Rising Sun

But once the formalities were completed, the conversation went so quickly I caught only an occasional word. I was obliged to appear interested, watching and nodding, when in fact I had no idea what they were talking about. Once I heard Co

But these apologies had their effect. Ishiguro calmed down, dropping his shoulders. He began to relax. He even smiled. Finally he said, “Then you will not check identification of our guests?”

“Absolutely not,” Co

I started to protest. Co

“Identification is u

“Fucking A,” Graham said, under his breath.

Ishiguro was beaming. But I was furious. Co

“I am grateful for your delicate handling of this situation, Captain Co

“I have done nothing at all,” Co

Ishiguro blinked. “Clear the floor?”

“Yes,” Co

“I am sorry?”

“The names of the gentlemen behind you, please.”

“May I ask why?”

Co

“Excuse me, Captain, but I see no reason for you to speak in this—“

And then, Co

Ishiguro ducked and turned away, stu

Co

“Hey, Richie,” Co

“Sure, Captain,” Richie said. He raised his camera and began moving down the line of men, firing his strobe in quick succession.

Ishiguro suddenly got excited, stepping in front of the camera, holding up his hands. “Wait a minute, wait a minute, what is this?”

But the Japanese men were already leaving, wheeling away like a school of fish from the strobe flash. In a few seconds they were gone. We had the floor to ourselves. Alone, Ishiguro looked uncomfortable.

He said something in Japanese. Apparently it was the wrong thing.

“Oh?” Co

“But I must consult my superiors—“

“Namerunayo.” Co

“Of course, Captain,” he said. With a tight, brief bow he left, his face pinched and unhappy.

Graham chuckled. “You told him off pretty good.”

Co

“Aw, shit, I was just winding him up,” Graham said. “There’s no way I’m going to interrogate the mayor. Can I help it if these assholes have no sense of humor?”

“They have a sense of humor,” Co

“My help?” Graham was frowning. “What’re you talking about?”

“It’s clear the Japanese wanted to delay the investigation,” Co

“Oh, come on,” Graham said. “For all they know, the liaison could have been here in five minutes.”

Co

Graham stared at Co

And he lumbered off toward the crime scene.

With their suitcases and evidence carts, the SID team trailed after Graham. Richie Walters led the way, shooting left and right as he worked his way forward into the atrium, then going through the door into the conference room. The walls of the conference room were smoked glass, which dimmed his flash. But I could see him inside, circling the body. He was shooting a lot: he knew this was a big case.

I stayed behind with Co

“It is,” Co

“Then why did you lose yours?”

“Unfortunately,” he said, “it was the only way to assist Ishiguro.”

“To assist Ishiguro?”

“Yes. I did all that for Ishiguro—because he had to save face in front of his boss. Ishiguro wasn’t the most important man in the room. One of the Japanese standing by the elevator was the jūyaku, the real boss.”

“I didn’t notice,” I said.

“It’s common practice to put a lesser man in front, while the boss stays in the background, where he is free to observe progress. Just as I did with you, kōhai.”

“Ishiguro’s boss was watching all the time?”

“Yes. And Ishiguro clearly had orders not to allow the investigation to begin. I needed to start the investigation. But I had to do it in such a way that he would not look incompetent. So I played the out-of-control gaijin. Now he owes me a favor. Which is good, because I may need his help later on.”

“He owes you a favor?” I said, having trouble with this idea. Co

Co

I still didn’t really understand, and I started to say more, but Co