Satoshi took her hands in his. “Your life has meaning. You must have helped thousands of people as a nurse by now. That’s incredibly meaningful. You’re probably the most giving person I know.”
She waved the compliment away. “It’s also … I want this child to remember them by. So that their sacrifice wasn’t in vain. So that a piece of them could live on through him or her.”
“They will live on through this child. We’re going to make sure of that.”
“That’s what I hope. But with you, I don’t know. You say you’ll be there. But it’s always right after this next job. Then right after the next one, then the job after that … and on and on.”
“You’re right. It’s not fair. But it’s going to be different. But this time …” He trailed off.
“What?”
“I don’t think we’re safe with Masa still out there.”
“How so?”
“Masa hasn’t struck back. But he’s not the type to take being hunted without hitting back. He’s bound to try something soon.”
“So this is how it’s going to be,” Hisoka said, more as a statement than a question. “Me and your child left to fend for ourselves while you get sent off on one errand after another?”
He shook his head. “It’s not going to be like that much longer.”
“You say that now, but then something comes up and—”
“It’s not going to be like that, because after this I’m going legit.”
“Leave the Path? Can you even do that?”
“For you and this baby, I’m willing to.”
“No, I mean, will they even let you go?”
“I’ll talk to Vasili. Last time we spoke, he sounded like he was looking for the door himself, even if he would never admit that. So I don’t think he’ll mind too much if some midlevel soldier just walks away. We could start over. Maybe get out of this city before it sinks entirely.”
Hisoka smiled wanly. “It would be nice to see the sun again.”
“We’ve got some money. Enough to start over, at least. Just the three of us.”
Her eyes brimmed. “I want that. I want to be together. To be a family. I don’t talk about it because I know you don’t like me worrying, but what you do terrifies me. The thought that something could happen to you, and one day you just wouldn’t come back.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere,” Satoshi said, moving in to hug her. They sat there together on the sofa in a tight embrace.
And when he heard the door splinter and crack as it was kicked in, he held her tighter still.
“Police! Everyone freeze!”
And as armed men began to swarm through the opening and surround them, he hugged her closer.
Hisoka tried to twist away in shock, but Satoshi held her tighter. “It’s alright, it’ll be okay.”
There was nothing he could do to stop them now. They were already inside, converging on him. All he could hope to do was to reassure her one last time. So he kissed her on the forehead.
Then he let go of her and leaned back so that when the blows started, she wouldn’t be caught by one by accident. She was already crying. He gave her a smile that he hoped looked brave and reassuring and strong, even though he felt none of those things now. As he started to slowly raise his hands, he was yanked backward to the floor.
He was pinned there by a man who looked vaguely familiar to him. While he was being held on the floor, several other cops began rummaging through the place without asking permission. Hisoka just sat there, frozen in shock and terror.
“Find it?” one of the cops asked another man, who came in from the bedroom.
The man nodded and held up a plastic bag containing a bloody knife. “Right where he said it would be.”
The cop with his knee in Satoshi’s back stood up, then roughly dragged him to his feet. He began handcuffing him.
“Satoshi Ishiyama, you are hereby charged with multiple homicide. You are to be taken to police headquarters for questioning and processing. Do you understand?”
“I don’t know—”
That was as far as Satoshi got before one of the cops punched him hard in the stomach.
Satoshi doubled over and sprawled out on the floor, his hands still cuffed behind him.
“What was that?” the cop jeered. “Any more questions?”
Satoshi remained silent as he was jerked to his feet and hauled away. They began pushing him towards the door. He looked back at Hisoka one last time.
“Don’t worry, baby, everything’s going to be okay.”
“Yeah, but not for you,” growled the cop behind him as he forced him out the door.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Mei left Kabukicho on foot and walked towards Shinjuku Station. She wanted nothing more than to take a scalding hot shower to get the filth of this place (and Yoshii) off her. But she couldn’t just yet. She got on a train headed towards Azabu Juban for one last stop.
She had been doing a lot of research on her father’s options. Or at least, as much as she could in what little free time she had. It didn’t seem like he had a lot of choices. Retired police, firefighters, government officials, and other civil servants had been fighting the loss of their pensions and health care for months now, to no avail.
From what her dad had said, his living expenses wouldn’t be a problem. He had always been a steady saver and frugal spender. But the medical costs just for the diagnosis and doctor’s fees were astronomical. The cost of the actual treatment was simply eye-watering. At first she’d thought it was almost a joke. Then she’d spoken with her dad over the phone, and he’d reassured her that, no, they were quite serious about the prices. She’d always thought you couldn’t put a price on a human life, but apparently the drug manufacturers begged to differ.
Apparently Japan had been sued by several global pharmaceutical companies a few years back for allowing the sale of generic cancer drugs and treatments. Mei didn’t even know it was possible for a company to sue a state. But a few hours of research and a working knowledge of the ISDS mechanism later, she realized it was not just possible, but extremely common. This had effectively barred low-cost cancer treatment options in Japan.
In the end, she wasn’t left with much of a choice. She decided to sell another piece of her soul to buy some more time for her dad. Luckily, she knew someone who dealt in Faustian bargains that might be able to help.
She rode the elevator up to Club Hyperion, marveling at the city spread out before her. She walked right past the queue of clubbers, hearing some angry muttering as she did. She told the doorman she was on the list. He started to protest, but the bouncer recognized her and waved her through. It was the same one who had barred her way when the dead body had been found outside. What a difference a few days could make.
“No Kameko and Jun?” Mei asked after Vasili let her into his office.
“They’re on a job tonight.”
“Nothing too illegal, I hope.”
“Yeah, me too.”
He was answering her in Japanese. That had to be a first.
“Would you care for a drink?”
“No, I should really get back to the station after this.”
“Alright.”
She sat there for a few moments, collecting her thoughts.
“Is there something you wanted to talk about?” Vasili prompted.
“I just … I don’t know anyone that can help me with this. I was hoping, maybe you might know …”
“This should be interesting.”
“My dad has cancer. And he recently lost his pension, so he has no way to pay for treatment.”
Vasili regarded her with seeming indifference, then picked up his phone and began typing on it.
“I don’t know what to do. I’ve looked into the pension matter, and there doesn’t seem to be any chance of getting it reversed.”
“Yes, I’ve heard about that,” Vasili said, still typing on his phone. “They won’t reinstate those pens
ions without an uproar. And right now, no one is holding them accountable. The press in this country is for shit.”
“I … I was wondering, if maybe there’s, you know … another way … to get treatment?”
Vasili didn’t answer, or look up. He just kept typing.
Mei stood up and began pacing. “Sorry, did my plea for sympathy and some fucking help here interrupt an important text conversation?”
“No, you’re fine,” he said, reading the response. “Please continue.”
“Look, never mind. This was a bad idea, so let’s just forget—”
She was interrupted by her phone ringing.
“Go ahead,” Vasili said.
After a few rings, she took out her phone and stared at it. She didn’t recognize the number, but she answered it anyway.
“Detective Kimura, I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure. My name is Madoka.” The voice was silky and smooth, but with a rough edge to it. Mei couldn’t place it as masculine or feminine.
“Did … did Va—”
“Yes, he did. Now listen to me. Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to text you the number of a colleague of mine, she’s a specialist. Make an appointment for your father with her. No charge. When you have her diagnosis in hand, contact me again at this number. We’ll discuss treatment then. Do you understand?”
“I … yes?”
“Glad to hear it. Good day.”
The line went dead.
“Sorry, where were we again?”
Mei cleared her throat. “I was just about to apologize to you. And to thank you.”
“Of course. We take care of our own.”
Mei didn’t respond.
“Sometimes things happen that are outside our control, and we need help,” Vasili said, switching to English. “Personally, I have found that it sometimes helps to put your trust in a higher power.”
Mei smiled at that. “I never pegged you for a believer.”
“In what?”
“In God. Isn’t that what you meant by a higher power?”
“No, I meant me.”
“Oh. Of course. You don’t strike me as the religious type.”
“Eh, I am, in my own way. I know is kind of cliché, but I honestly believe that God never closes door without opening window.”
Mei smiled at that. Despite their differences it was nice to know that there was some common ground between them.
Vasili continued, “So he can sneak back in later to fuck you in ass when you are the least expecting it.”
Mei’s smile curdled on her face, then fell away completely.
“That’s an … interesting belief system you’ve got.”
“It has gotten me far.”
“Yeah, well, I guess someone who spends his whole life out in the shadows would have to be careful.”
“Of course. But you develop intuition. Sixth sense, almost.”
“How so?”
“Like just a minute ago, a colleague of mine who is cop walked into my office and asked me to do something illegal for her. I could have turned her away. Could have been suspicious and said she was just trying to get information, maybe incriminate me. But I didn’t.”
“And why not? Why didn’t you just tell me to fuck off?”
“Like I said, intuition. You see enough pain, you get good at distinguishing when is genuine versus when is just show. Your face told me the truth.”
Mei nodded. “Thanks. I know what you mean. I think both of our jobs probably put us face-to-face with the worst of humanity.”
“Worst of humanity? Or just humanity? I don’t know if there is difference anymore.”
“Yeah. Maybe you’re onto something there. I just came from some shithole fleshpot over in Kabukicho. God, I hate that whole place. It’s all so sleazy that I—”
“Wait, Kabukicho? Where did you go there?”
“Place called Kabuki Lounge. Turns out one of the victims worked there. Spoke to a guy named Yoshii. Colleague of yours, I take it.”
“And you came straight from there to here?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Were you followed?” he asked, growing agitated.
“What? Why would I be?”
“Were. You. Followed?” Vasili clearly enunciated each word, the volume of his voice rising with each one.
“I don’t know. I don’t think so. But I wasn’t looking for a tail.”
Vasili shook his massive head. “You don’t know. Oh, you stupid girl.”
“What?”
“You maybe just killed us. But you don’t know for sure. Some fucking detective.”
“Wait, how did I just—”
Vasili cut her off with a gesture to answer his phone. “Hello? You shouldn’t really be calling me, you … What? Who took him?” Vasili’s eyes grew sharp and focused as they found Mei.
“What?” she mouthed.
“I’m on it,” Vasili said, then hung up. He turned to Mei. “Never mind that now. Is way you can make it up to me. But you’re not going to like it.”
“Christ, what is it?”
“One of my guys was just caught by your people. He was set up to look like he is serial killer.”
“How do I know he isn’t?”
“I can’t tell you where he has been every night. But the night this Russian woman was killed, he was on boat out in Tokyo Bay. Smuggling in the cancer medications your father now needs to survive.”
She had known at some point he would use the leverage she had just given him, but she’d had no idea it would come so quickly.
“Whoever framed him planted enough evidence to convict him,” Vasili continued. “Looks like you could put him away and let the real killer go free. So I guess you have to decide: pin it on him and boost your clearance rate, maybe get nice promotion out of it. Or find the real killer and see justice done.”
Mei’s mind was suddenly racing.
“Well, Detective. What’s it going to be?”
Served Cold
Tokyo Noir - S01 E04
蛇の道は蛇
—Japanese proverb
The Past
Satoshi stood by the curb looking up at the clouds covering the dark sky above. Such nights were increasingly rare now due to the newly started construction on the Barrier. The price of progress, he thought as he heard a vehicle rumbling down the street.
Satoshi was no car expert, but it looked like a classic 1960s-era Cadillac Eldorado, or something of the sort, judging by the enormous, boxy grille and swooping tailfins. It was cherry red, polished to a mirror sheen. Satoshi already expected to see Masa behind the wheel even before he swooped to a stop beside him. Satoshi climbed in.
“What’s up, brother?” Masa said. “You ready for tonight?”
“Always. What are we doing?”
“No idea,” Masa said as he eased the car away from the curb and accelerated. “All I have is the address where we’re meeting the others.”
Satoshi nodded. “Nice ride. Is this an original?”
“Naw, I’m not that lucky. Just a replica.”
“Whose is it?” he asked, almost as an afterthought.
“Doesn’t matter. He won’t be needing it again.”
Satoshi decided not to press the matter.
“So, I heard about what happened at the bar.”
“Look, if you’re pissed that we didn’t invite you, don’t be. I called you, but you never answered that night.”
“That’s not why I bring it up,” Satoshi said. “I heard you and Ozu got into a fight.”
“Oh, that!” Masa said, brightening. “Yeah, you should have seen it. These finance-type fucks—you know, phony tough guys—start talking back. They’re saying—”
“Talking back? So you started it?”
“I think I made a couple cracks at their expense. But they came back over the top.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Anyway, when they left, we followed them out and got into a little fight. No big deal.
”
“Except it is a big deal, because one of those guys landed in the hospital. His buddies are going on about how they got jumped by the yakuza to the police. We gotta keep a low profile after that murder last month. Police are all over us.”
“Don’t worry, man! No one can connect us to it.”
Satoshi shot him a sideways glance.
“Alright, alright. I’ll take it easy. You’re right. Best to be cautious. No more fighting from me.”
“Alright.”
They rode the rest of the way in silence, Masa glancing over periodically at Satoshi, Satoshi staring straight ahead through the windshield.
“GPS says we’re here,” Masa said.
“What, Shinyokohama Stadium?”
“I guess so. All he said was drive around to the back parking lot away from the street.”
Masa glided the big vehicle through the deserted parking lot. Towards the back of the stadium, they saw a circle of vehicles crowded under a streetlight in the middle of the empty lot. Masa pulled up beside them.
The two got out and were met with grunted greetings and head nods by the crew members already assembled.
“Nice ride, Masa!” Ozu called out. He reached into a cooler by his feet and tossed beers to Masa and Satoshi.
“Thanks, man,” Masa said, catching his beer. “No sign of the boss man yet?”
“Said he’s on his way.”
“How you doing, kid?” Kumagai said as Satoshi sidled up next to him.
“Alright, I guess. Kinda wondering what we’re doing here.”
“Osammy wouldn’t say much on the phone,” Yunokawa said. “He just said get the main crew, because he’s got something special for us.”
Uemura smiled. “I think I know what is is, too.”
“You think we’re going to play Osammy Ball?” Masa asked.
“I’d be surprised if we didn’t,” Yunokawa said.
Satoshi noticed Kumagai grimacing before catching himself and looking away. Kumagai saw Satoshi looking at him, “You played before?”
Tokyo Noir: The Complete First Season Page 51
