Chapter 11The jazz club was a square room with wood chairs facing the stage and narrow tables offering just enough space to set a drink. The place was half full and the band was cooking. Hiroshi took a seat in the back next to a huge photo of John Coltrane watching over the proceedings like a jazz saint.
After Senden’s stonewalling, he and Akiko had dug through the company’s details in his office. They’d set up appointments for the next day but made little headway. Takamatsu and Osaki had been called to sort out a suicide. Hiroshi had left his office in frustration and taxied to the club.
The quintet had an electric violinist, trumpeter and sax player on the front line, and a bassist and drummer whipping up thick rhythms. Hiroshi followed the trumpeter’s solo, long, spare, and unhurried.
