Chapter 12
On Monday morning Kisaragi made his way on foot toward the Crest Hotel and the clinic inside. He drew closer to find a swarm of police cars in front of T. Medical School next door.
Kisaragi had not looked at the paper or watched the news this morning; he had come home in the wee light of the morning, caught what sleep he could, and come straight to work. He wondered what it could be.
“What’s going on?” he asked the clinic receptionist.
“It happened early in the morning, so I don’t think it was in the papers. You don’t know about it, doctor?”
“What is it? An accident?”
“No, it’s…” The receptionist turned on the TV in the lobby.
“This is the National Police Agency Press Club reporting,” said the tense voice of a newscaster.
“There’s been a murder at your university, doctor,” said the receptionist. “A patient charged to the special room was shot with a pistol! Apparently he was a yakuza boss.”
“What?” Kisaragi felt a chill down his spine as he remained glued to the TV to listen to the news.
“Access to the special room is difficult and restricted. For this reason, the National Police Agency suspects that there may have been collaboration with an insider. Currently they are in the process of conducting thorough interviews with the individuals involved.”
Kisaragi put a hand to his chest, where his inner chest pocket was located. He remembered the key case that Kanesaki had tossed to him. He dashed to the director’s office and pulled out the white lab coat from his locker. His nameplate was gone. Kisaragi felt his entire body go cold as he realized his dreaded prediction had been right.
Just then, the phone on his desk rang.
“Doctor, a call for you on line one.”
A low voice was on the other end.
“Doctor, I didn’t mean to lie to you. Your nameplate and magnetic card are going to arrive by courier soon. The guy who did it is a hitman with a good reputation, so he hasn’t left evidence behind. Keep your mouth shut, and no one will know. You also have an alibi. We’ve made sure that there are no records of entry or exit. Tomorrow, one of the lower-ranking guys is set to turn himself in.”
“How could you?” The glaring fact was still there - he had assisted in a horrendous murder. Kisaragi’s legs shook and fury brewed within him.
“Why?” he asked. It was the only thing he could say.
“Money. Besides, the guy who got killed and the guy who killed him are both worthless, anyway. Nothing to worry about.”
“And so are you.”
He could sense the other man’s breath catch on the other end. After a short silence, soft laughter reached his ear.
“Sounds just like something you would say. See ya, doctor. We’ll never meet again.” The man gave a one-sided farewell and hung up.
Kisaragi put the phone back in its cradle and looked up at the ceiling. He was not going to back down yet. He pushed the intercom resolutely.
“It’s me. Kisaragi.”
Arima gave him directions to a Japanese-style restaurant in Akasaka. When Kisaragi arrived, Arima was wearing a loose-fitting kimono and sleeveless haori vest, having drinks with the proprietress. When he saw Kisaragi come in, he had her leave so that the two of them to be left alone.
“What is it, doctor?”
“Were you behind all of this?” Kisaragi asked as he remained standing, glaring at the man. He figured it must have been from day one, when Arima suddenly wanted to be admitted to the hospital.
“No. Well, have a seat first, will you?” Arima poured himself a glass of sake and took a draught. “Like I said, Kanesaki doesn’t live in the same world as you do.”
“Please answer my question.”
Arima shrugged. “The guy who got murdered was the head of the Ichi-kai. I was asked by a certain politician. The guy who got erased was going to co-operate with the district public prosecutor’s office. But the fact that he was staying in the special room was also leaked from the prosecutor’s office. That’s what this country’s like.”
“That’s not what I’m asking.”
Arima took a sip from his glass again. “It’s true that I was asked about it. I know a lot about the floor where the special room is located, after all.”
“So you had Kanesaki investigate inside?”
Arima shook his head. “That was a coincidence. Just like how introducing Kanesaki to you was a coincidence. And I couldn’t have imagined that you and Kanesaki would end up like this, either. But,” he continued, “Kanesaki is the one who volunteered. He said he could get his hands on a magnetic entrance card.”
Kisaragi bit his lip. Had Kanesaki been so gentle in Karuizawa because his conscience was eating at him? Kisaragi kept his eyes on the ground. Arima cleared his throat awkwardly and opened his mouth.
“Just so you know… that summer house belongs to me, doctor.”
Kisaragi snapped his head up and flushed.
“I know this won’t mean anything to you now, but Kanesaki didn’t want to hurt you. He could have hired a bunch of roughnecks and taken the card from you by force.”
But instead, he had distanced Kisaragi from the clinic and had someone break in in his absence.
“Cut him some slack. Think of how he must’ve felt.” Arima reached out and clapped Kisaragi on the knee.
“－Why did Kanesaki volunteer himself?”
“Kanesaki needed a large sum of money. There was a guy who would pay up, and a guy who would carry it out. He just fixed it for them.”
“Why did he need so much money?”
Arima blinked his beady eyes. “Because he wants to go to the North.”
Kisaragi’s breath caught in his throat. He said he’d abandoned his country. But he also remembered the man crying silently. And the words he had said as he caressed Kisaragi after he had met with Hasunuma. There are some things you can’t have, but you still can’t help wanting it.
What had happened?
Kisaragi gathered himself and straightened up.
“Mr. Arima, I have a favor to ask.”
“And what would that be?”
“Please get me in touch with Kanesaki.”
Arima placed his glass back down on the table. “I always wished I could see you want something.” He stared steadily at Kisaragi. “But I didn’t expect it to be Kanesaki.”
He then clapped his hands loudly.
“You saved my life. There’s no way I won’t turn down your favor.”
When his secretary came in, Arima gave an order.
“Take the doctor to Kanesaki,” he said. He then returned his gaze to Kisaragi. “You sit tight at home. Kanesaki is hiding out. It’ll take some time.”