34
“IT’S A TRAP,” Joe said. “You know that, right?”
“Of course it’s a trap. But that’s a good sign. It means we’ve shaken Han more than I thought. And it’s worth the risk for a good look at the inside of that factory.”
“He’s not going to show you anything incriminating,” Joe pointed out. “But he might teach you a painful lesson once he has you behind closed doors.”
“That’s a risk I’ll have to take,” Kurt said. “Besides, it would be rude to turn down his invitation after I pressed him for a meeting and insisted it would need to happen tonight.”
“Rude, yes. But also wise. Some might even say prudent.”
Kurt laughed. “Since when has prudence been our strong suit?”
Joe smiled at that, but Akiko looked on with concern. “I can’t believe you two are joking like this. He’ll probably try to kill you.”
Kurt shook his head. “He can hardly invite me to his brand-new factory and then bump me off during the tour. At worst, I’d expect thinly veiled threats, some form of intimidation and perhaps undercooked food. If he likes to catch flies with honey instead of vinegar, maybe he’ll try to bribe me.”
“Accidents can happen,” she insisted.
“Which is why you and Joe are staying behind.”
“Now you’ve really lost it,” Joe said. “I’m not letting you walk into a trap by yourself.”
“I need someone out here to call for help if I get in trouble,” Kurt said. “There’s a spot on the hillside that overlooks the factory grounds. You won’t be able to see inside, but you can watch for trouble and dial nine-one-one if I miss my curfew.”
Joe frowned. “So I sit around while you have all the fun.”
“I should go with you,” Akiko said. “My job was to protect Kenzo. Now I feel a duty toward you.”
Kurt smiled. “I appreciate the offer, but I think I can handle this alone.”
“Really?” she said. “What if they start talking in Japanese or Chinese instead of English? Wouldn’t you like to know what they’re saying? They may be plotting against you or whispering secrets you’d never be able to decipher. I could listen to them and watch your back at the same time.”
“The lady has a point,” Joe said.
Akiko continued her lobbying. “I’m very good at distracting men, should you need me to. And if it comes to a fight, you know I can hold my own.”
Kurt nodded. “Of that, I have no doubt.” He didn’t expect combat, but the language barrier was undeniable. At the very least, bringing Akiko along would give Han one more thing to think about. “You’ve convinced me. But we’re going to need proper attire.”
After a trip to one of Nagasaki’s designer shops, Kurt and Akiko were properly dressed and NUMA’s bank account several thousand dollars lighter.
Kurt wore a double-breasted dinner jacket and an ivory-colored shirt with French cuffs. Akiko sat beside him in a shimmering gray dress, intricately embroidered with a beaded flower pattern. Her neckline continued off both shoulders with sleeves falling gracefully past her wrists.
“I’ve never owned a dress like this,” Akiko said.
“You look stunning,” Kurt noted.
“It’s rather uncomfortable.”
Kurt laughed to himself. “Something tells me comfort isn’t the guiding principle.”
Leaving the Skyline GT-R behind with Joe, they traveled to the factory in a rented sedan. They pulled onto the grounds and parked beneath an overhead light seventy feet from the front door. With the crowds gone and the parking lot empty, the place felt abandoned.
> Just before getting out of the car, Akiko took a thin knife made of carbon fiber from her purse. It looked like a letter opener with a serrated edge. She slid it carefully up one of the sleeves.
“I like to be prepared,” she said. “You should carry something as well.”
Kurt held up a metallic writing utensil. “I’ve always believed the pen was mightier than the sword.”