The Tomorrow Heist by Jack Soren Read Free Book Online Page B

Broden wasn’t a pudgy executive stealing from the company coffers, or a politician keeping Umi from getting what she wanted. She knew what she was asking, but there wasn’t any choice. She had no doubt Tatsu had what it would take to do the job, but skilled as she was, she had never faced anyone of this level before. And there was a very good chance she wouldn’t be victorious.
    But at the very least, she’d delay him.
    Umi gave Tatsu her new instructions and ended the call. Almost immediately, she received another call. This one from not quite so far away.
    â€œP LEASE , BE REASONABLE !” A bearded, disheveled man in a dirty lab coat said from the other side of the screen. He was in a lab of some sort though all of the stations behind him were empty. He seemed to be very much alone. Still, he kept looking back over his shoulder as he spoke. “It’s been weeks. You have to let me go!”
    â€œI have to do no such thing, Dr. Reese,” Umi said in perfect English. Though she could speak almost ten languages perfectly, the number she could manage to struggle through was a mystery even to her. Reese was Canadian by birth and spoke English and a hackneyed version of French. He was disappointing in so many ways, Umi thought.
    â€œPlease, just . . . just let me out of here,” Reese said, the tone of his voice revealing his abandonment of hope. “Just let me come up to the surface for a little while. Let me breathe some actual air!”
    â€œIf you didn’t have air, you would have died a long time ago.” And Umi definitely didn’t want that. Not yet, anyway.
    â€œYou know what I mean,” Reese whined, putting his face in his hands and rubbing his eyes until they were even redder than usual.
    â€œWe had an agreement, Dr. Reese. You didn’t deliver on your part of the contract. Why should I deliver on mine? No, you’ll stay where you are. Now if you’ll—­”
    Reese suddenly grabbed the camera and shoved his face up against it.
    â€œIt . . . it keeps watching me,” he hissed, furtively looking around. “When I try to sleep, it sends things to . . . to touch me! Please . . .” Reese trailed off like he’d realized there was no point in continuing. Umi watched a tear track down Reese’s hairy cheek. It was under her orders that Reese was being prevented from sleeping. And despite his deserving the punishment, she was finding the results fascinating.
    She reached out and ended the call, the conversation failing to hold her interest. She took a sip of her tea and thought about which call she should make next. She closed her eyes for a moment as she swallowed.
    It really was the best cup of tea she’d ever had.
    T ATSU K OGA —­ NOW DRES SED in loose-­fitting pajama pants, Converse sneakers, and an oversized hoodie that said “WHAT THE FUKshima” across the front—­sat against the base of a pillar using her duffel bag as a pillow. The white earbuds that snaked out from under her raised hood plugged into her phone, but it was all for show. Her phone’s games and music were silent. She’d learned a long time ago that this was not only the best way to be left alone but also the best way to listen and watch the world around her. It made her invisible and unapproachable, which was best for everyone concerned.
    Her flight had landed at JFK Airport over three hours ago. That was expected. But now, as her connecting flight taxied out onto the runway to take off for Tokyo International Airport, she was still sitting in the passenger waiting area.
    She was posing as just another student traveler waiting for a long-­delayed flight, but in truth she wasn’t booked on any flight yet. Umi’s instructions had been to study the files she had sent to Tatsu’s phone and wait for her to call with Tatsu’s new destination. Tatsu didn’t know where she was going next