They looked over to the edge of the cordon to see a woman holding up a bag of trash. She wasn’t wearing a respirator or overcoat, just a black tank top and jeans.
“Excuse me, where are you coming from?” Mei asked, walking over.
“Hyperion. I just wanted to throw some trash out. Any way I can get through?”
“No, this is an active crime scene. Were you at the club last night?”
The woman started to look around uneasily. “Yeah. It’s fine, I’ll come back later.”
“Hold on. We found the body of a man we suspect was there last night. Would you mind taking a quick look to see if you recognize him?”
“A lot of people go to the club. And it’s too dark to see much. Plus, I don’t have my respirator or coat, so—”
“Please, it will just take a second.”
Still looking uncomfortable, the woman agreed. Mei lifted the police tape for her to duck under and walked her over. Suzuki had covered the body with a sheet, exposing just the face.
“Do you recognize this man?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I do. He was there last night. I remember because I saw him get into a scuffle with the owner.”
“The owner of the club?” Mei asked. “Big Russian guy, right?”
The girl suddenly went wide-eyed.
“I … I think so. I don’t know, I don’t really know much about him. Look, can I go back up? I just popped out for the trash. I don’t have my respirator or anything …”
“Alright, go get your respirator,” Kentaro said. “But come right back. We need to talk to you about last night.”
Mei stood there looking at the body. Who was he? Someone’s father? Someone’s brother, son, good friend? Someone who had somehow gotten mixed up with the wrong people and paid for it with his life?
As she looked down at the victim’s eyes staring vacantly ahead, the pity she felt for him calcified into anger within her. And now that they had physical evidence and witness testimony placing him in Vasili’s club …
“Wait!” Mei called after the woman. “I’ll come with you. We can do the interview inside. Might be more comfortable that way.”
“What are you doing?” Kentaro hissed.
“Gathering evidence.”
“No, it’s okay! I’ll come back out!” the woman said.
“Goddammit! You can’t just enter his club without a search warrant! You have to follow the proper procedure here!”
“Come on! You know exactly what’s going to happen if we don’t see the inside of that club now! By the time we return, with warrant in hand and thumbs up asses, all we’re gonna find is a spotless scene reeking of bleach. Any video surveillance tapes from last night will be gone, all evidence will be scrubbed, and anything linking this body to that club will be destroyed.”
So saying, Mei began hurrying into the building after the woman. She caught up with her just as the elevator door was opening.
Kentaro followed her to the door of the building, where he took out his phone and frantically began dialing numbers. He had just held the phone up to his head when he saw the elevator doors close around Mei.
A large black SUV came to a stop at a red light in a crowded intersection in Ikebukuro. It sat there with its motor idling silently, until the stillness was pierced by the sound of a cell phone ringing from the front window. In the early-evening dusk, bright lights reflected off its surface, which had been polished to a mirror sheen. Before the light could change to green, the SUV suddenly peeled out, its tires screeching as they gripped the damp concrete for purchase. It swung around two lanes, shooting through traffic back in the direction it had come.
“… and as you can see here, our recent enforcement efforts have cut crime in key areas by …”
As the district commander was giving his presentation, Endo glanced down to see his phone vibrating on the table. He glanced briefly at the text, then stared in wide-eyed shock. He knocked his chair over as he bolted to his feet.
“Excuse me, gentlemen, continue!” he shouted as he was halfway out the door.
To an outsider, the scene would have been almost comical. A massive bouncer blocking a much shorter woman from gaining entrance through the velvet curtains with his hands held up.
“I need to speak to the woman who just came through! She’s a potential witness—”
“You can speak to her outside,” the bouncer said.
“It will just take a second—” Mei said, trying to squeeze by him.
“Warrant.”
As the bouncer said this, he moved to block her path with his body. Both of his hands were held up and outward in the universal I don’t want any trouble, Officer sign used with the police to signal nonviolent resistance.
“It’s not a search, I just need—”
Mei darted the other way. He sidestepped to block.
“Warrant.”
“Would you just—”
Dodge. Intercept.
“Warrant.”
The bouncer looked relieved all of a sudden as Mei heard the elevator open.
“Ma’am, you can take this matter up with the owner.”
Mei turned around to see Vasili and his two assistants arrive. Shit, this was going to get ugly.
“Hello, my name is Va—”
“Vasili Loginovski. Aka The Rock. Proprietor of this club and boss in the Kaisha.”
“Yes, I am the boss of a lot of companies. You have done your homework, Detective Mei Kimura from Homicide. And tell me, how is the investigation into the serial killer going?”
Mei’s breath caught in her throat, but she did her damnedest not to let it show.
“It would be going a lot smoother if you would allow me to take a look around. We have reason to believe the latest victim was at this club last night.”
“Certainly! You have a warrant, I take it?”
“I do not have a warrant, no.”
“Oh, I’m afraid that’s a different story, then. I like to do things by the books. I’m a bit of a stickler for the law.”
“Mr. Loginovski, if you would—”
“Look, I want to help, but you have to understand my reluctance. I’m a small business owner, and cops, they are not always—how should I put this?—so honest? They steal things, plant evidence. You know how it is.”
“I certainly do not. Look, I just want to look around the premises and speak to some of the staff, if I may.”
“You may! With a warrant. Show me a warrant and I will cooperate in any way I can.”
Just then the elevator door dinged open, and Senior Superintendent Endo rushed out. Mei could barely hide her surprise, while Vasili could barely hide his relief.
“I am very sorry about the conduct of my officer,” Endo said, bowing deeply to Vasili. “And I can assure you that this breach of protocol will not be repeated.” Endo seemed to have forgotten something. “Oh, pardon me. My name is Endo, I’m senior superintendent of the Criminal Affairs Bureau.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Vasili said. “Vasili Loginovski, owner of this club. I was just telling your officer that we would be more than happy to respond to any requests. With the proper paperwork, of course.”
Mei knew that this piece of theater was for her benefit. She had noticed the look of recognition that passed between the two men.
“Again, my deepest apologies,” Endo said obsequiously.
“Thank you, Senior Superintendent,” Vasili said. “It’s nice to know that some civil servants still have a sense of professionalism.”
“Let’s go,” Endo growled at Mei.
Mei looked at the heavy black curtains blocking the way into the club as she was ushered out by Endo. She wondered just what he was hiding behind them.
“I’ll see you soon, Detective Kimura,” Vasili called out. “Real soon.”
Chapter Twenty
“Just what the fuck did you think you were doing back there?” Endo snarled.
“My job.”
“Your job? Enteri
ng a private establishment without a warrant is not your job. In fact, it’s against the law.”
“I just went up to debrief a witness. She wasn’t wearing her respirator and felt more comfortable being inside.”
“That still doesn’t make what you did back there legal. Any evidence you gathered that way would be inadmissible in court. Besides, that man is not the target here.”
“Vasili Loginovski? One of the highest-ranking criminals in Tokyo? He’s not a target? Why the fuck not?”
Endo stared at her for a long pause before answering.
“Listen, Detective. There is an order and a process for everything. There is a chain of command at work here, in which you are close to the bottom and I am close to the top. You are not setting the agenda here, I am. And you are showing me that you are incapable of following the orders you have been given. Am I correct in that assumption?”
“No, sir, I am capable of following—”
“Because if that is the case,” Endo continued over her, “I have half a mind to bust your ass down to one of the regional police branches. Maybe see how you like policing the ruins on the outskirts of Fukushima. How does that sound? Let’s see how far your holier-than-thou independent streak works for you while you’re manning the tollbooth outside of the flaming wreckage of the Fukushima plant. Just don’t forget your lead body suit and two million SPF sunscreen while you’re up there.”
Mei remained quiet as Endo fumed and sputtered until his anger had burned itself out.
“I’m going to sleep on this,” Endo said. “Removing you from this case would have negative repercussions for me, personally. But that’s how I’m leaning. I’ll notify you of my decision in the morning.”
“May I say something in my defense, sir?”
“No. Turn in your firearm until further notice.”
Mei gritted her teeth but removed her weapon and slid it across the table.
“Dismissed.”
It was late by the time Mei left the meeting room after getting chewed out by Endo. She made her way to her desk to clear out for the night, only to find Kentaro waiting for her. He did not look pleased, but in her fury, Mei missed this.
“I can’t fucking believe how this place works!” Mei hissed. “Half of these guys are useless and the rest are dirty!”
“What happened?”
Mei slumped into a chair. “He might bust me down to a local division in Fukushima. I’ll know in the morning, I guess.”
“Fucking hell, Kimura. Your job is to build a case, not grind your little personal vendetta. You could have just fucked this case with that hotheaded bullshit.”
Mei was stung by the anger in his voice, but instead of backing down she responded in kind.
“How can you say that? He apologized to him! That rat bastard Endo actually apologized to Vasili! The guy who just had one of our witnesses burned to death.”
Kentaro looked stricken. “Well, if we’re casting blame for that one, I’d say we both deserve a healthy portion of it ourselves.”
“We’re not the ones that lit the match! And even if Vasili didn’t do it himself, he sure as shit engineered it. I mean, the guy is one of the biggest heavies in the city!”
“Until that’s been proven in a court of law, he’s just a civilian. And without a warrant, you just trespassed on him.”
“Goddammit, Kentaro, whose side are you on?”
He regarded her coolly. “The law. I’m on the side of the law. Where the fuck do you stand?”
Mei trudged up the stairs to her apartment. Her anger had burned out, leaving her with a sick emptiness in the pit of her stomach. Her job was everything to her, and now she might lose that. What would she do then? What if they really did bust her down to a local division? There was no way she would be able to work her way back to Tokyo, not in her lifetime.
These thoughts were tormenting her when she inserted her key into the lock, to the point that the loose tumblers almost didn’t register with her. But as the door swung open, she froze in place. The tumblers had never rattled like that before.
Automatically, she reached for her firearm, only to remember that it had been taken from her earlier tonight. Now she was starting to think that had been done on purpose. She debated whether to call for backup, but if Endo was in on this, then calling for backup wouldn’t help. Fuck it, she thought as she moved into her apartment.
She didn’t get far.
As soon as she was inside and walking down the hall, someone shot out of one of the closets and slammed into her from behind. Mei went sprawling, but was able to twist enough as she fell to land an off-balance blow to her assailant. This had little effect, and soon her attacker was clambering in the narrow entryway to get on top and pin her down. As he did, she saw his face and recognized him as one of Vasili’s cronies, with his goatee and slicked-back hair. Figures.
Before he could get her pinned, she bucked her legs up to throw him off-balance. Then she grabbed his shirt with a free hand and pulled him down hard, smashing the bony part of her forehead into his nose. He rolled off her, grunting and gurgling blood as he went. Other than that, he didn’t make a sound.
She rolled the other direction, getting unsteadily to her feet and crouching down low in her starting jiu-jitsu stance. He sized her up with a quick glance. They feinted and lunged a few times, neither connecting. Then, spotting a weak point, her attacker came in fast and low. She went for a grab, only to have him instantly sidestep her move, grab her wrist, and slam her body into the wall. When she tried to break free, he twisted her wrist. It wasn’t hard, but it was enough to send a bolt of pain radiating throughout her whole arm.
“Hold still,” he said, quickly cuffing one hand and then the other behind her.
“Shit!” she hissed.
He didn’t say anything. He just marched her down the hallway and into the kitchen. The first thing Mei saw was Vasili’s other assistant leaning against the wall in the corner. She had her arms folded against her chest and a twisted grin on her face.
The next thing Mei saw was Vasili’s hulking mass sitting behind her kitchen table. He eyed her impassively before motioning for her to sit down at her own table.
“Please!” he said amiably.
Chapter Twenty-One
“… but really, aside from getting shot at, it’s not such a bad gig. I’ve been driving for Yamata Security now for about eight years, and I’ve only been attacked three times. Or actually, my bagmen were attacked two times, only once for me in the vehicle. Dumb fuckers must not have known we can electrify these bad boys. Let me tell you something, you have no idea what that much electricity can do to a human body. Let’s just say it put me off barbecue for a while! And that’s saying something, because my wife makes the best …”
Hino glanced over at his driver for the night and sighed to himself. His earpiece crackled to life.
“Hey, Hino, think you can turn the speaker off back here? Tired of listening to this guy.”
“What’d Tomioka want back there?” asked the driver. He wasn’t wearing an earpiece of his own.
“Said he can’t hear you that well. Wanted me to turn the volume up for him.” Hino gave the knob a crank.
“You absolute dick,” Tomioka said in his ear.
“Now my brother-in-law works on the Barrier, and let me tell you, those guys have it rough. You think the fog is bad here in the city? You should see it out there! He says that sometimes they’re pouring concrete and can’t even see five feet in front of them. You know, because most of the heavy industry is out that way, the ones pumping this shit into the air. He told me about this one guy who got turned around in the fog and actually fell into the mold while they were pouring a foundation. At least that’s what they think happened, never found the guy …”
Hino started to tune him out again. God, this guy could talk. He almost hadn’t wanted to take this job, but they were paying time and a half plus a hazard bonus for a single drop-off. What could go wrong?
H
e tuned into the driver for a bit to make sure he wasn’t missing anything important, but then quickly tuned out again. Now the guy was going on about the politics of the Barrier, and Hino heard enough uninformed opinions on that every time he went drinking.
Instead, he turned his attention out the window towards the highway. It was largely deserted at this time of night, with only a few other cars here and there. The only other thing out there to break the monotony was the streetlamps, which spread a circle of yellow light over the pavement every hundred feet or so.
Just then he caught sight of a tow truck off on the wide berm of the road to the left. The tow truck driver was readying a winch on the back of his vehicle to haul up a clunker. It was gone in an instant as the armored vehicle hurtled by, too fast to get a good look. But there was something about it that bothered him, even if he couldn’t exactly put his finger it.
“Hey! Kid! Hey, Hino! You listening to me?”
“Huh? Sorry, must have drifted off there for a second.”
“I can start my story over, if you need me—”
“In a minute. Did anything seem strange to you about that tow truck back there?”
As soon as the armored vehicle passed, Takeshi scrambled up onto the truck’s flatbed. There he hooked his harness into the carabiners attached to the end of the crane’s arm.
“Go!” he shouted into his headset.
Up front, Johnny put the truck into gear. He began accelerating as fast as he could, abandoning the junker car they had brought as a decoy.
“Smoky, this is the Bandit,” Johnny said into his own headset. “Target is heading your way. Fast.”
“Roger that, Bandit,” Pura said.
Pura put his own truck in gear and pulled onto the expressway about two miles ahead of the armored vehicle. Satoshi sat on the back of the truck cross-legged, mentally preparing himself for the coming battle. He had taken a Dextro-MXE capsule a few minutes back. The effects were already beginning to kick in.
Tokyo Noir: The Complete First Season Page 13
