Loud

Chapter 17 - B-List Behavior but Makiko is Safe

The taxi crisscrossed yesterday's bus route from Shibuya and Roppongi. It glided across avenues with recognizable landmarks like a pastry shop with a blue awning. They bounced into unfamiliar neighborhoods too, where vistas opened up like gnome villages tucked behind hillocks. If the driver veered completely off course though, a toddy of the enemy, Rob planned to slit his throat with a credit card, like a Brian Keating action hero might.

The Yakuza would probably be angry about photographs of Brian Keating, since he was their client, and they had long-term interests to protect. They didn't order Nobu to encourage Rob to blackmail Keating. He must have wanted the blackmail money for himself.

Maybe Mr. Young threatened to inform the Yakuza unless Nobu did them a favor, possibly against Rob. A weasel could lure Nobu to the Mizu Baka concert and turn him over to the Yakuza there, but Rob wasn't a weasel. Worrying about Nobu made him a sucker, at least according to bad guy logic, but they had to work something out.

When Nobu did not answer his phone, Rob tried Fumiko. "Did you catch the cowboy?" she said.

She did not beg for post-coital sweet nothings, which reminded Rob of Lynn. A flicker of disappointment froze his thoughts momentarily. "Yes, but now I have to contact Nobu, and I can't reach him. Can you?"

"Why?"

"From what the cowboy said, Nobu's in more danger than me."

"From who?"

Rob explained that Keating's people were probably going to tell the Yakuza that Nobu hoped to get the blackmail money from Keating. "Nobu should cut and run. Tell him that. Let him know I'll be at your concert tomorrow night if he's stupid enough to stay in Japan."

"You be careful too."

Rob put away the phone and stretched his arm along the back of the taxi's black vinyl seat. First, he would try to defuse the situation. If things looked nasty, he had no problem handing over the photographs to the media. Or the FBI. Alan Lord would arrive in Japan today for Rob's exhibition. Alan would have good advice.

***

The next afternoon, Rob and Alan waited for Brian Keating's entourage to appear at the museum, which occupied the top part of a skyscraper. The museum director and the exhibit curator had cleared the floor of staff to ensure Keating's privacy. The actor's schedule gave them fifteen minutes.

Rob put his arm around Alan's shoulders. "I like having a partner. I should have joined the FBI."

"You wouldn't be in this situation." Alan aped a wrestler's snarl and pretended to head butt him. "I'd much rather meet Makiko today than Keating."

"Cheer up, you'll see her at the opening tomorrow." Despite the impeccable blue suit and silk tie, Alan's steely eyes and linebacker build screamed law enforcement or military. Depending on what happened, Alan had agreed to identify himself as an FBI agent and maybe even fib about an investigation. Champagne, breads, crackers, and spreads covered a table, but Rob did not expect Keating to schmooze. "What do you think Keating would do if I had his photographs on the walls?" Rob said.

"Look for someone in his entourage with a briefcase. It might be stuffed with cash." Alan laughed. "I'll keep his retainers here, if I can. Ask Keating directly about Nobu and Mark, speak normally. Even if he's stupid, he'll be suspicious of odd behavior."

Rob touched the tiny recording device attached to the interior of his suit. Maybe he'd record something helpful. "You'll keep Makiko hidden if there's danger?"