The Heart of the Jungle, стр. 19
"No, I'm telling you he's no Pollyanna. None of the Brunner Investments partners were clean. Cross used to be an information broker. He passed messages back and forth. Kept the principals out of contact with each other if they were under surveillance. He knows everyone there is to know in Brunner's network. If Brunner went underground, I need to find out who was most likely to have helped him, and Cross will probably have some idea of who that is."
"If he does, do you really think he'll tell us?"
"Are you hungry?" Jason asked suddenly, glancing at the clock on the wall.
Chris looked at him blankly and then followed his gaze. It was 5:10.
"But we just started."
"I know a great Japanese restaurant not far from here."
"Jason---"
"The place is called Hiroko's, and they have fantastic sushi. How do you feel about sushi?"
Chris's mouth gaped. "You're not really asking me to eat raw fish seconds after convincing me that my daughter could be alive?"
Jason took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair, steepling his hands beneath his chin. "I'm sorry. I know you're anxious. I have this issue with sensitivity. I promise you, we're going to get answers. We're not going to get them tonight, though." He held Chris's gaze for a moment longer, allowing the words to sink in. "Now, are you hungry or not?"
It took some time for Chris to regain his wits. He stared at Jason, fighting down the urge to scream. The patient, understanding expression on the other man's face helped him to squelch his anxiety. When he had mastered his feelings, he nodded in response.
"Settled." Jason climbed to his feet and deposited his files back into the filing cabinet. "Tell you what." He grabbed his jacket off an antiquated coat stand. "Since I'm a compromising kind of guy, we'll make this a working dinner."
Chris sighed in relief. As he stood, he smiled mischievously at Jason and said, "And since I am a compromising kind of guy, you can buy."
Chapter 5
HIROKO'S was a short distance from Jason's office. The early evening was warm and pleasant, and they walked together in companionable silence. The restaurant was set back from the street, and the walkway was lined with Japanese lanterns. The sun was setting, and the delicate glowing lights flickered cheerfully in the long shadows. The delicious aroma of Asian cooking met them at the dainty red gate, and they could hear the sound of a koto playing a haunting melody within.
The interior was dimly lit and quiet, the clientele low-key and pleasant. Tinkling laughter could occasionally be heard. There was a traditional dining area in the center of the small space, with tatami rooms along the two side walls. The rice paper screens that shielded these intimate little booths were aglow with candlelight that painted the silhouettes of their occupants in charcoal gray.
Moments after Jason and Chris walked in, a birdlike woman hurried across the restaurant toward them. She demurely touched Jason on the arm and smiled at him through half-lidded eyes.
The woman rattled off a quiet, melodic greeting in Japanese.
"Kom ba wa, Hiroko-san," Jason replied comfortably.
"Okagesamade genki desu."
She smiled shyly. "I haven't seen you for such a long time." Her command of English was perfect, touched by only a slight accent.
"Would you like a booth? There is one open." She motioned toward a tatami room near the back that was currently unoccupied.
After they had settled on the pillows arrayed on the floor around the low table, she served them an aromatic tea and excused herself with a promise to return soon.
Jason smiled fondly as she departed. "I adore her. She owns the place," he said, sipping his tea. "She's remarkable."
Chris smiled in agreement, looking around the private space they occupied. "You speak Japanese?" he asked absently.
"Not much more than simple greetings. 'Good evening.' 'are you well,' stuff like that. Oh, and I can order a beer with the best of 'em."
"Well, you sounded like an expert to me."
Jason chuckled, traced the rim of his stoneware teacup, and spoke in a soft voice touched with tenderness. "In her youth, Hiroko's family was detained in the internment camps. Her parents died while they were quarantined, and she was left to raise her baby brother, Keisuke, alone.
Hiroko made a living as a seamstress and saved every penny she could to put Keisuke through college."
Chris held his own mug of tea in both hands and sipped it cautiously. He raised an eyebrow. The flavor was nutty and surprisingly complex.
Jason's eyes softened as he continued Hiroko's tale. "Her brother is now one of the country's top neurosurgeons. This restaurant was a gift to Hiroko. It was her dream to someday be a successful businesswoman, and since she'd been responsible for helping him become a doctor, he made her dream come true in return."
Chris was surprised at how much Jason knew about Hiroko, and he couldn't help but be impressed by the story of her life.
"How do you know so much about her?" he asked with genuine curiosity.
"The FBI," Jason answered, refilling their teacups.
"The FBI? Don't tell me you did a background check on the poor woman before you came in here to eat?"
"No." Jason's amused expression dimmed, and his face became somber and distant as he settled the teapot back onto the table. "Once upon a time... I was a legitimate investigator." He spoke as though the admission were something to be ashamed of. He worked a jaw muscle and shrugged. "I picked up a couple of habits---late nights, for one."
"And?"
"I have a knack for getting people to talk to me."
"You never said anything about working for the FBI before." Chris couldn't imagine why he seemed so put off about his past. Remembering the painful memories that seemed to have surfaced during their earlier conversation, he wondered if there was some bad history associated with his former occupation.
Jason's expression was guarded when he spoke again. "I spent seven