“Then I need you to find out.”
“How can I possibly do that?” he said.
“You can ask her.”
“Clearly your daughter would tell you if you asked her.”
“And if I wish thatyoudo it?”
“I can try, but I cannot guarantee that I will be successful.”
“Then if you’re not, you can consider yourself terminated. And you will explain it to my daughter as your wish to leave and tell her nothing of my request.” She paused and studied him. “But of course you will tell her the truth in an attempt to save face with her and blame me for your leaving.”
“I will do my best, but again, the simplest way would be for you to ask her.”
“I will await your results with interest,” Masuyo replied, picking up her drink once more. “But do not take more than a day or two to provide them.”
After driving Masuyo back home, Nash walked toward the guesthouse, thinking that Steers had deliberately kept the lines of command vague between his mother and herself and him.
And if I have to speculate, it was to prove my loyalty to her and also get her mother to prove her dominance. And to do that, she has to confide in me to a certain extent. And then Steers will expect me to report back to her. Which means I’m spying on her mother for her.
This was getting beyond his capability to process.
As soon as he walked into the guesthouse Nash received a reply from Reed Morris.
THE COMPANY IN QUESTION IS SUSPECTED OF BEING PART OF A CHINESE ESPIONAGE RING BUT NO HARD PROOF.
So it seems that Masuyo has gone rogue again.
CHAPTER
62
“IWOULD LIKE, DILLON-SAN, TO GOon a picnic,” said Steers the next day, as he came to her office for the day’s instructions.
“When and where?”
“Today and at the land that I own nearby. There is a stream nearby. I like the sound. And I can visit Hiroko-san.”
“Okay. I’ll have the kitchen make up a basket and Thura can drive you out. I can tell him to wait by the car so you can visit Hiroko-san in privacy.”
“There is no need for that. And have the kitchen make up a meal for two.”
“Who else will be going? Certainly not your mother?”
“No.Youwill drive me. We will have our picnic together.”
A little taken aback, he said, “Okay.”
Nash got things arranged, then he drove them out to the property. They walked to a clearing a few hundred yards from the spot where they had buried Hiroko. They spread out the blanket, and Steers and Nash got out the food and other picnic items. Nash was in his customary suit with his guns, while Steers, instead of her usual black, wore white capri pants and a long-sleeved aquamarine sweater, and sandals; her hair was in a ponytail that she wore a ball cap over. He had never seen her so casually dressed before.
She poured out iced teas while he plated the food. It was a nice afternoon with a cooling breeze and just enough sun. He slipped off his jacket and carefully laid his Glock and Beretta next to him on the blanket. She watched this all with amusement.
He caught this and said, “Did I do something funny?”
“No, but I was just thinking of Glocks on a picnic.”
“Don’t forget the Beretta.”
