Log:Night Marshal Gets Some Names

A List of Questions 2019/10/11 Night Marshal Mechanica 9

Mechanica has arranged for a meetup in Little Tokyo. It's China town adjacent, with the Upper East Side separating the two. Little Toyko's more gentrified in some ways, but it has its own seedy underbellow hiding beneath the high tech veneer.

In particular, she's scheduled time for a meeting on the rooftop of a cyber-club playing heavy industrial music that can be heard even from outside. Thankfully, it's only two stories tall and there's a fire escape to save Night Marshal from climbing too far. Mechanica sure likes rooftops.

Night Marshal climbs up to the roof a couple of minutes early. He walks around, looking for Mechanica.

Mechanica is leaning against the roof access door, arms and legs crossed as her foot moves with the heavy beats of the music. "Ah, Vaquero. There you are," she smiles and pushes off the door as she unfolds herself.

Night Marshal nods. "Sorry for the impromptu meeting. Have a couple pieces of information for you." He walks over closer, so he doesn't have to talk that loudly.

"De nada. My life is full of the unexpected," Mechanica says, though now she's curious. "Mmm, is that so? Spill," she requests with a smile.

Night Marshal takes a deep breath. "There was a murder attempt on the Assistant D.A., who is on the list. She fought off the attacker. And with Detective Carpenter's help, the guy is in custody. I also heard from the detective that someone broke into his apartment as well."

Mechanica gasps, her smile turning into something serious. "That's loco. So this is a hit list?" she asks. She frowns and paces a bit. "Maybe stealing the list accelerated their plans. Mierda...this is my fault. Should have hidden my tracks better. Scrubbed their systems..."

Night Marshal shakes his head, "She was asked to do favors for someone, and supposedly agreed to be willing to do so too quickly. The guy didn't trust her, and tried to kill her."

Mechanica takes a breath and slows her pacing, no longer quite so manic about her mistakes. "Do what we want, you can't live if you refuse?" She stops and squints. "Why did she agree so fast?"

Night Marshal shrugs, "She's a poor actor? Carpenter had told her about the list. She figured out what the guy was there for quickly, but didn't cover it well."

Mechanica sighs. "Claro que si...it's lucky she's alive. Going after her? Bold move. Detective Carpenter might have had the same thing happen if he had been home."

Night Marshal nods slowly. "She apparently contacted him directly, and I reckon he kept her company for the rest of the evening. So...that's why he wasn't home when the person showed up at his home."

Mechanica nods, finally stopping her pacing completely. "He may be visited again later. Same with the others on the list, soon enough."

Night Marshal nods. "One is currently is custody. But it seems like there's more than one assassin type doing this. Can we get names of the ones who might be working for the Triad? I want to have a 'word' with them."

Mechanica opens up a holo-pane and starts scrolling through a list. "I can try to find you some suspected assassins," she offers.

Night Marshal nods. "That'll work. Keep it to local folks."

Mechanica swipes at the screen, causing it to scroll down automatically. She quickly scans the data, then sticks her finger on one and flicks it to the side. Another pane opens up with a profile. "Maybe...Tony Haoran? He's potentially one of Pride's new enforcers. Came to American when he was 15. Trained in martial arts and weapons. Knows his way with a knife. Good at making people talk."

Night Marshal thinks about it. "Seems like a likely suspect. Yeah, he's a good option."

"I can look for more," Mechanica purrs, "Or help find a way for you to talk with this one."

Night Marshal thinks about it. "Give me one more name...and then how to find them both.

Mechanica nods and goes through her lists some more. "Hmmm. Jiang "Johnny" Kai. He may be a good suspect," she flicks up a new pain below Haoran's. "American born. Immigrant parents. Young brother is also in the Triads. He's...more of a gun person, I believe. He's taken out some of their competition amongst the Bratva."

Night Marshal thinks about it. "Could be either are involved. I can start with the first guy, and see where that gets us."

Mechanica nods. "Pride's operations have done a good job of staying underground. But...hmm...these two, I can probably track down."

Night Marshal takes a deep breath. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

Mechanica is so focused on the information, she's forgotten the human element. She looks to him as she executes a script. "Are you okay?"

Night Marshal nods slowly, "I'm okay. I just...well, I'm tired of waiting and watching. It's time to act."

Mechanica nods. An alert suddenly pops up on her screen as her script scans the NSA network. "Hmm. Well, we are in luck. Haoran's enjoying an after hours dinner at a restaurant in Chinatown with some of his pals."

Night Marshal nods. "Perfect. The sooner the better."