Kedo had done the job as far as his influence and skill set went. Aki promised him that pursuing payback
for his sister was not in his best interests. She promised him, things would be ‘taken care of.’
FORCE, with that information had been able to do the mundane espionage work tracing the money, but not all of it, but money leads to people, they are identified, their contacts and cyber lives can be examined which gravitates to more people and so on. You don’t build a complete chain, but once you have enough links you can fill in the rest with speculation and the best thing about a chain is its only as strong as its weakest link or in this case a perceived terminus point where other links converge. An office building in Osaka and Trans Ocean Staffing three months later.
‘This is getting boring,’ Alice whispered. ‘Cross your legs the other way, give them something to look at.’ Aki made the motion look completely natural and within a minute they were whisked into the office of the managing partners, a Mr’s Kimora and Mori greeting them with more than the usual business enthusiasm.
‘We apologise for the delay Miss Hamilton, business has been very active lately.
‘No need to apologise for success gentlemen. That just makes us more keen to do business with you?’ Alice responded, putting them at ease and raising their interest level a little. ‘Oh, please forgive me, this is the President of my shipping enterprise, Miss Eto and since my mastery of Japanese is extremely limited, well two heads and all that.’
Aki made a small bow to them from across the desk, Alice seeing that she forced herself to do it. ‘Seaway Container Company is looking to employ your services on several of our less regular routes.’ Aki said. ‘These routes vary about the globe, so the men or women would have to be able to meet certain specific criteria,’ she added. ‘We understand from talking to other sources that you are the best equipped to supply such personnel, I hope that is true and not just a boastful rumour?’
‘That would depend on who is doing the talking,” Mr Kimora replied.
Aki and Alice now knew who the senior in the relationship was. No Japanese businessman would let an underling speak first in a meeting without giving him leave to do so. They both saw he was the younger of the two, mid thirties, in good shape, well dressed and proud of the clothes by the way he played with the cuffs of his shirt, not to straighten it but to show off to all that it was custom made. Mr Mori was early forties, still trim and attractive, but not as fancy in his dress. His suit was off the rack, albeit, a very good rack, from an upscale establishment. Unlike his counterpart he was not into impressing people or as Alice more astutely overserved women, this told her two things. He was used to being around them and this was not his real job, he was a minder, she knew he worked for TRIDENT. Mr Kimora clearly had eyes for Aki and both of them were playing a game with them.
‘I’m sure you gentlemen have done your homework on us, otherwise, why would we be here, so in the interest of expediency I’ll come right to the point,’ Aki said in flat serious Japanese.
We have over 200 vessels, some coastal, others, the majority, as you know, ocean going. We use them in tandem, one for collection, the other for distribution. We are unmatched in our efficiency and cost structure, maximum profit is the bottom line. Unfortunately, that requires risk, we naturally would prefer to be as risk averse as possible, that is where you come in. Some of the cargo requires specialised handling in the loading/unloading but more significantly in the transportation, security is a priority for these items,’ Aki explained, the implication more than made apparent.
‘Yes, we have done a complete background on your company Miss Hamilton as you would have expected and speaking for my partner and I we are very impressed. Of course, we had heard of you before, but, and I beg your pardon for this, but we had assumed you were more, how shall I put this, above the waves, so to speak,’ Mr Mori explained.
Aki went to speak, but Alice lightly touched her arm.
‘That in the past, has been true, but we are finding today’s environment, with the shifting alliances, rapidly developing markets and the need for spirited entrepreneurship that in order to expand and keep our routes and dockings valid, we need to adjust. I will stress that our exploration of this expansion has the full and complete backing of certain governments and individuals with multinational connections, so for all concerned, we see a growth opportunity for many years to come,’ Alice explained.
‘This is what we require from your organisation,’ Aki added, handing over a bound document. ‘You will notice, for no names or references to either company have been included, collective security for both organisations,’ she added.
They took a few minutes to peruse through it, more of a skim and flip than an actual indepth look at the details, both women knew they had peaked interest.
‘We would need some time to go through this and prepare a response with respect to the feasibility of such a proposal,’ Mr Kimora smiled. ‘I would like to propose next Monday, I hope that works?’
Aki looked at Alice, who flipped through her phone. ‘That would be fine, say 10am?’
They agreed, as she knew they would, then Mr Mori spoke. ‘ Have you ever been to Osaka before?’
Alice and Aki both knew what was coming, but played innocent.
Wonderful, that will give you the weekend to see the city, there are many sites to see and excellent places to eat. If you like, I can clear my schedule to show you about?’
Alice couldn’t resist, she tossed Aki a curve.
‘I’m afraid I have several appointments in Tokyo this weekend, but Miss Eto is remaining here.’
Mr Mori brightened.
‘Very sorry sir, but I think it best we keep to business for the moment,’ she said softly and watched his face fall, then added with perfect timing. ‘However, after our business is concluded I see no reason, whatever the outcome, to not take you up on your generous offer,’ a smile and bow followed.
‘Well we’ll leave at that, till monday then,’ Alice said.
She exchanged handshakes, Aki polite bows, then left.
‘You are a bitch for doing that,’ Aki said amused as they walked along the hallways to the elevator.
‘You loved it,’ Alice laughed a little.
^^^
The two women did as they said so to keep to the plan and showed up Monday for their meeting.
‘Did something happen?’ Aki asked as she was greeted by Mr. Mori in the waiting room.
Apparently, a massive water leak in the main vertical pipe, which led to electrical issues and as you can see water damage, but thankfully we were spared and as you can see from all the people about, the cleanup begins. The good news is we have everything prepared for you, but we seem to be missing Miss Hamilton?’
‘She had an emergency call she had to take. I suggest we go in and make ourselves comfortable,’ Aki smiled sweetly at him, which she knew would work.
‘Mr Kimora,’ Aki said and bowed. ‘Miss Hamilton will be long shortly, an emergency call detains her,’ she added, sitting down and crossing her legs, the action pulling the fabric just above her knees giving both a generous look.
‘We understand,’ he said, looking at his colleague then back to her. ‘We have worked out some numbers and details that I think will surprise you. If all goes according to our plan it will be a great pleasure doing business with you.’
‘My thoughts exactly!’ came a voice from the doorway.
‘Both men looked up at the strange voice then straightened right up, looked at Aki and then down at her Seecamp LWS 32.
Kimora laughed at the situation and made a quick move toward the door while Mori tried to kick the arm of Aki’s swivel chair, but The Silk Geisha was out of and away from the arms before he had a chance to. His follow through sent the chair spinning backwards and away from her while causing him to over balance forward. Aki gave his forehead a crack with the small gun that sent him sideways and down to the floor dazed and finished.
Kimora did not do any better. He rushed around the short corner of the desk and straight at the other woman, one of his arms cocking back behind his head as he readied a punch that missed badly as his opponent bent back away from the blow then delivered a sharp punch to his throat! Hands grasp about the neck allowing her to take his head in the hands and slam it off the edge of the desk! It bounced up and back in a blur and he lay semi conscious, his senses only about to register that his arms and legs were being restrained.
‘I’ve been told I have a talent for first impressions. That aside, we need to get down to business, now that our brief session of Kung Fu Prada is over,’ she said looking over to Aki before placing her clutch on the desk.
‘Enjoy it while you can,’ Mr Kimora said with a hint of fate in his tone.
‘Oh, you’re referring to all those men you had out in the hallway and about the building, they're all dead or soon to be so. Didn’t think I’d fall so easily for that old canard about building maintenance. No, it's just you and us left and we need to complete outstanding business and I’m counting on your cooperation to make this as painless as possible for you,’ she added.
‘You don’t scare us Miss Baxter, you come with a reputation,’ Mr Kimora smiled.
‘I told you TRIDENT went to the slow spy school classes Aki. They just don’t seem to learn. I tried with your man in my casino. Guess you never got that email, but again I came prepared Mr Kimora, when I heard it was you, well I had to insert myself into this operation, it’s good to see you again and you need to work out more!’ she added as Aki worked on their laptop.
‘There, have it, we're in, David’s program is fantastic, all files transferred. I’ll go look for his laptop and anything else I can find,’ Aki explained.
‘Kill anyone left in this office,’ Claire added as Aki moved out the door, gun in hand.
Claire waited for Aki to return, she heard a few shots, looked at both of them, their wrists zip tied about the pulls on the metal filing cabinet doors that covered the one side of the office, their legs, one left, one right from each of them zipped together while their other zipped to the front and back legs of the desk.
‘We will need the access code for this one, too many variables. We could take it with us and do it later,’ The Silk Geisha said after coming back and failing to access the laptop.
‘No Kimora san is going to tell us the code or his assistant is, if he knows it?’ Claire mused.
‘I don’t know it, I swear,’ Mr Mori said.
‘I’m sure you don’t, you're not a TRIDENT agent, but your boss is and I’m sure his laptop is full of all kinds of valuable information.
‘Let’s just take it and go. We have more than we need,’ Aki said, playing the role of good cop.
‘You know how in this business Kimora san you’re always told it's never to be made personal and yet it invariably comes to that. A little over three months ago TRIDENT decided to do a little housekeeping, namely getting rid of the Poison Geisha, but like the situation with the Silkworms they didn’t want to use any of their agents so they went to an outside contractor again. Stupid is as stupid does. As chance or perhaps not happens, I was in Kyoto that day to warn them something was coming. We both know the rest of the story, Aki and I saw the sad ending. It took no time to find you because you took shortcuts. I suspect you Mori san are the culprit here, looking to pad your own pocket, you used some of the money to hire outside help, namely a member of the local Yakuza. He was killed in our intervention, but his tattoo lived on and when his boss found out about it and the ordeal of his sister, a geisha, he was more than willing to help. Turns out this guy liked to talk. He told other members and a few lowlife scum and soon we had all the information we needed to trace it all back to your company. The rest was computer espionage and here we are. Now I want that code, because this is personal, for both of us,’ Claire looked up at Aki. ‘Ready?’
‘You can start anytime you want, we are connected, I’m sure TRIDENT is watching,’ Aki offered.
‘Aki told me Kimora san that you never gave her legs or her a second look, meaning you’re used to being around beautiful women a great deal. When she described you I remembered you from an early mission of mine, so naturally it made sense. You see them all the time, interact with them and maybe more than that, explains why you’re not married. The old adage, why buy a cow when you get the milk for free, comes to mind. Well all good things come to an end.’
Aki laughed at that last part and Claire thought about it then smiled after a few seconds.
‘Can you hand me my clutch, Aki. Now I’ve never used one of these before, but I know someone who has seen this done and done successfully. She’s imparted her recollection to me so everything should be fine, it's a simple three step process. This is a Chinese Castration Knife, used to create eunuchs, for centuries the administrators of Imperial China, from them we get the word Mandarin.’
Claire cut open his pants and shirt. Aki from her briefcase handed her several rolls of bandages she used
to tightly encircle his stomach and upper legs, restricting the blood flow.
‘Everytime you walk past another female agent, you’ll have to just walk past. No more fringe benefits, just a look and frustration, you can’t even masterbate. The positive side is you’ll have so much more time to devote to your job, you’ll be an excellent administrator, that is if you live. Now, last time, I want the code and remember TRIDENT is watching,’ Claire said as Aki tapped the laptop.
Kimora was sweating freely as he tried to squirm and escape. Claire grabbed his tackle in her hands pulling it away from his body.
‘You’ll get the code anyway!’ Kimora half screamed and cried at the sametime.
‘Of course I will,’ she coldly as the knife rolled back, prepared to cut when he cracked.
‘See what happens when you think with the right head,’ Claire smiled as Aki punched in the code and smiled while Claire sliced open Mori’s pants.
‘You have what you want!’ he stammered, his face a lather of cold sweat as well.
‘It wouldn’t be fair if Kimora-san was the only one exposed, just call me curious,’ Claire smiled. ‘Oh, that would have never satisfied Aki,’ she added.
‘Well gentleman, I can say it has been a pleasure. I think we accomplished all our goals, do you,’ Claire said looking at Aki.
‘Numerous TRIDENT agent names, locations and profiles. All funds they had transferred to our account, paper files to be collected, you two marked as traitors to TRIDENT, so yes, I would say a very productive morning,’ Aki said as she closed the laptop.
A look of terror took hold on boh the men’s faces as they realised the gravity of Aki’s statement about TRIDENT.
‘Don’t concern yourself with TRIDENT,’ Claire said as she came around to Aki’s side of the desk. I mean, since we already have all the Intel, what good would torturing both of you do. No, mostly likely, TRIDENT will just put a bullet in both of you. Of course, there is always that waiting for it to happen, the when and where, now that is worse than torture. Luckily for both of you I’m feeling generous, beneficent even,’ she continued saying as she walked to the door and opened it. A few seconds later a man in a very nice business suit appeared.
‘Gentlemen, may I introduce to you Kedo-san. A businessman from Kyoto and the brother of
Aikichi, you may not know the name, but your company and consequently you are responsible for her
being hurt. Kedo-san and his associates would like you to explain how that happened. We’ll leave you
alone to talk business,’ Claire smiled.
Claire and Aki left the building just as a moving truck pulled up. Men piled out with dolly’s to remove the files. They watched for a moment, then saw Kedo-san’s car pull out from the alley, the back end lower than it would normally be.
‘That will be the most pleasant part of their day,’ Aki mused as their car made its way into traffic and the Osaka airport.
‘Wonderful, work with Alice and Cindy to get agents on their way. This will give them something to ponder. Let’s see how TRIDENT reacts to being chased.’
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