leo will be here in twenty to thirty minutes," Oscar called out as he approached Gabrielle. "In the meantime why don't you finish the meal Margarita made for us." Oscar then offered Gabrielle his right hand. "I'm not that hungry." "Eat what you can. You can take the rest home." Gabrielle laughed. "You got doggy bags around here?" "No, but I seem to remember Margarita having tupperware containers in the kitchen. Come on, Gabrielle, please?" Gabrielle went back to the dining area and did as Oscar suggested, except Gabrielle only picked at the remaining food on her plate. When Oscar concluded his guest was done eating, he summoned Margarita to clear the table. "Did you like dinner?" "Yes, it was good." "Margarita will give you what is leftover to take home. You do own a microwave?" Gabrielle laughed. "Of course I do. I'm just never home to use it." "You're very unhappy with work right now?" "Oscar, are you always good at reading your girlfriend or boyfriend's minds?" Now it was time for Oscar to laugh. "No, I'm a bit of an amateur psychiatrist. If my parents didn't insist on me going into the family business, I would have studied medicine instead." "Too bad. Japan missed having its own Sigmund Freud." Oscar laughed again. "You think I'm gay?" "You're rich, good looking, single, and thirty-one-years-old." "That I am." "Plus you seem too interested in women's clothing. I never knew a straight guy who did." Oscar laughed very hard. "Now you do." "Sorry if I insulted you. Maybe I should grab a cab instead of letting Leo drive me home." "No, Gabrielle, I don't feel insulted by what you said. Leo will still take you home. In the meantime, want to hear a short story?" Gabrielle looked at her watch before answering. "Why not?" "While I was growing up there was this very special friend I had. I called her Sandy, it wasn't her real name. Sandy's parents both work at my family home in Brazil." Sandy was an Ofaye, one of Brazil's indigenous people. From an early age, Sandy was Oscar's best friend. Eventually the friendship turned to love. "How did your Mom and Dad feel about Sandy?" "They were fine with Sandy. Mom used to treat her like a third daughter." "Oscar, what happened to Sandy?" Rather than answer the question, Oscar talked more about Sandy. The experiences they had together, the love they shared. Sandy, the simple Ofaye girl, had brought joy and happiness to Oscar Toniguchi's life. "I learned about women's clothes because of Sandy. There was something about her, I just wanted to know everything she was. The few times we came to the US together , she liked to go shopping at JC Penney." Gabrielle still remembered Oscar's JC Penney remark on the flight over to Japan. "Sandy rarely asked me for anything. I had to make her take things." "Like what?" Oscar told of how Sandy never drove or owned a car till age nineteen. Then after being taught how to drive one summer, Oscar wanted to get Sandy a car. "She used to ride around on a old rusty bicycle. I wanted to get her a new car. To make a long story short, I ended up buying Sandy a used VW Beetle that probably had 300,000 miles on it. It was the only car Sandy would let me buy her." Gabrielle let out a short laugh. Oscar told of how Sandy and he got engaged to marry in 2000. The wedding was set for the following year. As the big day approached, Sandy began to complain of feeling unwell. "I took Sandy to a doctor. A few days later after some tests were done, we went back. The doctor told Sandy she had advanced ovarian cancer. Sandy died less than two months later, on the day before we were scheduled to marry." Again Gabrielle was ready to cry but this time for her friend. Oscar had lost everything that he held dear in life. "I'm so sorry." "We never know what we truly have till we lose it. That especially holds true for our loved ones." The room got silent for a short time. Oscar was then given a message by Margarita. Leo was waiting outside to take Gabrielle to her apartment in Virginia. Gabrielle was now in no hurry to leave. "I haven't seen anyone since. Don't know if I ever will," Oscar admitted. "Oscar, some woman would be very lucky to have you as a husband." "Maybe. You're not applying?" Gabrielle let out a short laugh. "No, I'm not." "Didn't think you were. You have lost your heart also, to that Army Captain." "Yes, I have." "Then fight like the devil for him or her." "That is what I am doing already." Oscar grinned for a moment. "I know. If I read you right, you will love the Army Captain no matter what their gender is when this operation is over." Again Oscar made Gabrielle laugh. "Oscar, you really should take that mind reading act of yours to Las Vegas. You would be wealthy and famous in no time." "It's too late for that, Gabby." Gabrielle looked at her watch again. "I'd better go now. The report I am writing has to be finished by Monday morning. Thank you for dinner." "You're welcome." Oscar and Gabrielle left the house a few minutes later. Leo and the limousine were all ready for the trip to trip to Virginia. "Gabrielle, I know you're not happy with the bureau. If you're ever looking for a new job, give me a call. My bank needs good people." "Thanks, Oscar." "We even have benefits for domestic partners." Again, Oscar caused Gabrielle to laugh. After saying goodbye to Oscar, Gabrielle climbed into the limousine. Gabrielle spent all of Sunday preparing her report on Operation Hornblower, only taking time out to call Midori Slater late on Sunday afternoon. As when she'd talked to Tom Slater's mother on Mother's Day, Gabrielle held nothing back as she told Midori about the failure of Operation Hornblower. Then, on Monday morning, Gabrielle went to the Hoover Building to see Grant Williamson. The FBI Deputy Director took less than ten minutes to read the report Gabrielle had drafted. When he was through, Grant looked up at Gabrielle. "Good work, Agent Tanaka." "Thank you, sir, but I feel Operation Hornblower's failure is partly my fault. If I had addressed Agent Ripley in a different manner, maybe she would have emerged." "You tried, Agent Tanaka. Are you going back to Japan now?" "Yes, sir. I have a reservation for an afternoon flight out of Dulles." Grant Williamson then passed Gabrielle a brief memo. It concerned Agent Concierge's most recent message to her controllers. "Did you know anything about this?" The message was quite short. It said Hiromi Sato was marrying Charles McBride on May 31st. Gabrielle gave the memo back to her boss. "No, sir, I didn't." As there was nothing else to discuss, Grant Williamson dismissed Agent Tanaka. Feeling guilty again, Gabrielle had another good cry on the way to Dulles Airport that morning. 'I love you, Tom Slater. How can I save you?' ***** A preliminary DNA match was made by the Kanagawa prefecture match on the remains found by Frank Snyder, the missing Agent Chrysanthemum. Due to the body's decomposition and exposure to the elements, there was still some tiny doubt as to the identification. Assistant coroner Hotaru Sugimoto saw that the file was red flagged and went to see her superior. Dr. Akinobu Okada was the Coroner for Kanagawa prefecture and Hotaru's boss. After receiving a verbal report from his subordinate, Akinobu had a question to ask. "What are you proposing we do next?" "There are enough remains for a dental identification to be made" Hotaru told her boss. Forensic odontology, even in the age of DNA technology, was still a vital tool in the investigation of foul play. It was a backup means of identifying a body, even when tissue samples were degraded. "I've taken the liberty of contacting Dr. Ryuku Takagi's office. She is unavailable this week, but would be available next Monday. That is, if you approve, Okada-san." Akinobu Okara did approve, and told Dr. Sugimoto to go ahead with her proposal. While they'd only met a few brief times, Akinobu knew of Dr. Takagi's awesome reputation in forensic odontology. "Should we inform the Nagoya police yet?" Dr. Okara shook his head. The coroner was a cautious man and this particular identification had been deemed very important by Japanese authorities. Akinobu wanted to be as close to one hundred percent certain about the identification before taking the next step. "No, Hota-san, not yet. We will wait till Dr. Takagi confirms the identification." ***** Gabrielle Tanaka was still en route to Japan when the latest Swan Song committee meeting took place. Its main purpose was to discuss what were to be the next steps for the off track Operation. "The Director told me that Swan Song is to still go forward," Grant Williamson told Major Hollins, Inspector Yoshida, Dr. Wagner, and the other people present at the meeting. A representative of the US Justice Department then spoke. "We have a rock solid case against the Watanabes. The testimony of Agent Ripley would be preferable, but even its complete absence shouldn't too severely affect the chances for conviction." The Japanese justice ministry official agreed with his American colleague. There was some debate over what the next steps should be. Dr. Wagner broke in with a remark, "I wouldn't think the police can just show up with arrest warrants and expect the Watanabes to peacefully surrender themselves." "No attempts at an arrest will be made without thorough preparation before hand," Inspector Yoshida said. Senior Detective Kim Ki-Jong of Seoul South Korea was at the meeting too, and added, "Officials in my country want to learn the names of those responsible for the murder of Judge Song and his wife. Agent Ripley said at his Hong Kong debriefing that she had some knowledge that would be of help identifying the killers." "Kim-san, we haven't forgotten that," Inspector Yoshida replied. As he'd said before, thorough preparations would have to be made before any arrests would happen. The Japanese authorities preferred that there be few, if any, casualties. "Agent Concierge will be debriefed eleven days from now. Information we learn from her will be used when it comes time to make arrests." Where Agent Ripley would go after her upcoming wedding was discussed next. Swan Song knew nothing of Hiromi Sato's honeymoon plans. Accordingly, any plan to snatch her when she was out of Japan would have to be made on the fly. Grant Williamson addressed Inspector Yoshida. "Inspector, make sure to notify the committee as soon as it is learned where Ripley is going." "Yes, sir." Major Hollins then spoke. "Sir, does this mean Operation Firecracker is called off?" "No, Major, you are to begin training immediately," Grant Williamson replied. Just the day before, Major Hollins had received permission from Japanese authorities to begin training for Operation Firecracker. The Suzuka International racing course, home to the Japanese Grand Prix, would be the site for Operation Firecracker training. The owners of the racetrack had offered the use of their facilities to the Swan Song committee. Hiromi Sato's upcoming wedding was discussed. Dr. Wagner was still arguing in favor of her theory about there being two personas in the body of Hiromi Sato to the committee members. That was the only way to account for the fact that Agent Ripley was behaving as if she were truly Hiromi Sato, she told them. "Either that, or Ripley has gone to work for the enemy," Major Hollins said. Without conclusive proof either way, Grant Williamson cut off any further debate on the topic. Since there was nothing further to discuss, the latest Swan Song committee meeting was adjourned. ***** A great deal of packing had to be done before Hiromi and Chuck went on their honeymoon, so Hiromi began the process on the Monday evening before the big day. Multiple suitcases were needed for the three-week trip. A large amount of clothing had to be neatly folded and Hiromi preferred doing this by herself. Also, due to the differing climates at the honeymoon destinations she and Chuck would be visiting, clothes had to be properly sorted. Hiromi also had a checklist of personal items she would be taking on the trip. Two nights before the wedding, Hiromi began sorting these out also. She would not be staying Friday night at her Negishi Bay apartment, but at her grandfather's home instead. "Are you excited?" Chuck asked Hiromi while both of them were in the bathroom. "Yes." Hiromi's marriage wouldn't alter her life much. After all, she and Chuck had been living together for some time. Other changes lay ahead for Hiromi, both in her professional and personal lives, one of which Hiromi decided to implement immediately. Before going to bed on Thursday night, Hiromi dumped her daily birth control pills down the toilet. Hiromi thought it was time to let nature take its course. In a few years, combining pregnancy and the role of Oyabun of the Watanabe Yakuza might not mix. It would be best for Hiromi to start on a family immediately. ***** Midori waited patiently in the surgical waiting room of Salem Hospital. Her husband Stuart's heart valve replacement surgery had begun about an hour earlier. As she waited, Midori prayed for her husband, her son Tom, and the entire Slater family. The Slaters had suffered so much the last few years. Midori asked God to show them some mercy for a change. Midori thought back to the conversation she had with Gabrielle Tanaka a few days earlier. The news about Operation Hornblower's failure was just the latest heartbreak for the mother. Her son Tom might be forever lost. If he didn't recognize Gabrielle, would Tom remember the rest of his family? 'I won't give up hope,' Midori told herself. She would fight for Tom, he was after all Midori's only son. God would return Tom Slater to his parents. Midori sincerely believed this, God would not let her family suffer any more. Salem was supposed to be one of the best hospitals in the Pacific Northwest for Open Heart Surgery, and Dr. James Lancelot a highly skilled surgeon, but Midori still worried. She loved her husband of thirty-five years, and couldn't imagine life without Stuart. Midori couldn't imagine life without her son Tom either. Would Gabrielle or someone else be able to re-awaken Tom Slater? Or would he be doomed to live inside a body he didn't control? "Hi, Mom," Deborah Slater said as she sat down in a chair alongside her mother. Tom Slater's sister lived in the Portland Oregon suburb of Tigard. "Is Dad still being operated on?" "Yes, Dr. Lancelot says the operation will take around three hours." "The operation started at ten?" "Yes, that's what they tell me." Deborah asked if her mother wanted to go get some lunch. Midori said she didn't. Right then she wasn't feeling very hungry. "How was Shannon?" Midori asked. A wife of a man undergoing open heart surgery could be justified in being preoccupied with their spouse's condition, but Midori was constantly thinking of all her family members. "I dropped him at the sitter. Donald will pick Shannon up after work tonight." Midori's thoughts kept returning to the subject of her son. Tom had undergone changes for the mission he was asked to volunteer for. Midori knew both of the changes and risks, and had encouraged her son to say yes. Now Midori was feeling guilty. Had she helped cause Tom's death? Tom hadn't died, but was in grave danger, Midori had learned from her most recent talk with Gabrielle Tanaka. The guilt Midori felt for letting her son get in this difficulty was increasing daily. Sometimes Midori wished she had someone to talk with about these feelings. Gabrielle had told Midori about Operation Swan Song in confidence that she would keep its details secret. Normally the wife and mother would have passed any news about Tom to his father and sisters. This time she hadn't, and this was causing Midori to feel even more overwhelmed. Deborah Slater chose to read a magazine while waiting for the results of her father's surgery. Midori, with all the stress she was under, couldn't concentrate on anything but the state of her family. Midori was still thinking of Tom's changes, not just physical, but the mental changes Gabrielle had told her of. Gabrielle hoped they could be reversed, but Midori had to be prepared for the worst. All she prayed for now was that her son Tom regained his or her identity and self control. Any permanent changes to Tom would be accepted. Midori was an unselfish mother. She would always love Tom, or if fate would have it, should she become Rebecca. It didn't matter, the bond between Midori and any of her children would never be broken. It was shortly after 1pm when Midori heard her name being called. The mother, with her daughter Deborah alongside her, went immediately to the information desk. "I'm Midori Slater." "Your husband's surgery just ended. Dr. Lancelot will be here to talk to you in a few moments." Midori and Deborah Slater saw Dr. Lancelot less than five minutes later. Stuart Slater's heart operation had gone well. The Slaters were relieved to hear this. An hour later Midori and Deborah were allowed into Stuart Slater's ICU room. The retired Army Master Sergeant barely looked human. Stuart Slater was on a ventilator, and multiple tubes and wiring were connected to his body. "Deborah, I will stay here all weekend." "All right, Mom." The mother and daughter then shared a hug. ***** The weather on the day of Hiromi and Chuck's wedding couldn't have been better. A cloudless sky above, and a cool mountain breeze that filled the air made for a perfect setting at Keiji Watanabe's lakeside home. At 3pm sharp, Keiji Watanabe began walking his granddaughter down the aisle. Hiromi wore a white wedding gown with a long train. Charles McBride was smiling as his soon to be wife approached. As soon as Hiromi was in place, a Japanese born Methodist Minister began the ceremony. Over three hundred people were in attendance for the wedding and the reception afterwards. Most were Japanese, but people came from Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Macau, The United States and Ireland to see Chuck and Hiromi marry. All the guests gave a gift to the newlywed couple. Most handed over an envelope to a Watanabe cousin who was put in charge of collecting and safeguarding Hiromi and Chuck's wedding presents. "I hope we didn't get five microwave ovens," Chuck said to his wife as they peeked at a few of the non-monetary gifts they got. Hiromi laughed at her husband's remark. Chuck and Hiromi left for their wedding night hotel at 10pm sharp. Before leaving, Hiromi threw her wedding bouquet to the female guests present. It was caught by Suki Kobayashi. The newlywed couple had reservations for a suite at the Intercontinental Grand Yokohama hotel. Yakuza bodyguards were in place already when Hiromi and Chuck arrived. ***** Little did Agent Ripley know, but the Swan Song committee had The Intercontinental staked out. It was a last minute idea of Inspector Yoshida who had a hunch that Chuck and Hiromi would overnight in Yokohama before exiting Japan the next day. Inspector Yoshida had small teams of policemen stake out each of the city's five-star hotels. Gabrielle Tanaka didn't take part in the stakeout. Shortly after arriving back in Japan, Gabrielle was given new orders by Grant Williamson. She was told to work with the Nagoya police as they prepared for Agent Concierge's debriefing. Inspector Yoshida was asleep already when the call came from the Intercontinental. "Thank you, Kenta-san, for informing me. I will make the necessary phone calls." A much larger team of watchers was in place the following morning. Shortly after 9am, a policeman posing as a hotel worker informed the team leader that Agent Ripley and her husband were leaving their hotel suite. Senior Detective Soyogi had people ready to follow Ripley as soon as she exited the hotel. Keeping a tail on Ripley was considered difficult but not impossible. By Swan Song's calculations, there were only two places she could be going, so they could have agents in place at both. The two choices were either Yokohama Station, where the Narita Express made a stop. The Narita Express was the swiftest way to get from Yokohama to Japan's largest international airport, Narita. The second possible destination for Hiromi and Chuck was Tokyo-Haneda airport. This could be reached by car. When Hiromi Sato's yellow Fairlady exited the garage heading in the direction of neither Tokyo-Haneda airport or Yokohama station, the watchers were surprised. Hiromi and Chuck were taking a leisurely path out of the city. "Keep tailing her," Inspector Yoshida told Senior Detective Soyogi. "We need to know Sato's final destination." The Fairlady and its occupants didn't stop for over three hours, or till the car pulled into a filling station north of Tokyo. Trying to look inconspicuous, the trailing car with two Yokohama police in it, stopped at a small store a block past where Agent Ripley stopped to fill up her vehicle Taking out a pair of binoculars, Detective Eishin Maeda looked back at the filling station. The Detective closely examined the two people who were standing next to The Fairlady. Detective Maeda then took a moment to check a photograph given to him before going back to the surveillance task he had been given. Another half minute passed. Then Detective Maeda put down the binoculars and said. "That is not Hiromi Sato." ***** The little trickery played on the people watching Hiromi Sato, had come about with the help of an actor and actress hired to impersonate the married couple. Twenty minutes after the Fairlady exited the Intercontinental parking garage, the real Hiromi and Chuck sneaked out of the suite they were staying in. After riding downstairs in a service elevator, Hiromi, Chuck, Roger, and Yuri proceeded to walk through the hotel's laundry area. A van was waiting at the loading dock to take all of them to Tokyo-Haneda airport. At Tokyo-Haneda airport, a private jet was waiting for Hiromi and Chuck. The couple was already on the aircraft, when a Japanese Immigration official came to inspect their passports. The private jet had a crew of three for the 9400 kilometer trip to Christchurch New Zealand. A pilot and co-pilot to fly the aircraft, and one attendant whose job it was to see to all of Hiromi and Chuck's needs. "Are we all set?" Roger asked once the Immigration official had left. "Yes, we are," Hiromi replied. "Have a safe trip, Boss." ***** "What do you mean we lost them?" A dumbfounded Grant Williamson asked Inspector Yoshida. "Two people were hired to play the parts of Hiromi Sato and Charles McBride," Inspector Yoshida said at the conclusion of a lengthy dissertation on the little bit of trickery played on the Yokohama police. "We are still checking, but so far we have no idea where Agent Ripley went to." "Have immigration authorities been informed?" "Yes, sir. I am now waiting for a return phone call" Grant Williamson hung up the phone a few moments later. As soon as the receiver was in its cradle, the Deputy FBI Director let out a long string of expletives in regards to the latest Swan Song/Agent Ripley news. ***** Immigration had nothing to get back to Swan Song with. With the help of an additional bonus paid to them by Goro Watanabe, a Immigration employee already on the Yakuza payroll deleted all trace of Hiromi and Chuck's departure from the country. Goro had all this, as well as the tomfoolery with the doubles, done because of recent news that some high ranking Watanabe family members may be under surveillance. The usually cautious Goro decided to take as few chances as possible with his cousin's safety. The trip to New Zealand was long and unremarkable for Chuck and Hiromi. After passing customs and immigration, the newlywed couple hopped on another private plane for the short hop to New Zealand's south island. Hiromi and Chuck had reservations for the Cardrona Alpine Resort. Since they arrived past sunset and after a long plane trip, the couple checked straight into their room for the night. they only allowed their privacy to be interrupted for the delivery of room service. Chuck woke the next morning to find Hiromi had left their room without even leaving a note behind for her husband. After getting dressed, Chuck went searching for Hiromi. "Kimi-chan," Chuck said to Hiromi after finding her in a resort business office. Hiromi was using a hotel computer. "What brings you here?" "I just needed to check on some business and send an email or two," Hiromi told her husband before standing up. The tasks she had come to the business office for were already finished. "You didn't mind?" Not waiting for Chuck to answer, Hiromi went straight over to her husband and kissed him. "I'm hungry, are you?" Chuck smiled. "Yes, I am. Let's go get some breakfast then." ***** 'Do these boys and girls realize they are watching a Michelangelo at work? Probably not,' Dr. Hideki Yamamoto asked and answered himself. The forensic pathologist was seated in the gallery section of a Yokohama National University operating room watching his friend and colleague, forensic odontologist, Ryuku Takagi, identify a body. Hideki had only watched Dr. Takagi at work once before in the thirty years they knew one another. So that early June afternoon was a real treat. In Dr. Yamamoto's eyes, Ryuku was as beautiful as she had been when the two of them went to medical school together those many years ago. Dr. Yamamoto was equally awed by Ryuku Takagi's skill at forensic odontology. The men or women who were Dr. Takagi's equal in the field, could be counted on one hand. She had lectured around the world on the use of forensic odontology to identify bodies, and had written textbooks on the subject. Ryuku knew Hideki was watching her. Other than a slight nod of her head to acknowledge her friend's presence, Ryuku concentrated on the work in front of her, to identify the remains of the body located by Frank Snyder. Three young medical students, two male and one female, were observing Dr. Takagi close up. When Dr. Takagi began, there had been five students, but two of them had excused themselves. Seeing the body of Reina Shimizu wasn't for the squeamish. Those two students were probably reconsidering what branch of medicine they wanted to practice. Radiographs had been taken of Reina Shimizu's remaining teeth. When compared to the radiographs supplied by Nagoya police, they seemed to further verify the identity of the body Dr. Takagi was examining. Dr. Takagi was a thorough forensic odontologist, and wanted to be absolutely certain of the identification. This required casts to be made of the Agent Chrysanthemum's remaining teeth. These would be matched with the Nagoya police records but, before that could happen, the casts would need to dry. Because Dr. Takagi was using this particular case as an example to teach future forensic odontologists, she was more deliberate than usual. When finished, Dr. Takagi and her students left the operating room. Dr. Yamamoto was waiting for his former classmate. "Ryuku-san, it is good to see you again. I hope you are well again." "Yes, I am," Ryuku Takagi replied. Her husband of twenty-six years, Akira Takagi, had died nine months earlier. "It is good seeing you too, Hideki-san." "May I interest you in dinner tonight?" Ryuku was keenly aware of Hideki's continuing sexual attraction towards her. Dr. Yamamoto was a married man, and Ryuku Takagi would never take part in an act of adultery. She would however accept an offer of a free meal. "Yes, Hideki-san, I would like that." ***** Forty-eight hours later the Nagoya police were given the reports of both Dr. Takagi and Dr. Sugimoto. Agent Chrysanthemum was indeed dead and her body had been identified. Cause of death: Multiple gunshot wounds. Identity of the murderer, or murderers: Unknown. Tonichi Ogawa's family and the Swan Song committee were immediately notified. The death of the Nagoya policeman wasn't taken well by either Momoko Ogawa or Grant Williamson. What was at the root of their unhappiness was entirely different. "We have another dead agent, that's just great," Grant Williamson said in exasperation at the latest Swan Song meeting. "You should see it from Momoko Ogawa's perspective," Inspector Yoshida said acidly. The Yokohama policeman found Grant Williamson's remark to be disgusting "She was just told her husband was brutally murdered." Grant Williamson showed little sign of sympathy for Tonichi Ogawa's widow as he asked a question of Inspector Yoshida. "Have we discovered yet where Agent Ripley is?" "No, we haven't but I assure you, every effort is being made to locate Ripley." "The debriefing of Concierge is still set for Saturday. Do you think Concierge may know where Ripley has gone?" Inspector Yoshida shrugged. "Yes, it is possible, but Concierge is really just a low level informant. I wouldn't get my hopes up." Grant Williamson paused for a almost a minute. "Inspector, you are to make sure Agent Concierge is questioned about everything she knows about both Agent Ripley and the Watanabes." "Yes, sir. That is the plan." Inspector Yoshida replied. The Japanese policeman would not be doing Ai Toguchi's debriefing, but rather the Nagoya police and Gabrielle Tanaka. Inspector Yoshida would pass Grant Williamson's message to the appropriate people. Grant Williamson then asked Major Hollins to update the committee on how the training for Operation Firecracker was going. Major Hollins said it was going well. Gabrielle Tanaka didn't say anything at this latest Swan Song meeting. She had long ago come to the conclusion that Grant Williamson an unfeeling, career-driven, asshole. Today was just the latest confirmation. What weighed heavily on Gabrielle's mind as she prepared to meet Ai Toguchi, was where in the world was Tom Slater right then? ***** Hiromi and Chuck were enjoying their honeymoon in New Zealand. After only a half day spent skiing, Hiromi was glad she had accepted her husband's suggestion for their honeymoon. It wasn't long before Chuck and Hiromi settled into a honeymoon routine. They would make ski or snowboard for most of the day before returning to the hotel in the later afternoon. They would then make love, go have dinner, spend the evening dancing or going to places in town, then retire to the hotel for the evening. Chuck and Hiromi would make love again before going to bed. Hiromi had her period on her second full day in New Zealand. Due to the lack of birth control, it seemed a little heavier than normal to the Yakuza accountant. Hiromi's plan to start a family in the not too immediate future seemed to be on course for now. ***** The announced purpose for Ai Toguchi's trip to Nagano was to visit her sister Mie. Mie's birthday was upcoming. When asked by his wife if she could go away for a few days, Keiji Watanabe voiced no objection. Ai traveled to Nagano without a bodyguard. It would have been difficult to attend the debriefing if Ana Ramirez had come along. Ana didn't make the trip by plane from Tokyo-Haneda airport but Ai was not alone. Two undercover policemen were on same flight as Agent Concierge. Both men were checking to see that Ai Toguchi wasn't being followed. There was no tail. Ai Toguchi arrived in Nagano shortly after 11am on June 7th, just another Japanese citizen traveling to the city that once hosted the winter Olympics. Ai had no baggage to claim, so she went straight to the curb with Cherry and her one carry-on bag. Cherry, confined to a small pet carrier, was whimpering as his owner climbed into a cab. Ai rarely went anywhere without Cherry. Keiji Watanabe didn't care much for the dog, and Ai didn't trust her husband enough to leave Cherry in his care. The cab ride to the home of Mie Nayama took a half hour. After compensating the cab driver, Ai took her possessions and entered the home belonging to her sister. Neither Mie or her children were home that day. They had been asked by Japanese police to vacate the home for a day. This was just a precaution being taken by the Nagoya police. As soon as she entered the house, Ai took out her cell phone and dialed a local number. "I have arrived. What am I to do? " "Just wait where you are. A car will come shortly," said a male voice. An unmarked police car picked up Ai and Cherry a half hour later. Both were then taken to a safe house in another part of Nagano. Nagoya Deputy Inspector Shinjiro Umetsu greeted Ai at the front door of the safe house. "Welcome, Ai-san. I hope your trip was a safe one." In addition to Deputy Inspector Umetsu, the Nagano safe house had eight other people present for Ai Toguchi's debriefing. Two two-person interrogation teams, three technicians who would see to the audio and video records of every word and movement Ai made, plus Gabrielle Tanaka. Gabrielle was there in an observer capacity only. Before the debriefing began, Ai was asked if she needed anything. Ai requested a cup of coffee only. As soon as Agent Concierge was comfortable, the first team of interrogators began the questioning. The first questions covered Ai's background and employment record. These would be checked against official government documents, and notes from a meeting Ai had with her first police controller back in 2001. Swan Song and the Nagoya police couldn't discount the possibility of Ai Toguchi being a disinformation agent. That's why the considerable gap between Ai's communications with her police controllers was being questioned. Ai appeared extra nervous as she fumbled along trying to come up with an explanation for her interrogators. Grant Williamson had suggested a polygraph examination be given to Ai Toguchi, but Japanese officials said no. They didn't trust that particular technology. Finally Ai spoke. "I was scared." "Weren't you scared from the beginning?" "Yes, but it was different?" "How so?" "I don't know. It just was." Gabrielle was paying close attention to this part of the debriefing. A two-way mirror allowed the FBI agent to watch Ai Toguchi. Based on Agent Concierge's body language, Gabrielle believed what the woman was saying, but at the same time thought that Ai was holding something back. Ai Toguchi's first team of interrogators consisted of a man and woman. Gabrielle began to wonder if Agent Concierge was uncomfortable discussing some topics because one of her questioners was male. The next line of questioning concerned Ai's motives for informing on Keiji Watanabe. Keiji was, after all, her husband. "He's an evil man." Cherry, who lay in a corner of the room throughout the debriefing began to whimper. The dog usually did this when wanting Ai's attention. Ai took a few seconds to get Cherry before taking her seat again with the pet dog sitting in her lap. The debriefing got back on track. "Why is he evil?" "My husband is Yakuza." "Yes, of course," The male interrogator said before taking a puff on his cigarette. "But you married him." Ai continued to be evasive in regards to why she had turned informant. Deputy Inspector Umetsu then called for a short break. Ai using this time to take Cherry out in the safehouse's backyard so the dog could do its 'personal business'. Gabrielle went out in the backyard at the same time as Ai and Cherry. The FBI agent was in need of some fresh air but she also wanted to observe Ai away from her interrogators. As she watched Agent Concierge's pet take a leak by raising its hind leg and spraying some discarded car tires, Gabrielle thought again of Tom Slater. How did it feel to be trapped in a body you have no control over? A few minutes later, the debriefing began again. This time, the second team of interrogators(this time both were men) questioned Agent Concierge about any knowledge she had about the Watanabe Yakuza, with a particular emphasis on the recent activities of Hiromi Sato. What Ai had to tell about the Watanabe Yakuza was little more than gossip. Keiji Watanabe was not in the habit of discussing family business with his former employee turned wife. Still, Ai did overhear some bits and pieces of information related to the Yakuza. "I do not know where Hiromi-san and her husband are now," Ai answered when asked of Hiromi Sato's most recent whereabouts. "We hear she got married. Is that true?" The interrogator asked. "Yes, Hiromi-san's marriage was last weekend. She left Japan the next day with Charles." 'So Tom left the country. How did she manage that without a record of it being made?' Gabrielle thought to herself. Something continued to gnaw at Gabrielle in regards to Ai Toguchi's debriefing. The Nagoya policemen interrogating Ai Toguchi then switched their questioning to other figures in the Watanabe Yakuza. This was in case Agent Concierge was a double agent. If she was, too much questioning in regards to Hiromi Sato could tip off the Watanabes that another traitor was in their presence. A few minutes before 7 p.m, the debriefing stopped for dinner so that food could be brought in from a local restaurant to feed all ten people at the safe house. With no dog food available, Ai shared some of her own food with Cherry. Before her debriefing restarted, Ai once again took her beloved pet out for a walk. The debriefing was called to an end at 10pm. All those involved were exhausted by then. "Ai-san, thank you for your cooperation today." "I hope this puts my husband in jail." Deputy Inspector Umetsu had long since noted the hate Ai felt for Keiji Watanabe. If Concierge hated the man so much, why had she married him? "If you don't mind, we need to ask some more questions tomorrow. Are you available to help us?" The Deputy Inspector asked. Ai wasted no time in saying yes. After Ai left the safe house, Gabrielle went to talk with Deputy Inspector Umetsu. "I'd like to take part in Concierge's debriefing tomorrow." "Can I ask why?" Gabrielle supplied the policeman with an answer. Deputy Inspector Umetsu then took a minute to think. "Yes, we can do that." "I'd like it to be just me and Kaori-san. If that is all right with you." Kaori Sato was the one female interrogator. "Yes, Gabrielle-san, we can do that." ***** When Gabrielle and Kaori sat down with Ai the next day, they began the session with small talk. They asked Ai about her children (she had a grown son and daughter) and how they were, about her sister and late husband. Gabrielle even asked about Cherry. Kaori and Gabrielle even shared some details about themselves. Gabrielle told Ai she was American. "Your Japanese is excellent." Gabrielle smiled for a moment. "I learned it from my obaasan on my mother's side. Oba's parents were born in Japan." All the questions and small talk were an effort to make Ai Toguchi comfortable. Gabrielle had briefed Deputy Inspector Umetsu about her intentions the previous evening. Agent Concierge's body language had said that she was uncomfortable with some of the questions asked of her. Gabrielle believed the root cause of Ai Toguchi's discomfort was that her questioning being done by a man. She told this to Deputy Inspector Umetsu the night before, so she was able to convince the policeman only she and Kaori should do the Sunday debriefing. "Ai-san, you were very brave to come forward." "If my husband learns where I been, I will die." "He won't, Ai-san. Let us assure you of that," Kaori said in reply. "Ai, we would like to understand you better," Gabrielle began saying. "You were in Keiji Watanabe's employ for over twenty years before you married him." "Twenty-six years." "Yes, twenty-six years. Let me say, I think you know Keiji very well. Perhaps better than anyone else." "Maybe." "If you knew Keiji to be Yakuza, and an evil man, why did you marry him?" ***** In New Zealand, Chuck and Hiromi were boarding another private jet. Their next honeymoon stop would be Bangkok in Thailand. "Bangkok is interesting," Chuck told his wife as they buckled up in preparation for takeoff. "I've never been there." "There are other places we can go to in Thailand also." Hiromi didn't say anything further. Instead Hiromi began thinking of some unfinished business she had in Japan. How far along was Tomatsu Ichikawa in the assignment Hiromi had asked him to do? When Hiromi got to Bangkok, she planned on sending an email to Tomatsu. ***** On Saturday, Ai had been reluctant to answer personal questions, but not anymore. Maybe Gabrielle was right about Ai not feeling comfortable with a man in the room. "Keiji violated me many times." "You mean he raped you?" "Yes, he would force me to have sex with him" Ai then told of the things Keiji Watanabe did to her over the years. Gabrielle believed what Ai was telling her and Kaori. No sane woman, and Ai Toguchi was in full possession of her mental faculties, would make up such a horror story. Keiji Watanabe wasn't just Yakuza, but an animal also. "Did you ever consider quitting? Calling the police?" "How could I? If I did, Keiji may have killed me or attacked my family. He is a powerful man." 'Keiji Watanabe is certainly a powerful man. A warped one too.' Gabrielle thought to herself. Did the retired Oyabun hold all females, family included, in the same low regard as he held Ai Toguchi? If he did, what did that portend for Tom Slater as Hiromi Sato? "Yes, we know that," Gabrielle replied. If Gabrielle had been in Ai's shoes, she would have fought back in some fashion. Thinking about it more deeply, Gabrielle began to see the trap Ai was in for so long. Had Ai quit, there was a good chance Keiji Watanabe would have retaliated in some fashion. For a monster like Keiji Watanabe, attacking or killing innocent children wouldn't be out of the question. Gabrielle sensed that was the type of violence Ai feared. As a mother, she'd take any punishment to protect her offspring. "Did your husband know any of this?" Gabrielle noticed how Ai hung her head before answering. The woman was ashamed. "No, I never tell anyone before today." Kaori had a question. "When did your husband die?" "In 2005. He collided with a truck when out driving in Yokohama." Gabrielle made a mental note to check out the circumstances behind Fusa Toguchi. Had he died as a result of an accident arranged by Keiji Watanabe? Cherry was whimpering again, so Ai took a moment out to fetch her pet. When Ai sat back down, Cherry was in her owner's lap. "You really like Cherry." "He's like a child to me. My son and daughter are grown up now." Gabrielle smiled. Her paternal grandparents once had a daschund named Fritz as a pet. Fritz had been similarly loyal to his owners as Cherry seemed to be. "Yes, pets become like family. How old is Cherry?" "Five," Ai replied. Then her cellphone began to ring. "Excuse me." While Ai answered her cellphone call, Gabrielle took the time out to make a visit to the rest room. She was on her way back to the interrogation room, when Deputy Inspector Umetsu intercepted her. "You believe what Concierge says about why she remained with Keiji Watanabe?" "Why not? Her employer is certainly a dangerous man. Ai is still frightened of Keiji Watanabe, husband or not." Gabrielle was back in the room with Ai a few seconds later. "Who was the call from?" "Ana. She is the hoodlum who protects me." Kaori spoke. "Ai-san says Ana was just calling to check if Ai needed anything." "Yes, Ana does that sometimes if I go on a trip by myself." Gabrielle excused herself, and left the room. Deputy Inspector Umetsu was waiting on the other side of the door. "We'll have to end today's session shortly." Nagano police had had the home of Mie Nayama under surveillance since Ai Toguchi left the house the previous day. After losing so many agents, The Swan Song committee and those assisting it, were being cautious with Agent Concierge. Gabrielle went back to the debriefing. "Why did you marry Keiji Watanabe?" "He asked me to." Kaori nor Gabrielle said anything as Ai paused. It looking like Agent Concierge had difficulty herself understanding why she married the man who so brutalized her. "The last few years Keiji seemed to change. He was kinder to me. I thought he may have changed. No, he didn't." Ai then described how her new husband roughed her up on their honeymoon. While Ai didn't say this was the reason for her to turn informant again, Kaori and Gabrielle got the impression it was. Keiji Watanabe had finally gone too far, and Ai couldn't take it any more. The debriefing ended a few minutes later, and Ai was told that she would have one more session to do before leaving Nagano. Ai again expressed her fear of the Watanabes learning what she had gone to Nagano for. "Ai-san, we will not put you at risk. We will be very careful." Before leaving, Ai took Cherry out to do his 'personal business'. The daschund urinated on the used tires behind the safe house as he'd been doing all along. Cherry had made himself right at home. ***** 'What can I do for you, dear daughter?' Fukushiro Nukuga asked himself as he stepped out to get some air. Fukushiro's daughter Momoko was again sobbing uncontrollably, and the father had trouble dealing with that. Seven days previous, Momoko had gotten the news of her husband's death. The wife and mother immediately became distraught. A funeral for Tonichi had been held two days earlier. Some how, Momoko was able to keep her emotions in check that day. That one day of peace had given Fukushiro the wrong impression that his daughter had accepted her husband's death. But the next day Momoko's tears and wailing had recommenced. Nothing Fukushiro said to Momoko had any effect. Fukushiro was growing increasingly unnerved by his daughter's emotional state. It had been Fukushiro's hope that Momoko would grieve for her husband, but at the same time realize she had her own life, and a son. All humans die, including family members and other loved ones. Their deaths leave wounds, but none a person can't eventually overcome. Holding on to those who died after death only lengthens the healing process, or so Fukushiro believed. Earlier Fukushiro tried saying this to Momoko in a indirect way. "Daughter, if Tonichi was here now, he would tell you to not forget him but remember and do this by taking care of you and Raizo." If Fukushiro thought what he said to Momoko would make his daughter 'get on with life,' he was badly mistaken. Momoko just wailed louder than ever as she clutched some beads in one hand. That was something else Fukushiro had trouble understanding. His daughter's adoption of Christianity. Was holding some beads at the same time repetitively saying some prayer supposed to make Tonichi Ogawa come back to life? Finally Fukushiro became overwhelmed by Momoko's crying and stepped out of his house. As he smoked a cigarette and looked at the surrounding neighborhood, Fukushiro began a deep probing process of himself. What could Fukushiro do to help Momoko overcome her grief? ***** After three days in Bangkok, Hiromi was growing tired of the Thai capitol. The city just wasn't that appealing to the Yakuza accountant. While eating breakfast with Chuck on June 12th, Hiromi told her husband how she felt, "I like us to go somewhere else." Chuck put down his napkin and thought for a few moments. "We could go to Ko Samui if you want?" Before going to Bangkok, Chuck and Hiromi had discussed the possibility of visiting the small Thai resort island "Yes, let's go there." Chuck and Hiromi arrived on Ko Samui in the late afternoon. After collecting their luggage, the newlyweds hired some transportation to take them to the Briza Beach Resort and Spa along Chalweng Beach. "Have you been here before?" Hiromi as