The Swords of Babylon

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Mai Kitano watched Drake sleep from her perch by the window. She couldn’t relax. The endless, sleepless nights had not affected her yet, but would soon take their toll. Even here, in Russia, in this safe house, with CIA protection, she knew that she was far from safe. Mai was not afraid, fear did not live in her, but she was anxious and worried about her friends.

The Clan is looking for you.

Just a one line message, received on a personal email address that nobody except a few of her old contacts knew. But devastating. Truly dreadful. The past that she thought she had left behind was catching her up, a looming freight train full of horrors, and she had no option but to meet it head on.

Now, she thought. Just when I got him back.

The events of the past few days had put the very real mortality of Mai and her family and friends into perspective. Reality had checked in with a vengeance.

Without any more deliberation she dialed Chika’s number. Her sister answered on the third ring.

“Moshi-moshi?”

“It is me Chika.”

“Sister! I have missed you.”

“And I you, Chika. It is good to hear your voice.” Mai proceeded to ask her sister about her job, her friends, and whether any men had appeared in her life of late. Chika reacted a little cagily to the last question, but confirmed that all was well, and Mai started to relax. She laughed a little, talked of the few good times they had shared, but then, near the end of the conversation, Chika finally came out with the one thing Mai had been dreading all along.

“Two days ago,” she said. “Some men visited me at work. They were asking about you Mai. And about your past.”

“Did they threaten you?”

“Oh no. They were very nice. Why would you say that?”

“Because of my past, Chika. That is why.”

“I don’t know much about your past. I told them that. And I told them I didn’t know where you were. Which I don’t.”

Mai glossed over the rest, quickly alleviating any alarm Chika may have felt by saying it was most likely something to do with her old job at the government. She waited the required time and then told Chika to be safe.

“Goodbye, Sister.”

Her next call was to Dai Hibiki. “Where are you, Dai?”

“Wow, Mai. No contact for years, then you wrench me out of deep cover and now ring me whilst I’m servicing the girlfriend. This had better be good.”

“Correction, Hibiki. I saved your feeble hide from being flayed to bits, and then your girlfriend’s from two minutes of skin on skin that doesn’t really measure up, if you know what I mean.”

“Ah, you remember me well.”

“Never forget.” Mai owed her life and more to Dai Hibiki. “But I need to ask you something—”

“Don’t bother. I know what you’re going to ask. I gave them nothing, Mai. Nothing.”

“What? Then they came to you also?”

“Also?”

“Some men visited Chika recently, asking about my past.”

“Then yes, they visited me too. But at work, Mai. They showed no signs of malice. No ulterior motive.”

But the Clan wouldn’t, Mai wanted to scream. They moved in the highest circles, taking every head they fancied and smiled whilst they did it. Once, she had been a part of that.

“Please. Do your best to look after Chika for me. Until I can get there.”

“Already on it.”

“What?”

“I mean yes, way ahead of you. As soon as you mentioned her name I started planning a visit.”

Mai knitted her brows. There was something in Hibiki’s tone, something that told her he was keeping a secret. She wondered briefly if it had to do with Chika.

“Okay, Dai. I’ll speak to you as soon as I can.”

She terminated the call, still staring out the window, searching the shadows for the returning ghosts of her past.