Page 310 of Mercy Written in Blood

The message had arrived forty-three minutes earlier. A photograph. A location. Six people kneeling in what appeared tobe an abandoned municipal depot near the river. One of them was Ryota, the young volunteer from the community centre. Blood marked the side of his face. The text beneath the image had contained no demand. Only one sentence:Come before the Accord does.

It had been sent from a number associated with the Unveiled. Not Sota. Renji had tried calling him twice. No answer. Haruki had ordered the cars before Renji finished the second attempt.

Now they crossed the industrial district in rain heavy enough to erase the upper floors of buildings.

"You should remain in the vehicle," Haruki said.

Renji looked towards him. It was the first thing either had said since leaving the estate.

"No."

"Renji."

"You asked me to come."

"I asked you to confirm whether the people in the photograph were alive."

"I cannot do that from the road."

"You can do it from outside."

"No."

Haruki's jaw tightened. Ken looked towards the windscreen. Renji watched Haruki's hands. Steady. Too steady.

"You believe this is related to our disagreement," Renji said.

"I believe someone wants us inside that building."

"That is apparent."

"And I believe you are distracted."

"By what?"

Haruki glanced at him. The look lasted less than a second. Enough.

"You think I cannot act because we argued."

"I think you have spent the last hour replaying the Commander's justification."

"I have not."

"You have."

"That does not make me incapable."

"I didn't say incapable."

"You implied it."

Haruki exhaled through his nose. The car turned beneath a railway bridge. Rain struck the roof harder.

"We do not know how many people are inside," Haruki continued. "We do not know whether the hostages are genuine or whether the image was staged. We do not know if Sota authorised this."

"He did not."

"You don't know that."