Hidden Nexus by Nick Tanner Page A

had happened. Things he just couldn’t believe. Things he couldn’t believe he could do. Things he couldn’t believe other people could do. As a consequence too many thoughts had crowded into his already saturated mind and it had taken him a great deal of time to think through them all; to order them neatly, to establish how he felt and to consider what the best course of action should be.
     
    To say that he felt rejected and betrayed would be putting it mildly and the deep emptiness that was now his life was profoundly real and overpoweringly hurtful. The cold coffee was just a front. He had already downed a number of whiskies in a knee-jerk and rather fruitless attempt to come to terms with his predicament. At the epicentre resided his attitude towards Watanabe, his Party and his job, and where minute by minute he had squeezed out any remaining positive thoughts concerning them all, leaving behind just a hard, metallic ball of pure bitterness and bile.
     
    Fuck the lot of them!
     
    He couldn’t count the number of times that he had saved that pathetic bastard and now, without a second’s thought, he had been thrown to the wolves and dumped on the scrap heap.
     
    Think of all the things he had done!
     
    He took a sip of the cold coffee, immediately wishing he hadn’t and spat it back into the cup before gaining the attention of the waitress and indicating that he would like another – with a whiskey on the side. She brought them across immediately. He didn’t smile nor make any acknowledgement for her service, slugged the whiskey back and then ordered another.
     
    There were many emotions that he felt – the primary of which was anger. He usually considered himself to be a level-headed sort of man, a man more used to taking logical steps and making logical decisions rather than being ruled by raw, alcohol infused emotion. It had surprised him deeply at how emotional he had become. Looking back now, in a much calmer state of mind, he was disappointed at his initial reaction to his sacking. It was improper indeed to have been so hideously grovelling, in such a pathetic and whining way and he considered it now to be an insult to his samurai forebears and a shameful act which he now fully regretted. Consequently he was angry at himself. He was also, of course, angry with Watanabe, but this anger was tempered with pity. He knew Watanabe didn’t stand a chance without him. Admittedly it was clear that Watanabe had charisma and charm and some sort of goal in mind, but without Kinjo behind him Kinjo was sure that Watanabe would appear rudderless, idiotic and vulnerable.
     
    Nevertheless he retained a seething anger regarding his former employer - an anger that, despite having worked through his emotions, propelled him recklessly into the clichéd temptation to drown his sorrows in a deluge of alcohol which he was now fully ready to embrace.
     
    The alcohol, though, had helped to loosen his mind. Thoughts that had been previously tangled were bit by bit straightening out. The logical processes were ticking over nicely now – whirring away like the best oiled machine. He took alternate gulps of coffee and whiskey as the pieces began to slot into place. He was thinking about Watanabe, he was predicting what Watanabe would probably do next and he could see it all quite clearly in his mind. Suddenly a broad smile spread across his face. If he read the situation well he could see a neat outcome to all his problems. And all he had to do was to wait and all he had to do was to have one more drink.
     

10 - In which Hideki Yamada recounts his steps
    Friday 31st December 11:30am
     
    After talking to Eri Yamada’s parents Sergeant Mori had made the short journey to Hideki Yamada’s place of work. All of his work colleagues had confirmed that, to their knowledge, he was perfectly happy with his marriage. No-one implied the slightest possibility of a secret office romance or badly hidden personality disorders. He appeared