Hidden Nexus

Hidden Nexus

By Nick Tanner

Copyright © Nick Tanner

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

For

Yumi & Azusa

Contents

Prologue
.
7

1 -
In which we glimpse the mutual indifference of the morning routine..
13

2 -
In which a murderer contemplates his business
 
27

3
-
In which the body is discovered and we meet up once again with Sergeant Mori
30

4
-
In which the snow falls…
..
42

5 -
In which a politician plans his next move in his never-ending game of chess.
45

6
-
In which Mori reluctantly accepts Sakamoto’s point of view
   
59

7 -
In which a scandal is unveiled
.
62

8
-
In which we experience a drunken interlude, the delights of pachinko and the prostitutes dilemma
  
69

9 -
In which a fallen aid plots the way back home
 
82

10 -
In which Hideki Yamada recounts his steps
 
85

11 -
In which a night watchman considers
.
95

12 -
In which a fallen politician plots the way back home
 
97

13
-
In which a prostitute recalls her inner strength, considers her position and then acts with the precision of a samurai swordsman
.
102

14
-
In which Mori considers the process of corroborated suspicion
  
108

15 -
In which Fujiwara begins to count the cost
 
112

16 -
In which a slut counts her money
.
115

17 -
In which a house is searched and guilt is momentarily elusive
 
119

18 -
In which gratuitous aggression creates a twist
 
123

19 -
Incidental musings in the house of Mori
127

20 -
In which Sergeant Mori partakes in the traditional New Year’s day festivities
 
136

21 -
In which Watanabe considers the nature of hostess bars, Kinjo, the slut and his wife.
137

22 -
In which a detainee considers the meaning of reality
 
141

23 -
In which Inspector Saito
returns and thoughts of retirement surface for the first time
 
146

24 -
In which Sergeant Mori considers motives and eventually guilt is confirmed
  
149

25 -
Inspector Saito casts doubt on the veracity of confession
  
158

26 -
In which Inspector Saito receives his first duties much to his chagrin
  
162

27 -
In which the first visit takes place to the good people at Niigata Kyubin
  
168

28 -
In which Sakamoto and the Chief Super come to an agreement – of sorts
 
180

29
- The investigators return to Niigata Kyubin and a code is revealed
  
197

30 -
In which the delights of the profit and loss are raked through
  
208

31 -
In which Inspector Saito is late for his appointment
 
212

32 –
Ozawa reflects on his feelings for a departed colleague
 
217

33 -
In which inspector Saito meets his match
.
227

34 –
Where
a mafia clansman reaches the end of the road
  
232

35 -
In which Inspector Saito and Junsa Saito quite unexpectedly begin to open up.
237

36 -
In which haphazard speculation begins to take some shape.
245

37 -
Sakamoto rues the day that curiosity killed the cat
 
259

38 -
In which Sergeant Mori reflects on his companions and questions a company chauffeur.
264

39 -
In which Sakamoto makes tentative contact with a central pacific island
  
273

40 -
Ozawa is pressed as to the nature of his sexual inclinations
 
276

41 -
In which notes are compared and the trio prepare to go again
  
280

42 -
Ozawa reflects on his role
.
284

43 -
In which Inspector Saito jumps into the abyss
 
296

44
-
In which Watanabe enacts a forward pike with double axel to complete a dead cat bounce
 
311

45 -
In which Junsa Saito is invited to a discovery
 
325

46 -
In which Inspector Saito circles and dives and where Watanabe wriggles and escapes.
328

47
-
In which the final clinching piece of evidence is discovered
  
336

48
-
In which a phone call precipitates some traditional action in the samurai mould
  
338