Kobayshi met Suzuki and Bando at an open air lunch kiosk in a market a few hours later.

Suzuki said, "Well?"

"Sei's old man thinks you'd be better off pursuing other cases," Kobayashi said, "that Kyohei is a good enough cook for a police function, and that there is no way Sei would do anything to harm him."

"You believe that, Captain?" Suzuki said. "Either he knows what she's doing or he's in denial. Either way, she's his only immediate family member, and he'd cover for her."

Bando put in, "Or there's nothing to cover."

Kobayashi looked between his two detectives. "It's not a good sign when you two don't agree. Can either of you give me a compelling reason to accept your argument?" He waited. When neither answered, he said, "I thought as much. We'll keep our ears open. If Sei is a predator, she'll screw up sooner or later. If she's not, then it's not our concern. Either way, we will no longer actively pursue this matter, and that includes any investigations on your own time. Bailan's lawyers will make mince meat out of us if we make the smallest mistake, and I won't have it, not on my watch. You have other cases demanding your attention. Get back to work on them as soon as you get back to the house, and I don't want to hear another word about Sei and Kyohei unless there's evidence that can stand up in court. Detectives." He turned and headed down the street.

Suzuki turned to Bando. "Why didn't you back me up?" he asked.

"Back what up?"

"You think Sei's innocent?"

"It's not my job to determine guilt or innocence. It's my job - and yours - to follow the evidence wherever it leads, and there's nothing here. No one is that cunning to not leave any trace at all, no one."

"She's guilty of something."

"Maybe, but if she's not molesting Kyohei Tachibana, then I will not pursue an innocent woman." Bando paused, then went on, "Eiji, you're my partner and you're my friend. You're one of the best detectives I've ever known. 99.99% of the time I trust your judgment; I'll follow you to the ends of the Earth if that what it takes to bring down a suspect. But the captain is right, and much as I'm loath to admit it, so is Sei's grandfather. You have to get past this fixation on Sei. You'll destroy yourself if you don't drop it."

"I can't do that, Ohato."

"For your sake - and the sake of all who care about you, Eiji - I hope you can."