“I know things seem difficult with this trumped up charge the NYPD is throwing at you,” Stein began in the reassuring tone he always used when he was attempting to comfort Masaki. “But, I promise their entire case is circumstantial. The D.A. will never move forward with so little evidence. Everything about Izzy’s death screams self-defense. They won’t be able to make this murder charge stick.”
Masaki narrowed his eyes and nodded his head. He was grateful that Stein believed his mood was a result of the fake murder charges levied against him. As long as Stein didn’t recognize the seething anger and hatred Masaki harbored for his once advocate, the plan would work fine.
“I’m sure you’ll handle everything Seth. You always do.”
The elder man patted Masaki on the shoulder, and sat back against the cushions of the seat. Knowing everything this man had in store for him, the feel of his hand against Masaki’s arm made him want to strangle Stein with his bare hands. But, he couldn’t. Not if he wanted to walk away from all of this free and clear.
Needing a distraction, Masaki turned to his window and watched as the dark streets of Brooklyn rolled by. When he noticed they were headed west on the Belt Parkway instead of east, Masaki’s senses screamed danger.
“I think your driver has missed the exit for Canarsie. We’re nearing Bay Ridge now.”
“We’re not going to Canarsie. The cops have been watching us carefully since you left with Ms. Sampson six weeks ago. We’ve relocated to a more secure location.”
Masaki watched as the Belt Parkway turned into the BQE, forcing himself to remain calm as they drove. He knew the police could hear and see his surroundings, but saying the wrong thing could tip Stein off that the cops were on to him.
Masaki continued to look out of his window as he moved his hand down to his knee and tapped out his anxiety. To most people, this movement seemed benign, an action someone absentmindedly engaged in when they were bored. For Masaki, it was really a way to direct the restless energy that arose when danger was near.
Danger. It had been a constant part of Masaki’s life since his birth. But other than the fleeting moments that he thought he might lose Oshun to that bullet, he’d never felt more aware of danger’s presence in his life than now.
He turned to glance at Stein one last time. As he committed every etched line of his betrayer’s face to memory, Masaki’s resolve bloomed inside of him.
This motherfucker will not be the end of me. He will not win.
1 6
“Something’s wrong.” Oshun watched as all heads in the truck turned in her direction. Something was wrong, yet none of the officers watching the same screens that she was seemed to clue into that.
“Stein has changed the venue,” Heart answered. “That’s all. There’s no need to panic, yet. We have a car tailing them, we won’t lose Masaki.”
“No,” Oshun replied. “You see how Masaki keeps tapping his leg. He only does that tapping thing when something isn’t right. It’s like his sixth sense for when shit is about to go tits up. Something is not right. You need to pull him out of there now.”
“We can’t pull him yet. Nothing has happened. Just sit down and wait.”
The captain’s response made Oshun’s anger swell. She didn’t give a damn about this operation, only about Masaki. She wouldn’t allow anyone to put him in danger, not even her friend.
“Heart, friend or no, if something happens to Masaki because you didn’t listen to me, I will come for you.”
She watched the stoic captain straighten in her seat, and level her heavy gaze at Oshun. “Friend or no, badge or no, if you threaten me, you’d better be certain you can back that shit up,” Heart replied. The captain waited a beat, letting the tension bleed out of the moment before she continued. “I know you’re worried, Oshun. I promise you, we won’t let anything happen to him. Just let me do my job.”
Oshun sat back in her chair. Her breathing was labored as she pulled her eyes away from Heart, and refocused on the monitors tracking the car, Stein, and Masaki. As far as she could tell, they were in Red Hook now. That knowledge didn’t make her feel any better.
Red Hook was one of those communities that was very similar to Brownsville. Poverty had ravaged it. Somehow businesses with money began to see the value in the waterside area at the edge of Brooklyn, and decided there was money to be made there.
Now, old warehouses were turned into rental spaces for catering halls and galleries. But beneath all the prettiness gentrification brought in, the ugliness of the criminal world was still present.
“Captain Searlington, I’ve got Lieutenant Smyth on the line.” Heart nodded her okay to the officer, and soon the call was placed on speaker for all of them to hear.
“We’re still tailing the car. From the GPS tracker we have on the camera, we know they’re somewhere near the waterfront. When we get closer, we should have a solid location on the car,” Smyth stated.
“Hurry up and get me a location, Smyth. I’ll get you guys some backup from the local PD,” Heart responded. “Be careful with this one, Bryan. Oshun says something’s not right. If anything seems off, you pull Yamaguchi out immediately.”
“Copy that,” Smyth returned before signing off the line.
While Heart stopped to contact the local precinct, Oshun slipped quietly into the front of the truck, closed the connecting door behind her, and pulled her burner phone out. If Masaki was in trouble, she wanted all hands on deck. She couldn’t leave it to the police to make certain nothing happened to him.
She thought of the most likely ally to answer her appeal for help in this area, and dialed frantically. She prayed she’d hear the telling, “Who dis?” on the other end soon.
“Emmons,” she murmured. “Come on. Pick up, dammit. I need you to pick up.”
