Chapter 02

This is the second chapter of the **BANANA FISH** manga.

## Summary

Knowing he will be looked at for the substance he received from the dying man, Ash has to maneuver his way around Golzine and his men as Japanese reporters arrive to interview him.

## Plot

In a somewhat deserted area, two gunshots are heard loud and clear.

Ash glares at the men he fired upon as they beg for their lives to be spared with the promise of never going against him again. Ash decides to spare the two but warns them to stay from the area or else he will not be so merciful the next time they meet. The two teens flee after one more warning. Ash takes the chance to send a warning to the rest of his gang that they do not follow Golzine's orders and only do mutual business with him. However, he looks over to Arthur and tells how he is free to join Golzine if he wishes.

After a subtle play on words exchange, Ash leaves and Arthur tells Wookie that Ash is onto him. Wookie then comments how Ash was sloppy in his gunfire, but Arther corrects him by saying that Ash missed his shots intentionally as he is too good a shot to get the bullets that close to their target and still miss. It's at this that Ash admits it's not possible for him to beat Ash in a fair fight. Wookie questions if he plans to take Ash out and Arthur simply answers that he has to make Ash pay for his fingers.

In a doctor's office, Ash lets himself in and past the secretary despite her warnings the doctor is in the middle of surgery. He takes a seat in the main office just as Dr. Meredith exits from the operating room. Ash jests how well the business of unlicensed abortions is for the doctor, but the older man tells Ash to pick up the medication on his desk and leave after paying. Reminding Ash the medication is only good for minor attacks, he questions Ash's relation to the affected person. Ash changes the topic and presents a small portion of the substance he found in the locket. When asked if he can analyze the substance, Meredith states that it will take time and will cost overtime pay. Ash promises to pay his greed.

At his mansion, Golzine hears Ash's name come up in the conversation. He is told by one of his men that the two teens he had hired had seen Ash with the person who had given him the locket and suspect that Ash may have been given something of theirs. Golzine's personal guard, Marvin, offers to question Ash but Golzine dismisses his offer since it would only make Ash more interested in what was given to him. Golzine then gives the order for the two teens he hired to be killed since he feels they know too much about the situation.

In a morgue, Charlie and Jenkins overlook body brought in but are upset that there is no way to identify who the man was. As they leave the morgue, Jenkins informs Charlie that the Jerry Watts case is ultimately going to be labeled as a suicide case since there was no indication pointing toward foul play. He suddenly remembers the Japanese reporters that are due to arrive. Charlie mentions how he will be meeting them at Rockefeller Center around one o'clock and then will go see Max in prison. He then reveals that Max and his wife are divorcing and are in a custody battle regarding their young son.

At Rockefeller Center, journalist Ibe and his young assistant Eiji are waiting for Charlie to arrive. As they wait, Eiji asks how Ibe knows Max. Ibe explains how his publisher had done an article about the NYPD the previous year and had introduced Ibe and Max to one another. Just then, Charlie arrives but his presence startles the two Japanese men. After Charlie explains who he is and that he is there on behalf of Max, Ibe and Eiji are at ease and properly introduce themselves but ask where Max is only to hear that Max is currently in prison.

Later, at Faulkner Penitentiary, Charlie meets with Max. He informs his friend that he handled everything with Ibe and Eiji. After Max makes a quick jest about Jenkins, Charlie asks Max why he doesn't simply post bail. Max answers that his soon-to-be ex-wife will not give him the money to do so.

Deciding to get to the reason for his visit, Charlie hands Max an article written by a man who makes note of something called Banana Fish. Max is aware of the name of Banana Fish but isn't sure if it is about a person or organization. He does, however, suspect it relates to a certain narcotic route he's heard about. Both men are aware of the drug problem that's happened both overseas and in the states. Max tells how he has seen the effects of this particular drug in person when he tells how one of his fellow soldiers, Griffin Callenreese, had seemingly lost his sanity one night and attacked their comrades. Although Griffin was taken to a hospital, Max unfortunately lost track of him during the confusion of the situation but remembers that Griffin had said the words "Banana Fish" after the attack.

Max provides an article and a profile of a man named Steve Johnson that startles Charlie upon seeing it. He explains his surprise by stating Steve Johnson is dead and he had seen his body in the morgue that very morning.

Back at the police station, Eiji is taking in the sight of everything around him when he and Ibe meet Jenkins and Norris. The two men right away mistake Eiji to be Ibe's son and are surprised to hear that Eiji is a nineteen-year-old college student who just looks younger than he actually is even by Japanese standards. Norris thinks Eiji's youthful appearance will actually be beneficial to them since the gang they're going to see does not trust adults.

Norris explains that the gang is run by a single leader and don't abide by laws other than their own. Jenkins takes over and informs the two that the leader of the gang they're going to see is named Ash; a teenage that has managed to unify numerous gangs in his area seemingly overnight with an ethnic variety of members who loyal serve him.

At Golzine's mansion, Ash questions why he was summoned. When he is accused of taking out a few people, Ash merely smirks and questions if Golzine heard this information from Arthur. Golzine answers "no" but Ash remains unconvinced. As he tries to leave, Ash is halted when Golzine questions him about the man he tried to help. The teen tries to act like he doesn't know who Golzine is talking about, but the mafia boss doesn't buy it. Ash claims that the man only asked for help and, while Golzine still doesn't believe him, seems to accept this answer for now before asking if Ash had been given anything. Ash lies once more and is finally able to leave and therefore doesn't hear Golzine give an order to have his apartment searched.

As Ash is leaving, he mockingly taunts Marvin on the way out and doesn't notice Arthur approach Marvin. The heavy-set guard rants how Golzine's affections for Ash are causing him to be led askew. Arthur points out how Marvin is no different due to his own attraction toward Ash that said teen himself knows of and uses to aggravate Marvin. Arthur also uses Marvin's attraction to Ash against him when he is able to rope Marvin into his revenge scheme by promising Marvin he can do what he wishes to Ash.

At his apartment, Ash is able to tell that someone had gone through his apartment despite Skip's claim that everything looks the same. Ash comments how he is glad to have moved Griffin before this happened since Golzine appears to be riled up. Ash's suspicion is relayed to Golzine when his men inform him they did not find anything at the apartment. With this information, Golzine feels certain that Ash was given something by the man he tried to help and orders Marvin to make Ash confess by any means he wants except kill him or injuring his shooting hand.

Although fully aware of how smart Ash is, Golzine questions why the teen is becoming invested in something he has no information on.

## Appearances

* Frederick Arthur
* Marvin Crosby
* Ash Lynx
* Wookie
* Dino Golzine
* Marvin Crosby
* Charlie Dickinson
* Antonio Jenkins
* Eiji Okumura
* Shunichi Ibe
* Griffin Callenreese
* Max Lobo
* Norris
* Skip