Monday, January 15th 2024 6:51 AM
It never snowed in Oasis Springs.
Maverick absorbed the sight of the snow dancing in the sky by counting every flake.
47, 48, 49…
Wait… was that the 49th flake? Maverick wasn’t quite sure since his blinks started to evolve into standing naps.
The Olivares were on the next flight out of Oasis Springs after receiving Ken Sato’s midnight call requesting a 7 AM call time. While Maverick felt tried and haggard, Bianca was filled with excitement.
It was go time.
Upon touching down in San Myshuno, the group immediately rushed to the only place they knew to be a safe space for the Olivares and the Satos. The investigators rented out the cheapest room in The Oracle, which still ran them a pretty penny. Maverick showed Bianca how to do a typical pre-interview room sweep which including checking for hidden cameras, two way mirrors and soundproofing. Then, setting up their own tools.
“Y’all ready?” Mauricio asked as he rejoined the couple in their hotel room.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” a sluggish Maverick answered.
Mauricio sat upon the bed and reiterated the plan they established on the plane.
“This is your case. Not mine. I’m going to sit back seat and let y’all own this one.” Mauricio said, making himself comfortable.
At 7 on the dot, Mr. Sato arrived.
He made himself comfortable on the chair. The cameras set up was blanatly obvious.
“Mr. Sato, my father has bestowed this case upon me and my partner in confidence. We recognize how important it is to catch this person to end the stalking and harassments. Can you please tell us about yourself?”
Bianca could tell Kenneth Sato didn’t have the patience for general line of questioning and neither did she.
Before Ken could respond, Bianca interjected, “I did some research into Sato Technologies. I’m impressed with how you built the company from the ground up into the most influential technology company in the world today. Do you think any of these attacks are related to your accomplishments?”
Bianca could feel Maverick tense in his seat but Bianca disregarded it to focus on their client.
Ken couldn’t disguise the smug look on his face from the flattery Bianca sprinkled on him. “It’s a possibility. But even so, that wouldn’t explain why these attacks go after my family.”
“That’s true. We know that identifying what they’re targeting can show us where they’re aiming from. Can you tell us more about the attacks?” Bianca questioned.
“Whoever is doing this calls themselves Shio. It’s a play on words from our family name, Sato. It means salt. It started two years ago. At first it was just minor inconveniences like our dinner reservations being canceled. But it started to grow.
At our last house, we started noticing random doors and windows were being left open when they shouldn’t have been. Then we started getting knocks on our door in the middle of the night. So we checked our security system only to discovered that it had been disabled for weeks. I hired the top security specialists to figure out how that could have happened and their only answer was a hack.
My worry is the safety of my business and my family. Marlene has been pretty shaken up about all this. She’s why I’m here.”
“Speaking of your wife, can you tell us about her? How did you two meet?” Bianca further asked.
“Many moons ago, I had a business event to go to as some shoddy casino in Oasis Springs. And then I was blessed by the presence of a living goddess walking pass me. She looked beautiful and miserable but beautiful none the less.
Then she disappeared. The event was horrible.
I dipped off to go to the bar and got a little wasted but I saw Marlene at the end of the bar, talking to a friend.
I could tell she worked there so I didn’t want to bother her but I also didn’t want to lose a chance to speak to her.
So I approached her. I let her commiserate and then I promised her a life that guarantees she will never need to work ever again. We left that casino together, I kept my promise and now I own that casino.”
Before Bianca could start her next line of questioning, Maverick interjected.
“Beautiful. I didn’t know you owned another business besides your technology company.”
“Well, I have no real interest in the casino. It was an anniversary gift to my wife. I am a stakeholder in many companies. None of them really interest me. They just give me leverage in what I do.”
“What do you do?” Bianca asked.
“…I sell technology.” Ken answered. Was there any other answer to that question?
“Well Mr. Sato, even in all of my research, I didn’t know about any of your other business dealings outside of the tech world. You continue to impress me,” Bianca said. “But how about your personal life? Are there any people who you think may be able to target you like this?”
Ken took a moment to think before answering the question. “Able? No. I can’t think of many people who are able to do some of the things this Shio person has done. But I know there are people who probably want to.
One person, my old friend, Alan. He was my best friend in high school, my best man at my wedding and I was his. I grew up, he never did. Marlene thinks we just grew apart but truthfully, Alan got himself into some trouble and I bust him out of it but that caused me an important business deal.
He never thanked me for paying off that debt of his. I had to kick him out of the company for his foolishness.
Marlene doesn’t even know about that. I’m not sure if his wife knows either but I still love his family as if their my own. It’s not their fault that Alan is such a piece of shit now.“
“Where is Alan now?” Maverick questioned.
“Last I’ve heard, they were having some financial problems and he couldn’t afford to give his only daughter a nice wedding.
I don’t think Alan has enough braincells to hack a security system. But seeing how desperate he’s become, I can imagine him selling any information of mine to the highest bidder.” Ken admitted.
And almost on the dot, an alarm went off on Ken’s phone.
“I have to go,” he said while rising. Mauricio quickly pulled out his own to check the time.
“We still have another hour left.” Mauricio interrupted. The interview was going so well, it couldn’t end just yet.
“No. You have another hour left. I have a meeting to attend.” And as quickly as he came, he went. The three stared at each other dumbfounded at what just happened. Did they even get enough info?
Mauricio made a mental note to talk to Ken at a later date about his expectations from him to conduct a thorough investigation.
“Well, at least we have some time to kill before our interview with Mrs. Sato.” Bianca said. Even though Mauricio was seething, he still smiled at the young woman. He knew he made the right decision inviting her on this case.
miss moodring musings 
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