Duty, Honor, Country, Family - Part 23 free porn video

Duty Honor Country Family- Part Twenty Three Thank you to Puddin for all her help preparing this story chapter for publication. Also thank you to Kimmie for her assistance. ***** Gabrielle's heart ached as she sat alone in her hotel room after Hiromi left. She had never loved anyone as much as she did Tom, now Rebecca, and she kicked herself for her reluctance to tell him before it was too late. Their chances of having a future together now looked bleaker than ever. Chuck McBride wasn't bothered at all by Becky's feelings for her. He was willing to share her with another woman. That was not just an incredible display of love but also a sign of how self confident the Australian was. She didn't feel nearly as self-confident. She'd had a fantasy built up where she and Tom would go back to America and live happily ever after, as if Swan Song had never happened, but it didn't look like that would happen at all. As Gabrielle saw it now, there was only a small chance Hiromi and Chuck's marriage would not weather the storm that would occur after she revealed herself to her husband. Chuck McBride was one of a kind and Gabrielle didn't see him turning his back on Hiromi for anything, much less if she was pregnant with his child. Gabrielle got out of bed and used the bathroom. When she was through, she got herself dressed for bed. Even though Hiromi wasn't there any more, Gabrielle could still smell the perfume she'd worn and smiled. She'd remembered the perfume she'd worn at their meeting over french fries, and had worn the same perfume to let her know that her scent was a memory she treasured. Whatever Rebecca was, or had been, she was thinking like a woman now. 'I know what you are doing now, Becky. As soon as you get home, you'll thank Chuck for allowing you this night with me by making love to him.' Gabrielle thought to herself. She also knew if she was in Hiromi's shoes, she would be doing the exact same thing, and it didn't bother her as much as she thought it should. In fact, it made her feel warm inside, thinking about it. It was almost midnight but Gabrielle didn't feel like going to sleep yet. Hiromi was right, she should try asking her family for help. As her laptop warmed up, Gabrielle got out the electronic organizer she carried in her purse at all times. She tried calling her parents in Fresno California. After getting no answer, she then called her sister, Roxanne Fujiyama. Roxanne was married to Theodore 'Ted' Fujiyama and the couple had lived in Astoria Oregon ever since their 2004 wedding ceremony. Ted worked for his family's business, Fujiyama Seafood. Roxanne was employed by the Astoria School District. It was summer time, and the eldest Tanaka sister was home. "Hello?" "Hi, Roxanne, it is me, Gabrielle." The relations between the first two of the three Tanaka sisters had never been all that warm. In fact Gabrielle had told Tom Slater once that her sister Roxanne wouldn't do shit for her as they both grew up. "Gabrielle, it has been way too long since we last talked. How are you?" "I am all right, Roxanne. How about yourself?" Gabrielle asked as she noted an unusual cheerfulness in her sister's voice Roxanne gave Gabrielle a long update with a surprise at the very end. "Gabrielle, you are going to be an Aunt again." Gabrielle was happy for her sister and the rest of her family. "That is wonderful; and congratulations. When is your due date?" "It is March 3rd of next year. Now what have you been up to, sister?" "I'm in Hong Kong right now working for the bureau. Other than that, not much is going on." "Candace said you had a new friend," Roxanne replied. Gabrielle laughed. "Yes, I do. It is complicated, Roxanne, and if you got about two hours to hear me out, you might understand." "That is all right, sister. It has to be the middle of the night in Hong Kong, isn't it?" "Yes, it is just after midnight. Are Mom and Dad around?" "They are supposed to be here later today. Right now Mom and Dad are down in Corvallis." Gabrielle was familiar with Corvallis, home to Oregon State University and just fifty miles from Newport on the coast, where she used to hang out in the summer sometimes. It was a good four hour drive from there to her sister's house, the way her father drove anyway. She used to do it in three. If Gabrielle was in a betting mood, she'd wager fifty dollars her father was playing golf right at that moment. Makoto Tanaka liked to spend his summers playing the sport with his friends. Gabrielle had learned to play the sport from her father. "When will Mom and Dad get to Astoria?" "They said they would be here for dinner at seven." "I need to talk to Mom." "You really do, sister. Other than Mother's Day and Christmas, this will be like your first phone call in two or three years." "I know, Roxanne," Gabrielle replied. She was only admitting to herself now that she was the primary reason for the strained relationship she had with her parents. Family should be more important than her job. "Can you tell Mom I will be calling tonight around eight your time." "I will do that for you. Gabrielle, can I ask why you need to talk to Mom and Dad?" "Roxanne, I need a big favor from them or even possibly from you." "Like what? Roxanne asked and Gabrielle then explained the problem the Slaters had. "Gabrielle does this have anything to do with that friend Candy mentioned to us?" "Yes, Roxanne, it does. Shannon is her nephew. He may even be your nephew one day." "Gabrielle, I can't make any promises. I will have to talk to Ted about it." "I understand, Roxanne. It's late here, can we talk more about this later?" "Yes, Gabrielle, we can. Mom and Dad will be waiting for your call tonight. Bye." ***** As she drove home, Hiromi talked to Miriam about the night she just had with Gabrielle. "I love both Gabrielle and Chuck very much." "Have Charlie and Gabrielle ever met?" "Just one time, but Chuck didn't know then about the friendship Gabrielle and I have." "He knows now," Miriam said with a grin. "Hiromi, you do realize you are married to a prince?" "Yes, I do. I love Chuck so much and want to have his baby." Hiromi got home a few minutes later. She made her way quietly to the bedroom so not to disturb Chuck. After removing all her clothes, Hiromi got into bed. She barely had time to settle when Chuck took his wife into his arms. "Kimi-chan, did you have a good time tonight?" "Yes, I did. Thank you for letting me see Gabrielle." "You're welcome, Kimi-chan. I love you very much," Chuck said as he hugged his wife gently. "I love you too. Let me take you for a ride before I go to sleep." "That is not necessary, Kimi-chan. It is late and you must be very tired." Up till now Hiromi had been lying sideways in bed, with Chuck at her back. She rotated her body till she and her husband were face to face. "Chuck, I love coming home to you. From the second I walk out the door to go work for my family, I'm looking forward to the moment I can leave that family business behind me and be in your arms again. Before I had you, Ryuku was my dear friend, and helped keep me sane, helped heal me enough that I could be with you. Gabrielle is like Ryuku for me, a sweet refuge and a memory of the days before we met. She loved me tonight, but I want to show you I love you even more because you let me love her too." Chuck planted a big kiss on his wife's lips. "All right, Kimi-chan. I will do anything to make you happy." ***** Bunrukuken Inukai began his exploration of the Nimura home and property at half past one in the morning. With the help of GPS, the cat burglar calculated he had thirty-six hundred meters to cover before arriving at his primary target. For his personal safety, Bunrukuken did the journey in stop and go fashion. He would cover one hundred meters, stop and listen for a short time, then start moving again. Other than for the sounds of nature, the night was a quiet one. At approximately twenty two hundred meters from the Nimura home, Bunrukuken got his first surprise. Other than for a few small dips in the terrain, the last two kilometers of his journey would be totally out in the open. He could see the Nimura home and anyone living there would be able to see him also. 'I should have demanded a larger fee from Sudo-san," Bunrukuken thought to himself as he lay close to the last hillock that provided any kind of cover. After a short break, Bunrakeuken was again on his way to the Nimura house. This time he ran instead of walked. Every 100 meters or so, he would throw himself to the ground, check for movement with his night vision binoculars, and listen. Then Bunrakeuken would get up again. As he got closer to the Nimura home, Bunrakeuken could see there were objects outside it. At a distance of 500 meters he began to make some of them out. They were crates like those he discovered by the drainage ditch. Alongside them was a forklift Benrakuken also knew now that there were people in residence at the house. For lights were turned on inside it and he caught glimpses of movement via a window. After a few minutes, Bunrukuken was almost ready to move out again, when he heard a new sound. It was human and coming from the home's exterior. Bunrukuken remained still on the ground. With the help of the binonculars, he kept a close eye on his target house. It was only a few minutes before the cause of the sound was discovered. A person was walking around the house. At under a half kilometer away, Benrakuken could not tell with a certainty if the man was armed or not, but the cat burglar acted as if he was. A can of mace would be no match against a man with a loaded gun. The guard, that's how Benrakuken classified the man outside the Nimura house, soon disappeared around the corner. Still the cat burglar didn't move. A little over ten minutes later, the man was back. He walked around the house a second time before disappearing. Benrakuken now knew without a doubt that the Nimura house was being guarded. Not till the guard appeared and disappeared a third time, did Benrakuken move in closer to the house. Running and diving, not one time, but three times, until he was behind some of the crates he had seen earlier. After the guard appeared and disappeared a fourth time, Benrakuken snapped nine photos of the crates with the portable camera he had brought with him, trying to capture as many of the shipping labels and stenciled lettering as he could. Benrakuken planned to leave right after the guard made a fifth appearance and disappearance, but those plans were suddenly changed. A door to the Nimura house was open, and people were coming outside. Two voices, one male and one female, suddenly filled the air. They were getting seriously close to where Benrakuken was hiding. As they approached, Benrakuken broke out in a cold sweat. Should he take off and run or wait? Every second he hesitated the risk of detection grew larger. Luckily for Benrukuken, the man and woman were called back to the building. "Do either of you have a light?" The guard wanted to smoke. So the man and woman went back the way they came. As they did, Benrukuken let out a deep breath. Not till another half hour had passed did Benrakuken begin his way back to Keiji Watanabe's property. As he ran through the darkness, the cat burglar beeped Simon Dawes. The assistant head of security met Benrakuken after the cat burglar made it to the safe side of the drainage ditch. "What did you learn?" "There are people working and living in the Nimura house. I think they plan to attack here very soon. I have pictures which should be studied." ***** Helen Bey buzzed FBI Robert Mueller a few minutes before 5 p.m. Washington D.C. time. "Director, General Alexander is on line two." Robert picked up his phone immediately. "Keith, it has been a long time since we last talked." "Yes, it has, Robert," Said Army Lieutenant General Keith Alexander. Keith was Director of the National Security Agency, also known as the NSA. "I'm very busy up here, so forgive me if I sound like I'm in a hurry." "No problem, Keith. Did you get my Pine Gap request?" "Yes, Robert, I did. At this moment I'm having orders issued so that you may have use of the base for fourteen days beginning this Sunday, July 27th. Will that be sufficient for the FBI?" "That will be more than enough, Keith. I appreciate your assistance in this matter." Robert got off the phone with General Alexander a few minutes later. Joint Defense Facility Pine Gap, located eighteen kilometers southwest of Alice Springs Australia, would be the site of Hiromi Sato's Swan Song meeting. The next thing Robert did was call Grant Williamson. "Grant, can you please come over to my office right away?" ***** "You are never to come to the Rolls Royce again," Leung Chin Yee said to the drunken Thai businessman sprawled on the ground of a Hong Kong alley. "This is your only warning." Chin then made his way back to the club. It was almost six in the morning but the sounds of a busy Hong Kong day were already filling the air. Club Manager Wu Jun Hung was in the process of tallying the last receipts when Chin returned. "Did you take care of our friend as I asked?" "Yes Mr. Wu, I did. Do you need me for anything else?" Jun paused for a moment. "Could you get a couple of newspapers for me?" Chin had done this favor for his boss in the past. "Yes Mr. Wu, I can. I will go right now." A newsstand owned by an elderly couple was just two blocks away from the Rolls Royce. Chin went to the newspaper racks and got copies of the International Herald Tribune and The South China Morning Post. Those were the newspapers Mr. Wu always asked for. Chin was about to go to the counter, when a third newspaper caught his attention. It was the Hong Kong Economic Times. On its front page was a photo of Hiromi Sato under a headline that read- "Female Banker from Japan takes reins of Chinese Bank" 'That's the woman I saw at the McDonald's on Tuesday,' Chin thought as he decided to take a copy of the Hong Kong Economic Times to the counter also. "Why did you get me this?" Jun asked Chin after he was given all three newspapers purchased at the newsstand. "Don't you remember I get this newspaper at my home?" "Yes Mr. Wu, I remember that," Chin said as he pointed at the front page photo. "But I thought you may want to see her. I saw Hiromi Sato the other day when I was having lunch." "So?" Jun had seen a photo of Hiromi Sato before. He considered her very attractive for a non-Chinese woman. "She was talking to the dancer look alike Three Finger told us about. The one he saw at Arsenal Street talking to the police." "Go home, Chin. I do not need you any longer." Jun read the news article when he got back to his apartment. Of course there was no mention of Hiromi Sato's Yakuza connections in it but it still interested the club manager. Female bankers were pretty rare in Hong Kong. As for what Chin said, Jun didn't know what to make of it. So an acquaintance of Hiromi Sato was seen talking to a member of the Hong Kong police. Only if someone believed in guilt by association would they assume Hiromi Sato was working for the police. Jun didn't think this at all but he would have one of his associates pay a courtesy visit to Hong Kong's newest banker. Hiromi Sato might want to know who her friend was keeping company with. ***** Gabrielle had multiple emails and messages waiting for her when she arrived at Arsenal Street. The most important of which were from Grant Williamson. He wanted to speak to Gabrielle at once. "The meeting Ripley has requested to take place in Australia is set. She and Economist are to arrive in Melbourne no later than Saturday evening." "I will inform Ripley of this as soon as I get off the phone, Director." Grant had much more information for Gabrielle. The FBI Director filled her in on where the meeting would take place and what Ripley was to do on arrival in Melbourne. "When were you planning to leave Hong Kong, Agent Tanaka?" "I can get on a plane to Melbourne tomorrow morning, sir. There are a few matters I have to complete here." "Very well, Agent Tanaka. The Australians will be expecting you Friday night their time." Grant was going to call Inspector Sylvia Chang personally to thank her for cooperating with the Swan Song committee. Gabrielle was keeping notes as she listened to Grant. She had a busy day ahead of her. "I contacted the Slaters as you told me, Director." "The Slaters will be allowed to see their son. Make it clear to them that they will need to be at Travis Air Force Base no later than 8 p.m. Friday if they wish to make the trip." "I will let them know, sir," Gabrielle replied. She would be speaking to her parents in less than three hours. Would her Mom and Dad or Roxanne really help out Rebecca's parents? "Agent Tanaka, it has been brought to my attention that Ripley would like to speak to a JAG attorney. Is that true?" "Yes, sir, it is." "Do you know why?" It was Gabrielle, not Hiromi, who had made the request for a JAG attorney to be present. Even though it had been under duress, the killing of Agent Chrysanthemum could still have serious ramifications for Rebecca Slater. "No, sir, I do not." Grant paused for almost a minute. "Agent Tanaka, am I correct in the belief that Economist still knows nothing about his wife's true identity." "Yes, sir, you are," Gabrielle replied. She had been wondering when Grant would get around to talking about Chuck McBride. "Did Ripley mention what reason she gave to Economist for their trip to Australia?" "Ripley said she told her husband that they would be going there to visit family and friends." Grant was still unenthusiastic about Ripley's revised Swan Song. If Economist reacted poorly to the revelation of his wife's true identity, it might cause the operation to be terminated as originally planned. "The Director has told me that if the new Swan Song is approved, another undercover agent will have to be placed close to Ripley. Agent Tanaka I would like you to look into what options we have." Gabrielle remembered her earlier offer to go undercover. Would Grant take it up? Did Gabrielle want to take that assignment if it was offered to her? 'I will do it if asked,' Gabrielle confided to herself. She would do anything to ensure the safety of Rebecca Slater. "Sir, I will get to work on that. May I request assistance from Dr. Wagner and Inspector Yoshida?" "Yes, Agent Tanaka, you may." Gabrielle was finished talking to Grant a few minutes later. The first thing she did after getting off the phone, was dash off an email to Rebecca. ***** Becky, The Swan Song meeting in Australia you requested is a go. Just fly to Melbourne as planned. I will be at the Langham Saturday night. On Sunday you and Chuck will be flown to where the meeting will take place. I called my sister Roxanne last night. Later this morning I will be talking to my parents. One way or another I will arrange something that will enable Mom and Dad to come see you in Australia. I still can't forget last night. Take good care of yourself till Saturday. Love, Gabrielle ***** Next up for Gabrielle was a phone call to Midori Slater. After greetings were over with, Mrs. Slater gave an update. "Gabrielle, Stuart and I tried calling some people. Even Rebecca's Uncle Phillip. We haven't been able to find anyone who can help us." "That is all right, Mom. Rebecca gave me an idea last night." "What is that, Gabrielle?" "Mom, I called my sister Roxanne last night. She lives in Astoria Oregon. Do you know where that is?" "No, Gabrielle, but I think Stuart does." "It is about a two-hour drive from where you are now. My parents will be arriving there soon and I am going to talk to them and Roxanne about helping you, Dad, and Shannon out." "Thank you, Gabrielle, for all your help." Gabrielle noted how choked up Midori sounded. "Mom, I will do anything to enable you and Dad to see Rebecca." "I know, Gabrielle. Did you see Rebecca last night?" "Yes, Mom, I did. Becky and I had a very good time together." "I am glad," Midori replied in a happy tone of voice. "Mom, I will be calling you back later today. Is it all right if I give my parents and Roxanne your cell phone number?" "Yes, Gabrielle, it is." As soon as Gabrielle was done talking to Midori Slater, she went to the secure communications room. On the way there, she bumped into Maurice Gao. "Is there anything I can help you with, Gabrielle?" "I'm fine, Maurice. Thank you for asking." "You will be leaving tomorrow then, Gabrielle?" "Yes, I will. Qantas has a 9 a.m. flight that will take me to Melbourne." "I will arrange airport transportation for you. The driver will be in plain clothes and have an unmarked car." "Thank you, Maurice. I appreciate all your help." "Have you heard anything new from Ripley?" "No, Maurice, I haven't." Gabrielle hadn't told the Probationary Inspector about her meeting with Hiromi at the South Pacific. "I'll let you go back to work then. If there is anything you need, Gabrielle, don't hesitate to ask." The police sergeant in the secure communications placed two phone calls for Gabrielle. One was to Inspector Yoshida at his Yokohama Police station, the other to Dr. Wagner at her Virginia home. Both were available for a 3-way call with Gabrielle. "I just got off the phone with Director Williamson. We will need to find another undercover agent for Swan Song." "Is this undercover agent to work in Japan?" Inspector Yoshida asked. He was leaving Japan the next day for the Swan Song meetings to take place at Pine Gap. "Yes, Inspector, Swan Song may be continued." "What Director Williamson asks may not be possible. Dr. Wagner, do we have any Watanabe Yakuza DNA samples other than those from Roger Hyde and Suki Kobabyashi?" Inspector Yoshida asked as a police woman came into his office. "It might be possible," Dr. Wagner replied, without answering the Inspector's direct question. "These are for you," The police woman said as she handed Inspector Yoshida some messages. One of which was marked urgent. "Can I get you anything?" "No, please leave me for now. I am on an important call." When Ripley was suffering her nervous breakdown, the Swan Song committee had discussed a plan to switch someone for Suki or Roger. No action was taken due to several reasons, one of which was the difficulty of getting these people without tipping off the Watanabes. "The war the Watanabes are having with the Inagawa-kai have put them on high alert. An unexplained absence even for a few days could raise red flags for them," Inspector Yoshida said after the police woman was gone. "I agree, Inspector." Dr. Wagner spoke, finally answering the pointed question put to him by Inspector Yoshida. "Other than Suki Kobayashi, I don't have any Japanese DNA samples at this time." "If a DNA donor was found, how long before you would be ready to do your treatment, Dr. Wagner?" Gabrielle asked. "I would only need four days, Agent Tanaka. If my team were to work overtime, we might be ready in three days or even a little less." Inspector Yoshida said a volunteer to give DNA, could be found from Japanese law enforcement without too much difficulty but there was another obstacle to what Grant Williamson was asking for. "A stranger is unlikely to be accepted into the world of Watanabe Yakuza at this time." "Yes, Inspector, I agree with what you say. We will have to find a way around that," Gabrielle said. ***** Hiromi hadn't gotten much sleep on Wednesday night but oddly enough felt re-invigorated. The talk with Gabrielle the previous night had eased many of the mental burdens she was carrying. There still was the situation with Chuck and the natural concern a good daughter would feel for her aging parents, but overall Hiromi felt better on Thursday morning about herself than she did twenty four hours earlier. Chuck, ever the gentleman, didn't ask his wife about what she and Gabrielle had done together. He did have some other questions as the couple ate breakfast together. "Gabrielle is from the United States?" "Yes, she is. We met over a year ago. She comes to Asia frequently." "Will Gabrielle come back to Hong Kong?" "Yes, but I don't know when." Chuck took his wife's hand. "I love you, Kimi-chan." "I love you too," Hiromi replied. Chuck then changed topics. "Should I tell Mum we're coming this Sunday?" "No, let us surprise her." From her previous encounters with Mrs. McBride, Hiromi knew her mother-in-law didn't care too much for her son's gangster wife. With all the uncertainty about her marriage, Hiromi preferred Mrs. McBride not knowing the couple was coming to Australia. In a best case scenario, where Chuck continues to love her after the big confession, Mrs. McBride may ask awkward questions about what her daughter-in-law was doing while Hiromi was meeting with Swan Song officials. Teresa Wu came to see Hiromi and Chuck. "Mrs. Sato, can you give me a little of your time this morning?" "Of course, Teresa. What is it you need me for?" Teresa began to tell her employer of the household goods that had arrived the day before. "Roger has informed me that you wish to have your office set up. Is that correct?" "Yes, it is, Teresa. I'd concentrate on that plus the living and dining rooms." Hiromi already planned to look for the compact discs with Watanabe files that evening. She and Chuck would be leaving for Hong Kong Airport in less than forty-eight hours. Teresa had come prepared. She laid a blueprint out on the table for Hiromi. "Mrs. Sato, I would like your...." Hiromi halted Teresa in mid sentence. "Teresa, set up the rooms as you see fit. When I come home tonight, I will look them over." "All right Mrs. Sato, I will do that." On the way to the office, Chuck was once again talking about the couple having a baby. This made Hiromi think a bit. A missed menses was usually the first sign a woman was pregnant. Was it possible to pregnancy test before then? Chuck reminded his wife of something during her drive to the office. "Kimi-chan, do you want to get a new laptop before we leave on Saturday?" It was a week earlier that Hiromi's laptop had 'crashed' after getting a Swan Song email. Since then she had been using her husband's laptop. "Yes, I would, but I don't know when I will have time to go shopping for it." Hiromi and Chuck got to work at half past eight. There was so much bank work needing to be done, that it was past 10 a.m. before Hiromi got a chance to check her email. 'I have a little over two days to go then," Hiromi thought to herself as she first closed the email and then her yahoo account. Hiromi buzzed her secretary. "Ging, can you please come in here for a minute?" Ging was in Hiromi's office a few seconds later. "What can I do for you Mrs. Sato?" "This is an unusual request I have for you, Ging. I'd like to go to a doctor or clinic to have a pregnancy test done." A smile immediately formed on Ging's face. "Have you missed your period, Mrs. Sato?" "No, I am still three days from when it should come. Chuck and I have been trying real hard and we're excited to find out. It would be great if I could get the news before I leave for Australia." "Mrs. Sato, I am single and have never tested for pregnancy. Let me check with one of the mothers in the office." "Thank you, Ging. I'd appreciate that. One more thing, do you know where the closest place I can buy a laptop at is?" "Hong Kong Computers has a showroom in this building. It is on the fifth floor. They will even come to the office. Would you like me to call them for you?" "Yes Ging, please do that for me." A minute after Ging left her office, one of East China Commerce Bank's Vice-Presidents came to see Hiromi. The first thing Jeffrey Hu did was to place a large binder on Hiromi's desk. "Here are all of Macau Pacific's financial records. I hope you have fun with them." Hiromi lashed out at her Vice-President before he got a chance to leave the office. "Jeffrey, I own this bank. If you can't show me the respect I deserve, you can find yourself another job. This is your only warning. Do you understand?" "Yes, Mrs. Sato, I do." "I will study the records you have given me. When I am through, a decision will be made on the loan Macau Pacific is asking for." "All right, Mrs. Sato. I will let Macau know this." ***** Bunrukuken Inukai hadn't left the Keiji Watanabe estate yet. Dai Hashimoto and Akira Sudo wanted to hear firsthand what the cat burglar had discovered. Also at the meeting were Simon Dawes and Radek Krejci. They were the men in charge of Keiji's security. "I came into contact with three people during my time at the Nimura house," Bunrunkuken explained. "Are you sure they did not see you?" Akira asked. Dai was busy examining the photographs Bunrukuken had taken. "Yes, I am." "Were any of them carrying firearms?" Akira asked. Japan had very strict gun control laws. The use of firearms was also taboo in Japanese culture. Yakuzas only used these weapons on rare occasions. "Yes, but just one of the three people I encountered." Simon and Radek had already formed an opinion as to who was on the Kimura property. They would both remain silent till Bunrunkuen was gone. When Akira was satisfied Bunrunkuken had reported everything he had seen, the Watanabe shareigashira began to dismiss the cat burglar. "The fee that we promised plus a fifteen percent bonus will be into your bank account before business closes today." "Thank you, Sudo-san," Bunrunkuken said before bowing to the people in the room. Akira waited till the cat burglar was out of room before speaking to Dai. "We must move the Oyabun." Dai grunted. He knew Keiji Watanabe to be an excessively stubborn man when he was in good health. To make him make a change in his daily routines now that his health was failing would not be an easy matter. "The people on the Nimura property have be to Japanese Self Defense forces," Simon stated. "I agree with Simon," Radek added. "Who will tell what we have found out to the Oyabun?" Dai spoke up. "I will. Do not tell anyone what was discovered. Is that understood?" "Yes Hashimoto-san, it is," Radek replied at the same time Simon pledged his silence also. Akira saw how Dai directed his last words to everyone present. The young shareigashira would also remain silent. Dai and Akira had come to Keiji's estate together. They travelled back to Yokohama the same way. "Will the Oyabun be moved to Goro's old home?" Akira asked. "Only if the Oyabun leaves us no other choice." "What is the plan then?" "A home in Yokohama that once belonged to my wife's Aunt is being prepared for the Oyabun. I will persuade him to stay there." Akira quickly saw the logic in Dai's actions. One benefit of having Keiji live in Yokohama was it would be easier to monitor him there. It would also hasten the return of Hiromi Sato to Japan. "I think that is a wise move, Tiger-san." ***** A copy of Gabrielle Tanaka's two Swan Song reports did not land in Yugoro Bunya's email box till late on Wednesday night. The Japanese Justice Ministry Official only got around to reading them on Thursday morning. Yugoro found the story of Reina Shimizu's murder very troubling. It was his opinion that Agent Ripley might face criminal charges for what she had done. A decision would have to made on that by someone higher than Yugoro Bunya, who was only a mid level Justice official. Yugoro Bunya forwarded the reports via email to Kunio Hatoyama. Kunio Hatoyama was the current Justice Minister for all of Japan. ***** For Gabrielle Tanaka the moment of truth, or eleven in the morning Hong Kong time, had finally come. It was time for her to call her mother. Ted Fujiyama was the one to answer the phone. "Hello." "Hi Ted, it's me Gabrielle. Is Mom there?" "Hold on, Gabrielle." Chiyo Tanaka was on the phone in a matter of seconds. "Gabrielle," "Hi, Mom. How are you?" "I could be doing better. You hardly ever call your father and me. It is over a year since we last saw you." "Yes, Mom, I know that." "You are in China now?" Gabrielle already felt how difficult the phone conversation had become. Her mother had a great deal of built up frustration regarding her second oldest daughter. "Yes, Mom, I am." An awkward silence followed. Gabrielle was the first to break it. "Mom, I need a very big favor." "Gabrielle, you should come home." "Mom, I will come home, but I am working on something very important." "Is it more important than me, your father, and your sisters? We all feel hurt that you consider your job more important than your family." "Mom, I have made some big mistakes. My job with the FBI is perhaps the biggest." "Then why don't you quit." "I can't do that right this moment. There is a job I need to finish first. When it is over, I am quitting the FBI." "When will that be?" Gabrielle could visualize her Mom shaking her head. Chiyo Tanaka had done it often enough in face to face encounters with her middle daughter. "It will be sometime next year." "I think you should come home now, Gabrielle." One of the biggest lessons Gabrielle had learned from Operation Swan Song was how family mattered in people's lives. She and her mother had clashed for years. Gabrielle would end that and make amends to her family, but she needed to get the Slaters help first. "Mom, I haven't been a good daughter. I admit now that you and Dad have been right and I've been wrong. Can we save that talk for later? I need your help." "What is this help you are asking, Gabrielle?" "Mom, I have this friend. Her family needs help right now." "Candace told me you had a friend." "Yes, Mom, I spoke to Candy recently. My friend is named Rebecca. I call her Becky." Gabrielle needed to be honest with her family, just like Rebecca did. "Gabrielle....." Chiyo began to say but got cut off by her daughter. "Mom, I know what you are going to say." "No, Gabrielle, you do not, but I will let you finish speaking." "My friend Rebecca means a whole lot to me. I love her. I love her very much." "What does Rebecca do?" Gabrielle had expected her Mom to be shocked or even angry at what she had just heard. Something was different about this mother-daughter conversation, but Gabrielle didn't know yet if that was good or bad. "Mom, she is working undercover for the FBI. It is secret, I can't say anything else." "The favor you are asking, does it concern Rebecca?" "Yes, Mom, it does. Let me explain what has happened. Before I do that, it would be best if Dad and Roxanne got on the phone also. "All right, Gabrielle. Can you hold on for a minute?" "Yes, Mom, I can." Gabrielle's father and older sister were on the line in a very short time. After brief father-daughter greetings were exchanged, Makoto Tanaka got right down to business. "Cookie, your mother said there was something you wanted to talk to all of us about." "There is, Dad. If you and Mom could, I'd like to tell what is happening in my life and why I need a big favor now. It is a long story. I will answer your questions when I'm done explaining." "All right, Cookie. We will listen." Before Gabrielle got down to explaining about the Slaters, Roxanne had something to say. "Sister, you must get Skype. We can all do video calls and it is free. I have it, and so do Mom and Dad and Candy." "Thank you, Roxanne. I will look into it when I get time." Gabrielle then told her parents and Roxanne everything about her relationship with Tom/Rebecca, and that she was trying to arrange a visit for Rebecca's parents, but needed a babysitter for a few days. The only thing the FBI agent withheld from her parents was what exactly the undercover mission for her friend was. Rebecca had taught her a lesson in honesty and inspired Gabrielle to be honest with her parents. The confession she was making was long overdue. When he was through listening to Gabrielle, Makoto said. "Tom became Rebecca?" "Yes, Dad, he did." "That is not possible, Cookie. I know of no science that can change a person's DNA to the point they are whole other person." Gabrielle's mother then said something similar. Roxanne didn't say anything. Gabrielle knew where her father was coming from. He was a chemistry professor. For that reason, what his daughter had just told him sounded to him as if it came out of a science fiction movie or novel. "Dad, Mom, Roxanne, it is. There is a German scientist on the east coast. She perfected this formula over the last five years. Chiyo and Makoto Tanaka still weren't buying it. "Gabrielle, what you say is hard to believe." "Mom, I know that. Have I ever been one to make things up to you and Dad?" After a few seconds of thought, Chiyo gave Gabrielle an answer. "You once told me you went to school when instead you skipped class to go to the mall." Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mom, I did that in the eleventh grade. Have I lied about anything important or made up crazy stories? "No, Cookie, you haven't," Makoto admitted. Roxanne spoke up. "I believe you, Gabrielle." "Mom, Dad, the Slaters can vouch for everything I told you. In the meantime, can you help this family out for me?" "Your mother and I will have to talk about it, Cookie." "I understand that, Dad, but I also have to tell you that I need to know soon. The flight to Australia will be leaving Friday night your time." "Why can't Shannon travel with his grandparents?" Makoto asked. "Shannon has an inner ear problem. The doctors have advised Mrs. Slater not to take Shannon on an airplane." "We don't know these people, Gabrielle," Chiyo said. "I know that, Mom." "Cookie, can you give your mother and I a little bit of time to discuss this?" Before Gabrielle said a word, Roxanne butted in. "I'll take care of Shannon for you, sister." "Thank you, Roxanne. You don't know how much this means to me." Roxanne did know how much the favor she would be doing for Gabrielle meant to her sister. Both sisters were on the road to full parenthood. Ever since Roxanne and Ted got the news they were going to be parents, it had been a time of joy in Fujiyama house. The eldest Tanaka sister wanted her younger sister to feel the same way, even if their paths to becoming mothers were vastly different. Right after speaking to Gabrielle earlier in the day, Roxanne had gone to her husband's place of work. It was there she and Ted talked about Gabrielle's unusual request for help. After a lengthy conversation, Ted told his wife that it was fine with him if she wanted to care for Shannon Zebriskie. Roxanne wanted her parent's involvement and that is why she delayed telling Gabrielle the decision that was already made. "How old is Shannon?" Roxanne asked as her parents got off the phone and began talking in Japanese. Roxanne didn't speak the language anywhere near as well as her Mom and Dad or Gabrielle. "He is a little over two years old. I have to warn you Roxanne, Shannon is not potty trained." "That is all right, Gabrielle. You know this family pretty well then?" "I know Shannon's grandparents well but haven't spent any time with him." "What happened to his parents again? "Susan and Simon Zebriskie were killed in an auto accident last January." "That is terrible. How long will Shannon's grandparents be gone for?" "I'd estimate ten days. The most they will be gone is two weeks. Will that be a problem? "No, Gabrielle, it won't. I have three weeks to go before I start working at the school again." The two sisters began to make small talk. It was like no other conversation they ever had prior to that day. Chiyo and Mokoto Tanaka soon came back on the phone. "Cookie, are you still there?" "Yes, Dad, I am." "Your mother and I have decided to go visit this family and talk to them." Gabrielle understood what her Father had just said to mean her parents were thinking about it. Roxanne had already said she would care for Shannon. "Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad. I really appreciate you doing this." Roxanne spoke up. "We'll go to Tigard tomorrow morning but I will need to call your friend's parents. Do you have a phone number we can reach them at?" "Here it is, Roxanne," Gabrielle told her sister both the number for Midori Slater's cell phone and the home number for Debbie Slater. "I have their address in Tigard too, and even got the directions from your house to theirs thanks to Mapquest. Would you like me to email them to you?" "Yes, Gabrielle, please do that." Gabrielle had an email already prepared, so she sent it immediately. "It's on its way." While Roxanne went to check if she got the email, Chiyo Tanaka began talking to her wayward daughter again. "Gabrielle, you love this person named Rebecca?" "Yes, Mom, I do." "She is a woman." Gabrielle could tell her Mother wasn't reconciled to having a gay daughter. The mother-daughter relationship had improved that day but still had a long ways to go yet. "Yes, Mom, Rebecca is a woman." "Gabrielle, you should come home." "Mom, I will come home when I get vacation time. I promise to visit before the end of the year." "All right, Gabrielle." Chiyo's acceptance sounded luke warm at best to Gabrielle. "Mom, I will stay in touch. I promise to call you and Dad regularly from now on. I haven't been a good daughter but I will improve that. Roxanne came back on the phone. "I got the email you sent me. You know, I think I already know the neighborhood where this family lives." "That's good, Roxanne, and thank you for helping me and the Slaters out." "You're welcome, Gabrielle. I think we better call these people now." "I'll let you make those phone calls. Bye, Mom, bye, Dad, bye, Roxanne. Thank you all very much." "Bye, Gabrielle, talk to you soon." Roxanne said before hanging up the phone. The next thing for Gabrielle to do was call Midori Slater. Rebecca's mother picked her cell phone up on the third ring. "Hi, Mom." "Hello, Gabrielle. How are you?" "I'm fine, and thank you for asking. Mom, I've got some great news........" ***** Stuart Slater wasn't standing too far away from his wife as she talked on her cell phone. He could tell from Midori's side of the conversation that Gabrielle Tanaka had called and it looked like she had some good news. Another phone began to ring in the house. Since Stuart was too far away to fetch it, Debbie Slater was the one to answer it. Debbie called out to her father a few seconds later. "Dad, there is a Makoto Tanaka on the phone. He is asking to talk to either you or Mom......" ***** Hiromi had lunch in her office. As she ate her salad, she checked the internet for what might be the early signs of being pregnant. The website Babycenter listed ten possible signs. They ran the gamut from heavy or sore breasts, to implantation bleeding, to the most obvious- missing your period. Overall Hiromi wasn't helped much by the information. She could be pregnant or might not be and there was no way of knowing before her flight without a test being done. Ging buzzed Hiromi. "Mrs, Sato I have someone who could help you with your request. Her name is Kam Wei Ning and she works in the audit department. Can I send her in?" Hiromi had just finished eating. She cleared her desk of the last litter remaining from lunch before answering Ging's question. "Yes Ging, please do that." Kam Wei Ning came in the office a few moments later. She was pregnant and if Hiromi had to make a guess, the mother was early in her third trimester. "Mrs. Sato, what can I help you with?" "Please sit down, Ning." The mother sat down. Hiromi offered Ning a glass of water but the mother declined. "How far along are you, Ning?" Hiromi asked as she looked at Ging. The expectant mother looked to be about Hiromi's age, had medium length hair, and wore eyeglasses. "I'm in my thirtieth week. This is my first child, Mrs. Sato." Hiromi envied Ning and wanted to be just like her in six months or so. With a big stomach and swollen breasts because a new human life she and Chuck had created from their love of one another was growing in her body. "Let me congratulate you, Ning. You and your husband must be very excited. Do you know whether you are having a boy or a girl?" Ning immediately smiled. She had been very nervous when coming in to Hiromi's office. Now she felt calm instead. "I'm having a boy, and yes, my husband and I are very happy." "The reason I wanted to speak to you, Ning, is personal. My husband and I want to have a baby also. We've been trying real hard in fact." "What can I help you with, Mrs. Sato?" "Is there anywhere here in Central that does pregnancy blood testing? I'd like to get the results very quickly. You see, Chuck and I are leaving for Australia on Saturday." "Have you missed your period yet, Mrs. Sato?" "No, Ning, not yet, but it should be very soon, and I'm very anxious to know before we leave, if possible." "There is a clinic on Pedder Street in the Center Building." Hiromi nodded her head. "I know where that is." "If you go in during the morning I think they have your blood test results by the late afternoon. I would call and ask, Mrs. Sato." "Do you know what the name of the clinic is?" "It's called the Women's Health and Care Center," Ning told Hiromi. "Sorry, Mrs. Sato, but I don't know their phone number." "That is all right, Ning, and thank you. You have been a big help to me." Hiromi made a mental note to herself to get Ning some baby gifts if Swan Song continued past the Australia meeting. Ning asked if she was needed for anything else. Hiromi said no and after that Ning left the office. ***** In Yokohama, police detectives Yeijiro Mazaki and Juri Hayakawa were giving the Chief of Detectives a progress report on the Reina Shimizu murder investigation. "We are sorry to report, Morrisue-san, that we have no more leads," Yeijiro explained. Matsusuke Morrisue leaned back in his chair. If not for the political pressure being brought to bear on the Yokohama police by former Defense Minister Fukushiro Nukaga, the Reina Shimizu case would be closed and unlikely to ever be opened again. "Then you are to go back and re- examine the case again. Is that understood?" "Yes, Morrisue-san, it is," Both detectives replied in tandem. "Why didn't you tell Morrisue-san about Fumahiro Suzuki? Yeijiro asked Juri shortly after they left Matsusuke Morrisue's office. "It is not related to the Shimizu case, Yeijiro-san. Plus, we do not know for a certainty that Suzuki-san will produce the articles he claims to have." ***** Hiromi still had a great deal of bank work to do. It was a mid- afternoon before she could look into the information given to her by Ning. She looked for the clinic on the internet. The clinic Ning told Hiromi about, had three different versions of its website. One of which was in English, and the other two in Chinese, both the traditional characters still used in Japan, and the official simplified characters used in the People's Republic, so Hiromi was able to make out the calligraphy. The clinic was called Department of Compassionate Maternal Services For Women. As the English website was a little easier for Hiromi to read, she went there to get the information she needed. Oddly enough the clinic was called The Women's Clinic at its English language website. Hiromi then called the number she got off the internet. After going through a series of automated questions, she got a live operator. "Women's Clinic." "Hello, my name is Hiromi Sato. I was calling to inquire if you do pregnancy testing." "Yes, we do. No appointment is necessary, just walk right in. We're in the Center building on Pedder Street." The operator at the clinic also told Hiromi that the pregnancy test came at no charge and that she would know her result before leaving. "Can you do a blood test for pregnancy?" "Yes, we can, but that takes longer." "How long?" "If you come to the Center before noon time tomorrow, we will notify you of the result by no later than 6 p.m. We have a lab on site, the testing is done here." Hiromi wasn't off the phone with the clinic for ten seconds, when Ging buzzed her. "Mrs. Sato, a Jean-Ernest Quenu is here to see you about a new laptop computer." "Send him in, Ging." ***** Before leaving Arsenal Street for the day, Gabrielle went to see Sylvia Chang. "Thank you, Inspector, for all your assistance." "You are welcome, Agent Tanaka. Our work together has proved to be a learning experience for me and that don't happen very often." "I learned a great from you too, Inspector Chang. Probationary Inspector Gao was always very helpful to me." After her meeting with Inspector Chang was over, Gabrielle went to look for Maurice. "When will be going to Lily's apartment?" "We can leave now, Gabrielle, if you wish." "Yes, Maurice, I do wish that. Let me clean up my desk and get my things. As soon as I'm done, we can go." ***** Hiromi and Chuck got home at half past six. After they were through eating dinner, Hiromi excused herself. "Is there anything I can help you with, Kimi-chan?" "No, Chuck, I can do it on my own. I'm going to look in my office for some musical compact discs." Teresa had her employer's office area totally set up. Even all the compact discs Hiromi owned had been put onto shelves' next to the room's stereo system. When Hiromi saw this, she went to fetch the laptop she had purchased that afternoon. Jean-Ernest Quenu when he came to visit her, had brought three high end laptops with him. Hiromi had chosen a top of the line MacBook Pro with a 17" screen, 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, and a 150GB hard drive. Total cost to her: 31,374 Hong Kong Dollars or a little over 4,000 American dollars. To carry it, Hiromi had ordered a maroon-colored leather attach? case made by Hartmann, because she thought it looked very professional. A single brass slide with a combination lock in the center, under the handle, operated two hidden clasps at the edges that would keep the laptop safe inside it. Jean-Ernest Quenu assured his customer that the attach? case would arrive before the end of business Friday. The total bill for the purchases, which included software, totaled almost 65,000 Hong Kong dollars. With a net worth of close to seven hundred million U.S. dollars, Hiromi would have no problems paying these bills After she got the laptop bag she was temporarily using to store the MacBook, Hiromi came back to the room. While she looked for the discs, her thoughts turned to Chuck, whether she may be pregnant, and whether her husband would still love her after Saturday's big confession. Chuck was so excited to be a father, it seemed unlikely to her he could abandon any baby no matter how deceitful their mother was. Hiromi's husband might also become too angered by her deception and prefer not to be married any longer, but then Chuck had never once become angry with Hiromi in all the time they had known one another. Hiromi wanted to believe Chuck would still love her but couldn't brush aside the doubts she had. In less than forty-eight hours everything would be out in the open, and the situation would be much clearer. It took less than five minutes to find the Swan Song discs. Hiromi took them and four other musical compact discs, and placed them in the computer bag. Another disc with Kanagawa Bank files only, was still in the suitcase it was stored in for the trip from Japan to Hong Kong. It would stay there for the Australia trip. On leaving the office, Hiromi went to find Chuck. He was in the living room. "Did you get what you were looking for, Kimi-chan?" "Yes, I did." ***** Gabrielle had a very nice evening with Maurice and his fianc?e. Lily Ng had prepared a dinner of ginger chicken stir fried in ginger oil. It was served with asparagus and the meal was very delicious. While eating the meal, Gabrielle complimented Lily on her cooking. "Thank you, I am glad you like it." "I think Gabrielle has liked almost all her time in Hong Kong," Maurice added. Once again, Maurice had acted in a clairvoyant manner. Gabrielle was still feeling happiness from her time with Becky the night before. "Yes, I have had a wonderful time here." As Gabrielle had to get up early in the morning, She had advised Maurice that she couldn't stay too late at Lily's. Maurice said that was fine, and that he would have Gabrielle back to the South Pacific no later than 10 p.m. "Gabrielle, I will be the one to take you to the airport tomorrow." "Thank you, Maurice. You have been a big help to me." ***** Roxanne, Chiyo, and Makoto Tanaka pulled into the driveway of Debbie Slater's home shortly before 11 a.m. After getting out of the car, the family walked to the front door together. On the way to Tigard, Gabrielle's family discussed what she had told them about Rebecca Slater. Makoto and Chiyo Tanaka still had a hard time believing it. "Dad, I understand where you are coming from," Roxanne said. She was the one doing the driving. "I don't think Gabrielle is crazy enough to make up a crazy story like this." "Cupcake, the science your sister described just does not exist," Makoto said firmly. That firm opinion hadn't changed one bit when Makoto rang the door bell. Midori began greeting Gabrielle Tanaka's family a minute later. "Come in, come in. Did you find the house easily?" "Yes, Mrs. Slater, I did," Roxanne said as Stuart Slater walked over to the doorway. He immediately introduced himself to the Tanakas. The Tanakas all took seats in the living room. While Stuart made small talk with them, Midori served tea to Chiyo and Roxanne. Makoto said he didn't need anything to drink. Shannon Zebriskie was playing with some toys in a nearby playpen. Midori noticed how Roxanne was paying attention to her grandson. "Go play with him if you like." "Maybe later, Mrs. Slater," Roxanne replied. "I am pregnant. My due date is March 3rd. "That is wonderful, Roxanne," Midori replied. She then asked a question of Gabrielle's parents. "How many grandchildren do you have now?" Makoto answered the question. "We have just one. Our daughter Candace has a little boy." "Shannon is one of our three grandchildren," Midori said in an emotional voice. "If Susan didn't die I might have another grandchild on the way now." Stuart explained further. "Susan called us the day before her accident. She said she might be pregnant." "That's terrible, Mr. Slater, and I'm so sorry." Roxanne replied. "Thank you. The last couple of years have been very tough. My son Stuart died in Iraq also. His wife Llsa moved back to Germany with our two other grandchildren. She just got re-married last weekend." "We only got back from Germany on Tuesday," Midori added. Makoto asked a question. "Where is your home?" "It is just outside Darrington, Washington. Do you know where that is?" Stuart asked and Makoto said no. "It is a little over one hundred miles north of Seattle." A period of silence followed. Two families were trying to get to know each other but didn't know what to say next. Stuart spoke to Makoto again. "Would you like to go outside with me and talk?" "Yes I would like that." Makoto and Stuart got up out of their seats and left the room. ***** "Can I get you anything?" Midori asked after the men left. "No, I am fine," Roxanne replied. Chiyo Tanaka also said she didn't need anything either. "Thank you for coming over today." "Mrs. Slater, do you have a picture of Rebecca?" "Yes, let me get it." Midori went to retrieve her purse. She was back in less than a minute. "Gabrielle gave me this photo last May when Stuart was hospitalized for his heart," Midori said as she gave the only picture she had of Rebecca to Roxanne and Chiyo. "Rebecca was your son Tom?" Chiyo asked. Midori went to a nearby shelf to retrieve another photo. She gave it to Chiyo. "That was my son before he got the treatment." Chiyo looked at the two photos. She could not believe they were of the same person. "Have you spoken to Rebecca?" ***** "My wife and I last talked to her July of last year," Stuart said to Makoto. "Rebecca called on her mother's birthday." "You are sure she was your son?" Makoto asked before having a swig of beer. On their way out of the house, Makoto and Stuart had grabbed beers for themselves. "I have not one single doubt in that regard. Before Tom started this assignment, your daughter and an Army officer came to see us. We were told what would be done to our son." "Mr. Slater..." "Call me Stuart." "You may call me Makoto also. Stuart, I have a doctorate in chemistry. For the last thirty years I have taught in that field at universities in California. What you and my daughter have told me can't be done." "Makoto, I think we need to move on from that particular issue. It isn't really important right now. What matters is how we can help both our children." "What is the assignment Rebecca is doing?" ***** "Rebecca began her assignment last May," Midori told Chiyo and Roxanne. "She and Gabrielle work together." "None of us have seen Gabrielle since last May," Roxanne admitted. "It is May of last year that I last saw Tom. Right afterwards he see the doctor who change him into Rebecca. One Sunday I talk to Tom in person. The next Sunday I talk to Rebecca on the phone. It was Mother's day." "That was the time Gabrielle began working with Rebecca? Roxanne asked. "Yes, it is. Since then Rebecca and Gabrielle have been very busy." "But too busy for her family?" Chiyo asked. Midori could see the pain Mrs. Tanaka felt because of Gabrielle's actions. Gabrielle was such a nice young lady and was like a daughter to her. What was keeping Mrs. Tanaka divided from her daughter? "I don't know what is causing that. Gabrielle has been very kind to Stuart and I and she loves Rebecca very much." Shannon Zebriskie began to cry out. Seeing this, Midori got up and went over to her grandson. The boy stopped crying the moment his grandmother picked him up. "I think he just wants attention," Roxanne said to Midori as the Grandmother brought the boy back to where she had been sitting. "Shannon has an inner ear problem. I was told by the doctor he can't fly now. Rebecca is coming to Australia to meet people. She asked to see her father and I also but Stuart and I have no one to care for Shannon." "Couldn't your daughter do it?" Chiyo asked. "Debbie's boyfriend is named Donald. He is not always a nice man and Debbie and he fight last time they had to care for Shannon. I have said things to Debbie but they still live together. What can I do?" ***** "I love my daughter very much but she has always been a difficult child. Gabrielle has caused my wife and I pain but we still love her." "We're a little confused about Rebecca right now," Stuart admitted. "Gabrielle told us that she got married two months ago. My son became a woman for this undercover assignment. I understand she will have to do certain things....." Makoto still didn't believe in the gender change done to Tom Slater, but was beginning to accept the story told to him by the Slaters and his daughter Gabrielle. These were not crazy people he was talking to. "Rebecca loves this guy and is married to him. My wife seems to think there may be more. Gabrielle says Rebecca loves her too. Gabrielle loved Tom but now loves Rebecca It sounds confusing, doesn't it?" "Yes, Stuart, I agree with you on that." ***** Roxanne gave Midori the big news. "Mrs. Slater, I talked it over with my husband Ted. We can take care of Shannon for you." Midori got all choked up. "That will mean so much to me and Stuart. Rebecca is doing a very dangerous mission. We don't know if we will ever see her again." "I understand, Mrs. Slater. Can I hold Shannon for a little while?" "Yes, Roxanne, I would like you to do that." Roxanne came over and took the two-year-old boy from his grandmother. She then went back to sitting next to her mother. "Gabrielle loved your son Tom?" Chiyo asked. "Yes, she has told me this." "My daughter never tell me about Tom or Rebecca till yesterday." "Children don't always tell their parents what is happening in their lives or how they feel. I think they do it sometimes because they feel ashamed, not because they don't love us. "Yes, I agree with that, Midori." "Gabrielle has never been ashamed that she loved Tom after she became Rebecca." Chiyo nodded her head. "My daughter is gay. She thinks I don't know, but I do. Her sisters have known it." "Gabrielle and her roommate at Cal were a lot more than friends," Roxanne said. She knew this only because she caught a glimpse of a private email of her sister that was left open on a Tanaka family computer. Shannon spoke up. "Pop. Pop!" "I think Shannon would like to see his grandfather now. He calls Stuart, Pop," Midori explained. Roxanne offered to take Shannon outside if it was all right with his Grandmother. Midori said it was. "I want Gabrielle to come home." "Mom, I think Gabrielle is doing that already," Roxanne said as she hadn't left the living room yet. "She's like the prodigal sister." "My husband and I will care for Shannon till you come home," Chiyo said after Roxanne and Shannon had left the living room. "Thank you. It is my hope when Rebecca's mission ends, that she and Gabrielle be Shannon's co-Moms." Chiyo wasn't ready to accept a gay daughter yet. She and her husband would help Gabrielle for now, and have a serious talk with their daughter at a later date. ***** "Bottom line, Rebecca is still my child and we're very proud of her. As Tom, he served our country and as Rebecca is doing the same. My wife and I have talked it over, whatever choices she makes when her mission is over, we'll support them one-hundred percent. It is Rebecca's life, and we feel certain she will make the right choice for the future." "Gabrielle has made choices and decisions her mother and I wish she hadn't." "We can't live our children's lives for them. All we can do is give them advice." "That is true, Stuart." "Are you getting hungry?" Stuart asked as Roxanne and Shannon came out doors. "Yes, Stuart, a little bit." "Let's go talk to the wives and see what they want to do next." ***** "How long have you and Stuart been married?" Chiyo asked Midori. "Our next wedding anniversary is our thirty-sixth. Stuart and I met at the Sapporo Olympics in 1972. I first came to the United States in 1973." "Makoto and I have been married thirty-four years." Gabrielle's Dad and Mom were born in 1949 and 1951 respectively. Makoto and Chiyo's parents had all been put in internment camps during World War Two. Stuart and Makoto re-entered the living room. "What is the plan for lunch?" ***** What to do for lunch was decided by Roxanne Tanaka. Ever since she got pregnant, the expectant mother craved pepperoni pizza. So the Slaters and Tanakas each drove in separate cars to a nearby Pizza Hut. After lunch, the families returned to Debbie Slater's home. Midori immediately began gathering Shannon's things. She would miss her grandson. Roxanne was given all the diapers the Slaters had plus their grandson's medications. "These are his ear drops. You will need to place them twice a day." "I will, Mrs. Slater," Roxanne said. "I will take good care of Shannon." Midori also gave Roxanne not just instructions, but some advice for Shannon's care. Chiyo Tanaka also listened to this. While that was going on, Stuart offered money to Makoto. "No, we do not need it. My wife and I are doing this for Gabrielle." "Makoto, I insist you take this." Gabrielle's father remained firm. "No Stuart, I will not take it." The details of when the Slaters would be travelling and