Killing Rain

Kowloon station and called Dox when I arrived. He was already there. We met on the departures level, in front of United Airlines. He was still in his suit, an attaché in each hand.
    He grinned as I walked up to him. “I think this one’s yours,” he said, handing it to me. “Saw it next to a dumpster in front of the Bank of China building as I exited the premises. Unless you meant to throw it away . . .”
    “No, I was just blowing the ballast to chase after Al-Jib. I’m glad to have it back. Traveling without luggage can be conspicuous.”
    “And we all know how much you hate to be conspicuous,” he said, staring at my neck.
    I said, “What?”
    His grin achieved galactic proportions. “Partner, I believe that’s lipstick on your collar. You’ve been a bad boy. And here we are, in the middle of an operation and everything. Next thing I know, you’ll be leaving your cell phone on and trying to hump a katoey into submission and committing similar such indiscretions. If you keep this up, people are going to start suspecting you’re human, and the unpleasant burden of explaining otherwise will fall entirely to me.”
    My hand wandered up to my collar. “I . . . I just . . .”
    “You don’t have to explain. Combat will do that to a man, I know. Bet you didn’t even need the Viagra this time, either.”
    “No, I just thought of Tiara.”
    He laughed. “That’s good, you got me there, man! Damn, you’re always going to have that over me. Hey, you think the Israelites will pay us, after all this?”
    “I’d say they’d better. And then some.”
    “I’m sure Delilah will strenuously advocate our cause. She’s a nice lady.”
    “I don’t know what her position is going to be now. They’re going to ask her a lot of questions.”
    “Well, if things don’t work out for her with her people, as far as I’m concerned she’s always welcome to join our happy band of freelancers. Like I said, we’re the wave of the future. The nation-states of the world are just going to outsource all their defense needs so they can watch more television, you’ll see.”
    I shook my head. “I don’t think Delilah would be comfortable as a freelancer. It’s not who she is.”
    “Well, hopefully she won’t ever have to face that decision. It ain’t a happy moment in a soldier’s life, as you know.”
    “No, it’s not,” I said.
    “Well? Where to, from here?”
    “I’ve got some business in Tokyo. On the way over here, I made a reservation on an Asiana flight that goes through Seoul. It leaves at . . .” I looked at my watch. “Oh-dark-thirty. Two hours.”
    “What about Rio? You still hanging your hat there?”
    “Mostly. I’ll probably head back after Tokyo.”
    “Maybe I’ll come visit you there. Them Brazilian girls . . . man, don’t even get me started.”
    “I try not to.”
    He laughed.
    “Yeah, come on down,” I said. “It would be good to see you. We can go to another adult bar.”
    He laughed again. “I’d like that. I really would.”
    We were quiet for a moment. I said, “What about you? Where are you heading?”
    “Gonna go visit my folks in the States, I think. It’s been a while and I miss them.”
    I nodded, trying to imagine it. I lost my parents so many years earlier that the simple concept of visiting the folks, of visiting anyone, is almost alien. But maybe I could find a way.
    I said, “They’ve got a good son.”
    He beamed. “They do. And I’m lucky to have them, too.” He glanced at his watch. “Got a Cathay Pacific flight that leaves for L.A. at twenty-three thirty-five. So I’d better beat feet.”
    I held out my hand.
    He looked at me and said, “Son, just because I was recently nearly inducted as a new member of the Accidental Katoey Love Association doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to show your feelings for me.”
    Oh God, I thought. But then there I was, hugging the big bastard in the middle of the airport.
    TWENTY-TWO
    I SLEPT like a dead man on the trip to Seoul. There was a five-hour layover, then a short flight to Tokyo.
    I wondered where I should stay. When I was living in the city, I maintained a relationship with several hotels that held a suitcase for me while I was “out of town,” just in case. But those arrangements were out of date now, and I couldn’t be sure the hotels in question would still have my gear. And even if they did, it was possible the relationship had been exposed in the interim. I decided it would be safer to do