The next room down the hall was smaller, but contained two massage tables. Fukushima turned to Sayomi and said, “You and Laura will now enjoy a massage.” He looked at Jack, smiled, and added, “It is time for us to talk. Only the two of us. I have a private spa that the two of us can use. It will be more relaxing.”

Jack walked with Fukushima to a change room. Fukushima gave an order in Japanese, and Da Khlot, along with two attendants, sat on a bench while Jack and Fukushima stripped completely naked. Jack followed Fukushima’s lead and picked up a face cloth and followed him through another door.

Fukushima’s spine was completely covered in a tattoo that resembled a spinal skeleton. Jack took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. He knew the yakuza had huge memberships. The largest yakuza clan based out of nearby Kobe was reputed to have 39,000 members. What are we doing here? This is insane. Get some conversation from him and get the hell out!

Jack discovered that the next door led to an outdoor pool. The pool, easily large enough to accommodate twenty people, was billowing steam. Hot water, fed from a mineral spring, poured in from an overhang close to the roof. At the opposite end of the pool, a hole covered by a grate allowed water to continue outside into a small stream, where it disappeared into the ground.

Part of the pool was protected by the overhang from the roof, but if one chose, you could also sit in the open. Tall clumps of bamboo, along with wooden screens, provided privacy.

Jack stuck his head out past a screen. He could see the well-manicured grounds. The clusters of bamboo, along with the bonsai trees, made it exotic. The hot springs reappeared a short distance away, revealing its route down the hill with a rise of steamy mist. The stream disappeared around some large boulders into the private honeymoon spa before reappearing farther down the hill and travelling on to the public resort. Normally he would have thought it beautiful. A romantic and tranquil setting, decided Jack, had it not been for the situation they were in.

He followed Fukushima into a small alcove beside the pool, containing a row of six shower heads no higher than Jack’s waist. Small wooden stools were in front of each shower head. Jack followed Fukushima’s example of sitting on a stool and soaping and washing his entire body before entering the pool.

“Is there a Missus Fukushima-san?” asked Jack.

“Yes, she lives with my two sons in Tokyo. Both of my sons are in university there.” Fukushima eyed Jack carefully and said, “You and Laura do not have any children yet?”

“We both want to.”

“I feel more comfortable doing business with a man who has a family. I believe him to be more stable.”

Right, someone you can go after if things go wrong. “Does Lee-san have a family?”

“Yes, also in Tokyo.”

Jack felt the hot water soothe his body. Had he been there with Natasha, it would have been wonderful. Sitting in a mineral spring with a mass murderer who was the head of an organized crime syndicate was much less appealing.

“Are you enjoying it?” asked Fukushima. “It may interest you to know that you are the first Westerner to ever step foot in my private spa.”

“I would enjoy it more,” replied Jack, “if business was out of the way. I have not had access to any communication for over twenty-four hours. There are people who will be concerned, not to mention financial arrangements that need to be made.”

“As far as financial arrangements go, I am a patient man and would expect that such arrangements may take a week or so. The product you are purchasing will be available for you to view within two days. It will be loaded on a ship in Kobe, not far from here. Naturally, you and Laura will be my guests until such time as I have received the first payment.”

“Viewing a ton of heroin makes me nervous,” replied Jack. “I would hate to end up in a Japanese prison, or any prison, for that matter.”

“I would never dishonour myself with your arrest if I was not absolutely certain,” replied Fukushima. “I guarantee your safety. You have my word on that, although I understand that you come from a culture where people lack honour. Should you not want to view the product yourself, you may choose a representative who will be taken to see it. However, I must stress that such a representative would be blindfolded coming and going from where the product is located. We may trust each other, but it is more difficult to always trust one’s employees.”

“Understandable,” replied Jack, “but I must phone some people to start the process.”

“Before you go to bed tonight, such services will be returned to you. Tomorrow, if you and Laura would like to go shopping, or perhaps visit the popular nearby tourist destination of Kyoto, I will gladly arrange for a limousine and driver to take you.”

“Great, so why not return my phone now?” asked Jack.

Fukushima paused, staring at Jack intently for a moment before saying, “On that subject, let me ask you a question. What would you do if you discovered that an employee had been stealing money from you, or perhaps your customers? How would that be handled in your Western culture?”

“If it was my business,” said Jack, assuming the role of the Irish mobster, “I suspect I would handle it the same way as you.” He smiled, using his hand to make a slashing gesture across his throat.

“Exactly,” replied Fukushima. “I spoke to Mister Sato after he interviewed you in Koh Samui. I understand that you are personally familiar with performing such a task.”

Jack shrugged, acting indifferent.

“There is a final test I wish you to perform,” said Fukushima.

“Another test! I have already passed the lie detector. What more could you possibly ask?”

Anger appeared on Fukushima’s face. He was not used to being spoken to so harshly. “For you it will not be difficult,” he said sternly. “I have an employee who works for me at my catering company in Osaka. He has been stealing from us.”

Despite the heat from the mineral springs, Jack felt goosebumps spread across his flesh.

“After work he will be put in a van and brought here. He will arrive at nine o’clock tonight. You will kill him.”

Jack felt stunned as his mind raced, trying to figure out how to respond. “Why should I kill him?” he finally asked.

“You must understand,” said Fukushima, “that we know little about you. Initial inquiries made in Montreal resulted in a severe beating. Further, more discreet inquiries were made. Rumours exist of the … shall we say, magnitude of your success in business and the close ties you have to families in New York. There are many rumours. Some say you are no longer active. Others say you are still living in Montreal.”

Jack smiled and said, “Good, I prefer my enemies to never know exactly where I am.”

“I understand that,” replied Fukushima, “although you must have few enemies.”

“Why would you say that?” asked Jack.

“You do not have a bodyguard. Certainly,” he smiled, “you have Laura. I also have Sayomi-san, but I also ensure I have someone like Khlot-san nearby. His talents are extraordinary.”

“How so?”

“He was taken in by the Khmer Rouge as a child. He is well experienced and is an expert with a knife. He knows a spot on the back of a person’s neck where he can sever the spinal cord in one thrust. Death for some of his victims can be a long time in coming. Now I usually find a more expedient need for his services.”

“Such as?”

“He is useful to have around in some countries where it is difficult to carry guns.”

“I see,” replied Jack.

“I know from your polygraph test that you are personally experienced in these matters, but your personal experience has not become our personal experience.”

“After passing the lie detector, I must say, I feel insulted that you still do not trust me,” said Jack. “I am a Westerner, but I assure you, I am a man of honour.”