"Thanks for coming so quickly. Bobby & Kyle doing the neighborhood interviews?" Cole shook the hand of one of his investigators.
Roderick Strong nodded. "They'll have reports ready later today. Figured we could go over everything at a work session at the hotel."
Cole grinned. "Whose turn is it to choose dinner?"
"Bobby's," Strong grinned in return. "So, you know it's gonna be Italian."
Cole mock groaned then motioned for Strong to follow him. "Our victim's been officially identified as Io Shiari, PD pharmacist. The Chief of Police identified her as well as her two cousins listed as next of kin." He glanced over his shoulder. "She left a cryptic note. All it said was 'I do this for Him. He is everywhere.' I'm having the handwriting analyzed to make sure it's Shiari's."
"The locals are involved?" Strong asked.
"As little as necessary," Cole admitted. "The analysis is being handled by the State Police." He paused in front of a door. "I fucking hate this," he muttered. Then he opened the door and entered the interrogation room.
Strong followed, closing the door behind him. He saw a man and woman, both Japanese, sitting close together at the table.
"I apologize for the delay in speaking with you," Cole quietly spoke as he sat down. "I'm Special District Attorney Adam Cole and this is Investigator Roderick Strong." He paused for a few seconds. "We're truly sorry for your loss. I wish I could make this easier, but we need to ask you both some questions."
The woman slightly nodded.
"I understand you're Asuka Urai and Shinsuke Nakamura, and you are…were cousins of Io Shiari. Is that correct?"
"Yes," Asuka nodded. "Shinsuke and I came to this country five years ago. We own a martial arts studio and train people. Io came here two years ago."
"Did she ever mention being involved with anyone? Romantically?" Cole asked.
Nakamura muttered something in Japanese.
Asuka sighed. "Io was very proud of her accomplishments," she explained, putting a hand on her cousin's arm. "But she…was not happy with her personal life. She was lonely." She glanced down at the table. "She wanted a family…children."
"And did she meet someone?"
"About eight months ago, she started mentioning someone," Asuka nodded. "She said he understood her…make her more comfortable with her life and choices."
"I asked her…again and again…who is this man?" Nakamura bitterly added. "What is his job? He should have come to us…with Io…so we could meet him as was proper."
"You never met him?" Cole frowned.
"She would not even tell us his name!" Nakamura hissed. He shrugged Asuka's hand from his arm.
"All she called him was 'he'," Asuka added. "She would say 'he says' or 'he suggests'." She sighed. "When we would press for more, she would become silent. And we wouldn't see her for days."
Cole leaned back in his chair, then glanced at Strong. "Was she still seeing him…whoever he was?"
Asuka shrugged. "She stopped talking about him. Perhaps three or four months ago?" She glanced at Nakamura who nodded.
"She refused to answer any questions about him being in her life," Asuka continued. "I hoped…that he was gone." She lowered her head. "It was not right that he was kept from us. I thought perhaps he was married…and had broken up with Io…that she was embarrassed." She took a deep breath. "I should have been more…forceful. I should have demanded answers."
"I didn't know your cousin; but from what I've heard here, I don't think you would've gotten any answers that way," Cole gently spoke. He glanced at Strong who slightly shook his head.
"Io would not have taken her life," Nakamura firmly said. "Even if she was embarrassed or unhappy. She would not."
Cole nodded. "At this point, all I can say is that nothing is being ruled out. And what you've just said will be considered as well. If either of you can think of anything else that would help, please give me a call." He handed one of his cards to both Nakamura and Asuka. "Again, I'm so sorry this happened."
Asuka took a deep breath and stood. "Thank you for your courtesy," she formally replied.
Nakamura silently nodded and also stood.
Strong walked them to the door. "I'll escort you out."
Cole sat silently, lost in thought until Strong returned.
The investigator leaned against the wall and slightly smiled at the expression on Cole's face. "Come up with something?"
Cole nodded and motioned Strong to sit next to him. He lowered his voice and said, "Three or four months ago. That's when Shiari stopped talking about 'him'. That's when the DNA evidence put Bray Wyatt at the scene of the Renee Young murder and exonerated Jon Moxley. That's when Wyatt disappeared."
Strong sat down next to Cole. "You think Shiari helped him disappear? Was involved in that murder?"
Cole slowly shook her head. "Not without some strong evidence to prove it." He took a deep breath. "Shiari gave poison to Colter and Swagger. Maybe they framed Moxley for a reason other than Swagger being jealous." He slowly shook his head. "We need to see if there's a connection between Swagger and Colter with Bray Wyatt."
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"After your meeting tomorrow, we'll help you get everything set up." Zelina Vega managed not to smile at the look on Mox's face. It was a mixture of trepidation and distaste.
"Yeah, thanks," Mox mumbled as he rubbed his jaw. Then he smiled at the young woman. "Really…thanks for your help." He glanced at Ricochet who was stacking the software packages on the small desk in Mox's room. "Both of you. It's just…"
Ricochet nodded and grinned in return. "It's as intimidating as hell in the beginning. There were a couple of times I swore I'd throw my computer into the ocean. But once you learn each program, it gets easier."
"The process is the same each time you use it," Zelina assured him. "You'll just be entering different data." She impishly smiled and patted his arm. "Roman managed to learn it so I know you can."
"Yeah," Mox nodded, not sounding all that confident.
"Spilling secrets, Zelina?"
Zelina's eyebrows rose as she looked over Mox's shoulder. "Trust me, it's no secret."
Roman staggered against the door jam, putting a hand over his heart. "Got me dead center," he groaned. He grinned as Ricochet and Zelina left the room.
Mox sat on the edge of his bed. "I dunno, Roman. They keep telling me it's not that hard, and I'll pick it right up." He ran a hand through his hair. "You know I was never that good with stuff like that."
"Neither was I," Roman admitted as he sat next to Mox. "But Zelina's right. I learned. Hell, even Dad learned to use a computer. But would you like another piece of advice given in brotherly love?"
Mox groaned but nodded.
"Learn to use the programs because you're the boss. The ultimate authority. Things go right, you get the praise and glory. Things go wrong, you're responsible." Roman nudged Mox. "But it wouldn't hurt to hire someone to run the office for the day to day stuff. Even better if they have a background in accounting, accounts payable, and stuff like that. But you still need to know how to do it so you can make sure things are done right."
Mox took a couple of deep breaths. "I'm thinking that I didn't think this through enough," he muttered.
"Yeah, you did. You know where you want to go. And nothing's ever stopped you from doing what you want. This isn't any different." Roman grinned as he stood up. "I'll see you at dinner in a couple of hours. We'll discuss business over pizza."
Mox nodded as Roman left the room. He glared at the boxes of software programs and his new laptop then flopped back onto the bed. "What the hell have I gotten myself into?" he muttered.
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"Thank you for coming at such a bad time. Please accept my sincere condolences and allow me to help in any way I can."
Both Asuka and Nakamura politely bowed their heads.
"We will allow the police to investigate. But there will be eyes on them the entire time. And the police will have eyes on the both of you as part of their investigation." The man paused. "And so will others," he meaningfully added.
"They shall see nothing but a grieving family," Nakamura promised. "But honor must be satisfied," Nakamura grimly answered the man who stood before them.
"And it will be," the man solemnly promised. "Honor satisfied and vengeance meted out." He wasn't surprised that it was Asuka who smiled at the idea of vengeance.