Percival Constantine - [Nakamura Detective Agency 01] - Fallen Idol

by Constantine

  “Something about Yuki though…just doesn’t seem to fit,” said Kyoko. “You talked to his mother?”

  “Of course, but it’s his mother. Naturally she’d lie for him. Not the most reliable witness.”

  “You should have seen him, Sensei. Looking at him, I just didn’t feel like I was looking at a murderer.”

  Hashimoto grunted and finished the rest of his coffee. “You know how these things go. They were piss-drunk and high as fucking kites. They probably got into an argument and it got out of control. Next thing you know, he pushes her off the balcony.”

  “Drunk and high…” Kyoko tapped her fingers on the table. She thought back to the dresses she found in Akane’s closet. They were all covered in plastic bags from a dry-cleaner. Except one. Yuki said he was gone before six. And Akane died around four in the morning.

  That’s a large gap of time where anything could have happened.

  “I can’t believe I missed it…” she muttered.

  “Missed what?”

  “The club, Idol,” said Kyoko.

  “But she wasn’t scheduled to work that night,” said Hashimoto.

  “So we think. Her and Yuki had a fight that afternoon about her work. He leaves, telling her it’s over. She gets upset, feels that now, there’s no other choice for her but to make money the way she has been. Gets dolled up, goes out to Idol, finds a guy…”

  “…And that’s our third man,” said Hashimoto. But as soon as he finished her sentence, he shook his head. “No, it’s a stretch. Who’s to say he’d even be there that night? Maybe she called up one of her regulars to come over. And even if she did bring home some guy from Idol, how would you know? She obviously can’t talk, management won’t say shit or else risk spooking their other customers, and I doubt anyone’s going to walk into police headquarters and announce, ‘Excuse me, I was the last man to see your murder victim alive. No, I didn’t kill her, she fucked me for money and that was that. Just wanted to clear that up.’”

  “You’re right. We need to hear from someone who would have seen them leave and is willing to talk.”

  “And what, you know someone like that?”

  “By a few degrees of separation?” asked Kyoko. “Yeah, I think I just might.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Jun told Kyoko that Yohei Masaki could be found in one of Namba’s night clubs, a place called Jump. The cover charge was only a thousand yen for women, so she was thankful that she didn’t have to pay as much to get in as Nobu would have. She and Saori walked down the street, stopping just across from the club. A brightly lit black sign with white letters—in both English and katakana—told them they found the right place.

  “Ready?” asked Saori.

  She started to cross the street, but Kyoko grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  Saori blinked, staring at her boss. She tipped her head in the club’s direction. “Inside, of course.”

  “No, I don’t want you going in there. Everything Jun said tells me Masaki’s dangerous. Bad enough I let you come this far.”

  “So what do you expect me to do?”

  “Go wait at Sho’s, I’ll meet you there after.”

  Saori shook her head. “Uh-uh. You’re not doing this without me.”

  Kyoko drew in a sharp breath. “Don’t argue with me, Saori.”

  “Look, if you don’t let me come with, I’m just gonna wait until you’re already inside and then follow you anyway. Rather we treated each other as partners on this.”

  Kyoko looked across at the club, then back at Saori. The girl was tenacious and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Best Kyoko could hope for was mitigating any possible risk. “Fine, but you stay out here.” She pointed at the entrance. “You watch that front door like a hawk. If you see him run out, you see where he goes—but you do not follow. Deal?”

  Saori nodded with a smile. “Let’s do it, partner!”

  Kyoko rolled her eyes. “Just watch the door.”

  She left Saori and crossed the street to enter the club. After paying the cover charge, Kyoko walked past the main entrance into the club area. It was a Friday night and so the place was quite crowded. Just past the entryway was a large dance floor with men and women grinding to the DJ’s beats. While walking through the dark club, Kyoko noticed a few people standing away from the dance floor and talking to each other. How they could even hear anything other than that relentless bass was a mystery to her. It was so loud, she felt like her head was going to explode.

  Kyoko approached the bar and passed the free drink ticket to the bartender. She ordered a highball and the bartender returned a few moments later with the drink. It only took one sip for Kyoko to be disappointed. The drink seemed to be ninety-eight percent club soda and only two percent whiskey.

  She beckoned the bartender over with a finger. He came closer and Kyoko leaned in so she could speak just loud enough for only him to hear. Kyoko told him she was looking for something to loosen up. Said she was told to find a man named Masaki.

  The bartender pulled away and gave her a look of confusion—a look she was sure he’d practiced how to fake. Kyoko rolled her eyes and reached for her wallet. She took out a five thousand-yen bill and folded it up, discretely passing it to the bartender. He looked down at it, then gave her a knowing smile and told her he’d be right back.

  Kyoko looked towards the dance floor and sipped her drink, shaking her head at the lack of alcohol. Why people came to places like this was something she couldn’t understand. At Sho’s, the music wasn’t even close to overbearing. You could have a conversation with a person while there. Plus, that music was actually good. The crap they played here made her long for someone to stab her in the ears.

  It wasn’t long before she felt a presence by her side. Kyoko turned and saw him. Hair buzzed close to his scalp, a thin beard, and his right hand rested on the bar, ring-adorned fingers tapping against the surface.

  “Hear you’re lookin’ for something?” he asked, leaning in.

  “I am.” Kyoko stared him right in the eyes. “You.”

  Masaki chuckled. “That so?” His gaze traveled down her body, moving from her head to her toes, and there was a smile on his face. “Don’t usually go for cougars, but I could make an exception.”

  “That’s not what I’m after,” said Kyoko. “You planted amphetamines in an apartment in Shinsekai about a week ago. An apartment rented by Yuki Ichikawa. Since when do drug dealers make home deliveries?”

  “And where’d you come up with that theory?” asked Masaki.

  “I was there, on the balcony.” Kyoko raised her foot so Masaki could see her shoe. “Recognize the footwear?”

  Masaki stared at Kyoko’s shoe for a moment. When she lowered her foot, he looked up at her. The smile had long-since faded. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said.

  “Now why is it I don’t believe you?”

  He grunted and shoved her against the bar. The surprise and impact knocked the wind from her, but she moved from the counter and pushed through the crowd. With the lights flashing, it was difficult to keep an eye on him. He ran out onto the dance floor and Kyoko chased after him.

  She pushed past the dancers, coming between couples and apologizing several times. Masaki was trying to lose her in the crowd, and she knew it. Fortunately, there was only one way out, and she’d be sure to get there first.

  Kyoko ran for the front entrance. A group of people tried to come in, and she shoved her way through them, ignoring the curses they threw in her direction.

  Once in the entryway, Kyoko looked towards the front door. She went to the guy collecting the cover charge.

  “You see someone come running out here in a hurry?”

  He nodded and pointed at the door. “Just ran out that way.”

  Kyoko thanked him and ran for the entrance. She burst out onto the street and looked from left to right. She heard footsteps approaching and turned her head to see Saor
i running up towards her, a half-eaten riceball in her hand.

  “Tell me you saw him,” she said.

  Saori nodded, her mouth full of rice and nori. She waved for Kyoko to follow and started running to her right. Kyoko jogged after her and Saori stopped where a small alley broke off from the main road. She pointed down it.

  “Stay here,” said Kyoko.

  She went down the alley, pulling out the Titan and gripping it tightly in her hand. Kyoko moved with deliberate steps, her eyes scanning the street. Mostly back-entrances for the restaurants and bars in the area, where they’d leave their garbage bags for pick-up.

  Her footsteps were as quiet as possible. She knew Masaki was here somewhere, she could feel it. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up.

  And then, something moved in front of her. It was Masaki, Kyoko was sure of it, but he was too fast for her to see. The next thing she knew, she was shoved against one of the buildings.

  Pain shot through her abdomen and Kyoko gasped at the sudden shortness of breath. She felt the pain again and then something grabbed her hair and threw her down.

  Kyoko landed on the asphalt, the stun gun clattering across the road. She glanced over her shoulder and could now see Masaki standing over her. He knelt down beside her and coiled his right arm, the rings on his fingers taunting her.

  She thrust her leg out, kicking him in the chest and knocking him back. Kyoko turned away from him and crawled for the Titan, reaching out. Her fingers brushed against the side of it.

  Pain went through her lower back.

  Those rings Masaki wore hurt like hell.

  “Kyoko!”

  She recognized Saori’s voice and looked up to see her young employee standing at the alley’s entrance. “No!” she muttered.

  Footsteps sounded from behind and she saw Masaki rushing towards Saori.

  Kyoko pushed the pain out of her mind and grabbed the Titan as she stood. She broke into a run. Masaki was just a few feet ahead of her, but it felt like he was far too close to Saori.

  She wouldn’t let Saori end up in danger. Wouldn’t let her end up like that girl.

  Kyoko felt a rush of adrenaline and her speed increased. She grabbed the back of Masaki’s shirt and pulled.

  He stopped and turned. And once he did, Kyoko shoved the electrodes against his stomach. She pulled the trigger and the Titan made a loud clicking noise, accompanied by his grunting as his body convulsed.

  Kyoko pulled the stun gun away and Masaki collapsed to the ground. She knelt down beside him and held the Titan so he could see it. Kyoko pushed the trigger again and it clicked repeatedly, electricity arcing between the two electrodes.

  “Now, we’re going to have a little chat, Yohei. About why you planted amphetamines in Ichikawa’s apartment and who paid you to do it.”

  Nobu waited at Sho’s, sitting at the bar and listening to the music. He picked up his phone from the counter and checked the lock-screen for the time. Already after midnight.

  She should have been here by now. But when he looked at the entrance, he still saw no sign of her.

  With a sigh, he raised the beer to his lips and took a long drink. Nobu couldn’t also help thinking about his boss. Seeking out someone like Masaki on her own. It was dangerous and he wished he could be there to back her up.

  “You okay?”

  Nobu nearly jumped at Sho’s voice. He turned to face the bartender, throwing a fake smile on his face. “Yeah, sorry.”

  “You seem jumpy tonight,” said Sho.

  “Just been a rough couple of days.” Nobu finished off the last of his beer. He slid the empty mug towards Sho.

  The bartender nodded and took the glass away. He filled a fresh one from the tap and set it in front of Nobu. The younger man grabbed the mug by the handle and raised it in Sho’s direction before taking a long sip.

  “Hey Sho, you know anything about Mai Hoshide?”

  Sho nodded. “Oh yeah. She sang here a few times.”

  “We had a girl come in the other day. Said Hoshide’s giving her vocal lessons. That sound right to you?”

  Sho shrugged. “Last I heard, yeah. I haven’t spoken to her in years, though. Why do you ask? Think the girl was trying to pull a fast one on you?”

  “Maybe.” Nobu scoffed and sipped the drink. “These days, who knows who you can trust anymore?”

  “That kid who got picked up for the Suzuki murder? You guys think he did it?” asked Sho.

  Nobu shook his head. “At first we did. But now, the boss ain’t so sure. She says it doesn’t seem likely that he’s the one behind it.”

  “What do you think?”

  “Personally?” Nobu shifted on the stool. He let out a sigh. “I think drugs, alcohol, and infidelity are a dangerous mix. I’ve seen guys kill for less.”

  “Have you now?”

  Nobu fixed a hard stare on Sho and the bartender looked away after a moment. Sho was a good guy, but Nobu wouldn’t even share his past with Saori, so no way he trusted this bartender enough to let him on on that part of his life. Kyoko knew and he wanted to keep it at that.

  “Tsuji, I think your date’s here,” said Sho.

  Glancing over his shoulder, Nobu saw her walk in. Ai, wearing a tight, blue dress that reached down to about mid-thigh. Her bronzed hair in a style that kept it piled atop her head, face still covered with makeup. She’d just come from Idol, that much was clear.

  “Hey!” she said with a smile once she approached Nobu.

  “Thanks for coming,” said Nobu. “You wanna sit?”

  She nodded and slid next to him. Sho came over and asked if she wanted anything. Ai ordered an umeshu, a type of plum wine. After a moment, Sho brought her a small glass filled with ice and a golden liquid.

  “Kanpai,” said Nobu, holding up his glass. Ai raised hers with both hands and clinked her glass against his.

  After taking a long sip of her umeshu, Ai set the glass on the counter and looked at Nobu. “So I asked around about Rina, like you said. Found some of the girls who had seen her that night. And get this, they did say she left with someone.”

  “She did?” asked Nobu. “What do you know about the guy?”

  Ai shrugged. “No one really knew anything. The girls who saw him said they’d never seen him in there before. But he and Rina were going on and on like they were old friends.”

  Nobu picked up his phone from the counter and brought up the photographs. “Did they tell you what he looked like?”

  She nodded. “Mm.”

  He found the photo of Yuki and showed it to Ai. “Sound like this could be the guy?”

  “No, no way,” said Ai, shaking her head.

  Yuki was an unlikely choice anyway. Given the fight he had with Akane earlier that day and the third man who was still unaccounted for, it was still worth a try. “Was he an older guy?”

  “Yeah, they said he was older than her.”

  Nobu thought it could be either Fukui or Miyashita. Again, Fukui seemed unlikely, because they were still on the lookout for a third man. But Miyashita…that was definitely possible. Kyoko briefly entertained the theory that Miyashita was responsible for Akane’s death, but she dismissed it. The motive didn’t really seem to fit.

  Unless it wasn’t about business. Maybe it was personal. Maybe Miyashita was one of her clients and she was going to expose him. That would be a good motive for murder.

  “So what are we talking about? Fifties? Sixties, maybe?” asked Nobu.

  Ai frowned. “What? No, not even close. Thirties, forties tops, they said.”

  Nobu blinked, his mouth falling open. Now he was at a complete loss. If it wasn’t Miyashita, then who could it have been? They were going right back to the beginning of this case…again.

  “What did he look like?” asked Nobu.

  “Thirties, forties—like I said—and he was bald.”

  “Bald?”

  Ai nodded. “Yup.” She gasped, remembering something else. “Oh yeah, and he had a goatee. Tall guy, too.�
��

  “Just a second.” Nobu picked up his phone and called Kyoko. “Boss, I think I’ve got something. Akane did go home with someone that night. I’ve only got a description, no name, but I think I know who it is.”

  “So do I,” said Kyoko over the phone. “Haruo Terada, Ayano Kuroki’s bodyguard."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Kyoko nervously tapped her fingers on the smooth surface of the table. She looked around the dimly lit lounge, constantly searching for the woman she was supposed to meet tonight. The bar in Umeda was fairly upscale and reminded Kyoko a bit of Sho’s, but a few steps higher. It was a decent size, with a number of tables and chairs and a great view of the city center.

  After a few more moments of waiting, Kyoko noticed someone enter. She was tall, and wearing dark slacks and a red blouse. As she approached, the light illuminated her face and Kyoko recognized her instantly.

  In her fifties now and with a few more lines on her face, Mai Hoshide nonetheless was still a objectively beautiful woman. She flashed Kyoko a warm smile as she approached and Kyoko rose from her seat, bowing to her.

  “Thank you for meeting me, Ms. Hoshide. My name is Kyoko Nakamura.” Kyoko stood up straight and took out her business card. She passed it to Mai with both hands while bowing a second time. “Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.”

  “It’s my pleasure, Ms. Nakamura,” she said. “Please, let’s sit.”

  Kyoko sat first and Mai right after her, waving over a waiter. Within seconds, a young man in dark slacks and a dress shirt with vest and black bowtie appeared.

  “I’ll have a dry martini,” said Mai.

  “Johnnie Walker Black, on the rocks,” said Kyoko.

  The waiter nodded and excused himself to put in the order.

  “I have to say, I’m a little nervous,” said Kyoko, trying to suppress the smile on her face. “My father took me to hear you sing on my twentieth.”

  Mai chuckled. “That’s very sweet, thank you.”

  “But you don’t perform anymore?”

  Mai shook her head. “No. These days, I only teach. Try to help the next generation improve their talents.”