Still . . .
‘It’ll be fine. That’s the reason I’m going to call around the papers first. I’ll tell them about the new services on the phone, and you can remain ambiguous about it during the meeting. Just say something like, “We will continue to improve on the work we do.” Akama should forgive that much. If by some chance he does flare up, just tell him it was an empty promise.’
‘An empty promise?’
Was he suggesting they make the statement but do nothing to follow it up?
‘Shirota told me he thought Akama would let it pass.’
He’d been smart enough to get Shirota on his side. Having to prostrate himself before Akama had taken its toll. Fearing he’d lost Akama’s confidence, he had taken out insurance. Either that, or he was simply planning ahead. Akama would sooner or later return to Tokyo, but Shirota was a born-and-bred local and would remain a key figure in Prefecture D until the day he retired.
‘All we need to do is survive the meeting. Even if we can’t get away with doing nothing, we’ll only be committing to a verbal promise and, as for the new services, well, we can just add them slowly, bit by bit.’
Mikami didn’t see the point in responding. For yet another night, he was sitting at the same table as Ishii. He experienced a tide of self-derision, weaving its way up through layers of anger.
‘So that’s what we’re doing. I’m counting on you, Mikami.’
There was no response.
‘Mikami, are you still there?’
Again, silence.
‘Look, I’m sure you realize this, but we’re close to being pushed out of the ring with regards to this anonymity issue. If we don’t straighten it out by the time of the commissioner’s visit, we’re both going to be—’
‘I need to ask you something,’ Mikami said, having made up his mind. The core problem he needed to crack was nothing to do with the round-table meeting.
‘Huh, well, that came from nowhere.’
‘Futawatari, from Administration; he’s been acting strangely. Do you know anything about what he’s doing?’
‘Acting strangely? I can’t say I’ve noticed anything . . . How so?’
‘He’s poking around the Shoko kidnapping.’
‘He’s what? I don’t see what that has to do with him.’
That’s why I’m asking you.
‘You don’t know if he’s working under our orders?’
‘Our orders?’
‘I’m asking whether or not he’s operating on instructions from Akama?’
‘I can’t imagine he’s doing anything. He’s got his hands full with the project to build a new headquarters.’
‘He’s up to something, that’s for sure. Why do you think Criminal Investigations has gone into lockdown? Because our ace is digging into Six Four.’
‘That’s the first I’ve heard of it. Nobody’s mentioned anything to me.’
He was getting ready to flee.
‘What about Shirota? Have you seen him doing anything that seemed odd?’
‘Nothing I’ve noticed . . . You think he might have Futawatari working for him?’
‘That depends on whether you can draw a line to link him with Akama and Futawatari.’
‘If he thought it was dangerous, I imagine Shirota would simply turn a blind eye. He does have a particular aversion to taking responsibility for things.’
Look who’s talking, Mikami thought.
‘If it’s bothering you, why don’t you try asking Futawatari directly? You joined the force together, and didn’t you both do kendo in high school? I suppose you haven’t seen much of each other since, being in Criminal Investigations and Administrative Affairs, but, well, you’re here now, you should just go see him, ask him in person.’
‘That’s exactly what I plan to do.’
Mikami hung up. It took a while for the irritation to subside. The outpouring of Ishii’s empty and insincere words had left him on edge. I was just happy. You know, that’s the first time anyone here’s ever said thanks for something. The girl’s voice echoed like something from another age. Words reach people. Mikami decided he was a fool for having believed it, even for a moment. For having left a message for Hiyoshi. What words were there to reach someone who had lived the last fourteen years locked away in isolation, someone who had switched off every last channel to the outside?
Mikami jumped to his feet and walked back through to the hall. He grabbed the internal line and went into the bedroom again, using his free hand to pull the cord with him. Station Q, Urushibara’s home. He already knew the number. Rather than just finishing his work over the phone, Mikami’s plan had been to get on with some work that he could only do on the phone. He was going to launch a surprise attack. He would agitate; trick Urushibara into revealing the truth. The man might have grown used to sitting in the captain’s chair, but he’d been a skilled detective with an extraordinary talent for intuition. If Mikami chose a head-on approach, Urushibara would almost certainly cotton on to the fact that Mikami’s hand was empty.
But maybe, over the phone . . .
Mikami checked the time on the alarm clock: 8.15 p.m. The perfect time. Urushibara would be winding down for the night, having finished dinner and his bath. Mikami picked up the handset and dialled Urushibara’s home number. He swallowed a mouthful of spit.
Someone picked up after the third ring: Urushibara. His voice shot up an octave once Mikami had introduced himself.
‘Mikami. It’s been a long time.’
‘Yeah, it has.’
‘How’s life been treating you? Still having a good time with Minako, I assume?’
An opening jab. He was putting on a show of being the same old Urushibara, while his thoughts raced to pin down the reason for Mikami’s call.
‘How are you?’
‘Not bad, not bad. It’s pretty laid-back down here. Got everyone else doing my work for me.’
‘Sounds great. You should give me a call. I’d be happy with a job like lead detective.’
‘Haha. I’d probably consider it if I thought you were being serious. Anyway, to what do I owe the sudden call? Someone screw up a press report or something?’
‘Nothing like that. Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask you.’
‘Huh. Come on, then . . . out with it.’
‘I met with Hiyoshi today,’ he said, keeping it simple and listening for Urushibara’s response.
‘Hiyoshi . . .?’
‘Koichiro Hiyoshi, the one who used to work in Forensics. The one who screwed up during Six Four, ended up leaving the force.’
The line went quiet for a moment, but when he spoke again Urushibara seemed completely unfazed. ‘Right, I do remember there being someone by that name. Remind me what he did that was so bad?’
It was Mikami’s turn to fall quiet for a moment. His lie about having met Hiyoshi hadn’t shaken Urushibara at all. He’d even countered by asking about Hiyoshi’s mistake in return. Obviously, Urushibara hadn’t let his armour rust in the slightest.
Mikami carried on regardless.
‘It was after your unit entered Amamiya’s house. He’d been in charge of recording the calls.’
‘And?’
‘He made a fatal error.’
‘Uhuh . . . and?’
‘You shouted at him, called him incompetent. Then he left the force.’