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should pull over somewhere and get a nap.”
    â€œI’ve got a uniform to drive me today.”
    â€œDid you get any sleep at all?”
    He smiled even though she couldn’t see it. “A little. I got up just before dawn.”
    â€œI know when you got up. You think you’re silent as a cat, but you aren’t.”
    â€œYou’re the only one who can hear me. You’ve got ears like a fox.”
    She sighed. “Is that supposed to be flattery? It would be better if you didn’t try at all.”
    â€œAs you wish,” he said. “I’m just lucky to have a woman like you.”
    â€œDon’t be such a fool,” she said. “Everyone is busy. Finish your work and come home to me.”
    â€œAll right. I’m teaching this afternoon.”
    â€œIf you get there first, take a nap. I’ll broil mackerel, and you’ll tell me what’s bothering you.”
    He broke the connection just as Mori and Kuma came out of the apartment. Mori carried a plastic garbage bag in each hand. Kuma followed him with a pained expression.
    â€œTell him,” Mori said.
    â€œDetective,” Kuma said, “I’m sorry about all this, but the chief . . .”
    â€œ . . . wants to know the real reason why I came. Why now, after all these years.”
    The sergeant looked shocked.
    â€œI saw him pull you aside back at the station.”
    â€œOh, right.” Kuma grinned. “He does that kind of thing. It’s not that he’s suspicious. He just gets nervous if he’s not sure what ­people want.”
    â€œTell him I was homesick. Tell him I wanted to clean the family tomb.”
    â€œHey, that’s good. It’s close to the vernal equinox, so it’s perfect timing. Do you mind?”
    â€œNot if you keep Officer Mori company for the rest of the morning.”
    Kuma’s face fell into lines of worry. Mori showed no expression at all.
    â€œThe officer is a good man, Sergeant Kuma. You don’t have to be on your guard with him.”
    â€œI don’t know about that.” Kuma pointed to the garbage bags in Mori’s hands. “He’s already taking stuff away.”
    â€œSergeant, you can trust him. At this point, Ogawa’s apartment is not a crime scene. If the officer learns anything interesting, he will share it.”
    The sergeant scratched his chest. He still looked worried.
    â€œWe won’t let you get in trouble with the chief. If anyone ever asks, we’ll say the officer gathered the material while you weren’t looking.”
    Mori didn’t even blink.
    Kuma shrugged. “All right. But we can’t go back to the station, or there will be a lot of questions.”
    â€œYou don’t have to go to the station. The officer will tell you where he wants to go.”
    Kuma bowed dejectedly. “Well, it was good to see you again, anyway. I hope you have a good trip back.” He turned and stumped off toward the bridge. He kicked trash as he went.
    Takuda turned to Mori. “And you. Do you want to ask why I have come back after so many years?”
    Mori bowed as if he had been waiting for the question. “I trust that you’ll tell me what I need to know. When and where should I meet you after I finish with Kuma?”
    The young officer’s blind, unquestioning loyalty was suddenly sickening. The garbage bags in Mori’s hand were evidence of his willingness to please. He had started to follow Takuda around almost from the day he had arrived from the academy, and now he had begun to stray from procedure even before Takuda asked him to. If Takuda allowed it, the young fool would follow him into disgrace.
    It would be better for everyone if Takuda broke him then and there. It would be violent and ugly and humiliating, but taking the bus home in a dirty uniform would teach Mori to be more careful in his loyalties. It would save his career, maybe his life.
    Mori had