Ch 4
It was Kaede's last day of work, and she swore people came by just to make sure she was going to let everyone know when the birth was, and let them see her little 'bundle'o joy' so they could help welcome the baby into the world. While Kaede was happy so many people came to wish her well, everyone that showed up bought something, she her last day was all but frantic.
She was so tired she called for a ride home instead of flying herself across the hills.
Getting into her regular clothes, including her "Babe's a comin!" pink shirt. She wore a skirt, since her pants didn't fit any more, but she still wore her old SEAHAWKS wool hat.
Pouring herself a lemonade, she went over to sit with the McGregor couple, Danny and Alisa, who had a two year old.
"Yer first, huh?" Alisa asked.
"Aye, an I'm nervous as a cat in a room'o rockin chairs," Kaede admitted.
The couple laughed. "Doan worry yerself!" Alisa said, chuckling. "Gittin-im out's gonna be the worst. I'm sure Kouta'll help ya wit the feedins and changins, Ya gonna feed im yerself, ain't ya?"
"Aye," Kaede said with a blush. "Me an Kouta talked, it's the healthiest fer the baby an they say it also helps the bond tween mother an baby."
"It does at that," Alisa agreed. The then elbowed Danny and added, "Corse, yer man'll wanna help wit that too."
Daniel blushed, Kaede laughed.
Loudly, Rachel said, "I have not see her."
Kaede turned to the bar to see a man with a picture eyeing Rachel. "I don't believe you. I know she's here somewhere!"
"Hey!" Kaede barked. "Rachel said she ain't seen whoever that is, leave'er alone!"
The man scowled at her and stated, "I didn't ask for your opinion, so shut up!"
Across the room, and "Ohhh" sounded. Kaede put her glass down and stood up. "Open the doors, that guy's leavin in a hurry," Kaede grated.
Quickly the inner and outer doors were flung open, the men standing to the sides, out of the way.
The man noted this and the hard look in the pink haired woman's face. He showed her the picture. "Have you seen this woman?"
Kaede replied, "Start walkin now, or else."
Thinking the pregnant woman might have a gun, and by the way those around him moved away from him, he was fairly sure she meant business. He turned and walked out. He wasn't here to get into a gun fight with a pregnant woman.
Kaede walked behind him to the door. Once he was outside, she told the guys holding the doors open, "Thank ya fer the help, lads."
"Any time, Kaede," they said. "Couse, we were waitin ta see him fly outta here."
"He narly did," Kaede said. She turn to Rachel who looked a little nervous. "Ya Ok Rachel?'
"Aye hon. Just a rude fella, doan let it bother ya," Rachel told her.
"Lemme know if he comes back, " Kaede said and returned to her seat. Part way there she stopped briefly with an 'ohh!' and looked down. She then grinned at the worried looks around her and said, "Just a kick. Think he might be tryin to come out through the side."
"That would be messy," one man said, which caused a tension breaking laugh.
Kaede sat and talked for a while until Kouta came by to pick her up. Everyone waved bye and wish her luck. Kaede promised to come back when she lost 'a bit'o weight'.
Getting home Kaede found out why a man had come, demanding if anyone had seen Amanda. She was here.
.
Derek was in a townie bar, talking to people and wondering if they'd seen his girlfriend who promised to meet him here. Seeing Jake come in, Derek waved him over.
Jake sat and shook his head. "Nothing confirmed, but a bar maid I saw recognized her picture. Saw it in her face."
"Did you press her? Offer some cash?" Derek asked.
"Didn't have the chance. This pregnant pink haired bitch ran me out. Got a feeling she was a tough one, she ordered the doors opened and a couple guys jumped to do it. The ones near me backed away," Jake said in a grumble.
Derek eyed him and asked, "Did she have pink eyebrows, red eyes?"
"Yeah, ya seen her?"
"No, but I know about her," Derek said firmly. "That's one you never want to screw with. Here, she's called the Witch if Glen Finnen. Back in Japan where she's from, she's called Kaede No Kaze. It means, The Wind of Death. She'll kill ya with a look. Stay away from that place, and her."
"A real witch?" Jake asked, "You're screwing with me?"
"I'm not. She has a bigger body count than some dictators," Derek said and took a swig of his beer. He then said, "When the other boys get back, we'll move on to the next town. We know Amanda came this way, it's just a matter of finding out where she landed."
.
"Well Hello, Amanda," Kaede said as she went into Duncan's office where Amanda was sitting across the desk from Duncan, feet up and casting Duncan an innocent smile.
"HI, Kaede, if you don't mind, I came for the birth. I heard you were pregnant," Amanda beamed.
Duncan cast a thigh smile at Kaede and said, "So goes the story. I'm waiting for the knife to appear."
"Already did," Kaede told him. "This fella came in with Amanda's picture, demanding if anyone saw her. He was harassing Rachel, I had ta boot him out. He didn look happy."
Duncan eyed Amanda. "Well? What' it about this time?" he asked.
Amanda took on a shocked look. "I don't know what you mean," she said innocently.
"Amanda, spill it," Duncan said firmly.
Amanda held her arms up in surrender and said, "Honestly, I don't know. What did he look like?"
Kaede let out a huff and asked, "So, yer staying for a while?"
"Can I stay?" Amanda asked Duncan. "I really want to see Kaede's baby. I'll help too," she offered.
Duncan looked at Kaede. Kaede knew that look, it was up to her. She nodded. "Fine by me, but if any Amanda related trouble comes by, Amanda's gonna sleep in a bog for a few days, then hopefully fer her, I'll remember where I put her."
Casting Kaede a shocked looked, Amanda said, "You wouldn't do that to me … would you?"
"Try me."
"I think ya better fess up, Amanda," Duncan told her.
"There is another immortal after me, but I DID come to see Kaede's baby," Amanda said, defending herself.
Duncan pinched the bridge of his nose and asked, "What'd ya do?"
Waving a hand like it was nothing, Amanda said, "He made me loose my car so I … kinda pawned all his diamonds. It's not a big deal … really!"
"It's beginnin ta make sense," Duncan concluded.
Kaede turned and said, "I hafta go see Mom. Remember the bog, Amanda, just remember the bog."
Looking at Duncan, Amanda asked, "She really wouldn't …."
Duncan nodded and said, "Aye, she will."
.
Kaede talked to Inari and told her about the man at the inn, and Amanda coming to hide for a while.
Inari shook her head. "That woman's gotta learn a lesson. If ya need help gittin Amanda down in the bog, lemme know."
Kaede grinned and said, "We got at tone'er down somehow."
"Hey, mom!" Nana said as she came in, all smiles. Bouncing in place she lifted her arm and showed Kaede a silver bracelet and said, "Jeff got me this, and another one fer him. It's a 'friends forever' bracelet. When they are put tagther, they form one bracelet that says 'friends'."
"That's pretty," Kaede told her, then asked, "So Jeff's now your official boyfriend?"
"huh?" Nana asked, looking confused.
"Well, he's a boy an yer friends, so, he's yer boyfriend," Kaede explained.
Nana stared off an nothing a moment then smiled ad bobbed her head in a nod. "Yeah! Jeff's me boyfriend!" She turned and ran out to spread the good news.
Inari smiled and glanced at the doorway Nana had run though. "I'm guessin two more years an they'll be married."
Kaede giggled and said, "Depends if Mayu finds a reason 'they sound not be married,"
Inari rolled her eyes. "At least Mayu isn't whacking Jeff on his head any more."
"Nay," Kaede said, then added, "Course, Mayu doan know bout Jeff and Nana kissin an stuff outside the walls last time he was here. They got a quickie make out session in fore Mayu came back with the garden rakes."
Inari eyed Kaede. Kaede shrugged and said, "OK I was watchin from the parapets. I warned-em Mayu was comin. All I had ta do was greet-em and they sprung apart like they had a spring tween-em. So red faced ya'd thing they was on fire … course they mighta been if'n I hadn't interrupted."
Inari laughed.
Mayu came stomping in. "Mom, did ya see Nana's bracelet?" she asked in a worried tone.
"Aye, an if Nana and Jeff wanna be boyfriend and girlfriend, ya gotta let-em," Kaede said firmly.
"But … isn't that goin too far?" Mayu asked in a firm tone.
Kaede shrugged. "Not unless Nana is goin ta have a baby too," she said.
"MOM!" Mayu cried, staring at her.
"Calm yerself. Mayu, Jeff's a good boy. Leave'em alone," Kaede told Mayu for… she'd forgotten how many times.
"Mayu, doan you have any good friends?" Inari asked.
Mayu shuffled in place and said, "I'm watchin over Nana most of the time."
"Then quit watchin over Nana. She's a big girl, ya need yer own life, Mayu," Inari said firmly.
"Ya do, Mayu," Kaede said. "Unless something changes, I'm sure Jeff an Nana are goin ta be married eventually."
Mayu hung her head. "I know," she said meekly.
.
Duncan's phone he put on his desk rang. He picked it up. "McLeod."
A female voice heavily accented in Japanese asked, "Is Kouta there?"
Duncan answered her in Japanese. "He isn't due home for another two hours. Is there something I can help you with?"
"I just wanted to talk to him … for a few minutes."
As she talked, Duncan realized who he was talking to. "Yuka?" he asked.
"Hai. I just wanted to hear his voice," she said meekly.
She sounded down. Sitting up, Duncan asked, "Yuka, where are you?"
"Police station in Yokohama. I got one call … so I wanted to call Kouta," she said and sniffled.
A voice in the background said, "Make it quick" hearing that, Duncan asked, "Who is there with you?"
"The arresting officer," Yuka said barely audible.
"Put him on," Duncan said firmly.
A short pause then a male voice came on. "This is officer Arita, who is this please?"
"Duncan McLeod … attorney. May I ask what the charges are against Yuka?"
"Drunkenness and lewd acts in a public place and resisting arrest."
"Yuka did THAT?" Duncan asked in a squeak.
"She did sir. We have her in an emergency blanket until her prison issued clothes arrive. Are you representing her?"
Duncan looked at Amanda, and found the perfect place to put her. "Officer, I'm in Scotland, I do not have credentials in Japan. What I will do is contact someone who can represent her. What station is she in?" he asked as he grabbed a pen and paper.
The officer told him where the arrest happened, the station he was in, and the holding building where Yuka was going while she waited for trial. Duncan wrote it all down and thanked the officer for his cooperation. The officer then hung up.
"What's Yuka up to?" Amanda asked.
Duncan gave her the paper and said, "Yuka was arrested. This is where she's being held. It's the perfect job for you. Go to Yokohama, find Yuka a lawyer. This guy who's after you won't find you and you can see some sights, and it will be helping me out."
"You going to kick me off to Japan?" Amanda asked, surprised.
"Would you rather risk taking a long nap in a bog if that guy comes back this way?" Duncan asked in return.
Amanda snapped up the paper with a huff. "I'll do it for you, Duncan. Can I at least stay for the night?"
"Sure, just get your plane reservations done. I'll take you to Preswick tomorrow morning." In the mean time, he was guarding his credit cards and cash.
.
At dinner that night, Nana was bubbly about having her very own boyfriend and showed everyone bracelet. Mayu gritted her teeth and stayed quiet. Inari was nice to Amanda, who helped make dinner.
"Are you staying a while?" Inari asked her.
"Not this time, Duncan asked me to do something for him, so I'm going to Japan tomorrow," Amanda replied.
"Why Japan?" Kaede asked.
"The Yuka girl that was here? She got arrested, I'm going to find her a lawyer."
"What did Yuka do?" Kouta asked.
Mayu couldn't keep quiet any longer. She remembered when Kaede had called Yuka for her. "Probably busted for prostitution," she spat.
Kouta frowned and in a hard tone, said, "Mayu! How could you think that about Yuka!"
Kaede sighed and said to Kouta, "She's probably right. I'll tell you about it later."
"Yuka?" Kouta asked. "I mean, that's hard to believe. Yuka is the last person I'd expect to be … one of those."
Kaede shrugged and said, "Sad, but it's her life. Like I said, tell ya about it later. At least now, she might clean'er self up an git her act tagether."
Kouta shook his head. "Never would have even suspected Yuka…." he let his words drop off.
Kaede put an arm around him. "Sorry ya had ta find out," she offered.
"Not your fault," Kouta replied and hugged her back.
Kaedes' eyes widened and she let out a squeak and looked down.
"Kaede?" Kouta asked.
"Me water broke," Kaede said weakly.
Inari got up. "It's comin, I'll call the doctor."
Kouta helped Kaede up. She bend over and barked out a yelp. "Ohh that hurt! Belly pain."
Duncan looked at the clock and announced, "Kouta start timin, that was a contraction."
"Come on," Kouta said gently and helped Kaede walk.
Kaede whined, "I'm sorry, looks like I peed meself."
Amanda got up to get on Kaede's other side. "Not your fault, your baby's coming."
Nana and Mayu both shot up. "What can Nana do?" Nana asked, looking worried.
Could ya clear the table fer me?" Kaede asked.
"Sure Mom," Nana and Mayu chorused.
With a dry chuckle, Kaede said, "Old Angus was right, he said I'd be a couple weeks early."
"Angus is old, but he knows a lot," Duncan told her.
Inari ran back in, phone in hand. "I told the doc, she said ta come in when the contractions are six minutes apart, seein how we live so far out. I'll git the couch in the TV room ready, doan take Kaede all the way up to her room." Inari ran back out.
"This is it," Kouta said nervously.
"I'tis," Kaede said with a weak smile.
Inari threw a pillow, sheet and a blanket on the couch by the time Kouta and Amanda got Kaede to the couch. Kouta knelt by Kaede's side, holding her hand. Duncan watched the clock.
Soon Kaede cried out again and gripped Kouta's hand hard.
"Ten minutes," Duncan said.
"Having a baby hurts," Kaede said vacantly.
"Hon you're just starting, it's going get worse," Amanda told her.
Becoming nervous, Kaede said, "Doan ferget ta call Rachel when we git ta the hospital. She wanted ta know."
"I'll call her," Duncan assured her.
Amanda raised a finger and said, "I got my reservation, I have to be at the airport 5AM in the morning for check in."
"That's not good timing," Duncan told her. He glanced at Kaede and added, "But it works."
"Dad, you should probably get some rest," Kaede said.
Duncan eyed her and asked, "An miss me first grandson's birth? No way. Gotta git some pictures too."
That made Kaede smile. Her smile vanished as another pain hit. She winced and cried out.
"That was only eight minutes," Duncan noted.
"Why can't she just pop out?" Kaede asked in a whine.
"Biologics," Amanda said, "There's things going on in your belly right now, and they don't all happen at once. It takes some time."
"Hang on Kaede, you can do this," Kouta coaxed.
"More fun going in than coming out," Amanda commented.
Kaede glared at her. "Do you really want to take a nap in the bog?" she asked harshly.
Amanda turned around as she smirked.
Seeing this, Inari said, "Kaede, you're nay in shape ta be doin that. I'll do it fer ya."
Amanda's smirk vanished.
Duncan laughed.
The next contraction happened in eight minutes, then seven. It wasn't long before they were six minutes apart. Inari called the doctor as Kouta and Amanda escorted Kaede out to the car. Duncan ran ahead and got the car started and to the steps at the entrance. He held the back door open as they got Kaede in.
Nana and Mayu wanted to come too. Inari drove the other car with them in it.
.
Eleven thirty at night, Rachel got the call from Duncan. Kaede was in labor and they were going to the hospital. She got dressed and ran out the door.
.
A half hour later, they made the hospital and Kaede's contractions were three and a half minutes apart. Rachel arrived as Inari and the kids were going to up Kaede's room she was rushed to.
"Inari! Where's Kaede?" Rachel called.
"Just takin ta her room, come up with us." Inari called back. She held the elevator door for Rachel.
Duncan was glad he had filled the tanks on the Cessna. Time was ticking down, and Amanda had to be at Preswick by 5AM. He did get a flight plan in with Preswick to arrive at 4:45 and depart after a drop off. It was normally a three hour flight. He was going to be pressed for time.
The contractions came quicker and harder. It was a nice birthing room Kaede was in, but at the moment, Kaede didn't even notice the paneled walls and the 'homey' atmosphere. The doctor was there and her legs were split up and apart.
"Eight centimeters," the doctor said as she looked at how far Kaede had opened up. "Kaede," she said, looking over the sheet covering her lower part down to her knees. "Yer gonna get the urge to push. Doan do it til I tell ya, then push with the contraction."
Kouta's hand was getting numb from so hard Kaede was squeezing it. Kaede was panting and sweating. "I can't, she said weakly. "I'm tired."
"Kaede, you can do it," Kouta coaxed. "When the doc tells ya, take a deep breath and push hard."
Kaede took another breath and said, "Kouta, if I doan make it, watch out fer our family."
"Stop that, you're going to do this, Kaede," Kouta said firmly.
"Ten centimeters, I can see the head," the doctor said.
"Ahhhh!" Kaede cried as yet another contraction gripped her.
"Kaede, PUSH!"
"Deep breath and push!" Kouta said firmly.
Sweat running down her face, Kaede sucked in a breath and pushed hard, her face turning red.
"More PUSH!" the doctor commanded.
"Kaede, push harder!" Kouta coaxed.
Kaede's face turned deep red.
"I got her," the doctor announced.
Kaede collapsed back, spent and looking like she was about to pass out.
A baby's cry filled the room.
"Kaede, you did it!" Kouta said happily. He kissed her on the forehead.
Kaede heard the baby cry and tried to lift her head.
The doctor cleaned the baby up and wrapped her in a towel. Presenting her to Kaede, she said, "Congratulations, it's a girl."
Kaede let out a giggle and said, "Our baby! Kouta, this is our baby!"
"It is," he said, and kissed her again.
"Do you have a name for her?" the doctor asked.
Quickly, Kaede said, "Kanae." Looking at Kouta, she said, "Her name is Kanae."
"That is a good name for her," Kouta agreed.
"Mr. Kikumura, can you come show me how to spell that? I have to get Kanae's vitals footprint and make out the birth certificate." Kouta went over to the tale and watched as Kanae was weighted, foot printed, then told the doctor how to spell Kanae's name in English. He then drew the Japanese symbols for her name beside the English one.
Kouta felt that somewhere in the beyond, his sister felt happy they had remembered her.
Duncan and the rest of the clan were allowed in for a short time. Kaede smiled and stayed awake as Duncan took pictures of her, Kanae and Kouta. Rachel got her pictures also.
It was getting on one thirty in the morning, and the doctor insisted Kaede needed her rest. Duncan left to take Amanda to the airport. Rachel went home to print out the pictures in 8 X 10 photos, Inari took Kouta and the kids home.
After Kanae was tucked into the nursery, she returned to Kaede's room to see if Kaede wanted a pain pill or a sleeping pill. Kaede was already passed out.
.
The next day Derek had hacked into the airport's passenger list to see if Amanda was listed. She had so many last names and changed them like socks, so he tried just her first name. There were many Amanda's on the list. No photos of the passengers though. He reduced his search to international flights. Three came up. One was a kid, flying half fare. One to the USA, and the third to the Ukraine. Amanda didn't speak Russian. He looked at the US Amanda and noted a follow on flight to California, then Japan.
Looking at the last name, he noted it was 'Raven'. Yes, she had used that last name before. The flight was already in progress. He'd missed her departure. That was fine, he knew where she was going.
.
Rachel put pictures of Kanae's birth in a bound photo album and left it on the bar so people could see 'Little Kaede'. In the afternoon, a crowd collected around the album to see mother and baby. Rachel monitored them to be sure it was locals looking at the photos, and no one tried to sneak off with one. As the dinner crowd came in, they had a Happy birthday party for little 'Can-eye.' Rachel had to smirk, it was a reason to party and get sloshed by many. Rachel assured to the ones who asked, that Kaede would be coming by as soon as she was able.
.
Amanda thankfully made it to Japan with none of those very long layovers. Three hours was the longest. Hopping a train to Yokohama, she looked for lawyers. Finding a criminal lawyer, she went in and explained the situation and paid the man. She then went to see Yuka.
Sitting at a chair in the visitors section, a glass was in front of her with a telephone on each side. The woman who was led in and sat down in front of her, she didn't recognize. Heavy makeup partially ruined by tear streaks though it and tousled hair. The woman picked up the phone.
Amanda picked up hers. "Yuka Kikumura?" she asked
"Yeah, who are you?" Yuka asked in return.
"Duncan sent me. Duncan McCloud, you remember him?" Amanda asked.
Yuka frowned and asked, "He give you my bail money?"
"Bail? No. What did you do?" Amanda asked.
"Partied in the wrong place," Yuka stated. "What did you want? If you want me to work for you, I don't come cheap, and I don't do old men."
Amanda shook her head in disgust. "You are a whore. I paid for your lawyer, slut. I was expecting at least a little of the innocent girl I knew. You've really fallen into the gutter, haven't you?"
Yuka barked out a laugh. "Innocence is for suckers," she stated. "You can waste that cute face and body you got on some guy, or you can make money with it. I got tired of chasing guys. Now, they come to me with hard cash."
Amanda scowled at her. "You will pay me back for your lawyers fees."
"No, I won't," Yuka stated. "Thanks for the donation, bitch."
"We'll see about that," Amanda said, then hung up the phone and left.
Police in Japan were very nice. Amanda went to the station and apologized profusely to the officer who arrested Yuka for her cousin's bad behavior. Wearing a low cut blouse she had his full attention. Upon sobbing in her apologies, the officer got her a cup of coffee to calm her down some. She took that time to quickly rifle though his desk and got Yuka's address.
After he came back with the coffee, she thanked him again and told him how Yuka was abused by her immediate family, and drifted off into a life of crime. He consoled her as she told of the horrid embarrassment Yuka was, a stain on her family's honor. Even though Amanda herself wasn't Japanese, her step father, from Kyoto, had instilled the importance of honor on her, lessons that she would always remember for life.
After the nice policeman got her calmed down and assured her Yuka would undergo every program they had to 'put her on the right path', Amanda thanked him again and left to scope out Yuka's apartment. It was a nice apartment in a secure building. Well, secure to most people.
A black suit and Amanda was up the side of the building to slip onto the third story balcony sliding door. Looking around, Amanda noted Yuka had some nice things. Searching, she found a safe. It was a cheap one, she had it open in one minute. Inside, she took the cash and pulled out the bag of a white drug, most likely coke. No jewels, damn it. The cash wasn't much, only a few hundred thousand yen. By itself, not enough to bother breaking in for. There was a paper that was of interest. Phone numbers of men and a quick description of what they liked. Leaving the safe wide open, she got a knife from the kitchen and went to Yuka's closet.
Amanda sliced up everything. One elegant dress, Amanda was sure she'd gotten her money's worth of payback by destroying it. Once there wasn't a whole piece of clothing left in the closet, Amanda went through Yuka's dresser drawers, The plain stuff she left. The items like the studded leather bra and the cat suit, she cut up. The handcuffs and the whip, she took. They might come in handy later.
In the bathroom were very nice fixtures. She broke the mirror, took out the light bulbs lining the mirror and threw them into the toilet to break them then turned the water shutoff off under the sink and used a kitchen knife to take the faucet handles apart and drop them in the toilet. She then wadded up paper towels and finally used a plunger handle to jam everything in place up into the drain. Good luck to the next person who took a shit here.
In the kitchen Amanda broke dishes and glasses, dumped whiskey and wine down the sink drain, leaving the bottles standing upright in the drains.
The refrigerator, she just unplugged and left the door partway open. Freezer too. There was fish in there. Amanda was glad she would not be here in about a week.
Looking around, Amanda searched for anything else she could destroy or take. Checking every drawer, she found a box on a shelf. Inside were photos of Yuka with different men. Many were of Yuka performing sex acts with them.
The bag of drugs she scattered out on the living room floor, then wrote 'payback from a bitch' in the white powder in Japanese.
She emptied the box of pictures off the balcony on the way out, the breeze scattered them on the street below. She left the box and swung over the balcony rail and climbed back down to her rented car.
Amanda went and had a nice dinner on Yuka's dime. Then booked a flight back to the US, which Yuka also nicely paid for with her attitude. Duncan wasn't using his loft in Seattle, she'd hang out there for a while.
.
Derek got to Japan and began looking for Amanda. He made contact with the Yakuza and let them know she was here to steal, and not allow them any cut. He even gave the old man a picture. He knew if they found her, they would give her a cut, right across her throat. He paid the man well to have the privilege of getting to piss on her body when they found her. They would get the other half when he go to do it.
.
Kaede and Kouta got chauffeured home by Inari with baby Kanae. Kaede was still feeling a little weak, so she postponed a trip to show off Kanae to the bar crowd. Kouta insisted he take care of Kanae until Kaede was feeling a little better. Kaede was grateful and used a breast pump to extract milk to feed their baby. She then took a 12 hour nap.
Kouta then learned about sleep deprivation. Kanae was hungry every few hours. Thankfully, on the third day Inari helped so he could get some real sleep. Even Nana took a turn feeding and changing Kanae. Taking care of Kanae became a family event. Of course, everyone wanted a picture of them holding the tiny baby.
Nana took the picture of her holding Kanae to show to Jeff. Jeff was happy to see it. Others did too, prompting a rumor that it was Nana and Jeff's baby. A rumor Mayu worked hard to correct. She was only partially successful. She was not happy that Nana wasn't upset by the rumor.
Kaede was finally feeling more like herself and called Rachel to say they were coming for dinner tomorrow. Kaede knew there was going to be a big crowd awaiting them. Kaede coaxed Kouta into a trip once the Inn crowd saw Kanae. She wanted to go to Seattle and show Kanae to Uzuki.
Kouta offered Kaede a sad smile and said, "I think she knows, hon."
Looking down at the baby in her arms, Kaede said, "Yer right. Still, I haven't visited Uzuki in a while. I'm sure her stone's a mess."
Kouta now had three drivers for his trucks, the Kouta Trucking company was doing well. Lately, he was more of an office person than a driver and had routes out to Edinburgh and down to Inverness. They could afford a vacation. "I'll set it up," he assured her.
.
Yuka hated jail. Some nasty guard was always nearby, and her cell was the pits, and it was lonely. Thankfully her pimp came to visit. The heavily tattooed man was waiting for her at the visitor both. He picked up his phone as he eyed her.
Yuka sat down and picked up her phone. "Hey Akira," she said casting him a smile.
"You got someone angry," Akira stated. "I went to your place. It's trashed and it stinks," he stated.
Yuka's face opened in surprise. "Who was it?"
"Police got prints, but besides robbing you, they destroyed the place. Your clothes are all ripped up, the refrigerator and freezer doors were open, and now you're charged with drug possession since the stuff was scattered all over the apartment. You do know you're in big trouble for that, don't you?"
"Who would do that?" she asked in a gasp. Her antics on the street would get her a hefty fine and maybe a month or so in jail, but for drugs, she would do hard time. "I'll give you the combo to my safe…"
"It was open and cleaned out," he stayed heavily.
"What?"
"Like I said, you were robbed. The only clue the police found was a message written in the drugs scattered on the floor. 'Payback from the bitch'. Do you know what that means?" he asked.
Yuka thought for a moment, then said, "Amanda! Amanda must have …. brought in the drugs to screw me over!" Yuka stated.
Akira shrugged and said, "They were all over in your apartment. Cops came to ask me about them. I'm not happy with that, Yuka. There's also many clients not happy that pictures of you with them were found scattered on the street. Now, who is this Amanda?"
Yuka tightened her grip on the phone. "I don't know her last name. I do know she's a thief."
"A thief that you angered, apparently. Describe her."
"European, slim, short dark hair, pretty. Can you find her?" Yuka asked.
"Many people are looking for an Amanda," Akira stated. "Look, I'm working with the law to find this woman. Many people want to find her. Do you have any idea of where she could be?"
Working with the law meant the Yakuza were after Amanda. Yuka hated Amanda. She had no reason to hold back any information. "I do. I know a few places she might be…"
.
Once Akira got his information, he left. Outside the visiting room he was collared by two policemen. They walked him to an office where he was sat down. The detective across the desk asked, "You should know we listen to conversations, why were you so free in your questions?"
"Simple," Akira stated. "We don't want trouble. This Amanda is trouble. Yuka did something stupid, but she is not a drug addict, nor does she deal. The drugs found in her place had no reason to be there. She knows who it was who put them there. By the scene, that break in was obviously an action to hurt Yuka as much as possible. I know you think what the girls do is immoral, but I ensure pains are taken to protect them. I wanted you to hear that so you know who to go after."
"When did you go into that apartment?" the detective asked firmly.
"As soon as I could after the other police weren't round," Akira admitted. "Yes, I know, I violated a crime scene. It was more important to know what happened and get as many details as I could, and to give you the information needed to find the guilty party."
"You risk going to jail to help us?"
Akira sat back and firmly said, "I know I will be spending some time behind bars. That is a given now. I accept it. I did it for Yuka. Although she was a Baka and got arrested, she is not involved with drugs at all. I'm sure she will do her time for what she did. I am doing my best to ensure she will not do time for something she didn't do."
The detective nodded and said, "Very honorable of you. From the places described, this Amanda travels the world. How can you possibly find her?"
Akira shrugged and said, "I can't, but if her name and likeness is given to Interpol, I'm sure she will turn up someplace."
"Is the Yakuza going to look for her?"
"Not to my knowledge. She has stolen in Japan, and is not Japanese, so if someone decides she needs to be punished, I would not be surprised," Akira told him.
"Can you get a picture of this Amanda?"
"At the moment, no. However, she must have arrived on a plane. If Yuka is shown photographs, I am positive she can identify this Amanda."
The detective had already gotten photos of Amanda when she came to visit Kikumura Yuka. He also knew the man across the desk from him. He wasn't violent and did watch out for his prostitutes. He was a criminal, but much more honorable than others. He pondered for a moment, then said, "You will be charged with violating police barriers. That is all. Once you sign a statement that everything you told me is true to your knowledge, and see a judge and pay a bail, you may go. You will be informed of your trial date."
Akira got up and bowed. "Thank you, Detective."
.
The constables in Scotland were not eager to go accusing the Witch of Glen Finnen, nor any of her family for harboring a criminal. A local policeman was selected to go find out what they knew. He visited the inn where she worked first, and was told Kaede just had a baby, and would be coming by to show off her little bundle of joy. He waited for the 'baby' reception.
Clarence McGruff went into the Lenui Inn to find it packed. At a table in the corner, Kaede was with her husband and talking to a few couples. Currently the baby was rapped in blankets and settled in Kaede's arms. He went over and beamed them a smile.
"Ah! Such a wonderful little lass! Congratulations," he said heartily.
"Thank you," Kaede replied with a smile. "Her name's Kanae, in honor of Kouta's sister."
"Kin I as ya a question? Do ya know an Amanda, short dark hair, slim, bout five six?" Clarence asked.
Both Kouta and Kaede frowned at him. "What'd she do?" Kaede asked in a grumble.
"Got in trouble. We've been lookin fer her," Clarence replied. "Have ya seen her?"
"Aye, she came here short while back, we kicked her on her way," Kaede told him.
"If she comes back will ya tell us?" Clarence asked.
"If I doan put her in the bog, sure," Kaede said firmly.
"Ya doan like her?"
"She's trouble and needs to be taught a lesson," Kaede stated.
Clarence knew what happened to people caught in bogs. "That's some lesson," he commented. He also understood if Amanda showed up, she'd most likely be drowned in a bog.
"Aye," Kaede agreed.
"Well, thank ya fer talkin to me, and enjoy yer youngin," Clarence said and tipped his hat to them. He understood that if this Amanda did come back here, she was a dead woman. Apparently she'd done something to anger the witch and had managed to get away. She wouldn't be getting away if she dared return.