The Absence of You

Chapter Two

The next day, Majima decided to stop by the warehouse to see if the kidnapper had kept their promise and returned Makoto safely. However, when he arrived, he found no sign of her. That son of a bitch lied! I mean, I ain't too surprised, but I'm madder'n hell. But, the money had been collected. Fuming mad, he took out his phone and called Kiryu. I hope he ain't too busy. Luckily, Kiryu had just finished up his work for the morning when his phone rang. "Majima? Is everything okay?"

"Fuck no! Everything is not okay! She ain't here!"

"Calm down. We'll find her. I'll make sure of it."

Majima took a few deep breaths to calm his nerves. "Yeah. She's gotta be okay."

"Yeah. I'm sure she is. And when we rescue her, you can tell her everything."

"Right."

"But on a different note, I think I know where to look next."

"Where?"

"You aren't gonna like it."

"Kiryu, just tell me."

"Cabaret Grand."

"Shit. I was hopin' you wouldn't say that."

"Even so, we should go there, just in case."

"Yeah, you're right."

"I'll meet you there."

"Sounds good."

Majima then ended the call and went off to Cabaret Grand, hoping that Makoto would be there. But...she wasn't, at least, not as far as he could tell. After a few minutes, Kiryu arrived. "Hey, Kiryu."

"Hey. Didja find her?"

"Does it look like I did?"

"Yeah, that was a dumb question. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I'm just on edge, is all."

"Understandable. I would be too, if I were in your position." And just then...his phone rang. "Huh? My phone. I wonder who it is?" Having said so, he answered. "Hello?"

"Hello. I trust you've figured out by now that Makoto is not going to be easy to track down. If you are in front of Cabaret Grand, I've got a clue for you."

"Shoot."

"You might want to check every booth. You may find a clue to her whereabouts."

"Got it." Kiryu hung up and turned to Majima. "I think this guy is just fucking with us at this point."

"What'd he say?"

"He said to check every booth, claiming that we might find a clue."

"Well, I guess we ain't got much of a choice, then."

"Right. Let's go."

"Right behind ya."

The two walked into Cabaret Grand, and Majima immediately began running about like a headless chicken as he searched for any clues that might lead to Makoto. As he ran from booth to booth, he heard a faint melody playing. It sounded like...a watch. He lowered himself to his knees to check under the table he had just passed and found the object he had heard. "Kiryu?" he called out to his friend. "I found somethin'."

"What did you find?" asked the other as he jogged over.

"A watch."

"It's Makoto's, isn't it?"

"Yeah. But if it's here, then..."

"This is our clue?"

"Looks like it."