The Devotion of Suspect X - Keigo Higashino [90]
“He would have been happy with just you, Mom. I don’t care if he invites me again. I’m not going.”
Yasuko sighed. Kudo seemed to believe that, if he gave it enough time, Misato would warm to him. Yasuko doubted that was true.
“Are you going to marry him, Mom?” Misato asked suddenly.
Yasuko sat up in her seat. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m serious. You want to marry him, right?”
“No.”
“Really?”
“Of course not. We just go to dinner every once in a while.”
“Okay. Fine then.” Misato turned and looked out the window.
“Why did you ask me that, Misato? Is there … something you want to say?”
“Nope.” But Misato slowly turned back toward her mother. “I just thought maybe it’s not a good idea to betray that other guy.”
“That guy? Who?”
Misato stared Yasuko in the eye and said nothing, though it was clear she meant Mr. Ishigami. She wasn’t saying anything because she didn’t want the taxi driver to hear.
“Well, I don’t think that’s anything you need to be worrying about,” Yasuko said, leaning back in her seat.
“Hmph,” Misato grunted. She clearly disagreed.
Yasuko thought about Ishigami. She was worried about him, even without Misato’s reminder. And the note and the photograph left in Kudo’s mailbox disturbed her deeply.
As far as Yasuko knew, there was only one person who could have sent that message. She remembered the dark look that had appeared on Ishigami’s face when he spotted Kudo dropping her off at her apartment. The image was burned vividly in her mind.
It was more than possible that Ishigami had discovered her relationship with Kudo and was jealous. She already knew his attraction to her was more serious than a passing fancy—after all, that was the only reasonable explanation for both his willingness to help them cover up Togashi’s murder and his continued protection of them from the police.
It was probably Ishigami who had left the note and the photograph in Kudo’s mailbox. If that was true, then what were his plans for her? Would he use what he knew as leverage to try and control her life? Would he never let her see—let alone marry—another man?
Thanks to Ishigami, Yasuko had, so far, avoided arrest in the hunt for Togashi’s murderer. She was grateful for that. Yet what was the point if she could never live a free life? It was no better than when Togashi was alive. She was just dealing with a different man now, and this time, there truly was no escape.
The taxi arrived at their apartment. They got out and walked up the stairs. The lights were on in Ishigami’s room.
Yasuko went into her apartment and began to change. Moments later, she heard the door to the next apartment open and close.
“See?” Misato said. “He was waiting for us to get back.”
“I know that,” Yasuko shot back, her testiness showing in her voice.
A few minutes later, her cell phone rang.
“Yes?”
“It’s me,” came the familiar voice. “Can you talk?”
“Yes.”
“Anything to report today?”
“No, nothing.”
“I see. Good.” She could hear Ishigami slowly breathe out on the other side of the line. “Actually, there are some things I need to talk to you about. The first is, I have placed three envelopes containing letters in the mail slot on your front door. Please go get them after I hang up.”
“Letters?” Yasuko glanced toward the door.
“Please keep them safe. You’ll need them shortly. All right?”
“Okay.”
“I included a memo with the letters explaining how you are to use them. I hardly need tell you to destroy the memo when you’re done reading it. Understood?”
“I understand. Should I get them now?”
“No, afterward is fine. Also, there is something else I need to say. It’s very important.” Ishigami paused. Yasuko sensed reluctance in his voice.
“Yes?”
“This is…” he began, “this is the last time I will call you like this. I won’t be contacting you any further. Nor should you try to contact me. No matter what happens, you and your daughter are to remain bystanders. Don’t get involved. That’s the only way you’ll be safe.”
Yasuko’s heart began to race as she listened to him talk. “What are you saying, Mr. Ishigami? What