He got out of the parking lot and walked toward the café. Wasabi wanted to be somewhere discreet without being disturbed. On his way to the city, he received a phone call from an unknown source. The receiver didn't say much but alerted him to meet him at a café that was within the county limits of San Fransokyo County. He wasn't scared or alarmed with the change of plans. In fact, he intended it to occur. What was he about to do could be one of the biggest profile cases in San Fransokyo's history?
The chime of the bell alerted his entrance at the café. It was a typical last-call-before-leaving-town diner. The smell of fried eggs and sausages loomed through the air. There was a sight of truck drivers drinking their coffee as they prepared for their nightly or early morning run. The waitress who greeted Wasabi as she held her pad to take his order looked like the kind who knew the trick of the trade of the restaurant business. She was older. She had gray hair with a hint of blonde. Her eyes were her highlight. It was a deep shade of a green like a deep, enchanted pool. She politely asked him of his order. He asked for two coffees. He wanted his black and for his visitor, with cream and two sugars. He quietly thanked her as she walked to get his order.
Wasabi exhaled the stale air with this café. The cliché sound of country music filled his current emotion of somber. He rubbed his eyes as it displayed his exhaustion. It has been such an ordeal for the traveling priest, as he came to terms of his pseudonym. It was the job that came with being a good friend. He appreciated his father of the warning of consequences of taking that kind of responsibility. It led to Hiro's suicide attempt, Chigusa in the hospital, and the death of his friend, Detective Jake Uchiyama. Sometimes, he wished that he would have gone straight to GoGo's house and ended it. What did he have to lose? The few in his circle were aware of it, but never went to the source. He concluded that she was a very powerful individual. And after looking at her past, it made plenty of sense.
The sound of the bell interrupted his train of thought upon seeing the sight of an attractive, beautiful older woman as she caught her eyes at Wasabi. She dressed professionally as she was wearing her black, striped two-piece business suit. She had long brown hair and an aura of mystery and respect. Her skin was beautiful and displayed a creamy tanned complexion. She was of Asian descent. She nodded her head at Wasabi as she made her seat in front of him. Beside her seat was a leather briefcase, hinting that she was involved in serious business. She pursued her lips trying to say something, but it appeared to change her mind. The waitress returned to the table with their cups of coffee. They both silently nodded to the waitress as a thank you and in return the waitress nodded back.
The strong smell hit Wasabi's nostril, bringing him to alert. He watched his guests ingest her coffee. She closed her eyes, savoring its favor before placing it down. She opened her purse and pulled out a pack of Marlboro Light cigarettes. Once she retrieved a lighter, she lit it and inhaled a couple of puffs before placing it on the saucer with her coffee. She gently smiled at Wasabi as she broke the silence.
"I have a question for you, Wasabi." She asked inquisitively. Wasabi was too familiar with her style. She always asked a question as she greeted anyone. "Why to go to great lengths of saving your friend?" Without a second, he responded, "Why did Jesus die for our sins, knowing he was facing eminent danger? It is because that there are people who are assigned and there are people who are designed." The woman made a slight grin before drinking her coffee. "Just because I am good at lasers and robotics doesn't mean I was designed for it. It doesn't take much of a genius to read a manual and learn from it." "True, I can understand where you come from, my dear." She took another puff of the cigarette. On her shirt, the slight presence of an ID displaying FBI was there.
"Tell me again, Wasabi." The woman asked again with a slight glare. "Do you have any idea what you are getting yourself into? No background of being a detective, you have evidence that could put you and everyone you care for in danger." Wasabi responded. "I have made that decision a long time ago. That was before Hiro, before Chigusa, and before your husband, Michiko."
The woman in front of Wasabi was Michiko Uchiyama. She was the widow of his former friend, Detective Jake Uchiyama. Her name wasn't presented on the news because of her position of being a federal agent. She worked for the FBI for a couple years. She knew Wasabi since they were in high school. It was because of Wasabi that she was introduced to her husband, Jake. The trio has been associates for quite a while.
"Sorry for your loss, by the way," said Wasabi as he sipped his now lukewarm coffee. He saw that she was taking deep breaths. When working in that kind of business, one must learn to separate their professional and their personal lives. "Thanks. I do, Wasabi, really." She pulled out another cigarette as she ingested the smoke. "How is the kid," he asked. "He is with the in-laws. I told them to leave town for a few days until things blow over." She looked at him again. "How is Chigusa?" "She is doing okay. She is still in a coma but in stable condition. Thank you for putting security, just to be safe." "Don't mention it," she replied as her smoke lingered around the table. "Anything for you, Chigusa, and my future niece or nephew. Congratulations by the way. Sorry to say under these circumstances."
There was silence for the moment before Wasabi pulled out his laptop from his briefcase. He pulled out the flash drive of GoGo's information and Tadashi's journal. He slid off the items in front of Michiko. "This is everything that you are going to need. I don't have to have my laptop back. All of it is just memories of something that I want to leave behind." She didn't respond but put all of the information in her briefcase.
"How are they," she asked as she is referring to Honey Lemon and Fred. "They are well. Thanks," said Wasabi. "Honey Lemon asks about you from time to time and Fred misses having your fun adventures with them." She chuckled. "We had some good times those days didn't we?" "Yeah, we did." Wasabi sat and reminisced about the better days with his crew of the Big Hero 6. Jake and Michiko were never members, but they often visit. Most of them added insight on becoming better at their craft. What Michiko took from it was the use and cache of weaponry and machinery to be used for the FBI. The gang didn't mind. Whatever they could for their common goal: to help people.
"So, what's the end game," asked Wasabi. The waitress asked the pair for another cup of coffee. Both accepted her offer. When she left, Michiko replied. "Once we leave, I will be escorted to the main branch of SFPD. I will have to get an approval of a warrant from a judge. Once I have that, we can go to GoGo's residence and we take her down." "How do you know if she'll be there," asked Wasabi. She slightly chuckled. "She is. We have some plainclothes officers surveying the neighborhood. As we speak, she is at home." Wasabi was relieved, but was still worried. "Once we get her arrested, then it is all over, so to speak," said Michiko.
"Is it," asked Wasabi. "Granted we have her arrested, but it is the aftermath that we suffer the most." Michiko swallowed nothing. She exactly knows where Wasabi was coming from. "Last night, my friend tried to kill himself because he could no longer withstand her abuse. Chigusa was beaten and rape because of my snooping. Your beloved husband, my dear friend Jake is dead. I don't even want to begin what Aunt Cass is thinking. I won't even be sure if she wants to talk to me again once this is ever." "What about you," asked Michiko. "What about me," he replied. "How do you feel throughout this ordeal? How can go on from this," she asked.
The only moment when Wasabi heard that was when he was in the hospital talking with Chigusa. Truthfully, he was mentally, physically, and spiritually exhausted. In the pursuit of GoGo, he had barely received any sleep. He had lost weight and started to question his faith. "Don't let this be a burden to you, Wasabi," said Michiko. "Understand that once this is done, this is not going to save the world. There are people who are ten times as potent and deadly than GoGo." Wasabi swallowed nothing, but he was telling the truth.
"I have been in this game for many years, Wasabi. I have seen families slaughtered. I have seen so many bodies. I have seen mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, and children dead. Children are the worst. I still can't get their face out of my head. Every night I look at my son and wondered could I see him dead or the other way around. It becomes scary, but that is something I have to accept as part of life." She placed her elbows and used her hands to lean her chin. She still looked at Wasabi as she shifted her mode to personal from professionalism.
"From the beginning, I wondered why you didn't get yourself involved in this business. You are very skilled," Michiko said.
Before Wasabi became part of SFIT and a member of Big Hero 6, there was a time in which he wanted to become a cop. In robotics camp during his junior high school days, he befriended a teammate named Amy Garcia. It was convenient when learning that they lived in the same neighborhood. Once robotics camp was over, they remained friends.
Their friendship bloomed into a close relationship as they began high school. Wasabi had a crush on Amy, but unfortunately, it was unrequited. Nonetheless, they were the best of friends. One evening, they sat on the roof of his house when he heard the sound of gunshots. Being a common theme in their neighborhood, they were to the scene.
Upon reaching the sight, Amy ran when seeing that it was her older brother that was killed in a drive-by. The incident left Amy scarred. Seeing what happened to his best friend, he decided that he would combine his love of detective skills and robotics to become a cop. Although it was a dream and embarrassed to tell people, he kept it to himself.
During their sophomore year of high school, the line between Amy and Wasabi began to divide when she decided to join the neighborhood gang. Also, she began dating a high school senior. He was also the leader of the local gang. Wasabi tried to keep tabs on Amy, but to no avail. It wasn't until one day that Amy came to his home, telling him that she was beaten by her boyfriend. Amy made several excuses about her boyfriend. Eventually, the connection between Amy and Wasabi stopped. Also, she stopped coming to school and joined the gang full time.
One evening, Wasabi saw Amy get in trouble at a mall, but he lied to the officer, saying it was a prank and he paid for it. That evening, the pair spent time together. It was like reliving old moments. Suddenly, her abusive boyfriend and some gang members confronted the pair. Wasabi tried to stick up for himself but was beaten. She begged her boyfriend to stop, but nothing happened. That was the last time he saw Amy alive.
A few weeks later, Amy was found dead in a gangway. It was not too far from her family home. She was savagely beaten, rape, and suffered a gunshot wound to the head. At the funeral, Wasabi kissed her on the lips, displaying his affection for his former friend. That evening, Wasabi took his father's gun from the bedroom and went to look for the boy.
That night, Wasabi found the boy. He asked him why for killing the girl. He said that she was trash that needed disposal. Angered, he reached for the gun, but his father grabbed him, unable to get it. The other gang members were pulling out weapons, but Wasabi's father told him to stop and go home.
Amy's boyfriend was arrested and went to jail. A few months later, he was killed. When hearing news of it, it wasn't any resolution for it wasn't going to bring Amy back. That was part of the reason why he abandoned his career in law enforcement. The fear of losing loved ones or seeing others losing loved ones, it was damning to him.
"Thinking about Amy, aren't you," asked Michiko. She was reading his mind. "Amy was a good spirit. A challenging kind of girl, she loved experiences. We were glad that we were able to know her in robotics camp. However, do not let the blame on yourself. We all have to take responsibility. She knew what she was doing when she joined the gang. We all grew up in the same hood, but we made our choices." "It still doesn't bring any justice for losing our loved ones," he responded.
"It doesn't make it easy, but we have to move on," said Michiko. "I am hurt to know that the love of my life is dead and he will have the moments of love and passion for me; and the ability to see his son grow up." A hint of a tear was coming from her eye. However, she exhaled, tying not to cry. "I expected this when joining this line of work. If it wasn't GoGo, then it would have been someone else. Your friend was unlucky and we are all paying for it. But trust me, if it wasn't Hiro, then who else?" Wasabi looked at her as he continued listening to what she was saying. "My goal tonight is to take the evidence and give Jake, Hiro, and all of the victims of GoGo justice. Once this is over, we can sleep, but for a night. The next day, I will receive a phone call and it will be someone else. Of course, I will forever miss my Jake, but we both knew what risk we were taking once we were married."
Wasabi wanted to pay for their coffee, but the waitress told him that it was on her. He thanked the waitress as he gave her a $40 tip. He and Michiko exited the café. The sky was showing a pastel of blue and orange as the morning was emerging. Michiko went to her car and faced Wasabi. "When this is done, I will text you." He nodded his head. Michiko came and hugged Wasabi. The hug lasted for a couple of minutes, followed by the sniffling of tears coming from the both of them.
Michiko stepped inside of the car. She handed Wasabi a business card. "You have a great gift, Wasabi. If you ever change your mind, call me." He smiled as he closed the door. He watched as she drove away into the horizon. Wasabi stepped into his car and drove away from the café.
A few hours later, Wasabi was sitting in his vehicle at a rest station outside of town when he received a text. He pulled out his phone and it was an unknown, but he knew it was from Michiko.
It's done.
~ M
Like a tremendous burden lifted off of him, he began crying and shouting from his vehicle. He was thanking God for knowing that the trials and tribulations of GoGo Tomago were over. He received a notice from a news app showing breaking news of GoGo's arrest. From his cell phone, he saw the live news.
Good afternoon, this is Marisa Oh reporting for Channel 5 News. I am standing outside of Leiko Tanaka's apartment where she was arrested in what could be one of the biggest profile cases in San Fransokyo's history.
Earlier this afternoon, police arrested 25-year-old Leiko Tanaka as well as two unnamed suspects from her Downtown San Fransokyo apartment. Police obtained a search warrant when they had found evidence linking her to the murder of Detective Jake Uchiyama and the attempted murder of Chigusa Uchiyama.
When searching her home, they have found unmarked videos, magazines, and pictures engaging in sexual acts with underage boys. Her laptop and her computer were confiscated as evidence. Also, her police retrieved her cell phone that displayed a graphic video of a sexual assault. We have learned that the video was posted on various porn sites as well as the SFIT database.
At the time of her arrest, Leiko Tanaka worked for the robotics laboratory at the SFIT campus. The president of SFIT commented that Leiko Tanaka is no longer an employee or a student for the university.
The police said that the laboratory where Leiko worked is now under investigation.
Unrelated to this crime, the Interpol has indicted Leiko Tanaka on a murder charge that happened a few years ago in Japan. Utsunomiya Police Department speculated that she was involved in the murder of Hiroe Nagase. 15-year-old Hiroe Nagase was found dead in a forest about an hour away from his Utsunomiya home in Tochigi Prefecture. The victim was strangled and there was a detection of drugs, possibility intentional. Police believed that she once had ties with the Japanese gang called the Yakuza.
She is now been suspected of two unrelated murders of teenage boys in the city of Boise, Idaho and Carson City, Nevada.
She was booked into San Fransokyo County Women's Correctional Center where her bond has been posted for $10 million dollars.
A trial date has yet to be announced, but if convicted, she would be charged with capital murder, aggravated murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated sexual assault, video voyeurism, and possession of child pornography.
The chief of police has told that this is one of the biggest cases he had witnessed, especially coming from a woman, in his 24 years of working on the force. Please stay with Channel 5 News for updated coverage of Leiko Tanaka. This is Marisa Oh, reporting live from Downtown. Channel 5 News.