Meanwhile, in Miami, dawn is only beginning to brighten the horizon. Hugo Ramirez is fallen asleep behind the desk in his private office.
The previous evening, one of the men he sent to Japan called him to report that they had found an opportunity and intended to move soon. Since then, Ramirez has been waiting for another call that never came. At some point during the night, exhaustion overcame him.
And now, a thin trail of drool has escaped the corner of his mouth. Some of it is even running down onto the exposed skin of his chest where his pajama top hangs slightly open.
The unpleasant sensation is what finally pulls Ramirez awake. He looks baffled for a beat, completely has no memory of falling asleep there.
"Goddamn it..." he mutters, wiping the drool from his chin. "How long was I out?"
