CHAPTER FOUR: THE SECOND DAY ON THE MAINLAND
1
The car went west on National Route 10.
Kawaminami would occasionally steal a glance at Shimada Kiyoshi, sitting in the driver’s seat behind the steering wheel. With every glance, Kawaminami needed to suppress the urge to burst out laughing. The car this third son of a Buddhist priest was driving was a red Familia. In contrast to the jeans and sweater outfit of yesterday, Shimada was wearing a dark grey suit and sporting a pair of fancy saxe-blue sunglasses. The mismatched items strangely managed to come together, however, thanks to Shimada’s personality.
The first name of the missing gardener’s wife, Yoshikawa, was Masako and she was still living in Ajimu, according to Shimada. He had managed to find out her address that morning and had made an appointment with her for the same afternoon.
The car had left Beppu in the direction of the mountains and passed through the Myōban Hot Spring area.
Tent-like structures made of straw could be seen on both sides of the small road. Smoke rose through gaps in the straw. The inhabitants were looking for mineral salt left by dried-up hot springs. The salt, known as “hot water flowers,” was used as a bathwater additive.
They finally reached the slope which would lead them down into the Usa district.
‘And how did your work go, Conan?’ asked Shimada.
‘Ah, sorry, I haven’t told you yet.’
Kawaminami, who had been leaning on the passenger side window watching the scenery go by, scratched his head and straightened up in his seat.
‘There were some I couldn’t get hold of, but I think we can safely assume that everyone who was at the after-after-party has received the letter.’
‘Okay. And how many of them have gone to the island?’
‘Some of them live on their own, so I’m not sure, but probably all of them except for Morisu and me, who left the party early.’
‘That suggests that something really is going on.’
‘I agree. But I think Morisu would challenge that assumption and say that we might be looking at it from the wrong end.’
‘The wrong end?’
‘Yes. Because it’s hardly a coincidence that the members who were present at the after-after-party, are also the ones on the island. They’re members who often meet together anyway, and that’s why they went to the after-after-party and to the island together. So the fact they all got the letters and went on a trip to Tsunojima might mean nothing at all.’
‘That’s a peculiar way to think about it.’
‘Morisu is always careful. And he’s also very single-minded and that causes him to act even more cautiously, or something like that.’
‘But he gladly took on the role of detective last night.’
‘That’s true. That shows that even he was startled by the letters. But he’s actually a very clever guy.’
Kawaminami Taka’aki and Morisu Kyōichi had made a great team during the former’s time in the club.
Kawaminami was bursting with curiosity and energy. If something sparked his interest, he couldn’t stay still. But he was also quite aware that his own abundant curiosity could often cause him not to consider the situation deeply enough. He also knew that, while his enthusiasm could flare up in a flash, he could also lose interest just as fast.
Morisu, on the other hand, could feel passionate about things in a different way from Kawaminami, yet it was rare to see that side of him in his every-day life. He was the type who kept his thoughts to himself, thinking everything over until he was satisfied before taking any action. To Kawaminami, his friend Morisu was a wise advisor, who would stop him from making rash assumptions or jumping to wrong conclusions.
‘For now, you’ll have to allow me to take on the role of armchair detective,’ he’d said.
That was the perfect role for Morisu, Kawaminami thought. He wasn’t one for false modesty, but he knew that the role of Watson fitted him better. Morisu would be the one playing Holmes.
Kawaminami took another look at Shimada Kiyoshi sitting next to him.
But this man wouldn’t settle for the role of a Watson or a Lestrade either.
The car reached a plain with a great view. Slopes covered with long grass extended as far as the eye could see.
‘The mountain on our left is Mount Tsurumi, right?’
‘Yes. It’s been a popular spot for hang-gliders lately.’
‘How far is it to Ajimu?’
‘We’ll reach the Usa District at the bottom of this slope. Then we’ll have to climb another one to reach Ajimu Steppe. It’s half past one now, so we should arrive there before three.’
Kawaminami put both hands on his waist and stretched his back, yawning.
‘Tired, Conan?’
‘I’m a night person, so I had trouble getting up early today.’
‘You can sleep now. I’ll wake you when we get there.’
‘Ah, sorry, if you don’t mind.’
Kawaminami reclined his seat and Shimada put his foot down on the accelerator.