The Lost Scroll of Fudo Shin by Jon F. Merz Read Free Book Online Page B

would have parked the bike if the Escalade hadn't tried to kill him.
    Upper level.
    He took the steps up to the first level and then caught the elevator to the roof level.  When the door slid open, he stepped out onto the paved rooftop level and glanced around.
    Empty.
    He could hear more sirens in the distance and stepped closer to the railing, looking back over at the city.  A thin tail of smoke curled up into the air and Jimmy knew that was from the explosion.
    "I thought you'd be driving a motorcycle."
    Jimmy turned and found himself facing a raven-haired Asian girl perhaps a few years older than he was.  She was dressed in a black leather jacket and her eyes studied him as if he was a bug specimen.
    Jimmy tried to find his voice and after a moment, managed to stammer out, "I, uh...had some trouble on the way in."
    She pointed at the smoke.  "That kind of trouble?"
    "Yeah."
    She nodded.  "You think you're clean?"
    Jimmy frowned.  He'd had a shower this morning.  Of course, he was clean.  Granted, he'd sweated a little during the whole Escalade thing, but-
    As if reading his mind, the girl sighed.  "I mean, do you have anyone else following you?"
    "I don't think so."
    "Good."  She reached behind her and brought out a small backpack.  "Take this."
    Jimmy took the bag from her and brushed his hand over hers as he did so.  He felt a rush of heat in his face and mumbled a quick, "thanks."
    She must have sensed his discomfort and smiled.  "There's money, passport, and a ticket in there.  Get yourself some stuff in the airport.  The duty-free shop will sell some clothes.  And new shoes.  You've got to look like a legitimate traveler."
    "Are you, uh...coming with me?"
    She smirked.  "Me?  Hell, no.  I've got my own work to do."  She shrugged.  "But I'm sure we'll see each other sooner or later."
    "Oh, good," said Jimmy.  But he hated the way it sounded so eager, like he was a little puppy dog.
    "I'm Jimmy, by the way."
    She laughed.  "I know who you are."  She pointed at the smoke.  "You think they'll looking for you because of that?"
    Jimmy turned and looked back at the city.  The smoke seemed to have dissipated by now.  Probably because the fire engines would have arrived and put out any flames.  "I don't know, I was pretty careful to leave my helmet on, and-" he turned back around.
    But the raven-haired girl had vanished.
    Just like the smoke.

Chapter Five
     
     
    Jimmy ducked down the stairway and opened the backpack.  He fished out the passport first and opened it.  His face stared back at him.  When in the world did Vanessa take this picture?
    Last night while you slept.
    Jimmy frowned.  The voice was back again.  He studied the picture; his eyes were open in it, but he looked strange.  Then he frowned and thought about how his eyelids felt a little sticky when he'd woken up.
    "She taped my eyelids open?"
    His voice echoed down the stairway and Jimmy blanched.  He'd need to keep himself in check otherwise they'd plop him into the loony bin.
    Jimmy shook his head and looked back at the passport, reading his name for the first time.  
    Terrence Livingston?
    “Makes me sound like a nerd.”  Jimmy shut the passport and slid it into his pocket.  The rest of the envelope contained some cash and a note.  
     
    Buy a one-way first class ticket to Tokyo with a layover in Los Angeles. 
     
    Seems easy enough, thought Jimmy.  He hefted his hanbo.  But what was he going to do about the stick?  He didn't think security would be too keen on him waltzing through with a polished piece of wood.
    Look in the bag.
    Jimmy sighed and felt around the backpack.  He took out a handle and a piece of rubber.  What are these for?
    The rubber tip goes on the bottom of the hanbo and the handle atop it.  Once done, it will look like an ordinary cane for someone with a leg injury.
    I don't have a leg injury, thought Jimmy.
    Pretend.  In my day, it was often necessary for operatives to be able to assume