Back in the car, Akira drove around the corner, then parked and hit the steering wheel, hard.

“Wakabayashi! It has to be him.â€ Akiko just nodded; that had been her conclusion as well. “But why?â€

“He’s trying to buy the shrine’s land, and your father was a loyal ujiko, so maybe he was trying to prise him away.â€ Akira turned to look at her, his eyes wide over the mask.

“That… No, wait, that makes no sense. The shrine is up a hill; it’s not a great place for building. If Wakabayashi is threatening people over this, he’s breaking the law. He wouldn’t do that over that piece of land. It’s not that good.â€ He shook his head. “Maybe something personal? Maybe he was threatening the shrine to get at my father?â€

“He was back after…â€ Akiko couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud. Akira said nothing for a long time, and then looked up and started the car.

“Well, there’s nothing to do but keep looking.â€

The next office looked like a bomb had hit it. They both got out of the car, staring at the wreckage in disbelief. A security guard noticed them, and came over.

“Can I help you?â€

“Er, probably not. I was hoping to talk to Mr Tamura. We used to do business with him.â€

“Ah. No, I can’t help with that. The gas tanks went up a couple of nights ago. The only people in the office had just popped out to the convenience store, so in a way it’s really lucky. He said to say that he’s planning to reopen, within a month, but can’t take any inquiries until then.â€ Akira nodded, still staring at the devastation.

“Thank you. I’ll get in touch with him later, then.â€

Back in the car, he paused for long moments before turning the ignition. Akiko looked at him, trying desperately to read the visible parts of his face.

“Do you think…?â€ He nodded once, sharply.

“Mr Tamura was a gas engineer. His own tanks wouldn’t go up by accident.â€

“No-one was hurt, though,â€ Akiko hastened to reassure him.

“No. Well, other than by having their livelihoods devastated.â€ He took a deep breath. “Next place.â€

They could hear the sirens from some distance away, and came round the corner to see fire engines still clustered round the burnt-out shell of a building, which still smouldered slightly. Akira stopped the car, and Akiko tried to glance at him without being obvious about it. All she could see was that he was gripping the steering wheel very tightly. She couldn’t imagine how he was feeling, and certainly couldn’t think of anything to say, so she just sat there.

Akira suddenly looked around, and then started manoeuvring the car to get it back out; the road ahead was blocked.

“There’s no point visiting here. I’m taking you back to the shrine.â€

“There are still other people to visit.â€ Akiko didn’t want him to give up, at least not at this point, but he was adamant.

“You might get caught up in it, being with me. I can’t risk that.â€

<em>I’m already caught up in it, </em>Akiko thought, but she said nothing.