despise us, that would be it.’
‘When did this happen?’
‘It wasn’t long after you left Second Division.’
‘Wait. You’re saying Amamiya turned against us that long ago?’
Mochizuki focused on empty space, taking in Mikami’s surprise. ‘Well, I wouldn’t say it happened overnight, because of that one thing. His withdrawal was more gradual. You know how it is when someone’s anger or bitterness continues to grow over time.’
‘You’re right, I suppose.’
‘And the fact that we haven’t arrested the perp, that’s got to factor pretty big in it.’
Was that what it was, after all? Had Amamiya simply become disillusioned with the force for being ineffective – had he run out of patience? If that was the case, Mikami feared he might not be able to make the commissioner’s visit happen. Amamiya’s scepticism had been building for years; regardless of their sincerity, the police would need to demonstrate a similar investment in time and manpower to remedy the situation. The commissioner was scheduled to arrive in a week. That left little time to win Amamiya over, especially if you took into consideration the time he would need to spend in negotiations with the Press Club. Mikami fixed his eyes back on Mochizuki. The question he’d put on hold was on the verge of coming out.
‘What did you mean just now?’
‘Hmm?’
‘Don’t pretend you don’t know. You suggested I had
a good idea
of why Amamiya turned against us.’
‘Same applies to you. Isn’t it time you showed your hand, Mikami?’ Mochizuki responded, his tone sharpening. Until that point, Mikami hadn’t noticed that Mochizuki was getting angry.
‘Showed what hand?’
‘Come on – tell me the real reason you came to see me. You’re not the type to get worked up about a big shot coming down to light some incense.’
He won’t understand.
Mikami grimaced. A visit from the commissioner general. Explaining why it was important in a way that an ex-detective like Mochizuki would understand would be tantamount to admitting he’d become Akama’s guard dog.
Mochizuki leaned forwards. ‘You’re here because you
also
want to ask me about the Koda memo.’
Mikami didn’t know how to respond.
The Koda memo? Also?
Mochizuki was quick to provide the answer. ‘I sent Futawatari packing, and now you’re here to sweet-talk me. No?’
Mikami just stared. He had assumed Mochizuki had beenpoking fun earlier; the words took on a different meaning now.
Stranger things have happened. The reunion was today? I guessed as much.
Shinji Futawatari had been here too. What for? And what was the Koda memo?
There was only one Koda that came to mind. Kazuki Koda, a member of the Home Unit during Six Four.
‘Well? Out with it. What are you up to? The two of you, nosing around, into Six Four. Didn’t you two hate each other. Or . . . what? . . . are you all happy families now you’re camped in Admin?’
‘Just wait a moment,’ Mikami finally managed. ‘What the hell is the Koda memo?’
‘How should I know?’
‘Koda – the Koda that left?’ Mikami was remembering. Kazuki Koda had resigned. Just six months after Six Four. His brain was finally catching up. ‘Why did he leave the force?’
‘Officially, the same reason as me. I don’t know what really happened.’
Personal reasons.
The term was a catch-all; Mikami was starting to get a bad feeling.
‘What’s he doing these days?’
‘He went missing.’
‘Missing?’
‘Yeah. No one knows where he is.’
‘And Futawatari didn’t either?’
‘Looked that way. He was asking if I knew Koda’s address.’
‘So, the Koda memo, are we sure it was something Kazuki Koda wrote?’
‘Like I just said, I’d never heard of it.’
‘But Futawatari seemed to know about it?’
Mochizuki seemed to have come to a realization during the exchange; he stared at Mikami with eyes that had lost their sharpness.
‘You
are
here for something else . . .’
‘That’s what
‘When did this happen?’
‘It wasn’t long after you left Second Division.’
‘Wait. You’re saying Amamiya turned against us that long ago?’
Mochizuki focused on empty space, taking in Mikami’s surprise. ‘Well, I wouldn’t say it happened overnight, because of that one thing. His withdrawal was more gradual. You know how it is when someone’s anger or bitterness continues to grow over time.’
‘You’re right, I suppose.’
‘And the fact that we haven’t arrested the perp, that’s got to factor pretty big in it.’
Was that what it was, after all? Had Amamiya simply become disillusioned with the force for being ineffective – had he run out of patience? If that was the case, Mikami feared he might not be able to make the commissioner’s visit happen. Amamiya’s scepticism had been building for years; regardless of their sincerity, the police would need to demonstrate a similar investment in time and manpower to remedy the situation. The commissioner was scheduled to arrive in a week. That left little time to win Amamiya over, especially if you took into consideration the time he would need to spend in negotiations with the Press Club. Mikami fixed his eyes back on Mochizuki. The question he’d put on hold was on the verge of coming out.
‘What did you mean just now?’
‘Hmm?’
‘Don’t pretend you don’t know. You suggested I had
a good idea
of why Amamiya turned against us.’
‘Same applies to you. Isn’t it time you showed your hand, Mikami?’ Mochizuki responded, his tone sharpening. Until that point, Mikami hadn’t noticed that Mochizuki was getting angry.
‘Showed what hand?’
‘Come on – tell me the real reason you came to see me. You’re not the type to get worked up about a big shot coming down to light some incense.’
He won’t understand.
Mikami grimaced. A visit from the commissioner general. Explaining why it was important in a way that an ex-detective like Mochizuki would understand would be tantamount to admitting he’d become Akama’s guard dog.
Mochizuki leaned forwards. ‘You’re here because you
also
want to ask me about the Koda memo.’
Mikami didn’t know how to respond.
The Koda memo? Also?
Mochizuki was quick to provide the answer. ‘I sent Futawatari packing, and now you’re here to sweet-talk me. No?’
Mikami just stared. He had assumed Mochizuki had beenpoking fun earlier; the words took on a different meaning now.
Stranger things have happened. The reunion was today? I guessed as much.
Shinji Futawatari had been here too. What for? And what was the Koda memo?
There was only one Koda that came to mind. Kazuki Koda, a member of the Home Unit during Six Four.
‘Well? Out with it. What are you up to? The two of you, nosing around, into Six Four. Didn’t you two hate each other. Or . . . what? . . . are you all happy families now you’re camped in Admin?’
‘Just wait a moment,’ Mikami finally managed. ‘What the hell is the Koda memo?’
‘How should I know?’
‘Koda – the Koda that left?’ Mikami was remembering. Kazuki Koda had resigned. Just six months after Six Four. His brain was finally catching up. ‘Why did he leave the force?’
‘Officially, the same reason as me. I don’t know what really happened.’
Personal reasons.
The term was a catch-all; Mikami was starting to get a bad feeling.
‘What’s he doing these days?’
‘He went missing.’
‘Missing?’
‘Yeah. No one knows where he is.’
‘And Futawatari didn’t either?’
‘Looked that way. He was asking if I knew Koda’s address.’
‘So, the Koda memo, are we sure it was something Kazuki Koda wrote?’
‘Like I just said, I’d never heard of it.’
‘But Futawatari seemed to know about it?’
Mochizuki seemed to have come to a realization during the exchange; he stared at Mikami with eyes that had lost their sharpness.
‘You
are
here for something else . . .’
‘That’s what
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