Chapter Sixteen #2
“No. But yesterday morning, I managed to track her down, and she gave me a very good description of the man she had seen. So good, it led us to one of the tourists who was on the same cruise ship as you.”
“She did mention he was wearing a cruise-branded jacket,” Jiro commented.
“Well, when I checked with the ship’s captain, we discovered he never re-boarded the ship either.
The captain didn’t report him as missing, because he left a message with the purser to say he would be remaining in Lule? for the time being, and may catch up with them later on.
While this is unusual, it’s not unheard of for a passenger to re-board at another port along the journey. ”
“So who was he?” Jiro asked, racking his brain trying to come up with anyone who looked suspicious while they’d been on the ship.
No one came to mind, but suddenly Jiro had a memory of the morning his father went missing, and how his mood had gone from upbeat to downright grumpy.
Had something happened that morning that Jiro had missed?
Had this guy tried to contact him or threatened him in someway?
“His name is Liam Kenzo, an American national, but with Japanese heritage. We’re diving into his criminal history now, but it might take a while to get the answers we need from the US authorities.
It seems as if he was here alone, hiring the sniper locally to carry out his plan.
The sniper was ex-military, he’s been on our radar for a little while as a possible gun for hire, but we didn’t have enough evidence of his criminal undertakings to do anything about it. Until now,” Tuckberg continued.
There had been quite a few Japanese tourists aboard the Le Commandant Charcot, but none of them had rung any alarm bells for Jiro.
This guy must be a bit of an amateur though, if he hadn’t covered his tracks well enough to keep the Swedish police from finding him eventually.
He wondered if this man had a plan in place, or if he’d just taken the first opportunity to get Kenichi alone?
Jiro’s blood ran cold when he thought about what could’ve happened to his father.
This Yakuza thug could just have easily caught his father alone at the edge of the boat, and tipped him over the railing into the freezing ocean so no one was any the wiser.
But it seemed the message was meant as a warning to Taro, and the guy had never meant to kill Kenichi.
But he had come close; may yet even succeed if Kenichi didn’t wake up soon.
“I did some serious research into this man’s movements over the past few days. Searching up CCTV footage, checking credit card usage, and looking at all the accommodation bookings in the area, I finally had a hit.”
“It’s one of Andreas’ strengths,” Aurora confirmed. “He’s the best at finding someone who doesn’t want to be found.”
Tuckburg gave Aurora a quick grin of thanks as he continued.
“I found a charge on a credit card in his name for rental of a house on the outskirts of town. Then, I confirmed it was the same man using CCTV cameras on the street, which showed him parking a hire car out the front and entering the house the night before last.”
“Good, good,” Jiro nodded enthusiastically. This was good police work. This was what Dalstrom should’ve been doing all along.
“I won’t bother you with the details, but we managed to get a warrant to search the place late last night, and we went in early this morning.
Unfortunately, when my officers breached the building, they had to use lethal force when they were fired upon.
The offender was shot twice, once in the leg and once in the stomach.
He’s still in surgery, and we haven’t been able to speak to him yet. ”
“Okay.” It seemed as if Jiro wasn’t going to get all the answers he needed right now, but at least his brother was safe and they had the kidnapper in custody.
One day soon he hoped to be allowed to talk to this joker, to let him know exactly what he thought of the little game he’d forced Aurora and himself to play.
And to find out exactly what his plans for them had been.
Had he really been prepared to have them both murdered in cold blood?
Jiro could understand why he might be a target, but to kill Aurora when she was an innocent bystander begged belief.
“So can I go and see my brother now?” he asked.
“In a moment.” Staaf held up his hand. Until this point he’d remained silent, letting Tuckburg give them the details, but even Jiro could tell this man wasn’t happy.
“I’m not sure you understand the ramifications of everything that’s happened over the past few days. You led one of my officers astray, coercing her into breaking procedure for your gain.” His words held a cold edge of fury.
Jiro stilled at the commissioner’s words, but he wasn’t about to be intimidated by this man.
“And while she should’ve known better,” the commissioner shot Aurora a sideways glance, “she is not wholly to blame for the way things turned out.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Jiro said, squaring his shoulders and standing to his full height, which was many inches above the police commissioner’s head, forcing him to look up. “And I’m prepared to deal with any ramifications if they come about.” Jiro purposefully didn’t look in Aurora’s direction.
“Hmm.” The commissioner narrowed his eyes behind his glasses, his steely stare unnerving, but Jiro refused to give him any sign that he was uncomfortable.
He would protect Aurora with all he had, and if he had to take the blame on himself so that she remained safe, then that was what he would do.
It was ironic really; he wasn’t prepared to go to jail for Taro’s sins, but if he had to go to jail to protect Aurora, then so be it.
But he had no time to dissect that strange instinctive response, because Staff continued speaking, “You’re also a prime witness in a police shooting, and as such you may be called upon to give testimony if required in the internal investigation, as well as in a court case if it gets that far. ”
“But I’m not under arrest?” Jiro asked, needing clarification.
“No. But we’ll hold on to your passport until we have had time to look at things from all angles.”
Jiro didn’t reply, not wanting to show that his insides had begun to tremble.
The relief he’d felt when he heard Taro was alive was now replaced with unease.
He hadn’t even considered that he would be in any sort of trouble; he’d been so fixated on his brother and his problems. But he wouldn’t change a thing, even if he could, and he was prepared to account for his actions if he were called to do so.
He just hoped that Aurora didn’t get dragged into the mud with him.
The commissioner’s beady gaze swapped to Aurora, almost as if he could read Jiro’s mind.
“And as for you, Constable Karlsson, while you broke procedure by contacting Andreas after you’d been explicitly ordered off the case…
” Staaf paused, fixing Aurora with his laser-like gaze.
“Without your interference, we may never have caught this criminal. I am very unhappy with your conduct, and there may be disciplinary action,” he added.
“But you have a solid champion in your corner. Inspector Viskten speaks highly of you, says that even though you might be a little undisciplined now, you will make an excellent police officer one day.” The commissioner’s glare said that he wasn’t sure he agreed with the inspector.
Jiro gave Aurora a sideways glance. Her face remained impressive, but he could see how hard she was clenching her jaw together; she was just as displeased with the commissioner’s unforgiving manner as he had been.
But if he was reading it right, it sounded like she might get away fairly unscathed from this whole debacle.
Jiro guessed it could’ve been a lot worse.
Aurora could be in real trouble for disobeying a direct order.
The two of them stood side-by-side facing down the commissioner, waiting for whatever would come next.
Jiro noticed Tuckburg behind Staaf’s left shoulder wink surreptitiously in Aurora’s direction.
It seemed she had more than just M?rten on her side.
Moreau had said nothing throughout the whole conversation, but he was looking decidedly uncomfortable in his spot beside the door.
None of the men in the room would admit it, but Moreau’s presence confirmed it for Jiro; Dalstrom had fucked up, and Moreau was here to make amends.
Moreau had been the one who had tried to talk Dalstrom into continuing the search on the night his father had gone missing.
Had he been promoted to cover this case now?
“That will be all for now,” Staaf said at last. “You can see your brother. But we need to know your whereabouts at all times. Understand?”
Jiro inclined his head. “Yes, sir.” He decided that discretion was the better part of valor at the moment.
“Constable Karlsson, you are required back at the office. You can help Inspector Viskten with the logistics of the FBI meeting.”
“Yes, sir.” Aurora echoed Jiro’s words. They both turned on their heels and exited the room, Jiro’s stomach tied in knots. But he refused to let the feeling sink him. They strode down the hallway together, eager to get as far away from that room as possible.
“I’m not sure if we came out of that unscathed or not,” Jiro finally said once they were out of earshot.
“I think we came out of that fairly lightly,” Aurora replied.
“M?rten is one of the police commissioner’s favorite officers.
He hates to admit it, and we all joke about it, but I think without him in my corner I might be in real trouble.
” She shrugged. “And I think in protecting me, he is also protecting you. But that remains to be seen. We’ll just have to wait and see over the next few days as they inspect the evidence to make sure we won’t be prosecuted. ”
“Wow.” Jiro let his shoulders drop now that they were out of sight.
Then he grabbed Aurora’s arm and spun her around so they were face-to-face.
“I know I’ve said this too many times before, and I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but I truly am sorry I dropped you in all this shit, Aurora. ”
She looked up at him, brown eyes wide and appraising.
“I came into this shit with full knowledge of the risks,” she replied, a half-smile filling her face.
“And of my own free will. All the choices I made were mine and mine alone, and whilst some of them might have been stupid ones, I stand by them.” Then she did something completely unexpected.
She stood on tiptoe and brushed her lips across his.
It was a tender, unguarded kiss, but there was also something like regret in the touch of her mouth.
Before he could do or say anything in return, the sound of footsteps squeaking on the linoleum approached down the hallway and forced them apart. Aurora’s eyes shuttered as she turned away. “Could you please point us in the direction of Mr. Taro Nashimori’s room?” she asked the advancing nurse.
The woman took one look at Aurora’s uniform, and said, “Yes, of course. He’s being kept in a private room at the end of the east wing.” The nurse pointed to a hallway branching off to the left.
“Thank you,” Aurora replied stiffly, her cop mask firmly back in place. He had lost her for now. But he really needed to see his brother, and he would continue this conversation with her later.
Aurora took the lead, turning down the hallway as he followed the clack of her boots.
There was a guard outside the door to Taro’s room, and Jiro faltered for a few steps when he saw him.
On the drive to the hospital, Aurora had warned him that a guard would be there, as much to keep Taro safe as to also stop him from leaving, but it was still a shock to see the man in the dark blue uniform standing to attention at the end of the hallway.
“This is Jiro Nashimori, the victim’s brother,” Aurora said to the guard, assuming a formal tone. “He has permission to enter.”
The guard nodded. “There is a nurse surveilling him in the room; she will give you all the information you need,” he replied.
Jiro wondered about the nurse’s purpose in staying in the room with Taro.
Was it because he was so badly injured he needed constant monitoring?
Or was it more security, making sure he couldn’t leave?
Probably more of the latter, he decided.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” Aurora asked. Jiro knew she’d been ordered back to HQ, and as much as he’d like her company, he didn’t want her to get into any more trouble than she already was.
“No, I’m good,” he said, trying to sound like he meant it.
“I’m going to pop my head into my father’s room on the way out. I’ll check on Kenichi as well. If there’s any news, I’ll get a message to you somehow.”
“Good idea.” He leaned in and gave her a quick hug, conscious of the constable watching their every move. “I’ll check on my father too, once I finish here, but that could be a while.” After she left, Jiro pondered how she was going to get in touch with him when he still didn’t have a phone.
He wasn’t looking forward to going into this room for many reasons.
The large part of him that’d been overjoyed to hear that Taro was alive was now being crowded out by misgivings and fear.
Taro had been tortured, but Jiro had no idea how bad his injuries were, and he wasn’t looking forward to seeing his older brother vulnerable or in pain.
He also wasn’t looking forward to the many discussions they’d have to have regarding his brother’s future, and how Jiro—and indeed, his father—would factor in all of that.
But for now, he plastered a smile on his face, nodded at the guard, who stepped aside for him, and pushed open the door.