Ratio(90)
“Director, sir,” a voice said.
The gaijin turned around. A man stood in the doorway, the soft glow of the bedroom lights casting him in shadow. He was solidly built, muscular with a shaved head, and he wore simple, practical clothes.
“What is it, Hawkes?”
“Sir, we’ve had word from the surveillance team. It’s time to move. We need to get out of the harbor tonight.”
“Is everything in place?”
Hawkes nodded. “We intercepted Blake’s communications, as you ordered. You were right; he knows something. But with him out of New York, we were able to complete our reconnaissance.”
“And?”
“It’s all there in his apartment. Just say the word, and we’ll move in.”
“Not yet.” The gaijin set his glass of Scotch on the balcony table. “There’s one more thing we need to do first.” He swept past Hawkes and into the warmth of the bedroom.
“Sir?”
“I want the devices primed before we make ourselves known.” He stalked over to the wardrobe and pulled out a fresh suit jacket. “The Organization spent tens of millions acquiring Chemworks from under Blake’s nose. We’re hardly going to let that go to waste because of bad timing.”
“The prototypes are ready, sir,” Hawkes said, stepping inside and closing the door. “Preliminary tests have been encouraging.”
“Good.” He held the jacket up to the light. The tailoring was exquisite. “Get in touch with navigation. Have them set the course and make preparations to move out in two hours. I want to be in international waters as soon as possible.”
Hawkes nodded. “Yes, sir. What’s the destination?”
“New York City.” The gaijin pulled the jacket on over his shirt. A perfect fit. “I think it’s time we paid Mr. Blake a personal visit, don’t you?”
“I couldn’t agree more, sir.”
The gaijin smiled. The two men left the hotel, slipping away into the heaving Tokyo streets as heavy rain began to fall, fast and cold. Thunder sounded in the distance. The wind picked up.
A storm was coming.
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Have you checked out the other books in the Leopold Blake series of thrillers? You can browse the entire collection at Amazon here:
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UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nick-Stephenson/e/B004MYQ8K6
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To read more about June Kato and her history with the Yakuza and Jack Melendez, you can find the entire series here:
Author Page: http://junekatointrigue.wordpress.com
To continue on to the bonus short story featuring June Kato, click HERE.
About the Authors
Nick Stephenson
Nick Stephenson was born and raised in Cambridgeshire, England. He writes mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels, as well as the occasional witty postcard, all of which are designed to get your pulse pounding. His approach to writing is to hit hard, hit fast, and leave as few spelling errors as possible. Don’t let his headshot fool you – he’s actually full color (on most days).
His books are a mixture of mystery, action and humor, and are recommended for anyone who enjoys fast paced writing with plenty of twists and turns.
For up to date promotions and release dates of upcoming books, sign up for the latest news here:
Author Page: www.nickstephensonbooks.com
Kay Hadashi
Third generation Japanese American, and growing up in a multigenerational home, Kay Hadashi learned Japanese traditions from her grandparents, and the lessons of modern-day life in Honolulu, Hawaii. Dividing her life between Hawaii and the mainland of America, she spends her time refining her tai chi skills, taking Zumba classes, and has a busy career in health care.
A lifelong fantasy and sci-fi reader, and through the experience of writing medical thrillers and short stories, Kay discovered she enjoys writing intrigue. Even though her current main character is female, her stories have wide appeal to both men and women, and people of various backgrounds. If you enjoy intrigue and suspense, you should be able to find a June Kato novel to enjoy!
Author Page: http://junekatointrigue.wordpress.com
Turn the Page to Read the Bonus Short Story “Divide and Conquer” by Kay Hadashi - featuring June Kato.
Divide and Conquer
by Kay Hadashi
Nobody ever told June Kato that babysitting could be such hard work... As a world-class neurosurgeon, June is used to dealing with high-pressure situations. But when a trio of violent thugs invade her home while her four-year-old nieces are staying over, nap time suddenly takes on a whole new meaning. A thrill-ride from start to finish.