Free Fall

by Fern Michaels

  “I know, my dear. I should say, Myra and I suspected. As to helping Jack, the matter is being taken care of as we speak. Jack will not be attending any scheduled meetings tomorrow.”

  Nikki’s sigh of relief was so loud, the others laughed. The mood in the war room turned upbeat. The women turned to Charles, who was still standing behind Nikki’s chair. They waited.

  “The reason this meeting today was delayed a whole year, and I apologize to you, Yoko, was because I had pressing matters to attend to in Spain. As you may or may not know, Annie has turned over her mountain monastery to us, the Sisterhood. It’s a difficult place to reach and all supplies have to be helicoptered in. That accounted for many delays and if you add bad weather spells, time will get away from you. I am happy to report that this room,” he said, waving his arm around, “has been duplicated on that very mountaintop. Actually, it’s larger, more high tech. I want you all to tuck this information in the back of your mind. The day may come when we make a mistake, when we have to move on. That mountaintop is where we will head. Later, I will be giving you a small folder that you will need to familiarize yourself with in case things get—What is it Kathryn says?—ah, yes, dicey. It may never come to pass but it is best to be prepared for any and all eventualities.”

  “The two reporters seem to be at the root of our problems. Can’t we do something about them?” Kathryn asked.

  “The wheels are in motion,” Charles said briskly. “I think we should now get to Yoko’s mission. She’s waited long enough. Myra will hand you your folder. Peruse it while Yoko tells us her story. Then we’ll decide how to proceed. Yoko, the floor is yours, my dear.”

  Yoko licked her lips as she sat up straighter. “I cannot believe my time is finally here. I want to show you a picture of my mother. I never knew her but she was very beautiful and, I am told, a very gentle, loving person. She was fifteen years of age when this photo was taken and she was brought to this country.

  “My mother came from a very poor family. So poor my grandfather, who I never knew either, was forced to sell his daughters. I understand he was given a princely sum of money for my mother by a very rich American who promised he would love, honor and respect my mother and her family. I am not sure of the amount but understood it to be five hundred American dollars. What my grandfather did not know was this rich American was involved in a prostitution ring. He brought many, many young women from Asian countries to satisfy his and his friends’ sick fantasies. When he tired of them, which didn’t take long, he sold them to other sick people like himself. These women were passed around and around until they became sick and diseased and then left to fend for themselves with no homes, no money and no place to go. Unfortunately for my mother, she became pregnant. She told no one except the women she was forced to live with in very squalid conditions.

  When the man who is my father found out, he sent her to others. He was done with her. Only two women ever escaped this man and they are the women who raised me. I always called them Aunt out of respect but they are not blood relatives. My mother gave birth to me and the others whisked me away immediately. My mother was immediately sent back on the…circuit…I do not know the word. She bled to death. She was seventeen. The others told my aunts she was tossed in a ditch and covered up. I think my mother would have loved me even under the circumstances. I know I would have loved her.

  “My aunts died of the same disease as my mother. Others took me, were kind to me, fed me, housed me. They educated me the best they could. I am grateful to all of them.” Yoko’s voice broke when she said, “There was no one to love me. Not even from the man my aunts arranged for me to marry. More than anything in the world I wanted to know what that feeling of love was like. I found out when I met all of you. I am so very grateful to all of you.”

  Because they were women with hearts, they were all off their chairs in a heartbeat, clustering around Yoko, patting her back, her arm, stroking her head, mouthing soothing words of comfort until the little woman was ready to go on.

  “I want to expose the man who killed my mother. I want the world to know what a sick pervert he and his friends are. There is this club he has where men pay astronomical sums of money for people like my mother. I want him to suffer physically and I want to see him publicly scorned and to end up in prison in a tiny cell. I want to be his warden until the day he dies.”

  Myra struggled to get her tongue to work. “Did your aunts give you this man’s name? Do you have anything to help us track him down, dear?”

  Yoko leaped to her feet. “Oh, I know who he is. I know where he lives. I know his name and everything that has ever been printed about him.”

  Even Charles was stunned at the announcement. “You actually know who it is! Who is it, child?”

  “His name is Michael Lyons. They call him Mick.”

  The women bellowed as one. They looked at Yoko in disbelief. The disbelief turned to belief when they saw the tears rolling down her cheeks.

  “The movie star!”

  “America’s heartthrob!”

  “The president’s Ambassador of Good Will!”

  “At fifty, the sexiest man alive!”

  “Oh, my goodness,” Myra said.

  Charles was speechless but only for a moment. “The man they call Mister Perfect! The man who has won three Oscars! The benevolent, philanthropic Michael Lyons! It’s unbelievable. Yoko, are you absolutely certain?”

  “I am certain, Charles. I have very little in the way of proof but what I have is enough. It is all in my car. Michael Lyons is my father. He is the man responsible for my mother’s death. And now it is time for him to pay for what he has done.”

  “It’s not that I doubt you, Yoko, it’s just so hard to believe a man as famous as Michael Lyons could be involved in something like this. There was something in the Post yesterday about him. He was nominated for another Academy Award in March. I think the article said his people are campaigning for him. Something like that,” Charles said.

  “I read the same article,” Alexis said. “I saw the movie, too. It was excellent. They were touting him for an Oscar before it hit the screen. I didn’t think I’d like a movie called A Pocket Full of Stars but, like I said, it was excellent. Lyons is a terrific actor. No offense, Yoko. Now, though, after what you said, I hate his guts.”

  “I used to know a lot of people in Hollywood,” Annie said. “I even bankrolled several musicals. I imagine I could get in touch with some of those people if need be. Of course, that was a while ago but I assume they are still around.”

  “One of my clients has a brother who is a big honcho at Paramount,” Nikki volunteered.

  Isabelle chirped up. “When I had those temporary offices in the District, one of the men who signed on was from California. He told me he designed several houses for big-name movie stars. I can get in touch with him if need be.”

  Ever practical and ever verbal, Kathryn looked around at the others. “How does someone of that stature get away with something like this? The man has to have a flaw in his armor somewhere. Think about it. Yoko is 33. Her mother died giving birth at the age of 16 or 17. That’s a lot of years. How is it he’s never gotten caught? Don’t people like that get disgruntled and rat each other out? He must have one hell of a network in place is all I can say.”

  “The Internet is an amazing tool,” Charles said. “The man’s an actor. Obviously we have to mount a campaign of sorts. We’ll meet up tomorrow morning and run through possible scenarios. I’ll start now while you ladies retire upstairs to discuss this among yourselves at greater length.”

  In the kitchen, Nikki made coffee while Isabelle sliced a fresh pound cake that was sitting on the counter. Alexis set out plates and silverware. Myra and Annie huddled with Yoko, assuring her that justice would be done.

  At Yoko’s skeptical look, Myra hastened to assure her things would work out. “Look at it this way, my dear. If you had to place a wager on us versus the man who is your father, who would you place that wager on?�
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  Yoko smiled for the first time that evening. “With all of you, of course.”

  The others clapped her on the back before they each gave her a big hug. “Good choice, sweet cheeks,” Kathryn said.

  “Excellent choice,” Nikki said, and grinned. “God, I can’t wait to get my hands on that bastard!”

  “Spoken like a true sister!” Alexis said.

  “Let’s all sit here in Myra’s lovely kitchen and drink coffee while we come up with suitable punishments. Whoever comes up with the best punishment gets a prize,” Annie said, excitement ringing in her voice.

  “What is the prize?” Yoko queried.

  “You’ll see. Now, let’s get to work!” Annie’s mind kicked into high gear. What would be a suitable prize? A video, she decided. In glorious color. For their portfolio. She had no idea how that would be possible but it was something to think about. The Sisters really had a library of their activities. Yes, yes, a video would be a great price and one that could be shared by all the Sisters.

  Chapter 3

  Yoko tossed and turned, looked at the bedside clock for the hundredth time and finally got out of bed. She tried to be quiet so as not to wake Kathryn and Murphy, who appeared to be sleeping soundly. Wrapping a blanket around herself, she crept to the window seat, curled up and stared out into the dark night. She’d never felt so alone in the whole of her life. Within minutes she felt Murphy’s cold nose prodding the blanket. She moved slightly so the big shepherd could join her on the window seat. She wrapped her arm around the dog’s neck for comfort as she gave way to the tears she’d been holding in check.

  Once, way back in the beginning, actually, the first day she’d met Kathryn and Murphy, she’d been terrified of the dog. Kathryn had shown her no mercy, either, telling her to get over it. For all of an hour she’d hated Kathryn and the ferocious dog. A whole hour. Now, she couldn’t imagine her life without Murphy, Kathryn and all the other sisters. She cried harder into the blanket she was wrapped in. She felt Murphy leave her but didn’t see him pad over to Kathryn’s bed and tug at her blanket and then paw at her shoulder. Kathryn stirred, disoriented, and then swung her legs over the side of the bed, thinking the dog had to go out. He nudged her leg to follow him to the window seat where Yoko sat curled up crying.

  Kathryn was wide-awake now. She gathered Yoko into her arms. “What’s wrong? Are you sick? Do you want me to make some tea? What is it?”

  “I am so very sorry, Kathryn. I did not mean to wake you. It is everything. I am not ready for tomorrow. Today, really. There is something I need to do first. Something I have wanted to do for a very long time but I did not have the courage to do it.”

  “I don’t think it’s a problem, Yoko. We’ll just tell Charles you need more time. The girls will understand. Do you want to tell me what it is you want to do? Maybe I can help you.”

  “I want to go to Japan! I need to go there!”

  “Ah, I see. Because of Harry Wong. You miss him.”

  “No, no, you don’t understand. Not because of Harry. I need to find my mother’s people. My grandfather, my grandmother, any brothers or sisters of my mother. It has been so many years. I do not even know if they are alive but I need to see where my mother was born and lived. I want to know my family. Before I can commit to anything further concerning my mother I must understand everything. I cannot marry Harry, even though he has asked me many times, until I…Am I wrong, Kathryn?”

  “Not at all.” Kathryn got up, put on her robe and tossed Yoko’s to her. “Let’s go, little sister. I’ll wake the others and together we’ll get this puppy up on four legs. Come on, shake it!”

  “It’s three o’clock in the morning!” Yoko protested.

  “So what? We’re up! The others have had enough sleep. I’ll get everyone up and put coffee on. I’ll even make breakfast if you want.”

  “All right.”

  Kathryn jerked at the belt on her robe as she left the room. She shouted at the top of her lungs, “Everyone up! Crisis mode! Come on, come on! The house is on fire! Let’s go, people!” She swatted Murphy on his butt. The dog did his part and let out an ungodly howl. Doors opened, everyone babbling at once. “Downstairs, downstairs, no questions. Hop to it, everyone! I’m making coffee.”

  Grady, Alexis’s dog, raced out of the room and down the hall to follow the fast-track shepherd.

  Kathryn grinned when she heard Annie say, “I must say, Myra, you run an interesting household. Do you always do fire drills in the middle of the night?”

  “Shut up, Annie. This is a first for us. Something’s up!” Myra mumbled as she joined the wild push to get downstairs.

  “How exciting! I don’t see any smoke. I don’t ever remember having coffee at three o’clock in the morning. I guess we won’t be going back to bed. I do hope it’s flavored coffee. I adore flavored coffee. Especially hazelnut,” Annie babbled.

  “If you don’t shut up, Annie, I am going to shove my foot in your mouth,” Myra shot back.

  Annie clamped her lips shut as she marched into the maelstrom in the kitchen where Kathryn was banging on the counter with a wooden spoon.

  “Listen up, everyone! Our little buddy here,” she said, pointing to the diminutive Yoko, “says she can’t proceed with her mission until she goes to Japan to find out about her mother’s family. The coffee will be ready in a minute so let’s kick this around and see what we can come up with.”

  Kicking around Yoko’s problem lasted exactly five minutes, with everyone agreeing Yoko should go to Japan. Annie rounded off the decision by volunteering the use of her private jet that could be ready in ninety minutes. “I’ll even go with her.”

  “Well that settles that!” Isabelle said, heading for the stairs.

  “Yoko, dear, are you all right with this?” Myra asked as she poured coffee.

  “Oh, yes. You’re all too kind. I thought you would…I don’t know what I thought. I can be ready to leave in one hour. I always carry my passport with me.”

  Annie looked around, trying to decide if she’d been too impetuous or stepped on anyone’s toes or was out of line in some way. Myra smiled at her and gave her a discreet thumb’s up.

  “Then let me call my pilot so he can file a flight plan. I, too, have my passport. I’ll call my chauffeur to pick us up in”—she looked down at her watch—“ninety minutes. We can be wheels up ten minutes upon arrival. Does that work for you, my dear?”

  “Yes…But how will we find my grandparents? I know only that they were very poor and lived outside a small village on a little farm. Will it not be like looking for a noodle in a haystack?”

  “Needle, dear, not noodle. I’m sure by now Charles has some information that will be helpful. He’s been working through the night. If he doesn’t have sufficient information by now, he’ll certainly have it upon your arrival in Japan. It’s an extremely long flight to Japan so that will work in both your and Charles’s favor.”

  Annie, her arm around Yoko’s shoulders, led her up the back staircase so they could get dressed while the others prepared breakfast.

  “What’s going to happen if they can’t locate the grandparents or, worse yet, they’re dead? It’s going to be such a crushing blow to Yoko,” Nikki said, agitation ringing in her voice.

  Kathryn stood at the window peering into the darkness. “Isn’t it better to know than spend the rest of your life wondering and regretting not going to check things out? There’s bound to be a few cousins somewhere. If Yoko can just find one relative, she’ll be happy. I know exactly how she feels and my heart breaks for her.”

  “You’re right,” Isabelle said, having changed her mind about going back to bed. “I also think Annie is the right person to go with her. Have you all noticed how motherly she is? Yoko just eats it up and that’s the way it should be.”

  Alexis tied an apron around her middle. “I’m going to make breakfast. I’m making one thing, not six different things, so decide what you want.”

  Nikki threw a wadded
-up paper napkin at Alexis. “Bacon and eggs, toast and more coffee.” The others agreed.

  After that, the only sound heard in the kitchen was the hiss of the frying bacon and Alexis cracking eggs into a big yellow bowl.

  The Ladies of Pinewood settled into a holding pattern.

  Anna de Silva’s luxurious Gulfstream landed smooth as silk in Tokyo at Narita International Airport. Thirty minutes later the two women were whisked through customs and out the door where they climbed into a waiting chauffeur-driven car. The moment the women settled themselves, the driver handed Annie a manila folder.

  In stilted English he said, “I am to drive you to your destination, ladies. There is fresh coffee and tea in the thermos containers as well as fresh baguettes. There are also two copies each of the Japan Times, the Washington Post and the New York Times for your reading pleasure. It will take us seven hours to reach our destination.”

  Annie reached for the thermos that said COFFEE on the top in big red letters. Yoko reached for the one that said TEA. “I guess we have Charles to thank for all this. It is so like him. He is a master at taking care of details. Not that these are details, more like absolute necessities. I’m babbling again. I don’t know why I do that. Myra is forever telling me to be quiet. I guess I’m just nervous. Do you want to read whatever is in this folder, since it concerns you, or do you want me to read it?”

  Yoko sipped at the hot tea. “I would prefer for you to read it. I have some…some limited difficulty reading English.”

  Annie shuffled the thick sheaf of papers in her lap. Before she started to read she put on a pair of wire-rimmed reading glasses. She skimmed through the papers before she started to read. “How does the man do all this?” she asked.

  “Charles can do anything. He really can. He calls the Queen of England ‘Lizzie’ and they speak on the phone.”

  “Imagine that!” Annie said, adjusting her glasses. “All right now, here we go. As you know, your mother’s name was Suki, which means beautiful and beloved. She had, or has, three sisters who are named Yayoi, which means born in spring, Yoshe, which means beauty, and Ran, which means water lily and a symbol of purity. There were four brothers, named, according to this, as firstborn, second born, third born and fourth born. Their names are Taro, Jiro, Saburo and Shiro.