The Devil's Playground

by Michael Reagan

Tokyo he was greeted by the smiling faces of Mikhail, Igor, and Aytrom.

  It was a relieved looking Mikhail, who had been ordered by Thomas to stay behind at the hotel despite his objections, who spoke first.

  "Look what the cat's dragged in," he said referring to the two Zaslon officers.

  The commander of Unit B of the legendary unit of Zaslon smiled and warmly embraced Thomas.

  "You look well, Igor," Thomas said.

  "You too, Englishman," Igor responded as Aytrom, his deputy, shook Thomas's hand and embraced him as well.

  "Sergei Andreyvich sends his regards," offered Igor referring to the Director of Zaslon, Sergei Petrov. Thomas responded warmly to that then briefed Igor on how the meeting went and inclusion of Rob within the deal, leaving out the fact that he was CIA.

  "So what are my orders?" asked Igor.

  "I need you to stay in Tokyo to protect Ashley and Hayashi while Katamaya organizes the changing of the guard," answered Thomas ignoring the wry smile of Mikhail behind them over the "protect Ashley" part of his statement, who like them when Thomas had briefed him on what support the Mayor was sending found it amusing that a member of the CIA was being protected by the SVR.

  "Where are we going?" asked Mikhail keeping "Sheket" to use the Hebrew phrase he used earlier for "keeping a secret."

  "Beijing," answered Thomas.

  "Via Hong Kong I suppose?" answered Mikhail, resigned to another long journey on commercial aircraft.

  While Thomas and Mikhail were on their way to Beijing for a meeting with the Chinese to present the "Wise Men Peace Plan," Rob accompanied by his new pair of bodyguards from Zaslon went to meet with Hayashi. As they entered the Japanese politician's apartment building he didn't need Igor to tell him that they were being watched.

  Thomas had not told him much about Igor Valeriyoych Protasov other than he was member of Zaslon and his counterparts in the SVR; it was only when Langley had put the face to name and sent him a file on his background that he had found who he was and what level of experience he had under his belt that he found out hold senior he was.

  Vastly experienced in the dark arts of counter-intelligence and insurgency with experience in Chechnya, Syria, Adwalland, and although it was still unconfirmed, the senior SVR officer on the ground in Turkmenistan. The thirty-six-year-old dark haired man with his crew cut hair style, brown eyes, and olive skin due to his mother's Chechen heritage, was a tough customer and thoroughly professional. Rob was instantly impressed.

  Never the one to miss out on gathering intelligence he had spent the last six hours using all his skills he had learned over the years to question him and so far had got absolutely nowhere nevertheless in keeping with the cover of the Fixer of Dubai, because as far as Igor and his men were concerned, Rob was just a highly connected businessman who had the trust of Kremlin, he pretended to be just that. Which, was why he thanked Igor for the information referencing the surveillance team of the Japanese Security Services then walked into the building.

  Let into the apartment by Hayashi's wife, Rob introduced himself then Igor and Aytrom.

  The woman bowed then asked them to follow her through to the lounge, where a man in his sixties dressed in his white shirt and dark trousers greeted them.

  "Robin-San, it is a great pleasure to meet you," said Hayashi offering his hand.

  "The honor is mine, Yuto-San," Rob responded.

  Zhang's kiss on his lips was hard and forcible when she entered Thomas's arms in the lobby of the Shangri La China World Hotel.

  "I've missed you too, Darling," he said warmly as Zhang's ice-maiden status returned to fore because various Chinese people were now watching her, having realized who she was. Straightening her back she smiled again, this time at Mikhail.

  "Thank you for looking after him, Mikhail," she said warmly.

  "He doesn't make it easy, Zhang."

  "Of that I have no doubt," she replied.

  With his mind completely focused on the clock, Thomas asked her if she had managed to contact the Vice Premier to set a meeting to present the proposal and if successful make arrangements for Krivets to arrive with Lavrov in Beijing.

  She looked downwards for a moment.

  "That won't be necessary," she said with what Thomas assumed was a hint of shame in her eyes.

  "Oh, why is that?" he asked, releasing her to study her more closely.

  "Because I have been told to take you to a meeting with Jiang Zhanpong instead," she said.

  "Zhanpong," Thomas replied, surprised because apart from knowing he was a former head of one of China's largest natural resources companies he knew he was head of China's intelligence service.

  "When?" he countered, having recovered from the surprise of the news.

  "Now," said Zhang just as four officers from the MPS came up behind Mikhail.

  The handshake between Thomas and Jiang was forceful and full of purpose. Each man studied each other in the seconds they held each other's hand in the large office of the Head of China's security services.

  It was Jiang who spoke first once the formalities were out of the way.

  "There is no need for Miss Nu to be present, as from what I understand your Mandarin is good as mine," he said.

  Thomas noted the statement that said, "I know everything about you," but was veiled as a compliment with a polite "thank you."

  Zhang smiled at Thomas then nervously offered one in the direction of Jiang before quickly leaving the room.

  As Zhang's high heels clicked across the floor and he watched her leave Thomas couldn't quite shake the feeling that he was like a mouse caught inside a maze.

  Once the men were alone and both were seated, Jiang started the conversation in English something Thomas noted was a mark of respect to his position.

  "You have proved yourself a most resourceful businessman, Sir Thomas," Jiang offered. "A man who has many friends and foes from all walks of life and one that appears to have the unique ability to survive against odds that have been stacked against him," he said on a charm offensive. "We have a saying in China that describes men what like you believe in every crisis, there is opportunity. I am impressed by your ability to face a problem, craft a solution then sell that solution to others and allow them to take the credit while you receive the rewards. So please share with me your 'Mayor's' proposal and then we will see if the Central Committee accepts it," he said just as one of his assistants entered the room with tea for them both.

  Thomas looked at Zhang's worried face as he stepped outside the private office of Jiang. He knew now she was an intelligence officer with the MPS. It was conclusion that he had reached the second Jiang had used the phrase "the Mayor," for it was a term that was only ever used by those within his inner cabal. A feeling of sadness wrapped itself around him, for it meant their relationship was over, as he could never trust her again.

  To her credit she didn't try and lie to him.

  "I was serving my country," she said proudly.

  "I know," he said sadly stroking the side of her face.

  "It's over between us, isn't it Tommy?" Zhang asked with emotion in her eyes.

  "Yes," he answered simply.

  "Hannah and I liked her a lot," Mikhail said as they walked together through the passport control together for the Dragon Air flight to Hong Kong for their connection back to Tokyo.

  "I know," Thomas answered.

  Mikhail looked at his friend. He knew that look well. It was one he seen many times whenever he ended a relationship during the journey through life together. He changed the subject.

  "So do we have deal?" he asked in reference to the telephone call Thomas had made to the Mayor in the Russian Embassy before they made their way back to the airport courtesy of the Russian Ambassador's Mercedes-Benz S500.

  "We have a deal, now it's up to Parker."

  "And for us to get this Hayashi into power," added Mikhail.

  "I better get some sleep on the plane then as I am pretty certain I am go
ing to get none the moment we land," Mikhail continued ever the solider who could sleep anywhere.

  47

  Tokyo

  Prime Minister Hotaru Okazaki slammed the phone down in disgust as he finished a heated telephone conversation with the U.S. President. During the call he had accused Parker of treachery and selling out the Japanese people when he had been told by him that he was sending the Governor of California to Beijing to represent him at peace talks with China and that he expected Japan to hand back Takeshima Islands to the Koreans.

  At which point, Hortaru ended the call.

  "Gajin!" he said in disgust. "Who is he to demand that I hand back Takeshima to the gokiburi!" he said, using the racist term for foreigners and Koreans to his loyal private secretary.

  The man in his early thirties took a deep breath.

  "Okazaki-San, you need to see this," he said with a shaking hand while offering a covered file to him.

  The Prime Minister snatched it from the man and looked at the photograph of a Gajin and the traitor Hayashi exiting an apartment block.

  "So he's looking for a job!" Okazaki said dismissing the photo and throwing the file on the table.

  The man gulped again.

  "The man and former Foreign Minister Hayashi slipped our surveillance," he said.

  "Slipped?"

  Then it dawned on the Prime Minister why he had been shown the picture.

  "Who is the man with him?" he asked.

  "Our diplomatic intelligence informs us that he a British man called Robin Ashley that is a close associate and representative of the Rulers in the Gulf. He has been known to speak for them in matters that are considered