Chapter 1

"What do we have?" Detective Sandoval asked as he ducked under the crime scene tape. The Port Newark docks were as busy as ever, but all the frantic activity of one of the world's busiest ports now skirted around the small slice that was closed off.

"The victim's male, 33 years old, single gunshot wound to the back of the head." Detective Chastain replied. "The Port Authority found him while investigating a reported theft. One of the dock workers found a container broken open. I think you can guess what they found inside." The pair approached the shipping container as other officers bustled about, documenting the scene. "I've already called the FBI and the State Department."

"What the hell did you do that for?!" Sandoval asked, flabbergasted.

"The victim's a Japanese national." Chastain explained. "Detective Nakamura Taro. The FBI already decided it's not their problem, and the State Department is talking to the Japanese government about how they want to handle it."

Sandoval walked into the shipping container, careful not to step on anything that may be of importance. Except for the body, the container was empty. He knelt beside the body. "No blood." He observed. "The body must have been moved. Judging by the smell I'd say he's been dead for a few days too."

"Maybe longer." Chastain said. "There' evidence that the body was frozen. He might have been killed in Japan, frozen in transit and dumped here."

"What was supposed to be in this container?" Sandoval asked.

"The shipping records say car parts." Chastain answered. "The port of origin is in China. The ship transporting it stopped in Japan to unload and take on cargo, and then it was non-stop to here."

"Why would someone want to steal car parts?" Sandoval thought aloud. "With all the containers and all the expensive shit around, why this container? What made it worth killing for?"

"The obvious answer is that it wasn't car parts." Chastain mused. "What it was, I have no idea."


"I really don't think that's necessary." Sandoval said. He stood somewhat awkwardly. He was never comfortable talking to the Chief, even if he wasn't getting chewed out.

"The Japanese insisted on being directly involved in the investigation." Chief Williams said. "If you don't like the idea of working with their consultant, I'll just give the case to someone who does."

"No one's going to want that." Sandoval said. "But hell, if you've got someone, he can have it." Sandoval had a bad feeling about this case and he wanted nothing to do with it. An international case featuring the execution of an investigator, it did not bode well.

"As a matter of fact, I do have someone in mind." Williams said. "Do me a favor and get Waters." Williams leaned back in his chair, done talking to Sandoval and disappointed in his lack of interest in the case.

"Waters, are you serious?" Sandoval asked. Williams gave Sandoval a look that indicated he should shut up and leave.


Fourteen hour flights are never fun, but at least Naoto's was a smooth one. It was on time and almost no turbulence. She had heard some horror stories about airports in this part of America, but Newark Liberty was a pleasant surprise. It was not exactly the newest or cleanest, but it was perfectly functional. Assisted by her position as a consultant for the Japanese Criminal Investigation Bureau, she sped through customs without any problems. She grabbed her suitcase from baggage claim and headed for the road that swept past the terminal. She had been instructed to head to the end of the pick-up/drop-off zone, to the right following the direction of traffic. A representative would meet her there.

Naoto stepped out the last set of doors and there in front of her stood a man holding a sign bearing her name. The man was tall, over six feet, a bit overweight, and wearing a suit that was neat but did not quite fit properly. He looked bored, his eyes wandering as he leaned against a small black sedan. As Naoto approached his gaze drifted to her and locked on. "Detective Shirogane?" He asked.

"The same." She replied. She bowed politely and shook his hand. "You are?"

"Detective Waters." The man said. He reached into his suit and pulled out his ID and badge. "We'll be working together on this case."

"I'm surprised they sent you." Naoto said. "I was expecting a taxi."

"That would have cost the department money." Waters said with a hint of annoyance. He walked to the back of the car and opened the trunk. Naoto started to lift her bag into it but Waters took it from her and placed it carefully inside. He moved back toward the front of the car, opening the passenger-side front door as he passed before walking around to the driver's door. Naoto obligingly took a seat up front as Waters slid himself into the driver's seat. "So, where are you staying?" He asked.

"I was under the impression that your department was arranging for my accommodations." Naoto said.

Waters laughed. "So they already fucked it up." He said. "Well, I'd hate for you to have to pay out of pocket. You could stay with me, at least until it gets sorted."

"I couldn't possibly inconvenience you like that." Naoto said.

"It's no inconvenience." Waters said. "I insist."

"Well, alright." Naoto relented. "It would be a good opportunity to go over the case."


Waters' driving was a bit worrying for Naoto. He was too fast and too aggressive for her taste. That said, every other driver on the road seemed to drive the same way. As bad as Tokyo traffic could be, this place was terrifying.

"So, I did some research." Waters said, his eyes still focused on the road. "Research about you to be exact. Correct me if I'm wrong but they call you the 'Detective Prince.'" He paused for a moment. "Or is it princess? My Japanese isn't as good as it could be and the articles I read were a bit vague on the point."

"I'm a woman if that's what you're asking." Naoto said. "That's not going to be a problem is it?"

"Not for me." Waters said. "Your reputation as a detective is unparalleled. As long as you're good at your job I don't care if you're a man, woman or sentient humanoid robot. I hope they're not as misogynistic in Japan as they are in my department." He briefly took his eyes off his driving to glance at Naoto. The look on her face was telling. "That bad huh? It's unfortunate."

"Could we talk about something else?" Naoto requested. "It's a bit of a sore subject."

"Not your only hang-up either." Waters observed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Naoto asked, slightly offended.

"Well, judging by the size of the platforms on your shoes, you're self-conscious about your height." Waters said. "And the way you pull your hat down over your face tells me you're shy and suffer from some social anxiety." Naoto shot him an angry look. "Surely you've made some observations about me. Let's hear it."

"Since you don't seem to have shaved in a few days and you're wearing a suit that doesn't fit I'd say you don't much care about your appearance." Naoto observed. "Since your suit's too big, I'm guessing you recently lost some weight, but I'd guess it's down to stress or accident rather than a concerted effort. The car you're driving tells me you don't care what your co-workers think. American policemen generally drive large American sedans, but this is a small foreign car. It's just as well since the fact that they sent you in person to pick me up at the airport tells me they don't think very highly of you. They think you've got nothing better to do than wait around for someone they don't even want to work with. I'd guess you're a bit of a jerk."

"Very good." Waters said with a smile. "You've every bit the detective your reputation implies. It's good we got that out in the open too. If we're working together we may as well know what we think of each other. I mean no offence though I'm sure I offended."

"That you did." Naoto said.

"Just so you know, you're absolutely right about everything you said." Waters added. "Thanks for the tip on the suit too, I hadn't noticed."

"Was I correct about your department not wanting me here?" Naoto asked.

"Yes." Waters confirmed. "For my part, I welcome the assistance and the perspective. It's nice to work with someone who sees thing differently from the norm." Waters laughed. "I like you already. Normally when I analyze people they won't even speak to me afterward. You took it and gave it right back. You're made of sterner stuff than most."

"So that was a test?" Naoto asked.

"Not exactly." Waters replied. "I feel like the best way to get to know someone, and I mean who they really are, not the façade they present, is to get that someone mad. When you're angry, particularly about what seems like a personal attack, there's no hiding your true colors. You could have just screamed obscenities at me or not said another word, silently seething, but you hit right back."

"You're a strange person." Naoto said.

"Yeah." Waters laughed. "I get that a lot."


Waters turned off the highway into what could only be described as a bad neighborhood. Boarded up windows, broken glass, burned out buildings and more lined the streets. He pulled up in front of a run-down garage and got out of the car. After opening it he got back in and pulled the car inside. "You live in this neighborhood?" Naoto asked in disbelief.

"I do." Waters replied as he pulled Naoto's luggage out of the trunk. "I know it looks shitty. The thing is, I work with the people who live here, and they respect me more for going through what they do on a daily basis. So I get shot at sometimes. I think I make up for it in trust."

"You've been shot at here?" Naoto asked with growing alarm. Waters opened the door to the apartment building and waved Naoto inside.

"Well, not shot at exactly." Waters said, looking for the right words. "Shots have hit things near me, but I don't think I was intentionally being shot at." He started up the stairs carrying Naoto's bag and his own briefcase.

"That doesn't exactly assuage my concerns." Naoto said. She was beginning to regret agreeing to stay with Waters.

Waters walked to a door on the second floor, slid his key into the lock and opened it up. "This is the place." He said. "It's not much, but it's home." He walked in, dropped his briefcase and Naoto's bag just inside the door and continued on into another room. "Are you thirsty? Take something from the fridge. I just need to get your room ready. No one's used it in…" He paused for a moment. "…ever."

The furnishings were sparse but at least they were in good shape. Naoto opened the refrigerator. A drink sounded great after such a long day. Unfortunately there was not much inside. Some soft drinks and sports drinks filled the refrigerator, with some alcoholic beverages mixed in. To her surprise, it was mostly wine, though there was some beer. Maybe Waters was classier than he appeared. Or maybe he just liked wine. "Do you mind if I make tea?" Naoto called, not finding anything in the refrigerator to her liking.

"Sure, go ahead." Waters called back. "The tea-bags are in the cabinet, top right, and be sure to rinse out the kettle. I've never used it."

Judging by the layer of dust on the stove, he had never used that either. She rinsed out the kettle, filled it with water and set it on the stove. As she waited for the water to boil, she dug through the cabinets and managed to find a suitable cup.

Waters emerged from the other room, looking somewhat dusty and winded. "Well, that was harder than I expected." He sighed. "You've got fresh, clean sheets, a blanket, and pillows. I had to rewire the electrical outlet though."

"Isn't that something the apartment's maintenance people should be responsible for?" Naoto asked.

"They should." Waters laughed. "I could wait a month, by which time it would be pointless, or I could do it myself." He walked to the other side of the room and grabbed the television remote. He flicked it on and switched to a hockey game. He looked at the score and frowned. "They never fail to disappoint." Naoto had no knowledge or interest in hockey, but she was vaguely aware that Japan had a national team.

The kettle whistled as the water boiled. Naoto grabbed it and poured it into her cup, over the tea-bag. "So, detective, why were you assigned to this case?" Naoto asked, trying to make some polite conversation.

"What do you mean?" Waters asked, sitting down on the couch.

"Based on our discussion in the car, your co-workers don't think highly of you." Naoto said. "This is a big international case. You'd think they would want their best and brightest on this. It could make a career."

"You're looking at it wrong." Waters said. "This case is a potential career destroyer. If I fuck it up, it's going to make the news and that'll be it for me. Besides, no one here wants to be stuck dragging some foreigner around. I might be the only one who would look forward to working with an outsider. I think you'll help, but they see you as a burden. On top of that, I'm the Japanese expert as far as they're concerned."

"The Japanese expert?" Naoto said, sitting at what passed for a kitchen table.

"I can almost speak some Japanese, I have watched an anime, and I play video games made in Japan." Waters said. "As far as the others are concerned, I'm straight out of Tokyo."

"You don't like the people you work with." Naoto observed.

"What gave it away?" Waters asked. "Most of them are decent enough cops though. They're just narrow-minded and intolerant. I'm sure you've got your share of assholes like that back in Japan." Naoto couldn't help but laugh, he could not be more correct. A horn blared from the television and Waters' head sank into his hands. Seemingly giving up on the hockey game, he switched the TV off and got up, walking back to the kitchen area. He took a seat at the table across from Naoto. "Are you hungry?" He asked. "I was just going to order food."

"I suppose it would be a good idea to eat something." Naoto said.

"How do you feel about pizza?" Waters asked.

"I've had it, but I can't say I'm a fan." Naoto said.

"Well, you've never had pizza like this." Waters said. "The best pizza in the world is from right here." He slipped his cell phone out of his pocket and hit something on speed dial. "Hey Angelo." He said after a few rings. "No, not the usual tonight, I've got a guest. Make it a large pie." He paused for a moment and looked critically at Naoto. "And add a salad." Naoto could not hear the other side of a conversation. "Yes it's a girl, but no it's not a date. It's for work." Waters laughed at something. "Yeah, fuck you too Angelo." He laughed again. "Thanks." He hung up.

"You order from there a lot?" Naoto asked.

"Only three times a week." Waters replied. Naoto gave him a look of scorn. "Oh, what are you my mother? It's good food."


Naoto was pleasantly surprised by the food Waters had ordered. She was alarmed by the sheer quantity, but the taste was excellent. It was the first meal she had been able to eat that was not on a plane for almost a full day. After dinner seemed like a good time to start discussing the case. "So, Detective Nakamura, how did he die?" She asked.

"Single gunshot wound to the back of the head." Waters replied. "Clearly an execution."

"At least it was painless." Naoto sighed. Waters knew there had been signs that Nakamura was tortured before he was killed, but he stayed silent.

"Why is your department so interested in a shipping container full of car parts?" Waters asked. "What was Nakamura investigating the got him killed?"

"We have reason to believe the container filled with illegal weapons." Naoto explained. "The Criminal Investigation Bureau was investigating a Tokyo businessman with ties to organized crime in China and the US. We had reason to believe the container was filled with disassembled assault rifles from China, mixed in with and disguised as auto parts. Detective Nakamura was supposed to find some proof but he disappeared before he could give us anything."

"Organized crime, you mean the Mafia?" Waters asked.

"We don't know." Naoto replied. "We mostly had rumors and money trails that led nowhere. An informant in China told us about the guns, but that was all we had."

"The container was empty when we found Nakamura." Waters said. "If it was full of weapons, they're long gone."

"Do you have any leads?" Naoto asked.

"Not on the theft." Waters said. "We do know where the container was headed. I was planning to follow up on that tomorrow."


Naoto did not sleep much. It was not the accommodations. The bed was small, but clean and comfortable. The problem was what was going on outside. Given the appearance of the neighborhood, it was hard not to imagine the worst, but at the very least it was loud. Cars, motorcycles, shouts and a myriad other sounds kept her awake. It was a far cry from her country estate. Come the morning she was tired, but there was work to be done.

"The container was headed for an address in Paterson." Waters said. "What really interests me though is the owner. The guy's bad news. Mob ties, money from questionable sources, off shore accounts, the whole deal."

"Do you think he's our guy?" Naoto asked.

"The best theory I've got now is that it's him, or more accurately someone working for him." Waters said. "It doesn't feel right though."

"I agree." Naoto said. "Having the container shipped to an address he owns, it's sloppy."

"Yes it is." Waters said. "The theft could be a diversion though, a way to point suspicion away from the intended recipient. Or maybe he's just an idiot. We won't know until we meet him."

The drive should have taken about fifteen minutes given the distance, but because of traffic it took an hour and a half. Even at low speeds Waters' driving worried Naoto. His rage worried her more. She was afraid he'd have a heart attack. After the trying drive they arrived outside a sizable estate. It was very different from any location in Newark and spoke to the owner's affluence. A large mansion sat atop a well-manicured grassy hill.

Waters drove up to the gate and hit the buzzer. After a few moments a voice came over the intercom. "Who is it?" The man on the other end sounded annoyed.

"Detective Waters, Newark PD." Waters replied. There was a heavy sigh on the other end and the gate slid open. They wound up the driveway to the front of the mansion. Waters got out of the car and Naoto followed. He paused at the base of the steps. "I hope you're ready for this."