Chapter Nine
Los Angeles, California
Both Akiko and Harlan listened quietly as Kit told them what they’d learned. Which didn’t take long because they still didn’t know all that much.
Especially since Ricky Nicchi still had not shown his face.
They’d returned to the waiting room, where a doctor came out to tell them that Ito was out of surgery but his condition was critical.
One of those “the next twenty-four hours will tell” situations.
They were waiting for a nurse to take Akiko to see him once he was out of recovery and in an ICU room.
But he was alive, and knowing this had given Akiko the ability to focus on the details as Kit told her everything that she knew.
When Kit was finished, Akiko drew a breath and let it out. “Let me get this straight. You disobeyed a direct order from Navarro and continued investigating.”
“Yes,” Kit said. “Because—”
Akiko held up one hand. “I’m not finished. Connor also investigated without permission and found out where Mary Sherman went during the two weeks before her murder.”
“Actually,” Kit said, “it was a total of four weeks since October.”
Akiko’s dark eyes flashed with temper. “Fine. Four weeks. And instead of telling Navarro what you’d found, you three got in Sam’s SUV and drove to LA to continue investigating.”
Kit opened her mouth, then closed it again.
“Well?” Akiko asked sharply.
“I don’t know if you want me to talk or not.”
Akiko closed her eyes as she breathed deeply. “Yes or no, Kit?”
“Yes, of course. Obviously. We’re here.”
Akiko glared at her. “You went straight to a stranger’s place of business, a stranger who you believed to have been involved in yesterday’s shooting. Although I can’t believe that Nicchi, Hanshi’s pupil, was shooting at you.”
“Nicchi didn’t shoot at me,” she said logically, then winced when Akiko clenched her teeth. “Yes. We did that. We went to his place of business.”
“Without requesting backup.”
Kit sighed. “Yes.”
“And then you found that Nicchi was involved with both Mary Sherman and Hanshi Ito. My Hanshi Ito. Who I’ve known since I was five years old.”
“Yes. Nicchi denied being romantically involved with Mary, just claimed she was a client. He said Ito was his father. I assume he meant it in a symbolic way because there are no records legally tying him and Ito together. I don’t know about Ito and Mary.”
“Kit,” Akiko hissed.
“What?” Kit snapped. “I’m answering your goddamn questions.”
“You didn’t think to ask for backup when you went to see Hanshi?”
“No!” Kit cried. “Why would we? I know him. You know him. You trust him. He’s seventy-six years old. I didn’t consider him a threat.”
“Yet when you arrived, he’d been beaten nearly to death, so there clearly was a threat.”
Kit sighed again. “Yes.”
“Without backup.”
“Yes,” Kit said. “I’m sensing a theme here.”
“Kit,” Harlan cautioned. “Cut the sarcasm. It’s not helping.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “Fine.”
“God,” Baz muttered. “It’s like they’re fifteen again.”
“Tell me about it,” Harlan said, but it was with the exaggerated calm that meant he was actually furious.
“Akiko is angry that you put yourself in danger, Kit. And, if I’m being very honest, so am I.
You’ve been shot at twice, told to step away from this case, but instead of complying, you plunge headlong into a situation that could have turned deadly. ”
Kit’s cheeks heated. “Fine. When you put it like that.”
Akiko pressed her fingertips to her temples. “Is that all?”
Kit looked to Sam and Baz. “Is it?”
Sam shook his head. “You forgot the part where we asked Nicchi if Mary was Akiko’s mother and he confirmed that she was Akiko’s aunt.”
Akiko sucked in a small gasp. “My aunt?”
“Yes,” Kit said gently. “And I hadn’t forgotten that. I didn’t want to tell you until we checked it out because I don’t trust Nicchi as far as I can throw him. Which is, like, nothing because he’s fucking huge.” She sent Sam a mild glare, but he only shrugged.
“You’re not helping her by keeping secrets.”
Baz looked uncomfortable. “Sorry, kid, but I’m with him. You can’t protect everyone. Harlan, we should have called for backup. I take responsibility for that.”
“I don’t blame you, Baz. I don’t blame Kit, either. I understand that you didn’t feel threatened, but…next time, just call for backup.”
Baz nodded once. “I promise. Kit?”
But Kit was only half listening. Her attention was on Akiko, who looked stunned.
“My aunt,” Akiko said quietly. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but it’s true. I have a family.” Then she flinched, abruptly shifting her gaze to Harlan. “Pop, I don’t mean—”
Harlan wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I know what you mean, honey. And Mom and I will support you, however you choose to use this information.”
“Thank you.” Squaring her shoulders, she turned to Kit. “Is my mother dead?”
“I don’t know,” Kit said. “Nicchi only admitted the aunt detail because he said we’d figure it out from the DNA anyway. He didn’t say much of anything else.”
“Were the size thirteen shoes his?”
“We think so.” Kit blew out a breath. “Look, I wanted to have actual answers for you, but all I have are more questions.”
“I know that you wanted answers for me. And I love you for that.”
Kit winced. “But?”
“But I’d rather be in the dark forever than have you risk your life for me. Why didn’t you let those other detectives follow up? Lennox and West?”
“Because they refuse to leave the precinct,” Kit said angrily. “They’re afraid they’ll get shot.” She sighed. “And that just proved your point, didn’t it?”
“It sure did. And even if this guy in a hoodie doesn’t kill you, you’re going to get fired. You’ve wanted to be a cop since I met you. You’re a good cop. You care about the victims and their families. If you lose your job, who will stand for the dead?”
Kit took Akiko’s hand. It was cold and trembling.
“I can stand for the dead in a lot of different ways. I don’t have to be a cop.
” But the words stuck in her throat. She did have to be a cop.
She didn’t know anything else. But she’d figure it out.
“You are my priority. Stopping whoever killed your aunt is my priority, because I believe she contacted you because you’re in danger. ”
“But nobody’s shooting at me, Kit!” Tears filled Akiko’s dark eyes. “They’re shooting at you!”
“And they nearly killed your sensei. They may not be shooting at you, but you’re involved somehow, and I don’t like it.”
“Same,” Sam said quietly.
“Ditto,” Baz added. “Akiko, you’ve made some valid points.
We should have requested backup. And Kit might get fired.
But something is going on with Navarro, something we’re not privy to.
He’s insisting on putting the worst detectives in his department on this case.
If I were in Kit’s shoes, I’d do the same thing she did. ”
“Same,” Sam repeated. “There’s one other thing that I haven’t mentioned, even to Kit. We got sidetracked with Hanshi Ito.”
Kit’s brows went up. “What?”
“You said that you felt like you’d seen Nicchi before, that he seemed familiar.”
“Right. Did you think so, too?”
“Not until we were in his office. He’s got a photo on his phone—his wallpaper. It lit up when we first got there, before he turned it over. It was Nicchi and Paolo.”
Harlan held up a hand. “Wait. You mean Paolo Feliciano? Akiko’s first mate?”
Kit blinked, processing the information. And then she saw it. It was their eyes. And their olive skin tone. And the way their mouths set when they were annoyed. “That’s why he seemed familiar. Damn, Sam. They could be brothers.”
“That’s what I thought,” Sam said.
“Nice job, Sammy,” Baz praised.
But Akiko didn’t look concerned. “They are brothers. Half brothers, I think. Same mother, different fathers. I’ve always known that. I don’t know Ricky, but Paolo and I have been friends since we were in elementary school. He’s been working for me since I bought the boat.”
He’d been Akiko’s first mate from the day she’d started her charter fishing business, five years ago.
“What exactly is going on here, Kit? How did Nicchi know Mary Sherman? How did Hanshi know her? And Paolo? Did he know her, too? Are they all connected?”
“I’m not sure about Paolo, but I’m nearly certain that Ito, Nicchi, and Mary Sherman are connected,” Kit said grimly. “We need to get some answers. Nicchi promised to give us some, but then he disappeared. I’m hoping Ito regains consciousness soon so he can tell us.”
Akiko looked up at Harlan. “Pop? Why would Hanshi know Mary Sherman? And if she was my aunt, why did he not tell me?”
“Maybe he didn’t know or, if he did, it was only recently. We will figure it out, Akiko. I promise. How can we find this Nicchi person?”
“We have his home address,” Kit said. “We’ll start looking for him when we leave here.”
Harlan tightened his hold on Akiko. “Kit, what did the police say when they arrived at Ito’s apartment?”
“Not much. Someone broke into his place. The camera in the hallway was busted, but they got an image of someone leaving his building that fits the description of Mary’s killer.”
“So they are connected,” Harlan said, jaw tense.
Kit shrugged. “I’m assuming so. He used a crowbar or a screwdriver or something like that to get through the door. It’s an older building, so that wouldn’t have been hard to do. Property records show the building being built in the 1940s. Ito’s owned the whole building for nearly fifty years.”
“Who did you tell the cops you were?” Harlan asked. “And why did you say you were there?”
“I introduced us with our real names, said we were from San Diego, told them our roles in SDPD, and said we were visiting Ito because he knew my sister as well as the daughters of the victim. And that I was hoping he knew whether Mary was Akiko’s mother. All one hundred percent true.”
“Kit,” Harlan groaned. “Navarro’s going to have your head on a platter when he finds out that Connor located Nicchi.”