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the bathroom door.
    He twisted the knob and kicked open the door.
    There she was, Miura Sachiko.
    She had probably just gotten out of the shower.
    She'd pulled on some clothes without drying.
    The thin blouse clung to her breasts, showing her nipples.
    She stood there shivering, clutching her bag.
    "Out there."

    Sakamoto gestured with his gun.
    Miura Sachiko started cursing at him.
    "Who the hell are you?! I warn you, I'll really scream."
    The corner of Sakamoto's mouth twisted slightly, but he spoke calmly.
    "Go on, scream all you want. But it'll be the end for both of you."
    "What does that mean? You plan to kill us?"
    Sakamoto shook his head.
    "Our policemen have the place surrounded. If they hear something, they'll come running. If that happens, I'm not going to be able to hold them back. You get my meaning?"
    Sagara opened his mouth to speak.
    But Miura Sachiko cut him off with a shrill voice.
    "How would we know? We're not doing anything, so cut the crap!"
    The television, still on, emitted a series of ecstatic moans.
    Porn videos were running on the hotel cable channel.
    "Listen here."
    Sakamoto lowered his voice.
    "We're after the stuff, not you. Cooperate with us, and I'll do everything I can to get you off. Think about it! This is it! My job is to get the stuff. Anyone buying or selling it, we take them to the station. But I don't need any scores. Get my drift? Now, if the whole squad finds you here, nothing much I can do. Some of the boys are pretty tough. Some of the young ones are just itching to take over for me. I just want you to know that there's not much hope for you if they come up here."
    "That's crap!"
    She railed back.
    "You're full of crap. I know your game. But it won't work with me. Stuff? Give me a break. And just where is it? Huh? I'd like to see it."
    (Damn!)
    Sakamoto clucked his tongue.
    Maybe he had rushed it. Maybe they weren't ready yet for the transaction.

    And yet, if that were the case, why all the secrecy, why go to such lengths?
    Could this really just be about sex?
    The afflicted tended to lose all sex drive, though. It was unlikely that Miura Sachiko was after that.
    So this had to be about something else.
    "Out there!"
    Sakamoto gestured again with his gun.
    Miura Sachiko complied, but very reluctantly.
    She went into the bedroom clutching her bag.
    Her panties and stockings lay on the bathroom floor where she'd dropped them. She hadn't had time to put them back on.
    Sakamoto tried to figure things out.
    What had she been doing in the bathroom?
    Was she freshening up for a romp in bed? Maybe she just felt like a bath?
    He leaned over to examine the panties and stockings. Nothing unusual. He just got a good whiff of her.
    She hadn't dropped anything else.
    Chewing his lower lip, Sakamoto entered the bedroom.
    4
    Miura Sachiko's coat hung from a hook.
    He rifled through the pockets. He turned up a handkerchief.
    "Hand it over."
    Sakamoto wrenched the purse from her hands. She made no effort to resist.
    He opened the bag and dumped the contents on the floor.
    Not a peep out of her.
    Most of the stuff was cosmetics. There was a wallet and a passport. She must have just gotten the passport, not a mark in it. He found the wallet stuffed with bills. All of them were big bills, fifties and hundreds.
    No doubt about it. She was planning to fly the coop. But he hadn't found what he was looking for. Only one key in her key holder, probably for her apartment.

    Sakamoto tossed the bag aside.
    Miura Sachiko sneered at him.
    She looked certain of herself. This didn't sit well with him.
    Sakamoto issued a command.
    "You, Sagara. Off with the clothes. Shoes, too. Toss me the jacket."
    Sagara cast a couple of glances at the woman, as if uncertain. She didn't bat an eye.
    Sagara handed the jacket over with a sigh. He started pulling off his pants.
    A plane ticket turned up in the pocket of his jacket. Singapore Airways bound for Hong Kong. Departure, tomorrow. Passenger's name, Miura Sachiko.
    "I take