Read Honorable Enemies (1994) for Free Online Page B

Liberal Democrats apart."
    Both men remained quiet while the flight attendant chatted with a nearby passenger.
    "The Chukaku-Ha," Steve said at last, "is deeply embarrassed by Japan's political strife and lack of leadership and accountability at the top. They're tired of the bowing-down, hand-wringing image that is symptomatic of Japan's sensitivity about its stature and future."
    "And they have the means to do something about it," Marcus insisted with a sudden frown. "The tactical skills of th e g roup are imaginative and they use mortarlike weapons and timed incendiary devices to augment the flamethrower trucks. These people are receiving clandestine training from some of the sharpest young officers in the Self-Defense Forces."
    "Have the Japanese authorities had any success in stopping the group?"
    Callaway tried to conceal his contempt, but the effort failed. "Are you kidding? The police are afraid of the Chukaku-Ha, and they have a right to be concerned."
    "You mess with the boys," Steve suggested, "and you find yourself at the bottom of Tokyo Bay?"
    "Close. Floating in the bay has more impact. They like to send a visual reminder to those individuals who might be contemplating messing with them."
    "Marcus," Wickham began slowly while his mind shifted to the helicopter attack in Hawaii, "have you received an update from the CIA--about the incident at Pearl Harbor?"
    "I haven't heard a word from your people," Callaway replied while the aircraft inched forward, "but I can tell you the latest from my people."
    Steve suppressed his irritation at the lack of critical communications from the Agency. The unwieldy and inflexible CIA bureaucracy collected data so rapidly that the analyzers had information overload. Situations and events changed so quickly that real-time information occasionally tended to get shuffled aside.
    "We've got over two hundred agents," Callaway said matter-of-factly, "converging on the islands. Our people have been told to get on board with the CIA and find the sonuvabitch who was flying the chopper."
    "Yeah," Wickham said lightly, "I got the same message last night, straight from the head honcho."
    Steve suddenly noticed that the elderly Japanese passenger was staring ata page of his newspaper, but something seemed amiss. Wickham observed that he never turned a page and wondered how slowly did the man read?
    "Marcus," Wickham began while he kept an eye on th e e ccentric-looking man, "I understand that we're going to b e w orking with another specialist from the Criminal Division."
    "That's right." Marcus grinned. "And she is something else, believe me."
    Puzzled by the remark, Steve thought he detected a hint of pride in Callaway's voice. He studied the smiling FBI agent for a few seconds. "She? What do you know about her?"
    Marcus laughed and shook his head. "Her name is Susan Nakamura, and she's a Japanese-American who was born in Oakland. Susan's one of our best agents. She specializes in criminal cases involving Japanese."
    Steve was impressed so far. "Interesting."
    "She sure is," Callaway answered with a chuckle. "Susan is serious minded and intelligent, but in a quiet, almost shy way. She has a dogged determination and the patience of Job--traits which have been noted by all of her supervisors."
    Wickham gave him a quizzical glance. "If she's assigned to the San Francisco office, why is she working on the Pearl Harbor case?"
    "The same reason they assigned me to the case. The director handpicked certain agents who specialize in particular areas."
    Wickham covertly studied the quiet Japanese man across the aisle. "I assume that Susan is familiar with the islands."
    "Hawaii," Marcus confided while the airplane swung onto the runway, "has been Susan's second home since she was a young girl. Her favorite aunt--her father's sister--lived in Honolulu, and Susan spent her summers with her from the time she was a small child until she graduated from college, so she knows the islands like the back of her