Chapter V

Steve drove the car as usual and Hood explained the situation to Jan. She was unusually quiet and didn't say a word. When Hood asked what was wrong she expressed feelings of confusion and concern. Feelings Hood knew only too well. But when she learned of the hotel they were to meet Kobayashi at, the previous feelings vanished and were replaced by an eerie sense of joy.

Jan knew the hotel quite well and in fact, many of her previous clients stayed there while they were in town. This made Hood fairly uncomfortable but what would happen next would be even more unsettling; Jan proposed that they go shopping so that they could blend in. Jan reasoned with both Hood and Steve that it was important to do so as to not to raise suspicion; that was enough reasoning for them.

They all went to one store where Jan did a lot of her shopping while she was still in her particular brand of business. At first the owner wouldn't let them in, but when Hood told Steve to show the contents of the duffle bag, he led them right in and treated them like they were old friends. After spending several thousands of dollars on elite designer clothing, they called the hotel and made reservations. Jan 'suggested' two separate rooms. Hood was worried that before the week was over, all the money they had collected from their most recent job, would be gone.

Friday finally rolled around and the trio began preparing for the meeting with Kobayashi. When Jan left the room, Hood told Steve to bring his piece just in case; Steve agreed wholeheartedly. After both men had secured their guns in their coats, Jan came back with a beautiful smile on her face, ready to go. All three exited the room and made way to a private dining hall where they were to meet with Kobayashi.

They entered the dining hall and found that they were not alone. A man sat on a stool right in the middle of the bar. He turned around with a drink in hand and looked at all three intently. He was similarly looking to Hood except he was more rugged and darker. He probably would have been a lot more intimidating if he were Steve's height.

"You Kobayashi?" Hood asked.

"No, who are ya'll?" the man responded in a southern accent.

"What's it you?" Steve said trying to sound tough.

The man cocked his head towards Steve, swirled his drink, which happened to be some strong Kentucky Bourbon and smiled, "Not much, so Kobayashi called you here too uh?"

"Yeah, you know anything about this guy?" Hood asked.

"Just a little. He's supposedly some big time lawyer, one of the best in the country. My connection said he was offered the job of the Attorney General of the U.S. but he turned it down. Now what kind of man passes up a job like that, I mean, for four years, you get to be the top cop in all that land, just doesn't make sense." the man rambled. The man's interest in such a position made Hood a little uncomfortable but he tried to ignore the feeling the best he could.

"Sounds to me like someone trying to keep the skeletons in their closet from being investigated." Hood reasoned.

The man shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to argue with what Hood had said, "Also heard that this guy offered these five guy's 91 million dollars to hit this boat in Los Angeles but none of them made it out alive except for one guy, but no one heard from him again. My name's London by the way, from Paris, Texas."

Hood smiled at London's name and origin. It seemed so cliché that it was ridiculous but how did the old saying go, "what's in a name?" Hood proceeded to introduce himself, Steve and Jan adding the information that Jan was his girlfriend and gave the notion that only another man is able to receive, to stay away from his woman. London chuckled to himself once he completely gathered what Hood was saying. Of course Jan knew also a few seconds later. Hood then thought about what London said about the job in Los Angeles. A man with that kind of money had connections; big ones and that meant any kind of job they were offered was going to extremely dangerous.

"Are you related to that writer?" Steve asked. Hood reached out and hit Steve on the shoulder who gave what-was-that-for look.

"No, I hate that guy. His books are terrible, I mean, To Build a Fire, come on that was just trash. I was actually happy when the guy died," London said with bitterness behind his book. Steve assumed that he was obviously subjected to into reading the man's work, "So what's this all about, I mean, what do you guy's do?"

"You're question will be answered in time Mr. London." a voice answered from the corner of the room. All four looked over in his direction quickly, London rose from his bar stool. Hood couldn't place the accent it just didn't register.

"You Kobayashi?" Steve asked this time.

"I am and I can only assume that you are Mr. Herowitz and that the man standing behind you is Mr. Hood and the lady joining you three is Ms. Wiles. I have come here with a proposal for you." Kobayashi said approaching from the darkness. He was slender, in a business suit and bald, not appearing at all to be Japanese like is his name made him out to be.

"So what do you want, I mean, you giving us a job or is your boss, whoever he is." London said rambling. He was obviously a little nervous.

"My employer has a job for you, all of you. One night's work, very dangerous but if you come out alive, you will all be awarded handsomely." Kobayashi said.

"Who's your boss?" Steve asked.

There was a pause as Kobayashi over looked at people as if preparing them for what he would say next, "I work for Keyser Soze."