The Lost Kingdom

CHAPTER SEVEN

Drake always got a feeling in his gut when things were about to kick-off big time; a kind of pre-emptive adrenalin burst that, if heavily diluted, one might feel when tipping over the top of the lift-hill of the world’s tallest rollercoaster or sitting behind the wheel of the world’s fastest and most dangerous dragster.

When Karin took the call and then turned that face upon them, the feeling hit him. “What the hell’s wrong?”

Karin stared. “Unbelievable. About an hour ago there was a murder and unknown theft committed at the Smithsonian and they believe Dudley may be involved.”

Drake couldn’t make it compute. “What? Our Dudley? The mad Irish bastard who’s in jail?”

“The mad Irish bastard who escaped jail, killed his drivers and guards in the process with the help of some old friends, and may now be back working for the Pythians.”

Drake gripped the bridge of his nose between two fingers. “He escaped? And nobody thought to let us know?”

“We just brought him to justice,” Hayden put in. “After that, he’s all theirs. An escaped prisoner doesn’t come under our purview and might not be brought to our attention at all.”

Karin pursed her lips. “We’re that agency that’s so secret nobody knows to read us in.”

Dahl disagreed. “We’re not that bloody secret anymore. I think it’s more admin based, no insult intended. We need some kind of a flagging system.”

Drake shook it all off. “Just tell us what happened, Karin.”

“The Smithsonian isn’t exactly sure. Their secretary, the big boss, may have escorted three men into the vault earlier today. Units are en route to his house now. Using facial recognition the cops have identified one of the three men as Callan Dudley.”

Drake sat down. Here they were awaiting word of Mai and something potentially bigger had dropped into their laps. If the Pythians were up to their not-so-old tricks…

“Make sure you reinforce and remind all the relevant authorities of Dudley’s nastier connections,” Hayden said. “I didn’t expect the Pythians to bounce back so quickly after we killed three of their members. I guess I underestimated them. Or maybe it’s something else. Now, let’s start looking into Dudley’s so-called friends and this Smithsonian heist.” Her eyes stopped as they passed Drake’s.

“I’m sorry we have to pull away from Mai at this time.”

The Yorkshireman shrugged. “Aye, me too. But it’ll help take my mind off what I’m going to do to her abductors.”

Hayden nodded. Dahl sighed and rolled his shoulders, a man desperate to help out his friend but incapable of doing so.

“Need a way to ease some of that tension?” Alicia addressed the Swede. “We could always—”

Drake’s phone rang, cutting her off. It was Hibiki. “Yes?”

Alicia finished lamely, “Hit the gym.”

Hibiki’s voice filled Drake’s world. “I’m with an… informant now.” The cop was panting. “Hold on, I’m just washing my hands…”

Dahl raised an eyebrow.

“Took an awful lot to learn this, my friend, but Mai is now the focus of the whole Yakuza organization. And they are the biggest criminal organization in the world.”

Drake knew his face had gone white, emotions bubbling over, but he didn’t care. “What can we do? Do you know their intentions?”

“Unfortunately, yes. The Yakuza, they rarely forgive. It’s as much a trait of theirs as the rule ‘once you’re in you never get out’. It’s hard to pin any Yakuza operation down not only because they’re so connected and insulated but because they’re into so many different criminal activities. It’s a testament to their viciousness and cleverness that although they’re universally known, they still haven’t made many inroads into America or even Tokyo. I say this only to prepare you for what we have to do.”

Drake felt Dahl’s hand on his shoulder. “Which is?”

“Mai is being taken to Kobe, where they have their headquarters, probably by freighter. I’m not sure if you have identified the blood in the hotel room yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Well, if it is Mai’s don’t worry. The bullet will have been to make her compliant, to help the snatch squad take her down. They will fix her up.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because they plan to put her up on a vile pedestal for some kind of showcase trial. Before the entire Yakuza organization. And then they plan to kill her.”

Drake felt a headache coming on. “A trial? Where?”

“They have a walled compound, Drake. A guarded headquarters inside the city of Kobe. For real. The place is impregnable.”

“And that’s where they’re taking Mai? Can we stop this freighter at the docks?”

“I have a few of the Kobe police looking into that. But…” Hibiki paused and sighed. “You have to understand the Yakuza and their reach. It is said they own the police. A few years ago one of their leaders was allowed to be honorary police chief for the day. There really are pictures, believe me. I can only seriously trust half a dozen people.”

“But would they risk going up against the Yakuza?” Dahl asked. “In their home town?”

“Not a chance,” Hibiki said. “In truth, Kobe is one of the safest cities in Japan. This is because no other criminal entities dare operate there and the Yakuza don’t crap where they eat. But my police friends are strictly reconnaissance only. They will not challenge and they will not get physically involved.”

“How many men do the Yaks have?” Alicia asked.

Hibiki laughed. “Normally? Only a thousand or so. But for such a showcase trial designed to inspire its members? To put fire in their bellies? You could double or treble that. And add a private video and audio network, I’m sure.”

Drake suppressed the relatively alien rush of sudden panic. “So what can we do?”

“Seriously? If it were anyone else with lesser comrades-in-arms I’d say prepare for the funeral. I don’t know what the answer is, my friend, but I do know this. You have to get yourselves over here. Over to Kobe as fast as possible.”

Drake nodded. “Text me a location. We’ll find you.”

Dahl turned to Hayden, stony-faced. “We’re going to have to split this team up.”