“He’s from Nihonbashi?”
“I asked around a bit. Seems he was transferred there quite recently. Anyway, what did he want to know?”
Although flustered, Shuhei decided to be frank. He figured he’d be fine as long as he didn’t mention giving the cakes to Taiji.
“I can’t believe it! Imagine coming here for dinner just to ask you about that!”
“What do you think I should do?”
“You’ve nothing to worry about. They didn’t find your fingerprints, so you’re okay. I shouldn’t have called you over. Get on with the cleanup.” Yoriko briskly turned her back on him.
4
Shuhei was busy washing the dishes when Taiji stumped into the kitchen. Judging by his complexion, he’d hadn’t yet had anything to drink that evening.
“Forget about this stupid job and come out with me for a while.”
“Where to?”
“Who cares? Come and you’ll find out soon enough. Chop-chop.”
“I haven’t finished cleaning up yet.”
“I’m the boss, and this is an order. Shut up and do as you’re told. Come on, get ready. I’ll be waiting outside.”
“Oh... uh... okay.” Shuhei hastily dried his hands on a cloth and left the kitchen.
This was the first time Taiji had ever invited him out. As Shuhei went out into the street, he was feeling nervous. Where was Taiji going to take him?
“What the hell! Haven’t you got any decent clothes?” Taiji scowled as he looked at what Shuhei was wearing.
“I’m sorry. Isn’t this good enough?” He was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. “Should I go and change?”
“No, you’re fine like that. Let’s go.”
They went out onto the main street, where Taiji hailed a cab. Shuhei was startled when he heard him ask the driver to take them to Ginza. Ginza was one of the most expensive, upscale shopping areas in Tokyo — in the world, in fact. Shuhei had never gone out there.
“What’s wrong with you? Why get the wind up about Ginza?” Taiji grinned. “You want to be a successful chef, you need to get to know a little something about the grown-up world.”
Shuhei spluttered something incoherent.
“Hey, be cool. It’s not like I’m going to ask you to foot the bill or anything.” Taiji bellowed with laughter, his mouth wide open.
The taxi came to a halt in a street packed with cars. The sidewalk was full of businessmen in suits and what Shuhei guessed were women from nightclubs and hostess bars. Shuhei had seen similar scenes in Ningyocho, but this was the first time he had been to a district devoted to nightlife.
“Get your head out of the clouds and follow me,” snapped Taiji.
Shuhei hastily followed Taiji to a nightclub on the sixth floor of a building. It was spacious, but every single table was occupied. Everywhere there were flashing fairy lights, while the hostesses sitting with the male clientele exuded their own peculiar light and charm. Shuhei felt as though he’d landed on an alien planet.
A man in a black suit guided Taiji and Shuhei to a table. They sat down, and a woman came over a moment later. She was wearing a smart dress and had a petite face with her hair pulled back.
Taiji introduced Shuhei to her. The woman said that her name was Asami.
“You’re seventeen? Wow! And planning to become a chef? That’s just so cool. I guess you’re too young to drink, then?” Asami was mixing Shuhei a whiskey and water when her hands came to a sudden stop.
“Beer will be fine for him. An aspiring chef who can’t take a drink isn’t worth his salt.”
Shuhei felt tense and uncomfortable. He had no idea how one was supposed to behave in a place like this, nor could he think of anything to talk about.
Someone called Asami, and she left the table. Taiji beckoned to Shuhei.
“Come around here.”
Shuhei slid around next to Taiji, who hissed into his ear.
“That Asami there, she’s my woman. The cakes that you’re always buying, I give ’em to her.”
“Ah...” gurgled Shuhei, staring at Taiji in surprise.
“The wife said something about a detective from Nihonbashi Precinct giving you grief about those cakes. There’s no need to worry. They’ve nothing to do with the murder.”
“I wasn’t worried...”
“No need to playact with me, kid. I know what you were thinking: that the murdered woman was my bit on the side?” Taiji held up his pinky finger in the Japanese sign for “girlfriend.” “It was quite a coincidence, I grant you. Asami actually lives in the same apartment building where the murder happened.”
“No?” gasped Shuhei.
“Yeah, that’s the creepy thing. Like I said, though, I’ve got nothing to do with it, so you don’t need to worry, either.”
Shuhei nodded. He found it hard to believe that Taiji was lying.
“So why’s the detective all over me?”
“Search me. Maybe cops just get off on hassling innocent people.”
Asami came back to the table.
“What are you two whispering about?”
“Man talk. More importantly, how’s my secret child? Eh?”
Shuhei’s jaw dropped. Asami, catching his reaction from the corner of her eye, giggled.
“Oh, full of beans. Desperate to see Daddy.”
“Jolly good, jolly good. Say hi to the little bugger from me.”
Shuhei found their adult banter hard to follow.
A glass of beer was placed in front of him. He picked it up and took a swig.
Shuhei had drunk beer before, but this beer, which he was having in a Ginza nightclub, seemed to have a peculiarly bitter tang. So this is what the adult world tastes like, he thought.
5
Yoriko heaved a heavy sigh. She was sitting at the far right end of the bar, the same place where she always sat. Her sigh expressed a mixture of emotions — relief that another week was safely over and done with, and pleasure at not having to wear her formal kimono here.
A waiter sidled up to her. “The usual, please,” she said with a smile. The young man nodded and retreated. Coming by herself to this bar, hidden away in a hotel basement, was Yoriko’s Saturday-night ritual. The neighborhood wasn’t short of atmospheric old bars, but bumping into people she knew was the last thing Yoriko wanted on a weekend evening.
“Here you go, madam.”
The waiter placed a small glass of gin and bitters in front of her. Yoriko disliked sweet cocktails.
She had just picked up her glass when someone slipped into the seat beside her.
“A drink with a kick — just what I’d expect from the manager of a famous old restaurant.”
The voice was deep and memorable enough for her to recognize.
Sure enough, when she swiveled around, she saw whom she’d expected to see.
“Could I possibly take a minute or two of your time?” said Kaga with a smile.
“Be my guest,” replied Yoriko, smiling back at him. Kaga was wearing the same charcoal gray jacket as earlier.
“Make mine a Guinness,” he said to the waiter.
“I assume you’re off duty, if you’re drinking,” remarked Yoriko.
“Absolutely. I’ve managed to solve one little mystery connected to the murder, so I’m planning to drink a toast to that.”
“What, all on your lonesome? Where are your friends?”
Kaga swayed slightly from side to side.
“It’s hardly worth holding a party about. I just managed to track down a dog I’d been looking for a while.”
“A dog? Is a dog involved in the murder?”
“I don’t know. All I can say for sure is that the dog isn’t the murderer!”
Kaga’s tone was grave. Yoriko scrutinized his face.