Remember Tokyo

by Nick Wilkshire

  She frowned as she searched her memory, then shook her head. “No, and we haven’t really seen much of each other since you gave me the cold shoulder,” she added, obviously enjoying Lepage’s discomfort at the barb. They spent a few minutes asking her to recount every interaction with Lepage in the weeks before the accident, particularly anything out of the ordinary that he might have said or done, but it was clear that it was pointless. Charlie glanced at his watch, aware that Kobayashi would be arriving soon, and eager not to involve Farnsworth further if there was nothing she could do to help anyway. He exchanged a look with Lepage and they both stood.

  “Wait,” Farnsworth said. “Aren’t you going to tell me what this is all about?”

  Charlie looked at Lepage, who sighed, then put his hand on Farnsworth’s shoulder. “The less you know, the better it is for you. Bottom line is I screwed up and did something I shouldn’t have done. To be honest, the smartest thing you could do now is forget you ever knew me.”

  “Well, that sounds a trifle harsh,” she said as they reached the door and Lepage turned to face her. All joviality was gone from his expression. “I mean it, Elizabeth. You do not want to end up on the wrong side of these people, believe me. If you do think of something, it’s probably better you get in touch with Charlie. And be careful. Don’t open the door to strangers or walk around alone at night until all of this blows over.”

  “And when’s that likely to be?”

  He paused at the door. “I wish I knew. I really am sorry, you know … for everything.”

  She smiled and surprised him by leaning forward and giving him a peck on the cheek, adding before she shut the door. “And you two be careful as well.”

  Charlie nudged him in the arm as they headed back to Lepage’s apartment. “I think she forgives you.”

  Kobayashi, Charlie, and Lepage sat in the rear corner of a dimly lit bar across the street from Lepage’s apartment, a silence descending over the table following Charlie’s brief explanation of Lepage’s dilemma.

  “I don’t blame you if you don’t want to help,” Lepage finally said, looking down. “I made my own bed, and now I have to lie in it.”

  Charlie looked to Kobayashi. “It means he …”

  “I know.” She gave him an indulgent smile, then turned to Lepage. “Kimura has threatened you?”

  Lepage nodded, then gave a little gulp. “Actually, she wants to get rid of Charlie, and … she also mentioned you. She thinks you’re both becoming dangerous.”

  Kobayashi turned to Charlie with a look that said I told you so.

  “I was thinking.” Charlie ignored the rebuke. “I might be able to talk to the RCMP liaison guy about making a deal. Obviously, they’d want co-operation from you, Rob — information about what you were doing and who’s involved.”

  Lepage shrugged. “I’ve got nothing to lose at this point, but why would the RCMP want anything to do with it?”

  “Because there’s already an international fraud investigation that includes the Montreal company you worked for. I don’t know what they have on the Tokyo end of things, but I’m thinking you could be a very valuable source of information to them.” He turned to Kobayashi. “I assume this is linked in some way to the investigation you said your organized crime unit was conducting, that identified Nippon Kasuga as being on the fringe of something illegal.”

  “They’re more than on the fringe,” Lepage said.

  Kobayashi nodded. “I can find out more.” She noticed the odd expressions on their faces, and the awkward silence that followed her comment.

  “Kimura said she had a source somewhere in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police — someone feeding her information,” Lepage said. “That’s how she knows you’re digging into the yakuza angle, and why she sees you as a threat.”

  “You don’t trust me?”

  Lepage shook his head and Charlie jumped in. “Rob’s not talking about you, but we need to be careful from here on in about who knows what information we’re accessing.”

  Another silence enveloped them, then Kobayashi slowly nodded. “I understand. But there is a way that we could use this source to our advantage.”

  Charlie looked at her and suddenly understood. “You mean disinformation?”

  “That’s a good idea.” Lepage was nodding his agreement.

  “We can start by telling Kimura that you’ve found a clue to this mysterious account,” Kobayashi continued. “Something that keeps her interested, and ensures that she doesn’t act against Charlie.”

  “Or you,” Charlie said with a frown. “I live on a secure compound. You don’t.”

  Kobayashi shrugged, then Lepage cut in. “I’ve already tried to buy time with her, and she gave me until tonight. I don’t know what else to tell her to get us another day.”

  “Tell her you want to meet tomorrow night,” Kobayashi said. “That you’ll have what she needs by then. Be vague.”

  Lepage frowned. “I don’t know if she’ll buy it, but I guess we don’t have much choice.”

  “I’ll float the idea of the deal with the RCMP tonight,” Charlie said. “If we need someone at HQ to sign off, we’ll have to have it by tomorrow night.”

  Kobayashi nodded. “And I’ll spread the word around tomorrow that I’ve abandoned my inquiries into Seger and you,” she said, gesturing to Lepage. “Hopefully that will get back to Kimura and buy us some time. In the meantime, we all need to be careful.” The three of them sat in silent acknowledgment of the pact, then Lepage broke the silence with a question.

  “Where’s the meeting tomorrow night?”

  “The Sensō-ji Temple in Asakusa,” Kobayashi replied. “It’s public.”

  “We get in touch tomorrow if anything changes, otherwise we meet under the lantern gate at six.” Charlie turned to Lepage. “Tell Kimura you want to meet on the front steps of the temple at seven.”

  CHAPTER 34

  Charlie sat at his desk reading an email, vaguely aware that he was reading the same paragraph for the third time. It was impossible to think of anything else but Lepage, and whether or not there was any appetite for the deal Charlie had proposed to the resident RCMP liaison officer, Ted Hudson, the night before. He had only met Hudson a couple of times, and he could tell from the surprise on the young Mountie’s face when Charlie had knocked on his apartment door the previous evening that he would have an uphill battle.

  But after laying everything out, Charlie had been pleasantly surprised by Hudson’s apparent openness to the possibility of at least considering some sort of deal for Lepage. Hudson was aware of the ongoing fraud investigation — it was one of his active files — and also of the fact that the various international law enforcement entities involved in it were becoming frustrated with the inability to close the loop on the main players. Maybe the possibility of breaking the case wide open had appealed to him, but whether Hudson’s motives were rooted in sheer ambition or something more altruistic, Charlie didn’t much care, as long as he went for it.

  Hudson had been careful not to offer immunity and had warned that whatever happened, Lepage was likely to have to pay some price for what had definitely been active participation in criminal activity. They had parted company at about eleven, with Hudson promising to get in touch with his superiors in Ottawa to see if there was something that could be done. He was also going to contact the white collar crime expert, Dixon, to make sure he had all the current information.

  Charlie turned his attention back to his monitor and stared at the same email he had been trying to focus on for the last fifteen minutes when he looked up and saw Hudson standing in his doorway with a smile on his face.

  “I think we’re on.”

  “What’s the deal?” Charlie waved him in and closed the door behind them.

  “If your guy can connect the dots between Montreal and Tokyo on this thing, we can work something out. It’s not going to be immunity, but his co-operation will be taken into account when it comes time for a plea bargain.”

&nbs
p; “He’s risking a lot for us,” Charlie said.

  “He’s also made a lot of money by participating in global fraud.” Hudson’s tone was even but firm. “But, like I said, his co-operation will be taken into account. You’re gonna have to trust me on that.”

  Charlie hesitated only for a moment before nodding his agreement. “So, what do we do?”

  “There’s something else,” Hudson said, and Charlie’s ears perked up. “Dixon told me that one of the Montreal-based guys that the OC task force there is monitoring just arrived in Tokyo this morning.”

  Charlie frowned. “Who is he?”

  “We think he’s connected to Seger. His passport’s been flagged, but he’s got no official restrictions on his travel.”

  If Hudson was trying to reassure him, it wasn’t working. “And what do we think he’s doing here?”

  Now it was Hudson’s turn to frown. “We really don’t know. We don’t think he’s an enforcer, but we can’t be sure. Best we keep him in mind when we’re making our plans, that’s all.”

  Great, Charlie thought. Now it wasn’t just Kimura and her yakuza pals that they had to worry about. But something wasn’t adding up. “Isn’t that … unusual?”

  “What?”

  “His coming here. I mean, if they’re all working together, wouldn’t the local yakuza look after any loose ends?”

  Hudson was nodding in a way that made Charlie think he had already come to the same conclusion. “Unless they don’t think they’re cleaning it up quick enough. There’s a lot of money at stake, and your guy’s been out of the coma long enough that they should have their account information by now.”

  “If their interests are diverging, we might be able to use that,” Charlie said, eliciting a slight nod from Hudson.

  “Maybe.”

  “It also means thing are going to come to a head … and very soon,” Charlie mused. He wondered what progress Kobayashi had made at her end, and whether they would be able to get everything in place by this evening’s meeting. It seemed hopelessly close. “We’re running out of time,” he said, more to himself than for Hudson’s benefit.

  “One other thing.” Hudson pointed a finger at him. “These people are dangerous, so we have to be careful. That means I have to coordinate and approve any interaction between Lepage and any of his former associates.” He paused and looked at Charlie. “We’re clear on that?”

  Charlie nodded. “Sure.”

  “Same goes for your dealings with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. What’s your next planned contact with Inspector Kobayashi?”

  “We’re supposed to touch base today, but nothing firm.”

  Hudson nodded. “Okay, let’s set up a meeting ASAP.”

  “I’ll call …” He stopped as he glanced at his computer in response to the sound of an incoming message. “That’s her now,” he said, clicking the message open. “She wants to meet in about an hour.”

  “Where?”

  “A coffee shop just down the hill on Aoyama-dori.”

  Hudson nodded. “That works. Go ahead and confirm.”

  Charlie sent a quick reply, as Hudson stood to leave.

  “I’ll meet you out front in forty-five minutes.”

  Charlie watched him leave, then noticed he had an administrative meeting in half an hour. He would have to skip it, which he knew would put Denault on the warpath, but that was the least of his worries.

  Charlie and Hudson sat on one side of the table by the window, eyes on the street.

  “There she is.”

  “Her?” Hudson followed Charlie’s glance and watched Kobayashi’s approach to the coffee shop. Once inside, she spotted Charlie and headed toward their table.

  “Not what you were expecting?” Charlie concealed a smile as he sipped his coffee.

  “Uh, I guess not.”

  “Don’t let her appearance fool you. She’s all cop.”

  They stood as she arrived at the table, and Charlie took care of the introductions.

  “Ted has been working with some of your colleagues on the international investigation.”

  Kobayashi looked at Hudson. “It must be the 7th Division — Superintendent Yoyogi’s unit?”

  “That’s right. You know him?”

  She nodded. “I know his work, and I have friends in the 7th division.” She looked at Charlie. “Financial crimes.”

  Charlie began to break down the situation, including the need to connect the Montreal and Tokyo elements of the operation in order to establish a cross-border fraud that would unlock the powers and penalties available to bring down the ring and prosecute the members to the fullest extent, as well as to secure some leniency for Lepage.

  “We’ve also heard that someone we think is involved in the operation has just arrived in Tokyo from Montreal,” Charlie added. “We think he’s connected to Seger.”

  Kobayashi frowned. “Do you know the purpose of his visit?”

  Charlie and Hudson both shook their heads. “We were wondering about that ourselves, and thinking it might be evidence of a rift between Montreal and Tokyo,” Hudson said. “Whatever really happened to Seger, Montreal can’t have been impressed, especially since no one here has been able to extract the account information from Lepage. Maybe they think Tokyo’s being too lenient.”

  Kobayashi frowned. “He’s in Tokyo now?”

  “Arrived this morning. Your colleagues have eyes on him, and so far he hasn’t left his hotel.”

  “Shouldn’t we get Lepage somewhere safe right away, just in case?” Charlie looked to Hudson, then Kobayashi.

  Hudson shrugged. “We can protect him at the embassy.”

  Kobayashi waved a hand. “But we run the risk that someone following him will find out he’s co-operating with us.” They sat in silence for a while before she continued. “We must continue as normal for now, at least until the meeting this evening.”

  Hudson leaned forward and put his arms on the table. “On that note, we’d better figure out how we’re going to run this meeting.”

  CHAPTER 35

  Charlie was barely in his chair, having just returned from the meeting with Kobayashi, when Denault appeared at his door.

  “Do you mind telling me what the hell you think you’re doing?”

  Charlie sighed. “I know I missed the administrative meeting, but I …”

  “I’m not talking about that,” Denault snapped, and Charlie felt a sense of foreboding. “I’m talking about this so-called investigation, or whatever it is you’ve cooked up with Hudson.”

  “I ran everything by him, and the RCMP’s on board. Just ask Hudson yourself.”

  “Well, I’m not on board, and neither is the ambassador.”

  Charlie was feeling more and more insecure, as it occurred to him that both he and Hudson ultimately reported to the same guy — the head of mission. Charlie could be forgiven for leaving Denault out of the equation, but not advising Westwood was a serious oversight and could jeopardize the whole deal, not to mention landing him in big trouble.

  “I was going to — ”

  Denault held up a hand. “You can save it, Charlie. Come on,” he added, motioning to the hallway.

  “Where are we going?”

  “You can explain it all to the ambassador yourself. He’s waiting.”

  Charlie ignored Denault’s little smirk and considered his other options, which he quickly realized were non-existent. He took a deep breath and steeled himself for what was no doubt going to be a very uncomfortable meeting.

  They rode the elevator up in silence and for once they didn’t have to wait outside Westwood’s office, his assist­ant waved them straight in. Charlie noticed an unfamiliar expression on her face as he walked past her, and felt like a condemned man headed up the steps to the gallows. Westwood was standing by his desk when they walked in.

  “What on earth is going on, Charlie?” he said, before they had even reached the sitting area. The normally unflappable Westwood seemed agitated, which Charlie too
k as another bad sign of what was to come.

  “I can explain,” he began, putting his hands up in a calming gesture.

  “How you converted a consular file into some sort of sting with the RCMP, without letting me know? Is that it?” Westwood said, staying where he was as Charlie and Denault awaited permission to advance. The ambassador shook his head and waved them to take a seat as he joined them. Instead of his usual, relaxed posture, leaning back on the sofa with one leg dangling across the other, Westwood was hunched forward, as though waiting either for information or to pounce across and throttle Charlie.

  “I should have briefed you, or Louis,” Charlie began, gesturing to Denault, who sniffed derisively next to him. “It’s just that everything is happening so fast.”

  “Should I remind you that you’re a consular officer in your first month of a posting. You’re in no position to start setting up clandestine operations. If you’d come to me, I could have told you so.”

  “I only approached Hudson last night, as a result of a discussion I had with Rob Lepage. I didn’t really have a chance to think through the right procedural steps,” Charlie said. “I’m sure Ted didn’t either.”

  “In case you’re thinking of throwing Hudson under the bus, I’ve already talked to him,” Denault jumped in, with an eagerness that Charlie found particularly annoying, not to mention ominous as he realized for the first time that Hudson’s absence from the current meeting might have been Denault’s doing. “He assumed, quite reasonably, that you had already received at least an informal approval from the HOM to proceed.”

  Charlie wasn’t convinced that Hudson was all that concerned about anything other than headquarters sign off, but he wouldn’t score any points here by mentioning that, and he had no intention of trying to blame Hudson anyway. Charlie was the one who had stepped in a big pile of shit, and it was up to him to get himself out of it. He thought he saw a slight frown of disapproval on Westwood’s face at Denault’s statement, and seized on the opportunity.