This didn’t translate well. Concerned for Minako’s happiness . . . because I know she’s had a hard time in the past. Mikami had previously suspected that Mizuki knew a side to Minako he didn’t. Despite the circumstances, he felt his emotions spike, hitting his pride as a man rather than as a father or a husband.
‘You went to see Amamiya at home?’ Mikami was slow to nod, disorientated by the sudden change in topic. Minako must have told her about it during their call. ‘What did you want to ask me about? I was only there for half a day, mind.’
‘I need to know when you arrived and when you left.’
‘It was the day after the kidnapping, so 6 January. I got there after midday. I think you were there at the time.’
‘That’s right.’
‘I was there until 9 p.m., when Nanao came in to take my shift. How is she these days, anyway?’
For a long time, Nanao had headed up the women officers’ section in Administration in the Prefectural HQ – she was the only female officer in the prefecture to have been promoted to police inspector.
‘I couldn’t say. I never see her at work.’
‘But you’re both in Administrative Affairs?’
‘Different offices. I did hear she doesn’t laugh so much now that she’s a police inspector.’
‘It must be stressful. It’s not easy, you know, for a woman to carve out a career in the force. Anyway, sorry, what else did you want to ask?’
Mikami chose the most direct of all the questions in his head. ‘Did you notice any arguments or trouble between the Amamiyas and the Home Unit while you were in the house?’
‘What kind of trouble . . .?’
‘It would take too long to go into it now. I went to see Amamiya a couple of days ago, but he wasn’t receptive to what I had to say. I got the impression he was angry with us for something. I’m trying to work out what that something is.’
Mizuki looked at Mikami through narrowed eyes. ‘Well, that does sound odd. You saw him about something press-related?’
‘Like I said, it’s a long story.’
Mizuki chuckled. ‘Still a detective on the inside. Tell me this, tell me that, never revealing your own hand. I’d always thought Admin was more about bartering: you scratch my back and all that . . .’
‘Nice.’ Mikami felt a pang at being called a detective. ‘So come on, how did relations with the Home Unit seem to you?’
‘The Home Unit. That would be Urushibara, Kakinuma . . .’
‘And Koda and Hiyoshi.’
‘Mmm.’ Mizuki folded her arms in a distinctly masculine gesture. ‘I was in a bit of a state myself. You were there, I’m sure you remember. You could hardly breathe it was so tense in there, right up until Amamiya-san had to rush out with the ransom. I doubt anyone could have actually argued during that . . .’
That fitted Mikami’s own impression. ‘What about afterwards? Did you see anything out of the ordinary in the run-up to that night?’
‘Cut out that fierce look. This isn’t an interrogation.’
Mikami grimaced. If Mizuki ever became a suspect in a crime, she’d give even the best detectives a hard time.
‘Sorry. If there is anything you can remember . . .’
‘I can’t . . . I don’t think I saw anything. Did you have anything particular in mind?’
‘Someone from the Home Unit arguing with Amamiya’s wife? Anything like that?’
‘She passed away, you know.’
‘Yeah. I found that out when I went to see him.’
‘I went to her funeral. Nanao had called to tell me about it. I’d only been there for half a day, but I suppose I was on the team looking after her . . . You know, thinking about it now, I can’t remember anyone from the Home Unit being there.’
The shock of this forced Mikami to ask her again. ‘No one? You’re sure?’
‘I think so. But, no, I’m pretty certain there wasn’t any kind of trouble. I can’t think why anyone in the team would have a reason to fight with Toshiko.’
‘Hold on for a second. What about Kakinuma? He wasn’t at the funeral either?’
‘I didn’t see him there, no.’
‘And Urushibara, the chief of the Home Unit?’
‘Well, I didn’t see him. I did have a pretty good look, too. I’d expected he would be there.’
It was hard to digest. Koda had resigned. Hiyoshi was with Forensics. It was feasible enough that they might not have attended. But it was difficult to imagine Kakinuma – a man who had continued to devote himself to the case even after his time in the Home Unit – neglecting to put in an appearance. The same applied to Urushibara. He might have since become a district captain, but it seemed ridiculous that the man who had led the Home Unit would demonstrate such an uncaring attitude. Even putting social graces aside, for an officer of the law it was all but compulsory to attend such ceremonies.
They hadn’t forgotten . . . something had prevented them from going. That had to be the case. Meaning it was true – something was stopping them from crossing Amamiya’s territory.
‘Was anyone else there from the force?’
‘Yes. Matsuoka was there, and the officers from the Investigative Team. A few others.’
‘What was the atmosphere like?’
‘One of mourning. What else could it have been? We failed to bring in the kidnapper.’
‘What about Amamiya himself?’
‘He had his eyes on the ground the whole time. He looked like an empty shell. Like he couldn’t hear any of the condolences people offered.’
‘And flowers, wreaths?’
‘None that I remember. Not from us, at least.’
It was possible Amamiya had refused to accept any. It was normal for a wreath to be delivered bearing the station captain’s name.
‘Ah! But yes,’ Mizuki said, suddenly louder. ‘There was something.’
‘Flowers?’
‘No, no, something out of the ordinary. But it wasn’t anything to do with Toshiko. It was the man with the glasses . . . from Forensics, I think.’
‘Hiyoshi.’
‘That’s him, yes. He was crying.’
‘Crying?’
‘Off in one of the corners.’
Mikami struggled to keep up. She wasn’t talking about the funeral. She was back in Amamiya’s house, fourteen years ago.
‘Why?’
‘I’m not sure. I noticed his head was drooping over the recording equipment, not too long after Amamiya had left. I thought he might have got too tired, maybe fallen asleep, so I went over and looked into his face to check. His eyes were bright red. When I asked what the matter was he just started to cry.’
Mikami felt his neck tense. It was the first solid fact he’d come across. ‘What happened next?’
‘Well, I didn’t know what to say. That was when Koda hurried over; he all but pushed me out of the way. He kept tapping Hiyoshi on the shoulder, saying something into his ear.’
‘What did he say?’
‘I couldn’t hear. It looked like Koda was trying to console him.’
Mikami remembered the scene from the time he’d stepped into Amamiya’s house. Hiyoshi, white as a sheet. Utterly overwhelmed. Did this mean it had been more than just stress?
‘Thanks. I think I’ll go and pay him a visit.’ Mikami drank the rest of his cold tea and got to his feet.
‘Oh, okay. I’m sorry if I wasn’t much—’
‘Give me a call if you remember anything else.’ Mikami handed her a note with his mobile number.
‘About Minako?’
‘Either of the two.’
‘Okay. I think I’ve already told you all I know about—’