He took another flying leap at the heavy oak panels, with about as much success as before.

Three more times in rapid succession, with the noise echoing around them, and still the door stood firm.

Alicia froze as an accented voice behind them said, “Perhaps I might be of assistance?”

4.

4.

Startled, Jack whirled and reached for his Semmerling, but held his hands wide when he saw that the newcomer already had a pistol pointing at him.

Yoshio.

Jack knew he had to look stupid standing here and gaping at him, but he couldn’t figure it out…

“Where the hell did you come from?”

“From the trunk of your car.”

“The trunk?” Jack couldn’t believe it. “When did you—?” Then he got it. “Oh, hell. Back in Chelsea, right?”

He wanted to kick himself. He hadn’t had the car long enough to notice the extra weight in the rear, but still, he shouldn’t have left anything to chance.

Yoshio nodded with a strained smile. “A most uncomfortable ride.”

“I’ll bet,” Jack said, remembering all the bumps they’d bounced over and holes their tires had dropped into on the way up here. “Jeez, you must’ve wanted to get here bad.”

“Yes, Jack-san. Very bad. And what of your promise to share information? What had happened to that?”

“Our deal was right of first refusal,” Jack said, gently as he could. Not a good idea to rile the man with the gun. “And we don’t even know what we’ve got yet.” He turned to Alicia. “By the way, this is Yoshio, the Japanese gentleman I told you about.”

Alicia looked about ready to shed her skin. She stood stiff and still, her eyes never wavering from the muzzle pointed their way.

“Say, ‘Pleased to meet you,’ “ Jack whispered out of the corner of his mouth.

“Pleased to—does he have to point that at us?”

“Very sorry,” Yoshio said. “If Jack-san will please to give me his weapon, I will put this away. It is only to protect myself, I assure you.”

So damn polite, Jack thought as he pulled out the Semmerling and handed it over.

But true to his word, Yoshio pocketed the little .45 and then holstered his own 9mm. It occurred to Jack that this was a guy who had to be pretty sure of his physical abilities.

“Now,” Yoshio said, “shall we see what is inside?”

Jack nodded. “All right. On my count…”

The door cracked around the latch plate on their first simultaneous kick; the plate buckled on their second, and they were able to pull the door open.

The first thing Jack noticed was that the lights were on inside.

But then, considering what this place supposedly housed, why not?

“Please,” Yoshio said. “After you.”

Polite, Jack thought. And not letting me get behind him.