Blinking at the face only inches from mine I tried to remain calm resisting the urge to shove her away. She lowered her head onto my chest, her hair smelling of lilac. A soft sob shaking her shoulders as she clung to me.

"They are going to kill me." Her voiced muffled by fabric. "I can't keep doing this. They will kill me."

"Ma'am, I'm not sure I understand what you are talking about."

She fisted her hands in my shirt, looking up at me. "The girls . . . the owner of the agency I manage, he's been making me give the girls uppers and- and I just can't do it anymore. It's killing them I know it is."

Stunned I listened to her admission wondering if this was the real reason Chiba had wanted me here, but the odds of this woman just happening to confess to me. I shook my head slightly wondering if something else was going on. I looked up at the screen slid back and Ioshi entered with a tray of refreshments. He gaze swept us and I suddenly realized what we must look like. She was still laying across me, her head buried in my shoulder. He gave me a smirk as he set the tray down.

"Ms. Norita, are you feeling alright." He asked gently.

She pushed away from me, dabbing at her eyes. "Yes, thank you Ioshi. Work has just been so difficult lately."

She gave me a small smile, but there was a warning in her eyes. I ducked my head sitting up straight and smoothing out the wrinkles in my shirt. For the next several hours Ioshi and I entertained several women that she had invited to join her. I was beginning to wonder why Ioshi had warned me about the women. They were all very polite and pleasant to be around.

I had my back to the screen pouring Ms. Norita some more tea, when I heard it open and Ioshi greet the person. I nearly spilt the tea as warm fingers played along the back of my neck.

"And who, pray tell is this delightful little creature." Her voice was husky and I shivered as she breathed into my ear. The heavy floral scent of her perfume was making me a little light headed. Setting the tea pot down, I turned to her bowing.

"I am Shibata Taketora, ma'am."

She laughed, "Amber darling, you really know how to pick them. He's new here isn't he?"

Ms. Norita nodded smiling. "Just started tonight in fact. He is a cutie isn't he and so well mannered. Ioshi's had it easy tonight with him around."

My cheeks were burning as I moved to clear the dirty dishes from the table. Ioshi winked at me.

"Go ahead and take those to the kitchen, Taketora and get some more tea and cakes."

I nodded thankful that he was letting me escape for the moment. Leaving the dirty dishes with the dishwasher I gathered up what I needed. On my way out I realized the rest of the sections where empty. Ours was the only one that still had guests. There were only a few of the other workers left to clean and tidy up. I didn't have my phone on me and there was no clock, but I knew it had to be getting very late. Taking a deep breath I balanced the tray and slid the screen open.

"There you are." I glanced around the small space. There were three women left. Ms. Norita, a Miss Brown and the newest arrival who's name I hadn't caught. Ioshi was gone.

"We sent Ioshi on an errand." Ms. Norita's smiled. "We would like some more tea please."

I nodded and setting the tray down poured each one of them a new cup. Setting around the small plates of cheese and fruit I looked at each of them in turn as they talked quietly. I had noticed that Ms. Norita only ate melon with brie and Miss Brown didn't seem to like grapes. I'd made each of them their own plates armed with this knowledge.

"Aren't you the observant one." I glanced up at the dark headed woman to see her smiling at me. "I don't know of anyone else here who would have notice such a small detail."

I shook my head, "I am here to make sure that you have a relaxing time. It's my job ma'am."

"Don't be so modest and call me Serena."

"Okay Serena." I stumbled a little over the foreign sounding name and her grin got wider.

"Come sit Taketora, you've been on your feet all evening. You must be exhausted since this is your first day."

I smiled at her as I moved to obey her request. "I'm alright. I'm used to being on my feet a lot."

I hadn't been a detective long enough to have forgotten what it felt like to be on patrol. Long hours spent walking up and down my beat or standing outside the station. No this was relatively easy in comparison. I could see why anyone would want to work here. The pay was good and the atmosphere was upscale and sophisticated. The work itself was easy.

Serena was still smiling as I took my seat and I realized that the other two had grown silent. Serena leaned forward picking up a small bite sized piece of melon.

"Here, open your mouth Taketora."

I reluctantly complied suddenly confused. The overwhelmingly sweet taste of the melon burst in my mouth.

"It's good isn't it."

I nodded swallowing, "Yes thank you."

The next thing I knew they were all three competing to see who could feed me what. They were giggling and generally making a fuss over me. It was disturbing. This was not something that Ioshi had mentioned, not in detail anyway. Ms. Norita gave me a cup of tea which I gratefully took, that last piece of cheese had tasted horrible. I downed it and started to set the cup back down when I noticed something odd. There was a residue in the bottom of the cup and the aftertaste of the tea was particularly bitter. I looked up to see the three of them watching me closely. Something about their manner made my skin crawl.

"Shall I go get something more for you?" I asked, starting to feel more than a little anxious.

"If you'd like please clear the table, we won't need any more refreshments tonight." Ms. Norita informed me.

I stood, quickly gathering the dishes. Where was Ioshi? Hadn't they said they'd sent him on an errand? Surely he should have been back by now. The kitchen was dark as I piled the dishes in the sink. I would wash them once the women had left. I turned to leave the kitchen and had to catch the doorframe as a wave of dizziness overwhelmed me. It struck me what that residue had been.

"Why would they do that?" I asked no one in particular as I staggered for the door that led to the changing room. They had drugged me that much was obvious. What wasn't obvious was their reason. One hand on the wall I took a few wobbly steps. I was quickly loosing feeling in my extremities, my vision blurring.

"Well that didn't take long Amber. Are you sure you didn't give him too much?"

I blinked, how had I ended up on the floor? All I could see was a pair of expensive looking high heeled shoes. My brain didn't want to work properly and it was difficult to keep my eyes open.

"He's not totally out of it yet. He's still fighting it. Go tell Ioshi we are ready." The click of heels against concrete faded for a bit then came back joined by heavier footsteps.

A hand felt my pulse then turned me over. I could just make out Ioshi leaning over me.

"He's out. How much did you give him?"

"Half the regular dose considering how small he is."

"That should be fine." Ioshi said as he dragged me into a sitting position. Dread filled me, I couldn't move, couldn't talk, couldn't do anything to protect myself. I should have been more careful. Kojiro was always telling me I trusted people too quickly. He just didn't understand that I found it easier to trust and be proved wrong than to never trust at all. Ioshi picked me up slinging me over his shoulder.

"Man, he doesn't weigh anything at all."

"He better look at least halfway decent Ioshi or you won't get your commission."

"Don't worry about that. Why do you think I picked him out? He might be small, but he's really well built, looks like he works out fairly regularly too."

I was horrified by their conversation trepidation clawing away at my stomach. It was getting harder and harder to understand what they were saying. I fought the blackness as long as I could but it won in the end.