“Until we do,” Cain said, “you’re still in great danger. My team and I will continue to train hard to protect you.”
“When will these threats stop?” the doctor asked. “Sato-san is not getting any younger.”
“They won’t,” Cain replied. “Not until they get what they want.”
“What do they want?” the doctor asked.
“They want me to resign,” Sato said angrily. “And I will not! I’ve come too far. I was born in this world alone. Abandoned at an orphanage without any clothing on my back. I worked day and night to reach this position. I carry the sacred name of my adoptive parents. I will not give my attackers, nor my competition, the pleasure of seeing me resign in defeat and in disgrace. I will not do that to the Sato family name.”
Cain was surprised by Mr. Sato’s history, which he had never heard before. “Then we’ll outlast them. The threats against the United States president never stop, either. I’m used to this kind of pressure. And obviously, you are, too.”
Mr. Sato grabbed a pack of Marlboros from his desk drawer and lit an imported cigarette.
“Those things will kill you,” the doctor said.
Sato took a drag and slowly exhaled the smoke. He looked Cain directly in his eyes and nodded. Cain could practically read his thoughts: The gaijin was better than he had expected.
Chapter 45
The following morning, Cain was back at his office. He had been working steadily on improving security for Mr. Sato. At Cain’s request, his team assembled in the break room to debrief the ambush from the previous day.
“I’ve got good news and bad news,” Cain said. “Which do you want to hear first?”
“The bad news,” one of the security officers said.
“Okay,” Cain replied as he scanned the room. “The bad news is—wait! We’re missing a team member. Where is Nakamura-san?”
Nakamura was one of the guards who had recently been hired. The room was silent. No one on the team said anything. Cain looked at Tanaka. “What’s going on? Where is Nakamura?”
Tanaka stood and answered with his head hung low. “He has resigned.”
There was an audible gasp in the cramped room.
“The attack scared him too much,” Tanaka continued. “He said he is suffering nightmares from it.”
Cain thought about his own nightmares, about how Nakamura was not alone. “This profession is dangerous. Each of us could lose our lives, and yesterday proved that. But there is honor in courage.” He raised a clenched fist into the air to inspire his team. “Cowards die many times before their death, but the brave taste death only once.”
The room filled with the sound of his team members clapping in admiration. When they stopped clapping and cheering, Cain asked, “What was I saying?”
“The good news and the bad news,” Tanaka said.
“Yes! That’s right. Well, the good news is that even with one member gone, this room is getting more cramped for us to meet in since we’ve increased our manpower.”
“And the bad news?” Tanaka asked.
“Yesterday’s coordinated attack on Sato-san was a reminder of the seriousness of our business. Now you can understand that there is a method to the gaijin’s madness.” Cain pointed to his chest. “We didn’t prevent the attack, but we prevented our boss from getting killed. Now is not the time for overconfidence, though. We can’t ease up and let our guard down. Yesterday’s attack could have been much worse. Imagine if there would have been just one more motorcycle with an Uzi-wielding attacker. We might all be pushing up daisies right now.”
Cain’s audience had a collectively confused look, and one of the guards raised his hand and asked for clarification.
“Pushing up daisies means we’d be having this meeting in heaven.”
“In Shinto, there is no heaven,” the security guard said.
“But there is reincarnation in Buddhism,” Tanaka-san said.
That started a religious discussion among the guards, who were normally much more reserved.
“Religion and politics,” Cain muttered under his breath. He tolerated the discussion for a few more seconds, his eyes darting back and forth; he didn’t understand a word the guards were saying. Then he continued, “Team, we’re getting way off topic. The bottom line is that we should expect and be prepared for more attacks.”
One of the guards stood and bowed before asking his question. “Who is responsible?”
“For the attack?” Cain asked.
“Hai.”
“When the police tell me, I’ll let you know.” Cain was hesitant to express his belief that it was the yakuza.