Michiko hesitated.

"There is something. Until we know what has happened, could you tell Nakanishi that my uncle is home sick?"

Hideo Nakanishi was Ichiro's deputy at Taiyo.

Mrs. DeMaria agreed to relay the excuse and Michiko promised to call her as soon as they had any news. Then Michiko turned to Lori.

"Okay. Who do we call first?"

"The local precinct. Missing persons, I guess. Where's the phone book?"

Two hours later, having called the police station and a myriad of hospitals, Lori put down the phone and turned to Michiko.

"Okay, that's it. Now all we can do is wait. No, what about the Japanese consulate? Maybe they can put some pressure on the police. I got the impression the cops thought your uncle spent the night with some bimbo and just forgot to come home."

"Let's ask my aunt. She knows a lot of the people there."

They found Noriko in the garden, on her knees with a trowel in one hand, staring into space.

"Aunt, Lori thinks we should call the consulate. They can make sure the police really try to find Uncle."

"I know. The wife of the vice consul is the daughter of a school friend of mine. Homma Yoshiko. I can talk to her."

Before Michiko could help her aunt to rise, they heard the faint ringing of the doorbell. The three women froze, caught for the moment between relief and fear.

Lori was the first to mobilize herself.

"Help your aunt, Michiko. I'll get it," she called over her shoulder as she sprinted into the house.