retirement, with his daughter to keep him company back at home.
“Ah, there you are,” he said merrily. “All well? Parsons has reminded me about the stolen cello, and I have made some enquiries already about a replacement for you. I shall look forward to a private recital for one old man!”
Akiko did not answer for a minute or two, and then said, “Tomorrow, Papa, I must go back to my own flat and continue my career. I shall naturally keep in close touch with you whilst you are in London. Peace and quiet, the doctor said, and I know you will find that difficult. But you must be sensible. I presume the faithful Parsons will be at your beck and call, and you will be able to contact me at any time.”
“Tomorrow is another day, my darling,” said Nakamasa. “Now let us eat our delicious dinner.”
And tomorrow, Akiko said to herself, I shall be in touch with Jamie again, and we can be together.
S EVENTEEN
P ARSONS RETURNED TO HIS UNCOMFORTABLE FLAT IN Bayswater, having been given a sizeable handout from Nakamasa for the safe completion of his duties. He had had plenty of time to think about his master plan for making a great deal more money, before Nakamasa gave him the push.
He had a strong feeling that Miss Akiko would finally persuade her father to get rid of him, now that his usefulness was waning. He knew from years of experience how Nakamasa’s daughter had become the old man’s overriding concern, bordering on obsession. Because of a lifelong need for control, and also a deep love for a child who had grown so like her tragic mother, Nakamasa had made sure of monitoring almost all her waking hours. Until, that is, she left Japan to study in London. Parsons had been a vital tool in those earlier years, and as a result had found Nakamasa an easy victim for blackmail, based on what he knew about him.
Now, opening up his damp and dingy quarters, chosen because of its anonymity, safe from prying eyes and unwelcome callers, he unpacked his meagre shopping and took out a sandwich. He put the kettle on the gas ring that served his cooking needs, and sat down to finalise his plan. He made a strong cup of tea in a cracked mug, and stirred in three spoonfuls of sugar. One day soon, he told himself, I shall have a comfortable home and, with luck, a family of my own.
And now to the plan. He listed in his head three easy steps to becoming a millionaire.
One, make a final demand, a lifetime promise never to divulge what he knew and never to ask for more. But would Nakky trust him to keep his promise?
A fresh thought struck him. Why bother with the old threat? It was wearing a bit thin. In a world drowning in information technology, it was unlikely that Akiko would still know nothing about the history of the prisoner-of-war camps in Burma.
Two, he could simply abduct her. No problem there. He’d done it before. Then a straight person-to-person demand to Nakky, with a threat to eliminate his daughter if he didn’t pay up. But he knew the answer to that one. In seconds, before he could move three paces, Nakamasa, in order to save her life, would act swiftly. Every morning, the first thing he put in his pocket was a small but deadly gun. His faithful servant wouldn’t stand a chance. Then, with all his resources and the aid of the police, Nakky would find Akiko in no time.
Three, keep the blackmail anonymous. He would get untraceable messages to Nakamasa saying that unless he paid up a million pounds, his daughter would be eliminated. Nakky’s first move would be to enlist Parsons’s help to find the blackmailer. This he would pretend to do, meanwhile playing him along. At the right time he would name a safe collection point.
Then, with money in the bag, he could release Akiko, and run, fast and far, forever. Foolproof!
He looked at his watch. Time for a pint, and a swift game of cards with some innocent punter in the pub. Then tomorrow, all systems go!
* * *
I N M EADE H OUSE, L OIS AND D EREK WERE
“Ah, there you are,” he said merrily. “All well? Parsons has reminded me about the stolen cello, and I have made some enquiries already about a replacement for you. I shall look forward to a private recital for one old man!”
Akiko did not answer for a minute or two, and then said, “Tomorrow, Papa, I must go back to my own flat and continue my career. I shall naturally keep in close touch with you whilst you are in London. Peace and quiet, the doctor said, and I know you will find that difficult. But you must be sensible. I presume the faithful Parsons will be at your beck and call, and you will be able to contact me at any time.”
“Tomorrow is another day, my darling,” said Nakamasa. “Now let us eat our delicious dinner.”
And tomorrow, Akiko said to herself, I shall be in touch with Jamie again, and we can be together.
S EVENTEEN
P ARSONS RETURNED TO HIS UNCOMFORTABLE FLAT IN Bayswater, having been given a sizeable handout from Nakamasa for the safe completion of his duties. He had had plenty of time to think about his master plan for making a great deal more money, before Nakamasa gave him the push.
He had a strong feeling that Miss Akiko would finally persuade her father to get rid of him, now that his usefulness was waning. He knew from years of experience how Nakamasa’s daughter had become the old man’s overriding concern, bordering on obsession. Because of a lifelong need for control, and also a deep love for a child who had grown so like her tragic mother, Nakamasa had made sure of monitoring almost all her waking hours. Until, that is, she left Japan to study in London. Parsons had been a vital tool in those earlier years, and as a result had found Nakamasa an easy victim for blackmail, based on what he knew about him.
Now, opening up his damp and dingy quarters, chosen because of its anonymity, safe from prying eyes and unwelcome callers, he unpacked his meagre shopping and took out a sandwich. He put the kettle on the gas ring that served his cooking needs, and sat down to finalise his plan. He made a strong cup of tea in a cracked mug, and stirred in three spoonfuls of sugar. One day soon, he told himself, I shall have a comfortable home and, with luck, a family of my own.
And now to the plan. He listed in his head three easy steps to becoming a millionaire.
One, make a final demand, a lifetime promise never to divulge what he knew and never to ask for more. But would Nakky trust him to keep his promise?
A fresh thought struck him. Why bother with the old threat? It was wearing a bit thin. In a world drowning in information technology, it was unlikely that Akiko would still know nothing about the history of the prisoner-of-war camps in Burma.
Two, he could simply abduct her. No problem there. He’d done it before. Then a straight person-to-person demand to Nakky, with a threat to eliminate his daughter if he didn’t pay up. But he knew the answer to that one. In seconds, before he could move three paces, Nakamasa, in order to save her life, would act swiftly. Every morning, the first thing he put in his pocket was a small but deadly gun. His faithful servant wouldn’t stand a chance. Then, with all his resources and the aid of the police, Nakky would find Akiko in no time.
Three, keep the blackmail anonymous. He would get untraceable messages to Nakamasa saying that unless he paid up a million pounds, his daughter would be eliminated. Nakky’s first move would be to enlist Parsons’s help to find the blackmailer. This he would pretend to do, meanwhile playing him along. At the right time he would name a safe collection point.
Then, with money in the bag, he could release Akiko, and run, fast and far, forever. Foolproof!
He looked at his watch. Time for a pint, and a swift game of cards with some innocent punter in the pub. Then tomorrow, all systems go!
* * *
I N M EADE H OUSE, L OIS AND D EREK WERE
Similar Books
