Summary

In Chapter 26, from his car, Mikami drove to the Prefectural HQ. He called an old contemporary: Minamikawa. Mikami asked for Hiyoshi’s phone number, but Minamikawa denied knowing. Mikami doubted this, because of the closeness between those who worked in the lab; he thought they were “all like family over there” (175). Upon provocation, Minamikawa admits he had been told not to say anything to Administrative Affairs.

At the HQ, Mikami entered, heading for the room in which they stored the keys. Those for Media Relations were missing; someone on Mikami’s staff was at the station. Mikami then walked to his office. Inside, he saw Mikumo at her desk. Mikami asked what she was doing at the station to which she replied that she was working on the press bulletin. He doubted this was her reason for being present and instructed her to...