Red Shark

“Of course,” Scott said. “You’ll do what’s right, I know you will.”

She gave him a questioning look, but he cut it off by putting a fingertip to her chin. “Enough for one night,” he said.

“Thank you.” Her lips brushed his cheek, and he smelled a hint of alcohol on her breath. “I wanted to say that I was very happy you were not…” She touched his bandaged hand. “Injured.” She compressed her lips and searched for the right words. “More severely, I mean… there was Ramos and…”

“I know what you mean. Thanks for your concern.”

Somewhere, footsteps echoed off cold concrete. A car door slammed shut. An engine started. Tires squealed down a ramp.

Fumiko unlocked the car. “I’ll take you back to your hotel.”

The man heard a hiss in his earphone, then the voice of a team member from inside the parking garage. “On their way out.”

A moment later, the man, seated behind the wheel of a cab, its red sign showing In Use, spoke into a hidden throat mike, “Hai. I have them.”

Fumiko swung into Ginza traffic, and the cab fell in behind her car.

29

“Mr. Jacob”

Midnight. The b-r-r-r-ing phone sounded like a submachine gun rattling in his head. Scott got his bearings, picked up the receiver. “Yeah, Scott.”

Silence.

“Who’s this?”

“Did you think I would call?” She was on a cell phone, her voice perfectly clear.

A trip-hammer went off in his chest. “Tracy?”

“Are you alone?”

Scott swung his legs out of bed. “Yes. Where are you? How did you find me?”

“I heard you were in town.”

“No one knew, or was supposed to know. How?…”

“People at the embassy know everything.”

His arrival in Tokyo had been arranged to avoid any contact with United States Embassy personnel. But someone, someone Scott knew, had found out he was there and told Tracy.

“What you mean is, Rick Sterling knows everything,” he said acidly.

“All Rick said was that you were in town and in Class-C quarters. I called every cheap hotel in Tokyo asking for a Mr. Jacob. Really, you should change your cover name.”

“Is that what Rick said?”

“He doesn’t know I’m calling you.”

“I’ll bet. Be careful he doesn’t find out and—”

“Can’t you let it go?”

“Sure.”

Silence.

“What do you want?” he asked. “Are you all right?”

“I don’t want anything.”

“Just want to talk, huh?”

“Maybe.”

“Where are you? I’ll pick you up, we’ll have a drink.”

“I don’t want to.”

“What you mean is you don’t want to see me.”

“Maybe that’s it. Maybe I don’t know.”

“Rick seems to have you confused.”

“I told you, let it go.”

“Sure.”

Another silence.

“How long will you be in Tokyo?”

“Trace, this isn’t a secure phone. And you know I can’t—”

“What, tell me anything? Sure, sure, I know how that works.”

“Maybe you’d better let that one go, too.”

“Sorry.”

“My offer stands.”

“To what, get me in bed with you, fuck my brains out, is that what you want? What’s the matter, no slant-eyed honey to keep you warm tonight?”

“Knock it off. You’re the one who called. What’s it going to be?”

“I told you, I just wanted to talk.”

Scott waited, listening to her soft breathing.

“I suppose you’re okay,” she said.

“A few new bumps, that’s all.”

“Your ship, she’s?…”

“Trace, I’m just a businessman, Mr. Jacob, here on company business, remember?”

At length Tracy said, “I wanted you to know that I’m not coming back to the States, not for a while, anyway.”

Scott’s mouth went dry and his breath caught in his throat. She always had that effect on him, even now, in Tokyo, over a cell phone. “Sure, those military attaché assignments are at least two-year hitches. It’ll give you and Rick plenty of time to see the sights in Japan together. Maybe even learn Japanese.”

“You haven’t changed, have you? You’re still a bastard, you know that, don’t you?”

“So I’ve been told. Do you want to get together tonight or not?”

“No.”

“Then where can I reach you?”

“I have a cell phone.” He copied down the number as she gave it to him.

“Where are you living?”

“Never mind that. Look, I’m sorry to call so late. I shouldn’t have bothered you.”

“Trace, wait.” The call ended. He thought to call her back but decided not to. Wait her out, he told himself. See what she really wants. Better yet, don’t. Don’t risk it. Don’t die twice.

30

JDIH Headquarters

Director Kubota bowed to Scott. “Konnichi wa — Hello.” He smiled without warmth. His aides followed suit. Fumiko, who had arrived separately and slightly out of breath, stood silently to one side. She looked tired and haggard, as if she’d not slept at all last night.