NOTE - "/Speech bracketed like this signifies Japanese./"

CHAPTER 11

A blond man in a suit walked up to the two Japanese men. "Excuse me but are you Mister Shunichi Ibe?"

Ibe was confused and nervous over the stranger's presence but acknowledged that was him. The man continued, "I'm here on behalf of Max Lobo."

Max Lobo was the contact with the local police that Ibe had expected to meet here. Ibe relaxed a bit at his name.

"I'm Charles Dickinson. Nice to meet you." He shook Ibe's hand then turned to his companion.

"My name is Eiji Okumura," he introduced himself as he shook the man's hand.

Ibe said, "He is my assistant."

Charles looked surprised at that. Eiji looked so young to him that he'd assumed him to be Ibe's son.

Ibe continued, "Why could not Mr. Lobo come?"

"Well, um …" Charles stumbled on the explanation. "Max is in prison." At their surprise, he added, "He hit a cop."

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At the police station, Charles introduced Ibe and Eiji to Inspector Jenkins before heading to the prison to see Max. Soon after, Jenkins called them to his office and introduced another man.

"This is Inspector Norris of the juvenile division."

"Nice to meet you," Norris said. "Is this your son?"

"Ah, no," Ibe said. "He is my assistant."

"Assistant? I see."

Eiji stated in annoyance, "I am nineteen years old. College student."

Both Norris and Jenkins looked surprised at this. "Nineteen?" Norris repeated.

I thought he was in elementary school, Jenkins thought to himself.

Eiji glared at the reaction. Norris assured, "Didn't mean to offend you but looking young may be to your advantage, actually. These kids you're wanting to meet, they don't trust adults. But with you they may relax and open up. Besides they like to show off."

"Tell me, is it really dangerous?" Ibe asked, worried about Eiji more than himself.

"It depends," Norris said. "They don't follow our laws but they strictly abide by their own rules. Usually a single boss leads a gang. The gang's personality reflects the personality of that leader. Sometimes one leader runs more than one gang, so if there's friction between the groups he has to iron things out. They're utterly faithful to the leader they've chosen."

"Everything depends on him," Jenkins added.

"There's a group in our jurisdiction whose boss is named 'Ash'. This kid Ash is as sharp as they come. He united the gangs in this area in no time at all."

"This person Ash… He is a young boy, too?" Ibe questioned.

Jenkins said, "That's right. About seventeen, I think. Caucasian."

"That's right," Norris said. "But he has Latino and black kids in his gang. That's extremely rare."

Ash, Eiji thought to himself, intrigued. Just what kind of kid is he?

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Ash returned to his apartment to speak to Skip concerning that Japanese reporter he was meeting tomorrow of all days. His thoughts were still on the latest confrontation with Dino Golzine. After sending Martin after Ash, Golzine eventually worked around to the point in the 'visit'. Seemed he was worried that man passed something to Ash before he died. Golzine's strong interest in the drug only increased Ash's interest in discovering its secrets.

Skip opened the door for Ash as usual though it might be for the last time. Ash moved Griffin to Dr. Meredith's care yesterday in expectation of Golzine making some move on him soon so he no longer needed someone in the apartment all the time.

Ash frowned as he looked around the apartment. Everything looked basically as he'd left it but not quite. His bed was unmade as usual, a few odd items laid around in a seemingly random pattern in the otherwise spotlessly neat area. None of it was random though. Blanca taught him better than that. Neatness was something easily duplicated, the appearance of randomness wasn't near so easily done. He looked closer at everything, confirming his theory before speaking.

"Just as I thought."

Skip asked, "What's up, boss?"

"They turned the whole apartment inside out." Professionals too. No amateur could come anywhere near so close to copying his 'random' setup. And professional, along with Golzine having that perv Marvin bring him in to talk earlier meant only one thing.

Skip looked confused. "What do you mean? It looks the same to me."

"At first glance maybe," Ash agreed but spoke around why he knew better. "But I live here. I can tell. It's a good thing I moved Griff. Dino sure has his panties in a bunch." Ash stretched out on his bed, looking unconcerned over the whole issue. A smirk touched his lips as he added, "It'd be a shame to just give him what he wants."

Skip looked worried at this but he said nothing. He didn't know what was behind Ash's utter contempt of Dino Golzine. Except for the search for Ash's missing little brother, Skip didn't know anything about Ash's life before the set really. Only when he'd helped Ash move Griffin did he learn the older boy was a war vet. But even without knowing their history, Skip knew Dino Golzine was no small enemy. Even for someone like Ash.

"You look tired, boss," Skip said instead.

"I'm fine," Ash brushed it off. "It's set for that reporter tomorrow then?"

"I told Charles I'd meet them. You sure you're okay doing this tomorrow?"

The answer to that was too obvious. Ash was never okay on Tommy's birthday. Not when Tommy was nowhere to be found. "We're doing it tomorrow."

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Continued - Let me know what you think. Review