I meant to say this at the beginning of the first chapter that my knowledge of New York City is limited. I've only been there a few times and I'm trying to keep things at least somewhat accurate. I'd read an article about the homeless communities some time ago but when I went back to double check I couldn't find it so I've had to work off of memory. Also if anything is horribly glaringly wrong I would really like for someone to tell me so I don't make a complete ass of myself. Minor stuff I hope you guys will let slide. When I tell most people that I've lived in New York most of my life they automatically think New York City. Truthfully I've lived in Central New York but since people that don't live in New York don't seem to get that. Most people think anything outside of the City is Upstate but that's not true!! I shouldn't get into that now though. So yeah, that's about it. This is a shorter chapter but hopefully you'll guys will enjoy.

I can' think of much else to say, look for "Fleeting Like Fireworks" to be finished soon and then I'll start trying to get the sequel to "Ever the Same" out as well as finishing this story.

That's it! Please enjoy!

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Cynthia realized as she took a cab to Hamilton why Clay had wanted to meet at this particular sandwich shop and felt slightly foolish for not figuring it out earlier. 'I guess that's why you're better behind a computer then you are in the field,' Cynthia reasoned as she watched the cab pull away almost mournfully. The sky had grown overcast during the morning hours Cynthia had spent inside processing information for the Pedrosa case. Those in her department knew that she knew Raimundo and so they'd been surprised that she was leaving the office, let alone her desk, in the middle of everything. The shop was beginning to get crowded with the early lunch hour rush but Clay had managed a table toward the back corner and he waved her over as he saw her enter.

"Alright spill," Cynthia said moodily as she sat with a huff at the chair opposite Clay.

"I got you a turkey wrap with everything on it," Clay said ignoring what she'd said. "I remembered you liked that from the last time we had lunch together."

"What do you want Clay," Cynthia pressed as her foot tapped angrily on the tile floor. "Its pretty convenient that you want us to meet all the way out here on Hamilton when there is a perfectly good shop much closer to the office. You don't want to be seen."

"Half right," Clay answered.

"What part?"

"The part about not wanting to be seen, but I guess that's also only about half true," Clay answered with a shrug and a smile.

"I'm lost," Cynthia said shaking her head.

"This deli is much better then the one near the office, that's the main reason I came here."

"Now you're just annoying," Cynthia bit out.

"I've got nothing to hide but I do enjoy privacy which is another plus for heading out this way," Clay went on.

"And why are you valuing your privacy all of the sudden?" Cynthia asked cupping her chin in her hands as she propped her elbows on the table in front of her.

"Because I need a favor," Clay answered after a pause.

"Obviously. You told me that before back in the office," Cynthia reminded him.

"Yeah," Clay sighed. "It's a pretty big one."

"Now you have me nervous," Cynthia grinned and then sobered. "Actually you really do now."

"Are you still seeing that guy Tom?"

"Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?" Cynthia grimaced knowing exactly where this was going and wasn't pleased.

"I can tell you know what I'm about to ask," Clay smiled.

"Yeah, and it would get all three of us into very real trouble," Cynthia said closing her eyes tightly and then sighed. "I don't know if I could even get him to do it, even if it were possible."
"I trust you can use some of that southern charm on him," Clay said seriously and Cynthia laughed.

"Oh man this is no good," Cynthia shook her head.

"Does that mean you're going to at least try?" Clay asked hopefully.

"You are going to owe me more then lunch when this is all over."

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"Are you feeling well?" Toshiro asked Amelia. The young girl looked up from where she was sitting on the cot, knees drawn to her chest and arms wrapped around her legs.

"I've been better," she answered in a muffled voice.

"Have you eaten?" Toshiro asked.

"Not since a snack last night," Amelia shook her head. She'd shared everything that had happened to her with Toshiro but after her story ended Toshiro had simply sat in the room's lone chair looking thoughtful.

"Would you like me to get you something to eat?" Toshiro asked and Amelia perked up.

"You can?" she asked and Toshiro smiled.

"Yes, fortunately for us it seems they need us in good condition. I've been here for what I can guess is three days and I have been fed sufficiently since arriving." Amelia blew at hair that had fallen into her face.

"Well I guess that's something," she said sarcastically. "I mean if we're being held captive the least they can do is feed us well." Amelia hadn't been expecting Toshiro to laugh.

"Forgive me Amelia-chan, but you are very mature for your age," he smiled and then looked slightly saddened. "You remind me of my daughter."

"You have a daughter?" Amelia asked.

"Yes, my only child, named Kimiko. But she is nearly grown now." As he spoke he stood and walked toward the door. Once he'd finished speaking though he began to pound on the door and Amelia watched on curiously. After a few long seconds on heavy pounded the door cracked open and a gun appeared but Toshiro barely flinched.

"Enough of that now," a voice from the other side of the door commanded and Amelia recognized it as belonging to one of the goons that had brought her in.

"The girl needs something to eat and water," Toshiro said commandingly and Amelia suddenly believed that he was capable of running a company as he'd stated earlier. The man on the other side of the door grunted before closing and locking the door again. "Hopefully they will bring something you like," Toshiro said as he returned to his chair. Amelia only nodded and went to fiddle with her ever present necklace, letting out a small gasp when she realized it was gone.

"What is wrong?" Toshiro asked immediately.

"My necklace is gone," she said looking tearful. "I wear it all the time. Raimundo gave it to me. I can't believe it is gone." Toshiro didn't respond. "I'm sorry for making a big deal," Amelia apologized a minute later causing Toshiro to look up.

"No need to apologize," He assured her.

"It just, it means a lot to me is all. It makes me feel braver," she said her voice softening as she spoke.

"I cannot imagine you being much braver then you already are Amelia," Toshiro said sincerely making Amelia blush slightly.

"Thank you," she whispered. Toshiro only smiled again and resumed his study of the floor. "Your daughter," Amelia went on after a minute of silence, "Kimiko. What's she like?"

"She is quite the young woman," Toshiro smiled at the thought. "Strong, independent, and certainly beautiful. She is living in New York City to finish her college and graduate studies."

"That's where my brother lives!" Amelia said excitedly. "Well not anymore," she amended, "but it's where he grew up. He lives in Washington DC now."

"Really?" Toshiro asked interested. "What does he do in Washington?"

"He works for the FBI," Amelia said proudly.

"But I thought you said you and your family lived in Rio de Janeiro?" Toshiro asked.

"Yes but Raimundo went to live with Grandma and Grandpa when he was younger and became a US citizen to join the FBI," Amelia said with an excited flush on her cheeks.

"I see," Toshiro took this all in as Amelia came to a realization.

"That's why," she said quickly. "Its cause Raimundo's in the FBI?" Amelia pressed. "Do you think that's why I am here?"

"A distinct possibility," Toshiro agreed. 'But it doesn't explain why the two of us are here together now,' Toshiro thought to himself.

"Hey!" a voice shouted from outside the door. "Stand back against the wall." Toshiro sighed at the command and signaled for Amelia to remain where she was. The door opened and the two men that had kidnapped Amelia were in the doorway, one holding a gun, the other a tray of food. When the noticed that neither Toshiro nor Amelia had moved both looked perturbed from behind their sunglasses but didn't say anything else. The man in black carried the food in and set it on the card table in the corner closest to the door and then stepped back out.

"Hey!" Amelia shouted after them as the door went to close. "What? Nothing to drink?" Both men sneered again and one disappeared for a moment then reappeared and threw two bottles of water into the room carelessly. The door then shut and locked and Toshiro smiled over at Amelia.

"Good girl," he told her glad that she was managing to keep her spirits up. Amelia smiled back and got off the cot and headed for the food.

"What do you want?" she asked examining the various prepackage food that had been thrown together, most likely out of a vending machine.

"Please, eat as much as you like," Toshiro encouraged. "I am not hungry at the moment."

"Ok," Amelia didn't hesitate and began to tear open a package of chips. Toshiro tried to keep the smile on her face as he watched her eat with vigor. He needed to keep up a confident outward appearance for the sake of this girl. He needed her not to loose hope or any of the grit she obvious had inside of her. She was going to need it to get through all of this. He was worried for why the girl was here, worried for her safety and well being. She was so young.

'If nothing else,' Toshiro promised himself, 'I will do everything to assure this girl's safety.'

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The tracker had not moved for sometime which made Katnappe think one of two things. Either it had been discovered and dismantled somehow or else her targets really were staying in one space for such a long amount of time. But Katnappe knew enough about her prey to know that this Raimundo Pedrosa would not be foolish enough to stay in one place for such a long time, not if he knew a hunter was on his trail. But she also knew that Kimiko Tohomiko was supposed to be some sort of computer/electronics protégé and if she had the means probably would have found the tracker already.

'Only one way to find out,' Katnappe thought as she slipped easily through the basement window of Kimiko's apartment building. Taking the elevator from the basement laundry room Katnappe moved inconspicuously up to her prey's floor and manipulated the lock easily. The apartment she entered into was neat, tidy, and empty much to Katnappe's disappointment. That meant that the tracker had indeed been disabled. As she scanned the girl's room she noticed something however that caught her interest- Kimiko's laptop sitting innocently on the desk.

"So they abandon it all together," Katnappe mused out loud as she traced the computer with an almost claw like finger. Her phone ringing caught her attention and Katnappe answered it quickly. "Yes?"

"I would just like to warn you," a familiar voice on the other end of the line spoke without greeting, "that our Mr. Young is not as trusting as one may like."

"And?"

"He has sent out his own trackers." Katnappe gave a hiss.

"I do not like others getting in my way. I will take them out if necessary," Katnappe promised.

"I will not argue otherwise," the older woman told her, "just a reminder though that Tohomiko is to be taken in alive and relatively unharmed."

"An annoyance but I will comply," the blond girl practically sneered. "Is that all?"

"Just a reminder to enjoy yourself," the caller said cruelly. The line then disconnected and Katnappe smiled.

"I think I'll do just that."

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"Come on, come on," Kimiko encouraged as she pulled Raimundo through the crowds at Grand Central Station.

"You seem pretty confident," Rai couldn't help but smile somewhat at her sudden enthusiasm.

"I know I'm right," Kimiko said firmly not looking back and not balking when he tightened the grip she had on his hand. "The first numbers are the locker number and the others are a combination."

"But," Rai started to protest upset that he had to burst her bubble. "Don't most of the lockers in the station have keys you have to pay for?" Raimundo nearly barreled into Kimiko when she came to a sudden stop.

"But," she said slowly obviously processing what he'd said, "I know that I've seen lockers with combinations somewhere in the station."

"Hey," Rai said coming around from behind her to stand at her side. "Maybe you're right and I'm wrong," Rai told her.

"Nice try," Kimiko said pursing her lips and narrowing her eyes. "Damn I was so sure I was right."

"Well the address was for Grand Central," Rai said pulling them out of the way off all the human traffic. "So at least we know we're on the right track. Now, let's see that box again." Kimiko sighed and handed it over to him once she'd pulled it out of her bag. "I don't really get it," Raimundo said pulling the item out of the box and examining it.

"It looks like an overly large fifty piece yen," Kimiko snorted, "with the hole in the middle and everything." She glanced over at the red and yellow coin and wondered what significance it might have in all of this. "There were more instructions on the new page. Under the numbers it said 'leave it'. What do you suppose that means?"

"Um, leave it?" Rai guessed and Kimiko scowled.

"Thank you captain obvious," she said in a sing song voice. "The more important question is where do we leave it?" Rai was flipping the coin over in his hands.

"Well, let's go with your locker idea. It seems to fit well enough." Kimiko nodded and the two stood and started walking the rows of lockers in the station but they didn't need to go along very far to realize Raimundo was correct about paying for a key.

"Well?" Kimiko asked Raimundo at the end of one of the rows of lockers.

"Well what?" Rai asked back.

"Do you have any ideas?" Kimiko asked curiously.

"Not really," Rai answered watching Kimiko who wasn't paying attention to him. Instead her eyes had locked on a pair of station attendants who'd just walked by. "See something you like?" Raimundo asked slightly annoyed and was surprised when Kimiko suddenly jumped up excitedly.

"I know where I've seen lockers with combinations!" she said turning to face him.

"And here I thought you were getting excited over a pair of cute boys," Rai said under his breath. Kimiko raised an eyebrow.

"You think they're cute?" she asked gesturing in the attendants' direction.

"What?" Rai chocked on the simple word.

"Didn't think you played like that," Kimiko said locking her eyes on the attendants again.

"Wait what!" Raimundo protested.

"Hm?" Kimiko asked looking back at him.

"I do not play like that," Raimundo said firmly.

"Sure you don't," Kimiko rolled her eyes.

"Do you want me to prove it to you?" Rai asked completely deadpan and Kimiko sent him an appraising look.

"Whatever," Kimiko said with a distracted air as Raimundo debated on whether he was satisfied with that answer, "we both have more important things to focus on than cute boys."

"So you did think they were cute."

"Way off topic," Kimiko said in a warning tone.

"Do you think I'm cute?" Raimundo asked half teasingly and half serious.

"Now we are way off topic," Kimiko said dryly. "Now come on," she urged leading them on. "A few years back I was dating a guy who worked here part time at the help desk. He had a locker in back, with a combination lock!"

"You dated an info desk worker?" Rai asked barely able to contain a smile as he followed her.

"He was also a student," Kimiko snapped back growing redder, "and this certainly isn't he time to be discussing my past relationships."

"Ok then," Rai agreed. The truth was he was feeling slightly disgruntled when it came to Kimiko that Raimundo couldn't seem to get much of a fix on. One moment he thought he had her figured out on at least some level and then in the next moment he'd be twice as confused as before. No woman had ever done that to him before. Normally it was the same routine: a girl would approach him or vice versa, he'd put on the charms, and she'd be a pile of simpering female flesh in a matter of minutes. Now, he wasn't exactly putting the charms on Kimiko like he would a normal girl because they were hardly in a normal situation. But still, he could admit he was expecting something more from her.

"You awake in there?" Kimiko asked looking back over her shoulder when she stopped.

"Huh? Oh yeah," Rai answered and then looked around. "So where are those lockers you were talking about?" Kimiko smiled and pointed her ahead of her.

"Now, we just need to figure out to get back there," Kimiko mused as she studied the door that led to a workers only area. Rai shook his head and walked on past her. "Hey where are you going?"

"In?" Rai answered.

"But you can't just," Kimiko tried to protest but Raimundo just kept walking and slipped past the door as if he owned the place. Kimiko hesitated for a second before following him in. "So much for increased security," Kimiko said sarcastically as she joined him.

"It's a locker room," Rai told her, "I think we can let it slide." Kimiko didn't say anything but walked to the first locker and checked the number on it and then the one next to it.

"This way," she motioned forward and Raimundo followed her. The walked up one isle and then turned to walk slightly down another one before stopping at one locker.

"What's the combination?" Rai asked stepping forward. Kimiko read off the numbers as Raimundo spun the dial. Both held their breath while Raimundo gave the lock a little tug and to their immense joy it fell open. "So we just leave it?" Rai asked when Kimiko handed over the overly large coin

"I guess," Kimiko agreed looking the empty locker up and down. There was no where to hide anything but just to be safe Kimiko ran her hands up and down the insides of the metal locker but found nothing.

"Well, the last time we had to bury it and then a new window came up the next time we checked the website there was a new link."

"Better do as they say then," Rai sighed. He hated being order and controlled by a person he couldn't see. He placed the large coin on the lone shelf in the locker and then shut and relocked it. Kimiko went to pull out her PDA but both she and Raimundo stopped.

"Come on," Rai urged pulling her along at the sound of a heavily accented voice. Kimiko didn't protest as Rai led them around toward the back rows of lockers. Raimundo swore softly when they hit a back wall, the voices growing louder by the moment. Kimiko joined him in looking around realizing they were trapped.

"Here," Rai said pulling them both toward the wall where, Kimiko finally noticed, was a small space between two sets of lockers. There was barely enough room for one person in the tiny space and Kimiko was about to protest but Raimundo practically shoved her into the space and followed quickly in beside her. Despite the fact that they were being followed by someone apparently very dangerous Kimiko was more aware of the physical situation than anything else. There wasn't enough space for any part of their bodies not to be touching. Kimiko, shorter then Raimundo by a few inches was neatly tucked under his chin. She'd had enough sense to turn her head so that only her cheek, not her whole face was pressed into his shoulder, her hands splayed across a chest that was starting to become familiar.

Raimundo had had the good sense to place his hands on either side of her body so that they weren't touching anywhere that would earn a well deserved smack from Kimiko. Rai was staring hard at the wall above Kimiko's head and trying to focus on their possible danger and not the fact that she fit so nicely against him.

"Shh," Rai commanded trying hard to fight his instincts to press even tighter to her, if that was at all possible. He felt Kimiko nod against his shoulder and Raimundo shut his eyes tight against the simple sensation wondering when the hell he'd had the time to fall so hard.

"I do not believe that they are in here," a voice with an Asian accent Kimiko couldn't place spoke.

"But this is where the new clue was suppose to lead them," came a second heavy accent that Kimiko guessed belonged to Vlad from in the subway tunnels.

"Well they obviously aren't here," the first voice snapped and Kimiko felt Raimundo stiffen, she guessed in recognition of the voice. The voices got softer and less easy to hear so Kimiko relaxed and moved to leave the tiny confides but Raimundo's arms on either side of her tighten and stopped her.

"Wait another second," Rai commanded softly and Kimiko nodded against his shoulder again, noticing that his grip didn't loosen on her any. "Ok," Raimundo said after another moment and felt Kimiko move away from him, almost reluctantly. Rai followed her out and worked hard not to grab her back to him.

"Do you want me to check the website now or after we get out of here?" Kimiko asked softly not looking over at him.

"Let's get out of here," Rai suggested watching out of the corner of his eye and Kimiko nodded in agreement. The moved to leave the row and had just made it around the corner when Kimiko, in front of Raimundo, let out a scream and threw a punch sending a very large man with most of his face covered stumbling backwards.

"Run!" Raimundo yelled as he threw his shoulder into the second man's chest, sending him flying out of the way. Raimundo's hand wrapped around Kimiko's elbow but she didn't need to encouragement as she leapt over the man she'd knocked down and sprinted off with Raimundo. They burst out of the locker room, nearly knocking over a worker as he tried to enter but they didn't slow at all. "Toward the trains," Rai urged and the two ran on, catching a few glances as they dashed through the station. Neither hesitated as they both vaulted the turnstiles, electing a few yells but they were gone in a flash just catching a train as it started to pull out. Kimiko panted hard, slightly relieved that Raimundo was also breathing a bit hard and immediately joined him in looking back at the platform and the two men they'd left behind.

"Thank God," Kimiko breathed, still slightly hunched as Raimundo straightened and looked around but no one was really giving them a second glance. "I'm guessing that one guy was Vlad," she went on a little softer, "but who was the other one?"

"The one you punched?" Rai grinned.

"It amazes me that you can laugh about these kinds of things," Kimiko shook her head.

"I'm not laughing, grinning hard maybe but laughing," he paused, "at least not on the outside." Kimiko shook her head again.

"That was Tubbimura," Rai went on to answer her question. "Another one from the Heylin."

"Ok then I think we've established that the Heylin Organization is involved with this," Kimiko said grimly finally straightening. The train was already pulling to a stop and Raimundo nodded to the door. The two excited and hopped a second turnstile and then jogged off as they were yelled at for a second time.

"Let's head somewhere so we can sit down for a little," Rai suggested, "and catch our breath." Kimiko agreed and they found their way to a tiny restaurant and grabbed a table toward the back so that they could see the door.

"I didn't realize I was hungry till I smelled food," Kimiko confessed as she looked over the menu and Raimundo pulled up the opening website on her PDA.

"Hey check this out," he showing her the tiny screen, "It's changed." He was right about that. The clock still remained in the middle, Kimiko grimaced as it ticked away before her eyes, but all of the links they'd uncovered thus far were lined neatly on the left hand side under two categories; Clues and Instructions. There was also a third category, Warnings, with three boxes lined underneath and the first box x-ed out.

"Wow," Kimiko breathed, "that's kind of impressive considering it changed so quickly."

"And look," Rai tapped the screen with its electronic pen to pull up a link that opened a new window, "a new clue." Both waited eagerly for the page to load as the waitress approached.

"And what can I get you two?"

"Cokes, burgers, and fries good for you Kimiko?" Rai asked looking at the girl across the table.

"Perfect," Kimiko said not looking up. The waitress wandered off and Kimiko pulled out her notebook to make a hardcopy of the clue. "Read it off," she asked him.

Where the blood still runs by light of day

It's a favorite place at night to play

Blue collared mixes with blue blood

Though royalty may not reside there

You can still shop under her name

Maybe there you'll find Fame

"My head hurts," Kimiko said once Raimundo finished.

"Mine too," Raimundo sighed.

"These things seem to be getting harder," Kimiko said taking a sip of the drink the waitress had left.

"Let's forget about the clues for a minute," Raimundo suggested surprising Kimiko whose mind was already winding aimlessly over the words in the clue.

"And do what?" Kimiko asked.

"Well, eat for one thing," Rai said leaning back in his chair. "And also try to figure out why the Heylin is involved with all of this."

"You're the expert in that," Kimiko replied pushing her straw around in her glass with her index finger. "You said before that you had to fake you're death to get out right?"

"It was kind of a spur of the moment thing because my cover was about to get blown," Rai answered, "so I guess there is a possibility that they found out about everything. There was this one woman, I thought she was the head, or at least close to the top, and she got off on a technicality. I'm thinking that if anyone found out and got me involved with this it was her."

"Ok, so someone is out for revenge on you from the Heylin Organization and kidnapped your sister. That makes sense, I'll give you that, but it doesn't explain my father's role in all of this." Kimiko looked over at Raimundo through slanted eyes. "Does the Heylin need money?"

"No, that was never an issue with them. What about technology? Your dad have anything big on the books?" Kimiko chewed her bottom lip and folded her arms on the table as she considered it. Finally she let out a sigh.

"I suppose that a possibility," she admitted. "But Tohomiko Electronics is in the gaming industry. What could that kind of stuff have to do with an international crime organization? I haven't really been involved with the company for the past four years like I was when I was younger. I mean my father has kept me up to date on everything but something that big would have stuck out in my mind."

"Well Tohomiko Electronics is known to be on the cutting edge of technology. I've heard rumors that they've got people working for them that NASA would love to get their hand on. You're sure that there is no chance that the company could be dabbling in other areas?" Kimiko sent him a sour look but then frowned.

"I highly doubt it but I won't rule out that possibility. But can't you say the same thing about some private firms in the US? I mean look at Microsoft for god's sake. Why go to all the trouble of kidnapping a Japanese tycoon when there are plenty to choose from in the US?"

"Unfortunately that's a very good point," Rai told her, "and that makes me think that it may be personal." Kimiko locked eyes with him the moment the words were out of his mouth. He could see the fear in her eyes but knew that it was something that she'd obviously considered. Raimundo's phone beeped and broke their moment of eye contact.

"More messages?" Kimiko asked as he pulled the phone from his pocket.

"Yup, my voice mail is full."

"Impressive," Kimiko mused and looked down at her notebook and tried to concentrate on the clue as Rai sorted through his messages but her mind kept wandering back to her father and wondering who was after him. 'Or maybe me?' Kimiko thought. But that was impossible, she didn't have any enemies…did she?

"About a dozen calls from my family about Amelia, no surprise there, the rest were from Clay and Omi. Clay sounded pretty pissed," Rai said breaking into her thoughts.

"Who's Clay?" Kimiko asked coming out of her daze.

"Best friend from college, we work together too. Remember I told you about him back in the hotel?" Rai asked slightly concerned.

"Oh, yeah, sorry. My mind is somewhere else," Kimiko explained with a distracted air. She was brought back to earth when she felt one of Rai's hands cover hers. She looked at him and he smiled so kindly that it sent her stomach turning.

"It'll be ok," he assured her. Kimiko sighed and looked away. It wasn't that she didn't believe, it was just that everything seemed to be leading to nowhere.

"I just feel like we're being lead in circles. I mean what the hell are we doing? Running around New York and leaving little trinkets here in there. What's the point of all this?"

"A very important question that needs answers," Rai agreed as he released her hand after another reassuring squeeze. "And as soon as we finish lunch I think I know someone who can help us out."

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"So tell me about this friend of yours again," Kimiko said after finishing a big bite of her hamburger, deciding to make note that this place made a good burger.

"I wouldn't exactly call him a friend," Raimundo mused applying more ketchup to his own burger. "I'm sure you know about him without actually knowing about him."

"How so?" Kimiko asked intrigued.

"Well, do you remember that blackout that hit most of the northeast a few summers back?" Raimundo asked.

"Yeah, so?"

"Well," Raimundo grinned, "he'd be the one to blame for that." Kimiko blinked in surprise and then shook her head.

"No way," Kimiko argued. "Wasn't that caused by surge protector not flicking on after a lightning strike or something?"

"Something like that, a nice believable cover up story," Raimundo answered.

"I can't believe that," Kimiko said picking up a few fries. "I mean everyone was freaked out that it was a terrorist attack at first. I think people would know if human error caused that."
"Well it wasn't human error," Rai told her, "just Jack flexing his muscles."

"Ok, let's say that one person did do that, and on purpose," Kimiko challenged, "why isn't he sitting in jail?"

"Because Jack is the son of a very predominate and rich senator," Raimundo explained, "and luckily the right people figured out it was Jack before others did and were able to cover his tracks."

"But still," Kimiko said still finding everything he was saying hard to believe, "I can't believe that he didn't get punished at all."

"Oh he did," Rai said leaning back and smiling. "Jack's an idiot and a genius at the same time. He gets an idea in his head and runs with it until someone knocks and then holds him down. But at the same time he really doesn't have a whole lot of direction or common sense, so to keep him out of jail the FBI offered to give him direction and his father accepted for him."

"So this Jack works for the government?"

"Not officially and not all of the time," Raimundo frowned. "He refers to himself as an 'evil genius'." Kimiko let out a laugh.

"You're kidding," she asked and then laughed again when Raimundo shook his head. "Ok so he's a self proclaimed evil genius. Is he a threat?"

"He's too much of an idiot to be a threat," Raimundo waved it off. "But at the same time if he ever got his shit together he could cause some real damage," Kimiko sensed he was serious and so remained quiet. "That's why the government keeps an eye on him. Well, at least as much of an eye as they can."

"What do you mean?"

"He's pretty good at covering his tracks," Rai explained.

"But you can find him?" Kimiko raised an eyebrow.

"Yup."

"Why?"

"It's a long story," Rai sighed.

"So make it short," Kimiko shrugged.

"Well, ok, in a nut shell," Rai struggled. "Alright, Jack got assigned to me and Clay for this one sting we were doing shortly after we both joined up. We're around the same age so the higher ups thought me and Clay could get him to actually do what he was suppose to do. Well, they were wrong and Clay and I were about half a breath from beating the tar out of him." Kimiko giggled slightly at that and Raimundo smiled. "Anyway, we were getting nowhere and fast and somehow we ended up at a bar with Jack."

"Random," Kimiko commented and Raimundo nodded in agreement.

"But turns out that was the best move to make," Rai grinned. "Seems Jack's social skills weren't exactly up to par. And he noticed that Clay and I," he struggled with the next words, "weren't having a hard time socializing with members of the opposite sex."

"Basically you were good at picking up girls," Kimiko translated and smiled. "It's ok to say stuff like that Rai. I won't smack you upside the head for something like that."

"Thanks, I think," Rai looked confused.

"So you and your friend Clay taught Jack how to pick up girls and now he's in your debt or something," Kimiko went on.

"Something like that," Rai agreed looking slightly uncomfortable. Kimiko could tell there was more but decided not to press him.

"Ok, and he can help us how?" Kimiko asked.

"I told you he's a genius. He might be able to pick up on something we aren't."

"But Rai," Kimiko said looking worried, "we can't have outside help. It's against the rules."

"Well these assholes broke the rules too," Rai said with a hard look in his eyes. "I mean we've got that blonde trigger happy woman after us as well as Vlad and Tubbimura. I think that's got to be against the rules. Too many players or something."

"Is there, is there any possibility," Kimiko said slowly, "that it is just a coincidence that you are seeing Vlad and Tubbimura today."

"I guess," Raimundo said after a silent moment, "that it isn't completely impossible but highly improbable." He sent Kimiko a look. "Do you think it's a coincidence?"

"No," Kimiko admitted, "though it would be nice if it were."

"Probably make things even more complicated," Rai said thoughtfully.

"Ok then," Kimiko said pushing what was left of her food away, "we need a game plan."

"I'm going to try and get in contact with Jack again since he didn't reply to my earlier message."

"He's the one you sent the pictures to?" Kimiko questioned.

"Yup," Rai nodded. "If it has anything to do with electronics then he would know more then us probably."

"Ok, you do that and I'll play around with this clue," Kimiko said pulling the notebook toward her. Rai silently agreed and began to dial Jack's number into this phone wondering if he should tell Kimiko the rest of the story about why he and Jack were on good working terms.

'Probably the less she knows the better,' Rai reasoned as he brought the phone to his ear and waited for an answer on the other end.

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Chase Young sighed heavily as he watched the screens lined neatly on the wall in front of him. Most of them were either devoid of activity or filled with things and people that didn't matter. Wuya was gone, annoyed of watching him watch the monitors incessantly. Truthfully he was starting to get sick of watching the monitors as well but it was an almost sick fascination. Toshiro Tohomiko, who'd been like another father to him, a better father really was sitting helpless under his control.

'If only Wuya hadn't come back,' Chase thought feeling frustration rise in him. It would have been so much simpler and clean had Wuya not brought in Pedrosa and her own wants for revenge. True, his motives were also vengeance driven but his at least had some merit. He'd been robbed of everything he'd been promised and worked for since birth. He was only working to get back what was rightfully his.

And Kimiko Tohomiko was the key to all of that.

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Ok then that's it for now! Just a quick note about Amelia and the fact that it seems like she speaks perfect English. I decided that her English would be good because of Raimundo and her grandparents though I know it wouldn't be as good as it is in the story. There is also the idea that like Raimundo she attends a catholic school (reference to Rai knowing nuns in his youth) and is probably learning English. I did look up some Portuguese phrases but wasn't confident enough in them. I'm one of the few people I know that didn't take Spanish in school (Latin and Japanese for me) so I really have no idea about much of anything like that.

That's a long winded answer for something that I bet people really didn't even give much thought too. I also played around with a purely Portuguese name for Amelia but in my earliest notes that was her name and it kind of just stuck. Ok, well please review and I'll see you guys soon!