“Did she listen?”
“Not so much when she was very young, no,” said Hiroko with an amused expression. “But as she grew older, yes, Dillon-san, shedidlisten. And she indeed grew much wiser.”
Nash thought of the competition against her siblings that the FBI had told him about, a deadly battle spurred on by her mother.
He wasn’t sure how to frame it, but he wanted to hear Hiroko’s impression of it. “I understand that she is the only one of the Steers children still living?”
Hiroko’s features instantly crumpled and she put a hand to her mouth.
Nash said nothing. He just sipped his tea and waited.
“That is true,” she finally said.
“Was there an accident? Or was it some sort of illness that was contagious?”
“I. . .I do not wish to speak of it, Dillon-san. It is sad, a very sad business.”
“I’m sure. I’m sure everyone was sad.”
“Not everyone,” said Hiroko, who then seemed to catch herself. “Would you like some more tea, Dillon-san?”
“Yes, thank you.” He held out his cup for her to fill. Next he said, “I. . .saw the burns that Ms. Steers has. How terrible.”
Hiroko looked stunned. “She showed you?”
“Yes.”
“She must trust you very much, Dillon-san. And she has spoken highly of you when she has come to visit me here.”
“I think she does trust me. I hope you can, too,” he added.
“Victoria-san is a wonderful judge of character, so Iwilltrust you.” She paused and kneaded her fists into her small thighs. “We were both on a plane that came down from the sky,” she said in a trembling voice. “Victoria-san’s father died. Everyone died except for Victoria-san and me. But she was so badly burned. I. . .I pulled her from the wreckage.”
“When was this?”
“Nearly eight years ago.”
Nash looked at the small, elderly woman in amazement. “That must have been very difficult for you. Especially after having just survived a plane crash.”
“I could not let her die. Somehow, I found the strength to do what I needed to. She was in hospital for quite a long time. They wanted to do many surgeries. Many more, I mean. But . . .”
“But she wanted the injuries to remain, as a reminder”—he stopped to think of the right words—“to never let her guard down?”
Hiroko nodded. “Yes, that exactly. Oh, it grieved me to see her in so much pain. To the bone, right to the bone she was burned. The smell of the fuel, her screams, her father dying right in front of her.” She paused and bowed her head, her small chest heaving with emotion. She sat back up, her face streaked with tears, and continued, “But her strength was beyond all my experience.”
“Did they ever find out what happened to the plane?”
Hiroko said, “I have heard. . .that it was not an accident.”
“Not an accident? What then?”
In a lowered voice she said, “Victoria-san has enemies.”
“Well, from what I’ve seen I can understand that.”
“I know what some say about her. I know what . . .” She looked up at him. “She is a good person, Dillon-san. She cares very much, sometimes too much. She adored her father. He. . .he was not like his wife.” She stopped and looked frightened.
Nash said hastily, “I know exactly what you mean. I have met the woman, after all. And I will never share with anyone anything you tell me.”
