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Ishii nodded。 He was a bearlike individual； roughly handsome； with short bristly hair and clever eyes a soft brown color。 The muscles of his arms and chest rippled his suit jacket。 〃There is our perfect site。〃
Nangi smiled thinly； sensing the er into which the gaijin had painted himself。 〃Ishii…san is quite correct。 As you know； Keiyo is built on landfill reclaimed from Tokyo Bay。 It is close to the center of the city； close to Sato Petrochemicals' main offices and plants。 The logistics of shipment and transceiving would be greatly simplified and； as such； would more than pensate for the higher real estate cost of the land itself。〃 Nangi sat back； pleased with the way in which the negotiations were progressing。
But only Nicholas could read that subtle display in a face that was in all ways perfectly serene。 He allowed a small silence to build before he leaned forward and； directing his words at Nangi in particular； said； 〃But that is what worries me the most。 Keiyo's nearness to Tokyo。 That closeness； bined with the fact that our plant would be virtually surrounded by our larger and more powerful petitors fills me with alarm。
〃Sato…san's konzern could not employ enough personnel to stave off the inevitable security problems； nor would we want him to。 The cost as well as the added activity would surely be counterproductive to the new kobun's best interests。 While； by contrast； when we set up shop in Misawa； a small town far to the north of any major industrial center； we would have as neighbors only Niwa and the U。S。 Army base； neither of which as far as I can see pose any security threat to the Sphynx T…PRAM secrets。〃
He glanced down at several sheets of paper before him as if they pertained to what he was about to say。 〃And； gentlemen； as far as the lost land to Niwa is concerned； I have spoken to Mr。 Tomkin and he has agreed…since at the time of our merger Niwa will be one of our sister panies whose welfare we must take partial responsibility for…to finance the purchase of new acreage so that the kobun's plans for immediate expansion will not be delayed in any way。〃
He spread his hands； watching the awe suffuse the Japanese faces。 〃Now what could be fairer than…〃
A motion just outside the office door caused him to break off。 Several voices had been raised in alarm or anger。 Then； riding above these dominantly male voices was a higher…pitched female voice； much closer than the others now。 It was laced with an emotion close to hysteria。
In a moment； the door had burst inward and Miss Yoshida half…stumbled in。 Strands of black hair had e undone from her perfect coif and now drifted； untended； over her ears and eyes。
Her face was pinched and all color seemed to have faded from her cheeks。
She bent at Sato's ear。 At first； Nangi； who was still smarting from Nicholas' remarks； paid her no attention。 He was far too angry。 But as Miss Yoshida continued with her whispered report； as the sallowness of Sato's skin became more apparent； he turned his withering gaze away。
He said nothing but watched carefully as Miss Yoshida； her tale of woe pleted； stood up。 Her eyes darted about the room like a pair of frightened plovers； never ing to rest for long； never looking any of the men around the table in the eye。
After a moment； Sato said to Ishii； 〃Please inform Koten that he is needed。〃 Then； as the executive departed； he leaned over and spoke for a moment into Nangi's ear。 The older man's body stiffened and he jerked away from Sato as if the other were giving off an electric shock。
He turned his head。 〃You will excuse us now； gentlemen。 I really must insist。 This meeting is at an end。 Please see Miss Yoshida on the way out and she will schedule our next session。〃
But Sato's hand was on his arm。 〃If you don't mind； Nangi…san； I would like Linnear…san to acpany us。〃
〃What？〃 Nangi's exclamation； a breach…at least as far as he was concerned…of iron…clad etiquette that history dictated could not be broken； was quickly stifled。 He wanted to say that this was none of the gaijin's business； that taking him in on such a matter of utter privacy was dangerous。 But he had been taught never to argue with a family member…whether business or blood…in front of outsiders。 Thus； despite his bitter opposition； he held his tongue； merely bowed his head curtly。
〃Please； Linnear…san；〃 Sato said by way of explanation。 〃There has been a terrible tragedy。 I know of your skills。〃 He held up a hand as Nicholas began to protest。 〃Denials are really quite unnecessary。〃 He put his palms flat on the conference table。 〃But before we go I must have your own assurance that what you will see and hear will also be held strictly private。〃
Nicholas understood the privilege he was being accorded and began to nod his head。
〃No member of my pany will make such a unilateral promise；〃 Tomkin said abruptly。 〃What you are asking could ultimately
result in actions detrimental to Tomkin Industries。 He cannot make such a pledge。〃
〃I can；〃 Nicholas said； 〃and I do。 You have my word； Sato…san； that I will reveal nothing of this to any outside party。〃
〃Does that include the police？〃
〃What the hell is this？〃 Tomkin cried。 〃What're you two trying to pull？〃 He stood up。 〃C'mon； Nick； let's get out of here。〃
Nicholas made no move to rise。 His gaze was locked with Sato's。 〃You ask for a great deal。〃 His voice was soft but nevertheless carried quite distinctly in the room。 Miss Yoshida had e out of her anxiety…filled reverie and now stood just behind Sato； staring fixedly at the two of them。 Even Tomkin had been silenced。
〃Hai。〃 Sato's head nodded。 Yes。 〃But it is no more than any business associate would ask of another。 This is family now； you understand。〃
〃Hai。〃 Nicholas' head bobbed as Sato's had a moment before。 〃My pledge stands。 It includes everyone。〃
〃Well；〃 Tomkin began； 〃I want no part of this。 Nick； if you think…〃 He froze as Nicholas looked up at him； the force of will behind those dark eyes so powerful he sat back down without a word。
When he had done so； Nicholas turned his head back to Sato。 〃That goes for Tomkin…san as well。〃
Sato bowed。 〃Good。〃 He stood up。 〃Please follow me。〃
They were met at the elevator by Ishii and another Japanese。 This second man was enormous。 He was dressed in montsuki and hakama； his blue…black hair was intricately coiffed in ichomage； marking him as yokozuna…a sumo grand champion。 Sato introduced him as Koten。 There was no doubt that he was a bodyguard。
Nicholas stopped them in the corridor before the steam room。 The steam had been turned off in the room but still Sato suggested they take off their jackets before entering。 Miss Yoshida draped each one； carefully folded； over her left arm。 She remained outside the door； an odd； glazed…eye guard。 No one else was around。
〃Jesus Christ；〃 Tomkin said when he saw the body half sprawled across the tile bench。
〃Please be careful of the blood；〃 Sato said； and they all stayed on the perimeter of the room。 〃Kagami…san was found just moments before Miss Yoshida interrupted our meeting。〃
Nangi； standing； swaying slightly on his walking stick； said nothing。
〃Do you see his cheek？〃 Sato asked。 〃The left one。〃
Tomkin