The Killing Hands (23 page)

Petrov shrugs. “Our hands were tied. We couldn't reveal that we had an inside source.”

“So why are you telling me about Agent Young now?”

Again, he shrugs. “We figure that given you and Ramos were both shot, neither of you is the mole.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Actually, we knew it wasn't either of you because we discovered the leak fourteen months ago. But we hadn't decided whether to bring you into our confidence or not.”

I turn back to Agent Young. “Go on.”

“So, Saito's in hiding in Singapore when someone here in L.A. contacts him. They tell him to come to the US or they'll kill Mee Kim. But Saito and Moto are friends, so Saito confides in Moto, asking for his help to track down who is behind the threats. Moto agreed on one condition—he wanted Saito to help with a deal he'd brokered with the Asian Boyz to move a large quantity of heroin from here to Japan.”

“The Long Beach meth lab,” I say.

Young nods. “Moto had a falling-out with the Tokyo Yakuza over their cut on drug shipments. He was hoping to bypass the usual channels by getting Saito to call in some long-standing favors and use his father's name to get the deal done. And this shipment is going to be big…real big. Even as a one-off it would be worth it for Moto to get a cut on the usual percentage.”

“And Moto told you all this?” Young must be very high up in the organization if he's got the confidence of the boss.

“No, the meetings between Moto and Saito were closed-
door. But I've managed to plant bugs in two of the four offices Moto uses. We got it through the bugs.”

“But Moto still has no idea who lured Saito to L.A. and who killed him?”

“No. He was hoping you and Ramos could enlighten him.”

I nod, more of the conversation with Moto coming back to me. I turn to Petrov. “He asked me and Ramos to tell our bosses to stay out of it. That the Yakuza would deal with it.”

Petrov shrugs. “Like that's going to happen.”

“I know.” I sigh.

“Moto is old-school,” Young explains. “There is a family debt between him and Saito, and the thought that law enforcement would get their hands on the killer before he did…it's unacceptable.” He pauses. “He's protecting Saito's daughter, Mee.”

“Where is Mee?” I ask.

“I was told to pick her up Thursday morning. I sent two guys, but they came back a little worse for wear.”

I think about the vision I had of her opening the door. She instantly knew that the guy's missing tip of his pinky finger meant he was Yakuza. Perhaps her mother warned her, knew about Saito's connections. Or maybe her father contacted her and confided in her before he was killed. Either way, she knew it was time to run, and when the flee option got complicated, she fought.

“Mee's highly trained in martial arts,” I say, knowing for a fact how things turned out that day.

“Yes. My guys soon discovered that. She realized something was up when they came to her front door, and she ran. They figured she'd make a run for it out the back, so they ran around the house and through her side gate. They intercepted her but she fought. And won.”

I smile. “She doesn't look like the sort to fight.”

Young gives a chuckle. “Yeah, my boys were surprised, that's for sure…and embarrassed. But we were bringing her in to protect her. Given what had happened to Saito.”

I notice the use of “my” boys and “my” guys—but he's
talking about his Yakuza associates, not law enforcement. He's entrenched, all right.

“So when did you find her?”

“She disappeared from our radar and Moto was worried Saito's killer had her, but we intercepted her yesterday as she was fleeing Mi-na Moon's house.”

“How'd you know about Moon?” I ask, wondering if someone in the task force passed on the information on the Korean Cultural Center.

“Moto gave me the address. We grabbed her as she was fleeing and took her to a Yakuza hideout.”

“So she's safe?”

Young nods. “I saw her myself only twelve hours ago. She's freaked out, but okay.”

“Did she even know who her father was? That he was ex-Yakuza?” I ask.

“Apparently her mother said the word
Jun
on her deathbed, like a last-minute confession. But Mee had no idea what it meant until you mentioned the name to her.”

“I'd like to talk to her, but I guess that's not likely.”

Petrov shakes his head. “We can't blow Dan's cover. And if Ken Tanabe was given orders to kill you guys and Dan gummed up the works, he may already be in trouble.”

“What will be the repercussions?”

“I don't know.” Young's concerned. “And I don't know whether it'll be Ken in trouble or me.”

He risked his life to save mine…“What's Moto like?”

“Moody. Punishment could be anything from a slap on the hand to…” He trails off.

“Can't we pull him out?” I look at Petrov and De Luca.

“We've spoken about this…with Brady,” De Luca says. “We all agree that Dan should stay in, for the time being.”

“I'm moving up in the organization. And we need someone in there, at least until we find the mole.”

I nod, but still feel guilty that his actions have put him in harm's way.

“Given your wounds were less severe than Ramos's we told the press that you were able to dial 911 on your cell.”

I nod, taking the detail in and convincing myself of its truth. I may have to repeat it. “So, do you guys think Moto got Mi-na Moon's address from the leak? Only a few of us knew about that.”

De Luca and Petrov exchange glances. “We're not sure.”

“Moto did have people looking for Mee. He told me that one of the others found out about the cultural center and her students. That the tip-off came in that way.”

“But he might have been lying.”

The others all nod and Petrov adds, “It's impossible to know how Moto found out about Moon. When you guys updated me, I made sure the rest of the team was in the loop.”

We're silent, no one wanting to think of the possibility that Williams or Hana is the mole.

After a few seconds I change the subject. “You know about the hit man? And
dim mak?
”

“Yes. Joe has kept me up to speed. I know a little bit about
dim mak
, but I'll be reading up on it more, too.”

“I've spoken to Lee about it quite extensively. It looks legit.”

“Fascinating stuff.” Young stares out the hospital window.

I take another look at Agent Dan Young. Was he really following me? Did I really miss a familiar face on my tail for two or more days?

“Agent Young?”

He turns from the window. “Yes?”

“Moto said you'd been following me. Is that true?”

He smiles. “Moto wanted to find out more about you, but I got most of my information from these guys.” He jerks his head toward Petrov and De Luca. “Plus I already knew you studied kung fu two nights a week. Don't worry. I only tailed you for a couple of hours.”

“Good to know,” I say, although I'm still not happy about not noticing a tail, even for two hours. Could AmericanPsycho do the same? I push the thought away. “The doctor said it'd be another two weeks before I can go back to work, but there's no reason I can't work from here. Dial into the task force meetings, that sort of thing.”

Petrov smiles. “Nice try, Anderson. But it's two weeks
and I don't think Dr. Goldman would approve of you working from here in the meantime. I don't think anyone would, me included.”

“Come on.” I hold my hands out. “Can I at least have my BlackBerry?”

Petrov makes his way to the door. “Let's leave Anderson to rest. She needs it, even if she doesn't think so.” De Luca and Young follow Petrov's lead.

“No…guys. Come on.”

They disappear.

“Guys!”

Petrov's head pokes around the door frame. “I'll send Melissa in with some magazines for you.”

“FBI bulletins?”

“I don't think that'll be her choice.” He disappears. “Rest up…” His voice trails off and he moves down the corridor.

 

Two hours later Melissa turns up, bouncing into the room as only Melissa can.

“Oh, Sophie. I'm so glad you're okay. I visited you late last night, but you were still unconscious.” She shakes her head. “I couldn't believe it when Brady told me.”

“Last night? But it must have been past midnight when I was shot.”

“Yeah. Sorry, I mean early hours of the morning.”

“And you came in?”

“Of course!”

I smile, touched by Melissa's concern. I guess I still haven't fully processed the fact that I was shot. That people would have been worried about me. I take a closer look at Melissa and notice the uncharacteristic dark circles under her eyes.

“How long were you here for?”

“A few hours. Just until you'd stabilized after the surgery. Mercedes was here, too.”

“Thanks, Melissa. That's really sweet of you guys.”

She dismisses it with a wave of her hand. “Don't be silly. Besides, I know you don't have family here.”

“My parents are on their way here now.”

“Yeah. Petrov got Agent Sandston to pick them up. He's fresh out of the academy. I just called him and they're about fifteen minutes away. Bad traffic.”

I suddenly get butterflies in my stomach at the thought of my parents seeing me like this, their worst—or almost worst—fears realized.

Melissa looks around the room. “You've got a few bunches of flowers. They're beautiful.”

I nod. “I haven't even got out of bed yet. Don't know who they're from.”

“You should have asked the nurses to read the cards out.”

I shrug. “Didn't want to bother them.”

Melissa starts with the bunch near the window, red tulips. “Okay, so this one says,
Get better soon, from everyone at L.A. FBI
. That's us.”

I smile. “Trust you to read out the ones you sent first.”

“I didn't know what the florist sent.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know I like tulips.”

She shrugs. “Guilty as charged.” She moves to a bunch of irises on the other side of the window. “And these are from Darren. Detective Darren Carter, I presume?”

“Yeah. I'd say so.”

“I've spoken to him twice today. He heard that you'd been shot on this morning's news and rang Brady straightaway. I spoke to him, told him you'd be okay. But he wants you to call him as soon as you're up to it. He's been talking about flying up, too. He sounds nice. Real nice.”

I smile. There have always been a few sparks.

“I see that smile, Sophie.” Melissa gives me a wink. “And you keep telling me you're just friends.”

“We are.”

“Want me to read the card then?”

“Sure.”

“It says,
I hear we have matching bullet holes. Thinking of you always, love Darren
. Still just friends?”

“Yes.”

“I've heard that before.” She looks down at the card. “Matching bullet holes? You didn't tell me he'd been shot.”

“Darren was shot in the chest. Same side, but a bit lower than mine.”

“Oh. That is romantic,” Melissa says sarcastically.

I laugh. “Come on, next one.” I look at the only other bunch in the room, lilies.

Melissa crosses over to the vase and plucks the card out of the centre. “Okay, so this one says,
A single
…Oh, my gosh.”

“What? What is it?”

Melissa's face is white. “I'm sorry, Sophie.” She reads out the whole card.
“A single red rose just wasn't right this time. Get better. AP.”

I shake my head. “He won't leave me alone.”

“Can't Interpol do anything about this guy?”

“They're trying, Melissa.”

“I know. Sorry.”

The somber mood is broken when Mum hurries into the room.

“Oh, Sophie.” She runs toward my bed with such emotion and force that I have to say, “Careful, Mum,” for fear she'll throw herself on my bed and rip a stitch or two in my shoulder. But instead of flinging her full body weight on top of me, she grabs my right hand in hers and uses her other hand to caress my hair as she kisses my cheek. “Thank goodness you're okay, baby.”