Ratio: A Leopold Blake Thriller (A Private Investigator Series of Crime and Suspense Thrillers)

by Nick Stephenson

  Chapter 63

  THE SEA-TAC DEPARTURE lounge was crammed full of people, and Leopold was glad for the first-class lounge. A long window stretched the entire length of the far wall looking out over part of the runway. Clouds had gathered, a fine mist of rain drifting across the scene, and the light was fading. Warm and comfortable in a leather recliner, Leopold ignored the dreary view and took another sip of Scotch.

  “Worth the wait?” Jerome asked, sitting nearby.

  “I’d be glad not to go through another weekend like this one,” said Leopold. “Even with whisky involved.” He felt the liquor burn down the back of this throat. “Going through all that stone-cold sober is definitely not recommended.” He looked at Jerome. “You seen the photos Harper emailed through?”

  He nodded. “The atomizers look pretty high-tech. Compared to the detonators, anyway. They figure out what was inside?”

  “They’re assuming sarin. But such small quantities, they figure it might have been concentrated somehow. They don’t know for sure yet. Need to run some tests.” He hesitated.

  “What is it?”

  “Nothing, just…” Leopold trailed off. “The canisters looked familiar, somehow. Like I’d seen the design somewhere before.”

  “Don’t start down that road.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re thinking Chemworks, I can tell. You always expect the worst.”

  “That’s why you’re in a job.”

  Jerome smiled and changed the subject. “They get a statement from Johnson?”

  “I called in a favor,” said Leopold. “A lawyer from Perkins Rives met with her an hour ago. She’s agreed to cooperate in exchange for leniency.”

  “You think it’ll work?”

  Leopold sighed. “She was protecting her family. That’s got to mean something.”

  “In a perfect world.”

  “In a perfect world, one wouldn’t need a five-hundred-dollar-an-hour law firm to prepare a defense.” He shook his head. “The Attorney General isn’t going to want to blame a US citizen for this. Opens up far too many questions. My guess, they’ll focus on the convenient story.”

  “The North Koreans?”

  Leopold shrugged. “Who knows. All I can tell you for sure, heads are gonna roll.”

  “Harper?”

  “She did her best. But she’s an obvious scapegoat. Thankfully, she’s smart enough. If the A.G. blames the North Koreans, all eyes will be on the CIA. If he goes after Johnson, the FBI are gonna hang for it. Federal employee, and all. Without any evidence pointing to a third party, the A.G. isn’t going to risk admitting they don’t know who’s behind it. Either way, Secret Service comes out of this looking like they saved the day. They got Melendez and the President out of harm’s way and apprehended those responsible. Can’t ask for much better than that.”

  Jerome smiled. “That’s politics for you. Always more complicated than justice.”

  “Getting justice is never simple. Nothing is.” He took another sip of Scotch. “Engawa no shita no chikaramochi.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “The last thing our Yakuza friend said before he died. Literally, it means ‘A powerful person underneath the deck.’ Someone helping behind the scenes. I think he meant Johnson.”

  Jerome chuckled. “And you thought she just wanted to have dinner? You really know women, Leopold.”

  “What’s to know?”

  “That nothing is ever as it seems.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “How’s Mary?”

  Leopold felt his stomach knot. He ignored it. “How should I know?”

  “Admit it,” said Jerome. “You missed having her around.”

  “Ludicrous.”

  “You’ve been moping around ever since we got here. Why do you think you’re so desperate to get home?”

  Leopold drained the last of his drink, but didn’t reply. Admittedly, the weekend hadn’t gone as planned. Mary would have been a valuable asset. She had a knack for forcing him to think differently, act differently. When Mary was around, life just seemed a little… easier. Did that mean anything? Leopold shrugged the thought away.

  “I need another drink,” he said, eventually.

  Jerome leaned back in his chair. “What you need is a holiday.”

  “We tried that already. Didn’t go well, as far as I remember.”

  “I meant a real vacation. With beaches.”

  “You just want an excuse to lie around a pool.”

  “Doesn’t sound so bad.”

  “I’d get bored.”

  “You could do with a little boredom. We could take Mary.” Jerome grinned.

  “Drop it.” Leopold stood up and looked around. “I’m going to the bar.”

  The lounge was largely deserted. A few travelers huddled together at corner tables in small groups, a few lone businessmen hunched over their laptops. The bar was just across the hallway out of sight of the main lounge. A TV was playing highlights from a Seahawks game, the volume turned right down but still audible. The light cast bright green, blue, and silver through the gloom, reflecting off the brass taps where the barman waited. He looked up as Leopold approached.

  “Same again?” he said.

  “I’ll try the Aberlour,” Leopold replied. “No ice.”

  “You got it.”

  Leopold took a seat on the stool, the scent of wood polish and beer drifting up into his nose. The barman returned with an empty glass, poured a measure of whisky and then handed it over.

  “Thanks.”

  “Heading home this evening, sir?”

  Leopold sniffed his drink. Sweet and rich, hints of toffee. He took a sip, let the liquid slip down his throat. He looked up. “Back to New York. Not a moment too soon.”

  “Not a fan of the Emerald City?”

  Leopold paused. “It’s not that. It’s just…” His stomach knotted again. “It’s nothing. Seattle’s a wonderful city. Excuse me.” He got down off the stool, found a quiet corner. He watched the barman return to his spot near the television. Happy nobody could overhear, Leopold took out his phone.

  This doesn’t mean anything.

  He dialed Mary’s number from memory. She answered on the sixth ring.

  “Blake?” Her voice was groggy.

  “Guilty.”

  “It’s past ten.”

  “Early night?”

  “Early morning shifts. Where are you?”

  “Sea-Tac. Waiting for a flight home.”

  A rustling noise. “I’m kinda trying to grab some shut-eye here. You okay?”

  “Had an interesting weekend.”

  “I saw the news. Figured you couldn’t be too far away.” She stifled a yawn. “Listen, I have a lead on someone who might be able to give us some dirt on the Chemworks sale. I was going to tell you about it when you got back, but seeing as you’re here…”

  “I might have something too. But, let’s not talk about work. I’m not exactly in the mood.”

  “One of those weekends, huh?”

  “Putting it mildly.”

  “So, what’s up?”

  Leopold hesitated. Picked up his drink, studied it. Put it back down on the table. “A good friend of mine thinks I should relax more,” he said.

  “Wouldn’t hurt.”

  “I’d like to get some dinner.”

  “It’s a little late.”

  “I meant, when I get back.” He took a deep breath. “I meant, you and I should get some dinner.” He coughed. “Together. I mean, you and I…”

  “Haven’t we already been through this?” said Mary. “You lost the bet.”

  “No bets, no games. Just dinner. You eat, right?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Me too. So, it kinda makes sense if we both eat. You know, at the same time.”

  A pause on the line. “Like a date?”

  “Call it what you want. You can even wear a dress, if you own any.”

  “
Whoa, are you asking me out, or trying to insult my wardrobe?”

  “No reason I can’t do both.”

  Mary didn’t say anything.

  “Look, maybe this was a bad idea,” said Leopold. “We can always –”

  “No, no. I could go for dinner,” Mary said. “But just dinner, right?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You know what I mean. I don’t want anyone shooting at us. I don’t want any dead bodies. At least, not until the third date.”

  “No promises.”

  Mary laughed. “Just call me when you get back, okay. And try to stay out of trouble.”

  “No promises.”

  Mary hung up. Leopold smiled, stood up to leave, phone still in his hand. Leaving his unfinished drink on the table, he headed back to Jerome in the main lounge, wishing his flight were leaving a little earlier. Suddenly, Seattle didn’t seem quite so bad. He slumped down in his chair and let out a deep, satisfied sigh. Jerome studied him, a quizzical expression on his face.

  “No drink?” he asked.

  “Didn’t feel like it after all,” Leopold said.

  “Make a phone call?” Jerome glanced at the handset in Leopold’s hand.

  “Don’t make a big deal out of it.”

  Jerome settled back into the chair, smiling. He shut his eyes, folded his hands across his stomach. “See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

  Ignoring him, Leopold turned to look out the window. The rain had intensified, thick droplets streaming down onto the gray asphalt, throwing up a thick mist of water just above the ground. In the distance a passenger jet began its ascent, surging into the sky with a muffled roar.

  Leopold closed his eyes, Jerome’s words dancing through his mind.

  That wasn’t so hard.

  Yeah, right.

  Epilogue

  THE GAIJIN WITH the faint pink scars on his face looked out over Tokyo as the sun disappeared over the horizon. He stood on his hotel room balcony, a glass of Scotch in one hand, and leaned over the railings. Three hundred feet below, the city streets were packed with people, tiny and insignificant. All caught up in the stink of modern civilization at its peak. He wrinkled his nose and pulled away.

  The Oguchi business was done. It had been a satisfactory outcome, for him at least. The trap had been set, and his quarry had broken cover. Public blame would fall on some mysterious foreign power, and the matter would quickly be forgotten in D.C. Everything was falling into place. The Oguchi clan would be out for blood, no doubt, once they learned what had happened. But they wouldn’t find any, not from him. He had already made sure of that.

  “Director, sir,” a voice said.

  The gaijin turned around. A man stood in the doorway, the soft glow of the bedroom lights casting him in shadow. He was solidly built, muscular with a shaved head, and he wore simple, practical clothes.

  “What is it, Hawkes?”

  “Sir, we’ve had word from the surveillance team. It’s time to move. We need to get out of the harbor tonight.”

  “Is everything in place?”

  Hawkes nodded. “We intercepted Blake’s communications, as you ordered. You were right; he knows something. But with him out of New York, we were able to complete our reconnaissance.”

  “And?”

  “It’s all there in his apartment. Just say the word, and we’ll move in.”

  “Not yet.” The gaijin set his glass of Scotch on the balcony table. “There’s one more thing we need to do first.” He swept past Hawkes and into the warmth of the bedroom.

  “Sir?”

  “I want the devices primed before we make ourselves known.” He stalked over to the wardrobe and pulled out a fresh suit jacket. “The Organization spent tens of millions acquiring Chemworks from under Blake’s nose. We’re hardly going to let that go to waste because of bad timing.”

  “The prototypes are ready, sir,” Hawkes said, stepping inside and closing the door. “Preliminary tests have been encouraging.”

  “Good.” He held the jacket up to the light. The tailoring was exquisite. “Get in touch with navigation. Have them set the course and make preparations to move out in two hours. I want to be in international waters as soon as possible.”

  Hawkes nodded. “Yes, sir. What’s the destination?”

  “New York City.” The gaijin pulled the jacket on over his shirt. A perfect fit. “I think it’s time we paid Mr. Blake a personal visit, don’t you?”

  “I couldn’t agree more, sir.”

  The gaijin smiled. The two men left the hotel, slipping away into the heaving Tokyo streets as heavy rain began to fall, fast and cold. Thunder sounded in the distance. The wind picked up.

  A storm was coming.

  For updates about new releases, as well as exclusive promotions, visit the author’s website and sign up for the VIP mailing list at: http://www.nickstephensonbooks.com

  Have you checked out the other books in the Leopold Blake series of thrillers? You can browse the entire collection at Amazon here:

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  To read more about June Kato and her history with the Yakuza and Jack Melendez, you can find the entire series here:

  Author Page: http://junekatointrigue.wordpress.com

  To continue on to the bonus short story featuring June Kato, click HERE.

  About the Authors

  Nick Stephenson

  Nick Stephenson was born and raised in Cambridgeshire, England. He writes mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels, as well as the occasional witty postcard, all of which are designed to get your pulse pounding. His approach to writing is to hit hard, hit fast, and leave as few spelling errors as possible. Don’t let his headshot fool you – he’s actually full color (on most days).

  His books are a mixture of mystery, action and humor, and are recommended for anyone who enjoys fast paced writing with plenty of twists and turns.

  For up to date promotions and release dates of upcoming books, sign up for the latest news here:

  Author Page: www.nickstephensonbooks.com

  Kay Hadashi

  Third generation Japanese American, and growing up in a multigenerational home, Kay Hadashi learned Japanese traditions from her grandparents, and the lessons of modern-day life in Honolulu, Hawaii. Dividing her life between Hawaii and the mainland of America, she spends her time refining her tai chi skills, taking Zumba classes, and has a busy career in health care.

  A lifelong fantasy and sci-fi reader, and through the experience of writing medical thrillers and short stories, Kay discovered she enjoys writing intrigue. Even though her current main character is female, her stories have wide appeal to both men and women, and people of various backgrounds. If you enjoy intrigue and suspense, you should be able to find a June Kato novel to enjoy!

  Author Page: http://junekatointrigue.wordpress.com

  Turn the Page to Read the Bonus Short Story “Divide and Conquer” by Kay Hadashi - featuring June Kato.

  Divide and Conquer

  by Kay Hadashi

  Nobody ever told June Kato that babysitting could be such hard work... As a world-class neurosurgeon, June is used to dealing with high-pressure situations. But when a trio of violent thugs invade her home while her four-year-old nieces are staying over, nap time suddenly takes on a whole new meaning. A thrill-ride from start to finish.

  Story Length: 12,000 words, approx. 46 print pages.

  CHAPTER ONE

  After a U-turn in the dead end street, a car parked at the curb with the wheels angled out. Three men quietly sat inside until a luxury sedan parked at a house down the block. They watched the driver intently as she unbuckled two little girls’ seat belts.

  “Nice car,” the driver said.

  “Nice ass,” said the large man seated in the back seat.

  “And we’re not here f
or either one,” said the front passenger.

  They watched as the woman disabled the home alarm system and led the little girls into the house, kicking the door closed behind them.

  “I keep telling you, we should get that alarm code,” said the man slouched in the back seat. He was the biggest, uncomfortably packed into the small car.

  “It’ll be fine,” the front seat passenger said back authoritatively. “With any luck, the alarm system will be turned off. If not, we go to Plan B.”

  “Which is kick in the door and rush them,” the driver offered, grinning.

  “And we want to avoid that at all costs. That kind of shit would only bring attention to the house,” replied the front seat passenger, the man in charge. “Everything calm and relaxed. And most of all, we need to keep those little brats quiet.”

  “Smack ‘em if they cry. That’ll shut them up,” said the man in back. “The woman too.”

  “Shut up, idiot,” said the front seat passenger. It was clear he was the one in charge. “Try to remember these women ain’t stupid. And the last thing we need is some woman freakin’ out.”

  “Who are they again?” the driver asked.

  “The one that just went in is some classy fashion model. Owns a clothing company also. She’s the one with money.”

  The driver snorted a laugh. “Fashion model? How bright can she be?”

  “She didn’t get rich by being dumb. And the sister is some sort of doctor. She won’t be dumb either.”

  “A lady doctor? Book smart but not street wise.”

  An old brown Toyota parking in the driveway got their attention.

  “That’s the sister, the brats’ aunt. She’s the one that lives there. The mom’s the one with the money.”

  “She’s a doctor? And she drives that old piece of junk? I’m telling you, neither of ‘ems too bright. This is gonna be easy,” the man in the back seat said, rubbing his hands on his pants.