Выбрать главу

“Yes, this is the Nissei Automobile Mukojima store,” a young woman’s voice answered.

“Excuse me, this is Tadokoro of the Nissei Automobile board of directors office. Is the manager present?”

As expected, the words “board of directors office” made her gasp.

“Ah, yes, please wait a moment.”

Next to me, Juri gave her father instructions. “Papa, get off at Mukojima….Anyway, get off.”

From my phone, I got a response: “Hello, this is the shop manager Nakamura.”

“This is Tadokoro from the board of directors office. Excuse me for contacting you out of the blue. Actually, I have an urgent request to make.”

“What would that be?” Nakamura’s voice sounded strained.

“The executive vice president was driving in his own car in that area, but it broke down.”

“The executive vice president’s car…” Nakamura was speechless. It was probably a situation he’d never expected.

“We called the Japan Automobile Federation, so I believe it should be fine, but we have a certain issue.”

“You got off at Mukojima? Then, go south down Bokutei Street….No, south. Double back.”

With a sharp, low voice, Juri issued the instructions. Even as I listened to her, I continued with my own part.

“We would like you to quickly transport the luggage from his car to a certain location. When we checked the map, it seemed that your place was the closest, so we called.”

“That, um, if that is the situation, I think I can do something, but, um, where should I go?”

“I’ll call you later with a detailed address. For now, could you wait at the expressway entrance? For you, the Mukojima Interchange would be close.”

“Yes, it is.”

“All right, I’ll contact you again, but um, who will be going?”

“Ah, I will, personally.”

“In that case, Mr. Nakamura, may I please have your cellphone number?”

After getting his number, I told him mine. Of course, it wasn’t my own number, but the one with the fictitious name Juri was currently using.

I hung up, and drinking beer, I listened to Juri’s conversation.

“Yes, go on the expressway again from the Mukojima Interchange….I don’t know why, either. I’m just saying what I’m being told to say.”

I put the binoculars to my eyes. I couldn’t see the Mercedes yet.

There still had to be a police tail on it. Exiting at Mukojima Interchange, then backtracking to get on the expressway again—if they tailed such an unnatural route, the police presence might be revealed to the culprit, but in a situation where there was no transmitter or bug, all they could do was to keep at it. While they were concerned for the hostage, I judged that the police would have the obstinacy to push forward.

Shaking them off was the final step.

I saw the Mercedes. I put out my hand to Juri. She gave the phone she had to me.

I put it to my ear. I took one deep breath. Then I opened my mouth.

“Hello, Mister Katsuragi,” I said in English.

A male voice all of a sudden, speaking in a different language to boot—there was no response.

I kept speaking. All of it was in English.

“From here on I will speak in English. That should not be a problem, right? If the policemen tapping into this phone are proficient in English, then I’m an unlucky bastard, and I give up. Well, first, stop at the next parking area. It’s the one that’s coming up in three hundred meters. Stop at the very back of the merging lanes. If you understand, say yes.”

“Yes,” Katsuragi answered using the English word.

Excellent.”

With the binoculars, I looked at the Komagata parking area. The Mercedes put on its blinker and went in. However, no car followed after it. There wasn’t even a car that entered prior to the Mercedes. It seemed that the tailing cars couldn’t respond immediately. Just as planned.

“Turn off the engine and leave the car without locking it. There’s a rest stop area, so get in there.”

I heard the sound of a door opening and closing. Then Katsuragi said in Japanese, “There’s no point in any of this. There were never any police with me to begin with.”

“Don’t chatter. Do as you’re told.”

“As long as Juri comes home, fine. I’m ready to pay the ransom.”

“I told you not to chatter. Instead, count. Count backwards from one thousand. In English.”

“You don’t have to do this, I won’t contact the police.”

“Do as I say.”

I heard Katsuragi sigh, then: “One thousand. Nine hundred ninety-nine, nine hundred ninety-eight.”

Go on.”

Using the other phone, I called Nakamura.

“Hello, this is Tadokoro. Where are you right now?”

“Ah, um, I’m right next to Mukojima Interchange. I can get going at any time.”

“What type of vehicle are you in?”

“A white minivan.”

“Please get going immediately. The EVP’s car is parked at Komagata PA. I don’t think he’s there, but his silver-gray Mercedes shouldn’t be locked. Please take the cardboard box in there that was being transported.”

“Where should I bring it?”

“There’s a place called New Terminal Hotel near Kiyosubashi. There’s a woman named Matsumoto waiting there so please give it to her.”

“New Terminal Hotel at Kiyosubashi, then.”

“I appreciate it. The EVP said he’d like to thank you personally at a later date.”

“Thank me? No—”

“It’s only natural. You saved us.”

After hanging up, I winked at Juri. She handed over the phone, on which Katsutoshi Katsuragi was endlessly counting down in English. Then, she stood up and left the beer hall.

I ran the binoculars down the expressway. Eventually, I saw a white minivan heading in.

It entered the Komagata PA. Katsutoshi Katsuragi’s countdown continued. I couldn’t tell if he realized that he was about to be robbed of his money.

If the police were still on the ball by any chance, they would have to rush out now. However, as far as I could see, there was no sign of them.

The minivan left the parking area. Seeing that through, I stood up. I hung up the call with Katsutoshi Katsuragi.

I hailed a taxi and went back to my condo. I got into the MR-S and set out again.

I parked near New Terminal Hotel and approached slowly on foot.

It seemed Juri had seen me; the automatic door opened and she came out. Her arms were folded.

“The cargo?”

“Delivered.” She grinned.

Chapter 14

I checked to make sure there were no transmitters or bugs and transferred the bills into a different bag in my car. Throwing away the cardboard box, we went back to my condo. My pulse, as expected, had gone up a notch. I took many deep breaths to calm my heart. Juri was also silent in the car.

When we got back, she hugged me. “We did it. It was a huge success!” She was panting, and no wonder—she’d pulled off a major part.

I removed her arms from my neck. I looked into her eyes. They were bloodshot. “You did well. But let’s hold off a bit on actually celebrating. The last finishing touches are still left.”

“What are we doing?”

“For now, I’m going back to work. You can rest for a while.”

“Can I count the money?”

“No, don’t touch it for now. If you can’t help it, put on gloves.”

“Gloves?”

“I’ll tell you the reason after I get home.”