Chapter 2
When the door of the shop opened, a woman wearing a black lace dress entered, her eyes moving around the shop until she caught sight of her target.
Him.
Xia turned her back and began to work on an order at the counter as April came his way. He could smell her perfume the instant she stepped inside.
She greeted him with a sultry smile. "I need to talk to you."
The Chinese man held back a sigh of exasperation. Besides bodily throwing her out of his store, was there any way to get rid of this woman?
"I'm busy," he stated. "Try after lunch."
His abrupt tone hadn't put her off.
"It's very important that I speak to you in private. I need business advice."
Was that true? Or was that just an excuse to get him alone?
He wasn't a stranger to the advances of beautiful women. Years ago, long before he came to New York, women had offered themselves as a distraction. And they usually had a sinister motive behind it, so he had never accepted any offers. In his opinion, women who never hesitated to use their wiles when it came to anything were dangerous. Men had a tendency to fall into those traps and didn't live to regret it.
Not that he thought the clothing store owner had any ulterior motives. She was harmless. Just spoiled, persistent, and used to having men fall all over her.
"All right…" Devlin led the way to his office, and she followed, closing the door behind her.
She found a perch on the edge of his desk, and he sat in his leather desk chair, leaning back to study her.
"I have things to do."
April nodded. "Your assistant said so." She studied the wall behind him for a few moments before speaking. "Earlier this morning, a man named Geraldo Rodriguez came in. He told me that a client of his is interested in buying my store."
His brows drew together slightly. "You settled in not too long ago."
"I know." She lifted her hand up, studying her manicured and painted nails. "Anyway, he offered me two hundred thousand for the store."
He was mildly surprised. "That's three times the value of that location."
"Money doesn't matter to me," April shrugged, continuing. "I've made so much over the last ten years to last me for a long time. But it seemed like a very nice offer…plus I might be able to invest the money into expanding my business."
"A generous offer like that usually comes with a price," he concluded.
"That's the strange thing…" April continued, her eyes on him. "When I talked to Mrs. Chow, she said that the same man came in asking for her place."
Now that was odd. Mrs. Chow was the proprietor of the Golden Palace Restaurant, right next to Tanaka's.
She spoke up, "And Kozue told me that the same person had been in Tanaka's."
That was strange. Three business establishments had received offers?
"I told him that I'll think about it and he can come back later," April said, leaning back, resting her weight on her hands that she braced on top of his desk. "Am I right in thinking this situation is weird?"
He waited a second before answering honestly, "It does seem unusual that the same man approached the three of you. He obviously has something planned for the space since you three are right next to each other."
"So I was right in telling him to come back later?"
"You need more information before you can sell to him…"
"Okay. I just wanted to make sure that my first reaction was the right one." April slid off his desk. "Thanks."
He didn't see why she couldn't have called him about this. This conversation could have easily happened by phone.
He knew the reason in about two seconds.
Because that's how long it took for her to sit in his lap.
"Now that business is over," April said in a breathy voice, her hands resting on his shoulders.
"I have work to do," came his concluding statement. He stood up, knocking her off balance, she had to grab his desk to prevent herself from falling over.
He didn't miss the amused look on Xia's face through the window.
April smoothed back her dark brown hair, adjusting the bottom hem of her dress. "You're very stubborn, you know that?" She stepped forward, close to him, not bothered by his impassive expression. "We'd be very good together, you know. Are you afraid you'll enjoy it too much?"
He grasped her elbow and ushered her towards the door of his office. "Goodbye, April." And he effectively pushed her out of his office, closing the door in her face.
Blowing out an exasperated breath, April made her way to the counter, to see Xia cutting sections of a burgundy organza ribbon.
"I have a question for you." April began to twirl a finger around a strand of her brown hair.
"What's up?" Xia glanced at her before going back to her cutting.
"How well do you know your boss?"
Xia glanced in the window, seeing him currently on the phone. As always, he had the same expression when dealing with customers – thoughtful, sharp – never revealing irritation or exasperation with the indecisiveness that seemed to come to brides or prom dates when they needed an order done.
"Well enough," Xia answered frankly. "Why?"
April shrugged a shoulder. "He just doesn't seem interested in me."
"What took you so long to figure that out?"
"Any reason why?" April pressed.
Xia said nonchalantly, "Some guys just don't want to get involved with women."
"But there's a reason why. There's always a reason why."
"I don't know…maybe he came out of a bad relationship…maybe she died…maybe he got divorced…I don't ask him about his personal life," Xia retorted.
April blinked at the younger woman's sharp tone. "All right, all right. I'm just wondering what I need to do to change the current situation."
To which Xia replied flippantly, "Save yourself the aggravation. I think he'd rather swim with sharks."
Vvvvv
Two days later, Devlin walked into Tanaka's after the busy lunch rush. The restaurant only had five customers, all chatting, their plates cleared away. In the far corner of the dining area, Tina and Tanaka sat at a table, pensively studying a piece of paper clutched in Tina's hands.
Tanaka looked up as he made his way towards the couple.
"Hey, Dev," Tanaka greeted absently. "Kozue should have your lunch ready in about ten minutes…"
"All right." Devlin settled in the seat across from them.
Tina sighed, shaking her head while Tanaka had a thoughtful expression in his eyes.
Devlin hadn't missed the distracted greeting his friend had given him. Usually, Tanaka's greetings were always backed with some humor. Today, there was none.
One of the waiters had placed a glass of iced water in front of him.
"Someone sent this to us early this morning…" Tina said quietly, handing the paper to him.
Devlin took the outstretched item between his hands, studying the handwriting. His eyes narrowed slightly. The handwriting had been disguised. He always had keen eyesight, and it had helped him survive over the years. The note, telling Tanaka that he was a fool, and he would regret his decision.
"April told me about Rodriguez," Devlin whispered.
Tanaka looked at him sharply. "April knows?"
"She and Mrs. Chow were given offers as well."
"What did they say?" Tina asked.
"April told me that she told the man to come back some other time when she's thought over the offer."
Tanaka set his jaw. "He called yesterday and earlier today to try to convince me to sell again. He even gave me a higher buying price."
"You think Rodriguez is behind this?" Tina inquired, looking wildly at her husband and his friend.
"Or at least who he works for," Tanaka answered. At Devlin's lifted brow, he said, "Claudio Moreno."
"Ah. I see."
Tina studied their friend carefully. "You know who he is."
Devlin drank some of his water before answering, "He's a local mob boss…has several different businesses around Manhattan and Brooklyn that are fronts for his real businesses."
"Which are?" There was a little hint of fear in Tina's voice.
"Weapon smuggling…drugs…illegal boxing rings…" Devlin shrugged. "They're rumors…but…"
"Most rumors tend to have some truth in them," Tina stated decisively. She sighed, placing a hand over her husband's. "Don't be angry…but I want to call the police."
Tanaka turned to his wife, shaking his head. "You know how I feel about that."
Tina's eyes pleaded with him.
"Tanaka!" Kozue called out, coming from around the sushi bar. He lowered his voice so not to arouse suspicion in the lingering customers. "I found this taped on the door in the back…" He held out a plain white envelope.
Kozue waited as Tanaka tore the envelope open, reading the note inside. He crumpled the note and set it on the table. Devlin carefully picked it up, unfolding it and reading the same disguised handwriting.
'I tried to be reasonable.'
Tanaka sighed. "Kozue, is Dev and Xia's lunch ready?"
His assistant blinked and took a step back. "It should only be a few more minutes. Let me check."
"Lunch can wait," Devlin said. "What do you plan to do?"
"We'll do this the honest way and call the police," Tina said.
Tanaka sighed. "Tina-"
"Look, I know you can handle this on your own," Tina pleaded, squeezing his hand. "But I'd just feel better in leaving criminals to the police." Her cheeks flamed. "No offense."
At that, a wry smile crossed Devlin's face.
Not many people knew his and Tanaka's secret. Tanaka…and his staff…had all been working for certain…organizations in Tokyo. Tanaka had been the right hand man of Masato Hideyoshi – first born son of the yakuza head in Tokyo. Kozue had been Tanaka's assistant. Tanaka had left his life in Tokyo when he had met Tina who had been studying abroad in Japan to complete her art degree. They had fallen in love and gotten married, moving to New York.
And as for himself? Like Tanaka, he had changed his identity when he got to New York. Once an assassin-for-hire named Locke Koh, Devlin had gotten away from the profession. Very few people knew who he was, so he did his best to make sure that he had covered his tracks.
At least until a few months ago. A group called the Black Hearts had found him…somehow…But he had handled them the best way he knew how. And Tanaka and Kozue's help didn't hurt, either.
He had only been retired for about two years. Still, old habits died hard.
"All right…" Tanaka sighed in defeat. "We'll call the police…"
Vvvv
It had taken a while for them to arrive. Tanaka had instructed them to come in from the back and into his office so not to scare customers. Tanaka had sent Kozue to deliver Xia's lunch. The girl would be closing the shop today, so Devlin's shift was done.
Devlin sat in the corner of Tanaka's office, against the wall, with Tanaka at his desk, as Tina escorted two men inside the office.
One was a short Asian man dressed in a gray suit, his hair smoothed away from his face, and thin wire-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. A Caucasian man with red hair, standing close to six feet accompanied him. He was also dressed in suit.
"Thank you for seeing us on short notice," Tanaka said, shaking the men's hands.
"Of course," the Asian man responded. "I'm Detective Kuan-yin, and my associate, Detective Waller."
"Tanaka Sakamoto," the restaurant owner responded, gesturing to his two companions. "My wife, Tina, and our friend, Devlin. Please, sit."
As everyone settled in, Kuan-yin got straight to business. "How can I help you?"
Tanaka nodded to Tina, who came forward.
"So far…we've been receiving disturbing letters that have been dropped off here in blank envelopes…" Tina placed them on Tanaka's desk.
The two detectives studied the letters carefully.
"Do you know anyone who would have reason to do this?" Waller asked.
"Well…" Tina glanced at her husband.
Tanaka continued, "Several days ago, a man named Geraldo Rodriguez came in, wanting to buy my restaurant from me. I told him that I'm not selling. Since then, he's been calling, trying to convince me to sell. Apparently, his client, Claudio Moreno, is interested in buying my property for a business investment."
Kuan-yin studied him carefully. "That's quite an accusation…"
Tanaka shrugged. "I just think it's a little too much of a coincidence."
"Well, there are many reasons why anyone could want property in Chinatown," Waller responded.
"Moreno is an import/export entrepreneur with offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Why he would want something in Chinatown…" Kuan-yin trailed off, his eyes studying the papers. "Is there anyone else you can think of who could send these? People you might have wronged in the past…people after…someone close to you?" His eyes shifted to Tina.
Devlin watched as Tanaka's eyes began to fill with anger.
"There is no one else I can think of," Tanaka said tightly. "I'd appreciate it if you could look into this matter."
"Of course," Kuan-yin nodded. "I believe you have a business to run, so I'll get out of your way. Do you mind if I take these? Perhaps we'll be able to get a lead?"
"Go ahead."
"In the meantime, Mr. Sakamoto," Waller held out a white business card. "If anything else comes up let me know. And if you have reasons to suspect anyone else, let me know right away."
"Thanks." Tanaka snatched the card out of the man's hand. Even a blind man could see the irritation that Tanaka tried to control.
"I'll walk you out," Tina announced.
Once everyone was out of earshot, Devlin said flatly, "I don't trust him."
Tanaka smirked. "You, too?"
"I don't trust many people," Devlin continued.
He wasn't the type of man who got uneasy. But he knew when something was off. This…was definitely that.
His friend sighed, peeking outside of his office door to check to see if his wife was still escorting them out. "We did it her way and I think now more than ever it was a bad idea."
Devlin moved to the door, exiting. "I'll be back. Tell Kozue to do a check on Waller."
Tanaka frowned. "You think they're hiding something?"
"Possibly." Devlin headed out to the hallway next to Tanaka's office, walking towards the exit at the back of the restaurant. "I'll be back in a few hours. And see if you can get someone to tail Kuan-yin and Waller."
"You've got a plan?" Tanaka asked. It wasn't a surprise. In Devlin's previous life, he always had some sort of strategy when it came to dealing with every situation.
"Not yet."
The answer came a few hours later. During dinner, Devlin had walked into Tanaka's office to see him and Kozue already there.
A group of papers stapled together was in Tanaka's hands. He rifled through them carefully.
"So Waller's had some foreign account that has a thousand dollars put in it every week," Tanaka concluded, glancing at Kozue.
His assistant nodded. "That's correct."
"The same can be said about Kuan-yin," Devlin said, tossing his gathered stack of papers onto Tanaka's desk.
It had taken a little digging, but his research skills weren't that rusty. They had helped him a lot over the years.
"What the hell?" Tanaka scowled. "And it's obviously not from some rich relative."
"The money is deposited into Kuan-yin's account by a bank in Florence, Italy." Devlin sat in a chair facing Tanaka's desk. "It belongs to a family of bankers that has been there for at least two hundred years."
Kozue's eyes widened as he snatched up Devlin's research. He flipped through the pages, frowning. "This is the same bank I found depositing into Waller's Swiss account."
"The bank's president is Pietro Giorgiono," Devlin said quietly. "He's the uncle of Armino Gaetano."
Tanaka dropped his papers. "Gaetano? As in Moreno's assistant?"
"Damn. You are good," Kozue chuckled, directing the comment to the former assassin.
Devlin nodded. "So you do know who he is…"
Tanaka swore softly. His eyes steeled with resolve. "We tried to do it the honest way. Dammit."
"No one knew they'd been on someone else's payroll," Kozue said.
"I love my wife, but I'm handling this my way," Tanaka growled.