Inspector Imanishi Investigates

“I couldn’t do anything with all those nosy guys around.”

“That’s true. They’re all so sharp. But I was so happy to see you unexpectedly.”

Emiko leaned toward Sekigawa, who put his arms around her shoulders. She collapsed into his arms.

Startled by a noise, Sekigawa pulled his lips away from hers and asked, “What’s that?”

Emiko opened her eyes. “They’re playing mah-jongg. It’s the student across the hall. They play on Saturday night.”

“Do they play all night?”

“Yes. Normally he’s just a quiet student, but he has his friends over every Saturday.”

“He’s in the room diagonally across the hall, right?”

“Yes. At first the noise used to bother me, but he’s young, so I put up with it. Now I’ve gotten used to it.” To change the subject she asked “Would you like something to eat?”

“I’m a little hungry.” Sekigawa took off his shirt and threw it on the floor. Emiko picked it up and put it on a hanger.

“I thought so. I suppose you haven’t eaten anything since you left the bar?”

“All I had was a few bites of a sandwich at the party.”

“I made something light.”

Emiko brought out some sashimi, poached turbot, and pickles from the kitchen and placed them on the dining table.

“What is this fish?” Sekigawa asked, looking at the sashimi.

“It’s sea bass. I went to a sushi shop and asked them to prepare it. They said it’s the season for sea bass.”

Emiko scooped some rice into a bowl she kept especially for Sekigawa. Sekigawa ate silently.

“What are you thinking about?” Emiko studied his expression from across the table.

“I’m not thinking about anything.”

“But you’re eating so quietly.”

“I don’t have anything to say.”

“I feel lonely when you don’t say anything. Where did you leave the others?”

“Just outside the Bonheur.”

“What about Waga-san?”

“He probably went to his fiancee’s.”

Emiko glanced at his sullen face. “Would you like another bowl of rice?”

“No, I’ve had plenty.” Sekigawa had her pour some tea. “Is the bar busy?” he asked.

“It’s been very busy recently. That’s why it was so hard to get to leave early tonight.”

“Sorry about that.”

“I don’t mind leaving for you.”

“No one at the bar suspects anything?”

“Don’t worry. They don’t suspect anything.”

“Didn’t the person who answered the phone recognize my voice?”

“Don’t worry. There’s no way they would know. I get lots of telephone calls.”

“I bet you’re very popular.”

“Don’t talk that way. Of course, since this is my business, I’d feel humiliated if I didn’t have a few customers of my own.”

Sekigawa smiled coldly. His face was very hard. But Emiko was bewitched by him.

They heard footsteps in the hall.

“It’s so noisy. They’ll be going back and forth to the toilet like that all night, won’t they?” Sekigawa said, frowning.

“That can’t be helped.”

“That student hasn’t ever seen my face, has he?”

“Don’t worry… I don’t like it when you act so nervous.”

Sekigawa laughed and took off his undershirt.

Emiko switched on the lamp and turned off the overhead light. The soft light shone around the pillow. Emiko slid out of her slip.

Sekigawa turned over on the mattress and said, “Hand me a cigarette.”

Emiko quickly threw something on and turned on the lamp. She took a cigarette from the cigarette box on the dining table, put it to her lips, and lit it. She then placed it between Sekigawa’s lips for him.

Sekigawa lay on his back and smoked.

Emiko returned to his side and lay down. “What are you thinking about?”

“Hmm.” He continued to smoke.

“You’re impossible. You’ve been like this all evening. Is it about work?”

There was no answer. The sound of the mah-jongg pieces could be heard from across the hall.

“They’re so noisy.”

“It just seems that way to you because you’re overly conscious of it. I’m used to it, it doesn’t bother me… You’re going to drop those ashes.” Emiko held up an ashtray and took the cigarette from Sekigawa’s lips. She knocked off the ashes and put the cigarette back between his lips.

“How old do you think Waga-san is?” Emiko asked, looking sideways at Sekigawa.

“Twenty-eight, I think.”

“So he’s a year older than you. How old would you say Sachiko-san is?”

“Twenty-two or -three, I guess,” Sekigawa muttered.

“Then they’re a perfect match in terms of age, too. I read in a magazine that they’re getting married next fall. I wonder if it’s true.”

“No reason not to think so,” Sekigawa answered, sounding bored. The light from the lamp near the pillow lit his forehead and the tip of his nose.

“Waga-san is so lucky. You should get married to someone like that, too,” Emiko said, looking intently at Sekigawa’s face.

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Sekigawa spat the words out. “I’m not like Waga. I wouldn’t get married for political reasons.”

“Is it a political marriage? The magazines say they’re in love.”

“There’s no difference. Waga’s an opportunist.”

“That’s not the philosophy Waga-san and your group express.”

“Waga has his rationalizations. He says ‘I won’t compromise my integrity no matter whose daughter I marry.’ And although he considers Sachiko’s father part of the opposition, he claims that by marrying her he’ll be able to infiltrate their ranks and fight more effectively against the Establishment. But I see through him.” Sekigawa reached over and tossed his cigarette into the ashtray.

“Then you wouldn’t marry someone like her?”

“No.”

“Really?” Emiko put her hand on his chest.

“Emiko,” Sekigawa said in a low voice, “you took care of everything I asked you to, didn’t you?” His eyes remained focused on the ceiling.

“Don’t worry.”

He sighed and stroked her hair.

“Please trust me. I would do anything for you,” she said.

“You would?”

“Yes, anything. I realize that it’s a critical time for you right now. You’re on your way to becoming someone. I’ll keep any secret you have. You don’t have to worry at all.”

Sekigawa turned toward her, his hand caressing her neck. “Are you sure?”

“For your sake I’d die if I had to.”

“Don’t let anyone find out about us, understand?”

“Yes, of course.”