Barry Eisler - The Last Assassin

She nodded and walked in. Soft techno music played from unseen speakers and the air smelled faintly of cigar smoke. She checked the drape of the security guy's suit as she went by. She saw no telltale bulges, but his right side was facing away from her and she couldn't be sure. She'd try for another look later.

This was the small room she'd seen in the floor plans. The design was minimalist, just dark, wood-paneled walls, a leather-wrapped island in the center, and a leather-covered bench to one side. To the left was a pair of large swinging doors, which from the plans she knew led to the main room. Behind the island was another door, the one that led to what they had guessed was an office. To the right, the stairs down to the restrooms and, presumably, the utility room.

Two more men stood off to the right. One was another serious-looking guy she made as security, and there it was, yes, the bulge that was no cell phone at his hip under the jacket. The other guy was as soft-looking as the two out front. Probably another valet, she thought. When a member is ready to leave, this guy runs out for the car, and one of the two outside comes in. They rotate. No one's kept waiting.

Two quite stunning Japanese women stood behind the island. Both were dressed exquisitely in gold lame gowns. Their makeup was perfect, and their long, lustrous hair was set in elaborate chignons. They looked classy, sophisticated, and very, very sexy.

Delilah walked up and smiled a little uncertainly. 'Pardonnez-moi,' she said. 'Parlez-vous français?'

The women looked at each other, then back to Delilah. No, they didn't speak French.

'Ah, this is Whispers, yes?' she asked in heavily accented English.

The hostesses nodded. One of them said, with a Japanese accent, 'Whispers, yes.'

Okay, their English didn't seem too much better than their French. Delilah said, 'I am here for… a job. Working here.'

The woman who had spoken a moment earlier said, 'Mmm, one minute, please.' She picked up a phone and spoke a few words of Japanese, then hung up. 'Please,' she said, gesturing to the bench. 'Just a minute.'

Delilah thanked her and sat. She glanced again at the first security guy, but his right side was still facing away from her. Well, the other guy was carrying, it was safe to assume they both were.

While she waited, she heard a soft buzzer. She watched the women behind the island. They looked down, presumably at a video screen, then nodded to the first security guy, who nodded back and opened the door. Two fiftyish Japanese men wearing cashmere overcoats walked in. The women came out from behind the island and bowed in welcome. One of the women took the coats and brought them into the room behind the island; the other escorted the men into the main area. A few moments later the women had reassembled in their original positions.

So the security guy didn't have visual access to the vestibule outside. The hostesses took care of that, and he took his cues from them. Okay.

A minute later, another Japanese woman came through the door on the other side of the island. This one was older – late forties or fifties. She was a handsome woman, and looked at home in a black Chanel suit that, while certainly elegant, served to identify her, along with her age and bearing, as management rather than talent.

Delilah stood as the woman approached. 'May I help you?' the woman asked in English.

'Yes,' Delilah said, laying on the Parisian accent. 'I would like to apply for a job.'

The woman nodded and looked Delilah up and down. Delilah could tell the woman approved of what she saw.

'How did you hear about us?' the woman asked.

'Hear…'

'About Whispers. This club. How did you learn about us?'

Delilah paused as though to translate the words, then said, 'Ah, I met a nice woman in Paris. Valerie. She… tells me about Whispers.'

The woman smiled and nodded. 'Ah, Val. She was very popular here. How is she?'

'She is very well, I think.'

'Do you live in Paris? Or…'

'Yes, Paris.'

'Then you're just visiting Tokyo.'

' Oui . Yes, visiting.'

The woman nodded again as though considering. Then she said, 'Our membership is exclusive. Men of unusual wealth and taste. Powerful men. Do you think you could entertain such men? Know how to… please them?'

Delilah paused again as though having difficulty with the English, then said, 'I like men.'

The woman laughed. 'And I expect they like you. But, forgive me, your English is not very good, is it?'

Delilah smiled a little sheepishly, as though the woman had just exposed a secret. 'Non, but I am fast learning…'

The woman laughed again. ''You'll have to, and some Japanese, too. But first things first. Mr Kuro is the person you need to speak with, and he's not here tonight. But he will be tomorrow. Can you come back then?'

Because it was consistent with her role, Delilah permitted herself a moment of satisfaction. 'Come back tomorrow?' she asked.

'Yes.'

'Yes. What time?'

'The same time as now. I don't know when he'll be free, and you might have to wait for a while.'

'I can wait.'

'Good. And what is your name?'

'I am called Laure.'

'Well, Laure, it's very good to meet you. You can call me Kyoko.'

'Enchantée,' Delilah said, shaking the woman's hand. Then she added, 'Would it be all right to… may I see? The club?'

Kyoko smiled and looked her over again. 'I don't see any problem with that. You'll certainly look right at home.'

She took Delilah by the arm and escorted her through the swinging doors. Delilah noted that they swung in both directions, no knobs, no locks.

The room beyond was a large rectangle built on three levels. At the lowest level, in the center, was a freestanding bar. One step up, surrounding the bar and facing it, were four long rows of built-in leather-covered benches. The backs of the benches rose to the floor of the room's third level, where Delilah now stood. A dozen men in suits and twice that number of drop-dead women in equally drop-dead clothes were seated along the rows around the bar, and the techno music Delilah heard earlier now mingled with the sounds of laughter and conversation. Several of the men looked up at Delilah, and she realized this was part of the purpose of the layout, to let the club's members leisurely appraise its hostesses. In fact, she noticed that the lighting, too, was designed for the pleasure of the patrons: the seating areas were illuminated only indirectly, and were therefore private, while this level, which was open to foot traffic, was lit by a series of elegant hanging lights.

Along the wall opposite the doors they had just come through were a half dozen booths. These, too, were softly lit and had the feel of alcoves. A few of them were occupied, again by prosperous-looking men and gorgeous women of various ethnicities. Several Japanese women, attractive in their own right but less fabulously attired than the hostesses, moved about the room, bringing snacks, freshening drinks, and otherwise ensuring that the members were well provided for.

At one end of the booths was a door. Over it, a lighted green sign signifying that this was one of the two emergency exits. She would have liked a closer look, but sensed that would be overstaying her welcome.

'It's beautiful,' Delilah said.

Kyoko looked at her. 'You think you would like it here?'

Delilah nodded.' 'Certainement. I'm sure I would.'

Kyoko smiled and walked her back to the foyer. They stopped outside the front doors.

'Then we'll see you at the same time tomorrow night?' Kyoko asked.

Delilah nodded. 'Yes. And thank you.'

Kyoko bowed in acknowledgment and went back to her office.

Delilah turned to the women behind the island. 'Ah… the ladies' room?' she said.