Duty, Honor, Country, Family - Part 26 free porn video

Duty Honor Country Family- Part 26 By Danielle J Thank you to Puddin for all her help preparing this story chapter for publication. ***** Grant Williamson and Robert Mueller discussed Agent Ripley's Swan Song presentation as they travelled to their Alice Springs hotel. "What are we going to do about Chuck McBride? He could blow Swan Song." Robert was a little testy with Grant, maybe due to the jet lag he was suffering. "I know that, Grant. Tomorrow, I want you to speak to the Australians. Ask them if they can put McBride under surveillance, including a tap on any phones he or his mother have if possible." "Superintendant Carey should be able to help." "Grant, do it by the book. I don't want to hear any more complaints from our Swan Song allies." "Yes, Director, by the book." ***** "Do not keep me waiting," Keiji Watanabe called out to his cook/housekeeper. "You know what can happen if you refuse me." Riko Watanabe sheepishly walked towards Keiji's bed. If she did not comply with the elderly Oyabun's demands for sex, her husband or children could be killed. Keiji had felt unusually energetic all day long. For that reason, and ignoring the fact he had barely able to walk two days earlier, Keiji still thought the doctors were wrong about him having prostate cancer. 'I will prove it by having sex with this useless woman,' Keiji thought to himself as Riko slid her naked body into bed alongside him. Riko immediately laid flat on her back. She was trapped and losing hope with every passing day. As Keiji penetrated her, she asked herself one more time when would her torture end. ***** People heading to Yokohama's main train station late Sunday night, were greatly inconvenienced. Due to the fire at The Rosebud, a six-block area had been cordoned off and as a result, drivers had to find another way to the transportation hub. The only people allowed closer to the burnt out nightclub were emergency workers and credentialed members of the news media. The first reporter got to crime scene less than five minutes after ambulances began arriving A string of barricades manned by policemen kept reporters approximately one-hundred feet from The Rosebud. "Can you tell us how the fire started? Who owned this club? How many people were killed?" The first reporters on the scene asked members of the Yokohama police. No answers were given to any of the questions. The reporters began seeking out people who survived the fire. These people were being kept far away from the media. In part so they could grieve and receive medical treatment if necessary, partly so the police could question them first. When media members learned information would be slow in coming, they naturally began talking among themselves. All of them knew about the war between the Watanabes and Inagawa-kai. "This is a Yakuza owned club," Said a reporter from the Kanagawa Shimbun. "Are you sure?" A radio news reporter asked. "I am ninety percent certain." "If you're right, the squabble between these gangs has gotten out of control. The police will have to take action." Back at the outer perimeter, a woman in her twenties was pushing her way forward. "Let me through. Let me through." "Are you a news reporter? Otherwise I can't let you go further," Said a patrolman named Takenao Shibaguchi who was working the outer perimeter. "I am a reporter for the Miura Sun. Please let me through." "Where is your media card?" "I left it at home by accident. My editor called me and I ran out without it. Please, let me through. Otherwise I will get in trouble with my editor." Takenao was in a quandary. He had a boss too, Sergeant Matsuzawa, who may become angry if people under his command did not obey his order. On the other hand the woman looked like a reporter. A notepad and pen were sticking out of her handbag. Takenao decided to let the woman through. "Thank you," Watanabe Yakuza member Tsuki Toni said to Takenao as she stepped around the barricade. As soon as she was clear, Tsuki ran in the direction of the Rosebud. Tsuki wasn't allowed around the second barricade. She instead hovered close to the real reporters, hoping this would allow her to gather information. Akira Sudo had been the first Watanabe not present at the club to learn of the Rosebud fire. He tried calling Katsuaki Koike on his cell phone, but only got his voice mail. Phone calls to known associates of his were equally fruitless. Since he was a long ways off from the club, Akira called up Tsuki. She was an eager hardworking Yakuza who was just coming off a shift working as one of the listeners at the home Keiji Watanabe was living at. "Sudo-san, I must thank you for allowing me this opportunity to assist you and Tiger. I will call you as soon as I learn the information you are seeking." "Don't call me, Tsuki-san. Come to Tiger-san's home instead when you are finished. We look forward to hearing what you learn." Like the real reporters at the inner barricade, Tsuki only heard rumors about what happened that night. The members of the media were talking endlessly but she mostly kept to herself. Tsuki did not want not want to draw suspicion on herself that she not belong there. A police spokesman came to barricade shortly after ten, "A fire took place tonight at a club called 'The Rosebud.' I regret to report there were deaths involved," Tsuki listened to the official statement. Like the real reporters, she didn't wait for the spokesman to stop talking before trying to ask some questions. The spokesman was tight lipped. "Nine bodies have been recovered so far. A few of which have been identified but no names will be released as yet. Next of kin are still being notified." One of the tasks given to Tsuki by Akira, was to try raising contact with any Watanabe Yakuza who were at the club. One of Katsuaki's men had called in to inform the shareigashira of the fire but the call ended abruptly for some unknown reason. "Can we speak to some of the survivors?" "They are getting medical aid right now. We may make them available to you later." "I have a deadline. Can you please help me?" "Sorry, we cannot do what you ask at this time." Tsuki, unable to gather more information, decided around midnight that it was time for her to report in to Akira and Tiger. Before she left, Tsuki overheard an exchange between two newspaper reporters. "You won't believe the rumor I just heard." "What is it, Tarumi-san?" "The singer Raku Minobe, she died here tonight." ***** Gabrielle really enjoyed washing Hiromi in the shower. Sometimes she giggled like a schoolgirl because of what she was doing. It was like having her first sexual encounter all over again. Hiromi on the other hand was keeping up a serious front. Gabrielle didn't fail to note how tense her friend was. She wondered how long that state would last. "I really like your breasts," Gabrielle said as she gently washed them. "Thanks, Gabby." "Chuck was right. Big breasts look good on you." Hiromi instantly frowned at what her friend said. Gabrielle saw this and immediately stopped washing Becky's breasts. "What's wrong?" "Chuck," Hiromi said as tears began forming in her eyes. "He won't be coming back, will he?" Gabrielle hugged Hiromi really tight. She was really crying hard now. "Becky, it's all right to cry. I'm here for you." Hiromi and Gabrielle were right under the shower head by now. The water was spraying down on them. Gabrielle gave Hiromi a kiss. She understood why she was being so emotional now. Becky had been keeping her feelings of loss buried inside herself for over a day. Now she was letting go. "Chuck might come back. I'd even bet on it. Once he learns you're pregnant, Chuck will come running back. He'll want to spoil you and ask if his little sports car would like to go for a ride again." "You really think so?" Hiromi asked Gabby as she looked her right in the eye. "Yes, I think so. Chuck wanted to be a father," Gabrielle said as she kissed Hiromi's forehead. "I might not be pregnant." "No way, you're not pregnant. I saw that hot dog you ate today. That's some pregnancy craving you were having," Gabrielle said with a slight laugh which elicited a slight smile in return from Hiromi. "I almost had another one at dinner time." Gabrielle hugged Hiromi extra tight. "See, I'm right about you being pregnant. I think I'm right about Chuck too. So don't give up hope. I love you very much. Your parents love you very much. We're here for you now." "Thank you, Gabby, and I also love you." "I love you too, Becky." Hiromi said to Gabrielle. The two women then shared a passionate kiss. As they dried themselves off after showering, Gabrielle told Becky about Owl. "Do you remember how Emiko Takagi died?" "Yes, Gabby, I do. She suffered a stroke and died about five days later. Why do you ask?" "If you remember, the committee was really impatient as she lay in the hospital. There was a possibility the operation might be delayed or even cancelled." "I remember all of that. Plus my wanting to get drunk one night because I feared my gender might have been changed permanently for no good reason." Gabrielle laughed. "I remember that too and haven't things changed more than a little since then." Hiromi grinned slightly but didn't say a word. "In the first couple of weeks after you took Hiromi Sato's place, I came into possession of emails I wasn't supposed to receive. Grant Williamson, Inspector Yoshida, Major Hollins, and others conspired to have Emiko Takagi murdered." Hiromi's incredulity was so complete, she struggled when trying to say her next words. "I can't.....You know.....Gabby that is insane." "Tell me about it, Becky. Some of the people we're both working with are so impatient and so concerned with their career advancement, they are willing to kill innocent people." "Swan Song isn't worth it if I'm working for scumbags." "No Becky, don't think like that. The changes you hope to achieve if Swan Song is extended would be a very worthy accomplishment." "Does the FBI Director or Grant Williamson know you have knowledge about what was done to Emiko Takagi?" "Becky, if Grant and The Director don't know now, they will by morning. I sent all senior Swan Song members a copy of my affidavit on that subject and some other Swan Song matters." "Gabby, you know this will end your FBI career. You may not even be able to work in law enforcement again." "Becky, I don't care one iota about all that. Right now the only thing I care about is protecting you." Tears began to form in Hiromi's eyes again. "You love me that much?" "Yes, Becky, I do," Gabrielle said to Hiromi as she held her hand. "I'm doing it because you're my best friend. Chuck is your husband, your place is with him if he still wants you. I'm not trying to destroy that." "The last thing I want to do is you hurt you, Gabby." "Becky, you will never hurt my feelings. I will be very happy if that dream of living with Chuck on a farm with a bunch of children and horses comes true for you." "I'd like you to be part of the dream too, Gabby. Would you come live with us if Chuck and I both asked?" Gabrielle laughed slightly. "Yes, Becky, I would, but not before Chuck and I got a few things straight. I won't do what you're doing for him." "Don't knock it until you've tried it, Gabby." She grinned at her and wriggled her hips. "He made Tom Slater into a mostly heterosexual woman, and I can assure you that Tom had no such inclinations before they met. That's because he is so kind and gentle. Once he takes you for a ride, you won't want Chuck to stop." Gabrielle couldn't believe what she was hearing, and what she could be letting herself in for, but kept all her reservations to herself. "We'll figure everything out when the time comes." Hiromi changed topics. "What is going to be done with the real Hiromi?" "I'm not sure, Becky. "She should be put in witness protection," Hiromi said firmly. "I may say something about it to the committee. That's if Chuck doesn't blow Swan Song to smithereens first." "Chuck might do that?" "I don't know, but he won't stand by and do nothing as the real Hiromi is kept in prison. Say you're right about Chuck, that he will come back to me, but he'd probably only do that under the condition that Hiromi is treated fairly. He knows that Hiromi was involved in organized crime, and he's a realist. If she has to spend time in prison, he could accept that, but he might also argue that she had acted under duress, and you know what the Watanabes are capable of when anyone 'betrays' them, Gabby. My own direct involvement in my friend Reina's murder, and my failure to report the murder of the guard -- and the very likely off- stage murders of the two prostitutes -- were both under the implied threat of death if I failed to act as the 'family' required. Plus, the real Hiromi was crazy. I know, because I was inside her head during my fugue. The Watanabes -- my grandfather mostly -- made her crazy through their cruelty, and I agree completely with what my husband will try to do to help her. I want to help her too. Whatever her feelings for Chuck may have been before I took her place, and however much she'd been involved in the Yakuza business, she was the one who made it possible for us to meet, and I owe her." "Becky, I don't know if I can do anything about Hiromi. I will try for you and Chuck." "Thank you, Gabby. That is all I ask of you." When they were through talking about Swan Song, Hiromi and Gabrielle went to bed together. They were both very tired as Gabrielle took a babydoll nightie from her purse and slipped it over her head. "You came prepared?" Hiromi asked Gabrielle as she fixed her pillow. "I don't really like to sleep naked. If you want...." Gabrielle was being flexible with Becky, just like she'd been in Hong Kong. Gabrielle was really coming to understand her friend that night. Hiromi had to be hardworking and strong during the day. At night she needed someone to comfort and love her. That's why Hiromi went to pieces in the shower. She had to, so she could be strong again tomorrow when doing her Swan Song work. "No, Gabby, your nightgown is fine with me." When they were through settling into bed, Gabrielle tried to kiss Becky. Hiromi backed away from her kiss. "Is there something wrong?" Gabrielle asked. She already noticed how Becky's emotions swung wildly sometimes. Pregnant women due to high hormone levels were sometimes like that, and there was also the absence of Chuck to consider. "I was thinking of Chuck again. He's my husband and I betrayed him, and now I'm going to sleep with you." Gabrielle was patient with Becky. Her kiss wasn't meant to be a signal she'd wanted to have sex again like they had in Hong Kong. In fact, she didn't. The whole situation was too up in the air, and her own worry about Becky was too overwhelming. "Becky, I know you're worried. I'm worried too, about you as well as Chuck. All I wanted to do is kiss you before going to sleep. When Chuck comes back, I'm sure he will be more than all right with me being here with you now. He let you see me in Hong Kong." "You're probably right, Gabby." Hiromi and Gabrielle then kissed her. "Thank you for being here with me." "You're welcome, Becky. I love you very much. Can I hold you while we both try going to sleep? "Yes, Gabby, I'd like that." Hiromi turned her body till she was laying on her left side, then snuggled back against her in a spoon position. Gabrielle then repositioned her arms to hold her close and leaned her head against the graceful curve of her neck and shoulder, inhaling her special scent. Was it different from their night together in Hong Kong? She wasn't wearing the same perfume, but was there something else? Was Becky pregnant now? What would that mean for whatever their relationship was now? She didn't know whether to be happy for her friend and one-time lover, or anxious because of the uncertainty. She had to make do with another snuggle into her neck, trying to memorize this moment now. "That feels just right, Gabby," Hiromi said to Gabrielle, after she was enveloped in her lover's arms. "Good night." ***** Audrey Grasso was still awake. She had just finished reading the affidavit given by Gabrielle Tanaka. 'They killed an elderly woman in her hospital room,' Audrey thought, while shaking her head. 'I have to see Tanaka in the morning and get copies of those emails.' Agent Tanaka may not be able to help Audrey immediately. Her FBI superiors would likely tell her not to cooperate with the JAG attorney. The solution to that would be the pre-trial discovery process in the days leading up to Captain Slater's murder trial. The highly incriminating emails would have to be turned over to Audrey eventually, but she knew from experience that the prosecution would likely try to delay that until she went through the motions. One murder didn't cancel another out, but the potential revelation of what other Swan Song members -- evidently acting under official orders - - had done to Emiko Takagi may just cause that to happen. If not, a major scandal would rock both Japan and the United States in the months ahead. Audrey Grasso would have to report the crime to the proper law enforcement authorities, not just as part of the defense of Captain Slater, but also because of her responsibilities as an officer of the court. Audrey wouldn't immediately confront the Swan Song committee with what she had learned. The JAG attorney needed to compose a well thought-out legal strategy first. While reading Gabrielle's affidavit, Audrey had written some notes to herself, cataloguing both potential legal problems for her client and making note of all the weaknesses she'd already seen in the legal theories available to the prosecution. She reviewed and revised these till it was almost midnight. Then the JAG attorney turned off the lights in her room and went to sleep. ***** Tsuki Tono arrived at Dai Hashimoto's home shortly after midnight. Akira and Dai were waiting for her. "The police were not very forthcoming with information, Tiger-san. What I just told you is all I could learn," Tsuki said as she concluded her report. "You did good work, Tsuki-san," Dai said. "Did we lose anyone in the fire?" "I'm afraid so. Katsuaki-san was one of those who perished." While Tsuki was trying to learn something from the police, Dai had gotten a phone call from one of Katsuaki Koike's men. It was to tell Dai that the shareigashira had died in the blaze. Other people who had perished in the fire included Katsuaki's brother- in-law, Brian Taylor plus his parents. The rumor about Raku Minobe dying was also true. "That will be a great loss to the family. I never worked for Katsuaki- san but I had heard great things about him." Akira spoke up. "Thank you for doing the work I requested of you. You may go now, Tsuki-san." "Are we sure the Inagawas are responsible for the fire?" Akira asked Dai right after Tsuki left them. "There is no question it was the Inagawa-kai who caused the fire." Dai knew he would begin to feel the loss of Katsuaki Koike very quickly. He was the most able Watanabe shareigashira and very wise. Dai had always put great store in Katsuaki's advice. "The fighting has to end." Dai nodded his head. The cost of the war with the Inagawas had spiked beyond anyone's estimates that night. Should even worse losses happen, the Watanabe Yakuza could face financial collapse. The responsibilities of being Oyabun weighed heavier on Dai than he had ever anticipated. He had hoped to count on the wisdom of both Katsuaki and Hiromi Sato, and maybe even Keiji Watanabe, as he began his new job. Katsuaki was now dead, Hiromi forced to live outside of Japan, and Keiji would be of little use due to his declining health and meddling behind the scenes. Dai would only admit to himself that he was insufficiently prepared to be Oyabun. He now knew the Watanabes were in business more than the simple gang he'd been involved with since childhood, when he'd first stood lookout outside when the adults had gone inside to strong-arm a reluctant businessman. They were still engaged in illegal activities, but a business nevertheless. They'd made much more from Hiromi-san's banking and investment activities than they had from everything else combined, if he understood the reports Hiromi had prepared before she left for Australia. In order to survive, a business needed the strongest possible management, and some of what Hiromi-san had been trying to tell him was starting to make sense. The Watanabes didn't have good management now, and it was Dai's responsibility to make sure that it did -- even if he had to step aside -- for the good of the family. Dai, while strong at operations and enforcing discipline, was below average at business management and finance, and he was honest enough to admit it. Those were Hiromi Sato's strongest skills, but she could also be tough when needed and rated very good or better when it came to operations and strategy. Dai could imagine an important role for himself, because his skills were still seen as necessary by the older generation he was increasingly a part of, but he needed someone like Hiromi-san by his side to handle the financial side that he couldn't understand. Dai also knew now that he had made a big strategic blunder when he authorized the killing of Hideki Inagawa. It had, been overkill and he realized that now. The assassination attempt on Hiromi was a call to action for the Watanabes, but Dai should have chosen a subtler form of retaliation against the Inagawas. What Dai should have done was seek out Hiromi's advice before acting. She was so wise, in addition to being clever with money. Hiromi-san may well have thought up a way of hurting the Inagawas financially. That would have sent a strong message to the Inagawa-kai: stay away from the internal affairs of the Watanabes, or their own profits would suffer. Instead, a war was raging between the two Yakuzas and a way to end it -- without Dai and the Watanabes looking weak -- was not easily apparent. That was just another strong reason for Dai to get Hiromi Sato back to Japan. She still might able to bring the war to an end before even worse damage than the Rosebud fire took place. It was late and Dai was exhausted. The next moves of the Watanabe Yakuza needed to be well thought out and carefully crafted, but his head hurt. "You can go now, Akira-san. We will talk again in the morning." ***** People across Japan woke up Monday morning to learn a fire in Yokohama had taken the lives of thirty-one people, with another eight people listed in critical condition. Conflagrations with that large a casualty list were rare in Japan and therefore big news. When you factored in that one of Japan's most beloved entertainers died in the blaze, the Rosebud fire became an even bigger news story. All of the coverage on Monday morning was either via the internet or on television. In the latter case, it was the talk of every morning program across the country. Reporters and program hosts talked about what they loved most about Raku Minobe. One female co-anchor in Kyoto who had interviewed Raku exactly one week ago, broke down in tears when recalling her recent encounter with the singer. There was nothing in Monday morning newspapers about Raku Minobe's death. It wasn't till the Japanese print media's deadlines for publication had passed that law enforcement had confirmed the singer's death. Japan's newspaper editors weren't discouraged when they saw the blitz of news done by their competitors in the news business. Print reporters, partly out of arrogance, think they are the only media member who can cover a story in depth. In their eyes, Television and internet reporting was all gloss and little substance. The Japanese people were smarter than that and when Tuesday morning rolled around, they'd turn to newspapers like they had for years. Before that could happen, editors and reporters would have to get to work quickly. With a new sun barely in the sky, newspaper reporters across the country were called at their homes. All were informed of Raku Minobe's death if they weren't aware of it already, then the men and women were told to report into their offices earlier than was their norm for a workday morning. The television "talking heads" might have their five or ten minutes in prime time, but digging deep for the details was what newspapers did for a living, and every major paper in Japan planned to have at least a front-page above-the-fold "splash" and a two-page interior spread available by three in the next day's morning, as well as a column or two in the women's section, and condensed updates on their web sites as teasers to make people buy the paper so they could read the full story. ***** When Hiromi woke up on Monday morning, she was surprised to find herself all alone in bed. At first she began to wonder where Chuck was but then mentally reminded herself of what had happened over the last two days. Hiromi saw a light on in the outer room. Still naked, she got out of bed and went to find out what Gabrielle was up to. "You're up early?" Hiromi asked her friend. Gabrielle turned away from her computer screen. Unlike Hiromi, she was fully dressed. "Hi, Becky, did you sleep well?" "I can't complain," Hiromi said as she walked up to the pretty FBI agent and hugged her. After sharing a quick kiss, Hiromi pulled up a chair alongside Gabrielle. "What are you working on?" Gabrielle first explained how she had woken up just after four. "I couldn't go back to sleep, so I decided to get up and get some FBI work done. There's coffee if you want." The Pine Gap "guest" room had a coffeemaker. She went and grabbed herself a cup, then returned to sitting alongside Gabrielle. Hiromi had a sudden thought. "Should I be drinking this while I'm pregnant?" "Becky, I honestly don't know. Doctors have differing opinions on the subject. Some say moderation is all right, others prefer if their patients avoided all caffeinated drinks." Hiromi pushed her coffee cup away. Gabrielle gave it back to her. "Until you see a OB/GYN, limit yourself to one cup in the morning and avoid all caffeinated sodas, because those sneak up on you, and they often add more caffeine to them than a full cup of expresso. There's no sense making yourself crazy until you've talked to a doctor. Then you can go as crazy as you'd like, but I've never heard of any of my friends being told to eliminate coffee completely, only to cut down." "Thanks, Gabby, for thinking of me and the baby." Hiromi suddenly had a thought. Assuming Chuck came back, would he support her desire to adopt Shannon? Chuck hadn't said a word either positive or negative when his wife mentioned the topic. After taking a small sip of coffee, Hiromi asked a question. "Gabby, what are you working on?" "I am going to submit two reports to my FBI bosses today," Gabrielle said as she took some pages out of a folder on the table in front of her. "This is the first one." Hiromi began reading about the various options the Swan Song committee had for getting Agent Ripley another helper should an extended Swan Song be approved. "The committee doesn't have too many options." "No, Becky, I'm afraid we don't." Hiromi read about the possible use of disgraced Army Major Ed Hollins. She let out a small laugh before commenting. "I think he would rather face a court-martial than have his gender changed even temporarily." "You're probably right, Becky." There were other problems with the Major Hollins option. For one thing, he was confined to his Yokota Air Base quarters while his Operation Firecracker-related legal problems were sorted out. "How about the other men who were assisting Major Hollins? Gabrielle nodded her head. "There was a Captain Higgins. I don't know what his status is now, but I'll check on it." Like his superior officer, Captain Higgins wasn't being allowed to depart Japan and his duties had been strictly curtailed. The Swan Song committee hadn't invited him to any of the Pine Gap teleconference calls. "Dai and others will be very paranoid about my safety when I go back to Yokohama. It will be next to impossible for someone new to gain access to my inner circle." "I understand, Becky. How about the bank Hiromi owns?" "You mean banks, Gabby. The employees at both Kanagawa and East China who have regular contact with me, total ten or less at each bank." "They're mostly bank officers, like Vice-Presidents, am I right?" "Yes, Gabby, you are. Don't forget, I also have a secretary at both banks," Hiromi said between sips of her coffee. "By the way, an East China branch is scheduled to open in Yokohama on September ninth. You can tell that to the committee but I'll be damned if I can see an easy way of using that to get me an assistant. I'd need someone with an accountancy background at least, and banking experience would be a huge plus. Neither Hollins nor Higgins seem likely to have been working as bank officers during their off hours." Gabrielle totally agreed with what Hiromi said. "I suppose the committee could always kidnap someone again but I'm limiting the report to lawful efforts." Another option would involve the Swan Song committee approaching Miriam Andrews. The drawbacks to that option were Miriam's total unfamiliarity with Operation Swan Song plus her limited training as an agent. To work as a bodyguard was one thing, to do the same work and covertly communicate with outsiders was another. "Roger might be possible. He has always come off as honest to me, and he's a trained soldier. The committee might be able to approach Roger, but how that can be accomplished without tipping off the people who want to do harm to Hiromi Sato is beyond me." Gabrielle agreed with Becky's assessment of Roger Hyde. "I'll amend my report to include Roger also." Hiromi had another possibility for Gabrielle. "I have a bodyguard named Yuri Titov. Everything I said about Roger applies to Yuri too except he is in Russia at present. His mother was ill and Yuri flew home the other day. The committee may be able to safely approach him there." "What else can you tell me about Yuri?" "He is in his late-forties, fought in Afghanistan against the Mujahideen as part of the Soviet Union's special forces also known as Spetsnaz. Yuri came to work for the Watanabes at about the same time Hiromi began studying at Tokyo University. He's worked as a bodyguard for her ever since, and Yuri also taught her super advanced defensive driving methods and how to recognize if someone or some people were tailing her." "I'll include Yuri in the report also," Gabrielle replied as she made notes on top of a folder. "Yuri had a famous uncle too, Gherman Titov. He was a Soviet Cosmonaut and Yuri was immensely proud of him. Yuri seemed to like me, especially if I addressed him Yuri Alexandrovich," Hiromi explained, "because using the formal patronymic is a respectful thing to do in Russian culture. If not for the actions of Yuri and the quick thinking of Kimo, I may not have survived the assassination attempt of two weeks ago." "Would Kimo be a possibility?" "I don't know all that much about Kimo. He only began working for Hiromi in early 2007. He's in Japan right now. Kimo didn't want to work in Hong Kong for some reason." Gabrielle asked herself a question as she continued writing notes based on what Hiromi was saying to her. 'What am I forgetting?' "Gabby, are you all right? You have looked very tired to me ever since we met at McDonald's last Tuesday." "I just have lots of work that needs being done." Gabrielle was exhausted. In the last two weeks she had averaged less than six hours sleep and her waking hours were full of ceaseless activity. "Yes, and I have been giving you even more." "Becky, that isn't a problem. I want to save your life." "After Pine Gap is done, why don't you take some time off." "I already told Mom and Dad I would visit them this year either at Thanksgiving or Christmas." "Try to get a rest before then too. I love you." "I love you too, Becky." Gabrielle was touched by Becky's concern for her. Hiromi's eyes became very big as she read the last options. "Chuck or you.... I mean you as Chuck." "Becky, it's just an idea." "Chuck is very easy going, but I don't see him going for that idea and I wouldn't blame him. There can't be two of him around." "I agree, Becky, but that isn't what I'm proposing. The second report that I'm working on is about putting the real Hiromi in witness protection like you suggested. Chuck is going to choose between you and her at some point, and I honestly still think Chuck will choose you, but say he doesn't, then the Swan Song committee puts him and the real Hiromi in witness protection." "How is the real Hiromi doing?" "I don't know, Becky. While I'm here at Pine Gap, I'll look into it." "You're willing to become Chuck to help me?" "Yes, Becky, I am. I'm willing to make sacrifices, big and small, to ensure you survive this Operation. You are so brave in wanting to extend Swan Song with everything else that's going on right now." "You mean dumb, don't you?" Hiromi asked with a nervous laugh. "No, I really think you are incredibly brave, Becky Slater." "I love you, Gabby." Hiromi and Gabrielle then kissed long and very passionately. Gabrielle was the first to speak after the kiss ended. "I love you too, Becky." "You would really become a guy for me?" Gabrielle didn't have any curiosity about being the opposite sex. She was a woman and preferred to remain that way. "It would only be temporary, so I can help you with Swan Song. When that is over and finished, I'd go back to Dr. Wagner." "Gabby, you're not forgetting the mental changes that Dr. Wagner's formula can cause?" "No, Becky, I'm not. I know there's a risk but your need of help outweighs that." "When Swan Song is over, we would live together happily ever after?" "Yes, Becky, if you let me be yours forever." Hiromi, who had just finished her coffee, glanced at a wall clock. "We'd better wrap this up. It is almost half past six." "When Chuck comes back, do you think he would be willing to help Swan Song?" "Gabby, I don't think Chuck is the person to do a Reina Shimizu-like part in Swan Song. He's too honest, isn't trained for the work, and if he is ever caught, it would doom both me and him. Reina was very careful and look what happened. She wasn't caught because she made a mistake, but because a stupid guard got caught with whores, and brought down Reina with him as he fell." "Becky, you have some very good points there." "Chuck could be used for emergency messages, maybe, as a last resort before bailing. But that's only if Chuck is willing. I'd keep any Swan Song role for Chuck as simple as possible." "You should know that Justice Minister Katoyama says that Japan is planning to arrest all the high-level Watanabes as a giant publicity stunt, although that's not quite how he put it. All of what we just talked about could be moot, but Director Mueller gave orders for everyone to work as if Swan Song will continue." "That would be a disaster, Gabby, and you know it as well as I do. Most of them would skate, the Swan Song involvement will come out in the open, which would taint the government case against everyone! Hell, they could argue in court that the government ordered them to commit crimes, since I -- working for the government, and passing on orders as I was told to do -- was involved at some point in almost every bit of financial data I've passed on to Swan Song. How do they think I got it? Plus, the Inagawa-ka?, who are much more vicious than the Watanabes, would take over Yokohama during the confusion, collapsing the existing balance of power into one super-Yakuza nightmare in the entire southern region of Greater Tokyo. Don't those idiots have the slightest clue!? Is there a Grant Williamson clone at the head of every government department in the world?" Gabby grimaced. "It seems like it, some days, but that's just the beginning. The committee is still concerned about the continuing influence of Keiji Watanabe. They believe, and I concur, that he's behind the assassination attempts on you, and will try again unless he's 'neutralized.' You know what that means, in the quaint euphemisms they like to use." "I do. I told Swan Song about the bomb, and I'm sure you did as well, but I also told them that the Triads were officially 'troubled' by the intrusion of Watanbe 'troubles' into their territory. They apologized very delicately, but I had the distinct impression that they'd prefer to see the matter handled 'internally.' If I'm free, I could talk to Dai about this, since he knows about the problems with Keiji. I agree with Swan Song's assessment, and I believe Dai will concur, however reluctantly. There have been Oyabuns killed before, and Keiji should have honorably committed suicide or officially retired as soon as he became incapable of real leadership, so this situation is in large part his 'fault,' through his own weakness and indecision, which demonstrated our vulnerability to the Inagawas. Even Dai will be able to see this and justify it to the others at his former level, once it's explained to him carefully. Keiji will be given the opportunity to rectify the matter personally, as a matter of respect, but the situation will be handled. I won't put Chuck at risk, nor our baby, for anything. In that sense, I don't care what sort of mess the Japanese authorities make of things, as long as my baby, Chuck, and you are safe." "I feel the same way, Becky. I don't care whether my career is left in shambles or not anymore. I used to think it would matter a lot, but your idea of living the simple life on a ranch is starting to look like the only truly sane ambition among the lot of us." "Thank you for saying that, Gabby." "You're welcome, Becky. You know I love you. If I or the Swan Song committee can't come up with a plan, Swan Song will be terminated and you and Chuck will be safe. Will that bother you?" "No, Gabby, it won't. I'll do whatever I'm ordered to do, even if the order is cast as a vague 'suggestion,' like it was with Swan Song. I'm not a hero, Gabby, I want to be a wife and mother first, then maybe an accountant, and definitely not some sort of female James Bond super-spy with a license to kill. I'm just here because I have a hard time saying no when my country asks me to do something, however ill-advised it seems to have been in retrospect. Hell, I was a soldier, and still am until officially separated from the service; it's our job to take care of cleaning up after diplomatic blunders and, in the USA at least, not usually the result of villainous plots to take over the world." "And in the meantime, the light of day is sweet, and it's a pleasant thing to stand in the warm sun." "Exactly." She smiled. ***** Sadao Koba reported for work at six on Monday morning. The young Yakuza was still assigned to one of the rotating listener details working at the temporary home of Keiji Watanabe. "Did anything interesting take place last night?" Sadao asked a Watanabe Yakuza named Tsutomu Kusatsu. "Not really, Sadao-san. Most of what we heard constituted snoring and other sounds made when one is asleep. By the way is the Oyabun still married?" "No, he was recently widowed. Why do you ask?" "Before going to sleep, he screwed the cook that works for him. I got the distinct impression she didn't like it." The two Yakuzas traded places a minute later. The next time Sadao spoke to Akira Sudo, he planned to mention what Tsutomo had told him. It was most likely inconsequential, but Sadao would let someone more important than he in the Watanabe Yakuza make that decision. ***** Gabrielle and the Slaters began having breakfast together shortly before half past seven. As families do, they talked about their plans for the day. "Don't you worry about us, dear. Your father and I will keep busy." "That's good, Mom. I am sorry about not being able to spend more time with you and Dad." "We know you're busy, Rebecca. Your father and I cherish any time you are allowed to be with us." The cafeteria had a television in it and CNN International was currently on. Since the volume was turned down low, few people paid any attention to it. "Mom, what did you and Dad do last night?" Stuart fielded Rebecca's question. "Your mother spent a long time on the computer that you gave her. I read a book or watched television." "Gabrielle, did you call your Mom yet?" "No, Mom, I haven't," Gabrielle said as she looked across the cafeteria. Scott Avery had just come in and had nodded his head in Gabrielle's direction. In the meantime Hiromi and Stuart began talking politics and sports. Midori stood up soon afterwards. "I am going back to the room. Rebecca, can you and Gabrielle come by before beginning work?" "Yes, Mom, we can." Gabrielle was next to excuse herself. "Becky, I have to check on something. I'll meet you at Mom and Dad's room in ten to fifteen minutes." "All right, Gabby. Talk to you then." ***** Gabrielle went back to her room. Just inside the door were two manila envelopes. Scott had come through for her and Becky. He had printed off all thirty-one emails belonging to Grant Williamson that made mention of either Owl or Emiko Takagi. Gabrielle only had enough time to glance at a dozen or so of the messages. Of those, at least three were highly incriminating against Grant Williamson and other Swan Song officials. Gabrielle also saw that none of those emails were addressed to the FBI Director. Grant Williamson had really stuck his own neck out when issuing the order to terminate Owl, but the director's hands seemed to be clean, at least in the paper trail. She put the emails back in the envelopes they came in. Gabrielle's room had a miniature safe, and that was where she placed the documents. After making sure the safe was locked, Gabrielle left her quarters. ***** Hiromi got to her parent's room first. When she and her father arrived, they found Midori online and talking with Chiyo Tanaka via Skype. "Where is Gabrielle?" Midori asked. "She'll be here in few minutes. Is that Gabrielle's mother?" "Yes it is. You should say hello to her," Midori said at almost the exact same moment Gabrielle walked into the room. "Gabby, your Mom is on Skype." Gabrielle bent downward till her face came into view of the webcam. "Hello, Mom, how are you?" "I am well, Gabrielle, how about yourself?" While Gabrielle was talking with her mother, Midori Slater was pushing a second chair close to the desk on which the laptop was placed. "Mom, how is Shannon doing?" Gabrielle asked as she sat herself down in one of the chairs. "Shannon and your father are playing on the living room floor." "That's good, Mom. Thank you again for taking care of Shannon." "You're welcome, Gabrielle. Shannon is a delightful boy." Midori spoke to Hiromi. "Sit down, you should speak to Gabrielle's Mom too." Hiromi did as her mother said. Gabrielle moved over so her best friend could also say hello to her parents. "Hi." "That's Rebecca, Mom," Gabrielle said as she leaned her head back in the direction of the webcam. By doing this, Hiromi and Gabrielle's faces totally filled the computer screen in Astoria Oregon. "Hello, Rebecca," Chiyo Tanaka said. The story told to her days earlier by her daughter and the Slaters had become very real to her. "You are working with Gabrielle?" "Yes, I am," Hiromi said as her and Gabrielle's faces touched again. ***** Before reporting to work at Watanabe Trucking on Monday morning, Ryuku Kinjoh made a detour to Dai Hashimoto's home. He had very precise instructions for a phone call he wanted Ryuku to make. Both of Hiromi's long-time secretaries, Aki and Suki, were already working when Ryuku arrived. They brought their new Taro phone messages and tea. "Thank you for bringing these to me," Ryuku replied as settled in behind her desk. "Did you both have a good weekend?" "Yes, Taro-san, I did," Aki replied. "Suki, I am very sorry to hear of what happened to your brother's wife and baby." "Thank you Taro-san. Is there anything I or Aki can get for you now?" "No there is nothing I need now." Aki and Suki immediately left the room. Ryuku took a disposable cell phone out of her purse. She carefully entered into it the number she had for Hiromi. After five successive rings came and went without an answer, a generic voice mail message followed. "After the beep you may record a message." Dai began speaking as soon as the beep concluded. "Hiromi-san, it is Ryuku and please forgive my intrusion. I hope you and Chuck are enjoying yourselves. There are a few matters I need to speak to you about when you have time. Can you please text message me with the best time for me to call?" ***** "It has been nice talking," Hiromi said to Chiyo Tanaka. "Thank you for taking care of Shannon for me. When my present work is finished, I'm going to be Shannon's mother." "Goodbye, Rebecca. I look forward to us meeting one day." Gabrielle spoke next. "I got to go too, Mom. We will talk again no later than Tuesday your time, I promise." Hiromi went straight from her parent's room to where her debriefing was to take place. Four people, three men and one woman, were in the room already. One of them came forward and introduced himself. "Agent Ripley," Said a barrel-chested man whose voice had a deep South Texas twang to it. "My name is Fred Wenz. I will be one of the persons asking questions of you the next few days. I hope you got a good night's sleep." Hiromi allowed Fred to take her right hand. He was very gentle with it. "Yes, Sir, I did. I am ready to be debriefed as soon as you are. Has my lawyer been notified of this meeting?" "Yes the Major was told and I had a good talk with her this morning. She'll be joining us eventually. The first matters we'll be asking you about, Capatin, is the structure of the Watanabe empire and the personalities involved. If you will you need Major Grasso, you can stop the debriefing at once. Captain, we can also delay the debriefing till the Major is here. It is your choice." Hiromi thought for a few moments. "We can get started now." ***** Robert Mueller's day-to-day FBI work didn't suddenly disappear while he saw to Operation Swan Song matters. It was because of his other duties that Robert didn't get around to reading Gabrielle Tanaka's affidavit till Monday. "Grant, what the fuck have you done?" Robert asked as he and The Deputy FBI Director rode together in a limousine that was taking them from their Alice Springs hotel to Pine Gap. "What are you referring to, Director?" Grant asked defensively. "I'm talking about Owl, of course! According to a sworn affidavit given by Agent Tanaka, a First Lieutenant DW Walters, on orders given to him by the Swan committee last July, which I will remind you was under your chairmanship at the time, murdered one Emiko Takagi." 'That backstabbing Tanaka bitch! She is going to be the death of me yet.' Grant thought as he struggled to answer Robert Mueller's question. "Grant, will you answer my question?" Robert asked impatiently. 'I've got to do something about Tanaka," Grant thought to himself "Sir, the committee and I were facing a set deadline for the switch of Agent Ripley and Hiromi Sato. Ms. Takagi suffered a massive stroke less than a week before it was to go down." "Emiko Takagi was Sato's Aunt?" "Yes, she was. Every year Hiromi Sato would return to Hokkaido and visit her Aunt during the time of the Bon festival. The committee planned to snatch Beancounter during her yearly visit back to Kushiro." Beancounter was the Swan Song code name for the genuine Hiromi Sato." "The stroke suffered by Owl was massive but she was holding on to life. Beancounter went to be at her side. She didn't leave the hospital at all while her Aunt was still alive." "You spoke to her doctors, I suppose." "Yes, Director, I did. They all said Owl could cling to life for an extended period of time. Her major organs were all strong." "So you made the decision to have Emiko Takagi poisoned? When Grant got time, he was going to find out how Gabrielle Tanaka learned of Owl. "Sir I didn't make the decision on my own. I did it after consulting with other Swan Song members. Major Hollins thought it was a good idea. Owl was brain dead and going to die was the argument he and others made. The Japanese Swan Song members agreed and signed off on the decision to kill her." "Grant, do you understand that you, Major Hollins, Lieutenant Walters, and the Japanese officials all committed murder?" "Sir, we thought we were doing the right thing at the time." Robert shook his head again. "Agent Tanaka was left out of the loop?" Grant was honest. Director Mueller would find out the truth soon enough. "Yes, she was. I don't know how she came to learn about Owl." Robert planned on having a word with Gabrielle Tanaka. She had been derelict in her FBI duties by not reporting to him earlier on what had been done to Emiko Takagi. "It doesn't matter, Grant. Do you have a clue as to the difficult position you have put me and the Bureau in? You have involved not just yourself, but our country's military and the Bureau in the thick of cold-blooded murder. Not to mention your getting high ranked Japanese officials and law enforcement involved in it. It is going to be almost impossible to keep a lid on this. Especially if the Japanese insist on prosecuting Ripley, though frankly I can't see how they can do it now. If what happens to Owl goes public, the current government in Tokyo may collapse as a result." Grant said nothing to Robert Mueller. To say he was sorry wouldn't change anything. "When we get to Pine Gap, I'm going to ask for another meeting with Minister Hatoyama. Tanaka sent him the affidavit also. You'd better pray, Grant, that he doesn't have plans to arrest you too." Grant received a email on his PDA as he and Robert arrived at Pine Gap. "Director, I just got word from Superintendant Carey. After some legalities are taken care of first, Charles McBride will be put under surveillance as you asked. It will begin sometime this afternoon." "Please thank Superintendant Carey personally for me, Grant." Robert continued to give Grant Williamson Swan Song orders, but he had no intention of letting that sorry state of affairs go on much longer. He needed to install someone who still had the brains he was born with if they were going to come out of this with their own cojones intact. ***** Chuck McBride began calling attorneys shortly nine on Monday morning. His first attempt at making someone believe his and the real Hiromi's story was no more successful than his talks with journalists had been the day before. Patricia McBride had a suggestion for her son. "Why don't you call McKenzie Smith? He used to be your Grandfather's solicitor." "Thank you, Mum. I will try calling him next." With the help of Google, Chuck had the solicitor's phone number less than a half minute later. "Smith, Dobbins, and Smith. How may I direct your phone call?" "My name is Charles McBride. I'd like to speak to McKenzie Smith about a legal matter." "May I ask what type of legal matter?" "It is one involving me and my wife. It is rather complicated." Unbeknownst to Chuck, the receptionist nodded her head. It sounded like a divorce proceeding and Smith, Dobbins, and Smith did perform that type of legal work. "Yes we may be able to help you, Mr. McBride. Has Smith, Dobbins, and Smith, ever represented you before?" "No, but my late Grandfather's legal affairs were handled by McKenzie Smith." "That would probably be McKenzie Sr. May I ask what your Grandfather's name was?" "Charles Hughes." "Can you hold for one minute?" The receptionist asked Chuck. She wanted to check the firm's computer records. Chuck said of course he could wait. The receptionist was back on the line in half a minute. "Thank you for holding, Mr. McBride. My records show that it was McKenzie Sr. who handled the estate of your Grandfather in 2005." "Yes, that is right. My Grandfather died a few days before Christmas 2004." "I have to inform you Mr. McBride that McKenzie Sr. is in semi- retirement now. He still comes to the office but only intermittently. Would you like to speak to his son?" "Yes, if you can arrange that for me." Chuck was again put on hold. His wait lasted for almost five minutes this time around. "Mr. McBride, are you still there?" McKenzie Smith Jr. asked when he finally came on the phone. "Yes I am." "I am McKenzie Smith Jr. You have a legal matter concerning your wife you wish to speak to me about?" "Yes I do." "I have an opening at half past two this afternoon. Can you make it?" It was Chuck's lucky day. McKenzie Smith Jr's appointment calendar had been booked solid for two weeks till a client cancelled his Monday appointment with the solicitor. "Yes, sir, I can but I think you should know this is a very unusual matter." "We can talk about it at your appointment, Mr. McBride. Sorry but I'm in a rush right now. Please arrive at my office a half hour early. You must fill out some forms and answer a questionnaire. I will talk to you at half past two. Good day for now." McKenzie Smith immediately hung up the phone. ***** After she was through talking to her mother, Gabrielle went straight to one of the large rooms set up for Swan Song work. A computer work station was waiting for her. "Good morning, Agent Tanaka," Said Inspector Yoshida as settled into a work station adjacent to Gabrielle's. The Yokohama policeman unsurprisingly had a cup of coffee with him. "I trust you slept well last night." "My sleep was short but pleasant," Gabrielle replied. She hadn't forgotten how tightly Becky was hugging her when she woke up. The 'Find Ripley a helper' report, as Gabrielle had termed the document she was writing, was in need of polishing plus amendments based on what Becky had suggested. She worked on that important task for almost a half hour before a nearby conversation broke her conversation. "There was a big fire in Yokohama last night." Gabrielle immediately stopped working on the report and went to visit a Japan news website. The Rosebud fire and the death of Raku Minobe were prominently featured. 'That is absolutely horrible but is it related to the Watanabes?' Gabrielle asked herself as she finished reading an article on the fire. Details were still sketchy. She turned to Inspector Yoshida for answers. "Do you know anything about last night's fire?" Inspector Yoshida was also just learning about the fire. "Agent Tanaka, please give me a few minutes. I am trying to contact one of my colleagues in Yokohama. They should be able to help us." ***** The Slaters had plans to take a walk as soon as Midori was finished talking with Chiyo Tanaka. When the couple wasn't travelling, they went on up to two-mile walks together twice daily. Stuart's physicians told the retired master sergeant this was a good form of exercise as he recovered from open heart surgery. What Stuart and Midori didn't take into account Monday morning was the weather. "I think it is too windy, Stuart." The couple hadn't walked more than one hundred feet. It was winter in Australia and the Slaters were dressed accordingly. However the wind was really gusting when the couple tried to walk. The registered temperature of six degrees Celsius felt more like zero to them. "I think you're right," Stuart replied back to his wife. "Let's go back inside." Among the many underground facilities Pine Gap had was a fitness room. Midori and Stuart paid it a visit but not till after changing their clothes first. Stuart got on a treadmill. Midori set the speed and slope for the machine taking into account her husband's recent health history. "I can go faster than 2.0," Stuart told his wife as the treadmill started. The slope was set at 0.5. "Stuart, I don't want you to overexert yourself. Let us try this first, you can always speed it up later," Midori said before she got on a treadmill adjacent to her husband's. As they exercised, the couple talked about their daughter. "What do you think about Rebecca?" "Rebecca looks good. She is healthy and happy too. I like that, Stuart. Do you?" "Yes, I like it. The only thing that concerns me is that husband of hers. Chuck should be with Rebecca now." Midori partially agreed with Stuart. Charles McBride hadn't made a good impression on the couple. "I agree, Stuart, but let's not judge Chuck too harshly yet. When Chuck comes to Pine Gap, we will listen to what he says. Let us try to be open minded about him. From what Rebecca says, he was placed in great danger, and his former girlfriend abducted, all without telling him. If I'd been kidnapped and replaced with a 'better' version, I'd certainly hope that you'd be a little upset when you found out." She pursed her lips and stared at him meaningfully, which is surprisingly hard to do when you're on a treadmill. The bouncing spoiled the effect. Stuart nodded. "You're right, of course, and I'll do that, Muffin. But what if Chuck doesn't come back to Rebecca?" "We will be strong for her then. Rebecca will need that from the two of us and Gabrielle. Whatever happens, it is still my hope Rebecca chooses Gabrielle." "Yes, I would like that too, Muffin. I like Gabrielle, and know she cares for our child, and don't know enough about Chuck to make a reasonable judgement, despite the very poor impression he made at our first meeting. I was a little surprised by Rebecca's announcement that she could be pregnant, but I'm fine with it. And Chuck is her husband, we can't ignore that if he wants to take responsibility for his wife and child after his initial confusion. We can't interfere in our daughter's relationship with her husband, especially if she's pregnant with his child." "I am too, Stuart. We are going to be grandparents again, and that makes me very happy. Whatever Rebecca decides to do about her family is her business now. We'll do our best not to meddle, even if we do know best..." She smiled at her husband, who smiled back, not breathing hard at all. ***** "Sir, we have no idea where The Minister may be at this moment," Said United States Air Force corporal Sean Ogden. Robert Mueller hid his annoyance better than Grant did. "We were supposed to be a meeting with him this morning at nine thirty." Corporal Ogden checked the message log once again. "Sorry sir, I don't have any messages. Maybe the other Japanese members can help you. I saw one or two of them in the cafeteria this morning. Grant had tried that already. He had talked to a Kazu Ippitsusai briefly. Kazu didn't know where the Minister was either. After thanking Corporal Ogden for his assistance, Robert and Grant went out into the hallway. "Our Japanese friends could be showing us who is really in control of Swan Song's future." "Or maybe the Minister needed to consult with Tokyo. He seemed greatly disturbed by what Ripley told us about the Watanabes connection to Japan's Royal Family." "Yes, Grant, that is another possibility." ***** Hiromi was away from Hong Kong, but her home was hardly inactive. Men hired by Teresa Wu were in the process of putting fresh coats of paint on both the house's interior and exterior. Roger Hyde was watching the work that was being performed, at least when he wasn't watching the tasty Ms. Wu. It was shortly after nine when Roger's cell phone rang for the first time that day. "Hyde." Hideichi Ishimoto wasted no time on pleasantries. "There is a job I have for you, if you're interested." Till setting off for Hong Kong, Hideichi had been Roger's real boss. It was the Watanabe shareigashira who saw to the staffing of Hiromi Sato's bodyguard detail and how much those men and women were paid. "I work for Mrs. Sato now, Ishimoto-san." Roger had never particularly liked Hideichi. "What I would ask of you would pay well. Are you interested?" "I can't say. Can you tell me what the work is?" Roger asked suspiciously. "Not over the phone I can't. Could you come to Yokohama?" Roger's level of suspicion went through the roof. "No, I bloody can't." "Then I will have to get someone else." A dial tone followed. The Hideichi-Roger phone call ended as abruptly as it had begun. Teresa Wu came into the room a few seconds later. "Who was that who called?" "It was just a former boss of mine, love," Roger said to Teresa before the couple shared a brief kiss. Roger was already thinking if he should gather Dmitri and Miriam and the three of them set off to Australia for the purpose of finding and then protecting their boss from danger. The British bodyguard's intuition was telling him Hideichi Ishimoto was going to make an attempt on Hiromi Sato's life. ***** Yokohma police Chief Inspector Keisuke Mushashibo had been assigned to work the Rosebud fire. He was also a close friend of Inspector Tetsuro Yoshida. "The investigation is still young but I can tell you the fire was definitely a deliberate act, Yoshida-san," Keisuke said into his cell phone. He was standing in the alley alongside the Rosebud. At the same time arson investigators were working inside the burned out building. "Was the club Watanabe-owned?" Men and a few women went walking by Keisuke as he talked to Inspector Yoshida. The crime scene had been made semi open to members of the media. "That is still being investigated, but I believe it was. If so, these gangs have finally gone too far. Yoshida-san, I heard you are not in Japan now." "Yes, I am away on police business." "You must have learned of the fire through the press. Those people are all around me now. They are like ants on poorly discarded food," Keisuke said. Inspector Yoshida was not surprised by the intense media coverage. Raku Minobe was one of Japan's most beloved celebrities. His wife and children loved listening to her music as did he. Keisuke was being circumspect in his answers because of possible media leaks. "I will not keep you from your work any longer, Keisuke-san. Thank you for being patient with me." "Yoshida-san, I am always available to you. Feel free to call me at any hour if you need more information on the fire." As soon as the phone call ended, Inspector Yoshida told Gabrielle and Maurice Gao what he had learned. The Hong Kong Probationary Inspector also had a work station in the room. "Thank you, Inspector. If you learn anything new, please let us know." ***** Audrey Grasso finally managed to locate Kazu Ippitsusai. After a quick exchange of greetings, the JAG attorney got right down to business. "Kazu, is it Japan's intention to prosecute Agent Ripley for murder?" Kazu did not hide his discomfort well. His head remain bowed as he answered Audrey's question. "I am not supposed to say." "We have worked together before, Kazu-san. In the future we may work again and I look forward to it. Off the record, can you tell me what the plan is for Ripley?" After a short pause, Kazu answered Audrey's question. "Notwithstanding the Status of Forces Agreement, my government plans to prosecute Ripley for murder." "Kazu, I know you are a smart prosecutor. You have to see all the problems that will occur if Ripley is tried for murder." Audrey went on to list them. They included the lack of physical evidence, Ripley not being read her rights by Gabrielle Tanaka before they talked, to the bigger difficulties. What was done to Emiko Takagi plus the illegal incarceration of Hiromi Sato. "There are two Hiromi Satos at present, both with what would presumably be the same DNA signature. I can request she be produced and demand chain of custody documentation, but would have to warn you that revel