Page 53 of Soldier, Tailor, Spy
Jake smothered a laugh. Fawn was equal parts him and Ginger. “We’ll be back.” He kissed Ginger’s cheek as he followed his daughter out the door.
“So, where are we going?” Fawn stared up at him, blinking several times as she adjusted to the bright mid-day sun.
“It’s a surprise. A pretty good one and a surprise you’ve earned.” He guided her down the sidewalk to the Silver House, where Duane Silver and Mat Barlow lived while renovating the house.
The three-story, slate-colored house came into view along with the white porch and stairs. The front door was open, affording them a peek inside. There were sawhorses, tools and materials strewn about, yet it was still tidy, all things considered. Jake led Fawn up the stairs before announcing his arrival. “Anyone home?”
Paisley’s burly father ambled over to the door. He wore a pair of work clothes covered in paint and dust, along with a bandana to cover his face while he made repairs. “Right on time. Asher said you’d be arriving shortly.” He glanced down at Fawn and grinned. “Hey, kid. Having a good day?”
Fawn nodded. “Yeah. So far, but I don’t understand why this is my surprise.”
“Hachidori?” Kiyoshi stuck his head around the corner. “Is that you?”
“Uncle!” Fawn pushed past Jake and ran straight for the confused man. At the last second, he opened his arms, catching Jake’s daughter as she leaped toward him. She hugged him tight, not letting go as he chanted something in Japanese.
Jake cleared his throat, stepping into the house and closing the door behind him. “Five minutes, Kiyoshi. We can’t spare anymore.”
The other man nodded. “Understood.”
He stepped aside to where Duane had been working, giving his daughter a chance to see the one person she’d wanted more than anything. As much as they were running a criminal syndicate, they also protected those they cared about. The dichotomy of the situation wasn’t lost on Jake or Asher. As it was, they were trying to figure out a beneficial strategy for all of them.
“So, it’s true then?” Duane lifted his chin in Kiyoshi’s direction.
Jake blew out a breath. “Yeah, it’s true. Damnedest thing. You know they’re criminals, yet they saved my family’s life. I can’t reconcile it yet.”
“Strange how those things work,” Duane muttered. “He hasn’t said a word since he arrived, though he has been helping Mat and me with the house. He eats alone. Reads alone. He knows his father is at Asher’s house, yet he doesn’t request to see him.”
“Curious.” Jake spied a glance at Kiyoshi and Fawn. He promised himself he wouldn’t pay attention to their conversation, because Fawn and Kiyoshi deserved that privacy, but he picked up the fact Kiyoshi apologized. It was a small start.
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think they’re bad people,” Duane said. “I think they were put into a no-win situation. I’ve seen it before in my line of work.”
Jake grunted. “Perhaps. Doesn’t negate what they’ve done, though.”
“I agree,” Paisley’s father stated. “Just expressing the facts.”
When their conversation was over, Kiyoshi hugged Fawn again, then took her hand and brought her back to Jake. The bruising from the fight when he was arrested had almost fully healed, and he also didn’t look like he was ready to kill Jake.
“I need to say something,” Jake said, when Kiyoshi stopped in front of him. “Fawn told us everything. She explained why you killed Oscar.”
Kiyoshi glanced down at Fawn, then back to Jake. “She did?”
Jake chuckled. “Even though she couldn’t see it was you, she read yours and Oscar’s lips and put two and two together.”
“Hachidori,” Kiyoshi whispered, surprised by Jake’s admission. “You knew?”
She looked away from them and nodded. “I was so scared.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I didn’t tell anyone because I’m not supposed to spy on people or their conversations. But, Uncle, I had to tell Daddy. He needed the truth.”
“So brave,” Kiyoshi murmured. “Like your mother and father.”
“Anyway,” Jake muttered. “Thank you. You saved their lives before I could get to them. I don’t understand why your man had a gun drawn on them, but everything else, well, it’s makes sense.”
“I apologize as well,” Kiyoshi said. “Even knowing where we were going, I couldn’t warn Ginger or Fawn. I was afraid and angry. I thought Ginger knew the truth and was helping Oscar.”
Jake let out a bitter laugh. “Not even close. Oscar hurt everyone, including all of us.”
“If I can be of any help to you or your organization, my life is yours to do with as you please,” Kiyoshi said with a slight bow. “I am of service.”
“Might hold you to it,” Jake replied. “Until then, I’m sorry this visit can’t last longer.”
