“If you wish it, Victoria-san. I will do whatever you want me to do.”
Nash glanced at Steers and was surprised to see her lips trembling. “You honor me with your faith, dear Hiroko-san,” she said. Then Steers bowed to the woman.
Hiroko returned the gesture and rushed off.
Nash eyed Steers. “Is there anything I should know?”
She would not look at him. “Hiroko-san has taken care of me since I was born. She is an honored member of my family. She worked hard all her life and now she has her just reward.”
“So she and your mother know each other then?”
“Theyknoweach other,” replied Steers.
“Okay,” said Nash, looking confused.
Steers now glanced at him. “It is sometimes difficult for mothers to appreciate others whom their children adore.”
“Oh, okay, sure, I get that.”
“Hiroko-san is kind and sweet and would never think of harming anyone,” said Steers, now staring at the wall.
Nash wondered if the woman had left unsaid,Unlike my mother, who is not kind or sweet and will destroy anyone she believes she needs to.
“She seems to be all of those things.” Nash glanced around at the neat confines of the apartment. “And she keeps a really spic-and-span home.”
Steers smiled at this remark and, to Nash’s eye, when she did it softened all the hard edges of the woman; indeed, she looked far more like the shy little girl in the old photo. “When I was a child Hiroko-san would have me make my bed every morning before breakfast. She told me that if I did so I would always have a clean place to return to that night. And that all things in between those times would be better off because my mind would be focused and organized. I have followed that advice all my life.”
“I can see that.”
She gazed at him but still seemed distant. “Can you, Mr. Hope?”
“You have no need to call me Mr., Ms. Steers. I work for you.”
“Unwillingly,” she said, then seemed to regret that comment. “I prefer to keep things formal between employee and employer.”
“As you wish,” he replied.
“I want Hiroko-san to enjoy her outing.”
“I’ll do all I can to make it pleasant and safe. That’s my job.”
“And my mother?”
“My job obviously covers her as well. You and she made that very clear to me.”
“I’m sureshedid.”
Nash now wondered if Steers was going to grill him on any special instructions or demands her mother might have made on him. And he wasn’t sure what his reply would be.
But, thankfully, she didn’t. Instead, she said, “You should become acquainted with Hiroko-san, Mr. Hope. She is a good person to. . .know.”
“With your permission, I will.”
“You have it,” Steers said curtly. She turned and walked off.
As she was walking down the hall, Nash’s hand went to his gun. An easy kill shot. Back of the head. All he had to do was—
Hiroko appeared behind him. “Mr. Hope, I am ready.”