mc.risingsun-第2章

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oll；　a　black　lacquer　table；　a　vase　with　a　single　splash　of　white　orchid。
　I　saw　two　pairs　of　shoes　set　out　beside　the　door。　One　was　a　man's　brogues。　The　other　was　a　pair　of　women's　high　heels。
　I　said；　〃Captain　Connor？〃
　〃Just　a　minute。〃
　A　shoji　screen　slid　back　and　Connor　appeared。　He　was　surprisingly　tall；　maybe　a　hundred　and　ninety　centimeters；　well　over　six　feet。　He　wore　a　yukata；　a　light　Japanese　robe　of　blue　cotton。　I　estimated　he　was　fifty…five　years　old。　Broad…shouldered；　balding；　with　a　trim　mustache；　sharp　features；　piercing　eyes。　Deep　voice。　Calm。
　〃Good　evening；　Lieutenant。〃
　We　shook　hands。　Connor　looked　me　up　and　down；　and　nodded　approvingly。　〃Good。　Very　presentable。〃
　I　said；　〃I　used　to　work　press。　You　never　knew　when　you　might　have　to　appear　in　front　of　cameras。〃
　He　nodded。　〃And　now　you're　the　SSO　on　call？〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃How　long　have　you　been　a　liaison？〃
　〃Six　months。〃
　〃You　speak　Japanese？〃
　〃A　little。　I'm　taking　lessons。〃
　〃Give　me　a　few　minutes　to　change。〃　He　turned　and　disappeared　behind　the　shoji　screen。　〃This　is　a　homicide？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Who　notified　you？〃
　〃Tom　Graham。　He's　the　OIC　at　the　crime　scene。　He　said　the　Japanese　were　insisting　on　a　liaison　officer　being　present。〃
　〃I　see。〃　There　was　a　pause。　I　heard　running　water。　〃Is　that　a　mon　request？〃
　〃No。　In　fact；　I've　never　heard　of　it　happening。　Usually；　officers　call　for　a　liaison　because　they　have　a　language　problem。　I've　never　heard　of　the　Japanese　asking　for　a　liaison。〃
　〃Neither　have　I；〃　Connor　said。　〃Did　Graham　ask　you　to　bring　me？　Because　Tom　Graham　and　I　don't　always　admire　each　other。〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃Fred　Hoffmann　suggested　I　bring　you　in。　He　felt　I　didn't　have　enough　experience。　He　said　he　was　going　to　call　you　for　me。〃
　〃Then　you　were　called　at　home　twice？〃　Connor　said。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　see。〃　He　reappeared；　wearing　a　dark　blue　suit；　knotting　his　tie。　〃It　seems　that　time　is　critical。〃　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃When　did　Graham　call　you？〃
　〃About　nine。〃
　〃Then　forty　minutes　have　already　passed。　Let's　go；　Lieutenant。　Where's　your　car？〃
　We　hurried　downstairs。
　
　*　*　*
　
　I　drove　up　San　Pedro　and　turned　left　onto　Second；　heading　toward　the　Nakamoto　building。　There　was　a　light　mist　at　street　level。　Connor　stared　out　the　window。　He　said；　〃How　good　is　your　memory？〃
　〃Pretty　good；　I　guess。〃
　〃I　wonder　if　you　could　repeat　for　me　the　telephone　conversations　you　had　tonight；〃　he　said。　〃Give　them　to　me　in　as　much　detail　as　possible。　Word　for　word；　if　you　can。〃
　〃I'll　try。〃
　I　recounted　my　phone　calls。　Connor　listened　without　interruption　or　ment。　I　didn't　know　why　he　was　so　interested；　and　he　didn't　tell　me。　When　I　finished；　he　said；　〃Hoffmann　didn't　tell　you　who　called　for　land　lines？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Well；　it's　a　good　idea　in　any　case。　I　never　use　a　car　phone　if　I　can　help　it。　These　days；　too　many　people　listen　in。〃
　I　turned　onto　Figueroa。　Up　ahead　I　saw　searchlights　shining　in　front　of　the　new　Nakamoto　Tower。　The　building　itself　was　gray　granite；　rising　up　into　the　night。　I　got　into　the　right　lane　and　flipped　open　the　glove　box　to　grab　a　handful　of　business　cards。
　The　cards　said　Detective　Lieutenant　Peter　J。　Smith；　Special　Services　Liaison　Officer；　Los　Angeles　Police　Department。　Printed　in　English　on　one　side；　in　Japanese　on　the　back。
　Connor　looked　at　the　cards。　〃How　do　you　want　to　handle　this　situation；　Lieutenant？　Have　you　negotiated　with　the　Japanese　before？〃
　I　said；　〃Not　really；　no。　Couple　of　drunk　driving　arrests。〃
　Connor　said　politely；　〃Then　perhaps　I　can　suggest　a　strategy　for　us　to　follow。〃
　〃That's　fine　with　me；〃　I　said。　〃I'd　be　grateful　for　your　help。〃
　〃All　right。　Since　you're　the　liaison；　it's　probably　best　if　you　take　charge　of　the　scene　when　we　arrive。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃Don't　bother　to　introduce　me；　or　refer　to　me　in　any　way。　Don't　even　look　in　my　direction。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃I　am　a　nonentity。　You　alone　are　in　charge。〃
　〃Okay；　fine。〃
　〃It'll　help　to　be　formal。　Stand　straight；　and　keep　your　suit　jacket　buttoned　at　all　times。　If　they　bow　to　you；　don't　bow　back　…　just　give　a　little　head　nod。　A　foreigner　will　never　master　the　etiquette　of　bowing。　Don't　even　try。〃
　〃Okay；〃　I　said。
　〃When　you　start　to　deal　with　the　Japanese；　remember　that　they　don't　like　to　negotiate。　They　find　it　too　confrontational。　In　their　own　society　they　avoid　it　whenever　possible。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃Control　your　gestures。　Keep　your　hands　at　your　sides。　The　Japanese　find　big　arm　movements　threatening。　Speak　slowly。　Keep　your　voice　calm　and　even。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃If　you　can。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃It　may　be　difficult　to　do。　The　Japanese　can　be　irritating。　You'll　probably　find　them　irritating　tonight。　Handle　it　as　best　you　can。　But　whatever　happens；　don't　lose　your　temper。〃
　〃All　right。〃
　〃That's　extremely　bad　form。〃
　〃All　right；〃　I　said。
　Connor　smiled。　〃I'm　sure　you'll　do　well；〃　he　said。　〃You　probably　won't　need　my　help　at　all。　But　if　you　get　stuck；　you'll　hear　me　say　'Perhaps　I　can　be　of　assistance。'　That　will　be　the　signal　that　I'm　taking　over。　From　that　point　on；　let　me　do　the　talking；　I'd　prefer　you　not　speak　again；　even　if　you　are　spoken　to　directly　by　them。　Okay？〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃You　may　want　to　speak；　but　don't　be　drawn　out。〃
　〃I　understand。〃
　〃Furthermore；　whatever　I　do；　show　no　surprise。　Whatever　I　do。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃Once　I　take　over；　move　so　that　you're　standing　slightly　behind　me　and　to　my　right。　Never　sit。　Never　look　around。　Never　appear　distracted。　Remember　that　although　you　e　from　an　MTV　video　culture；　they　do　not。　They　are　Japanese。　Everything　you　do　will　have　meaning　to　them。　Every　aspect　of　your　appearance　and　behavior　will　reflect　on　you；　on　the　police　department；　and　on　me　as　your　superior　and　sempai。〃
　〃Okay；　Captain。〃
　〃Any　questions？〃
　〃What's　a　sempai？〃
　Connor　smiled。
　We　drove　past　the　searchlights；　down　the　ramp　into　the　underground　garage。
　〃In　Japan；〃　he　said；　〃a　sempai　is　a　senior　man　who　guides　a　junior　man；　known　as　a　kōhai。　The　sempai…kōhai　relationship　is　quite　mon。　It's　often　assumed　to　exist　whenever　a　younger　man　and　an　older　man　are　working　together。　They　will　probably　assume　it　of　us。〃
　I　said；　〃Sort　of　a　mentor　and　apprentice？〃
　〃Not　exactly；〃　Connor　said。　〃In　Japan；　sempai…kōhai　has　a　different　quality。　More　like　a　fond　parent：　the　sempai　is　expected　to　indulge　his　kōhai；　and　put　up　with　all　sorts　of　youthful　excesses　and　errors　from　the　junior　man。〃　He　smiled。　〃But　I'm　sure　you　won't　do　that　to　me。〃
　We　came　to　the　bottom　of　the　ramp；　and　saw　the　flat　expanse　of　the　parking　garage　ahead　of　us。　Connor　stared　out　the　window　and　frowned。　〃Where　is　everybody？〃
　The　garage　of　the　Nakamoto　Tower　was　full　of　limousines；　the　drivers　leaning　against　their　cars；　talking　and　smoking。　But　I　saw　no　police　cars。　Ordinarily；　when　there's　a　homicide；　the　place　is　lit　up　like　Christmas；　with　lights　flashing　from　a　half…dozen　black　and　whites；　the　medical　examiner；　paramedics；　and　all　the　rest。
　But　there　was　nothing　tonight。　It　just　looked　like　a　garage　where　somebody　was　having　a　party：　elegant　people　standing　in　clusters；　waiting　for　their　cars。
　〃Interesting；〃　I　said。
　We　came　to　a　stop。　The　parking　attendants　opened　the　doors；　and　I　stepped　out　onto　plush　carpet；　and　heard　soft　music。　I　walked　with　Connor　toward　the　elevator。　Well…dressed　people　were　ing　the　other　way：　men　in　tuxedos；　women　in　expensive　gowns。　And　standing　by　the　elevator；　wearing　a　stained　corduroy　sport　coat　and　furiously　smoking　a　cigarette；　was　Tom　Graham。
　
　？
　When　Graham　played　halfback　at　U。S。C。　he　never　made　first　string。　That　bit　of　history　stuck　like　a　character　trait：　all　his　life　he　seemed　to　miss　the　crucial　promotion；　the　next　step　up　a　detective's　career。　He　had　transferred　from　one　division　to　another；　never　finding　a　precinct　that　suited　him；　or　a　partner　that　worked　well　with　him。　Always　too　outspoken；　Graham　had　made　enemies　in　the　chief's　office；　and　at　thirty…nine；　further　advancement　was　unlikely。　Now　he　was　bitter；　gruff；　and　putting　on　weight　…　a　big　man　who　had　bee　ponderous；　and　a　pain　in　the　ass：　he　just　rubbed　people　the　wrong　way。　His　idea　of　personal　integrity　was　to　be　a　failure；　and　he　was　sarcastic　about　anybody　who　didn't　share　his　views。
　〃Nice　suit；〃　he　said　to　me；　as　I　walked　up。　〃You　look　fucking　beautiful；　Peter。〃　He　flicked　imaginary　dust　off　my　lapel。
　I　ignored　it。　〃How's　it　going；　Tom？〃
　〃You　guys　should　be　attending　this　party；　not　working　it。〃　He　turned　to　Connor　and　shook　his　hand。　〃Hello；　John。　Whose　idea　was　it　to　get　you　out　of　bed？〃
　〃I'm　just　observing；〃　Connor　said　mildly。
　I　said；　〃Fred　Hoffmann　asked　me　to　bring　him　down。〃
　〃Hell；〃　Graham　said。　〃It's　okay　with　me　that　you're　here。　I　can　use　some　help。　It's　pretty　tense　up　there。〃
　We　followed　him　toward　the　elevator。　I　still　saw　no　other　police　officers。　I　said；　〃Where　is　everybody？〃
　〃Good　question；〃　Graham　said。　〃They've　managed　to　keep　all　of　our　people　around　back　at　the　freight　entrance。　They　claim　the　service　elevator　gives　fastest　access。　And　they　keep　talking　about　the　importance　of　their　grand　opening；　and　how　nothing　must　disrupt　it。〃
　By　the　elevators；　a　uniformed　Japanese　private　security　guard　looked　us　over　carefully。　〃These　two　are　with　me；〃　Graham　said。　The　security　man　nodded；　but　squinted　at　us　suspiciously。
　We　got　on　the　elevator。
　〃Fucking　Japanese；〃　Graham　said；　as　the　doors　closed。　〃This　is　still　our　country。　We're　still　the　fucking　police　in　our　own　country。〃
　The　elevator　was　glass　walled　and　we　looked　out　on　downtown　Los　Angeles　as　it　went　up　into　the　light　mist。　Directly　across　was　the　Arco　building。　All　lit　up　at　night。
　〃You　know　these　elevators　are　illegal；〃　Graham　said。　〃According　to　code；　no　glass　elevators　past　ninety　floors；　and　this　building　is　ninety…seven　floors；　the　highest　building　in　L。A。　But　then　this　whole　building　is　one　big　special　case。　And　they　got　it　up　in　six　months。　You　know　how？　They　brought　in　prefab　units　from　Nagasaki；　and　slapped　them　together　here。　Didn't　use　American　construction　workers。　Got　a　special　permit　to　bypass　our　unions　because　of　a　so…called　technical　problem　that　only　Japanese　workers　could　handle。　You　believe　that　shit？〃
　I　shrugged。　〃They　got　it　past　the　American　unions。〃
　〃Hell；　they　got　it　past　the　city　council；〃　Graham　said。　〃But　of　course　that's　just　money。　And　if　there's　one　third　we　know；　the　Japanese　have　money。　So　they　got　variances　on　the　zoning　restrictions；　the　earthquake　ordinances。　They　got　everything　they　wanted。〃
　I　shrugged。　〃Politics。〃
　〃My　ass。　You　know　they　don't　even　pay　tax？　That's　right：　they　got　an　eight…year　break　on　property　taxes　from　the　city。　Shit：　we're　giving　this　country　away。〃
　We　rode　for　a　moment　in　silence。　Graham　stared　out　the　windows。　The　elevators　were　high…speed　Hitachis；　using　the　latest　technology。　The　fastest　and　smoothest　elevators　in　the　world。　We　moved　higher　into　the　mist。
　I　said　to　Graham；　〃You　want　to　tell　us　about　this　homicide；　or　do　you　want　it　to　be　a　surprise？〃
　〃Fuck；〃　Graham　said。　He　flipped　open　his　notebook。　〃Here　you　go。　The　original　call　was　at　eight　thirty…two。　Somebody　saying　there　is　a　'problem　of　disposition　of　a　body。'　Male　with　a　thick　Asian　accent；　doesn't　speak　good　English。　The　operator　coul