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different world. It feels ... real . I guess that level of reality needs billions of dollars to feed it?"

    "Maybe your right Ben, but it's ringing bells in Homeland Security. A lot of this has been built on the quiet, through different holding companies and offshore vehicles. It's taken a while for us to piece it together, and it's hard to believe all this is for one, big game. And another thing. These data centres are spread all over the world - the biggest somewhere in Japan - and they're going to be capturing data and God knows what else about almost every adult American. We don't like it Ben - it doesn't smell right."

    "I'm not sure what you want me to tell you Andrew. I'm a criminologist. I can tell you that they've built a hell of game, and that the bad guys in it are pretty damn realistic. But still - it's just a game. A truly amazing game, but just a game."

    "Y-e-a-h." Morris stretched out the vowels, seemingly reluctant to continue. "That leads me to my last question. How well do you know Kaito Tanaka? Should we be worried about the man?"

    Skinner paused for a second, surprised by the unexpected question, and then broke into a broad smile.  

    "Tanaka? Kaito Tanaka? Don't tell me Homeland has him tagged as a bad guy? Tanaka's smart and very eccentric - the ultimate nerd-made-good. He's enthusiastic, and sure he's a little crazy. But I can't see him as a someone Homeland should be concerned with."

    Morris' face darkened. He pushed forward, the leather squeaking as he moved.

    "Ben. The world knows Tanaka as the WhiteStar guy. An eccentric gaming nerd turned multi-billionaire. Let me tell you how Homeland see him. We've been looking at this guy for two years now. Do you want to know what the combined resources available to Homeland has uncovered?"

    Intrigued and a little disturbed by his friend's ominous tone, Skinner slowly shook his head.  

    "No."

    "Nothing Ben, nothing. Sure - we know Tanaka's background, we know about his wife and daughter, we know about starting his business in a Japanese cafe. We know all the stuff that's in the brochure. But we don't know the man at all. It's like he's managed to hide in plain sight. Everyone knows of Tanaka, and yet no one really understands him, what makes him tick. What about you Ben? He contacted you personally, and you've worked with him for the last eighteen months. What can you tell me about Tanaka?"

    Skinner's brow furrowed.  

    "It's funny Andrew. I've spent eighteen months dealing with the man. I've met him maybe a dozen times in half a dozen different countries. I've spent days in his presence. Yet - when I really think about it - I can't say I know the man at all."

    Morris nodded as if he expected it.

    Skinner continued; "Jesus Andrew, I've build a career understanding people - and turns out I've missed this guy completely. Now - that is interesting."
    #
    5pm Tuesday, Santa Clara County (Minus 29 Hours)

    Three years earlier, on an icy-cold grey winter's morning with the wind howling up the Delaware River, Dr Stanley Kosner decided to leave New Jersey. To leave a career, his wife and some bad memories behind and take up the position of Lead Medical Examiner at the Santa Clara County Coroner's office.  

    It was the second best decision he'd ever made. The first had been the divorce.

    It was late in the afternoon, and the winter sun was starting to set. Kosner was looking forward to calling it a day, since his move to California he'd found his days had slid backward. He got up for a run before the sun rose, and was getting tired by dinner. He was already regretting his early start and long run this morning, and stifled a yawn as he tried to focus.    

    Dr Kosner combed his thick grey hair with the outstretched fingers of his right hand, then hunched forward to read from the ring-bound folder on his polished oak desk. The low drone of the air conditioning vent in the ceiling was the only sound humming softly as Kosner methodically read through the