"You just can't get enough, hmm?"

Rachel looks at the woman. "Oh, I meant Foxy, of course."

"Not much into politics, to be honest, but that sounds pretty cool. This place must be famous then. Havn't found any mentioning of something like that, when I was looking around for places. Must be quite a sight, though, her being chased by her police detail and some... spirits? When does she usually run here? I would love to see that once."

Bobby replied to AM: <<Great. Let's meet back at home and dress for the occasion. My flats likely won't cut it there.>>

Bobby left the Stuffershack and headed for the next bus stop.

I find the most private corner of the office as far as I can from prying eyes and cameras. I take a deep breath and channel the invisibility spell along with the levitation spell with Trouble's help which then augments my efforts with concealment. It feels more discreet than trying to climb to the roof or even going through the building and its security cameras.

@Raven
"Famous? No, this place isn't famous. It's a quiet little corner of Seattle."

Indeed, it does seem relatively tranquil by metroplex standards. The trail around the little lake is insulated from the roads by the surrounding park, so there's hardly any noise from neighborhood traffic.

"Things are calm here, which is how we like them. That showboat Nikola Taul can have the lights and the cameras and the attention. We'd prefer to just keep on keepin' on.

"Corinne usually runs early in the morning, before breakfast. I think she's busy campaigning the rest of the day.

"The spirits don't really chase her. They're faster than that. They usually just pop in and out. Poof! Here, there, just keeping an eye on things, keeping her safe."

~~~

@AM
AM doesn't have any difficulty levitating to the roof.

When she gets there, the door to the roof opens and three workers come out for a cigarette break. There are a couple orks and a big human who is almost the size of an ork. They're dressed in work overalls and look like blue collar workers of some sort. No big deal: the roof is a big place and they're on the opposite side of it from AM.

The free spirit that Trouble noticed earlier sees AM, sees her spells on the astral, and thinks that looks like good fun. The spirit flies over, materializes, and hits AM kinda hard on the shoulder. It's clear the spirit wants to play a game of tag and that AM is now "it".

The workers notice the spirit, but are unclear what's going on because they can't see AM.

I gently "tag" Trouble, and let the cat nimbly run after the spirit. I figure that a spirit playing with a cat is a somewhat unusual visage - but not something to raise concerns. Even if the cat turns out to be a spirit - these are two spirits playing with each other.
I stand motionless for a while to see if the spirit accepts my suggestion, I won't be much fun to play because running around would expose me and my levitation is painfully slow. I reason, mainly to myself.

"That should be more than enough to keep any malcontents away from her. Good for her!"

Rachel gives the cute dog a parting pet.

"You take good care of your lady friend. She has no spirits to protect her, after all."

Then she gets back up.

"Thank you for the nice talk! I can see why you like it here. It's really welcoming."

@Raven
"I like it here," says the old dwarf. "Not too many tall types around to make you feel short..."

This is true. Snohomish has - by far - the lowest share of orks and trolls of any district in the metroplex.

~~~

@AM
AM tags Trouble, and then Trouble tries to tag the free spirit.

Trouble is clever though, and realizes that it's best not to tag the wild spirit at all. As long as it's flying around, it's not interfering with AM's work. So Trouble never quite catches the free spirit, which laughs and seems to delight in its perpetual ability to escape.

The men continue to enjoy their cigarettes while watching the show.

AM is able to reach over the edge of the roof and direct connect to the camera in question.

I enjoyed the distraction, and seized the moment to connect Erika to the universal access port and began working.

With the direct connection, the camera quickly caves to AM's sweet caresses. (2 hits to resist)

Zipping through things in AR, AM finds the relevant window of time. Notably, this camera has not been edited or looped. It retains its original footage.

That said, it's not an up-close view. There is a view of a woman running out of the alley, but the subject is on the far side of the street and running away from the camera. Sprinting, really, with an athlete's ease. The woman is dressed in layers and layers of bulky clothing, like squatters do in the winter. Despite the encumbrance, the woman runs quite quickly.

The woman hangs a right after leaving the alley. Still at a full sprint, the camera catches her jumping into the open side-door of a black Dodge Caravaner that's parked next to the sidewalk. The van then accelerates very quickly and leaves the frame of the camera shortly thereafter.

The Caravaner comes in two primary styles. The first is meant to be a family van for suburbanites. The second is an armored delivery version. The armored model replaces the round bubbly shape with a boxy, angular design and the ability to shrug off anything short of an anti-material rifle, so it's easy to tell them apart.

The black Caravaner in the recording is one of the suburban minivan models. While one might assume that a shadow-type might prefer a war wagon, it seems that in this case they wanted the anonymity of the family-friendly model. The van accelerates almost immediately when the woman jumps in, so it seems that there must have been a separate driver in the vehicle, one who was ready and waiting to exfiltrate the assassin.

On her way back, Rachel sends some information to the others.

<< I have been looking into some options from where to get a good view on CP astrally. There is a park where she seems to do her running workouts, occasionally. Apparantly, she is in a pretty good shape, as her police escort seems to have trouble keeping up with her. Also, she must have quite an escort with multiple spirits and everything. So, definitely has to be done with a lot of care. There are also plenty spots around the shelter, some high up, which might work. >>

Alright, so I think I have proof that the KE locked the wrong person. I doubt their victim is capable of such agility. I made a copy of the video feed and levitated down to the street level, mentally winking at Trouble. "Brilliant!" I think at him.

>>I have the photos, got a black Dodge Caravaner perhaps the assassin wasn't working alone, got a few more seconds of her running very quickly - doubt the person in prison can even run like that. Also, the car moves very fast so my guess is that somebody is driving it.

Once AM shares the video, Tamarind offers <<Decent chance that she had a rigger in the car, for it to take off so quickly after she entered. Could just be someone with good timing and good reactions, but this was professional enough that I'd expect someone jumped in. Also they were relying on the assassin having the agility to not be hurt by the sudden acceleration. Either they practiced, or had a lot of faith in her. One argues a team, the other argues that she is just _that_ good.>>

After a moment she adds <<Not that any of that speculation helps us at all>>

Bobby replied: <<If we can find and interrogate her, we might get a better picture. With the van on record, we should be able to track it's movement until they change vehicles again. I'd expect the car to be stolen and subsequently burned and abandoned. A rigger can tease out high performance even from an unmodified standard consumer vehicle. It might be a good idea to talk to the KE contact again and ask about the car and it's registration. Maybe the assassins made a mistake somewhere.>>

>> Jumped it seems safer than the physical pilot - For the Rigger at least. I hear you, but let us meet Andrew beforehand. The man brings a few guns to Urubia's table so his contribution is likely more covert. He may know our girl.

I say - but I do walk the street to map which other cameras I might need to hack at my earliest convenience.

On her way out of Snohomish, AM finds and hacks a few more traffic cameras. Not all of them have footage going back four months, but two of them do. In each case she sees that the van's licenses plates have morphed to a new value. Presumably the driver maintained this pattern so that tracking them by license plate alone wouldn't be possible.

Then she returns to the house in Bellevue, where everyone gathers before going to visit Andrew.

~~~

<<Sunday Evening - 18:08 - April 9, 2079 - Noodles of Joy, Touristville>>

Touristville is a curious place on Sunday evenings. There's not the wanton debauchery that you get on Friday and Saturday nights when the preppies from Bellevue come to slum it. The sun won't set for a couple hours so there's still plenty of daylight to keep the ghouls at bay. There's even Knight-Errant patrols out and about, as they prefer to work in the daylight.

Noodles of Joy has a large window made of ballistic glass. Andrew is seated at a large, circular table that's right next to the window for all to see. He is a Japanese human of no special size, although he is wearing a very handsome suit from Synergist Business Line. The contrast of the ¥1,500 suit to the rest of the Touristville is notable.

Andrew sits with his back to the wall at a table that could easily accommodate eight people, accepting a steady stream of well-wishers and penitents. Watching for a moment, you see him listen patiently, nodding "yes" or shaking his head "no" as necessary. Some he quietly admonishes while others he quietly comforts. (He is very gentle with a middle-aged woman who is weeping.) He generally does not rise, nor does he invite anyone to sit with him. As usual, he doesn't have any bodyguards with him. The force of his presence is security enough.

You ask for Andrew at the hostess stand. The hostess bows to you and then ushers you to Andrew's table. Other tables have been pulled away from Andrew's so that there is more privacy. His table is covered with at least half a dozen dishes, although none of them have been visibly touched. Andrew seems content to sip from a pot of green tea that's next to him.

"Ah, Green-san!" he says with what passes for a warm tone. He doesn't exactly leap to his feet but he does rise from his chair to greet you.

"Bobby-san," he nods politely to Bobby. "And what's this? New friends? Won't you please make introductions."

(This assumes that either Raven or Tamarind has come along for the visit.)

Tamarind had reluctantly concluded that she should come along and meet this Yakuzza contact. She already had entanglement with the mafia in downtown and really didn't feel that that she needed more high class gangers in her life, but this man did have power that influenced SIS, so he was unavoidable.

She dressed neatly, pulled back her hair, and kept her drones limited to having Beauty perched on her shoulder. (although of course she had more in the van, both to have them available and to protect it against thieves).

Before they went into the restaurant she asked AM and Bobby for a quick coaching session on interacting with the Yakuzza, and told the team "I'll answer questions as needed, but I don't see it as likely that I'll need to say much more. Hopefully we can avoid giving more information to him than is strictly needed. That sort always seem good at finding opportunities for leverage, and this investigation seems like it could give a lot of opportunities for that sort of thing."

===============================

Going into the restaurant, Tamarind let's the team veterans be at the front, and stands back a bit with her eyes down. When he asks for introductions she does step forward, gives what seems an appropriate head bob/shallow bow, and offers "Steesu Pandey. I'm one of the new associates at SIS." Then she steps back again, eyes once again looking down, hopefully removing herself from the conversation.

Once back, I shower and get ready for the meet. I only have a black cheongsam, which seems appropriate but not quite a suit. I add a few crane-like patterns in grey. I use the makeover spell to bring out my eyes, which takes ten minutes. To keep it polite, I ensure we arrive at the meeting a bit early and wait a little bit to be punctual. I greet Andrew with a slight but genuine smile, followed by the 30-degree standing bow to signify that I am happy to see him and, more importantly, acknowledge his superior place in this relationship. We have come to ask for a favor, after all.

"Musai-San," I reply, and then answer his question "Yes, we recruited two colleagues after the recent unfortunate events." By unfortunate events I mean Jawsie's departure which was difficult to accept, but I could also mean Mato's accident, which is also quite an unfortunate, and perhaps traumatic event. I politely introduce the ladies and allow them an opportunity to further introduce themselves.

Bobby nodded to Andrew and gave a subdued " 'sup", leaving the introductions to AM. Though he adds: "Yeah, our new colleagues have added some strong juice to our ranks - both magically and technologically. Always climbing, always getting stronger.

I was given to understand by the Finnigans that Saiki Kiku plays for your team - or at least is a reserve player? We'd like to talk with her, preferably arrange a meeting."

He knew he probably committed another of his typical social fauxpas - but then, that was what he was known for - an uncivilized savage, the jester at the court. So he saw no reason not to lean into that role and move things along.

Andrew sighs a little at Bobby's question.

"Always so direct," he says, shaking his head slightly.

"Come, please be seated." He gestures toward the table.

Andrew goes to his seat and prepares the tea. He lifts the tea kettle with both hands, then tilts it slightly to allow the tea to flow into the cup beneath it. He pours until the cup is about half full. Placing the kettle down, Andrew then gentle whisks the tea to ensure even consistency.

Andrew carefully turns the tea cup counter-clockwise until the front faces AM. He then bows slightly and presents the tea cup to her with both hands.

I feel embarrassed by Bobby's directness. I really don't want yet another person antagonized for me, and he brought me here for etiquette. I am happy that Andrew does not burst into anger, but I know it does not mean we're off the hook; I struggle to imagine him out of control. I sit and observe the man not wanting to speak before I am invited to speak. I am not entirely clueless and identify the gesture as a tea ritual of some sort, but the exact response is lost to me as I am not very knowledgeable about Japanese culture. I hope I don't mess it up - or that Bobby does not do something outrageously rude.
Well... 95% of my personality wishes it, the rational and thoughtful parts anyhow, while 5% wants chaos.

I bow respectfully back at Andrew and accept the teacup with both hands my hands. Following his lead, I first enjoy the heat of the glass briefly, examining it with appreciation before bringing it to my lips in a visible manner and drinking from it. Closing my eyes to appreciate the taste, as I often do when I drink tea. I have a soft spot for tea, after all. Saying , "Thank you, I like this tea... Where is it from?"

Tamarind knows a bit about the Yakuza presence in Seattle, but she doesn't know enough about their culture to even pretend to do the appropriate social dance. But some things don't need detailed knowledge to interpret. When Bobby leads with a question that is nearly an accusation and Andrew comments on the directness, Tamarind looks abashed on his behalf. That will hardly make up for the directness if that is truly a faux pas, but at least it hopefully helps communicate that they are not all here to mob the mobster.

Because Japanese culture is so pervasive, especially in a cosmopolitan, Pacific Rim city like Seattle, you all know the basics.

Japanese culture is known for its emphasis on indirect communication and politeness. This stands in contrast to many Western cultures, like in the UCAS, where directness and assertiveness are often valued. Western people expect to be clear and concise in their communication, and to say what they mean.

In contrast, Japanese culture views directness as impolite and disrespectful, especially when addressing someone of a higher social rank. Instead, Japanese people employ indirect phrases, hints, and body language to convey messages.

AM is familiar enough to know that she is supposed to wipe the tea cup with a paper napkin that's conveniently located next to her. Then she's to pass the cup with both hands to the next person, who receives it the same way and the process repeats itself around the table. As is traditional for the host, Andrew does not drink any himself.

"Please, help yourselves," he says, gesturing to the food on the table, which is enough for six people. "Ramen, udon, soba, yakisoba, sōmen, hiyamugi."

Guests are served first, and sharing is encouraged to promote community. Gratitude is expressed both before and after eating.

I thank Andrew and try to relax and enjoy the meal, engaging in small talk but not in the actual reason for this meal. Communal food is fine; I used to do it all the time in my initiation into Shamanism though I am probably a bit too anal actually to prefer it. I am flattered that Andrew would go out of his way to entertain us. Considering all the other people who may want his attention.

Bobby just followed AM's lead, but just took small portions of food. It wasn't exactly mistrust, but more an instinct to be wary of food given freely. There were just too many mousetraps out in the world...

Tamarind isn't going to turn down free food, and this stuff looks more than decent. She is restrained in how much she takes, both because she's not particularly hungry but also some vague memory that the Japanese may also value restraint.

All this second guessing has her on edge, and it is all she can do not to stroke Beauty for comfort, so after she has eaten a bit she folds her hands in her laps and focuses on being still as a mouse.

None of the food seems poisoned. Once everyone has been served then finally Andrew serves himself. He favors the ramen, which is in a shoyu broth and a soft-boiled, marinated egg.

There is a difference in quality among the dishes, likely due to the proficiencies of the kitchen. The ramen is better than the yakisoba, and the chilled udon is better than the cool yakisoba.

It's good manners to let the host take the lead and initiate the conversation. After a few minutes of conversation about poetry and the changing of the seasons, Andrew finally brings up business.

"I am gratified to find you all in good health," he says. "I would wish to continue to see you in good health." The astral suggests this is true.

"As such, I am concerned about your request. It is a request that may not be compatible with a long and prosperous future."

I sigh. "Thank you for your concern, Musai-San, and we wish you good health and prosperity as well." I commented truthfully and then added "We do not intend to incorporate Kiku's services in our operations. Though, while doing detective stuff, we deduced her involvement in a high-profile crime. This means that the digital paper trail is not handled thoroughly enough. While we pose no threat, we do seek information and are willing to return the favor by making sure that nobody with dangerous intentions follows the same breadcrumb trail as us. Is there a way to facilitate an exchange without risking our health and prosperity?

Andrew considers AM's inquiry. He answers slowly, with carefully measured words.

"When discussing the subject's profession, there are different types of practitioners.

"There are the desperate, who perform to survive. To stay warm, dry, and fed, and to provide for those who depend upon them.

"There are the idealists, those who truly believe in a cause and will do anything to see its plans come to pass. Those willing to do a little evil to do a greater good.

"There are the honorable, who follow a strict code. To never target an innocent, for example. Or to never take pleasure in their work."

He gives a meaningful pause.

"The woman you ask about is none of these." He looks as if he might expound, but then leaves the rest unsaid. Your imagination can fill in the blanks.

"Is there a way to facilitate an exchange without risking your health and prosperity? An exchange, yes. Without risk, no." He gives you a hard look to drive his point across.

Bobby shrugged: "I'll take that risk. Just one question: Should it come to violence and I defend myself... is she considered sacrosanct, so that hurting her, would cause trouble for us with your esteemed organization?"

Andrew nods. "Trouble, yes. And, if I were to make the introduction, it would put me in a very bad light. There would be... ramifications."

It's unclear if he means the ramifications are for you or for him or both.

The woman sounds like a true Übermensch or perhaps a psychopath. I take a few silent moments, trying to process what Andrew tells me - are we at risk for just meeting her? Am I okay with such risks... The legacy of Red Cloud is that the battle is decided before the first shot is fired. We cannot afford to antagonize a professional assassin. She'll find some opportune time and we can't always be alert.


I look at Andrew with concern and sayThe last thing I desire is to put you in a bad light, Musai-San. Do you have any suggestions on how we can minimize the risk of things going sideways?

Andrew gives a long pause as he considers AM's question. He puts down his chopsticks, placing them on a ceramic rest parallel to each other on the right side of his bowl. The thicker ends face the table while the tips are angled upwards by the ceramic rest.

"To meet in the Matrix would negate the risks of an in-person confrontation, but she will never agree to it. She is loathe to sacrifice any advantage she may have."

He thinks of something but hesitates for a moment, as if unsure about the wisdom of it. He picks up his napkin, refolds it, then replaces it in his lap.

"The safest way would be to meet under the banner of our chivalrous organization."

He holds up a finger quickly, lest you run away with the possibilities.

"She is not an associate of the Kanaga-gumi," he explains. Bobby knows this to be the 'chivalrous organization' that controls the north districts, primarily Everett, Snohomish, and Auburn, as well as the Redmond Barrens. "She is a non-traditional asset of another family."

His look is hard to convey the gravity of the request.

"Each family would send emissaries to oversee the proceedings," he says. "Your conversation would not be private. Your manners must be impeccable. And making the arrangements would require certain considerations to the families involved to make it worth their time. It is usually not a price of nuyen, but rather... favors.

"I would encourage you not to enter such a contract lightly."

<<As my grandmother would say, Ay Caramba!>>

<<There is a certain, substantial, cost to making such a meet. With very uncertain gain, I'd think assassins who give up their employers don't see a lot of work, and that those who hire them would be wise to use cut-outs just in case. We might get good intel, we might not, balanced against a cost of future entanglements. Alternative is that on this thread we go back to the mayor and say that we have solid evidence that he was assassinated by someone known to work for this other Yak family. Would she want to know more, of course, but she couldn't say we turned up nothing.>>

<<I'm not saying that I'm dead set against following this trail farther, just that I want us to take a moment and be sure before we plunge down it any farther.>>

The more I think of it, the more I realize this conversation may be more valuable than a meeting. My head is spinning. Impeccable manners is usually something I'd pride myself on, but I doubt these would be the kind of manners Andrew is speaking of. Can I handle myself in the middle of a traditionalist Yakuza proceeding? Can Bobby or Tamarind? What are the chances of coming out of it with a new rivalry, and to what end?


"Can you explain more about these proceedings, and the role of our person of interest in this event?" I ask quietly trying to piece out the puzzle.
When it is appropriate I'll also ask. "Also what do you mean by non-traditional asset?

Bobby replied on com:
<<I agree, meeting under those conditions is out of the question. What we really need is a good image of her. We now are able to field three high level spirits at the same time and we know the area where the assassin is most likely living. A bit of clever spirit search and some time should be enough to locate her - on our terms.

Let's try to avoid incurring favors.>>

"What is the role of your person of interest? To hear what you have to say. Is that not your goal?" he asks, seemingly confused by AM's question.

"The rest would be neutral observers there to maintain the peace. Umpires, if you like. Referees. But, in truth, they will not be that neutral. They would have vested interests of their own."

When AM's next question comes, he quickly waves it away with a swipe of his hand.

"I will not speak of her. I have already been far too liberal over the course of this conversation."

I explained the question of her role."Please forgive me if my questions intrude too much on your organization. I am at peace with not getting all the answers, but I seek to understand the broader social context of such a meeting. You suggest I attend some events and meet with a delicate asset during the said event. Is she coming there to meet me? or will she naturally be there? To risk being too direct - will she expect me to offer her an assassination job at such a meeting? Or will she be informed of the nature of the meeting beforehand? Also, if the conversation is not private, what can I openly say - I'd imagine that tales of her previous jobs are very discreet by nature.

"Perhaps if our woman is going to the event regardless, I can try to accompany Andrew just to have a look." I think to myself almost typing it to the team, but I question my motivation is it an excuse to spend some time with the dangerous man, or a good opportunity for the job?

Andrew stiffens at the series of questions from AM, and his eye visibly twitches when she says "assassination".

He holds his hands up to stop her.

"If I may be efficient, I do not believe this is a prudent undertaking," he says. "Let us leave it here and save ourselves the time and effort involved.

"I cannot stop you from introducing yourselves; I can only recommend against it."

You understand that Andrew is reaching his limit and that your audience with him will soon conclude.

At Andrew's gesture, I stopped talking and did not pursue this any further. "I am sorry for overspeaking Musai-San. I respect your decision to distance yourself from this can of worms. Detective work often requires a careful balance, and I am grateful for a wonderful dinner and the valuable advice you provided us." What can I say? For some reason, talking to a Yakuza assassin excites me a bit too much for comfort; perhaps it is for the best. Unless my colleagues have somewhere to take this conversation, I don't intend to speak about work until the end of dinner.

"Just one question: Can you tell us at least who this other family is that keeps their hands over the woman? Would make it easier not to step on their toes."

Bobby tried to fish for a bit more information that he hoped wasn't too sensitive.

"That would not be prudent," Andrew answers with a clipped tone. Bobby notices Andrew unconsciously massaging the tip of his pinkie which, for the moment, is still intact.

Bobby thinks about what he knows about the yakuza in Seattle, which is a fair amount. If the woman is not associated with the Kanaga-gumi (Andrew's organization) then that leaves the Shotozumi-gumi or the Kenran-kai.

The Kenran-kai are bottom-feeders out of Puyallup. They are populated with the rejects and the cast-offs of other organizations. They are more concerned with scratching a living out of Puyallup through smuggling operations and the like.

The Shotozumi-gumi controls the premier territories in Downtown, Bellevue, and Tacoma. Oyabun Hanzo Shotozumi is a traditionalist and a firm believer in doing things the way the Yakuza have done them for centuries. However, his stance has softened slightly due to the influence of his daughter, Keiko. She worked the shadows for years before she sold out her teammates and returned to the family fold, suggesting either a sudden reconciliation, or the possibility that she was working deep-cover the entire time. She has managed to show her father the wisdom of some unconventional assets, including women and metahumans.

Bobby is willing to bet that the assassin is connected to the Shotozumi-gumi. However, the precise nature of the relationship is unclear. Is Saiki Kiki under their umbrella, or just a freelancer they sometimes employ? And, depending on the answer to that, did she kill Howard Cannon on behalf of the Yakuza or for some other employer?

So I am sitting on a tape of a Yakuza assassin fleeing the crime scene of the most high-profile murder in the city! I met a Yakuza contact, another branch but still... They are all connected. I am respectful and polite, and I eat the fucking noodles and talk about the weather and the cherry blossom and whatnot and it feels like an excruciating foreplay when I am ready to get down to business. Then the time for business comes, and I can't even say the A word? The woman is an assassin and no amount of indirectness is going to make Cannon anymore alive. He did not even ask what we have, he is always so professional about everything...

Professional... that word hits my thick skull... If he is so professional, and I implied that I have evidence of a Yakuza assassination - would he have someone silencing us?

I feel like the awkward teenager I was sixteen years ago all over again. I guess I should praise Iktomi for showing me the great web. This is what I do now whenever things go sideways - but getting myself murdered for over speaking is a new record. Perhaps it is good that we didn't go to the Yak party, they would have silenced us then instead of sharing info.

My dear Iktomi, it was your plan all along... wasn't it?


>>> I think it is time to leave... I blew up this conversation to the high heavens.

<<Yeah, but we got some information at least. And now that you have an image of her, you can in fact use Spirit Search. With a bit of triangulation, we can find her on our own.>>

Bobby replied, following AM's lead once again and finished his meal.

The meal concludes. Andrew maintains a polite façade and doesn't have any outward expressions of anger or frustration. But on the astral there's a tinge of something... a hint of unease, or dismay. Something is eating away at him under the surface.

Andrew stands when you leave, then sits to resume his duties. A line of petitioners formed during the meal. As you exit, the people in line consider you with a mix of frustration for taking so long and respect for dining with Andrew.

Being nearby, you check in on SIS Redmond. It's quiet, and feels strangely hollow now that you've moved most of your personal possessions to Bellevue. It still has a rickety table and mismatched furniture, and a mischievous sprite that messes with the home network, but there's more empty space now than before. It could potentially be repurposed into something, should SIS so choose.

Stopping by the office was a good idea in any case, now that the team was in one place again, so Bobby could explain his idea:
"My working theory is that the Shotozumi-gumi are keeping their hand over the assassin. It would therefore make sense if she spends her downtime in their territory.

We have access to two summoned spirits from AM and Rachel + Trouble, though I don't know if Trouble has the Search power.

If we employ them in a grid of 1km radii, we should be able to find her."

"For what it is worth we can also run matrix searches on the image. Her disguise might be sufficient to foil that, but we can try. Hopefully she doesn't turn out to be related to someone important in the Yakuzza. Then again, how intermarried are they here?"

"I've not really played with them yet, but isn't one of the software subscriptions that Mato has for facial recognition?"

"How do you think I got her name? I've done nothing but matrix searches the whole day, based on the sketch. Though my expertise is limited - feel free to try and find her over the matrix, but make sure you aren't traced yourself. Or rather make sure that you are traced only to a place where we can prepare an ambush - like the stuffer shack I worked from."

Bobby replied

My heart is heavy when I arrive home. Yes, I don't live in Redmond anymore, but no - it is still home where I can be myself, even if it means someone will bomb me or toss a Molotov cocktail at my home.

To Bobby's plans, I confess Trouble does not have the search power. I can summon a watcher spirit, but the last time I tried, was an epic fail. I wink at Raven.

Then I ask Bobby "You want to potentially aggravate the crap out of an assassin of poor behavior and connections with a powerful criminal syndicate? Aren't you worried about making yourself a loose end that needs to be handled? Let us assume you have her attention. What would you ask of her? " I am not strictly complaining about that plan; I am just admiring the show of sass and boldness.

"Honestly? I intend for her to vanish. I'm not easy to kill and all I need is one look at her in person. She doesn't seem to be a mage, so I can take her. As for the syndicate - that is a concern, but only if her body is found. Hers is a dangerous line of work. You don't send killers to kill the killer of your killer. That's a great way to lose more killers."

Bobby replied.

Tamarind hasn't known Bobby long enough to know if his self-confidence is warranted, but she finds it breath-taking either way. In fact, she chooses to do some slow, steady, breaths to keep herself from getting too wound up about it all. Her experiences have taught her to be wary about such attitudes, and she knows that is her issue not Bobby's, but it is still challenging to keep an emotional level keel when he is all but laughing in the face of the fates, karma, Ifni, or whatever might bea a out there.

She decides to let Bobby pursue the assassin angle if he wants. There is not much that she can offer there, and she's inclined to agree with Amy Maka's question about what they might learn from the assassin. And she isn't so much needed at the vet clinic tonight. In fact, their current leads feel like they might be running down, and she wonders about how to create more?

Then she remembers a legal drama that her Mother liked watching. The lead investigator often asked "Who benefits?", usually just before some brilliant insight that moved the plot forward. She doubts she'll get any such brilliant insights, but she does decide to take some time comparing Potter's stated positions with those of the deceased. Maybe it was just Potter's ambition, maybe someone else thought she'd be more controllable or make a more attractive sock pocket .... but maybe there could be a policy angle to it. If there is, that might give them somewhere else to start poking at.

So she makes up some tea, sets up some AR whiteboards, and starts going through first campaign literature, and then keynote speeches, looking to see if there is any change of platform to go with the change of candidate. And once she's decided her opinion then she seeks out what some of the better respected commentators have been saying, and whether any of them have noted a change.