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.
---------
-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.
---------
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.