The Devotion of Suspect X - Keigo Higashino [3]
She thought back, trying to remember something that might have clued her in to his interest, but came up with nothing. He was like the thin crack in her apartment wall. She knew it was there, but she had never paid it that much attention. It just wasn’t worth paying attention to.
They exchanged greetings whenever they met and had even discussed the management at their apartment building once. Yet Yasuko found she knew very little about the man himself. She had only recently learned that he taught math, when she happened to notice outside his apartment door a bundle of old math textbooks, wrapped in string and awaiting disposal.
Yasuko hoped he wouldn’t ask her out on a date. Then she smiled to herself, trying and failing to imagine the dour-looking man’s face as he asked the question.
As on every other day, the midday rush at Benten-tei began right before lunchtime, peaking just after noon. Things didn’t really quiet down again until after one o’clock.
Yasuko was sorting the bills in the register when the sliding glass door opened and someone walked in. “Hello,” she chimed automatically, looking up. Then she froze. Her eyes opened wide and her voice caught in her throat.
“You look well,” said the man who was standing there. He was smiling, but his eyes were darkly clouded.
“You … how did you find me here?”
“Is it so surprising? I can find out where my ex-wife works if I have a mind to.” The man looked around the shop, both hands thrust into the pockets of his dark navy windbreaker, like a prospective customer trying to figure out what he should buy.
“But why? Why now?” Yasuko asked, her voice sharp but low. She glowered at him, inwardly praying that the Yonazawas in the back wouldn’t hear them talking.
“Don’t look so frightening. How long has it been since I saw you last? And you can’t even manage a polite smile?” He grinned.
Yasuko shivered. “If you’re here to chitchat, you can save yourself the trouble and turn around right now.”
“Actually, I came for a reason. I have a favor to ask. Think you can get out for a bit?”
“Don’t be an idiot. Can’t you see I’m working?” Yasuko said, then immediately regretted it. That made it sound like I would have talked with him if I wasn’t at work.
The man licked his lips. “What time do you get off?”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to talk to you. Please, just leave and don’t come back.”
“Ouch. Cold.”
“What did you expect?”
Yasuko glanced outside, hoping that a customer would walk in, but the street was empty.
“Well, if this is how you’re going to act, guess I’ll try someone else,” the man said, scratching his head.
Warning bells went off in Yasuko’s head. “What do you mean by that?”
“I mean if my wife won’t listen to me, maybe her daughter will. Her school’s near here, right?”
“Don’t you dare.”
“Okay, then maybe you can help. Either way’s fine by me.”
Yasuko sighed. She just wanted him to leave. “I’m on till six.”
“Early morning to six o’clock? That’s some long hours they got you working.”
“It’s none of your concern.”
“Okay, I’ll come back at six, then.”
“No, not here. Take a right outside, and walk down the street until you come to a large intersection. There’s a family restaurant on the near corner. Be there at six thirty.”
“Great. And, try to make sure you’re there. Because if you don’t show up—”
“I’ll be there. Just leave. Now.”
“Fine, fine. Kick me out on the street.” The man took another look around the shop before walking out, closing the sliding door behind him a little too hard.
Yasuko put her hand to her forehead.