Sting of the Scorpion Ch. 03

"Yes," I said, "and I don't think she'll be trying to frame you for murder, since she herself is now dead. Did you know Ken Konnichi, the man who was killed along with her?"

"No." Selena said. "Not at all. Mr. Goldman said he was an executive with a company in the City, so I'm not surprised Jennifer was putting out for him. I guess Kenny walked in on them and went mad and shot them?"

"Selena," I said, "just between us... I do not believe the version of events we have been led to believe by the Press. And pursuant to that, let me ask this: what level of access to your Bank's information did Ricky Morris have?"

Oh, geez..." Selena said, "just about everything. He'd be given specific tasks, but theoretically he had access to just about anything he would need to determine the figures he was working with... and before you ask, I'll have to clear it with J.P. and the lawyers, and they'll probably ask for a warrant."

"Oh, I have no desire to waste my people's time looking through your Bank's books." I said. "But I would ask if you would investigate... internally... what Ricky Morris was doing the past few months. See what he accessed, stuff like that. I trust you to come to myself or Captain Ross with anything unusual you find out... as our Confidential Informant, of course." Cindy flashed a brief smile at that one.

Just then a vision of beauty walked up to us. She was very tall, and she was wearing a satiny, shimmery dress of very light blue, almost white, with a hat and a whitish veil. Her blonde hair was done up in a 'high-falutin' fashion, as my mother would say. Her gorgeous legs were made even more shapely by the matching light blue high heel pumps that she wore.

"Rita?" I gasped, totally stunned.

"Hello, Commander, my darling." said the woman. She was indeed Rita, the statuesque blonde that owned and ran the 'Lashes & Lace' underground sex club. "Selena, so good to see you again. And you must be Captain Ross. I'm Rita... and it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Yes, forgive my lack of manners." said Selena as she got up. "I'm going to have to leave, but Rita wanted to speak with you." She gave Rita a hug and a two-cheek kiss, and I noticed both women's eyes smoldering. I now knew where Selena was getting sex... from the well-hung Satyrs at Lashes and Lace... and maybe something from the women there, too.

"May I join you?" Rita asked. Not waiting for an answer, Rita sat down at the place to my left and Cindy's right. I noticed Rita's sparkling eyes studying Cindy, then cut to me for a second. With a knowing smile, Rita said "May I call you Cindy? You are a vision of loveliness. I remember seeing you in those 'Miss Physical America' competitions, and you are even more beautiful in person."

"Thank you." Cindy said, blushing but very happy with the praise. She had been observing Rita for her looks, also.

"And I want to see you and your fiancée at my club, and soon." said Rita. "You can take advantage of me and do whatever you like to me."

"Uh, thanks, but I don't think that's my cup of tea." Cindy replied.

"Speaking of that," Rita said, half teasing, "why hasn't this delicious Commander not poured me a cup of coffee yet?"

As I poured Rita's coffee, I said "So, Rita, why did you want to see us?"

"My lovely friend Selena... isn't she gorgeous?... knew you'd be asking her about the Morrises and that tragic murder, and she wanted me to share what I know with you, which is considerable. You have some very foul and dirty cops on your Force, Commander."

"Don't I know it." I said, noticing Rita's eyes cutting from Cindy to me and back to Cindy. "What can you tell us?"

"Ricky Morris was a very dull and boring man." Rita said. "He was a member of the Club for a while, but all he would do is come in and jack off while watching my Satyrs fuck older women. And as one needs to participate in order to be with my Club, we asked Ricky to find his pleasures... elsewhere."

"Fortunately for him, or unfortunately, really" Rita continued, "he met Jennifer Madoff. She was the wife of State Representative Justin Madoff for a long time. I believe you know him and his reputation for honesty, Commander?"

"Oh yes." I said, enjoying Rita's biting sarcasm. Madoff was a State Rep from the City, and one of the most deeply corrupt politicians in the Legislature.

"Jennifer and Justin were a bad, bad couple." Rita said. "She would seduce other legislators and get secrets from them, then pass those secrets to Justin, who would then use them against the other legislators. That ended when she tried to seduce Jimmy 'Coffin' Cerone, who is a man not to be fucked with, nor fucked over. Madoff had to divorce Jennifer to save his skin, and Jennifer got out of the City as fast as she could."

Rita went on: "She was fucking several men in high places, such as Mr. Konnichi, and selling information to the highest bidder... and of course that would always be your good friend Henry R. Wargrave."

"Ahhhh," I said. "Now we start to paint a picture. So... what can you tell me about Thomas P. Cook in all of this?"

"And how would you know to ask about him?" Rita asked, her eyes dancing.

"Little game I like to play, called 'connect-the-dots'." I said, making sure Rita saw my eyes looking into hers.

"He's a businessman that likes to trade secrets, also." said Rita. "But I don't know of any connection he has to this."

"May I ask a question?" Cindy queried.

"You just did." Rita said, leaning over, resting her chin in the palm of her hand, and staring into Cindy's ice blue eyes, losing herself in them. "I hope the next one is a lot better."

"I'm looking for someone." Cindy said, glancing at me then back into Rita's eyes. "Old woman, known as the 'Widow Athena Jones'. Supposedly hangs out with Old Mrs. Boddiker. Would you happen to know who this woman is?"

"Aw, I was hoping you were going to ask me out for dinner and drinks." Rita said, then grinned. "That ADA must be one hell of a woman, Commander. This woman is smitten."

"Can't say I blame her." I said.

"Stoppit." Cindy said, giving me a cutting look for that.

"But to answer your question," Rita said, "I know of Old Mrs. Boddiker, she's a basket case. But I don't know of this Widow Jones. I'll check it out. And if I find her for you, you will owe me a favor... which means coming to my Club... and bringing that wonderful toy Laura made for you." Cindy gasped in shock. I began chuckling, which nearly incurred a Blue Crowbar beatdown on the spot.

As we were leaving, Cindy went to the restroom. Normally women do that together, but this time Rita held back... to say something to me. When her eyes met mine, we both knew what it was.

"Are you aware...?" she asked, her eyes boring into me. With her high heel pumps, Rita was eye-level with me.

"Oh yes, of course." I said.

"I see now why you moved so quickly to make her a Captain in the Police Force." Rita whispered. "When are you going to tell her?"

"It'll be soon." I said. "Probably by July 4th. Everything is coming to a head, and she'll know everything by then." Rita just smiled and nodded.

Part 14 - Manners and Mannerisms

Back at Headquarters, I went to MCD, where I got the report. It was 'not good'.

"Sir," started Theo Washington, "I interviewed almost all of the Lions Club members over the weekend. Most of them remember seeing Ricky Morris at the meeting, but none saw him after about 9:20pm. Two members sitting near him said he got a cellphone call, and he hurriedly left."

"Damn." I said. "Wipes out any alibi he might have had. Did you get anyone on Data Team to check out the cellphone call?"

"I asked Milton himself, and he looked it up himself." Theo said. "Burner phone, pinging the tower near University Avenue and College Avenue." University Avenue was the main north-south road separating the Town from the University Campus. College Avenue went west from the Main Gate of the University (and therefore straight west from The Cabin on the mountain above) into Town, and was the southern border of Courthouse Square.

"I guess there's no idea where he went?" I asked.

"Myron also checked the GPS on Morris's car." Theo said. "And here's the rub... it was wiped out. Totally clean, erased. Someone knew exactly what the hell they were doing. By the way, I got I.A. to give me a behind-the-curtain report: Sharples and McCombs's police car cameras were not operating; they didn't turn them on. So nothing there, either."

"Hoo boy." I said. "Doesn't look like my plan is going to pan out. Okay, good work Theo. Write it up and file it into evidence."

I went to my office and called in Cindy and Tanya. After discussing the case and general MCD stuff, I said "I'm going to the City to interview Ken Konnichi's boss at Ichimoku Industries. Don't give me grief, Cindy, but I'm not taking you on this one. Tanya, I'd like to take Martin Nash with me." Like good Crowbar's Angels, they nodded and didn't give me backtalk nor ask questions I didn't want asked.

"Cindy," I said, "I'd like for you poke your head into the FBI's local offices and ask about that classified file and see if they're making any progress on it. They'll tell you they haven't found a damn thing, and you'll say okay, but the point is that I don't want them to think I've forgotten about it for one minute..."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As we drove to the City in my Police SUV, I told Nash some things about Japanese protocols, and what to say and how to act during the meeting. I then said "Don't tell anyone else, but the reason I brought you instead of Ross is because these Japanese execs will never treat a woman with the same respect they would a man. They'd expect Cindy to bow lower than you or I need to, and I don't have to tell you what she'd say about that!"

"I'm sure most of the words would have four letters." said Nash, exhibiting his 'pawky' sense of humor. "But if you want her to win the Police Boxing Matches next month, you should tell her."

"Hell no!" I said. "I want to win those myself. What about you?"

"I'm doing the real boxing competition." said Martin Nash. "I did some Golden Gloves boxing, and I've been training for this event."

"Oh." I said. "Cool beans."

Arriving at the offices of Ichimoku Industries, which were in the northwest part of the City, I handed the receptionist at the front desk my card, saying that I had an appointment. A few minutes later a young Japanese woman came up to us and bowed.

"Commander Troy-sama." she said. "Would you please come this way?" We followed the woman to an elevator which led to the higher floors of the building.

"Mr. Ichigawa will see you in just a moment, Commander-sama." said the male secretary in the office.

"Arigato." I said. The wait was not long, and soon we were admitted to a long office with a full conference table in the middle of the room, and a large desk at the far end.

"Ah, Commander Troy and Detective Nash." said the man rising from the desk and coming forward to meet us. "I am Hiroku Ichigawa, Chief Information Officer of the City branch of Ichimoku Industries."

I bowed with the exact depth that an American would bow, enough to be polite but certainly not being the inferior. I noticed Martin bow to the same depth, which was most very good. Mr. Ichigawa returned our bow with equal exactitude.

"Please, be seated. May I offer you some tea?" said Mr. Ichigawa.

"Thank you Ichigawa-sama." I said. "But please be seated first."

"Ah, you know our customs, Troy-sama." said Ichigawa. "It is no wonder Takaki Masaki-sama spoke so highly of you. Please, be seated." I allowed myself to be persuaded as the guest, and sat down. Martin, as my 'second', waited and sat down just after Ichigawa. Most very good.

A woman came up with a tea service. "May I offer you tea?" he said. The woman placed the service down and began pouring a Japanese tea cup full of the green beverage. "Dozo, Commander-san."

"Thank you, but please give it to Hiroku-san." I said, knowing that several protocols dictated I use his first name.

"You are too kind, Donald-san, but please, honor me." I allowed myself to be persuaded, expressing my admiration for the quality of the tea caddy and cups, which pleased Ichigawa. Martin was offered tea and asked the cup be given to Mr. Ichigawa, who again insisted his guest take the cup, and Martin was persuaded. The woman poured Ichigawa's tea, then left the room.

"Yes, Japanese protocols must run in your family, Donald-san." said Ichigawa. "Your nephew Todd-san is well-versed in his manners. He has tremendous maturity and knowledge for a man so young."

"I'm honored to hear you say so, Hiroku-san." I said. "You've met him through his company doing business with yours?"

"Of course." Ichigawa said. "He is a tough negotiator, as well. Much more tough than the Chinese, who are weak in their manners." I smiled.

"So, Donald-san, how may I be of service to you today?" This was the signal that the rituals and protocols were satisfactorily met, and we could get to business.

"I'm sorry that I have to visit for such a tragic circumstance." I said. "It's about Ken Konnichi-san, who was killed in my County recently."

"Ah, yes." said Ichigawa. "Ken-san was rising fast in our company. We did not know that he was having a... relationship with this woman Morris. We did not expect such a lack of vision by Ken-san in compromising himself. Still, his death was very tragic for all of us."

"My condolences to your company and his family." I said. "May I ask some questions?"

"Of course." he said. I took out my notebook.

"Mr. Konnichi worked directly for you, sir?" I asked. "In what capacity?"

"I am the Chief Information Officer for the City branch of the company. Ken was one of my managers in the Information Technology department."

"He was supervising others?" I asked. Ichigawa affirmed it.

"Did he get along with everyone? Did anyone have any problems with him, or vice versa?"

No, Donald-san, it was his duty to do his job efficiently." said Ichigawa. "As you know, we Japanese place emphasis on workplace efficiency and competence. Everyone is expected to get along and use good manners in their social contacts with each other. What you call the 'social graces' are not as prevalent in our companies as in American companies... or Police Departments, I am certain. "

Was that a little shot? I wondered. I went on: "Thank you, Hiroku-san. I don't expect you to tell me any business secrets, of course, but can you tell me what Konnichi-san's work was? What he was working on, that is? Anything that would cause someone to want to kill him?"

"He oversaw several projects, mostly software upgrades of existing programs." said Ichigawa.

"Anything to do with cyber-security? Or financial-related programs?"

"No, nothing like that."

"Do you know how Ken-san met Jennifer Morris, the woman who was murdered along with him?"

"No, Donald-san." Ichigawa said. "We did not even know of his... affair until we learned of his death."

"Was he married?" I asked.

"Yes. his wife is an American citizen, and they seemed devoted to each other. He had no other relationships that we know of." said Ichigawa. "And I will tell you in confidence, gentlemen, that we keep watch upon our employees. Spies are constantly probing us, seeking weak men to exploit. We are examining Ken Konnichi's relationship with this woman. As Takaki Masaki-sama has asked us to assist you, we will let you know of anything we find."

"Arigato." I said. "I am very grateful to you, and to him. I also appreciate your taking a few moments of your valuable time to meet with us."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"What did you think of that, Martin?" I asked as we were getting back into my Police SUV for the drive home.

"The Japanese are sure touchy about protocols, but I guess when it's done right, as you did it, they become helpful." Martin replied. "I would have been lost."

"They'd understand if you didn't attempt it at all." I said. "In fact, it's preferable to trying and fucking it up, which would cause you to dishonor yourself."

"Did he say your nephew Todd was very good at Japanese ceremonials?" Martin asked.

"Yep." I replied. "My nephew has traveled to Japan on behalf of BOW Enterprises, and he's learned a lot. And like the man said, Todd is quite capable in spite of his young age."

Capable of a great many things, I thought to myself. And not all of them necessarily for the side of Good...

"Uh, sir, you missed the turn to get to the highway." Nash said.

"I'm actually going to stop by the Federal Building while we're over here." I said. "I need to talk with Jack Muscone and his boss about something. It has to do with the Nicole Stanton murder...

To be continued.