another time； it was a way of life for the Japanese。 And today； though there is the modern Japan which stands in its place； still the old ways remain。 Still there is bushido； the Way of the Warrior。'
〃Yeah？ What the hell is it； then？'
Nicholas laughed。 'I don't think I could explain it in a few minutes。'
'That's okay； I've got bags of time。' Croaker extracted a MintyPick from his breast pocket； rolled it between his teeth。 'I ain't eaten in much too long。 What say you and I talk mis out over a meal？'
Nicholas nodded and Croaker turned to Vincent。 'Say； Doc； I'll sign for the bags while I'm here。'
'Right。' Vincent went round the corner to the small alcove where a number of polythene bundles waited for collection by the police： homicide victims' effects and clothes。 Vincent brought two bundles back to Croaker； gave him a form to sign。
Croaker looked up； giving Vincent back his pen。 'I'll be in touch；' he said。
Nicholas's call made Doc Deerforth uneasy； and while Nicholas had been brief； he'd given more than enough for Doc Deerforth to chew on。
He had appointments until twelve…thirty but directly his last patient said good…bye； he left the office and drove out to Dune Road。 He had been in constant touch with Ray Florum； of course； but there had been no progress on the two murder cases and； reluctantly； he had had to let the county detectives in。 Not that it would do any good； Doc Deerforth thought sourly as he drove across the steel drawbridge onto Dune Road： the county people were like the Keystone Kops； all gung…ho and no expertise。
He turned right and settled back。 Gulls rose； wheeling over the water on his left； circling about the two stories of The Crosstree； Dune Road's newest condominium。 It was tan and dark brown with a maze of outside staircases on this； the landward side。 Soon the condominiums gave grudging way to private houses。
The thought of the ninja haunted him all the way out to Justine's house。 Ever since he had bee aware of the evidence； he hadn't had a decent night's sleep。 In dreams he would return to the steaming jungles； to the mortar fire by day； the snipers' fire by night。 But it was one specific night he dreaded most of all and even in his dreams he fought against remembering。 Soon； he knew； he would have to resort to chloral hydrate to knock himself into a dreamless abyss。
He parked the car on the side of the house； took the elevated slatted…wood pathway over the dunes and scrub grass to the beach。 He went up the stairs； knocked on the screen door。 Behind him the water surged and； down the beach； he could hear the cries of children as they ran into the surf。 A shaggy dog barked； leaping along the sand in pursuit of a wobbling Frisbee。 The sand was a patchwork of oiled bodies； brightly coloured blankets and striped sun umbrellas。 A cool breeze blew in off the water and； for a moment at least； there came the drone of an airplane。
Justine came to the door； opened it。 She smiled。 'Hi。 What brings you out here？'
'Nothing special；' Doc Deerforth lied。 'I was out this way and thought I'd say hello。 Haven't seen you since the beginning of the summer。'
Justine laughed as she stepped back to let him in； Thank God that allergy doesn't last for long。 I couldn't endure it all summer。' She went into the kitchen。 'Would you like a drink？' And when he nodded； she added； 'Gin and tonic？'
'Fine。'
She went about fixing it。
'Seems quiet around here；' he said。 'Had any visitors？' 'What？' she said over the sound of cracking ice。 'I can't hear you？'
He went into the kitchen。 'Any visitors lately？' She handed him his drink； began to make hers。 'Only Nicholas。' She tasted it。 'Umm。 But that's the way I like it。 I've never been fortable with a lot of people； not at home at least。' They went into the living room； sat on the sofa。 'In business； it's different。 I don't like to mix the two。'
Doc Deerforth nodded。 'I know what you mean。 I don't like to either。〃
She regarded him over the rim of her tall glass。 She pressed the condensation against her lip； rolling the glass。 'Tell me； Doc；' she said。 'You didn't e all the way out here to exchange pleasantries； did you？' 'I came to see how you were。' 'I'm not ill；' she pointed out。
Doc Deerforth smiled。 'I didn't say anything about that。 This isn't a business call。'
'I see。' Her eyes wouldn't let him get away。 'Did Nicholas call you？'
He laughed； relieved。 'You know； you remind me of Kathy； my youngest。 Nothing gets past her； either。' He shook his head。 'Nicholas called this morning。'
'I wish he'd called me instead；' Justine said。 'I wish he hadn't gone into the city。'
'He had to； from what I gathered。' Doc Deerforth put his drink down。 'Anyway； you could've gone in with him。'
She shook her head。 'Too much work and； besides； they were his friends。 I'd just be out of place。 I've got no desire to tag along after him。' She took a sip。 'We each have our own lives。 Where they touch； well … that's where we love。 The involvement … we're like two fiercely spinning wheels； each with its own orbit。 We lean towards each other； we touch hesitantly； we calculate how far each of us can go without disturbing the orbits；'
'What happens if you go too far；' Doc Deerforth said； 'and your … orbits； as you put it … are disturbed？'
Justine unfolded herself； went across the room to stare out at the hot beach and the cool curling surf。 'In that event；' she said； her voice as thin as a ghost's； I'm afraid it would be disastrous。'
'The girls will take care of you； m'sieur。' The maitre d' hotel moved a little to his right； lifting an arm towards the steep； dark staircase。 He touched his thin moustache with a forefinger； stroked it。
'You know； I thought you'd take me to that place on Park；' Nicholas said。 'You know； downtown。' They were in the low Fifties on the East Side。
'You mean the Belmore Cafeteria？' Croaker said。 'Jesus； I leave that to the undercover bastards。 Christ； I wouldn't go there for a proper meal。'
It was quiet on the second floor； only a table near the door was occupied。 The far end of the room was on an elevated platform beside a row of windows。
The two waitresses were pretty。 They wore dark tops and short skirts。 They spoke with accents。
Croaker requested a window table and one waitress led them up the steps。 She left them with menus after taking their drink order。
'How long did you know Tanaka？' Croaker asked。 His eyes scanned the opened menu。
'About six years；' Nicholas said。 'We met in kenjutsu class。'
'Here？'
'Yeah。 I still go there。 I'll take you after lunch。'
Tart of my education； huh？ Humm； I think I'll take the bacon and eggs。' The girl came up； placed their drinks on the table； a Kir for Nicholas； a dark Myer's rum on the rocks for Croaker。 Croaker gave her his order； Nicholas ordered the same。 When she had left； he continued。 'This dojo。 Where'd Tanaka get the bread for it？'
'Worked mostly； I expect。' Nicholas took a long swallow of the Perrier。 'And I think he had a bit of money when he came over here。 His mother had left him some before she died。'
'How much？'
Nicholas shrugged。 'I have no idea。 His family was wealthy but there are nine children。'
'Where are they？'
'As far as I know； they're all in Japan。 Terry was the only one who left。'
'And the father？'
'Killed during the war。'
'Um hum。' Croaker shook his head。 'Still； it takes an awful lot of cash or collateral to open up a business here。'
'What are you getting at？'
Croaker shrugged； took a pull of his drink。 'You know about bread。 You need； you get。 Sometimes it isn't so easy to pay it back。 People get antsy； they don't want to wait。'
Nicholas shook his head。 〃The only business partner Terry had in the dojo was Chase Manhattan and he paid them off nine months ago。 The dojo was thriving。'
'Someone wanted in。'
'Uh uh。 Lieutenant …'
Croaker lifted a hand； palm outward。 'Just going over all the possibilities。 You so sure he was straight？ I mean； you weren't with him twenty…four hours a day。'
'I didn't have to be。 I knew him。 Believe me； there's no illegal involvement。 At least； not in the way you think。'
'Which leads us back to bushido； right？' He was interrupted by the food。 H