Red West II.

Chapter ten - Gangsters'voting

Everybody else was already inside, when Jin entered the room, which was almost too warm in comparison with the cold February evening outside. The Riders were either sitting on the long benches around the dining table, or standing near the walls. Oswald was busy with the fireplace, and Jane made herself comfortable on the table, her long legs hanging above the floor and Leo occupied the only available, and quite old, armchair in front of her. Frowning Esler was standing right next to his young boss, with arms crossed over his chest. The up-until-now-spacious room was overcrowded, as there were twelve people now, and paradoxically silent. But there was only one person about whom Jin really cared at the moment.

The latest visitor of the hidden cottage was sitting on a chair almost exactly in the middle of the room. Koki was the only one of the Riders, excluding Leo, who was not piercing the young man with his eyes.

When Kame's look met with Jin's for a brief moment, the older one's attempt for an encouraging smile turned out pitifully, even though he really wanted to cheer him up.

"Thanks for joining us, Brother," the Riders' leader disturbed the anxious silence.

Not very willingly, Jin focused on his younger brother. He could not read anything from Leo's expression and was a little worried about what to expect.

"We can start then," Leo leant forward a little, making sure he had everyone's attention. "I asked Kame to tell us everything he knows about Harvey first."

A doubtful murmur filled up the room. Jin was surprised as well; he did not expect Kazuya to be the first one to talk.

"And before that I'd like to remind you that this will be a serious discussion and not haggling at the market, which you demonstrated a while ago," the younger Akanishi added in a cold voice, before turning toward the youngster in the middle of the room. "Kame, you can start."

At first sight, Kazuya seemed to be calm and composed, but Jin noticed how he avoided all those sharp stares around and how he licked his lips before he started talking. Naturally, he was nervous about the outcome of this conversation.

Jin definitely felt no better than him, especially when he still did not get his weapons back. But he had already tried to persuade the Riders; now he could do nothing more than to stand next to Ryo and hold his tongue back not to make the situation even worse.

"I met him at the Blake Street Saloon," Kame spoke in a little uncertain voice. "By chance, he overheard when I asked about Jin, who was supposed to be accommodated there, and he figured we might cooperate in search after Leo, since I knew his brother. He assumed I was after the reward as well, and I thought that I might find you easier that way, so I agreed."

"How did you know that our dear older Akanishi should have been in that saloon?" a sharp question came out from Esler's mouth, of course.

"Because I sent him a telegram about the meeting point," Jin cut in sooner than Kame could reply. The stares turned to him. So much for his resolution to keep his mouth shut. "We had agreed on that in Montana already. Did you receive it, Kame?" he asked the younger one in a little different tone.

Kazuya's eyes found Jin's again and his expression eased up a little.

"I did," he nodded. "But at the time I arrived you were already gone."

"On my way to Leo," Jin completed. "With you, guys," he shot a glance at unsatisfied Esler.

"Anyway, we started the search together," Kame continued. "I thought that if it came to the worst, at least I would be able to warn you or prevent him from succeeding in his mission. I wanted to use that hunter, but in the end I realized that he was using me."