They looked at each other but this time without the laughter. Their sudden hesitance seemed to suggest there was more to this story, and Randi suspected she knew what it was.

“You still stay in touch with him, don’t you?”

Both men stared guiltily down at the table. Sato was the first to speak. “He’s a wacko, but he’s also really smart. The guy’s forgotten more about Japan than most people will ever know.”

“Maybe even us,” Rainsburg said.

“Okay,” Randi said. “Sounds like he might be my man. You got a number?”

They both grinned.

“What?”

“He doesn’t really like phones,” Sato said.

“Carrier pigeon?”

Rainsburg scribbled something down on a sticky note and held it out to her. “This is his PO box in Portland. Handwrite a letter and send it there.”

“Not certified or registered or anything,” Sato interjected. “Just give him an anonymous PO to get back to, put a stamp on it, and drop it in a public box. If he’s interested, you’ll hear from him in a few days.”

Randi looked down at the address.

Christ…

35

35

Tokyo
Japan

When Masao Takahashi entered, the four men in the room bowed respectfully and then took seats at the conference table. He returned their silent greeting before positioning himself at one end.

The commanders of the Japanese self-defense forces and the director of the country’s intelligence efforts had been called there by the prime minister to discuss China’s continued hostile stance. The possibility that Japan could be forced to defend itself from its massive neighbor had finally become too obvious for even the politicians to ignore.

The meeting was supposed to start at precisely 1500 hours, but half an hour after that they were still waiting. It was to be expected—a cheap power play on Fumio Sanetomi’s part, but one that would have no effect on the men in this room. Undoubtedly, someone on the prime minister’s staff had been ordered to quietly watch them and report back any sign of discomfort. They were wasting their time. Each man sat in silence with eyes fixed straight ahead. They would do so for as long as was required.

Sanetomi finally entered forty-five minutes late.

“Good afternoon, Prime Minister,” Takahashi said with a bow.

“My humble apologies, gentlemen,” Sanetomi said, his refusal to acknowledge the general’s greeting undoubtedly meant to signal his displeasure. “I received an unexpected call from President Castilla and our conversation only now finished.”

Takahashi smiled passively at the intentional insult and then sat unbidden. The photos of Japan’s dead sailors were being displayed on every news channel across the world and there was little doubt that the prime minister knew who had leaked them. But what could the politician do? As the threat to Japan grew, people looked away from the circus performers they had elected in favor of the military men who actually had the expertise and resolve to protect them.