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〃You know they could never see it that way。〃
〃And Leonforte？ How could they know whether he was even interested in marriage？〃
〃It was the barter they were all interested in … all the men。 Love … or even sex … never entered into it。 It was meant to be a straight business arrangement。〃
Appalling as this sounded； brokered marriages of this sort had existed in Asia for centuries。 〃I still don't see it from Mick's point of view。〃
〃No one could；〃 Koei said softly。 〃It just goes to show you that no matter how smart you think you are you can't anticipate the skein of life。 Against all odds； Michael fell in love with me。〃
When Tanaka Gin appeared at Akira Chosa's door； he was trailed by three of Chosa's bodyguards； who clung to his vicinity like crabs to coral。
〃Prosecutor；〃 Chosa said； opening the door to his apartment； 〃is this a social call？ It's an odd time for you to be working。〃
Tanaka Gin showed Chosa his badge。 〃Official business。〃
Chosa； who was dressed in an informal silk kimono； said； 〃It's almost midnight。〃
〃You have been at Ink Stick up until now。 I did not want to interrupt your pleasure。〃
Chosa shrugged and stood aside。 〃There are two women in my bedroom who will be very disappointed if you stay long。〃
〃I won't be staying；〃 Tanaka Gin said； walking past the oyabun。 〃But then neither will you。〃
〃I beg your pardon？〃
Tanaka Gin； who had been contemplating the life…size wax replica of Marilyn Monroe； turned around because he did not want to deprive himself of the pleasure of seeing this Yakuza's face when he read off the charges against him and handed him the written indictment。 He tried not to think of the two women； probably naked； waiting for the oyabun to return。 He was not celibate by nature but rather by a supreme act of will。 Youthful excess had taught him a sobering lesson about himself。 It was far too easy for him to drown in a sybaritic lifestyle that； as a responsible adult in a job that demanded scrupulous morals； could only destroy him。
To his credit Chosa appeared stone…faced while Tanaka Gin rattled off the list of charges against him。 But when Tanaka Gin handed him the next document to read； the color drained from his face。
〃These are lies！ Who would concoct such a litany of falsehoods？〃
〃Please； we have hard evidence connecting you to Yoshinori…san。 We have eyewitnesses； direct and independent corroboration；〃 Tanaka Gin smiled； a glow of satisfaction expanding inside him。 〃You are our doorway； Chosa…san； into the domain of the Yakuza upper echelons。 We are going to root out all corruption like decay from a tooth。〃
〃If it's corruption you're after； look to your own department； Prosecutor；〃 Chosa spat out。 〃I could name names； if I chose； and list criminal acts that would make your stomach turn。〃
〃Are you thinking of being my witness； of turning on your friends？〃 Tanaka Gin was curious at this response。
〃I'm not stupid I know where these charges e from；〃 Chosa said； carefully folding the indictment 〃I assure you as of now I have no friends。〃
〃Then you should wele the opportunity to work with me。〃 Tanaka Gin made a curt gesture。 〃e with me； please。〃
Chosa made a show of looking toward the front door。 〃Am I to deduce that you came alone on such a momentous occasion？ Your career will be assured； Prosecutor； with my conviction。〃
〃I came alone；〃 Tanaka Gin said formally。 〃Doing my duty is one thing； causing unnecessary loss of face is quite another。〃
Chosa gave him a quick bow。 〃It is time for the bell of the Shinto shrine across the street to sound。 I would appreciate it； Prosecutor； if I could hear it one last time。〃
〃I have no objection。〃
Chosa nodded。 〃In that case； I'll get dressed。〃 He disappeared into the bedroom while Tanaka Gin took a longer look at the Marilyn Monroe replica in its Plexiglas case。
He bent down； looking beneath the splayed…out skirt； which fluttered on its constant current of air。
The Shinto bell began to resound。 One of the living room windows was partially open and Tanaka Gin went to it； looked down the twenty floors to the street below。 He glanced at his watch； then strode to the closed bedroom door。
He was about to knock when he heard the sharp report of a pistol。 He lifted his leg； kicked open the door。 Two women； naked to the waist； were cowering on the bed。 One was screaming； she had spots of blood on her cheek and shoulder。
Tanaka Gin stopped； staring at the form of Akira Chosa。 He had obviously put the barrel of the gun in his mouth。 The force of the large…caliber 。357 bullet had torn the back of his head off as it had thrown him across the er of the bed。 He was facing away from the prosecutor； toward the window； which was wide open。 A blast of cold air brought the stench of death toward him。 Chosa had dressed for the occasion。 He was in a neat dark suit； white shirt； and patterned tie。
Tanaka Gin could hear the sounds of running feet； and a moment later； Chosa's guards burst into the room。 They stopped short； stood staring at their fallen oyabun。
Tanaka Gin； careful not to disturb anything； helped the two women off the bed and out of the room。 He told them to wash up； get dressed； and wait for him to take their statements。 Then he went back inside the bedroom。 He stared at Chosa； stretched out unnaturally across the corner of the bloody bed。 Something was clutched in his left hand。 Tanaka Gin squatted down； poked at the fingers with a pen。 It was a photo； a glossy color publicity still from an American film called The Misfits。 The photo was of dark Gable and Marilyn Monroe。 He was in blue jeans and a cowboy hat； a grin on his face。 Perhaps he had just told a joke because Monroe； luminous as ever； was laughing behind one upraised hand。
The tolling of the Shinto bell echoed through the room； a mournful mentary on the Western…style suicide。 Tanaka Gin rose and left。 He thought himself a fool ever to have believed a man like Chosa would spill all the secrets of a lifetime of crime to anyone； let alone a Tokyo prosecutor。 Hubris； Tanaka Gin thought； as he recalled Chosa slumped over on his side； is a terrible thing。
He did not return home until after three。 A great deal of paperwork was involved in a death； even one so clear…cut as Chosa's。
Ushiba was still awake； reading by lamplight in an old overstaffed chair。 He looked up as Tanaka Gin came in； went into the kitchen； and poured himself three fingers of neat Scotch。 The prosecutor downed it in one gulp； poured himself another。
Putting aside his book of haiku； Ushiba walked silently into the kitchen。
〃What has happened？〃
〃Chosa's dead；〃 Tanaka Gin said flatly。 〃He put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger rather than be tried and convicted。〃
〃I can't say I blame him。〃 But Ushiba turned away； staring into the darkness of the strange apartment。 Is this the ending he had envisioned when he mitted himself to Ken's suggestion？ How clever he had thought Kisoko's son was when he had proposed using Tanaka Gin as the means to punish Chosa。 Of course Ushiba hadn't known this would happen。 He wasn't so cruel and calculating as to have coldly signed the death warrant of a man who had once been his friend。
And yet； how c