“This attempt to make the Watanabes legitimate would likely end in Agent Ripley’s death?” Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda asked his Justice Minister, Kunio Hatoyama.

“I think you are right, Prime Minister-san.”

“You do remember what Fukushiro Nukaga is asking of me?”

“Yes, Prime Minister-san, I do.”

“If Agent Ripley died doing the Swan Song work, do you think that would satisfy him?”

Synopsis- Chuck gets to meet Hiromi’s parents for the first time and preparations continue to be made for a renewed Operation Swan Song

Thank you to Puddin for all her help preparing this story chapter for publication. Also a note of thanks to Kimmie and Kris for some help they gave me.
 

~*~
 
Japanese Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama was in his own chambers, looking out over the Tokyo skyline and on the phone with FBI Director Robert Mueller. “I will have an interview with the Prime Minister this afternoon in order to discuss Swan Song with him.”

“Thank you, Minister, for acting so quickly in that important matter but that isn’t why I am calling you. Economist arrived at Pine Gap this morning. He is asking to see Beancounter.”

“That may prove difficult at this moment.”

“Why is that, Minister?”

“There have been some... irregularities... in her situation, and we may have to move her from her present location very soon.”
 

~*~
 
Over an hour had passed since Prison Guard Sayo Seo had been taken to a small detention room and told to remain there. She had no idea what was happening, but she figured it wasn’t good, because she’d heard them lock the door behind them when two guards she’d never seen before left her sitting there, with one shabby metal table bolted to the floor and an equally-shabby metal stool bolted to the floor behind it as her only companions.

Sayo was nervously pacing when she heard the metallic sound of the bolt sliding back and Deputy Warden Kanzaburo Numajiri and another prison guard came into the room. She’d never seen this guard either.

“Please sit down, Seo-san.”

“Why am I here?” Sayo asked as she took a seat. The others remained standing by the door.

“A very serious matter has come to our attention,” Kanzaburo said.

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “I don’t know what it is.”

“You were one of the guards in charge of Solitary B today.”

“Yes, I was. Today was like any other day for me till I was taken here.”

“Have you ever spoken to the inmate in Solitary B?”

“Of course I have. It’s part of my job, but the only things I ever say to her is ‘Here is your food’ or ‘It is time for your shower’ and other things like that.”

Kanzaburo held up a piece of paper so Sayo could read it. “Why was this found on the Prisoner’s food tray this morning?”

The note said: ‘You will be well rewarded for helping me, Seo-san.’

Sayo shook her head violently. “That bitch! I don’t know, believe me…..”

“How would the prisoner know your name, Seo-san?” Kanzaburo asked.

“I do not know. She must have overheard it being said by one of the other guards. It’s not as if we’d been ordered to secrecy and perpetual silence.”

At this time, Japanese officials weren’t sure if the note was legitimate or an attempt to frame Sayo Seo as part of some larger scheme. As a precaution, preparations were already under way to move Hiromi Sato to another maximum security location.
 

~*~
 
In Solitary B, Hiromi Sato was silently laughing at the incident she had staged that morning. She and Sayo Seo had never once had a non-prison-related conversation, but she’d made it look as if they were co-conspirators. The note was simply a trick that she’d played on the stupid prison officials, to test the limits of her power, and to reshuffle the situation in hopes that any change might expose new vulnerabilities which she could then exploit. It was working, she knew, because Sayo Seo was absent from her usual duties, and there had been a flurry of activity all morning, with guards running up and down the corridor outside her cell door, and people peering into her cell through the narrow slot in the door every few minutes.

Hiromi thought that a move might give her an opening for a possible escape, or at worst a new location might have people with Yakuza ties at it. One of them would recognize Hiromi and report it to whichever gang they were affiliated with. If that happened, Hiromi’s illegal jailing might become public knowledge.

‘One day my tormentors will be in jail — or dead — and I will be free,’ she thought to herself.
 

~*~
 
Chuck was talking with Midori and Stuart Slater. He was trying hard to make up for his recent abandonment of their daughter. “I love your daughter very much, Mr. and Mrs. Slater. She is the best thing that ever happened to me.” He paused for a second, glancing toward Hiromi, who stood beside him. “I admit what I did the last few days was probably wrong. What Hiromi and Agent Tanaka explained to me last Saturday and Sunday had me both confused and scared. I realize now I should have stayed with her and talked out the problems I was having with what she’d finally disclosed.”

“Chuck and I had a good talk this morning,” Hiromi said. She, her parents, Chuck, and Gabrielle were all having lunch together in the cafeteria.

“Will you be going back to Japan with Rebecca?” A still skeptical Stuart Slater asked.

“Yes, Sir, I will be going back with your daughter to Japan. She is my wife and I’m willing to face the same dangers she is, since she insists upon going through with this dangerous scheme of hers.”

“Rebecca says you….” Midori had just started speaking when she was interrupted by Hiromi.

“Gabby, Mom, Dad,” she said. “I know you like the name Rebecca, but I’m going into a situation where I have to be Hiromi twenty-four/seven, and having several names in circulation may get us all killed if Chuck, or Gabby, or anyone, slips up, even for an instant. If someone on the street, a perfect stranger talking to someone else, calls out ‘Rebecca!’ and I react, or anyone around me reacts, for whom the name ought to have as little meaning as ‘Aloysius,’ I could be killed. I think we all need to settle on Hiromi for a while, and let Rebecca stay behind the veil for a while. Let’s sort that out later. We may need an alias then, anyway, so let’s keep Rebecca as a special treat for later, after we’ve all been good and survived.”

“Hiromi is right,” Stuart said categorically.

Chuck then spoke up. “Can I still use my pet names for you, my little sports car?”

Hiromi blushed in response to what Chuck had just said. “Yes, I don’t think we have to worry about someone calling out that on a Yokohama street, and there are many people in Japan who’ve probably overheard you say it. It’s not as if it’s ever been a real secret.” She glared at him for an instant, to let him know that she wasn’t all that pleased to have a bedroom name bandied about as if it had no private meaning, especially to her parents.

He looked a little guilty, once he’d realized what she was on about.

‘Good!’ she thought to herself. ‘Silly man.’

Midori saw the use of pet names by Chuck as a part of a healthy marriage, and she’d noticed the little by-play between them and guessed its hidden meaning. “Your father and I also use pet names when talking to each other, Hiromi.”

Hiromi rolled her eyes as the men talked on.

Stuart had a question for Chuck. “You’re some type of stockbroker?”

“I’m a currency trader at the bank Hiromi runs, Sir. Currency arbitrage isn’t quite like the stock market, because we deal in government notes and specie, and rarely have either in hand. It’s all electronic these days.”

“Chuck, please feel free to call me and Stuart Mom and Dad if you would like. As her husband, you are part of our family.”

“Yes... Mom, I’ll try to do that from now on. You’ll understand, I’m sure, that I didn’t know either of you existed until a few days ago.”

“Do you speak Japanese?” Midori asked.

“I try, Mom,” Chuck said in Japanese. “It’s five years since I began living in the country full-time and I’m still in need of improvement. Almost all my trading is done in English, but my mates and I do go out to lunch from time to time, and I have to interact with shopkeepers and the like almost every day, so I’ve picked up quite a bit of the lingo.”

“Your Japanese is not bad, Charles,” Midori replied.

Stuart had a question. “What do you propose doing for a job after Hiromi’s mission is over?”

“Well, I suppose that I could continue at my current job for a while, but Hiromi and I eventually want to live on a cattle or sheep farm, or a combination of the two, when the baby is born.”

“With horses too,” Hiromi added.

“Do you have any experience with farming?” Stuart asked.

“Yes... Dad, I do. After my own father died, I lived on my Uncle Harry’s farm. I was already a teenager by then, and my Uncle gave me a lot of responsibility. I suppose I got my start in commodities trading by handling the business end of his farm after a year or two helping him at it.”

“Do you like that idea, Hiromi?” Midori asked.

“Yes, Mom, I do. I think it would be a great place to raise a family. Uncle Harry and his wife Zeny have five children and a sixth on the way. They are all very happy.”

Other than Gabrielle, who had just a tiny bit of her lunch left, Hiromi was the only one still eating. She was taking time with the soup she had gotten for lunch. Her stomach was still feeling a little queasy due to morning sickness.

Midori and Stuart were both thinking the same thing but didn’t know it. A farm in Australia was a long way from their home in Darrington Washington

Something important suddenly popped back into Hiromi’s mind. “Gabby, there are a couple of things we need to go over. Mom, Dad, can you excuse Gabby and I?”

“You can stay here and talk about it if you want, Hiromi,” Midori said.

“What is it we need to discuss?” Gabrielle asked.

“A couple of things, Gabby, both of which involve Chuck. Could you arrange for him to be seen by a doctor? Chuck suffers from bad headaches far too often and I’m concerned about it. I should have said something earlier, but I’ve been a little scatterbrained lately.”

“I can do that, Hiromi. What else do you need?”

“When I spoke to Ryuku yesterday she asked if I had any photos of our supposed vacation down here. Can Chuck and I go into Alice late this afternoon and evening in order to take care of that? We’ll need to haul along some changes of clothes, and probably spend some time at it so we have different times of day and situations shown. It has to look as if we’d been at the B&B, and poking around here for days. We probably need some pictures with Chuck’s mum as well. You know the drill.”

Gabrielle nodded her head. “I can arrange that also, but we’ll need some shots with the sun high in the sky as well, so we’ll have to get started sooner than I’d planned. If everyone will excuse me, I’ve got work to do.”

“Thank you, Gabrielle,” Chuck said.
 

~*~
 
Joji Sato, an aide to Keiji Watanabe, was surrounded by four Watanabe Yakuza only moments after he parked his car in the Negishi Bay Apartments parking garage.

“What is this?” Joji protested as one of the Yakuzas grabbed him by the arm. “You cannot do this to me.”

“You will be wise not to cause us any trouble, Joji-san,” Yora Rakatuji said as one of his assistants frisked Joji. Two knives were found on him. “Now I have somewhere to show you.”

Joji was shown to a basement room by Yora and the three other Yakuzas helping him. On the way there, they passed close to the apartment house’s receiving area where Janitor Fumahiro Suzuki was getting ready to make a cardboard bale.

“Why did you bring me here?” Joji asked before he was shoved head first into the vacant room to land sprawling on the dirty concrete floor. Before he could get himself up, two Yakuzas lifted Joji up off the ground and forced him to sit down in a heavy wooden chair with wide arm rests.

“Take everything out of your pockets, Joji-san,” Yora said.

“What if I refuse?”

“Then I will have to kill you this very instant. Empty your pockets!”

Joji did as he was told. He took everything out of his pockets and put them on the chair’s left arm rest.

One of Yora’s assistants put the belongings in a bag. He then went back to standing alongside his boss.

“You will regret what you are doing to me,” Joji said as his arms and feet were then put into crude restraints. “The Oyabun will punish you all.”

“The Oyabun is the one who tell us to bring you here, Joji-san. Now be quiet. If you make noise, Ryozo-san will begin knocking out your teeth.” Yora told Joji as Ryozo Imada removed the man’s Rolex wristwatch.

“Don’t take that, it belongs to me.”

Yora made no reply to Joji’s plea.

Joji was left alone in the room a few moments later. He didn’t make any noise but instead fought against his restraints in order to free himself. They’d used duct tape and plastic tie wraps, but had obviously done this before, because nothing he tried was working.
 

~*~
 
Gabrielle was on the phone with Dr. Cynthia Fuller. She had been one of the two doctors to examine Hiromi Sato.

“Doctor, can you come out to Pine Gap to see another patient today?”

“Yes, Agent Tanaka, I can. What time do you need me?”

“Right away, Doctor, if you can. What I’m asking is very high priority. The patient is the husband of the woman you examined on Monday night.”

Cynthia Fuller sometimes worked with the Australian Federal Police. Their requests were very infrequent, but almost always very urgent. She was accustomed to dropping her regular workload in order to see a special patient.

“I can see this patient,” Cynthia said. Her current medical practice was gynecology but she had practiced internal medicine in the past. “I can be ready to come to Pine Gap in one hour. Can somebody come here to pick me up?”

“Yes, Doctor, I will have a plain clothes officer at your office in one hour.” After she was through talking to Dr. Fuller, Gabrielle called Superintendant Vincent Carey next.

“Agent Ripley and her husband need to go into Alice Springs early this afternoon to work on her legend. We’ll probably need at least a handful of ‘tourists’ for some of the establishing photographs. Can you help me arrange this, Superintendant?”

“Of course I can, Agent Tanaka. What is it exactly that you are asking the AFP to do?”
 

~*~
 
Chuck was continuing to talk with the Slaters. He was working hard to make a good impression on them.

“I love your daughter very much. She and the baby mean the world to me. I acted foolishly the last few days, but it won’t happen again.” He halted suddenly, unsure of exactly what to say, but then continued, “Hiromi is a very brave woman, and this Swan Song thing is very important to her. She needs me to be brave for her.”

“Only fools and small children have no fears, Chuck. I served in Vietnam, and there were many times I was scared,” Stuart Slater said.

Hiromi listened quietly to the conversation as she finished eating lunch. A quick glance at her wristwatch told her she still had over thirty minutes left before she would have to go back to the debriefing room.

“Dad, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid for Hiromi and our baby. It’s dangerous right now in Yokohama, but as I said, I’m going to be brave for my family.”

To Hiromi’s satisfaction, both of her parents were looking a little bit relieved. She wanted them to accept Chuck and approve of her marriage to him, and this meeting seemed to be a good first step.

Hiromi felt her father was the tougher sell for Chuck. Swan Song would be a test of Chuck’s mettle, and when the couple successfully finished the operation, her husband would have proved himself to Stuart Slater.

“Hiromi means the world to her mother and I. We’ve lost two children over the last two years plus a son-in-law and an unborn grandchild.”

“I know, Dad. Hiromi told me all about that. I’m willing to do anything to make sure she and the baby make it through the next few years and that you’ll be able to see them both when Swan Song is completed.”
 

~*~
 
Robert Mueller had just received an update from Gabrielle on the latest Swan Song arrangements. “Good work, Agent Tanaka. The lack of photographs and souvenirs was an oversight. You might have someone pick up an assortment of holiday tchotchkes for them to hand out when they get back to Japan, if you haven’t thought of that already.”

“Thank you, Director, but I have. As I am taking overall command of Swan Song, I think the committee needs a new FBI agent assigned to it. I would delegate some of my old responsibilities to him or her.”

Robert continued to like the way Gabrielle was thinking so far as Swan Song was going. The FBI Director agreed with her that another FBI agent was needed. “Agent Tanaka, how well do you know Agent Damien Fields?”

“Not too well, Sir. I had never worked with him before he came to Pine Gap last weekend. Agent Fields was at the meeting I chaired this morning.”

Gabrielle remembered Damien very well. First because his appearance reminded her of Reni Santoni, the actor who played Inspector Callahan aka Clint Eastwood’s partner in the original Dirty Harry movie.

Secondly, it was Damien who had proposed the new Operation Swan Song recognition code. Poughkeepsie and Peoria were out, Dionne Warwick and Jimmy Buffet was in.

“What do you think of Fields?”

“My first impression was good, Director. He seemed bright and helpful, which is always an advantage.Will he be assigned to Swan Song?”

“Yes, Agent Tanaka, Fields will be assigned to Swan Song unless you have someone else in mind.”

“No, Sir, I’m more than fine with Agent Fields becoming a part of Swan Song.”
 

~*~
 
Hiromi took another glance at her wristwatch. “Mom, Dad, my debriefing is supposed to start again soon. If you will excuse me, I want to freshen up first.”

Chuck had something to say as everybody got to their feet. “Mom, Dad, would you like to go into Alice with us later?”

“I don’t think Mom and Dad can come with us,” Hiromi said. “We have a lot to do that they can’t be a part of. They might be able to meet up with us in town later, but they’re not really supposed to be here, if you think about it.”

“Oh, righty-o then. I’m new to all this spy stuff. That would be all right too. Do you want to do that?” Chuck asked them. “I reckon we can’t roam around the town, but maybe we could stop and say hello to Mum?” He looked at Hiromi to make sure.

She nodded, not entirely happy about it, but knew she had to reconcile all the parties to this little passion play, and impress upon them all the need for secrecy. And there’d have to be photos of all of them together in any case.

Stuart answered him. “Yes, we can do that. There’s a bus going into Alice at 1:30. Your mother and I could just hang around till you and Chuck showed up.”

Hiromi nodded her head. “Yes, Dad, we might be able to do that but I’d better check with Gabrielle first. We’ve got to be careful when it comes to our security.”

Less than five minutes later, Hiromi and Chuck were in their room. The first thing Hiromi did was go use the bathroom.

“How did I do with your parents? Chuck asked from the other side of the bathroom door as Hiromi conducted some business on the toilet.

“You did pretty good, but please keep talking to Mom and Dad, Chuck. My parents mean almost as much to me as you do,” Hiromi said as she finished using the toilet.

Chuck came into the bathroom after a decent interval. Like many Japanese, Hiromi was very uncomfortable about certain bathroom odors, so he made sure to wait for the fan to have a chance to clear the air. “I know that, Kimi-chan. How is your stomach feeling now?”

“It’s not too bad. I’m told morning sickness comes and goes.”

Chuck smiled. “I think doctors say morning sickness is a good sign for a pregnant mother.”

Hiromi washed her hands, brushed her teeth, and then checked her appearance and makeup. Chuck brushed his teeth only.

“Did I say how smashing you look today?” Chuck asked as Hiromi finished fixing her hair.

Hiromi felt warm and tingly again. If they only had more time, she would have taken Chuck for a ride right then. “Only twice, but don’t stop.”

“I won’t, Kimi-chan,” Chuck said, as he gently spun Hiromi around to face him. “I love you so much.”

Chuck and Hiromi then shared a long kiss. When it was finished, Hiromi hugged her husband as tight as she could.

“Thank you for loving me, Chuck, and I love you so very much. Tonight I will show you how great my love is.”

Chuck gently put his right hand on Hiromi’s abdomen. “You are already doing that for me, my little sports car.”
 

~*~
 
Gabrielle and the AFP gave their consent to the Slaters meeting with Hiromi and Chuck in Alice, as long as they knew they’d have to be discreet when they were in public. They had never been seen all together before, so any interaction had to be very casual, as if they’d just met walking down the street in Alice Springs as tourists. Hiromi warned her parents they wouldn’t be able to do this again till Swan Song was over.

“Mom, Dad, I’m leaving for Washington D.C. in a few hours. I won’t see you again for a while but I’ll be in touch,” Gabrielle said to Midori and Stuart.

Gabrielle and Midori shared a hug. “We understand, Gabrielle. Stuart and I will be forever grateful for you arranging us this time with Hiromi and for assisting us with Shannon.”

Stuart also said goodbye to Gabrielle. “Gabrielle, we feel much more confident about Swan Song with you in charge. If we can be of any help, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I won’t, Dad.” Gabrielle had already told the Slaters that she too would be getting treated by Dr. Wagner, to ensure all their safeties now that they’d learned that her cover had been blown in Hong Kong.

Stuart and Midori took the afternoon Pine Gap bus into Alice Springs, well after Chuck and Hiromi had left for their photos. On the advice of Chuck, they would go visit Olive Pink Botanic Gardens and Desert Park, posing as American tourists before rendezvousing with their daughter and her husband.

Dr. Fuller arrived at Pine Gap at 2 p.m. She promptly gave Chuck a thorough physical which showed his blood pressure to be high. The doctor issued him a prescription for blood pressure medication and ordered Chuck have a CT Scan of the brain. This test was scheduled for eight o’clock Wednesday night at an Alice Springs hospital.
 

~*~
 
Gabrielle had a get-to-know-you meeting with Damien Fields. “Do you really speak eleven languages?”

“Kind of, Inspector Tanaka. My mother was an interpreter at the United Nations. I inherited her ability at languages but had a little bit of help when growing up too. Many of my friends were children of diplomats.

Damien was modest when talking about his language skills with Gabrielle. In addition to English, he spoke excellent Spanish, Italian, French, Greek, German, Russian, and Farsi. Damien’s knowledge of Farsi came from his mother and maternal grandmother. The maternal side of his family was mostly of Persian ancestry, but had left after the Islamic Revolution, because they were Zoroastrians, and had been persecuted as a religious minority despite their supposed protection under Islamic and Iranian law as ‘People of the Book.’ Although they were the oldest and original religious community in Iran, dating back to ancient Persia, at least a thousand years or more before Islam and Christianity had come upon the scene, less than half of their community were still living in Iran, the rest having fled to India and the West.

There were another six languages that Damien spoke to varying degrees. They were Turkish, Arabic, Hindi, Tagalog, Pashto, and Japanese.

“Your Japanese will be more than useful when you are working in Yokohama.” Gabrielle had just finished testing Damien’s proficiency in the language. She rated it as very good. “Agent Fields, I hope you don’t mind me asking you this question, but why did you go into law enforcement when you’re proficient in so many languages?”

“My father is a former New York City policeman. Dad is now Chief of Security for Lenox Hill Hospital. My paternal grandfather, worked for the Bureau for over thirty years. He was in charge of the lower Manhattan field office for nine years till his retirement in 1994. Grandpa and Grandma now live in Broward County, Florida, about thirty miles north of Miami.”

“My wife Farah and I have been married just under two years. We’re expecting our first child next February.”

“Congratulations to you and Farah.”

“Thank you, Inspector Tanaka.”

“You have a very interesting background, Agent Fields.”

“Will you be working in Yokohama also, Inspector Tanaka? Or will you be working out of somewhere in states?”

Damien was already treating Gabrielle as if she had been promoted, she thought. The Civil Service rumor mill was evidently very efficient, even here in the Australian Outback. She didn’t want to give too much away. “It will depend, Agent Fields. We haven’t settled on where I’ll be based, and of course the Director could assign me other Bureau work to do.”

“I look forward to working with you, Inspector Tanaka.”
 

~*~
 
Probationary Inspector Maurice Gao tried calling his fiancée as soon as he arrived in Hong Kong. Lily had a client and was therefore unable to pick Maurice up as she had intended.

“That is all right, Lily. Are we still going to get together tonight?”

“Of course we will. Please come to my office at six. Love you.”

“I love you too, Lily.”

Maurice took the Airport Express to his Arsenal Street office. Inspector Chang wasn’t in, so he went straight to the personnel department.

“I am aware of the transfer request that has been made, Inspector,” Moy Choi Ming of the Hong Kong Police Department’s personnel department said. “It hasn’t been approved yet.”

“Is there any paperwork I can do now.”

“No, Inspector, we can’t start that till the transfer request is approved.”

Maurice went from personnel to his office. There were two open investigations he had been working on before his taking on Swan Song duties. He began to make arrangements for these cases to be assigned to another Inspector, confident that the approval would be forthcoming. The Chinese government as a whole, and in particular the Hong Kong authorities, liked to demonstrate their close ties with Western law enforcement organizations, to show that they were a law-abiding society with respect for the legal niceties. At the same time, they were shrewd bargainers, and he didn’t doubt that they’d make a tidy profit off his secondment, and they’d be owed some important favors in return, so everyone would be very happy.
 

~*~
 
Dr. Wagner was finished seeing patients shortly before two thirty Japan time. A representative of Seven Layers Labs picked up all the blood samples drawn from the cadet volunteers.

“I will need the results no later than Sunday morning,” Dr. Wagner told the courier.

“We know, Doctor. I assure you that the testing of the blood samples will be treated as high priority.”

All twenty-four DNA samples taken by Dr. Wagner were stored equally in the temperature -controlled containers she had brought with her to Otsu. Two very kind cadets placed them on the helicopter for her.

A private plane was waiting for Dr. Wagner when her helicopter arrived at Osaka Airport. She was surprised to see another passenger on board the Gulfstream jet.

“Are you going to Fort Detrick also?” Dr. Wagner asked.

“Yes, Ma’am, I am,” First Lieutenant DW Conners replied.

Shortly after her plane took off from Osaka, Dr. Wagner took some time to check her email. There were two important Swan Song messages waiting for her. The first message contained the test results on the blood drawn from Hiromi on Sunday night. Dr. Wagner only needed two minutes to determine the results were all normal. Unless her pap smear contained some irregularity, Agent Ripley would be declared fit for further Swan Song work.

The second email was from Gabrielle Tanaka. After reading the message, Dr. Wagner wrote a short email back to the FBI Agent.

----

Agent Tanaka,

Thank you for notifying me about this. I look forward to helping Inspector Gao as well as yourself.

Sincerely,

Dr. Heidi Wagner

----

Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama got his audience with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at about the same time Dr. Wagner took off from Osaka. An hour had been set aside for the meeting and other than the politicians, no one else was present with the exception of a female stenographer and note taker.

The first thing Kunio did was bring the Prime Minister up to speed on Swan Song. Yasuo became troubled rather quickly. “We are a sovereign state, Kunio-san. The Americans cannot tell us what to do on our own soil.”

“With all due respect, Prime Minister, I think the FBI Director is correct. We cannot prosecute Tonichi Ogawa’s murderer. His lawyer threatens us with scandal if we do.”

Before meeting with his Justice Minister, Yasuo had read a short report drafted by Kazu Ippitsusai on the matter of Emiko Takagi’s murder. “Who authorized that?”

“It was authorized by the Swan Song committee which was led by FBI Deputy Director Grant Williamson at the time. Williamson has been relieved of his command, but our own representatives agreed to the murder at the time. If we prosecute the American, it’s quite likely that we’d wind up having to prosecute several important police and government officials as well.”

“Who did the murder?”

“The murder was committed by an American.”

“Was it the same person responsible for killing Nukaga-san’s son-in-law?”

“No, Prime Minister, those crimes were committed by two different persons.”

Yasuo shook his head in frustration. “They murder our citizens and tell us what we are to do in our own country.”

“The Americans are very arrogant, Prime Minister.”

“Yes, they are. What do you recommend we do, Kunio-san?” Before their meeting took place, Both Kunio and Yasuo had been informed that the operation against Keiji Watanabe had been put on hold due to his being moved to a unknown location.

“The Americans are asking that we allow Swan Song to continue. I don’t like it, but I think the other options we have are even worse unless we totally abandon the work that has been done to this date.”

“Hasn’t enough evidence been gathered already to prosecute these criminals?”

“Yes, Prime Minister, we do have adequate evidence but the means we used to acquire it could come under attack.”

“How is that so, Kunio-san?” The Prime Minister had a degree in economics, not the law.

Yasuo Fukuda had come from a political family. His father had also been Japanese Prime Minister. Before entering politics, Fasuo had been a salary man for Maruzen Petroleum.

“The original Yakuza was kidnapped and replaced with a double,” Kunio said as he began a long explanation of the legal obstacles Swan Song faced. “The criminal attorneys could claim their clients had been entrapped, and if we impeach her as a murderess, our troubles multiply. If a prosecution began today I’m afraid the results would be not guilty.”

“We have failed, Kunio-san,” Yasuo said with a shake of his head.

Kunio bowed his head. “If you so request it, Prime Minister, I will resign my position in your Cabinet immediately.”

Yasuo gave an immediate reply to his Justice Minister’s resignation offer. “That is not necessary, Kunio-san. Now I would like you to update me on the rest of Swan Song.”

Kunio spent the next ten minutes telling the Prime Minister what the current status of Swan Song was. “The FBI Director feels if Agent Ripley is allowed to continue her work, the mission can still be a success.”

“How will she do that?”

“Agent Ripley believes strongly that she can change the Watanabe into a legal business enterprise.”

“That is most incredible, Kunio-san. Do you think it is possible?

“Nothing is impossible, Prime Minister-san, but I am not optimistic.”

“This attempt to make the Watanabes legitimate would likely end in Agent Ripley’s death?”

“I think you are right, Prime Minister-san.”

“You do remember what Fukushiro Nukaga is asking of me?”

“Yes, Prime Minister-san, I do.”

“If Agent Ripley died doing the Swan Song work, do you think that would satisfy him?”

“Yes, I do, Prime Minister-san.”

Yasuo thought to himself for almost a minute before speaking again. “I need more time to think this matter over, Kunio-san. Tell the Director for me that he will have a decision by Saturday afternoon.”
 

~*~
 
Joji Sato was still strapped in the chair. Without his watch, he had no idea how much time had passed.

No one had paid a visit to Joji. His cries for help were being totally ignored by the people working in the basement areas of the Negishi Bay apartment building.

For a short time Joji had tried to free himself from the restraints. It was a fruitless effort and only caused him pain and lacerations to his limbs.

Joji’s bladder was growing increasingly full, so he began calling out for help again. He got visitors a few minutes later.

“So you want to pass water, Joji-san,” Yora Rakatuji said as he re-entered the room with three other men. The last of which was carrying two containers marked antifreeze. “I and my associates will help you do just that in just a few moments.”

Nobody had made a move yet, but Joji was already clenching his teeth together. Yora and his men had come to poison him.

Yora saw what Joji was doing. ‘This man is truly a fool if he thinks clenching his teeth will keep me from pouring liquids in his mouth.’

The pouring of liquids into a person’s mouth against their will, is an old but simple means of water torture. If too much water is drank by a man or woman, osmosis occurs, and the tortured person’s cells will explode.

“You may start now,” Yora told two of his men.

The men approached Joji who was still clenching his teeth together. He was then more than a little surprised when the two Yakuzas began pummeling his upper body areas rather than pour the poison in his mouth.

No longer able to keep his teeth clenched, Joji began to scream out in pain. “When the Oyabun hears of this, you will all wish you had never been born.”

“You are sadly mistaken, Sato-san. We have a new Oyabun, and Tiger-san is greatly displeased with you, not me.”

Before coming in the room, Yora had given orders to his two men. They weren’t to kill Joji with their punches and kicks. Just cause him great pain.

“That is enough,” Yora called out. His men immediately stopped using Joji as a punching bag.

Joji was suffering more pain than he had at any time before in his life. Each of his upper body muscles seemed to want to spasm constantly due to the expert blows that had been inflicted on them.

Yora was ready for the next step. “Now Joji-san, tell me who is the Oyabun?”

“It is Watanabe-san,” Joji coughed out his answer.

“That is a most unfortunate answer, Joji-san. We will now have to give you some remedial teaching in loyalty.”

The three men assisting Yora, approached Joji. One of the men forced Joji’s head backwards till the aide was looking up at the room’s ceiling. Another one of the men had a small funnel on him and he tried placing it in Joji Sato’s mouth. Keiji Watanabe’s aide continued to resist.

Joji lost the battle. The funnel was forced into his mouth, through a gap between his upper and lower teeth.

It was time for Yora to go to work. The containers of antifreeze had been placed next to the chair. After taking the cover off one, he picked it up.

“I ask you again, Joji-san. Who is our Oyabun?”

Joji remained defiant. He was going to die no matter what was done to him.

Yora came closer. He held up the jug so Joji could read what the labels read. It was antifreeze, a liquid not meant for either human or animal consumption.

Joji began to weaken. No one wants to die. Everyone wants to live as long as they possibly can.

Yora took the cap off the container. He then lifted it up with the help of one of his men. Joji could see none of this. His vision limited to the room’s ceiling and just a little more.

Joji remained silent but continued trying to dislodge the funnel. The efforts were just as much for naught as his earlier screams had been.

The liquid was now pouring down the funnel and into Joji’s mouth. It was sweet tasting. He thought poison would be bitter.

In fact, antifreeze had a sweet taste to it for many years. This led to many accidental poisonings because people mistook it for some soft drink. American manufacturers of the product eventually modified their product and accidents became much rarer.

Yora stopped pouring the Japanese manufactured antifreeze. “Will you talk now, Joji-san? I can still give you the antidote.”

There was no antidote for antifreeze poisoning. A liver transplant might save a person who drank the product, but the Watanabes didn’t partake in human organ smuggling.

Joji was weakening but the funnel in his mouth made it impossible to say anything. Yora prepared to pour more antifreeze into the mouth of Keiji Watanabe’s aide.

Before Yora could do that, one of his assistants spoke. “I think he wants to say something.”

Yora put down the container. “Are you ready to answer my questions, Joji-san? Nod your head if the answer is yes.”

Joji nodded his head.

“I will have the funnel taken out of your mouth. You will then answer all my questions, and truthfully. If you do so, I will give you the antidote. If not, we will pour more antifreeze. When you die, I will dump your body at the door of the apartment you live in. Your wife will suffer a great shock when she comes home today. Do you understand what I just said?”

Joji nodded his head again. The funnel was immediately taken from his mouth.

“The antidote, give it to me.” Joji was sweating profusely because he was so scared. In addition he had urinated on himself while being beaten up by Yora’s thugs.

“There is time yet for the antidote. First, you will answer my questions.” A ticking clock, even an imaginary one, was one of the surest methods to illicit answers from an otherwise uncooperative person.

“Tiger-san is the Oyabun.”

“That is a good start, Joji-san, but I want to know more. What were the contents of that message you were given today?”

“I do not know.”

“Do not lie to me!”

“I am not lying. Give me the antidote.”

“Tell me about the messages first.”

“Are we talking about just today’s message?”

“No, all messages that involve Watanabe-san.”

“He has been sick. The Oyabun----retired Oyabun, has not been well. I do not have much work to do any longer.”

“But you do work? One of Yora’s men, Ninsei Masudu, then stepped out of the room.

“Yes, I do.”

“Tell me about your most recent work for Watanabe-san.”

“All I have been doing is giving the retired Oyabun updates on what is happening in Yokohama.”

“Like what?”

“I told him about the fire, our other troubles with the Inagawas, some business negotiations Ryoji-san is conducting, things like that.”¨

“And pass messages?”

Joji’s stomach was beginning to feel unwell. Was it due to the poison or his lack of food? He rarely missed a meal and when Joji did, his stomach would get upset. The last thing Joji had eaten was the breakfast prepared for him by his wife. That had taken place many hours earlier.

“Today and Yesterday are the only time I pass a message.”

“Tell me who it was you delivered today’s message to.”

“It was to Ishimoto-san, but I deliver it to Kumo Kawawata before coming here to Negishi Bay.”

“And when did you bring a message to Watanabe-san?” Yora asked as Ninsei Masudu returned to the room.

Ninsei whispered in his taro’s ear. “Tiger-san is on the way.”

“I brought it yesterday,” Joji said in reply to Yora’s last question.

“Was this message given to you by Kumo-san or Ishimoto-san?”

“Ishimoto-san gave it to me. Give me the antidote before I die. I may not be able to answer your questions much longer.”

“We have time, Joji-san. Now did you read the contents of either note?”

“No, I did not.”

“You’re a liar!”

Yora’s thugs came back to Joji’s side. One of them forced his head back till he was again looking at the room’s ceiling.

“I will ask you again. Did you read either of the two notes?

Joji shook his head. “No, I did not.”

Yora again declared Joji a liar. Ninsei began to approach with the funnel and one of the antifreeze containers.

“I will put the funnel in your mouth again, Joji-san. This time you will swallow enough of the antifreeze that no antidote will ever save your life. So I ask you again, what were the contents of the notes you passed between Ishimoto and Watanabe-san?”

Ninsei Masudu positioned the funnel directly over but not in Joji’s mouth. One of Yora’s other assistants began moving the water container up to the edge of the funnel.

“You have to believe me! I did not read either of the notes.”

To Joji, the world seemed to freeze at that precise moment. Nobody was moving or talking and no outside sounds were penetrating the room.

“Joji-san, I believe you when you say you did not read the notes,” Yora said before he waved off his men. “You say you did not read them but I think you know what they were about.”

“I do not know any of the notes’ contents. Ishimoto-san came to me on Monday and asked me to deliver it to Watanabe-san. Can I now have the antidote?”

“First, one more question. Did either Ishimoto or Watanabe-san say anything about what the notes were about?”

“No, no, they do not speak to me. Now I plead with you give me the antidote before it is too late.”

A maniacal grin formed on Yora’s face as he spread his arms wide with his palms open. “Do you see any antidote?”

“You must have an antidote. I just drank antifreeze. It is a poison.”

“That was not antifreeze that you drank, Joji-san, it was only sugar water,” Yora said in a much softer tone of voice than the one he had used for most of the torture session. “Your new Oyabun has shown you mercy. Do not try his patience again, or fail to obey his commands.”

There was sugar water, not antifreeze, in the two containers that had been brought into the room. Yora had wanted Joji to feel sheer terror by his thinking he was being administered a poison and that this would cause him to loosen his tongue. This was precisely what had occurred.

The torture of Joji was an attempt to make him into an informant against Keiji Watanabe and Hideichi Ishimoto. Those threats to Hiromi Sato had to be neutralized

Joji quickly turned incredulous at what Yora had just told him. “So it wasn’t poison that I was made to drink?”

“It was just water with some sweetener and food coloring added to it.”

Dai Hashimoto entered the room. “All of you may go.” Yora and his men all departed instantly.

Joji began to feel frightened again. What man or woman wasn’t scared of Dai Hashimoto? The new Oyabun of the Watanabe Yakuza was a large, powerfully man, but he had a presence also. It allowed him to dominate any place or room he was in.

“I am now Oyabun, Joji-san. If you want to live, you will do as I tell you. Are we in agreement?”

“Yes, Oyabun-san, we are.”

“That is good. From now on I want to know everything either Ishimoto or Watanabe-san asks of you. You are to come straight to me. I do not have to tell you what will happen if you disobey me.”

A Yakuza caught betraying a Oyabun, usually dies a painful death right after capture. Dai was being more subtle. Joji Sato could be useful to him as a double agent, a person to tell him of the treachery of others.

Of course, Joji could tell lies and make up stories. Dai didn’t think this was very likely. The man was too afraid of him and knew his future lie in Dai’s hands.

When Hiromi Sato had returned to Japan and all the inner turmoil the Watanabes were suffering had been dealt with, Dai may yet have Joji killed. Unless he can prove he had some future usefulness but that was unlikely to occur. Joji Sato was a gopher and sycophant. There was no shortage of these types of people.

“You have told my men many things, Joji-san. Have you told them everything?”

“I did say everything, Oyabun-san.”

“Do you know anything of any future plans our former Oyabun may have?”

“No, I do not know anything. Today he told me not to visit again unless he summons me.”

“Has Watanabe-san had any unusual visitors of late?”

“No, his last visitor was Ishimoto-san.” Joji, even while in restraints, was beginning to tremble. Dai was known to be both cruel and ruthless to those who displeased him.

“Was there anyone before that?”

“Yes, a member of the Golden Dragons triad came to visit him. That was several weeks ago.”

“Where did the meeting take place and do you know what was said?”

“The meeting was at Negishi Bay, it was three Sundays ago. I was not present when our Oyabun speak to the triad.”

A triad speaking face-to-face with Keiji Watanabe was definitely unusual. Dai also noted the date. It came before Hiromi Sato’s move to Hong Kong.

“What was the name of this triad?”

“It was…..Qing Li. He is a member of the Golden Dragons.”

Dai knew who Qing Li was. “Yora-san will come in and set you free shortly. Do not forget what I said earlier, Joji-san.”

“I will tell you anything I learn, Oyabun-san.”
 

~*~
 
Dai was out of the room a few seconds later. Akira Sudo and Yora Takaruji were waiting for him. “Yora-san, you may take Joji-san to his apartment.”

“I will do as you say, Oyabun-san.” Yora and his men immediately went back into the room.

“Did Joji-san have anything to tell us?” Akira asked.

“No, Akira-san, we did not learn very much we didn’t know already. Our past Oyabun and Ishimoto-san are conspiring against us, but I don’t know what about.”

“Could it involve Sato-san?” He’d noted that the secret Hong Kong triad meeting had occurred prior to her departure, but he didn’t know whether the Golden Dragons were involved as a courtesy, letting them know about the innocent presence of a high-ranking Yakuza employee in their territory, or to enlist their help in assassinating Hiromi-san.

“It may be, but we do not know for sure.”

“Ryuku says Sato-san is laying low somewhere in Australia.”

“Yes, she is, and I think that is a good strategy for now. Do you have a valid passport, Akira-san?”

“Yes Tiger-san, I do,” Akira said as he and Dai got on a elevator. “Where is it you wish me to travel to? “

“I want you to go Hong Kong for me tomorrow. Our past Oyabun spoke to the Golden Dragons triad recently. I want to know what that conversation was about.”
 

~*~
 
Hiromi’s debriefing was halted so she and Gabrielle could have a quick meeting. “You’re going to be leaving soon?

“Yes, Hiromi, in just about an hour.”

“Thank you for everything, Gabby.” Hiromi and Gabrielle shared a hug and kiss.

“You’re welcome, Hiromi, and I’m very happy for you.”

“Gabby, I’m….”

“Hiromi, I’ve already said it before. I’m happy you’re back with Chuck. He is a very nice man and your place is with him. He is your husband and the father of your baby. I understand completely and I’m not hurt.”

“Thank you, Gabby.”

“When Swan Song is over, maybe the three of us can work something out like you suggested,” Gabrielle said. She didn’t want Hiromi to feel sad in any way because she had gone back to Chuck.

“I mentioned it to Chuck already and he liked the idea and said it would be up to you. Is Chuck going to see Beancounter tomorrow?”

Gabrielle filled Hiromi in on what had happened in Japan earlier that day. “Director Mueller is working on it.”

“Will I see you before I leave for Japan?”

“Yes, Hiromi, or at least I think so. Agent Damien Fields is now part of Swan Song. He’s got my full trust. If you need anything, just get ahold of Damien.”

“All right, Gabby, I will do that. I love you.”

“I love you too, Hiromi, and I’m very happy for you. Don’t ever forget that.” They both reached out to embrace each other spontaneously, not desperate, but in perfect love and trust.
 

~*~
 
Keiji Watanabe’s order to kill Hiromi Sato hadn’t caught shareigashira Hideichi Ishimoto ill-prepared. He had some of his men mapping out possible assassination options since the previous Saturday.

The men, who’d numbered ten originally, were led by Toin Iriye. Toin had started his criminal career as a pickpocket. He was now hoping to become a shareigashira, and the surest path to get that position looked to be one that had Hiromi Sato dying in some fashion or another.

A maximum effort was being put into this attempt on Hiromi Sato’s life. Other attempts had failed either because she had been lucky or not enough resources had been put into the attempt. No human resource or monetary expense would be neglected in this latest effort.

One of the first steps Toin had taken, was to deploy three men to Australia. Two of whom had gone to Sydney, the third to Melbourne. All three had checked themselves into separate hotels that had one thing in common–Hiromi Sato was known to stay there when visiting those cities.

How did Keiji knew that Hiromi had stayed there before because from the first moment she came to live in Kanagawa Prefecture, she had at least one bodyguard assigned to her. As Hiromi rose in power within the Watanabe Yakuza, her bodyguard detail also grew.

Hideichi Ishimoto paid the salaries of Hiromi’s bodyguards. And when Hiromi traveled outside of Yokohama, he also paid the travel-related expenses of her security detail.

So Toin, through Hideichi, had good intelligence as to where Hiromi would stay before departing Australia. When visiting Melbourne, she always stayed at The Langham. For her stays in Sydney, Hiromi frequented one of two Rocks District hotels that were convenient to her Kanagawa Bank office-- The Observatory and the The Four Seasons. Since the previous day Toin had had one man at each of these hotels. All three men had checked in as businessmen and were dressed accordingly.

At noon on Tuesday, Toin’s men took up position in the lobby of the particular hotel they were staying in. They would keep a watch on everyone who checked in and checked out between noon and midnight till Hideichi Ishimoto told them otherwise.

The employees of three target hotels suspected nothing. If a paying guest wanted to spend their whole day sitting in the lobby that was their right.

Besides keeping an eye out for Hiromi Sato, the watchers were also paying close attention to how the hotel employees did their jobs. After one day of watching at The Langham, Jin Nagase called Toin with a request.

“I need a second person to assist me here, Toin-san. It is just impossible for me to do all the duties you have given me. Two persons are needed at least to watch the hotel’s main entrance plus observe how the employees go about their jobs.”

Toin thanked Jin for his hard work and said he would have to check with Ishimoto-san. The Watanabe shareigashira assigned four more Watanabe Yakuza, three men and a woman, to work on the assassination of Hiromi Sato. These newest people were to leave for Australia late on Wednesday evening.

No Australian Federal Police were watching the hotels in Sydney — the city Hiromi planned to exit Australia through — since she hadn’t made hotel reservations yet because of the uncertainty about Swan Song’s future.

On Sunday night, Toin and two of his toughest men had paid a visit to Omar Rafique. He was the Indian born computer programming expert derisively nicknamed ‘The Indian’ by the Watanabes he sometimes worked for.

“Ishimoto-san wants someone to hack into a computer system. Do you know how this is done?”

Omar was always nervous when dealing with the Watanabe Yakuza. The question from Toin immediately put the Software Engineer on guard. “Yes, I do.”

“That is good, because Ishimoto-san has a job for you.” Toin was hoping Omar could find out which Australian hotel Hiromi Sato had reservations for before departing to Australia. Hideichi had learned she was expected to be back in Hong Kong by August 7th or ten days from the day Toin was paying a visit to Omar.

Toin knew Hiromi had gone to Alice Springs, but was making no plans to assassinate her there. He needed more time to put together a plan that wouldn’t fail.

“I do not do that kind of work. It is against the law.”

Toin had expected this response from Omar. Two of his men went around to the other side of the Software Engineer’s desk and forcibly lifted Omar up to his feet.

While this was going on, Toin took out one of the knives he carried on his body at all times. He came over to Omar till the two men were maybe a foot and a half apart.

Toin made a thrusting motion with his knife towards Omar’s privates. “That would be against the law also. Can you do the job for Ishimoto-san that I ask of you?”

Omar, not surprisingly, caved in. “Yes, depending on what the task is.”

“Ishimoto-san wants you to break into the reservations systems of three Australian hotels. You can do that?”

Omar had cracked a few computer systems when he was an undergrad at MIT. He had given up the risky hobby when he started his own computer consulting firm. “Yes, I can do that.”

Toin told his men to release Omar. He then took a hefty envelope out of his jacket pocket. “This has a slip of paper in it with what hotels are to be broken into and what information we are in need of. Once you locate it, you are to contact me at once.”

“I do not know your phone number,” A shaky Omar said as he sat himself down. He took a quick look in the envelope. It had three million yen in it at least, plus Toin’s instructions.

“It is on the paper inside, next to your fee. I will be in contact also.”

Shortly after his talk with Toin ended, Omar went to work on cracking the computer reservations systems of the three hotels he had been told to break into.
 

~*~
 
After hearing the order had been given to kill Hiromi Sato, Toin called Omar on Wednesday to see how his work was progressing.

“I got into the Langham’s reservations system. Mrs. Sato has no reservation there. As for the other hotels, it is not going well.”

“You are an expert, Rafique-san. This should be child’s play for you.”

“Then I suggest you bring in a child and let them try doing the work you request of me. Each of the hotels you asked me to hack into has a sophisticated security system.”

Omar knew more about computer security systems than most people, because that was a type of software he wrote himself. He also knew most of the other Software Engineers who did this type of work, if only by reputation.

The Obsevatory and Four Seasons both had top of the line protection for their reservations systems. Omar had spent over fifteen hours trying to crack them without success.

To prevent detection, Omar had been moving around Kanagawa prefecture with a top of line laptop computer he owned. He visited coffee shops or internet cafes and used the free wireless there to do the assignment he was given.

Omar wasn’t telling Toin everything. There were very expensive applications he could purchase that would make the chances of hacking into the reservations systems much more likely. ‘The Indian’ kept this information to himself. Toin had asked HIM to do the computer hacking.

“Is there anything you need now to do the work I asked you to do?” Toin asked. He knew how to turn the machines on, how to get on the internet to view pornography, and not much else when it came to computers. Omar could keep Toin in a perpetual state of bafflement.

“Yes, there is. I need time and no interruptions.”

Toin got the message. He immediately hung up the phone.

After he was finished talking with Omar, Toin met the Watanabe Yakuza he had delegated the planning of Hiromi Sato’s murder to. His name was Taysuke Okakura.

“A shooting will not work, Toin-san. Australia has very strict gun laws and we do not possess enough time to smuggle those weapons into the country.

“Then how do you propose we kill Sato-san?

“We have only one option. It has to be a bomb, Toin-san.”

“Can a bomb be assembled and be ready by Sunday night in Australia?”

“Yes, Toin-san, it can. I have a gaijin working on it already, would you like to meet him?”

“Of course I would! Take me to this person at once.”
 

~*~
 
Gabrielle was getting ready to leave Pine Gap. Damien Fields was there to see his FBI superior off. “Have a safe trip, Inspector Tanaka.”

“Damien, there is one last thing I want to mention before I go. Agent Ripley will ask for you to do her small favors from time to time. Whatever it is, do it for her immediately.”

“I will do whatever she asks, Inspector.”

“If you have any questions, call me at once and don’t worry about what time it is,” Gabrielle said as she climbed into an unmarked car. As soon as she was inside, Damien closed the door for the FBI’s newest Inspector.

A Gulfstream jet was waiting for Gabrielle at Alice Springs Airport. The pilot was inspecting the exterior of the aircraft when she arrived.

“You must be Inspector Tanaka.”

“Yes, I am. Is everything all right, Captain?”

“The jet had a minor problem, but it has been fixed. We will be taking off in thirty to forty minutes.”

Gabrielle nodded her head. “That’s fine, Captain.”

For the trip back to the United States, Gabrielle had a travelling companion. It was FBI Deputy Director Grant Williamson. He was being sent home by Robert Mueller and been relieved of all his Swan Song duties. He didn’t seem to be in the mood to chat, and Gabrielle had no desire to alleviate either his boredom or his worries.
 

~*~
 
Hiromi’s debriefing finished at half past three. She went straight to her living quarters. Chuck was waiting there and the couple shared an immediate kiss.

“How did your checkup go?” Hiromi asked after the kiss was finished.

Chuck told Hiromi about the CT scan he was to have and blood pressure medication he had been prescribed. “The Doctor called a druggist located at the Todd Mall. We have to pick up my prescription before six tonight.”

“We’ll go there right after the bed and breakfast. Are you allowed to eat dinner, or do you have to fast for the CT scan?”

“The doctor told me I had to fast. Don’t worry Kimi-chan, you and your parents have dinner. I’ll be fine till after the exam is done,” Chuck then tapped his stomach. “I could lose a few pounds anyway.”

Hiromii didn’t think Chuck needed to lose any weight at all. He was a manly fourteen to fifteen stone in weight and 194 centimeters tall. “I love you so much, Chuck. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I love you too, Kimi-chan. Are we going to leave now?”

“Let me use the bathroom first. We’ll go after I’m done.”

When Hiromi and Chuck arrived in Alice, the Swan Song committee made certain rental arrangements for the couple. This had been done to make the trip look authentic in case the Watanabes checked up on what Hiromi Sato was doing.

The first rental for Chuck and Hiromi was a room at a bed and breakfast. To get there, the couple would use their second rental. A Toyota Land Cruiser.

“Can I drive, Kimi-chan?” Chuck asked Hiromi as they stepped outdoors.

“Yes, you can, Chuck. I don’t know Alice anywhere near as well as you do.” Hiromi was suitably dressed for a winter day. She had on a Ralph Lauren coat and sweater over a white long sleeve blouse. From the waist down, Hiromi had on a set of Dolce Gabbana blue jeans that she particularly liked, and wanted to wear at least a few more times before her pregnancy reduced her to the usual shapeless tent-tops and expanding-waist dreck. She made a mental note to ask some of the women in the office what some of the nicer options were in Japan. She didn’t want to look like she shopped the discount outlets back in Japan. She had some Red Monkey jeans she liked as well, but she didn’t know if they had a maternity line. On second thought, she stopped walking and took a moment to write it down in the notebook she’d started to carry in her handbag.

Chuck and Hiromi talked some more during the drive into Alice. “Thank you for coming along with me, Chuck. I can’t do Swan Song without you. As I told you before, your love is what keeps me strong when I have to do have terrible things.”

“I’m here for you, Kimi-chan. You’re my wife. To be honest, I’m scared about your work, but at the same time I’m proud that you trust me enough to ask me to help you. I can’t abandon you. My father abandoned me, my sister, and my Mum. I know how much harm is caused when a parent and spouse abandons their loved ones. We all felt betrayed by what Dad had done to us.” He reached across the center console to stroke her hand. “Kimi-chan, I can’t ever make myself do to you what my Dad did to me. Yesterday, when I was sitting at the pub drinking, I came to the realization that was what I was doing. I became your husband two months ago. We made a child from our love of each other. I don’t want to be like my Dad. I have to take care of you and be there when you need me.”

“Thank you, Chuck. I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Kimi-chan,“ Chuck said to Hiromi before he checked traffic in both directions. They were at the intersection of the road leading to Pine Gap and the Stuart Highway. As soon as it was safe to proceed, Chuck pulled the Land Cruiser into the northbound lanes.

“Have you learned anything about the arrangements being made for me to see Hiromi?”

“They are still being worked on, Chuck. Gabrielle told me there was an incident at the prison today. “

Chuck listened to Hiromi’s explanation of what had happened at the prison holding Beancounter. “Are they moving her to a new location?”

“I think so, Chuck.”
 

~*~
 
The genuine Hiromi Sato was just arriving at her new home. It was located at Chitose Air Base and was normally the quarters for the Base Commander, so it was considerably more luxurious than her former cell. At the moment the Deputy Base Commander was temporarily in charge of Chitose after his superior had to be sacked due to his misappropriating funds.

Hiromi was taken straight to the home’s main eating area and was instructed to sit down. “Someone will be here to see you shortly.”

A Major of the Japanese Self Defense Forces arrived a few minutes later. “My name is Kenko Yamagawa. I’m the person in charge of your security here at Chitose.”

“You mean you are my jailer,” Hiromi replied in a stern tone of voice..

“Call me whatever you like, Sato-san. I am here to make sure no harm comes to you and to see that you stay confined to this military base. There are a few matters we need to go over…..”

“I do not care about your rules. This is only a fancier prison, but I notice that you’ve installed new bars on the windows. You cannot keep me arrested forever. I will get free one day.”
 

~*~
 
Chuck and Hiromi were almost at the B&B. “When are your parents leaving for the United States?”

“I think it will be on Saturday. It would be safer if we leave Pine Gap separately.”

“You are probably right, Kimi-chan. Do you want to call them now and say we’ll be meeting them soon?”

Hiromi go her cell phone out and called her mother. “Hi, Mom, how are you?”

“I am well Hiromi. Are you and Chuck on the way?”

“Yes, Mom, but we have one stop to make first. We’ll be seeing you and Dad in thirty to forty-five minutes.”

“Your father and I will be at the place Chuck said you would meet us at. We will all talk soon.”

“Yes, we will, Mom. I love you and say hello to Dad for me.” Hiromi ended the cell phone call a few seconds later.

“Will Mom and Dad continue to care for Shannon?”

“Yes, for however long Shannon needs them.”

“Kimi-chan, I would like to be Shannon’s father one day if your parents will allow me. You know we’ve talked about having a large family already, and there’s always room for one more, once we’ve a proper home with room to grow. I know how you must feel about your sister’s baby. We can’t just leave him to be a burden on your parents.”

Tears formed in Hiromi’s eyes. “Thank you so much, Chuck. It means a lot to me. I so look forward to us being his parents one day.”

Hiromi and Chuck were at the Alice Station B&B a minute later. A member of the staff said hello as they walked inside, evidently unsurprised by their sudden appearance.

Before leaving for Australia, Hiromi and Chuck had made reservations for a week’s stay at Alice Station. The Swan Song committee had an Australian male/Asian female couple check in as Hiromi and Chuck. The faux couple, who did nothing more than sleep and have their morning breakfasts at the B&B, were actually members of the Australian Federal Police.

Alice Station is just a short stroll from Todd Mall, Pink Botanical Garden, and Alice’s Convention Centre. Still the B&B has a very natural setting, part of which includes kangaroos that live in the backyard.

Hiromi posed for five pictures in or around Alice Station, with Hiromi going back to the room for a hurried change of clothes after each picture. Chuck made sure two of the outdoors shots had kangaroos in the background. Then he asked one of the other guests to take their picture lounging by the pool, after changing into swimming ‘cozzies.’

“Too bad there aren’t any Perenties around,” Hiromi said after Chuck snapped the first photo. The Perentie is Australia’s largest lizard and they sometimes showed themselves in Alice Station’s backyard.

When they were done, Hiromi and Chuck drove to the Todd Mall. They had no trouble locating Midori and Stuart Slater.

“Did you and Dad have a good time?” Hiromi asked after she and her Mom shared a kiss and hug.

“Yes, we did, Hiromi. What would you like us to do now?”

“Chuck is having a CT scan at eight. I’m not quite hungry yet, why don’t we walk around a little?”

“Yes, I would like that, Hiromi.”

Eight members of the AFP, led by Superintendant Dorothy Palmer, were in the Todd Mall also. They were all in plain clothes and keeping an eye on Hiromi, Chuck, and the Slaters plus watching for any potential Yakuza or other organized crime members in the mall. These security measures were strictly a precaution.

The first place visited was the druggist so Chuck could pick up his prescription. Hiromi talked with her parents while Chuck was rung up.

“The Doctor who examined Chuck said his blood pressure was high. He admitted to me in the car on the way over here, that his BP has been high before.”

Midori was sincerely concerned for her son-in-law. “I will pray for Chuck.”

Hiromi and her mother talked as they walked around. There was still so much for them to get caught up on. Midori went into great detail about Ilsa Slater’s wedding as she and her daughter window shopped.

Stuart and Chuck were also talking and Hiromi was pleased to hear them getting along. Chuck even asked her father if he’d like to play a game or two of darts later.

“Can we do that now while the women do their thing?” Stuart asked Chuck

“Yes, Dad, we can. Fawlty’s is just up ahead and they have dartboards. Kimi-chan, do you mind if your father and I go there?”

“No, go right ahead. Me and Mom will go into some of the shops while you two play darts.”

It wasn’t too long after the men and women separated, that Hiromi saw a store she would like to visit. It was called motherhood and it sold maternity clothing. “Let’s go there, Mom.”

Hiromi was only in her fourth week of pregnancy and wouldn’t be in need of maternity clothes for approximately two months, but like a lot of first-time mothers she was excited about the baby inside her body and was already thinking far ahead. Plus her Mom was there, and this was likely to be one of the few opportunities for Midori to take some part in her daughter’s pregnancy.

Midori felt both excited and happy for her pregnant daughter. “Yes, Hiromi, I like that idea also.”

The two women went into the store and began to look at the clothing. Hiromi was looking at a pale yellow gown when a woman around forty years of age also began looking through clothes on the same circular rack.

“Mrs. Sato, I’m Superintendant Dorothy Palmer of the AFP,” The Police Officer said to Hiromi without looking at her.

“Have you ever picked your feet in Poughkeepsie?” Hiromi asked. She hadn’t been told of the new code yet.

Midori Slater heard the Swan Song recognition code and not knowing what it was, looked over at her daughter.

“No, but I’ve been to Peoria. Mrs. Sato, I don’t want to spend too long here and I hope what I just said was enough to prove my bonafides to you.” Dorothy was wearing glasses and had a wig on so to prevent anyone from recognizing her.

Dorothy continued talking after Hiromi gave a slight nod of her head. “I have learned your husband has an appointment tonight. So I took it upon myself to make a half past six dinner reservation for you and your family at Overlanders. I hope you don’t mind.”

Overlanders was a very popular steakhouse in Alice. Hiromi was going to suggest to Chuck and her parents that they should eat there. “That is fine, Superintendant.”

Hiromi watched as Superintendent Palmer walked away. A more thorough examination of the yellow gown showed it to have a very slight tear, so Hiromi put it back on the rack.

The clothes in the maternity shop were kind of cheap and of only average quality, so they didn’t appeal much to Hiromi. She was a very wealthy banker. Even when pregnant, she would wear clothes to match her professional life.

“This looks like a nice dress. What do you think, Hiromi?” Midori said as she held up a Teal colored Chiffon knit dress.

Hiromi took a closer look at the dress by holding it in front of her body as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. It was the best garment she had seen since entering the store.

“I think you would look good wearing this,” Midori said. Hiromi was beginning to agree with her mother. She was trying to picture herself pregnant.

“Do you think it will be big enough for me when I’m seven or more months pregnant?”

“Let’s go to the dressing room, Hiromi. I will see how it fits you now.”

Hiromi ended up buying that dress and two more. One was purple and had ruffles, the other was berry in color and had a sash that required tying. She would use these maternity clothes for weekends and other times that she wasn’t at the bank.

When she got back to Japan and was settled in, Hiromi would do more maternity clothes shopping. Hiromi might ask Ryuku Kinjoh, her secretaries Aki and Suki, and some of her Watanabe Trucking friends to accompany her.

After Motherhood, Hiromi and Midori went to a shoe store. They hadn’t bought anything and were still in the process of looking, when Chuck and Stuart arrived.

“Kimi-chan, how did I know I would find you and your mother here?” Chuck asked with a laugh.

Hiromi smiled at Chuck. “Mom and I wanted to do something we both could enjoy.”

“Are you hungry yet? I was going to suggest we take Mom and Dad to Overlanders, if that was fine with you.”

“Yes it is. In fact, we already have a reservation for six-thirty. I think we’d better head over there now,” Hiromi said, after taking a glance at her wristwatch. The time was already past six o’clock. “Chuck, can you take some pictures of me alone and then me with my parents? These will be just for us, until we get past Swan Song.”

“Of course I can, Kimi-chan.”

Hiromi posed outside Motherhood by herself, then inside the store next to a maternity mannequin. She would ask the Swan Song committee to email these photos to Ryuku Kinjoh for her.

The next photos taken, were intended for Midori and Stuart only. Chuck took several photos of Hiromi posing with her parents. Then he found a helpful stranger in the mall who was willing to snap two photos of Chuck with his wife and her family.

“Thanks, mate, for helping us out,” Chuck said to the stranger after the photo session was over.

Hiromi was talking to her mother. “Mom, I will upload these onto the laptop I have given you. They are for your personal use only.”

Stuart overheard what his daughter had just said. “We know that, Hiromi. Your mother and I still remember OPSEC. The photos you give us won't be shown to anyone but your sister.”

“Yes, you can show them to Debbie, and thanks Dad. I am so glad we had this evening together.”
 

~*~
 
The police in Yokohama were mapping out the Yakuza crackdown that would start the following day. Non-tourist related businesses that were owned by the Watanabes were the main target. The Yokohama Chief of Police Takeji Kasahara had decreed that disruptions affecting foreign nationals were to be avoided if possible.

No trips to Negishi Bay were planned unless an there was an outstanding warrant out for a Watanabe. Again, this was an order handed down by Yokohama’s Chief of Police.

In addition to the raids on adult businesses and gambling clubs, Yokohama law enforcement were attempting to memorize faces of known Watanabe Yakuza members. This in order to pick up these criminals even should they not be breaking any laws at the time. Criminal charges were less important than a show to the public that something was being done in response to Raku Minobe’s death.

A list of known Watanabe Yakuza was also drawn up. This list wasn’t intended just for police use. It was emailed to other government agencies and transportation centers throughout Kanagawa Prefecture in hope they would notify police if they came into contact with any of the Watanabes.

One Yokohama Police Captain had a bold proposal for his chief of police. “What if we arrest Dai Hashimoto, the Oyabun of the Watanabes?”

Takeji would never admit it, but he was a timid man. He had rose to the position of Police Chief due to his political connections and because of his history of not angering powerful people. The number of major police investigations he had taken part in that resulted in success was very small.

“No, we will not arrest Hashimoto-san.” Takeji Kasahara was soft on Yakuza leaders but didn’t necessarily mean all Japanese Police Chiefs would conduct themselves in the same way.
 

~*~
 
Overlanders was rated the best steakhouse in Alice and it lived up to the reputation on Wednesday night. The meals Hiromi and her parents ordered were made to perfection.

Chuck talked with everyone as he continued to fast before having his CT Scan. “I’m fine, Kimi-chan. Don’t feel uncomfortable because I’m unable to eat just now. I’ll be fine with a sarnie later on.”

“How did you and Dad do in your dart games?”

“Chuck won two out of three,” Stuart said.

“They were all close games,” Chuck added. “Your father and I both enjoyed our match, and I was able to introduce him to real Ozzie beer. None of that namby-pamby New Zealand stuff.”

“Yes, we did,” Stuart said before taking a sip of the wine he had ordered with dinner. “One day we’ll have a rematch so I can even the score.”

Hiromi smiled as Chuck recalled some of the match. Men like to compete against one another and it was also a way they bonded as friends. That her husband and father had a good time together was a good sign to Hiromi that the two most important men in her life were going to get along together.

“Are you going to eat all of that, Kimi-chan?” Chuck asked as he looked down at the great big Prime Rib his wife had ordered for dinner. He had been in the bathroom when everyone’s meals were ordered.

“Just a bit, Chuck. The rest of it is for you after your CT scan.”

Chuck bent over and kissed Hiromi on the forehead. “Thank you for thinking of me, Kimi-chan but make sure you eat as much as you like. A pregnant mother needs plenty of protein.”

Stuart was taking a bite of his dinner. On the recommendation of Hiromi, he had ordered Kangaroo steak. “This is good. It is a little sweet, but I like it.”

“I am glad you like it, Dad.” Hiromi said before taking her first bite of the Prime Rib. It was very tender and perfectly prepared. Her morning sickness had subsided some. In any case, as a pregnant woman she needed to continue eating properly, queasy stomach or no queasy stomach.

After dinner was over, Chuck and Hiromi said goodbye to her parents. The Pine Gap bus would pick up them up and they would follow later, after the tests were run at the hospital.

“Mom, Dad, we won’t be getting back to Pine Gap till maybe ten. Don’t wait up for us,” she said.

“That’s all right, Hiromi,” Stuart Slater said.

Midori spoke up next. When your father and I get back to the base I will say prayer for Chuck that his results are good.”

“Thank you, Mom, we really appreciate that.”
 

~*~
 
Chuck’s CT scan was done at the radiology department of Alice Springs Hospital. He had to fill out forms before being taken inside for the test, but no one explained what was going on; they just called out his name when they were ready, and led him through the door.

Hiromi sat in the waiting room alone. She was expecting to hear the machine humming or buzzing or something, because she remembered seeing one on a Japanese television show and there were loud clicking and humming sounds, but all she heard was a nurse passing by in the hall outside, her shoes squeaking slightly as she passed the open door. As the minutes passed, she started to feel frightened. ‘Why couldn’t they start? Was he seriously ill?’ In all the months since their marriage, Chuck had become a part of her, and his absence hovered in the room like an empty ghost, a hole in her reality that held his shape. There was a window across the room, but no one sitting behind it, just the closed door to the room with the machine and no way to know what was going on behind it. She wanted to be there for him, in the room with him, holding his hand, but here she was just sitting while who knows what went on.

By the time the door opened — just before nine by then — and the nurse walked out with Chuck, she was almost crying, sick to her stomach with worry and fear.

Chuck half-ran across the room and took her hands, lifting her from the chair as he swept her up into the safe haven of his arms. “Are you all right, Kimi-chan?”

“I’m just worried about you.” Tears streaked her cheeks, but they were tears of joy to see him safe again.

Chuck gave his wife a hug and kiss. “I’m fine, Kimi-chan, we’re going to have a long life together.”

She stayed still in his embrace, relishing the warmth of his body, and the strength of his arms. She rested her head against his chest, listening to him breathing, before she finally released him, settling back into ordinary life again. She looked up into his eyes. “Do you want to eat now or can you wait till we get back to Pine Gap?”

“I can wait, Kimi-chan. That Prime Rib you ordered looked delicious.” The Styrofoam containers holding the leftover dinner from Overlanders were in a plastic bag on the back floor of the Toyota Land Rover, but they had the drive back to the base to make before they could heat it up again.

They began walking back to where they’d parked the Land Rover, down the halls and out the lobby doors into the darkness of the early evening.

Hiromi stopped just outside the door and turned to him. “Chuck, if they find anything wrong in the CT scan, I won’t do Swan Song,” she said.

“I’m fine, Kimi-chan, believe me. The doctor will call tomorrow and say the CT scan found nothing.

Hiromi laughed. “What? No brain? I’m married to Homer Simpson! Should I buy you some donuts before we head out? Or maybe you’re the Scarecrow from Oz. A bucketful of pins and needles ought to fix you right up. They started walking again, easy and familiar, without words, her hip brushing his thigh as they walked, his arm around her waist, until they found themselves behind the car. Chuck walked her down the space between the cars and opened the door for her, then held his arm behind her protectively as she climbed up into the Land Rover. Then he closed the door behind her and ran around to the other side.

After Chuck had started the vehicle, she said, “Chuck, before we go back, do you mind stopping off at your mum’s? I want to tell her that I care for her, and I want us both to tell her that she’s very important to our family.”

“Of course I will. She’ll like that, I think, and it would be nice to clear the air a bit. I may have a few words to say as well.”

“Chuck, should we call your Mum first and say we’re coming over? Are you sure she will even be home?”

“No, we don’t need to call and I’m sure she’ll be home tonight. One of her favorite television programs comes on at ten. We can DVR it for her while we talk if she’s bothered.”

Patricia McBride was indeed home, but her face was closed, even as she opened the door. “Hello, Chuck, Hiromi.”

“Hello, Mrs. McBride. May Chuck and I come in?”

She stepped aside without a word.

Chuck and Hiromi went into the living room with his Mum.

“Can I get something for either of you?’

“A glass of water is fine for me,” Hiromi said.

Chuck said “A cool glass of water would be just fine with me.”

Hiromi turned to him and said, “Chuck, you haven’t eaten in hours. Let your mother get you a snack at least. Mum, do you have any bickies around.?”

“Yes, I do. Let me go get them,” Patricia replied. Hiromi got up to help her mother-in-law.

Once they were in the kitchen alone, Patricia asked sharply, “Why hasn’t my son eaten?”

“Mum, as you may have noticed, Chuck suffers splitting headaches frequently. During our visit here, I had him examined by a doctor, because they seemed to be occurring more frequently lately, and I was worried. She ordered Chuck to have a CT scan of his brain done, so we had it done in the hospital here in town, just at eight, right before we came here. Chuck had to fast for the CT scan.”

“My son needs to eat more than some cookies then,” she said in a slightly petulant tone of voice.

“I have his half of our prime rib dinner in the car. It was our intention to stop off here for a few minutes before going back to where we’re staying.”

“My son needs to eat properly now. I will….”

“Mum, I will go and get the food. He’s my husband, and I’m perfectly able to care for him. When I’m back from the car, we’ll heat it up for Chuck together.”

Chuck began digging into the prime rib less than ten minutes later. He had a beer with his belated dinner. Hiromi had the cookies and milk that Mrs. McBride was first going to give her son.

“Do you like it? Hiromi asked Chuck. She was referring to the leftover Prime Rib.

“It’s delicious, Kimi-chan.””¨

“My son says you are pregnant,” Patricia said. She was seated to Chuck’s right and directly across from Hiromi

“Yes, I am. My due date is April seventh.”

Chuck took Hiromi’s right hand and held it.

Chuck spoke after he finished swallowing. “Mum, we’re very excited about the baby.”

“I’m very happy for both of you.”

“Mum, Chuck and I will be leaving Alice soon and I don’t know when we’ll be back.”

Patricia nodded her head. “You are pregnant and an expectant mother should limit her travel. There is Charles and your work.”

Hiromi noted how her mother-in-law had stressed the last two words, ‘your work.’ Even when trying to be polite, her husband’s Mum didn’t approve of his son’s wife, or at least her background.

Chuck came to Hiromi’s defense. “Mum, Hiromi isn’t what you think she is. In fact, she’s doing something that I know you would approve of.”

Hiromi didn’t say anything, but looked at her husband with approval.

“We can’t tell you anything specific about what Hiromi is doing. It would endanger all of us. Remember what I said this morning, don’t say a word to anyone, even Rachel, about the AFP who have been here the last few days or what Hiromi and I are up to.”

“Hiromi is working with policemen?” Patricia asked.

“Yes, Mum, she is. We can’t say anything more, just believe what I am telling you.”

“I believe you, son,” Patricia said in a noticeably softer tone of voice. “You have my word, I won’t say a word about what you said to me or what has happened here over the last few days.”

“Thank you, Mum,” Charles replied.

“Mum, when my work is finished, Chuck and I plan to do something very different. It won’t happen for a few years.”

“What are your plans?”

Hiromi’s cellphone began to ring. “Hold on for a minute, Mum. Sato.”

“Agent Ripley, its Superintendant Palmer calling. How are you?”

“I’m fine, Superintendant. Chuck and I stopped to see his Mum.”

“The committee was wondering where you were. When will you return to Pine Gap?”

“It won’t be later than midnight, Superintendant.”

“I will let Director Mueller know your new ETA.” Superintendant Palmer hung up a few moments later.

“Sorry about the interruption, Mum,” Hiromi said as she put away her cell phone.” “Chuck and I are planning to buy a farm similar to the one Uncle Harry has. It would either be down in Victoria or on Hawaii’s big island.”

Chuck glanced at Hiromi quickly. They hadn’t talked about their farm being in Hawaii, but he was flexible.

“That sounds very nice,” Patricia said. Hiromi thought her mother-in-law meant it.

“Mum, I love your son very much. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. Chuck and the baby are the most important people in my life, but please don’t try to come between us. It would only hurt Chuck. And that means it would hurt all of us. We’re a family, Mum, and we both want you to be part of our family, but Chuck and I, and now our baby, are at the heart of what we are. You’re important to him,, Mum, and he loves you very much, but he’s a grown man now, and has a family of his own. Do you really want him to treat his family as badly as you were treated?”

Chuck said softly, “Listen to her, Mum. She’s not like Dad. She had bad luck with her family, but she’s better than her family, and probably better than me.”

Hiromi continued speaking. “Mom, you are important to me too. You might not believe it, but I do love you. You gave me Chuck, and I thank you for it from the bottom of my heart. I want you to be a part of our lives, and our children’s lives. Mum, could you please come to Japan just before I have the baby? I’d like you to be in the delivery room with Chuck, so you can welcome your new grandchild.”

Patricia was trying not to weep, and failing miserably, her hard heart finally broken. “Oh, Hiromi, I’m so sorry. I want to be there. Please forgive me, I want to be there for you and my grandchild.”

Hiromi smiled. “Don’t forget Chuck, Mum. You know how men are. If he faints, you’ll have to keep him from banging his head on the floor, and I want you there with me as well. My own mother died giving birth to me, and I’m a little scared. I’d like you to be there because you know what it’s like, and can help me. The sister-in-law of one of my secretaries in Japan died giving birth as well, so it’s on my mind.”

“That is absolutely horrible, and I’m sorry about your mother, Hiromi. There is danger in having children, but don’t let fear overwhelm you. I had two perfectly normal pregnancies and the birth of my son and his sister were both free of complications. Your own lying-in will be the same, I know it. You have the right shape.” She grinned. “Your butt looks a lot like mine did back then.”

Hiromi blushed. “Thank you, Mum, I think. Chuck is so tall, was he a big baby?”

“He was very big. My son weighed eight pounds and five ounces at birth,” Patricia McBride said to Hiromi. “I still remember the day Charles was born. His father had just left for work, we were living here in Alice then…….”
 

~*~
 
Chuck and Hiromi didn’t leave Patricia McBride’s home till a little after eleven. They had a very good chat and watched some television together.

“Mum, I’m sorry for a lot of things that have happened in the past,” Hiromi said to Chuck’s Mom. They were all standing on the front porch saying goodbye to one another.

“I was very rude the other night to you.”

“Let’s start over, Mum. As we told you, our lives are going to change soon. Just be patient for a few more years. At the end, you’ll think I’m a totally different person from the one Chuck introduced you to five years ago.”

Hiromi and Chuck’s Mom then shared a hug. “We’ll be in touch, Mum.”

Since Chuck had had two beers that evening, Hiromi did the driving back to Pine Gap. Australian drink driving laws were very strict, so no one with any brains took chances. “Chuck, I’m really tired, but I’m so glad we came here tonight to talk to your Mum.”

“I’m glad we did that too, Kimi-chan. Mum doesn’t seem angry anymore.”

“We made her a Grandma.”

“Yes, we did. I think your talk also helped tonight.”

“Mum might still have some issues till I get my work completed in Japan.”

Chuck yawned. “She doesn’t like Negishi Bay too much.”

Patricia McBride had visited her son in Japan twice. Once in 2005, once in 2007. “I don’t blame her. After I have the baby, maybe we can take her to Goro’s home and stay there for a bit.”

“That sounds like a good idea, Kimi-chan. I will insist you to be allowed to rest after you give birth.”

Hiromi had something she wanted to make clear to Chuck. “Chuck, when we get back to Japan, I want us both to act just like we always have.”

“That won’t be a problem, my little sports car but I think you will change more than a little due to your being pregnant.”

“Of course I will, but that’s not what I meant. Chuck, I don’t want you trying to help me with Swan Song.”

“What do you mean?”

“Chuck, the Watanabes — with the exception of Grandfather — accept you in their presence. There are a couple of reasons for this, only one of which is that I make them tons of money. I’m different than most of them, because I’m female and also that I have a gaijin husband. Yakuzas are pretty paranoid when it comes to people not like themselves. They’re willing to overlook all of that because of my moneymaking skills.

“Another reason they’ve allowed you in their presence is because you have shown no interest whatsoever in their enterprises. If you start to show an interest in what the Watanabes do, or make them sense you’re interested, our situation could become dangerous very quickly. So please, don’t try to help me with Swan Song. You are not a spy. I’d like you to be as blithely distant from the Watanabe businesses as you’ve always been.”

“Alright, Kimi-chan.”

“There will be people looking out for us when and if we go back to Yokohama. Chuck, and I’m going to be very careful. I can honestly tell them that I’m working for their long-term benefit, and they’ll be able to see the results quickly, I think, so we won’t have to do any sneaking around. Almost everything will be right out in the open where everyone can see what I’m doing, and I plan on making regular reports on my plans and progress to the Shareigashiras, as well as to Dai, focusing on financial and social benefits, so there’ll be no snooping or secret file dumps to discover. We’ll all make it through Swan Song, our baby, and both of us. I wouldn’t do this if I thought there was any danger to either of you, duty be damned. My family comes first, but I want my family to live in a safer world.”
 

~*~
 
Damien Fields greeted Chuck and Hiromi when they arrived back at Pine Gap. “Do either of you need anything?”

“No, Agent Fields, we’re fine. Thank you for asking.”

“Mr. McBride, your trip to Japan has been set for tomorrow. You will be leaving Pine Gap at five a.m.”

Chuck made the calculations in his head. Sydney to Tokyo was a ten hour flight one way. Alice was a little closer to Japan, but the original Hiromi was supposedly somewhere in Northern Japan. The flying back and forth would probably take somewhere between twenty-two to twenty-five.

Plus there would be the time Chuck needed to talk with the original Hiromi. He expected that to take at least a few hours. When he added it all up, Chuck expected not to be back to Alice till noon on Friday or even later.

“I’ll be ready, Mr. Fields.” Damien then left Chuck and Hiromi alone.

“Chuck, can we go to the cafeteria? I’d like to eat a snack.”

“Of course we can, Kimi-chan.”

Hiromi had a cup of vanilla pudding while Chuck ate a slice of cherry pie.

“Kimi-chan, I am going to be gone for over a day.”

“That’s all right, Chuck. You need to go see the other Hiromi and I want you to do that. I will be strong. My parents are here too.”

Chuck looked over at his wife. “Too bad Gabrielle wasn’t around.”

“She has work to do also. Thank you for understanding that part of me.”

“You’re welcome, Kimi-chan. I suppose Gabrielle won’t be back before we leave for Japan.”

“Actually, Gabby said she might be. A great many things are up in the air right now.” In spite of the food around them, Hiromi was getting more of a whiff of her husband’s distinctive smell, and talking about Gabby with her husband was strangely exciting. She was getting very aroused as a result.

“Yes, Kimi-chan, I’ve noticed that. I think you and Gabrielle should see each other again if there is time,” Chuck said as he took Hiromi’s hand. “You’re working so hard to have our baby, I think you deserve to have some fun.”

“Thank you.” Hiromi didn’t know what else to say. Chuck’s love for her was so complete and unselfish, he was willing to share her with Gabrielle.

After Chuck was through eating, Hiromi and Chuck went straight to their room. The door was barely shut when Chuck and Hiromi embraced one another and began to kiss.

“I love you so much,” Hiromi said after breaking from their kiss. “Chuck, I’m tired, it’s already midnight, and you have to get up early in the morning. Is it all right if we go to sleep right away?”

“Of course it is, Kimi-chan. Your getting sufficient rest is always more important to me than anything else, especially now. You can take me for a ride after I get back from Japan.”

“We might need more than one ride by then; so try to get some sleep on the plane.” She grinned at him, then fell back on the bed fully-clothed and patted the covers beside her. “Come here for a minute. I need another hug, and I don’t want to fall down if I nod off.”

As it turned out, Chuck was asleep almost before he turned to hold her, but that was fine by her. She smiled at him, admiring the slow rise and fall of his chest, the angle of his jaw, and then closed her eyes, just for a moment...
 

~*~
 
Maurice Gao was just finished telling Lily Ng about the undercover assignment he had been offered and had already accepted. “Lily, I hope you don’t mind me doing this.”

“As I already said, Maurice, while I’m a little bit concerned for your safety, you have my approval to do that job. It’s an incredible opportunity for you.” Lily would have preferred Maurice having talked to her about his Swan Song job before he had accepted the assignment, but she understood that it hadn’t been possible when the offer was made to her fiancé.

“Lily, after I leave on Saturday, I don’t know when we will meet again. It could be years before I’m back.”

“I really understand, Maurice. When you are done, I will be waiting for you”

Maurice wanted to say something to Lily but he was having trouble summoning up the courage to say it.

Lily understood her fiancé and his secrets. “You want to remain Molly when your assignment is completed. Is that what you want to say?”

“Yes, it is, Lily. I have always considered myself female. This body I have doesn’t match how I feel on the inside.”

“You have told me that many times, Molly. I want you to be happy as much as I want us to be together. You are my very best friend.”

“That wouldn’t change if I was female?

“No, it won’t. I’m gay, Maurice. The only reason I dated you, and the one boyfriend I had before you, was the pressure I was getting from my family. In particular my parents”

“I’d be completely lesbian as a woman. Men don’t interest me in the slightest.”

“Yes, I always understood that about Molly from the first time we met. What about this woman’s body you will soon have. Is it gay or straight?”

“I don’t know, Lily. The one woman I met who had undergone this procedure before is now married and pregnant. He was a heterosexual male before getting his treatment. I will work hard not to let that happen to me and I’m confident my love for you will remain unchanged. This man who was changed into a woman before me became bisexual, but still loves the woman he loved before he changed. Their situation was something like ours, as far as I can tell, because the woman he loved was a lesbian before they first met, and I think he was a little bit gender-confused, so I think the worst that can happen is that our lives become complicated. I refuse to stop loving you, and my own eyes are open, so I think I have an advantage there.”

“Thank you for being honest with me, Molly.”

“Lily, I know very little about the science that is going to be performed on me. Just before I left Arsenal Street, Dr. Wagner emailed me a file. It explains the procedure I will be undergoing.”

“Have you read it?”

“No, I was hoping we would read it together.”

“I’d like us to do that. Can we read it now?”

Maurice and Lily read the file together. It was only six pages in length.

“That was very interesting,” Lily said when they were finished. “I wonder if the DNA donor knows there is an exact double of her in the world.”

“The impression I got from my meetings is that donors don’t know about what their DNA is being used for. In any case, most people wouldn’t recognize their own double, even if they met them on the street, because most of us are unsymmetrical, and we only see ourselves backwards, looking into a mirror. It would be like seeing yourself on video, a stranger acting like you, but not the same.”

“Yes, that would seem to make sense. I’d like to be there when you get treated, Maurice. Could you write the scientist and ask?”

“I would like you there also, Lily. Let me write Dr. Wagner back right now and ask. Maybe I could ask if there are any bisexual or lesbian DNA donors as well, but I think most women are more flexible about their sexuality than men are.”

Lily nodded her agreement. She’d met a lot of bisexual women, and Chinese society made that the preferable option for many gay and lesbian people in Hong Kong.

Maurice took a little under ten minutes to compose his email. He told Lily not to get her hopes up too high.

“We tried at least, and who knows? Maybe they will say yes,” Lily said to Maurice as he clicked on the send button. “Did you notice that small part near the end of the file you got?”

“Do you mean the part about my being able to save some of my sperm?”

“Yes, that part. One way or another, I’d like to have a baby. Can you help me out, please?”

“Of course, I can do that for you, Lily.”

“We can try to make a baby now too. Its sixteen days since I had my last period. I should be fertile.”

Lily didn’t take birth control pills. Maurice instead used a condom when they had intercourse.

“Yes, I would like us to have a baby. If I am allowed to remain female, I can at least say I gave my parents grandchildren.”

“I can say the same thing to my Mother and Father too.”

“It won’t be easy for me to go against my Mother and Father,” Maurice said. His parents were divorced but were on decent terms with each other.

“My parents won’t like it either when I come out as gay. We have to decide what to tell both our families.”

“I love you, Lily. This is a big decision for both of us, but I think it’s a fantastic opportunity as well.”

Lily smiled. “Yes, it is a big decision in regards to our future. Can we have some fun now?”

“I have never had more with anyone than you, Lily Ng.” After a brief kiss, Maurice and Lily went straight to her bedroom.
 

~*~
 
Chuck was roused from sleep by the alarm clock on the bed table beside him at 4 a.m. He couldn’t remember setting it, so reckoned Hiromi must have done it for him, sometime during the night. He quickly turned it off, so as not to wake Hiromi. She barely stirred in bed while this was happening, and he eased himself out from under the covers — she must have done that too, because the last he remembered was lying down on top of the covers entirely — then tucked them in around her, taking the time to study her face, to listen to her breathing, imagining the child growing inside her hidden womb, awestruck and reverent, both at once.

The first thing Chuck did was strip off his clothes — his shoes were off as well — then shave and shower. Then he got dressed. It was winter in Australia but summer in Japan. He picked out a polo shirt and pants to wear for the day. Chuck would also take a jacket with him, a change of clothes, and his shaving kit plus tooth brush.

“I love you, Kimi-chan. Take good care of yourself while I’m gone,” Chuck whispered softly as he bent down to kiss his wife. He was about to leave the room.

The kiss from Chuck caused Hiromi to wake up. “Hi. What time is it?”

“It’s almost half past four. Go back to sleep, Kimi-chan. I’m going to the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat before leaving for the Airport.”

Hiromi was very groggy and felt like sleeping two more hours. “Do you want me to come to the cafeteria with you?”

“No, Kimi-chan, that is not necessary,” Chuck said before bending down to touch his wife’s stomach. “You need your rest right now. I’ll be fine. I will call you sometime later today.”

“I love you, Chuck.”

“I love you too, my little sports car.” Chuck then kissed Hiromi one last time before leaving the room.

Hiromi was back to sleep before Chuck had even finished closing the room door.
 

~*~
 
Chuck ate breakfast by himself in the cafeteria. When he was finished, he went above ground and out the lobby door. An AFP Officer was waiting for him just outside, standing beside an unmarked car.

“Let me take your bag, Mr. McBride,” Angus Jones said. “A Gulfstream V is waiting for you and it will take you to Japan as soon as I get you to Alice Springs Airport.”

Chuck was airborne thirty minutes later. Before taking off, the pilot informed his one and only passenger that the flight to Chitose would take just a little over eleven hours.
 

~*~
 
Hiromi slept till half past six. After working out in the fitness room, she got herself ready for the day before meeting up with her parents.

“Mom, my stomach is all right this morning, but I can’t stand the smell of bacon.”

“I felt the same way, Hiromi, when I was pregnant.”
 

~*~
 
Akira Sudo was successful in getting the appointment with the Golden Dragons that Dai Hashimoto had requested him to make. The Watanabe shareigashira would meet with Qing Li in Hong Kong at five o’clock that day.

Before the meeting was to take place, Akira had to fly to Hong Kong via Tokyo’s Narita Airport. To get to Japan’s busiest Airport, Akira would take The Narita Express out of Yokohama Station.

Ryuku Kinjoh took Akira to the train station. “Have a safe trip, Akira-san.”

“Thank you, Ryuku-san. I will see you again tomorrow,” Akira said before climbing out of Ryuku’s BMW. He still had to get his carry-on bag out of the car’s trunk.

Akira had a train ticket reserved but he had to get it from Customer Service first. The line was long but fast moving. He was at a window in less than ten minutes.

“I have a reservation for the Narita Express,” Akira said as he showed identification to the clerk. “My name is Akira Sudo.”

The clerk entered Akira’s name into her computer. A small window immediately popped up.

“Yes, I have your reservation here. Bear with me one minute, my printer just went offline for some unknown reason.”

Akira waited at the window close to five minutes. When he finally had his ticket, Akira began walking to the train platform.

He didn’t make it. Before he got to the steps leading to The Narita Express train platform, three men encircled him.

“Are you Akira Sudo?”

“Yes, I am. Why are you stopping me?”

One of the men showed Akira his identification. “I’m Deputy Inspector Tanaka of the Yokohama Police. Will you please come with us? There are some questions we want to ask of you.”
 

~*~
 
Hiromi’s debriefings were growing increasingly difficult and as a result, more mentally tiring. Fred Wenz and her other questioners were digging deeper into her memory for details about her Swan Song work. She had to think very hard in order to give complete answers.

The debriefing adjourned just a few minutes before noon. Hiromi was going to freshen up and use the toilet before meeting her parents for lunch.

On the way to her living quarters, Hiromi bumped into Damien. “Agent Fields, have we heard anything new about Swan Song?”

“Not yet, Agent Ripley, but we are continuing to plan for it as if it is approved.”

It was during her debriefing that Hiromi had thought of something important. “Have arrangements been made for me and Chuck to go on Sydney on Sunday?”

“They are being worked on right now in fact, Agent Ripley. A question has arisen about what hotel you would like a reservation at. Do you have any preferences?”

Hiromi nodded her head gently. “Yes, I do. Can you please get me and my husband a room for three nights at either The Observatory or the Four Seasons? I’ve stayed there before, and I remember Chuck and I thought about staying there when we were planning our next trip to Australia. Just put it on one of my credit cards. Oh! And could you order two high-end local cellphones for me? I want one for Chuck and one for me, to avoid any further communications problems. I’ll leave you my Japanese phone temporarily, so you can clone my directory, but have someone deliver it to me as soon as possible. The local phones aren’t as important, so tomorrow would probably be soon enough.”

“I will get to work on your requests right away, Agent Ripley.”
 

~*~
 
To be continued in Part Thirty Two