“You’re tiresome.” It was the superintendent’s usual greeting.
Teruo bowed. “My apologies, sir.”
“An apology won’t save you next time. Nor will Koga Megumi’s intervention. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal, sir.”
Yoshida held Teruo’s stare for a second before continuing, “Did she tell you about your new partner?”
“Yes. I’ve read his file.”
The superintendent’s thumb played on the rim of the cap resting atop the desk. “I got Miyazaki Shinji by luck. It just so happened that he chose to move here. I want to keep him at the TMPD at all costs. Do you understand?”
Teruo nodded, albeit confused. “Of course, sir.”
This Miyazaki fellow seemed oddly popular. Favoritism? Not possible. Teruo had never heard of an officer from another city attracting the superintendent’s attention, much less from as far away as the Regional Police in Hiroshima.
“With all due respect, sir,” Teruo spoke carefully as the superintendent’s brow twitched, “why assign him to me? Wouldn’t it be better if he worked with someone else?”
The superintendent let out a grunt, the leather chair squeaking as he leaned back in it. “For once we agree. After you lost me Ishida too—” he gritted his teeth as he said that “—I wanted to demote you or leave you without a partner until after New Year’s. But…” He paused, offering a long, deep sigh as if the sentence itself pained him. “Miyazaki Shinji requested to work with you.”
Teruo froze, uncertain he heard right. “Requested?” People never did that deliberately. If anything, they did all in their power to avoid him.
“I tried stopping Miyazaki, but I’m not surprised by his choice. As much as I dislike admitting it, you are the First Divison’s best homicide detective.”
A compliment from the superintendent. This was quite a rare sight and Teruo was about to ruin it. “I’ve heard some rumors about Miyazaki, sir,” Teruo probed. “That he was involved in his former superior officer’s death. Is it true?” He despised encouraging gossip, but he needed to know if there was even a shred of truth in what HR had said rather than speculate.
The glare on the superintendent’s face worsened—if that was even possible. “Who told you?”
“Heard it from HR.”
Yoshida’s nostrils flared. “I’ll have a word with HR. Miyazaki and his superior officer were attacked during a stake out. It was an unfortunate incident which had nothing to do with Miyazaki.”
“But he knew the criminal.”
“Hedidn’t.” The way Superintendent Yoshida spoke left no space for further debate. “Listen carefully,” he added. “If Miyazaki resigns before the end of the month, Iwilldemote you.”
Teruo’s lips parted, ready to say something, anything to defend himself. But there was nothing else to be said. “Understood, sir.”
“Good. Now get out before I change my mind and fire your ungrateful ass.”
Teruo bowed and exited the office.
The discussion lingered in his mind as he walked back to his office. Such a hurried dismissal by the superintendent begged for Teruo to do some off the record research, but before he had a chance to start it, the landline’s sharp ring pulled him out of his thoughts.
A murder victim had just been discovered in Yoyogi Park.
CHAPTER 2
Teruo
Teruo cursed under his breath. He had no time for respite between the double homicide and this new case. As he grabbed his coat and made for the elevator, he called Miyazaki, who answered on the first ring.
“Yes?”
“This is Chief Inspector Hayashi Teruo of TMPD. Am I speaking with Miyazaki Shinji?” he asked, while punching the elevator button for the parking lot.
“Yes, sir.”