"That's not exactly your worry, is it? I don't pry into your life when I'm away." She got up to retrieve another can of beer.
"You can't blame me for being curious, Tam. It's a simple, reasonable question."
Nothing Kenji Asano does is ever simple, she told herself. There's always a subtext.
"Don't try to change the subject. One thing at a time." She sipped from her glass. "And regarding your plan, as far as I'm concerned, there's been too much MITI dabbling already. Frankly it pisses me off."
"I'm sorry if you choose to feel that way, Tam." His eyes darkened. "Please believe me when I assure you we're on the same side. I've told you what I propose doing about Noda. But I haven't heard any of your ideas."
She sighed and sipped her beer. "I don't have any. Yet."
"Then why not trust me?"
Trust. There was that word again. Trouble was, she wasn't sure she trusted anybody anymore. She rose, strolled to the window, and reached for the curtain. Should she let him stay the night? Maybe that was just asking for more heartaches. Letting Japan screw America two ways. With that dismal thought she pulled open the curtains.
It had begun to snow, a swirl of drifting white.
"Ken, come and take a look." She beckoned him. "I think I'd like to go outside for a while. I'm weary to death of arguing."