The Devotion of Suspect X - Keigo Higashino [38]
“Who knows?” Yasuko shrugged.
“Well, I hope you’re spared the worst of it. That’s all I’m concerned about,” Sayoko said quickly, picking up the last bit of bean cake and popping it in her mouth.
Yasuko returned to the front of the shop, the conversation weighing on her spirit. It was clear that the Yonazawas didn’t suspect anything. To the contrary, they were concerned that the whole investigation was going to be a nuisance for her. It hurt to deceive them, but they would be in for far more trouble if she were arrested. That would be sure to hurt business at Benten-tei. She really had no other choice but to continue to conceal the truth from them.
She went about her work mechanically as the afternoon wore on, haunted by thoughts of her predicament. Each time her mind began to wander, she forced herself to focus on the task at hand, concentrating on the customers as best she could.
It was approaching six o’clock, and no customers had been in for a while, when the shop door swung open.
“Welcome,” Yasuko said reflexively. Then she glanced at the new arrival. Her eyes widened. “My…”
“Heya.” The man who stood before her smiled, wrinkles forming at the corners of his eyes.
“Mr. Kudo!” Yasuko put her hands to her open mouth. “What are you doing here?”
“What do you mean? I’m here to buy a lunch box,” Kudo said, looking up at the row of pictures showing the various boxed lunches they had for sale. “Say, pretty nice selection you got here.”
“They told you where to find me at Marian.”
“Something like that.” He grinned. “I dropped by there the other day. First time in a while.”
Yasuko called into the back of the shop, “Sayoko! Come quick! You’re never going to believe this!”
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Sayoko asked, rushing out.
“It’s Mr. Kudo!” Yasuko answered, smiling. “He’s come to visit!”
“What? Mr. Kudo…?” Sayoko came out from the back, taking off her apron. When she saw the man standing there in his coat, smiling, her mouth opened wide. “Why, Kudo! It is you!”
“You both look well. How are you and the old man getting along, mama? From the looks of your place, I’d say quite well.”
“Oh, we get by. It’s so nice to see you again! To what do we owe the honor?”
“Nothing much, I just wanted to see your faces again,” Kudo replied, with a glance at Yasuko. He was scratching the tip of his nose—an old habit. Yasuko remembered that was something he did when he was feeling particularly shy about something.
Kudo had been a regular at the club in Akasaka when Yasuko first started working there. He had always asked for her at the club, and once or twice, they had even gone to dinner before her shift started. Sometimes, when club hours were over, they had gone out drinking. When she had moved on to Club Marian in Kinshicho to escape Togashi, Kudo was the only customer she had told. He’d quickly become a regular at her new workplace. He was also the first she had told when she quit Marian. She remembered the sad look on his face. “Work hard, and be happy,” he had said.
She hadn’t seen him since.
Yonazawa came out from the back of the shop, and soon they were all exchanging old stories. The two men knew each other well, both having been regulars at Club Marian.
After they had all talked for a while, Sayoko suggested that Yasuko leave early so that she and Kudo could go out for tea. Yonazawa nodded in assent.
Yasuko looked at Kudo.
“Only if you have time?” he asked. Of course, he had probably come close to closing time with this in mind.
“Just for a little while, then,” she replied, smiling.
They left the shop, walking toward Shin-Ohashi Road.
“Truth be told, I’d rather be taking you out to dinner, but I’ll let you off the hook today. I’m sure your daughter’s expecting you at home,” Kudo said as they walked. She had told him about her daughter shortly after getting to know him at Akasaka.
“Speaking of which, how’s your son?”
“Great. He’s a senior already. Makes my head hurt just thinking about college exams,” he said, grimacing for effect.
Kudo was the manager