Chapter Twenty-Seven: Police Chat:

-Nagasaki-

A detective stood in the doorway. Anna appeared to act normal.

“Good morning, sir,” she said. The detective had to be about thirty. He looked like he wanted in a deep frown. His suit looked like it had seen better days. What was with his hair?

“Good morning,” the detective said in a tired voice. “May I?”

“Sure,” Anna said. The detective sat down in front of her.

“How do you know Kate-san?” he asked.

“She was a childhood friend of mine,” Anna said. “We haven’t seen each other since…” She counted up on her fingers.

“Maybe six or seven.”

“When was the last time you spoke to her?”

“The day she moved away.”

“And her mother?”

“Yesterday.”

“What did she talk about?”

“She asked if I had seen Kiko-san.”

“Why would she call you?”

Anna shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

“You don’t?”

“I was surprised she called me. I didn’t know who it was at first.” Anna glanced up at the detective. He took notes.

“What do think happened to Kiko-san?” Anna asked. He glanced up at her.

“We don’t know yet,” he said.

“Where did you find her phone?”

“The sidewalk.”

“Where?”

“I am asking the questions here.”

“Fair enough.” Anna watched him take more notes. She shifted in her seat.

“Uh…” she said. He didn’t look at her. Anna sat back. She dug in her mind to say something else.

“It was Kazagashira,” the detective said.

“Hm?” Anna asked. He glanced up at her.

“That’s where we found Kate-san’s phone,” he said. “We don’t know what happened to her yet.”

“Ah,” Anna said. The detective finished his notes.

“Okay,” he said. “You’re free to go.”

“You sure?” Anna asked, looking confused.

“Yeah,” he said. “We’re done here.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said. They bowed and parted ways.

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-Ju-Oh-Cho-

“You wanted to see us?” Tsuzuki asked.

“Yes,” Konoe said. “Tatsumi.” The secretary put the files down on the desk. Tsuzuki and Hisoka looked at the photos.

“What’s with all of these items?” Tsuzuki asked.

“They all belong to the victims,” Konoe said. “All forty-one people just disappeared. No blood or injuries. Just nothing.”

“We can’t find the cause,” Tatsumi said. “No souls are coming in either.”

“Find the cause and stop it,” Konoe said.

“And the people, sir?” Hisoka asked.

“Find them,” the boss said. “Dead or alive.”

“Yes sir,” the shinigami said. They headed out of Konoe’s office after exchanging bows.

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Drag. Drag. Drag. Drag.

A new obsession took over. Maybe because the right one finally hit. This one fit like a glove. The obsession buzzed around in the head. Only one way to cure it.

“Kimono… Tsuzuki… Anna…”

Drag. Drag. Drag. Drag.