Ratio(78)

Leopold caught it. “Let’s take a look, shall we?” He scrolled through a list of recent numbers. “Correct me if I’m wrong, Agent Harper, but isn’t this the number for Harborview Medical Center?”

Harper studied the screen. “Yeah. Called that place enough times today, I should know.”

“Now, why would our friend here be so interested in Harborview? Maybe there’s a certain patient in there he’s particularly concerned about?”

The Japanese man glared back at him, but didn’t say a word.

“Maybe you should get out of here, Agent Harper.”

Harper turned to look at Leopold. “And why the hell would I do that?”

“Our new friend looks like he might not be in the mood to talk.”

“If he knows something, he’s not going to risk getting stuck here when the gas hits. He’ll talk.”

Jerome shook his head. “I wouldn’t be so sure. The Yakuza aren’t exactly known for their sensitivity when it comes to informants.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning getting a lungful of sarin is probably better than the alternative if they ever catch up with him.”

The Japanese man mumbled something. Spat on the ground.

“What was that?” Harper said. “Jesus Christ, I can’t hear a damn thing.”

The agent reappeared in the doorway as the alarm systems shut down. Leopold smiled with relief. Even though the generators still rumbling in the background, at least he could now hear himself think.

“That’s better,” Harper said. She turned her attention back to the suspect. “Now, why don’t we try this again?”

“Jigoku e ike,” he repeated, a little louder. He tried to wrench himself away from Jerome.

Jerome punched him in the ribs. The man howled in pain and dropped to his knees.

“Such language,” Leopold said. “And with a lady present.”

Harper folded her arms. “You understood that? What did he say?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“You really speak Japanese?”

Jerome smiled. “Linguistics is a hobby of his.” He looked at Harper. “Mostly to read menus.”

“Three minutes, gentlemen,” Harper said. “If you think you can get any useful information out of this guy, you can go ahead and see what you can do to persuade him. This is the Secret Service, not the Goddamn boy scouts.” She paused. Turned to look at the two agents. “Forget everything I just said.”

They both nodded.

“And get upstairs.”

“Ma’am?” one of them said.

“Officially, this man is going to talk to us of his own accord.” She pointed to the door. “Unofficially, get the hell out.”

“Yes, ma’am.” They left the room.

“All yours,” Harper said.

“I think I’m beginning to like you, Agent Harper,” said Leopold.

“I’ll try to contain my excitement. What’s the plan?”

Leopold looked down at the suspect. He was still on his knees, clutching at his ribs.

“I think we might be able to squeeze a little information out of him,” Jerome said. “But I think there’s someone else who might be able to help.”

Leopold nodded. “I’ll make the call.”





Chapter 57





JUNE PICKED HERSELF up and left the bedroom, forcing herself not to look at the mess on the bed. Shutting the door, she collapsed onto the sofa, her stomach in knots. She grabbed a glass of water from the kitchenette and downed it, feeling a little better before slumping back onto the couch, her mind spinning. She felt her cell phone vibrate and picked up the call. Jerome came on the line, the same clattering noises as before going on in the background.

“What’s going on?” June asked.

“We think we’ve found a friend of yours,” Jerome said. “Japanese guy, missing a finger. Ring any bells? We’ve linked him to the suspects who planted the device in the ventilation system.”

“There’s more,” June said. “My uninvited guest just had a little accident.” She tried not to think about it. “Someone stuffed the pillows with explosives. They just went off. He was on the bed at the time.”

“He alive?”

June felt her stomach roil. “Not exactly.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. For the time being, anyway.”

There was a commotion on the line.

“Jerome?”

“I’m still here. Listen, we don’t have time to go into any detail, but I think our Japanese friend might be behind this whole thing.”

June sat up a little straighter. “Can he stop this?”

“We think so. But he’s not feeling particularly cooperative.”