The valet opened the doors of Nathan’s Mercedes. Kate and I slid into the generous backseat, leaving the front passenger seat for Cameron.
Nathan said, “I made reservations at a great Japanese restaurant. Do you still salivate at the mere mention of Japanese food, Cameron?”
“You bet. I’m surprised you remembered.”
“You’re a pretty hard woman to forget. Oops, sorry.” He turned to us, “I’m being a bit inconsiderate. Is that okay with you two? We could go somewhere else if you don’t like that kind of food.”
Well, I happen to love Asian cooking, particularly sushi and tempura. I knew Kate wasn’t quite as enthusiastic, though, because she squeezed my hand when she said, “Fine with me.”
“This restaurant serves something special called a Sampan Boat Dinner. It’s a wonderful sampling of their best dishes all laid out in a huge bamboo basket that looks like a miniature sampan.”
Nathan sounded happy he didn’t have to change the reservation.” It’s really an impressive presentation.”
He maneuvered out of the hotel driveway, pressed the handsfree button built into the car and spoke the name of the restaurant. Dialing beeps sounded on the speaker and a moment later an accented voice answered. Nathan increased
the reservation to four and gave additional requests.
“Okay, we’re set. By the time we get there some hot sake will be waiting for us and dinner will be almost ready to serve. I ordered ahead.”
What a guy. I longed for a man like that and mentally lamented the fact again that he was Cami’s Nathan. Well, she did say she wasn’t interested in him. Maybe—
“Here we are. I hope you brought voracious appetites with you. This will be a feast, and their sake is excellent.”
A potpourri of enticing aromas wafted through the beautifully designed restaurant. From the visiting royalty treatment the host lavished on Nathan, I got the impression he ate there often. He seated us in a section toward the rear of the restaurant set off by shoji screens for privacy. The floor was natural maple. Rattan chairs surrounded a large teak table, their red seat cushions emblazoned with gold Japanese motifs. Colorful illuminated paper lanterns of varying sizes hung from the ceiling casting a soft light.
I wondered whether he had chosen this place to reignite the fire with Cami, then pushed the thought from my mind. Was it my imagination, or was he looking more at me than her? I allowed myself a short flight of fantasy, snapping back to reality when the waiter, clad in a white karate ghi-like outfit with a colorful sash said, “Feast is ready, Mr. Hartman”
My mouth watered while the waiter took his time placing a beautiful square blue plate with a white dragonfly design, maple chopsticks and traditional silverware in front of each of us. He turned back to his trolley, lifted a huge sampan-shaped basket and described everything on it with theatrical ceremony as he carefully positioned it in the middle of the table.
“We black belts of delicious food.” He laughed at his own comment and served each of us selections from the basket. Then he smiled exposing a mouthful of ivory-colored teeth and said to Nathan, “Now I leave you with beautiful women. I not disturb to serve more.” He bowed out of the space.
We raised our sake glasses and clinked.
Cami said, “To what we are about to reveal.”
We sipped sake and sampled the food, trying not to smack our lips. Cami took the lead.
“Nathan, I know you were probably expecting something else from this evening, but we need your help and I think after you hear what we have to say you won’t be able to resist joining us.”
“Joining you in what?”
Without preamble or fanfare, Cami said, “Capturing some crooks who are embezzling millions from the government.”
“That’s a pretty big accusation, isn’t it?” He looked intrigued. “My mother told me you were doing something government-related. Am I remembering correctly when I say the Federal Association of Correctional Reform?”
“Yes, and that’s what this is all about. The prison system is being ripped off royally, to the tune of about $38,000,000 so far.”
Nathan looked stunned. “What? Look, before I even listen to more, tell me you have some concrete proof of this. That this accusation isn’t just something you suspect.”
Kate chimed in. “Oh, we have proof alright. Lots of it, and its back in my hotel room. We stumbled into this thing by accident because our commissions for furniture sales were being messed with and we were hopping mad.”
I added. “I’m the controller for Correctional Resource Services, the new marketing arm for FACR. We’re pretty sure the CEO Bruce Payton is involved.”
A grimace shaded Nathan’s face. “That ass?”
Cami said, “Good description.” She was about to say more when I put my finger to my lips.
“I don’t think we should discuss this here.” I indicated the shoji screens. “Even though this seems pretty private, sound travels. We’d better wait until we go back to the hotel. Then we can show you plenty to back up what we’re saying.”
He nodded. “Good suggestion. If you have solid evidence, this could be pretty explosive. Let’s enjoy the meal, then you can lay it on me.”
Cami had been right. All he needed was the hint of something to investigate and he was interested. I did admire the fact that he reserved more comment until he evaluated what we had to show him.
I flashed a smile and took the last sip of sake in my glass, then lifted it toward him, indicating I would like a refill from the decanter on the table. He picked it up and I caught that hint of electricity again.