The Tenth Case (10)

I sit at my desk, the dim light of my lamp casting long shadows across the scattered papers and coffee-stained reports. The clock on the wall ticks steadily, a constant reminder of the precious time slipping away. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath as I run through our plan one more time in my head.

Step one: Inform the Yakuza. Check. That meeting had gone surprisingly well. Ko's no-nonsense approach and our mutual interest in solving this case had smoothed over any potential tensions. They'd listened intently as we laid out our strategy, their faces a mix of concern for their missing women and eagerness to catch the person responsible.