Page 15 of Mercy Written in Blood

"I knew it."

She reached over and flicked his forehead.

"You need a personal assistant."

"I have one."

"You ignore her."

"I occasionally ignore her."

"You ignored six reminders yesterday."

Haruki took another bite.

"I was busy."

"You always say that."

Because it was true. Being head of the Ishida Family wasn't glamorous. It was paperwork, meetings, disputes, budgets, phone calls — endless responsibility. People imagined power. Mostly it felt like administration.

His phone vibrated. Reina glanced at the screen.

"Construction."

Haruki answered.

"Ishida."

"Boss."

It was Ken. His voice sounded different now — less angry, more uncertain.

"We've got... something."

"What kind of something?"

"A room."

Haruki frowned.

"What do you mean, a room?"

"We were expanding the southern service tunnels beneath Warehouse District Four."

Ken hesitated.

"We broke through a wall."

"You weren't supposed to?"

"No."

"Gas?"

"No."

"Collapse?"