According to the information Jarvis obtained, the highest-ranking officer of the Cabinet Intelligence and Investigation Office stationed in Hawaii was a man named Kazuo Nakajima, personally assigned to Oahu by the Chief Cabinet Secretary ten years ago. Just from his name, it was clear why this man would assist Taro Watanabe and even send a young spy under his command to New York to deceive Alexis. Kazuo Nakajima belonged to the Nakajima family, the parent company of the Watanabe Group, which had evolved into the Fuji Corporation.
This man had established a vast empire on Oahu. While the Intelligence Office's initial plan wasn't to centralize operations so far away from Japan, Hawaii's distance from the mainland necessitated a local commander. Thus, Nakajima was stationed there a decade ago to oversee all undercover operatives in the region.
With the backing of his family's business and the Intelligence Office, Nakajima had significantly expanded his personal ventures. Officially, he was a successful entrepreneur in Hawaii, running a thriving tourism company with over a hundred employees. This company, equipped with sightseeing helicopters, also provided excellent cover for his espionage activities.
Castle's plan was simple yet brutal. After Jarvis forcefully hacked into the Cabinet Intelligence and Investigation Office's confidential database—risking detection by their technicians—to retrieve all information on Nakajima, Castle decided to make an example of him that very night. Nakajima's blood would send a clear warning to Taro Watanabe and the shortsighted operatives of Japan's intelligence office: "Do not mess with me!"
As mentioned before, Ivan and his comrades, who followed the Eastern Orthodox Church, celebrated Christmas on January 7. Thus, Ivan himself would lead the night's operation. Castle also accounted for potential exposure during the mission to capture Nakajima. By discussing plans with Steve and providing a list of all other Japanese operatives deployed across the Hawaiian Islands, Castle ensured that Steve and his team would be preoccupied. This arrangement served two purposes: to hinder Japanese retaliation and to earn Steve's goodwill, should the situation escalate publicly.
Crucially, Nakajima was only a green card holder, not a U.S. citizen. The U.S., with its military presence in Japan, would hardly be concerned about the death of a foreign national, especially one from Japan. As long as no Americans were involved, the consequences would be minimal.
Thus, on this Christmas Eve, the night would not only be peaceful—it would also become a night of murder.
As dusk settled, a lively Christmas party was underway on the lawn of Robin Masters' seaside estate. Castle was chatting with Neil and Mozzie, who had spent the afternoon at the beach. Neil's girlfriend Kate stood nearby, quietly talking with a young woman they had recently met, while a chubby man, ever the recluse, enthusiastically demonstrated his barbecuing skills to Alexis. He bragged about the many grilling techniques he had learned online, determined to impress everyone with his cooking.
Yet amidst the festive atmosphere, a dozen burly Russians had disappeared, including Ivan himself, who had quietly left the estate with two teams of operatives. Despite their absence, the party continued, buoyed by the holiday spirit. Mozzie, the eternal bachelor, had even charmed a dark-skinned beauty at Waikiki Beach earlier that afternoon and was now openly flirting with her on the beach, oblivious to the world around him.
Where was Ivan? He was leading his team, under Jarvis' guidance, to capture Kazuo Nakajima. Nakajima was scheduled to attend a Christmas dinner hosted by Governor Jamison that evening. Castle cared little for propriety or whether abducting Nakajima at such an event would be inappropriate. Steve and his task force were too busy pursuing leads provided by Castle on other islands in Hawaii. According to Jarvis, Steve and Danny, fueled by Danny's frustration at missing Christmas Eve with his daughter, had gone to Maui. Meanwhile, Captain Kelly and Officer Kono Kalakaua were dispatched to the Big Island. Divided into two groups, they led Hawaiian police officers to capture as many Japanese operatives as possible before they could scatter and hide.
What would happen to the captured operatives? Whether the U.S. would unleash diplomatic outrage at Japan or take other actions was irrelevant to Steve's team. Their mission was solely to ensure Hawaii's safety. Political wrangling was a matter for the politicians back in Washington. Steve knew that once they had these operatives in custody, neither Governor Jamison nor the shrewd Washington politicians would let Japan off easily.
Seizing this golden opportunity, Castle sent Ivan and eleven ex-Soviet special forces operatives to capture Nakajima. They ambushed Nakajima as he was en route to Governor Jamison's Christmas dinner. Confident in his well-concealed identity, Nakajima had only a driver for protection. Unbeknownst to him, Castle, not Steve's task force, was the one targeting him.
The operation went smoothly. When Nakajima's driver—who was also a covert bodyguard from Japan's Cabinet Intelligence Office—attempted to resist, Ivan shot him in the head without hesitation. The body was loaded into their vehicle, and specialists from the "cleaner" team would ensure no traces were left behind.
When Nakajima regained consciousness, it was late on the evening of December 24. The Christmas party at Robin Masters' estate had concluded, and Beckett, knowing what Castle intended, had quietly retired to her room. She had said nothing to stop him. After all, Nakajima was not a U.S. citizen but a Japanese operative who had dared to target Castle's daughter. Beckett, with her strong sense of justice, understood that Castle's retaliation was not only warranted but necessary to prevent future threats.
Tied to a chair, Nakajima opened his eyes to see Castle standing before him. Recognizing Castle immediately, his face paled. This man wasn't just the New York writer whose daughter had been kidnapped—he was the one who had stormed the Pearl City safe house within hours to rescue her. Still, Nakajima clung to a shred of hope that his identity as the Cabinet Intelligence Office's chief in Hawaii remained a secret.
Castle shattered that hope with chilling precision: "Kazuo Nakajima, commander of Japan's Cabinet Intelligence Office in Hawaii... Am I wrong?"
Nakajima's face twisted in terror. Though his mouth was sealed shut, his eyes revealed his panic. He now understood he had provoked someone he could never afford to cross.
(End of Chapter)
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