We saw the mercial that was shot earlier in the day。 It had a timecode running at the bottom of the frame； and it opened with Senator Morton； looking determined； walking over the golf course。
The basic message was that America had lost its economic petitiveness； and that we had to get it back。
〃It's time for all of us to pull together；〃 Morton said； on the monitor。 〃Everyone from our politicians in Washington； to our leaders of business and labor； to our teachers and children； to all of us in our homes。 We need to pay our bills as we go； and cut the government deficit。 We need to increase savings。 To improve our roads and education。 We need a government policy of energy conservation … for our environment； for our children's lungs； and for our global petitiveness。〃
The camera moved close to the senator's face； for his closing remarks。
〃There are some who say that we are entering a new era of global business；〃 he said。 〃They say it no longer matters where panies are located； or where things are made。 That ideas of national economies are old…fashioned and out of date。 To those people； I say … Japan doesn't think so。 Germany doesn't think so。 The most successful countries in the world today maintain strong national policies for energy conservation； for the control of imports； for promotion of exports。 They nourish their industries； protecting them against unfair petition from abroad。 Business and government work together to look after their own people and their jobs。 And those countries are doing better than America； because those economic policies reflect the real world。 Their policies work。 Ours don't。 We do not live in an ideal world； and until we do； America had better face the truth。 We had better build our own brand of hard…nosed economic nationalism。 We had better take care of Americans。 Because nobody else will。
〃I want to make it clear： the industrial giants of Japan and Germany are not the cause of our problems。 Those countries are challenging America with new realities … and it is up to us to face those realities； and meet their economic challenge head on。 If we do so； our great country will enter an era of unparalleled prosperity。 But if we continue as we are； mouthing the ancient platitudes of a free market economy； disaster awaits us。 The choice is ours。 Join me in choosing to meet the new realities … and to make a better economic future for the American people。〃
The screen went blank。
Morton sat back。 〃When does this run？〃
〃It'll start in nine weeks。 Test run in Chicago and the Twin Cities； associated focus groups； any modifications； then the national break in July。〃
〃Long after MicroCon 。 。 。〃
〃Oh； yes。〃
〃Okay； good。 Go with it。〃
Woodson took the tape； and left the room。 Morton turned to us。 〃Well？ What can I do for you？〃
Connor waited until the door had closed。 Then he said； 〃Senator； you can tell us about Cheryl Austin。〃
* * *
There was a pause。 Morton looked at each of us。 A blank expression came over his face。 〃Cheryl Austin？〃
〃Yes； Senator。〃
〃I'm not sure that I know who… 〃
〃Yes； Senator；〃 Connor said。 And he handed Morton a watch。 It was a woman's gold Rolex。
〃Where did you get this？〃 Morton said。 His voice was low now； icy。
A woman knocked on the door。 〃Six minutes； Senator。〃 She closed the door。
〃Where did you get this？〃 he repeated。
〃Don't you know？〃 Connor said。 〃You haven't even looked at the back。 At the inscription。〃
〃Where did yet get this？〃
〃Senator； we'd like you to talk to us about her。〃 He took a glassine bag from his pocket； and set it on the table next to Morton。 It contained a pair of women's black panties。
〃I have nothing to say to you gentlemen；〃 Morton said。 〃Nothing at all。〃
Connor took a videotape from his pocket； and set it next to the senator。 〃This is a tape from one of five different cameras which recorded the incident on the forty…sixth floor。 The tape has been altered； but it was still possible to extract an image that shows who the person with Cheryl Austin was。〃
〃I have nothing to say；〃 Morton said。 〃Tapes can be edited and changed and then changed again。 It doesn't mean anything。 This is all lies and baseless allegation。〃
〃I'm sorry； Senator；〃 Connor said。
Morton stood up and began to pace。 〃I want to impress upon you gentlemen the severity of the charges that you are considering。 Tapes can be altered。 These particular tapes have been in the custody of a Japanese corporation which； it could be argued； has a wish to exert influence over me。 Whatever they may or may not show； I assure you they will not stand up to scrutiny。 The public will clearly see this as an attempt to blacken the name of one of the few Americans willing to speak up against the Japanese threat。 And as far as I am concerned； you two are pawns in the hands of foreign powers。 You don't understand the consequences of your actions。 You are making damaging allegations without proof。 You have no witnesses to anything that may allegedly have happened。 In fact； I would even say… 〃
〃Senator。〃 Connor's voice was soft but insistent。 〃Before you go any farther； and say anything you may regret； would you look down at the studio？ There's somebody there you need to see。〃
〃What is the meaning of this？〃
〃Just look； Senator。 If you would； please。〃
Snorting angrily； Morton strode to the window and looked down at the studio。 I looked too。 I saw the reporters swiveling in their chairs； laughing and joking with each other as they waited to ask questions。 I saw the moderator； adjusting his tie and clipping on his mike。 I saw a workman wiping the shiny sign that said NEWSMAKERS。 And in the corner； standing right where we had told him to stand； I saw a familiar figure with his hands in his pockets； looking up at us。
Eddie Sakamura。
？
Of course Connor had put it all together。 When he opened the door to my living room and saw my daughter sitting on the floor； playing with her Tinkertoys with Eddie Sakamura； he hadn't even blinked。 He just said； 〃Hello； Eddie。 I was wondering how long it'd take you to get here。〃
〃I've been here all day；〃 Eddie said。 He sounded put out。 〃You guys。 Never e here。 I wait and wait。 Have a peanut butter jelly sandwich with Shelly。 You have nice girl； Lieutenant。 Cute girl。〃
〃Eddie is funny；〃 my daughter said。 〃He smokes； Daddy。〃
〃I see that；〃 I said。 I felt slow and stupid。 I was still trying to understand。
My daughter came over and held her arms up。 〃Pick me up； Daddy。〃 I picked her up。
〃Very nice girl；〃 Eddie said。 〃We made a windmill。 See？〃 He spun the spokes of the Tinkertoy。 〃Works。〃
I said； 〃I thought you were dead。〃
〃Me？〃 He laughed。 〃No。 Never dead。 Tanaka dead。 Mess hell out of my car； too。〃 He shrugged。 〃I have bad luck with Ferraris。〃
〃So does Tanaka；〃 Connor said。
I said； 〃Tanaka？〃
Michelle said； 〃Daddy； can I watch Cinderella？〃
〃Not right now；〃 I said。 〃Why was Tanaka in the car？〃
〃Panicky guy；〃 Eddie said。 〃Very nervous guy。 Maybe guilty； too。 Must have got scared； I don't know for sure。〃
Connor said； 〃You and Tanaka took the tapes。〃
〃Yes。 Sure。 Right after。 Ishiguro says to Tanaka： Get the tapes。 So Tanaka gets them。 Sure。 But I know Tanaka； so I go along。 Tanaka takes them to some lab。〃
Connor nodded。 〃And who went to the Imperial Arms？〃
〃I know Ishiguro sends some men； to clean up。 I don't know who。〃
〃And you went to the restaurant。〃
〃Sure； yes。 Then I went to the party。 Rod's party。 No problem。〃
〃And what about the tapes； Eddie？〃
〃I told you。 Tanaka takes them。 I don't know where。 He's gone。 He works for Ishiguro。 For Nakamoto。〃
〃I understand；〃 Connor said。 〃But he didn't take all the tapes； did he。〃
Eddie gave a crooked grin。 〃Hey。〃
〃You kept some？〃
〃No。 Just one。 Just a mistake； you know。 In my pocket。〃 He smiled。
Michelle said； 〃Daddy； can I watch Disney channel？〃
〃Sure；〃 I said。 I put her down。 〃Elaine will help you。〃
My daughter went away。 Connor kept talking to Eddie。 Slowly the sequence of events came out。 Tanaka had gone off with the tapes； and at some point in the evening； apparently realized that one was missing。 He figured it out； Eddie said； and he came back to Eddie's house to collect th