Frowning, Jack patted his jacket. There was a small bulge in the inner pocket. He opened his jacket and reached inside, remembering David Spangler’s parting gift as he pulled out a tiny, ribbon-wrapped box. With all the commotion, he’d forgotten about it.
“You’ll have to open that,” the first agent said.
Jack nodded and moved back to the customs table. He tugged the ribbon free. Leave it to David to cause trouble from half a world away. He popped open the tiny ring box.
Inside, resting on its velvet-lined interior, lay a small piece of circuitry. A couple of blue wires stuck out of it.
“What is that?” the agent asked, tweezing it between his fingers.
Jack had no idea, but he knew some explanation was needed. He thought fast. “It…It’s for a repair job. An expensive and critical component. I’m a computer consultant.”
“So you gift-wrapped it?” the man asked, studying the tiny piece of electronics, searching for some threat.
“It’s a joke between—” He struggled to remember the name of the computer scientist helping the anthropologist. “—Professor Nakano and myself.”
The customs officer nodded. “I’ve heard of her. The university’s computer expert. Smart woman. Nobel Prize winner.” He replaced the circuit, snapped the ring box closed, and passed it back. “She taught my nephew.”
Jack shoved the box into his backpack.
Behind him, a loud Portuguese family aimed for the customs station. A large woman was arguing with her husband. Both dragged gigantic suitcases.
The agent glanced at them and sighed in exasperation. “You’re free to go.” He waved Jack off.
Jack zipped his bag and proceeded through the gates into the main terminal. The airport was in a tumult, with masses of travelers leaving. Clearly, the Chinese attack had made everyone nervous. Taiwan was too close for comfort, just south of the Ryukyu chain of islands, of which Okinawa was a part.
Jack’s eyes drifted over the crowd. The terminal was so busy he failed to notice the woman trying to get his attention until she called out his name.
“Mr. Kirkland!”
Jack stumbled to a stop, glancing to his left.
The woman hurried over. She had been waiting at the customs gate. She stopped and held out her hand. “I’m Karen Grace.”
Jack blinked stupidly at her for a second. “The…the professor?” He had not expected her to be so young.
She smiled. “I know you told us you would call once you were settled in your hotel, but…well…” A blush brightened her cheeks. “Miyuki hacked into the airport’s computers and downloaded your itinerary. I figured you could stay at my apartment rather than a hotel. It’ll make things easier.” She began to stammer, clearly realizing she might be stepping over a line. “That is…if you’d like.”
Jack rescued her from further embarrassment. “Thanks. I appreciate the offer. I hate hotels.”
“Good…good…We’ll get a taxi.”
She turned and led the way. Jack watched her. For just a moment as the woman had rushed up to him, Jennifer’s memory had flashed before him. Not that the two women looked anything alike. Except for the blond hair, the professor bore no resemblance to Jennifer. Karen was taller, her hair cropped shorter, her eyes green. She carried herself differently, too. Striding sternly, no sway in her step.
Still, Jack recognized a similar energy coming from this professor. She practically glowed with it, a light that shone past the superficial differences.
“So you’re that astronaut,” Karen said when he caught up to her. “I remember the news stories. The hero. God, I’d love to go up there sometime.”
“I can’t say I enjoyed it much.”
Karen stumbled to a stop. “Oh, God, I’m sorry. The accident. You lost friends up there. What was I thinking?”
“It’s ancient history,” he mumbled, wanting to end the conversation.
She stared up at him with an apologetic grin. “I’m sorry.”
Jack turned the conversation in another direction as they moved off again. “So you’re American?”
“Canadian actually. A visiting professor. I have an apartment near the university…faculty housing.”
“Sounds good. After I clean up, I’d like to get to work as soon as possible.”
“Of course.”
Exiting the terminal, Karen pushed forward through the throng. At the curb, she raised a hand to hail a cab. One zipped to a stop at the curb. Stepping forward, she pulled open the door. “C’mon. I want to get to the bank before it closes.”
Jack ducked inside the small car as Karen spoke rapidly to the driver in Japanese. Then she slid in next to him. “If you want to work this afternoon, I’ll need to collect something from my safe deposit box first.”
“What’s that?”
“The crystal.”
“You have it at the bank?”
As the taxi wove into highway traffic, aiming for the city, she looked at him, studying him. In her eyes, Jack saw her weighing something in her mind. Finally, she said, “You don’t have any tattoos, do you?”
“Why?”
She just stared, waiting for him to answer.
“Okay, I do. I was with the SEALs.”
“Could I see them?”
“Not unless you want me to moon the driver.”
She blushed again.
Jack fought down a grin. He was growing to like this reaction.
“Um, that won’t be necessary,” she mumbled. “How about snake tattoos? Any of those?”
“No. Why?”
She chewed her lower lip, then spoke. “We’ve had some trouble with a group trying to steal the crystal artifact. They bear these snake tattoos on their forearms. That’s why I insisted on meeting you in person. We need to be cautious.”
Jack pushed back his jacket’s sleeves, baring his forearms. “No snakes. Anywhere. I swear.”
She grinned at him, settling back into her seat. “I believe you.”
After a short drive, they exited the highway. Signs for the university were written in both Japanese and English.
Karen leaned forward and again spoke to the driver, who bobbed his head. She pointed at the next corner, to a large Bank of Tokyo sign. The taxi squealed to a halt. “I’ll be right back.” She hopped out.
Jack sat in the steaming heat. With the car stopped, there was not even a breeze through the window to move the air. His thoughts drifted back to the professor. She smelled vaguely of jasmine. Her scent remained in the cab. He could not help smiling. Perhaps this trip wasn’t such a bad idea.