Cajun Justice(78)

The detective, who looked worn-out and had a loose tie around his neck, plopped himself down into his office chair and wheeled himself toward his desk. He picked up his Seven Stars cigarette from the ashtray where it had been resting. He inhaled and slowly blew out the smoke.

I’m just one problem out of a thousand for this man, Cain thought. He’s not going to be helpful.

Umiko spoke to him in Japanese and presented the doughnuts. The inspector accepted the box and thanked her but didn’t take a doughnut. Instead, he offered them to his colleagues nearby, who huddled around and picked their favorite flavors.

“He wants to know if the parents have been notified.”

“God, no. This would crush my parents. They would be heartbroken beyond repair. They didn’t even want Bonnie moving to Japan. And now she’s missing because of me! There’s no way I can tell my parents.”

“Okay. I’ll tell him yes.”

“You sure that’s a good idea?”

“Otherwise, they won’t file the report until the family has been called.”

Cain nodded.

The exchange between the inspector and Umiko lasted an agonizing eighty-three minutes. Cain knew the exact time because he had nervously kept checking his watch—feeling as if he was wasting his time dealing with the Japanese police and their lengthy protocols. They appeared much more interested in administration than in actual investigation, but Cain trusted Umiko.

When the inspector finished typing his forms and rubber-stamping them with his personal honko, he stood and bowed—first to Cain and then to Umiko.

She returned the inspector’s bow. “Domo arigato gozaimashita.” She bowed a second time, this time even lower. “Domo arigato gozaimashita.”

“What’s next?” Cain asked Umiko.

“They have filed the report in their computer, and if a police officer finds Bonnie, they will call you. I also gave him my number.”

“That’s exactly why I didn’t want to come here. This was a complete waste of time! I could have been out there looking for Bonnie.”

She placed her hand on his elbow and guided him toward the exit. “We never came here only to file a police report. I came with you to overhear what the police were saying. And I think I have what you need.”

“What do you mean?” Cain asked as the sliding doors opened automatically when the motion sensor detected their movement.

“When I mentioned the orange Skyline to the inspector, I overheard another inspector say that it sounded like a yakuza member named Watanabe, who goes by the street name Hayabusa. That means ‘falcon’ in Japanese. I don’t know who he is, but he must be important for the police to know him by name. You have at least a more specific name now to investigate. Do you still have friends in the government back in America who can help you? The United States has files on everybody. WikiLeaks is proof of that.”

Cain caught himself nodding yes with each second as he grew more confident. “Yes, I still have a contact in the Secret Service who owes me a favor—a big one!”

“Have you eaten?” a worried Umiko asked.

“Just an American dog a few hours ago, but I don’t have time to eat right now. Th—”

“I know a noodle place nearby. My treat.”

“I don’t have time to eat.”

“You are not able to think clearly to help your sister. Please stop and eat. Do it so you can find Bonnie.”

Cain paused before responding. “You’re right. You’re always right, Umi.”

“You said yourself you are the only one looking for Bonnie. That means you must take care of your body and your mind first.”

The restaurant reminded Cain of a Waffle House, but it served only drinks and soba, a broth with thick noodles. Umiko ordered for them.

Cain sat but was frantic. “I’ve gone to Bonnie’s apartment. I didn’t see anything tangible there. I went to the embassy, then the Angel Cloud. They wouldn’t let me in. I’ve gotta find a way into the Angel Cloud, and I need to find out where—”

“Cain-san, you are going to find your sister. But first you have to eat something. You look exhausted.” Umiko frowned.

“My body is starving, Umi, but I can’t even think about that right now. My mind is racing. In the United States, there is only a small window of opportunity to find a missing person. It’s about twenty-four hours.”

“You are going to find your sister. I can feel it. She is very lucky to have you in her life.”

“I’m the lucky one. To have her as my sister and you helping me.”

Umiko smiled and then poured some green tea into her cup and sipped it.

Their food arrived, and both started eating.

“Oh, this is spicy,” Cain said. “It’s very tasty.”

“I told her that you wanted yours extra spicy since you are from Louisiana.”

Cain smiled and continued devouring his meal. The broth and noodles, paired with tempura, cleared his head. “I’m too reliant on the trains and taxis here. I have to get a car. Do you know someone who can help me get a car? It can be anything.”

“I don’t have a car, but I have a motorcycle I never use.”

“That’s awesome! Where’s it at?”

“My apartment.”