ThelunchtimeShinjukucrowdeyedtheeight-carmotorcadeofblackLexussedansastheyturnedoffthebusymaiofthebustlingbusinessdistriddisappearedintoaholeinthesideofafuturistic-lookingbuilding.Theblatedshatter-proofglasswindowsandbullet-proofsidepanelssuggestedonlyohing.Yakuza.TheJapanesewereusedtoseeingmotorcadeslikethisoneallovertown,butthepresidentialauthoritywithwhichtheycruisedthestreetsneverfailedtoinspireawe.MiakahashiwassittinginthebackofthefifthcarwithhisadviserHirayama.Inthefrontsataheavilytattooedbodyguardinablacksuitandthedriver.BothTakahashiandHirayamawereontheircellphoheministerwastalkingpoliticswithsomegoverbureaucratwhilehissaiko-komonwastakingcareofanaltogetherdifferentkindofbusiness.

    “Areyousure?”theadviserHirayamawasaskingsomeoheotherendoftheline.

    “Well,she’sAmeri.HerpassportsayshernameisDianeJaneJoplin.Abouttheageyoumentionedandthereisdefinitelyasoleofsomedescriptioninherluggage.Wedon’tseemayAmerisetravelingaloneanddefinitelyveryfewwithsolesofthatdescriptionintheirluggage.”

    Hirayamacouldbarelybelievehisluceagainthesarioanalysisstructhadbeenrightonthemoney.OheBostonYakuzahadreportedthattheyhadn’tfoundthesoleatJoplin’shouse,Hirayamahadmovedintohighgear.ThesoftwarehadnarrowedtheplacesshewouldgotoNewYork,NewaorTokyo.HehadrushedtoissuenoticestotheYakuza’sinformantsintheairlinesandJapaomstocallhiscellphoneassoonassomeoingherdescriptionotted,withiforty-eighthours.

    “Didyoufindoutwhereshe’sstaying?”

    “Ofcourse,yourinstruswereclear.Shesaidsh