No Souls On The River

NO SOULS ON THE RIVER Tōkyō MPD Mysteries BOOK 2 M. KATO NO SOULS ON THE RIVER Tōkyō MPD Mysteries #2 Copyright © 2023 by M. Kato All Rights Reserved. No part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. No Souls On The River is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. ASIN: B0BHXJFBND Also by M. Kato Standalone Novellas Whispers of the Dead: MM Romantic Ghost Story Castle of Bones: MM Gothic Romance Tōkyō MPD Mysteries (Paranormal Mystery Romance) The Red Collar – Book 1 No Souls On The River – Book 2 Keep in touch Newsletter Sign-up Instagram Goodreads Bookbub Author’s note: The characters’ names will be written in the following order: [family name] and then [given name]. Example: Hayashi Teruo > Hayashi = family name; Teruo = given name Miyazaki Shinji > Miyazaki = family name; Shinji = given name Content warning The book contains a discussion about a possible suicide (alluded to, not described); physical abuse (described on page); emotional abuse (shown on page); a discussion regarding a mother’s and her child’s death during childbirth (not shown on page). There might be other heavy topics discussed in the book. Reader discretion is advised. ABOUT THIS BOOK Homicide detective Hayashi Teruo and his partner, Miyazaki Shinji are juggling their personal and work lives, trying to keep their relationship a secret from their colleagues at the Tōkyō MPD. In the supernatural realm, the souls of the dead are disappearing from the Sanzu River, before they have reached the end of their journey in the afterlife. As a Shinigami responsible for sending ghosts to the other side, Shinji is being investigated on the suspicion that he might have destroyed the spirits. Things turn from bad to worse when Teruo and Shinji look into a gruesome murder that shares similarities with the closed homicide case from Shinji’s past in Hiroshima. As they work on connecting the two cases, Teruo and Shinji find themselves at a crossroads when Shinji’s ex arrives in Tōkyō bringing Shinji’s dark past with him. Shinji’s powers start to slowly spiral out of control, threatening to put an end to the future they wanted together. No Souls On The River is a steamy paranormal police procedural. It's Book 2 in the series and features a happy ending. The book contains profanity and sexually explicit scenes meant for mature audiences only. Contents CHAPTER 1 SHINJI CHAPTER 2 TERUO CHAPTER 3 SHINJI CHAPTER 4 TERUO CHAPTER 5 SHINJI CHAPTER 6 TERUO CHAPTER 7 SHINJI CHAPTER 8 SHINJI CHAPTER 9 TERUO CHAPTER 10 TERUO CHAPTER 11 SHINJI CHAPTER 12 SHINJI CHAPTER 13 SHINJI CHAPTER 14 TERUO CHAPTER 15 TERUO CHAPTER 16 TERUO CHAPTER 17 SHINJI CHAPTER 18 SHINJI CHAPTER 19 TERUO CHAPTER 20 TERUO CHAPTER 21 SHINJI CHAPTER 22 SHINJI CHAPTER 23 TERUO CHAPTER 24 SHINJI CHAPTER 25 SHINJI CHAPTER 26 SHINJI CHAPTER 27 TERUO CHAPTER 28 SHINJI CHAPTER 29 SHINJI EPILOGUE TERUO CHAPTER 1 Shinji Thick fog shrouded the building of the Tōkyō Metropolitan Police Department. The freezing January air made its way into the office through the open window. Shinji rested his elbows on the sill and peered down at the trees, their bare branches glinting orange under the glow of the street lights. Dark shapes of people and cars dissolved in and out of the almost opaque layers of fog, but the spirit of a woman was as clear as daylight. White ghostly mist surrounding Sayori, swirling in the wind. She had been aware of her death when Shinji saw her this morning in Musashino City—his jurisdiction for soul harvesting—but she refused to offer details or cross over to the other side. She had insisted on joining Shinji at the TMPD and had strolled around the office for a little while—much to Teruo’s apprehension—before deciding to remain outside and gaze at those passing by. The latest case had just wrapped up, providing Shinji with more time to talk to her and find out what kept her from passing on. The office door opened and Teruo strode in, grumbling what sounded like ‘I need a fucking smoke’. He clicked the lock shut, leaving them completely secluded from anyone who might intrude in the privacy of their shared office and accidentally find out about their relationship. Teruo’s shoes tapped on the floor as he approached and he wrapped his arms around Shinji’s waist, leaning against him from behind. “Hey,” Teruo murmured, holding him tightly. He placed a kiss on Shinji’s neck, which sent a dull throb down his abdomen. “Aren’t you cold without your suit jacket on?” Shinji shrugged. “A bit, yeah. I don’t mind it.” But he angled backward, seeking Teruo’s warmth. His hand caressed Teruo’s cheek, enjoying the rough feel of the stubble. “I was keeping an eye on Sayori. She seems troubled.” Shoulders suddenly tensing, Teruo glanced around the office. “Is she here again?” he whispered. “No.” Shinji smiled. “She’s outside on the sidewalk.” He twined his fingers with Teruo’s, tilting his head back against Teruo’s shoulder. “I’ll have to go back to Musashino and help her cross over.” Teruo remained quiet for a few more seconds before pulling away. He grabbed a cigarette from his pack of Mevius and lit it before taking a drag. “Tonight?” he finally asked. “Tonight, if she decides to leave this world behind.” “If not?” Shinji gave a half-sigh, half-groan and turned to face Teruo. “Then I’ll have to take her to my apartment and stay there with her until she makes up her mind.” “Going all the way to Musashino, then back to your apartment, then again to Musashino until ghosts decide to cross over is a counterproductive way of working.” “Can’t do anything about it,”