Chapter Seventeen: Ignited
Akihiko looked up from his computer when he heard a key hit the lock of the condo door. It took him a moment to adjust his expression so that it was his usual impassive countenance Aikawa would encounter when she entered and not the mad look of relief he'd had knowing that she had returned.
He knew it was ridiculous to feel such anxiety about the woman's absence: Aikawa was a grown woman and far tougher in many ways than most (she had to be to put up with him). He also was pleased that there seemed to be something developing between his editor and Santo Justino. After all, Aikawa was amazing and certainly worthy of someone cherishing her. That said, Akihiko also knew that he would kick Santo Justino's ass if the P.I. ever did anything to hurt her.
Despite these considerations, however, after Misaki's abduction, Akihiko had found himself increasingly driven by the fear of something similar befalling the other people in his life he cared about. And he was aware the possessive and suspicious nature he worked hard to keep in check even at the best of times, had been greatly exacerbated by all that had happened.
Akihiko was ready to teasingly ask Aikawa about her evening away, but the question died in his throat when she entered the front room and he saw the look on her face.
"Sensei, you need to come with me. Santo Justino-san needs you to meet him at his office." Aikawa's lovely face looked terribly strained. Her face was pale but her cheeks were unusually flushed.
Akihiko jumped up immediately. "Why? What's happened?" He demanded moving quickly towards her.
"I'm sorry, Sensei. I was told not to say anything until you're at his office and he can talk to you himself."
Akihiko felt the knot of black silk that had been tied in his low belly for weeks now suddenly tighten. "What in god's name has he found, Aikawa?" He couldn't help but reach over and grab her shoulders, inadvertently gripping them far more fiercely than he intended. He released his grasp immediately however when he saw Aikawa wince at the force.
Akihiko dropped his hands immediately. "I am so sorry, Aikawa-san, forgive me. It's just…"
Aikawa's chestnut gaze met Akihiko's tormented eyes. The flush of her cheeks darkened. "It's hopeful, Sensei…" she whispered."It's hopeful."
At this Akihiko flew into action. "What in the hell are we standing around here for then, woman? Let's go!" He dashed towards the door, grabbing his shoes and his coat, not even bothering to put them on. Aikawa followed quickly behind him.
There was a brief argument about who would drive. Aikawa was unwilling to trust her author behind the wheel, locked in the throes of emotion as he was. As a result, Akihiko found himself riding in the passenger seat of Aikawa's rental. It was all but impossible for him to ride in a car he wasn't driving, even under normal conditions: he hated being out of control. Now, under these circumstances, the sensation of being strapped in and at the mercy of someone else's navigation was all but unbearable.
"Surely you can offer me more information, Aikawa-san. I mean how hopeful is it?"
The desperate pain and the want in Akihiko's voice nearly broke Aikawa's heart. She reminded herself, however, she hadn't gotten where she was by giving into Usami-san, or anyone for that matter. So she mustered her resolve and said nothing.
Seeing the stubborn set of Aikawa's jaw, Akihiko grew angry. "What is this? You've chosen to honor him over me? How long have I known you, Aikawa? I need for you to tell me! Now!"
Aikawa shot a look at Akihiko, after all she'd done for him his words angered her. "Drop your convoluted, dysfunctional family history baggage, Sensei! This is not about giving you what you want, this is about Misaki! Santo Justino is a professional and knows what he's doing! You need to trust him and after all the waiting you have done these last few weeks, a few more minutes isn not going to kill you!"
Akihiko's pale eyes widened at Aikawa's words. She had always been forceful with him, but never quite so harsh.
Seeing the way the woman was gripping the wheel of the car, Akihiko realized that this was obviously equally hard on her. He dropped his eyes and in his second rare moment of contrition within the last half hour quietly offered, "You're right, Aikawa-san. Please, forgive me."
Aikawa looked at him her lips still drawn in a grim line, but her eyes shone with unshed tears as she nodded.
The remainder of the ride was spent in silence.
Akihiko felt as though he'd aged ten years in the twenty minutes it had taken them to get the investigator's office. Entering the P.I.'s suite, he was shocked by the number of people in it. There were charts and maps all over the walls, half a dozen manned computer monitors up and another half a dozen people talking on their cellphones.
Aikawa nodded at Flynn who was standing off to the side talking with a man over Google earth views of the grounds she had visited earlier in the day. She was describing the layout of the Villinski's office.
Akihiko's eyes flashed as Santo Justino emerged from his back office. "What in the hell is going on here?"
"Please come with me, Mr. Usami," Santo Justino said calmly, indicating his office.
Akihiko and Aikawa followed him. Aikawa closed the door behind them.
The P.I. indicated a chair for Akihiko to sit down in, he remained standing, arms crossed tightly across his chest. "Someone better fucking start talking and fast!"
"We found the man who took your partner, Mr. Usami," Santo Justino said simply.
"What?" Akihiko felt as though a boulder had been dropped on his chest. Tears welled in his eyes and all his anger and his strength left him. He staggered over to the previously ignored chair and sat down hard. As soon as his breath returned to him enough to speak he whispered, "Tell me everything."
Santo Justino began with Aikawa and Flynn's meeting. He told Akihiko of the surgeon, Villinski's estate and its history as well as the man's connection to the chief of police. He pulled out an image of the man Flynn had snapped with a spy camera hidden in brooch, he discussed the most likely ways the man had changed his appearance.
"Why are you here then? Why in the hell haven't you gone there to get Misaki and arrest the fucker who took him?" Akihiko's eyes had gone ice-cold once all the information had been provided.
"Look, Mr. Usami, this is a very complex situation. The man is obviously protected and outside of your drawing of a guy that you saw in a bar and some shitty videotape, we still have nothing really to go on. Plus the Villinski estate is secured in all sorts of ways. And if he still does have Takahashi and your partner is still… alive… just blowing in there will only further endanger him."
Aikawa finally stepped in, seeing that Usami-san was still very close to going off. "Sensei, Flynn-san picked up something that Villinski had touched. Some of Santo Justino-san's men were able to get some prints off of it and they're running them now.
"If they turn up attached to anything illegal, that will make things easier. They should have the results in the next twelve hours
"But if nothing comes up, Flynn has an appointment for surgery in two days. Villinski's off before then for some private research project he's working on he said. Anyway we'll know for sure then where Villinski is as he'll be contained in his private clinic. Santo-Justino-san and his men will have a much better chance of apprehending him there."
"Two days?" Akihiko barked incredulously. "Do you know what can happen in that amount of time? What could have already happened? We need to go now! We need to get this prick and find my Misaki this instant!" The author's usually silky tones were coarse.
"This is exactly why I wanted you here to get the news, Mr. Usami. I don't want you going off half-cocked with some rescuer's complex and making mess of things!" Santo Justino barked back.
"Do you see those people out there? I have tacticians and weapons experts, a hostage negotiator, someone reading the blue prints for the estate. I have mercenaries and have made calls to state police and the few trusted people I know here on the local force that are not corrupt. Every person here right now is working at two-hundred percent capacity for however long it takes now to get a hold of this man Villinski and try and recover your Misaki!"
Santo Justino drew a deep breath. "No offense Mr. Usami, but you're a writer. You live in a world of the imagination. Once this plot starts unfolding there are NO rewrites and I am only hoping to god we can give this story a happy ending. So leave reality to me and let me do my job! That's what you have been paying me for! Right?"
Akihiko drew back at thees words and Aikawa and Santo Justino both watched the rage well up in his eyes. A look of furious anger flickered over Akihiko's face and then disappeared; his usual blank expression restored.
Akihiko cleared his throat. "You're quite right, Mr. Santo Justino. I'm sorry. I am only an author, after all and should allow you to do your job."
Both P.I. and the editor's eyes widened in shock at this response, it was not at all what they had been expecting.
Akihiko cleared his throat again as the two people in the room seemed to be at a loss for words. "If it's not too much trouble, Mr. Santo Justino, would you mind showing me around and explaining to me what everyone is doing? I think it might help me better understand the situation."
Hours later everyone was still working frantically. Akihiko remained calm and had allowed Santo Justino to show him around, explaining, in detail, the job of each person present. After the P.I. had been called away to attend other details, Akihiko continued to circulate, observing silently and asking questions when it didn't seem intrusive.
As the day wore on new people entered the office relieving others. Finally Akihiko approached Aikawa and Augusto who were having a moment of quiet conversation.
"Ah, Mr. Santo Justino, Aikawa-san, If you'll excuse me I think I'll go back to the apartment and catch a few hours of sleep."
Santo Justino, who knew the arduous hours ahead smiled grimly at Akihiko. "I think that would be a wise decision, Mr. Usami. The next forty-eight hours are going to be long ones with all the preparation. But if anything should change or if there's new information, I'll be sure and have someone call you."
"Do you want me to go with you, Usami-sensei?" Aikawa asked her eyes searching the man for clues he was not offering.
"No, I'm fine to get home on my own," Akihiko murmured. "I'll catch a cab. You just come home whenever it suits you, Aikawa-san."
Aikawa stepped closer to Akihiko. He was startled when she reached forward and gently took up the locket with the ashes of Misaki's finger in it with both hands. She held the silvered pendant reverently. "We'll get him back to you. I know it, Sensei. Please trust Augusto and don't do anything rash."
Akihiko noted the jealous flare in Santo Justino's eyes at Aikawa's intimate touch. Had it been under any other circumstances he would have been amused by this. Here, instead however, Akihiko covered Aikawa's hands with his own. Then he took one of her hands and gently brought it to his lips. "I appreciate all you have done Eri-san and now I promise you I am going home. Mr. Santo Justino-san is right: I am only an author after all."
The P.I. and the editor watched Akihiko turn and leave the office.
Santo Justino looked at Aikawa curiously. "Do you believe him?"
Aikawa shrugged as she watched Akihiko disappear out the door. "You have the tails set to follow him from here and the men stationed outside his condo so, we'll find out soon enough I suppose."
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