Contents
5. Portobello
Overview
Sally Shears pulls Kumiko into London’s underworld currents, revealing a Yakuza power struggle and recruiting a data thief, Tick, to tap Roger Swain’s communications. Kumiko, unsettled yet curious, accepts Colin’s guidance to record the house, marking her first active step into the unfolding intrigue around Swain.
Summary
Kumiko wakes in Roger Swain’s ornate London house, speaks briefly with Petal and meets Swain over breakfast. A guest, Sally Shears, brusquely interrupts formalities and offers to take Kumiko out. Kumiko senses Sally’s contained anger but follows her into the winter streets.
In a pub and along Portobello Road’s crowded market, Sally drinks, quizzes Kumiko about her background, and bluntly explains that Kumiko was sent away because a rare Yakuza power struggle makes her a target. Sally insists Kumiko is already involved and must start watching for herself.
Sally seeks “talent” and finds Tick, a limping data thief, in another pub. She hires him to covertly tap Roger Swain’s incoming and outgoing communications to learn who is pressuring him and how the deal is changing, making clear the money is good and urgency high.
Back at Swain’s, Kumiko admits confusion to Colin’s Maas‑Neotek ghost. Colin identifies Sally and Tick as criminals and guides Kumiko to switch her device to voice‑activated recording so they can review household conversations later, drawing Kumiko deeper into the intrigue.
Who Appears
- Kumiko YanakaTeenager under Swain’s protection; led by Sally through Portobello; begins recording the house on Colin’s advice.
- Sally ShearsAbrasive, angry fixer; reveals Yakuza infighting and hires Tick to covertly tap Roger Swain’s communications.
- Roger SwainKumiko’s London host with Yakuza ties; target of Sally’s covert surveillance plan.
- PetalSwain’s associate and housemate; greets Kumiko and serves breakfast.
- TickLimping East End data thief; agrees to tap Swain’s incoming and outgoing traffic for pay.
- Colin (Maas‑Neotek ghost)Kumiko’s AI guide; identifies Sally and Tick as criminals and sets her unit to record.