Prologue
The old man led me gently, yet with a sense of secrecy and urgency. He was like a father to me, a father I never had. I followed him up the grey monotonous stairs of the apartment block, stopping at a steel door.
"K, this will be your room for the time being, until we join the task force anyway", he smiled, creases spreading from his aged eyes. It was reassuring, in a way, how even though so much time had passed he still smiled at me like I still lived…there.
I grasped the door handle, and slowly made my way into my new accommodation. I chuckled to myself, they still like the expensive stuff don't they. The obviously 5 star suite was a palace compared to my small 2 roomed flat in that god forsaken council estate, with stabbings and rapes a weekly occurrence in the neighbourhood. A cold chill trickled down my spine. I would never go back there. Never.
I collapsed on the sofa nearest to me, eagerly snuggling into the comfortable cushions, of which I had been deprived of for so long.
"I'll leave a phone here, I trust I don't need to remind you to delete any messages received, am I correct?"
"Yes", my throat was still dry and husky after that long flight.
"Well, I'd better leave you to get some sleep. Goodnight, K"
"Goodnight, Watari"
I slowly opened my eyes the next morning, hit by my usual buffer of drowsiness. A crack in the curtains made a beam of sunlight glare right into my eyes. I groaned a series of unintelligible noises as I made my way to the bathroom. I felt instantly rejuvenated as the hot water cleared my head completely. I hated being dirty, it made my concentration decrease considerably, and I was going to need all my wits about me for today.
The phone rang from the desk next to the bed, forcing me out of my trance. I heaved myself up and ran to the phone. I picked it up, wondering what the problem could be. Watari never rang unless it was urgent.
"K, I've just been told you haven't been informed who will be also helping in the task force."
"What are you talking about Watari? I know I'm working with the police."
"Yes, but there is someone else too. I apologise but I thought that you knew."
"Watari, just tell me please"