Chapter 20
After Natsumi helped Miyuki set up the overwatch post, she went down to the squad room. She had to finish up the stoppage drill training and set up a roster of people who needed the training. She had just sent the lecture notes and the handout to the printer when Tokuno cam into the squad room. He had his suit jacket off and was wearing a shoulder holster with one of the detective's Sigs in it. "Ah, there you are, Natsumi" he said. "We've got a test batch of wax bullets ready to go. Let's go down to the firing range to test them."
As they walked down the hallway to the stairs, Tokuno asked Natsumi "So how is Toukairin doing?"
Natsumi looked puzzled as she said "What?"
"I mean, do you know how much longer it will be before he gets here" Tokuno explained.
"Oh, sorry, the question was a bit confusing" Natsumi pointed out. "He called me while I was helping Miyuki set up and said he's about two or two and a half hours out, so he should be here by 2200."
"That's good" Tokuno observed. "Did he say what he was bringing?"
"No, he didn't" Natsumi replied "and all I'm worried about is his getting here safely."
"I'm sure he'll be alright. He's a resourceful person" Tokuno told her.
Arriving at the firing range, Tokuno took a silhouette target and clipped it to the target holder, then ran it out to the ten meter position. He pulled his pistol out of its holster and verified that it was unloaded. He then pulled a box of bullets out of his pocket and slid the tray out of the box. There were twenty rounds in the tray. Tokuno picked out one round and handed it to Natsumi. As she looked at the round, Natsumi noticed the wax "bullet" was similar in size and shape to a real slug.
"We could only find one type of wax and it is harder than what we'd normally use" Tokuno explained to Natsumi, "but I think in this case, it will allow you to manually cycle a round into the chamber."
"This feels a lot lighter than a normal bullet" Natsumi observed. "This will actually work?"
"It should" Tokuno replied. "That's why we're here." He put on a set of hearing protectors and safety goggles, then loaded five rounds into the gun's magazine. He chambered the first round and it went in normally, then he aimed at the target and shot. The wax projectile put a hole in the target a few inches below the center mass area.
Natsumi had also donned glasses and hearing protection and loudly said "It looks like your aim's a bit off, Tokuno."
Tokuno replied "The wax rounds don't go as far as regular rounds. Let me move the target up a bit." He pressed the reverse button on the target mechanism and reses the target to seven meters. He cycled the slide to clear the used brass and load the next round but the gun jammed with part of the bullet smashed in. Tokuno disassembled the gun, removed the damaged round, cleaned up the pistol's chamber and reassembled the gun. Taking two more rounds out of the tray, Tokuno studied them before loading them in the magazine. He then reloaded the gun, cycled the slide and aimed at the target. This time, he hit the center mass area dead on. He then manually cycled the slide again but this time the round fed cleanly. He aimed again and the second round hit close to the first one. He turned to Natsumi and smiled, saying "Not bad for an old man, eh?"
"You're not old, Tokuno, you're just 'experienced'" Natsumi chuckled. "Nice shooting. I see what you mean about there not being much noise."
"I'm going to tell Toukairin you were hitting on me" Tokuno shot back. "You want to try a few?" He laid the gun down on the counter at the firing line. Natsumi stepped up, inspected the gun and chambered the next round. She aimed at the target and fired the gun. There was no recoil, nor did the slide cycle. She tapped the bottom of the magazine where it stuck out of the grip, racked the slide to chamber the next round, aimed and fired again. Her two shots were in almost the same locations as
the inspector's.
"This will work fine" Natsumi said, taking her hearing protectors off. "It's a good thing we have these pistols. They'll be great training aids. Will you help out tomorrow?"
"I'd be happy to" Tokuno told Natsumi.
Natsumi left the firing range and went back to the squad room. She checked her phone for any messages but there were none. As she was checking, Karouko walked into the room and came over to Natsumi. "How are things going?" she asked.
"Well, I just verified that Tokuno's wax bullet idea will definitely work for training" Natsumi reported. "Miyuki is up in the overwatch position and we're waiting on Toukairin to arrive with supplies."
"That's good, Natsumi" Karouko said. "Have you had any time for yourself?"
"I was planning to take a break in a few minutes" Natsumi replied. "I just need to check on the people posted at the front gate first." She leaned back in her chair. "This has been the longest day I've ever experienced!" she sighed.
"You're right" Karouko said in agreement, "and I'm afraid it's just the start of a whole series of long days. We'll have to keep our eyes on everyone, looking for signs of stress."
"I don't think that will be too hard to find" Natsumi quipped, then she added "but I understand what you're saying. We can't afford another Fujieda incident."
"Or what happened with Saori" Karouko added. "We'll have to be sensitive to the emotional situations of our people..." she said, then trailed off. They remained deep in thought for a minute or two, then Karouko said "I have some other matters to attend to. Make sure you get a little bit of 'down time', Natsumi" as she headed out the door.
"I will" Natsumi replied as the inspector left the squad room.
Natsumi left the squad room and went down to the front gate. She found Kaori Takano sitting by herself at the gate guard position. She went up to Kaori and, in a hushed voice, asked "How are you doing out here, Kaori?"
"I'm holding up" she told Natsumi. "I am aware of what happened to Sakura but I'm a bit tougher than her. Besides, it's been quiet sine I came on at 2000."
"I understand you consider yourself tough" Natsumi explained "but I can tell you from experience it will get to you even if you're an old hand. It's happened to me."
Kaori nodded her head. "I was up visiting Sakura and stopped in to see Saori for a bit. She told me what you went through."
"I'll make sure that someone is out here to be with you" Natsumi commented. "I thought I had assigned someone already."
"You did" Kaori assured her. "Mokoto Maeda is my partner tonight. He is on a rest break and as soon as he gets back, I'll take one also."
"Oh, I see" Natsumi said. "Well, that's good you two have worked out a system. Don't forget you've got Miyuki up top watching over you, too."
"I know" Kaori replied. "We're keeping in contact."
"Have a good watch, Kaori" Natsumi said. She then headed back to the building. As she was making her way to her designated sleeping area, she ran into Sakura in a hallway. "Hi, Natsumi! How is everything going?" she asked.
"I just checked on Kaori at the gate. She's doing as well as can be expected" Natsumi told her. "What are you doing now?"
"I'm just going to the dispatch room to check in with Ruriko Kaneko" Sakura explained. "I'll be relieving her at midnight but I thought I'd see if she needed anything right now."
"Just don't overtax yourself" Natsumi warned her. "You've been through a lot today."
"I understand, senpai" Sakura replied. "I've had lots of rest in the infirmary but I'm still going to get a catnap after I check on Ruriko."
"I'm planning to do that too-right now" Natsumi told her, smiling. "We girls need our beauty sleep!"
"Especially the brides-to-be!" Sakura, returning the smile. She headed off to the radio room.
Natsumi made it to her sleeping quarters and turned on the light as she entered the room. She saw a futon already laid out with a pillow. Just looking at the futon made Natsumi feel sleepy, so she laid her MP5 on the chair by the door, kicked off her shoes and loosened her belt. Realizing she was alone and no one could see in, she pulled off her blouse and fatigues. She hung them up under the air conditioning vent to let them air out and crawled into the futon. She was asleep within five minutes.
Natsumi found herself sitting on a blanket in a valley. The sun was warm but the breeze was refreshing. She watched four children running in and out of a grove of trees playing a game-tag, perhaps, or a game like it. In front of her was spread a picnic lunch. She heard a voice from behind her call out "Shou! Saki! Lunch is ready!" She turned to see Shouji standing behind her and to her left, silhouetted in the sun. She smiled.
A voice to her right called out "Yoriko! Tatsumi! Come eat, too!" Natsumi looked over at her friend Miyuki, with Kenny sitting next to her. Miyuki looked at her and smiled as she said "I'm so glad spring is here again! The children had been so restless with all that snow and now they can burn off all that energy."
The four children arrived then, accompanied by a chorus of "I was first!" "No, I was first-you had to touch the blanket!" "Nuh-uh!" "Mommy, I lost my shoe!" "I wanna sit next to Shou!"
"Alright, alright, enough chatter now" Natsumi said lovingly. "Let's settle down and eat, then I'll help you find your shoe, Saki!" The kids all sat down and waited for their parents to hand them their plates, then they started eating. Shouji sat down next to her, leaned over and kissed her cheek. "The food looks wonderful, as usual, dear. I can't wait to dig in!" Natsumi handed Shouji his plate as Miyuki did the same for Kenny. The two families enjoyed a lovely spring picnic, chatting and laughing as they ate.
Suddenly, a siren started wailing off in the distance. The smiles on Shouji's and Kenny's faces turned to looks of grim determination. Miyuki looked at Natsumi with worry in her eyes. "Was there a drill scheduled for today?" she asked. Natsumi shook her head "no" as she started searching the far treeline. He right hand rested on the Beretta PX-4 sitting on her hip. Miyuki started to gather the panicked children, telling Saki "Don't worry, I'll carry you on my back."
From the direction of the siren came a voice over a loudspeaker. "Possible intrusion in section 12. I repeat, possible intrusion in section 12. All available personnel report to section 12 defensive positions on the double."
"That's this section!" Natsumi exclaimed as she jumped up, her PX-4 now in her hand as she continued to scan the treeline by the fence. Shouji had Natsumi's MP-5 at the ready as he scanned the right flank and Kenny had brought his Colt M4 carbine to his shoulder, looking through its ACOG sight at the left flank.
Natsumi saw a flash of movement in the treeline just to her right. "I have a bogey at the treeline, about one o'clock" she sang out. Miyuki was standing next to her, with the children right behind her. She pulled out a monocular and focused on the approximate area Natsumi indicated. "No movement yet" she called out, then as she scanned the trees she saw movement. "I have the target" she called out, then she added, "Wait! I think it is... Hold on..." she stared through the scope a few more seconds. "Identification positive!" She sang out. "Stand down, it's only a deer."
The young doe came out of the trees and looked at the group of people standing there. She froze, then bolted back the way she came. As they lost sight of her tail among the trees, the "all clear" sounded. "Intruder identified, no action needed, stand down" came the voice from the loudspeaker.
Shouji let out a long breath. "That was more excitement than I was expecting for today" he chuckled.
"I wish we could devise a better system than this" Kenny answered as he slung his carbine on his back again. "I'm amazed more people aren't scared out of their wits when something like this happens."
"Well, let's get back to the picnic!" exclaimed Natsumi, holstering her pistol. She felt a cold drop of water hit her cheek. Looking up, Natsumi saw the beginnings of a rain squall. Before she could say anything the was a loud rumble of thunder. Saki and Yoriko screamed, Shou giggled and Tatsumi started singing "It's raining, it's pouring..." As he said "pouring", the skies opened, drenching the two families as they ran for cover.
At that point, the dream faded and Natsumi slept peacefully again. A few minutes later, she heard a phone ring. She sleepily picked it up and said "Hello." When the caller spoke, Natsumi's eyes snapped wide open.
"Natsumi" Shouji screamed into the phone, "I need help! They're chasing me! Help!"
Natsumi sat bolt upright in the darkened room. Her hand was empty and her cell phone lay next to the futon. "What was..." she started thinking when the phone rang. She picked it up and checked the display. It was Shouji. She punched the "Answer" button and exclaimed "Shouji, are you alright?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line, then Shouji answered "I'm fine, Natsumi. Are you alright?"
"You didn't just call saying they were chasing you and you needed help?"
"No, this is the first call I've made sine 2000" he replied. "I just wanted to let you know it's taking longer than I had estimated to get through Tokyo. It's not so much traffic as the roadblocks. I spent nearly ten minutes at one before the officers there located someone with enough authority to let me get through. They've all warned me that I won't be able to come back. Are you sure you're OK?"
Natsumi rubbed her eyes with her other hand. "I am" she assured him. "I was taking a short rest and I remember having one dream, so it must have been another one-but boy was that one scary! How much longer do you think you'll be?"
"I'm almost afraid to make an estimate" he admitted, "since all I've been doing is calling you to tell you I'll be even more delayed. If I have to, however, I'm guessing another thirty minutes."
"Thirty minutes!" Natsumi exclaimed. She paused, then asked "Um, what time is it?"
"It's just about 2200, Natsumi" was the reply.
"Oh, then that's OK" she said. "Just get here as soon as you can-but be safe out there! I love you, Shouji!"
"I promise I will. I love you, Natsumi!" The call disconnected.
Natsumi sat in the semi-darkness as she fully woke up. She stretched her arms then rubbed her eyes. Looking around, she located her uniform and got dressed. As she slid her legs into her fatigues, she felt something heavy in the right thigh pocket. Natsumi pulled out the Beretta PX4 she had given to Sahashi. Staring at it, she realized it was the same gun she had in her dream. She put it back in her pocket.
Picking up her MP5 as she passed the chair, Natsumi left her room and walked down the hall. The lights were dimmed here so she was able to get used to them easily. Aoi had told her that Onodera had come up with the idea to take out all but one fluorescent tube to lower the light level. He and Iwasaki had removed the tubes earlier this evening and would replace them after the occupants of the rooms got up in the morning. She made a mental note to compliment Onodera for the idea when she saw him again.
Natsumi headed for the cafeteria to get a mug of tea and a snack. As she walked the hallway, she thought she should let the guards outside know about Shouji. She got on her radio and said "This is Natsumi. I just received a call from Shouji. He says he estimates he is still about thirty minutes out. Let's keep an eye out for him. Natsumi out." All stations acknowledged her message.
As she walked into the cafeteria, Natsumi's stomach rumbled a little. The meal she had eaten during the meeting was filling at the time but she was feeling her energy starting to drop. She looked over the spread and decided on an anpan to go with her tea. Turning around, she saw Aoi sitting at a table, so she went over to join her. They chatted as Natsumi ate her snack. Aoi seemed to be melancholy.
"This has been quite a day" Aoi sighed. "Yoriko is gone but Gendo is here, but he's a different person than the one that went to jail three years ago. Then there's Sahashi-he said such hurtful things about me, but I'm still sorry he's gone. I wish I could have talked to him. We might have resolved the issues between us."
"Did you know what his problem was with you?" Natsumi asked.
Aoi sighed again. "He was my partner in the Sex Crimes Unit. We worked well together-he was like a younger brother to me. We'd even spend off-duty time together. That all changed shortly after we were assigned to the anti-chikan squad. I think he couldn't handle my going undercover as a woman, but he never was willing to talk about it. He transferred out soon after that."
"I guess we'll never really know now" Natsumi observed.
"I feel like I'm at my wits' end, Natsumi" Aoi confessed. "I'm afraid I won't be able to keep it together. What am I going to do?" Aoi had never seemed as morose as she was at that moment.
"I'm probably the worst person to answer that question" Natsumi admitted. "Could you possible talk to Kyou or Dr. Ichinose? Or how about Oshou?"
"Perhaps..." Aoi said. "I'll ask tomorrow. I think I'll sleep on it tonight and see what tomorrow brings. Thanks, Natsumi." Aoi smiled, but Natsumi could see the fatigue in her eyes.
"Why don't you go to bed now, Aoi?" Natsumi suggested. "You don't have anything else to do tonight, right?"
"No, I don't" she said. "I really need some good sleep. I don't know if I should look in the mirror-I'll bet I look horrible."
"Aoi, you could never look horrible" Natsumi said. "However, we all look worn out. Go get some sleep, girlfriend." Natsumi stood up, threw the paper plate in the trash and refilled her mug of tea. She checked the cafeteria clock as she walked out, noticing it was about 2225. She headed for the stairs so she'd be at the gate when Shouji arrived. It had been ages she she'd seen him.
She was about ten meters from the stairs when her cell phone rang. She checked the display and saw it was Shouji again. She answered the call, saying "Shouji, don't tell me you're going to be..." She heard the Humvee's engine racing-just like in the dream. A cold pit opened up in her stomach. The she heard his voice.
"Natsumi" Shouji yelled into the phone, "I need help! They're chasing me!"
"How many? What are they driving?" she asked, panicked.
"Three vehicles-two motorcycles and a car" was the reply.
Natsumi dropped her mug. The ceramic shattered and the liquid splashed all over, hitting the leg of her fatigues. She grabbed the mic and called out "Miyuki, Shouji's in trouble! Can you see him?" She ran to the stairs and rushed down them, cell phone in one hand and the mic in the other.
Miyuki called back. "This is Overwatch. He's not to the north. What's going on?"
"He's being pursued by three unidentified vehicles!" Natsumi shot back. "They're trying to stop him!"
"Did he say which way he was coming in?"
Natsumi switched to the phone. "Shouji?"
"I'm here" he replied
"Where are you?" she asked, her voice trembling with fear.
"I'm on Keiyo Road to the east of the station. I'm almost to the bridge" he yelled.
Natsumi told Miyuki "He's coming from the east and a few blocks away from the bridge! Do something!"
By now Natsumi had arrived on the first floor. She ran to the lobby and flew out the doors. As she ran up to the gate, she heard a soft report from Miyuki's rifle on the roof, then the sound of a car colliding with something. She tried to see what had crashed but couldn't get far enough out to look down Keiyo Road. She reversed direction and ran back into the station building, grabbing the mic. All she could blurt out was "Shoot the bastard! Shoot him!"
Natsumi ran up the stairs faster than she ever had. She was in a blind panic. Even though she couldn't hear what was happening on the roof, she had a fear that Miyuki would chicken out at the last second. She keyed the mic again and yelled "Miyuki, take the shot!"
Running out onto the roof, Natsumi saw her partner standing there, her rifle to her shoulder. She had a panicked look on her face. Natsumi screamed "MIYUKI!" as she ran to the sniper's nest. Reaching the edge of the roof she could see what Miyuki saw.
The Humvee had skidded to a stop with the driver's door facing the motorcycles. The two riders stopped about ten meters away from the vehicle. The one on the right was armed with an aluminum baseball bat while the one on the left wielded an ax handle. Shouji stepped out of the Humvee, raising a Colt M4 carbine to his shoulder as he did. He pointed the gun at the man with the baseball bat. The man with the ax handle raced his engine like he was about to charge.
Miyuki suddenly shifted her rifle to the bike on the left. She pulled the trigger and there was another quiet "plop" as the round sped to its target. With the sound of breaking glass, the headlight on the bike on the left shattered. The two riders looked at each other. The one on the right shook his head. They both gunned their engines and turned around as sharply as they could. They took off at high speed, stopping only to pick up their two cohorts who had made their way out of the wrecked car. In a matter of moments, the lights of the bikes disappeared as they turned north. Shouji got back int the Humvee and resumed his approach to the entrance.
Natsumi lost it. "How could you put Shouji's life at stake like that, Kobayakawa?" she screamed, startling Miyuki. She nearly dropped her rifle, catching it just before she wheeled around to face the raging woman. "Natsumi, please let me..." she pleaded.
"No excuses, Miyuki!" she shot back. "Your indecision almost cost Shouji his life just now! You got to wake up and realize that it's us or them now." Natsumi was yelling at the top of her voice. Miyuki was stunned-she had never seen her friend this furious.
Outside the front entrance, Shouji stopped the Humvee and climbed out. He looked up at the noise from above. The screaming was noticeable even five stories away. He looked at the gate guards, puzzled. Mokoto Maeda ran over to him and told him about what had happened. Shouji just turned and ran into the station.
Inside the station, Shouji almost ran into Kachou and Karouko, who were coming down to see him as he came in. He rushed by them without a word. They looked at each other wordlessly and turned to follow him. Shouji made it to the stairs and flew up to the third floor, where he saw Kenny. All he had time to say was "Follow me!" as he continued up the stairs. Kenny broke into a run and fell in behind him, puzzled as to why he was needed.
Shouji sprinted through the doorway to the roof. He saw Natsumi raging on by the edge of the roof and Miyuki nearly in tears, clutching her rifle. He put his head down and charged ahead, aimed straight at Natsumi. He stopped right in front of the seething woman and growled at her "Just what in hell do you think you're doing, Tsujimoto?"
Natsumi was startled by Shouji's sudden appearance and sputtered "Shouji... Shouji... I was..."
Kenny reached Miyuki just then. She saw him and started sobbing, still clutching the Steyr to her chest. He gently pulled the gun away from her and laid it on the table, then enfolded her in his arms as she cried into his chest.
Shouji grabbed Natsumi by the shoulders and started dragging her away from Miyuki and Kenny. "Come with me, Tsujimoto" he ordered. "Shouji, I'm not..." Natsumi protested. "Yes you are!" he shot back. "You come with me now!" He drug her over to the opposite side of the roof.
Karouko and Kachou finally made it to the roof. They took in the scene-Kachou stood there, frowning while Karouko grimly inquired "are we seeing the beginning of a breakdown in discipline?"
"If we are, it stops here tonight" Kachou replied flatly.