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"Taken? What do you mean, taken?"
Nick was dressed, getting ready to leave the hospital. Yamamoto stood near the bed, clearly unhappy about what he had to say.
"What I said, Nick. Somebody took her from your room at the hotel. She'd ordered room service. Your wife probably opened the door to her kidnappers. There were signs of a struggle and we found a rag soaked with chloroform. We think they knocked her out and got her out of the hotel in a laundry cart, by way of the service elevator."
"Why? Why would anybody want to kidnap her?"
Yamamoto shrugged. "I don't know. She is wealthy. Perhaps for ransom?"
"You don't believe that any more than I do," Nick said. "This must have something to do with that damn sword."
"You think Nobuyasu is responsible?"
"I think that's a good bet. Kobayashi is out of commission. The rest of the yakuza are busy trying to figure out who's going to take over. They're not going to waste time with us, not now. It has to be Nobuyasu."
"But why?"
"I don't know. We find him, my bet is we find Selena. And before you say anything, I'm not going home without her."
"You have no authority here, Nick-san."
"Then why don't you get me some, Yamamoto-san? Make me a temporary agent or something."
"This is not possible."
"You can make it possible. Look, I know I can't go blundering around looking for her. I need your help. But I can help you."
"How can you help us? You don't speak the language."
"I don't have to speak the language. I know how she thinks. She'll find a way to escape, or help us figure out where she is. She won't give up. Please, Yamamoto-san. I can get help from Director Harker. We have a lot of resources I can bring to the search. Satellite coverage, analysis, more."
"We have our own resources, Nick."
"I don't mean to imply that you don't, but I'm sure there are many demands on them. Why not let us help? We can focus entirely on finding Selena. You can't do that, but we can."
"If you stay, you must follow my instructions. No cowboy tactics, as you Americans like to say."
"No problem. Whatever you want."
Yamamoto considered, made up his mind.
"All right."
"Thank you, Yamamoto-san." Nick gave a short bow. "I need access to your files on Nobuyasu. Is that possible?"
"I'm sorry, I can't give you full access. But if you have specific questions, perhaps they can be answered."
Okay, Nick thought. If that's how you want to play it. Freddie won't have any problem with your files. Probably best if I don't mention that.
"I understand. Where do you think Nobuyasu went after the cannery?"
"We are working on it. Unfortunately, there are many places where he might be. He owns many buildings throughout the city and nearby."
"Can I get a list of those properties?"
"Of course. I can have it to you within an hour."
"Then let's begin. I'll go back to the hotel and bring Director Harker up to speed. Can you have the list brought to me there?"
"I can."
"Then I'd better get going," Nick said.
Half an hour later he was in his room at the hotel. He called Elizabeth and told her what had happened.
"I need help, Director. Yamamoto's a bureaucrat. By the time I get what I need, Selena could be dead."
"What do you want me to do, Nick?"
"I want Freddie to hack into Yamamoto's files."
Stephanie was sitting nearby, listening to the conversation on speaker phone.
"What is it you need, Nick?" she said.
"Yamamoto has files on Nobuyasu he won't show me. I want to know what's in them."
I will be happy to assist, Nick.
"Thanks, Freddie, I knew you would."
"What else do you need?" Elizabeth asked.
"A weapon."
"Nick, you don't have any authority over there."
"So everyone keeps telling me."
"Let Yamamoto handle it."
"I don't trust him. He keeps reminding me about how important Nobuyasu is and how things are different here in Japan. I smell a rat."
"You think he'll protect Nobuyasu at the expense of Selena?"
"Call it a hunch, but that's exactly what I think. I need a weapon."
"Nick..."
"Director, this is Selena we're talking about. Nobuyasu could do anything. You didn't see him over here, like I did. I think he's losing it."
My analysis indicates Yamamoto will not act with sufficient speed to resolve the situation without damage to Selena. There is a ninety-four point two percent chance that a successful conclusion depends upon Nick's intervention.
"I heard that," Nick said.
"All right, Nick," Elizabeth said. "I'll talk to DCI Hood and see if he can get a pistol to you."
"Yamamoto can't know about this."
"Don't worry, Nick," Elizabeth said. "This isn't my first rodeo."