‘There has been no threat to him that I am aware of.’

‘If he had been threatened, would he have told you? Knowing him as I do, I suspect not.’

‘When did he tell you I was leaving the country?’

‘Yesterday afternoon. After you had left. He came here to see me, without an appointment. He was … extremely anxious. He had just returned from a business trip to Fukuoka, he said, and had gone straight to his office. It had been broken into and searched. The computer had been stolen. Along with various paper files. He did not think it was a simple burglary. I asked about you, which was when he told me he had sent you to London … for reasons related to his journey to Fukuoka. This is true?’

‘Yes.’

‘You must judge whether it is wise for you to continue with whatever he asked you to undertake. You are no longer working for him, sadly. There is no contract you are bound by. Legally speaking, the Kodaka Detective Agency is no more. I will, of course, attend to the formalities of winding up the business. It would be easier to do so with your assistance, but … I would understand if …’

‘Did Kodaka-san tell you about the case that took him to Fukuoka?’

‘He gave me no details. But my impression was that he regarded the break-in at his office as a clear sign of danger. For himself … and you.’

The implications of what had happened swirled in Wada’s mind. Kodaka was dead. The office computer and assorted files had been stolen. And she was alone, on the other side of the world, with an appointment fixed for the following morning with a stranger. The shock of Dobachi’s news solidified into dread. What should she do? How should she react?

‘He mentioned another person, Wada-san. Mimori Takenaga. You know her?’

‘A client.’

‘The client? In the present case?’

‘Yes.’

‘I will make discreet enquiries about her present situation. As for you …’

‘If the danger is real, I cannot ignore it.’

‘You could … make it obvious you have abandoned the case. Go somewhere … for a holiday … before returning home. I will take no steps to cancel your company credit card.’

Was that why Kodaka had mentioned her brother Haruto to Wada during their last – their very last – conversation? To plant in her mind the idea of taking refuge with him in New York if she needed to? If so, he must have known they were playing with fire by taking on Mrs Takenaga as a client. Which surely meant he’d known far more about the background to the case than he’d revealed.

‘There is one other thing I have to tell you, Wada-san. While you consider what to do.’

‘What is it?’