The Lost Kingdom

CHAPTER TWENTY

Alicia struggled in the grip of her two captors. They had made the bonds on her wrists tight, but not enough to stop her blood flow. They held her upper arms firmly, bruisingly hard, but she knew she could take it. Dahl fought to make her move forward from the right, Hibiki from the left. When she didn’t move fast enough the Swede threw her up against a brick wall, pressing in close.

“Quit it. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Alicia, her face squashed by the brick, mumbled. “Oh, Torsty, what’s the first thing you think about when you have a girl up against a wall?”

“Stop with that swaying. We’re here.”

As Dahl pulled her away from the wall they saw the small squat building ahead, barely lit, its lobby shrouded in shadow and its upper floors completely black. No guards were in evidence, no human presence of any sort.

Dahl propelled Alicia toward it. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Hibiki.”

“My girlfriend and my friend are inside. So do I.”

Though Karin had identified the Yakuza-owned building wherein Hibiki speculated the Yakuza preferred to admit their more ‘precious guests’, she had not been able to identify any entry protocols. That problem was left for Hibiki to deal with. Using the only cops he could trust in Kobe and one of their informants, he had been able to put together a good idea of the etiquette and procedure.

But first he’d had to use the hours since Chika left to pass for a member of the Yakuza.

Tattoos had been painted around his neck and on the backs of his hands. Behind his ears. Anywhere that the skin was exposed. The ink would resist water but wouldn’t exactly stand up to a good scrub. Despite his reservations, Hibiki was happy with the quality of the tats in the time they’d had available.

Alicia had taken a picture on her cellphone. “For later,” she said. “For blackmail.”

Now, they approached the barely illuminated frontage, a set of glass doors. Hibiki put his hand on the vertical, brushed metal handle and paused, looked up to the top right where a tiny, inconspicuous camera watched.

He stared, dragging Alicia into view, and waited. After a long time the door clicked and Hibiki pulled it open.

“Keep your mouths shut,” he whispered. “I’ll do all the talking.”

Alicia wriggled in their grip. “Now you know that’s gonna be a problem. Never been one to—”

Dahl pushed her so that she stumbled inside. Hibiki pulled. All three of them surveyed the quiet lobby as they walked across a polished floor toward an unmanned desk. If anyone was present they were certainly doing a good job of concealing themselves. Hibiki stopped at the desk, staring above it at a blank TV screen.

Alicia knew what he was doing and took another moment to study the place. The area was about as mundane as an accountant’s weekly schedule. The likelihood was that many of the people who worked here didn’t realize what went on in the lower levels. Maybe during the day they even used a different entrance; this place did have a lower parking garage after all. Hanging her head, she switched her attention back to the front, now beginning to feel bored and about to say so.

The TV screen flickered to life, a hard Asian face staring out at them without an ounce of emotion. “What is it?” he asked in Japanese.

“Prisoner.” Hibiki clearly knew better than to elaborate by referencing the HQ. Such things were obvious.

“Where you from?”

“Tokyo.”

The barest flicker of uncertainty. “Your boss?”

“Rei,” he said, using information provided by his informant. Still, his heartbeat all but doubled.

Alicia listened, understanding nothing but knowing Hibiki was swinging it rather close to the edge. She struggled. Dahl, possessing the same instincts, clubbed her over the head.

“Be still now. There’s a good girl.”

The activity distracted the impassive face. “And the Englishman?”

Hibiki shrugged. “He’s… he used to work with her. It’s complicated.”

“Go down. We’ll see you.”

Another click and a door to their left swung wide open, a door they hadn’t even noticed was there. Set into the wall at the back of an alcove it was seamless and handle-less. Hibiki knew that the Yakuza weren’t at risk even now; this was but one layer of security — the real test would be conducted in private where imposters could more easily be made to disappear.

Alicia allowed herself to be dragged through the door, down a set of stairs, past more CCTV cameras than she could count and onto a brand new level. Here, directly before them was another unmanned desk and a bank of elevators. The right side was already standing open. Hibiki ignored it and the desk and pressed the button on the left, another protocol successfully passed and now the guards must have gained at least an element of trust. They traveled down for thirty seconds and then the doors opened. Hibiki pushed her out first into a white glare.

“Stop.”

Down here it was different, more akin to the environment she preferred. The bright lights came from directly ahead and the shadows of men holding guns stood right before her. One of them stepped forward and lifted her chin.

“Who is she?”

“An informant’s girlfriend.” Hibiki chuckled.

“Your plan is to use her to turn him back to us?”

“That is for the boss to decide.” Hibiki shrugged. “I’m just a soldier. The informant has betrayed his family, our trust.” He gripped Alicia’s throat and then sighed, letting go. “Either way, she must not be harmed until he determines.”

“Bad timing,” a man said. “The trial means you won’t be able to leave soon.”

The Yakuza guard lifted his rifle and waved them past. Alicia blinked the glare from her eyes as the bright light dimmed. The area around her was basic, all plastic desks and hanging bulbs. Open packets of food lay on the tables, some upturned, and a deck of playing cards. Coins stood in piles everywhere. Men sat around, hard-faced and smoking or toying with their handguns. A hundred comments came to mind but she bit her tongue, struggling to keep them down.

Damn, now there’s a first. Maybe it is time to start making that change.

But not today. Never today. Her vision finally fully returned, she spied a heavy door behind the men and a keypad set against the wall. They were close. But still the Yakuza weren’t pacified.

“And the big one? He is your responsibility.”

Hibiki nodded. Alicia saw these men weren’t guards in the truest sense of the words — they were minders at best. Of course nobody would actively seek to gain entrance to a Yakuza stronghold; nobody in their right minds, and probably never had. If a person did, and even passed this level of security they only gained entry to a building full of even more of the same. She put her head down, hiding her face, because she just couldn’t figure out how to imitate that broken, terrified look of the frightened captive. Better to stare at the floor.

Together, they approached the heavy door. One of the guards entered a six-digit code and pushed it open. Beyond Alicia saw a roughly hewn tunnel, shored up by heavy spars set into the walls and illuminated by a row of strip lights. It was rudimentary, but effective and perfect for the Yakuza’s needs. No more words were passed as the door closed behind them. Hibiki started forward, saying nothing. Dahl coughed and Alicia looked up at him.

“Keep your mouth shut,” he said, his meaning twofold, both as a token threat for unseen eyes and as a warning to her — their enemies could yet be playing them, allowing them to venture further into their territory.

The tunnel ran straight, cold and damp in parts, but sturdy enough. Nothing trickled or drifted down from above. Cameras were attached to every second spar. Alicia imagined the busy road above; the cars that passed over every day having no idea as to the activity going in beneath. How many other cities in the world had this kind of set up? London? Washington? New York? Those, she thought, and hundreds more.

It didn’t take long to traverse the tunnel. The far side was composed of a glass cubicle, which the three of them entered and waited inside. Completely enclosed they assumed that again they were being vetted. Hibiki stood patiently until a door opened automatically and allowed them access to another room; the mirror of the one on the opposite side. Yakuza guards stared at them as they passed through and entered another elevator.

Hibiki caught both their eyes. His meaning was clear.

We’ve done it.

Alicia allowed herself an inner smile. Dahl’s grip on her arm relaxed. The elevator doors whooshed open.

And a scene of dangerous bedlam met their eyes.

Guards were rushing around, guns up. Outside the elevator a man stopped as he ran past, took a look at Hibiki and his captive.

“Better keep a low profile for a few hours,” he said. “Check in over there and wait.” He pointed to yet another unmanned desk. “The guy should be back soon.”

Hibiki’s face was surprised, and the expression was not faked. “Considering where I am,” he said, “I’m wondering what the hell is going on?”

Shouts were flung through the air all around them. Men who looked like boys helped double the guard near the front entrance to the building. Suited individuals with a sense of authority shouted order, themselves looking flustered.

Hibiki coughed. “Please. What is happening here?”

“We’ve been infiltrated.” The man shook his head in disbelief. “A woman. She came in here with the girls. The entire building is in lockdown, all the guards up and armed. Damn, if this hasn’t happened before.”

Alicia watched as Hibiki struggled to contain himself. “What girl? Why?”

“They think it is the sister of one of our special guests. You know, the one scheduled for trial tomorrow? Well, they think it’s her and that she has help. But don’t worry, they caught her.”

“They caught her?” Hibiki’s words all but trembled.

“Of course. And now they have both of them.” The man laughed. “Should be a real showcase tomorrow.”

Alicia closed her eyes, feeling actual gloom for the first time since they locked handcuffs on her, and then reopened them to take in the chaotic scene. Hundreds if not thousands of guards — all getting organized and ready for battle. Dozens of bosses. More weapons than she could count. Untold security precautions.

And now they were smack bang in the very middle of it.

“Fuck,” she said aloud.

The Japanese man stared at her. “I don’t know what you’re worried about. Nobody’s going to be interested in you for at least two days.”

Hibiki grunted. “I only came to drop the bitch off.”

“Then you’re out of luck. Nobody’s getting in or out of here, my friend. Nobody. Not even Special Forces could get through those doors now.”

Alicia unobtrusively caught Dahl’s eye, both of them having the exact same thought.

No. But I bet Matt Drake could.

When he took Chika’s call Drake felt elation. Against the odds but with stealth and the unexpected on her side, Mai’s sister had completed her task. Hibiki’s operation had also passed with relatively little hiccup — that was until the trio gained access to the Yakuza HQ. It was then that Drake, listening through the comms, learned Chika’s fate and saw the new dilemma.

Shit, we have a team inside that can’t operate. One sister about to go on a showcase trial and the other about to join her. How did all that happen?

He sat back in the chair, pushing it away from the table and rubbing his eyes. They were on a knife edge. Could he bridge the blade one way or another? His watch read: 3.13 a.m. So there was time. Time to come up with a new plan. But it would have to be concise — Hibiki needed to be a part of it and Drake’s involvement thus far had been passive — they had not communicated for fear of alerting Yakuza security measures. Deciding on a plan and relating it had to be a one-time deal.

The only other person in the room brought him a mug of black coffee. “Thanks, love,” he said a little gruffly. “This isn’t turning out quite bloody right.”

Grace plonked herself down next to him. “You will do it,” she said. “And if I can help…”

“We’re in a world of shit.”

“Hey, stop sugar coating everything will ya?”

Drake turned to her. This was a seventeen-year-old runaway with no good experience to draw upon, her old past a jumble of newly emerging hateful memories. Raised later by the Tsugarai and in particular her brutal master — Gozu — the same man who had trained Mai, her life until this moment had been a tapestry of evil. As she told it she was now determined to let the past go, to embrace her future potential. To rise from the depths of Purgatory.

“It’s not all like this,” he said lightly. “Sometimes we even have a laugh.”

“Next time maybe.”

Drake focused his attention fully on her. Next time? “We’re soldiers, Grace. Trained ones. You shouldn’t even be here. If Mai knew she’d blow her top.”

Grace blinked. “Eh?”

“Y’know. Like a volcano. Nobody ever said you would be part of the team, Grace.”

The young girl clenched her jaw, eyes filling so that Drake suddenly felt like a major bastard. He reached out but she flinched away.

“Don’t touch me.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything. I know… I know…” He was about to say I know what you’re going through. But how could he? He was being insensitive, bloody condescending to be honest. But it was the damn job, the situation, cluttering his thoughts.

“They’re still searching for your parents,” he said. “You’re still young enough to have anything you want. Any job. We’re all here to help. You have a new start at life.”

“Could I be like Karin?” Grace suddenly asked, eyes now filled with excitement. “A geek? I’d like to be a geek. I’d wear glasses and everything.”

“You don’t need to try so hard to fit in.” Drake smiled. “You’re already one of us.”

Her smile now included him. “Family?”

“Family.”

Drake fought an instinct to hug her, turning instead to the window before she could see the surge of empathy in his eyes. “And you can start by helping me plan how to save ‘em. How to save ‘em all.”

“There is one thing,” Grace pointed out. “What has happened to Yorgi?”