Page 290 of Mercy Written in Blood

"Ms Nakano."

Her gaze moved to Haruki. No recognition appeared, though Renji knew she had identified him before the outer door closed.

"Mr Ishida."

Haruki inclined his head. Two security officers waited beside the private lift, both human. One carried a concealed firearm. The other wore a narrow silver chain around his wrist beneath his cuff. Protection against vampires. Protection from vampires. The Accord had always preferred symmetry when displaying distrust.

"Commander Mori is expecting you," Ms Nakano said.

The lift opened without being called. Haruki looked towards Renji.

"You didn't tell me his name."

"You did not ask."

"I assumed Commander was his name."

"That would be unusual."

"You've allowed me to call him that for weeks."

"You have not spoken to him."

"I've spoken about him."

"He was not present to be offended."

Haruki stepped into the lift.

"That explains your manners."

Renji followed. The security officers remained outside. The doors closed. No buttons marked the panel. A camera watched from the upper corner.

Haruki looked at his reflection in the polished metal.

"You're nervous."

"No."

"You adjusted your cuff twice in the lobby."

"It was misaligned."

"It wasn't."

Renji lowered his hand. The cuff was not misaligned. Haruki's gaze met his in the mirrored wall.

"You could have told me."

"There was nothing useful to tell."

"That he asked to see us personally seems useful."

"He asks to see many people."

"After they uncover proof the Accord helped bury a civilisation?"

Renji looked towards the doors. The word was too large. Civilisation. It made the first layer of the Archive sound distant and archaeological. The tablets had not felt distant. His father's hand remained immediate in his memory. Three sentences written before the massacre.Law cannot be just. Medicine cannot remain ethical. Peace purchased through ignorance—