Chapter 2
Meeting a Future In Law
After almost 24 hours of travelling and trying to find our way around the city of Tokyo, Abe, Jackson, and I finally make it to, what we think is, the location of Dr. Robert Oz's flash drives. When we get out of the small cab we have been jammed into, Abe stretches and looks over at Jackson, who is helping me get the luggage out of the trunk.
"Business or pleasure?"
Jackson and I both look at Abe, confused.
"What?"
Abe chuckles.
"Seventeen hours in airplane seats not suited for children. Two hours trying to hail a cab. Another hour searching through city streets with teens dressed like circus clowns. And did I mention, I haven't been off the African Continent in over a decade? So I am asking, which do we conquer first? Business or pleasure?"
Jackson shakes his head.
"Let's find the address, then you can partake in whatever it is you feel like partaking in ."
I shake my head and rub my eyes, exhausted. As I do Jackson places his hand on the small of my back.
"Are you okay babe?"
I nod and look over at Jackson.
"Yeah, I'm just really tired."
Abe chuckles loudly.
"Travelling in close quarters will do that to you."
Jackson chuckles and nods.
"He's right. But, once we find this address and get the flash drives we will head straight for a hotel, okay?"
I nod and take a deep breath, trying not to let my tiredness over take me.
"Okay."
As we get to the street address Jackson's mother had given us. When we approach the door Jackson knocks, a few moments later a Japanese woman around Elizabeth's age answers the door. When she does Jackson is the first to address her.
"Hello, we are looking for the former residence of Dr. Robert Oz."
The woman looks at Jackson, as if she's seen a ghost.
"Jackson? Jackson Oz?"
Abe and I look at Jackson and then over at the woman. Jackson looks just as confused as we are.
"Yes? Have we met?"
The woman laughs softly
"No, no. I married your father shortly before he was asked to leave Harvard . Please, please come in."
Jackson slowly enters the residence. as he takes my hand, and Abe walks in behind me. As the woman starts to explain how she knew Jackson.
"I'm Minako, I married your father before he left Harvard. I recognize you from a handful of photos your father kept."
Jackson nods and smiles as we enter the small living room.
"I apologize, Minako. I had no idea that my father had got remarried."
She turns towards us and gestures toward the couch.
"Please, sit."
The four of us sit on the couch and the chairs, as she continues.
"We met at Harvard six years ago. I was writing my thesis on trophices interaction and plankton ecology, and I became fascinated with Robert's work on animal evolution. After he was fired from the university, he sunk into a deep depression. I convinced him to continue his work and offered to use my family's money to sustain us. He was, at that time, quite penniless."
Jackson, at this point, is leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
"So you were with him during his uh..."
"During his breakdown? Yes. Love is difficult when you stick with someone during the hard times. But, of course, that is when they need you the most."
Jackson nods as he sits up and places his hand on my knee, smiling lovingly as he looks into my eyes.
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
I blush softly as he says this and smile, lovingly, back at him. Minako waits for a few minutes, letting us enjoy the romantic moment, before speaking to Jackson.
"If you have come now, two years after your father's death, it must be because you need something."
Jackson turns back to Minoke and nods, a worried and somber expression crossing his face.
"A pride of male lions in Africa, their behavior was, uh, troubling. I believe that my father may have additional research that can shed some further light on the lions', um changing behavior."
Minako nods and looks at the three of us, as if she knows exactly what Jackson was asking about.
"So it has begun. The awakening of the animals' cognitive acuity. I would love to give you the rest of your father's works but it is not here. It remains where he conducted his final experiments."
I look at Minako a little confused.
"Where is that?"
"Robert became paranoid. He began hiding his findings. Coding everything, even from me. I finally convinced him that somebody other than himself needed to be in on his genius. But enough about this for one night, I can take you there tomorrow. I'm sure you all must be tired."
Minako stands and smiles at us, as Jackson nods and stands as well.
"Yes, we were actually going to head to a nearby hotel."
Minako shakes her head.
"No, no, you're family. You can stay here if you like."
Jackson looks over at Abe and I.
"What do you guys think?"
Abe is the first to answer.
"Where ever works for me, a bed is a bed, Rafiki."
I shrug.
"If you think it's a good idea. I'm with Abe."
The three of us look over at Minako as she smiles.
"Perfect, I'll show you to your rooms."
Surprisingly Minako has a rather large apartment, three bedrooms and an office. I don't even wanna know how much one of these costs. Jackson and I are quick to get changed and get to bed, being exhausted from the days travel.