“Thank you. Geisha are supposed to keep their mouths shut, after all. It’d be bad for business if word got around that I can’t.”
The Inspector gave a concerned look. “Unfortunately, imprisonment has only increased his prestige among the other patriotic societies...”
Reiko swallowed hard as she saw the dark future that lay on Japan’s horizon. “What about Lieutenant Nakajima?”
Inspector Aizawa sighed. “The Army claims he was sent to Manchuria…but I don’t know for certain.”
Despite the warmth from the electric heater blasting at full force, another chill ran down her spine. She would pray to the gods that Hajime Nakajima would be swallowed up by the vast Chinese wilderness, if he wasn’t dead already. But somehow she knew it wouldn’t be enough. With Masaru more popular than ever and the possibility that devil soldier could still be alive, her sense of purpose rose like the bright morning sun.
“Inspector, I want to help.”
He gave a warm smile. “You’ve helped enough.”
“No, I haven’t. I’ve been hiding in Asakusa, hoping the world would pass me by. Everything with,” she bit her lip, briefly mourning her past life, “everything with Masaru has made that clear.”
“What are you saying?”
“I want to be an undercover agent for you. I’ll be the eyes and ears of justice, you’ll be the fist.”
“No, it’s too dangerous for a woman.”
“Inspector, how many of your men can you still trust?”
Aizawa sighed and said, “After everything you went through…you still want to return to this world?”
Reiko nodded. “I’m a natural spy, Inspector. As a geisha, I can attend lavish parties. As a moga, I’ll slink around nightclubs and gambling dens. After a few drinks, I can pry secrets out of any man.”
He fell silent for a few moments, rubbing his squared chin. An honorable man like Inspector Aizawa would no doubt balk at putting a civilian, much less a woman, in danger without a good reason.
“Inspector, acting as your informant will not only give me a source of income…it might very well save the Imperial capital again.”
Aizawa’s eyes softened with understanding.
“After Nakajima’s,” Reiko said, pausing to swallow, “rehabilitation, I was numb, unable to think for myself. But when Masaru threatened Tokyo…our home, his hold over me snapped. I couldn’t let it die again. I just couldn’t.”
“Reiko-san…”
“It’s my city too, Inspector. I want to protect it with you.”
Aizawa gave a slow nod in agreement. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a green pack of Golden Bat cigarettes. He lit two of them and handed one over. Reiko stared at the wisps of smoke that poured from the glowing ember. It reminded her of the incense she’d lit yesterday while praying for the souls of Baron Onishi and his wife, that poor Sergeant Murayama, his family, and for Japan’s future which now looked so uncertain. But now, there would be no more hiding. Alongside Inspector Aizawa, she would protect Tokyo.
Thank You
Thank you for reading Shadows of Tokyo, the first book of the Reiko Watanabe/Inspector Aizawa series. If you enjoyed this novel, please leave a review on Amazon! Honest reviews from readers like you are absolutely essential for authors to survive in today’s marketplace.
Please click here to leave a review.
Thanks!
Reiko Watanabe and Inspector Aizawa will return in Smoke Over Tokyo!
About the Author
Matthew Legare has always loved reading, writing, and history. He’s combined his passions to tell stories set during little-known, but fascinating, events of the past. His style is a smooth blend of old pulp magazines and contemporary thrillers, which makes for a pulsating read.
Matthew would love to hear from his readers! Please contact him at:
Website: www.matthewlegare.com
Twitter: @mlegareauthor
Shadows of Tokyo Page 28