Tokyo Noir: The Complete First Season

by J. Scott Matthews

  “And you’ve been working for him ever since?”

  “Yeah. He helps me out sometimes; I help him out. It goes both ways.”

  Mei nodded and chewed her lip. A part of her was furious and wanted her to rage and scream and slap him across the face. Another part of her knew that she had no right. That she was just as compromised as him. Maybe more so, because at least Kentaro had sold his soul to save others. She had just saved her own ass, and later her father’s.

  “That’s how he knew about Arekusuandaa. You told him.” Mei said it without accusation; she was just stating a fact. One she had only just realized.

  “I did. But I didn’t know it was going to come to that. If I had …”

  “What would you have done differently?”

  “What?”

  “What would you have done differently if you knew they were going to burn him alive?”

  Kentaro said nothing. He just looked down. “I don’t know. Maybe it wouldn’t have changed anything. I tried to stop you, for what it’s worth.”

  “Not much.”

  “No.”

  Mei was silent for a while, staring off into space.

  “Would you do it again?” she asked after a while. “If you had the option, would you turn to him again?”

  Kentaro nodded. “I don’t like everything he does, obviously. But he sees the big picture in a way that few people do. And he keeps the peace here in a way that few people can. As paradoxical as that sounds.”

  “I feel like I should slap you,” she said. “But what right do I have? I’m dirty too now. I’m just afraid of what I’m going to have to do. When it’s my turn to start the fire, or make sure someone gets burned.”

  “Look, I don’t feel good about that, okay? I didn’t know that would happen.”

  “Didn’t you?”

  Kentaro looked pained. “Well, not like that. Vasili will do what he has to do to keep the machine running. Even if that means sacrifices have to be made.”

  “You sound like you support him in this.”

  “I don’t want to see people get killed. But people are going to get killed no matter what. So I’d rather see less people get killed.”

  “Cut the utilitarian bullshit.”

  “I’m serious. I’ve said it before, but if we didn’t have organized crime, we’d have disorganized crime. The Kaisha and the syndicates keep the peace more than you realize. Without them, you’d have a power vacuum in the underworld, and those get filled with blood.”

  “So, what do we do, then? Turn a blind eye? Let the occasional person get killed and call it the cost of doing business?”

  Kentaro shook his head. “I know how that sounds. But I honestly think it’s better than the alternative.”

  “It’s still hard for me to accept. I don’t even know if we’re the good guys anymore, or not.”

  “It’s not about good guys and bad guys. You can’t fight monsters without getting a little dirty.”

  “How many people have gotten burned by that sort of thinking?”

  Kentaro refused to back down. “Probably a lot. Can you tell me the alternative is any better?”

  “I can’t.” She leaned back. “It doesn’t haunt you?”

  “Of course it does. Every day. But you have to ask yourself which is worse? Dealing with the devil you know, or letting the devil you don’t take over. No one can answer that but you. It’s good that this bothers you. It fucking should bother you, that’s how you know you’re still human. But waiting for the perfect opportunity to do the right thing the right way is never going to come. Sometimes you have to do what you know is right the wrong way, then have the decency to hate yourself for it later.”

  “I guess you’re right.”

  “You don’t sound convinced.”

  “Not entirely. I don’t think I ever will be.”

  “Neither do I.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “You sure this is the place?” Mei’s father asked. “It doesn’t look like a clinic.”

  “Well, probably not any of the ones you’re used. But this one will treat you.”

  They were standing in a back alley behind a building that looked abandoned, where they had disturbed some alley cats that were still hissing at them. It looked like the garbage overflowing from the dumpsters down the way had been there for years. Graffiti was scrawled up and down the alley, which was covered in places by tattered band flyers and posters for movies forgotten long ago.

  Mei was about to try knocking on the metal door again when it suddenly opened, and she found herself staring into two mismatched eyes. They belonged to a short man with spiky hair who struck Mei as slightly effeminate. He had spiky blond hair and wore a heavy black apron over street clothes that served as his lab coat. The pockets were stuffed with various tools, implements, and bottles that rattled as he moved.

  “Detective Kimura, I presume. You weren’t followed, were you?”

  She shook her head.

  “You’re sure?”

  “I shook them.”

  “Why are you being followed?” her father asked.

  Madoka didn’t give her a chance to respond. “And this must be your father, Detective Kimura Senior.”

  “Just Kimura is fine,” her father said.

  “Of course. Right this way.”

  Madoka led them into a laboratory that looked surprisingly clean, modern, and well-lit, in contrast with its surroundings.

  “Is this your laboratory?” Mei asked.

  “For today it is. Who knows what the future will bring? You saw my colleague, Kimura-san?”

  “Yes. Told me to give you this.”

  Madoka took the test results and examined them.

  “Let’s see … okay. Good, it’s papillary thyroid cancer.”

  “How is that good?” Mei asked.

  Madoka ignored her and kept scanning the sheet. When he finished, he looked up. “It’s good because it’s relatively easy to treat with radioactive iodine treatment. It’s nonsurgical and comes with a good prognosis for survival.”

  “Okay, that’s good,” Mei said. “What do you think, Dad?”

  “Yeah, good.” Her father seemed to be half-listening. He was wandering around the room, looking at the lab equipment scattered on the tables. “So, is this like a general clinic here?”

  Madoka looked at Mei, then turned to her father to answer. “We’re only equipped to handle thyroid and lung cancer.”

  “Why just those?”

  “Because they’re the most common. The other equipment you see is for private research purposes.”

  “I see,” her father said.

  “Great. So here’s how this is going to work,” Madoka said, loud enough for her father to hear as he ambled around. “You need to avoid foods with high iodine content for two weeks. I’ll give you a list. Then, for the two days prior to the treatment, you will be administered Thyrogen shots to boost your levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone. Then you will be given the radioactive iodine as a capsule to swallow. This is followed by two days in isolation until you’re no longer radioactive. Any questions?”

  There was a lengthy pause. Finally Mei said, “Dad, any questions?”

  “No, that all sounds good.”

  Her father had wandered to the other side of the room and was examining some of the equipment there.

  “Only problem is, I don’t have the Thyrogen shots now. If you come back in a day or two, I’ll have those for you.”

  “I can do that,” Mei said.

  “Any questions, Kimura-san?” Madoka shouted to her dad.

  “All good!”

  “Well, if he doesn’t have any questions, there’s something I’d like to ask you.” Mei spoke in a low voice so that it wouldn’t travel to where her father was. “Why work for Vasili? You seem like a bright … um, guy?”

  Madoka nodded.

  “Okay. What I mean is, you seem like you could easily get work for a legit company doing this. Why use your intellige
nce for …”

  “Evil?” Madoka asked with a bemused grin, mismatched eyes flashing. He had lowered his voice to match hers.

  “For something illegal.”

  “Look around you. You’ve got multinational pharmaceutical companies suing sovereign states to prevent them from distributing their drugs cheaply. The government is dropping pension and health care obligations left and right, literally killing people in the process. Those things are legal. But they’re also evil. Hell, you coming here to try to save your father with these contraband medications is illegal.”

  “I can’t argue that. But I also can’t help but notice that some of the chemicals around here are precursors for illegal street drugs. So I’m guessing life-saving medication isn’t the only thing you’re cooking here.”

  Madoka snickered, then casually ambled over to Mei. He tapped on her chest and leaned in close. “Is this thing on?”

  “I’m not wired.”

  “Oh? I thought that was one of your favorite party tricks.”

  Mei flushed a little, more out of anger than embarrassment.

  “Now, now, no need to get hot under the collar. Not the way Arekusuandaa did, anyway.” He grinned. “Look, without getting into specifics, every job has its … compromises. This is one of mine. You’ll always have management telling you what to do. At least this way I get to do some good, and I have the autonomy to do my own research on the side.”

  “So you’ll take the compromise?”

  “Gladly. Until something better comes along. But for your father’s sake, aren’t you glad I’m doing what I’m doing?”

  “What do you think, Dad? I think it looks pretty good.”

  They were sitting in a café following their meeting with Madoka.

  Her father seemed lost in thought. Mei had a pretty good idea as to why. He didn’t respond.

  “Because I think we should go ahead. He seems professional, like he really knows—”

  “What is this all going to cost?” her dad said abruptly.

  “Well, it’s pretty reasonable, actually. I can afford it on my salary.”

  Her dad shook his head. “No, I don’t mean how much. I mean what is this going to cost you?”

  “I … I don’t understand.” She did.

  “That lab was an interesting mix of drug-making equipment. And not just for radioactive iodine tablets, or whatever. One corner had a mini-production lab for Dextro, and I’m pretty sure I saw some glint precursor in some of those tubes. So I’m guessing his operation isn’t entirely legal. That’s why I ask: what is this going to cost you personally?”

  “Whatever it costs me, I’m willing to pay it.”

  “I don’t know. When they get their claws in you, they don’t let go. And if this ever comes to light …”

  “Dad, when it was your turn to pay that price for me and Mom, did you even hesitate?”

  “Mei, it’s not exactly—”

  “No, you didn’t. You paid that price, again and again. No matter how shitty or ungrateful I was about it, you never wavered. I know what this could cost me, if it comes down to it. And I’m willing to pay that price. Because at the end of the day, I am my father’s daughter.”

  Her father smiled. “Yes. Yes, you certainly are.”

  “We’re going to get through this, Dad.”

  He nodded. “You know, when your mother passed, I felt so alone. Like I didn’t have anyone.”

  “What are you talking about? I was always there.”

  “Sort of. But things between us had been … tense, for a long time. It wasn’t the same.”

  “I’m sorry about—”

  He shushed her with a wave of his hand. “It’s alright. I get it. I’m just saying, seeing you now, what you’re willing to do for me …”

  Her father trailed off. It took Mei a moment to see the tear forming.

  “It means a lot to me,” he said once his voice was under control. “I don’t feel alone anymore. And that … that makes all the difference to me.”

  Mei reached out and squeezed his hand. He squeezed back and smiled.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “I want! His head! On a spike! Outside my office! For all to see!”

  As Chobei shouted this, he pounded his fists on Vasili’s desk. Vasili held his hands out in a placating gesture.

  “Calm down, calm down.” He walked over to his door and closed it so that the bar staff outside wouldn’t hear. “Tell me what happened.”

  Chobei stood up and began pacing. “Tamazaki, would you? I’m too agitated now to speak.”

  “Of course,” Tamazaki said.

  Everyone watched Chobei pick up the liquor bottle on Vasili’s desk and pour himself a glass unbidden. He took a drink and then made a face.

  “I think your shochu has gone bad.”

  “That’s vodka. A gift from a friend in Russia.”

  “Oh. Not the best stuff, is it?”

  Vasili didn’t bother to tell him that the bottle cost around a hundred thousand yen. Why bother?

  “What happened?” Vasili asked Tamazaki.

  “We were coming out of a restaurant last night around midnight. Just as we emerged, someone started firing on us.”

  “Anyone hit?”

  “Masuzoe was. He knocked Chobei to the ground as soon as he heard the shots. But he took one in the shoulder doing it. The rest of us returned fire. But it was over quick. They peeled out before it could turn into a full-on shootout.”

  “Strange.”

  “Yeah. Maybe they figured they got him.”

  “And were you able to ID them?” Vasili asked.

  Tamazaki shook his head. “They wore masks. We found the car later that night. Traced it back to a school principal in Ota Ward who reported it stolen. No connection to organized crime or the Path.”

  “Sounds like they were careful about covering their tracks. Especially considering how quickly they took off.” Vasili thought about this. “Why would Soseki be so secretive if he was going to have you killed? Why not just do it in the open? Better chance for success.”

  “I don’t know. I assume because that snake is too afraid to challenge me in the open.”

  “No, that can’t be it,” Vasili mused out loud.

  Chobei glared at him.

  “Because it would be dangerous for him, I mean,” Vasili lied unconvincingly.

  Vasili stared out the window again.

  Something didn’t add up.

  “And a single tap like that …,” Vasili said, still mulling it over. He shook his head. “This was shoddy work.”

  “What do you mean?” Chobei asked.

  “Again, if he really wanted you dead, he would have double-checked. Made sure they got you.”

  Chobei didn’t look too pleased at that.

  “Thankfully he didn’t, though,” Vasili added. “But Soseki doesn’t seem like the type to take half-measures.”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Tamazaki said. “I doubt it was him.”

  “Who, then?” Vasili said.

  Tamazaki shook his head. “One of Soseki’s kobuns trying to make his bones? Someone else from the neighborhood trying to muscle in on territory? I dunno. But I’d believe a theory like that before I’d believe it was Soseki.”

  “Well, you two seem pretty sure it wasn’t him,” Chobei said. He looked furious. “And I suppose your council is to do nothing, is that it?”

  Vasili nodded. “Yes. Is exactly right. For now, at any rate. If it’s them, we need a plan of attack. And if it’s not them, we need to find who did it.”

  He shook his head again. Something didn’t seem right.

  “Okay, okay. But what about Nakasone? When the volcano on Aogashima Island started erupting, the government said it couldn’t organize a rescue until the next day. So Nakasone took his luxury yacht down and helped evacuate.”

  Kameko never took her eyes off the road as she deftly navigated the large SUV through the late-afternoon traffic. Mei had met up with he
r to track down the lead on surgeons in Tokyo with the ability to perform the type of liver transplants they were looking at. Kameko’s expertise in the field would come in handy, so Mei agreed that she could come. Unfortunately, it also meant wasting time dicking around trying to slip the guys tailing her. They must know she was onto them by now. Either that, or they probably figured she just liked looping around Shibuya on long, aimless walks.

  They had spent the better part of the morning making the rounds to different hospitals. Kameko’s research had turned up nine doctors in the Tokyo Metropolitan Region capable of performing an orthotopic liver transplant. So they had been going to their offices to check up on them. Specifically, they were looking at their schedules, for any overlap with the serial killer’s patterns. They had found nothing so far. Mei was beginning to wonder if this wasn’t another dead end in a case full of them.

  “Yeah, sounds familiar,” Mei said.

  “Him and his crew rescued about seventy people who were stranded on the island. Not only did he save them, but I heard he even served drinks and snacks while they watched the eruption from a safe distance. Even you have to admit that that’s pretty heroic.”

  Mei just shook her head.

  “No, see, he charged everyone he rescued some ridiculous sum of money for his ‘expenses.’ He even charged them for the drinks. Made a couple of trips back too, to collect from everyone. A few of the people ended up killing themselves because they couldn’t pay up.”

  “Huh, I hadn’t heard that part of it,” Kameko said. “Alright. How about—let’s see—Killer Kaibara?”

  “Not sure if I know that one. But he doesn’t sound promising.”

  “Well, he killed a bunch of people, sure. But they all deserved it. Like, he killed guys from another gang who were stealing from people in his territory. Or like rapists, psycho killers, people like that. Cleaning up the streets and all. Real honorable like.”

  “Oh, wait, that sounds familiar. Was this out by Hachioji? Guy got shot about a year or two ago?”

  “Yeah, that’s him.”

  “Okay, Junichi Kaibara, I remember now. A colleague of mine was investigating him. He tells the story a little differently.”