Odoro’s eyebrows twitched. For a little while, he seemed lost in thought. “Do you use an analog alarm clock? The type with a knob on the back that you turn to set the alarm hand to the time you wish to wake up?”
“Yes, yes, that’s right.”
“And what time do you wake up?”
“At seven in the morning.”
“Every day, consistently?”
“Yes. I thought I should keep my schedule as regular as possible.”
“Hm.” Odoro put a hand to his chin. “Are you away from home for long periods during the day?”
“I visit a local park every day after lunch. My doctor told me to get as much sun as I can. Lately, I’ve been walking around looking for Chi, though.”
“Even on rainy days?”
“No. I need my walker if I’m going to walk for a long time, you know? I can’t use an umbrella when I’m pushing it, so I usually wear a raincoat and go to the local library.”
“And when do you return home?”
“It’s always a little after seven in the evening, I think. The chime in the park rings at six. I leave the park then and stop at the supermarket on my way home, so it’s usually about that time.”
“…I see.”
The questions finally seemed to be over.
Then Seiji, who’d been listening quietly the whole time, realized that one important point had gone unaddressed. “By the way, what breed is Chi?”
“Well, let’s see. The veterinarian said she was probably a Chihuahua mix. Her coat is brown, and her lower legs are pure white, as if she’s wearing socks.”
Hm. That sounded really cute.
“Then she has this smushed little nose. Her face is as wrinkly as a prune, and her tail curls into a little roll.”
…Or maybe not so cute?
“Wh-what are her ears like?”
“I think they hung down… Wait, no they didn’t. They stood up, and they were shaped like butterflies.”
What kind of dog was this?
“Um, what sort of coat does she have?”
“It’s all curly, like a stuffed bear. Erm, you know; the foreign sort they sell at department stores.”
“You mean a teddy bear?”
“Yes, like that.”
…It was no use. His mental image of this dog was becoming more of a monster every second.
“How long are her legs?”
“Very short. Her torso was long, though, and she had a pointed muzzle, like a fox.”
Hang on a second.
“Didn’t you just say her nose was smushed?”
“…Goodness.” Suzu blinked. She was quiet for a while, as if she was thinking hard. “I’m sorry. There’s just so much I don’t know lately…,” she mumbled, sounding awkward and apologetic. Then she went as silent as a closed shell.
“Why do you want to bring the dog back home so badly?” Odoro asked.
Suzu’s cheek twitched. Unease crept into her large, dark eyes. “…Why was it again?” she murmured into her coffee cup. Her gaze grew strangely distant. “Oh, that’s right.” She nodded, rather flatly. “There’s a boy who’s lonely.” Her expression was vague, as if she was half-asleep. “It hurts to be all alone, you know.”
The things she was saying weren’t really meshing. Her eyes had grown unfocused, and she didn’t even seem to see Seiji. She was looking in an entirely different direction.
“He left her with me, you see. I felt as if I had to take care of her properly. He was counting on me. I felt like I mustn’t die yet, for their sakes. And yet, and yet, she disappeared. So I thought, ‘I have to hurry and find her.’”
Her wrinkled hands were so tense, it hurt to look at them. Her knuckles had gone white. Seiji realized that the coffee in her half-full cup was sloshing so dramatically that it threatened to spill over.
She’s shaking.
“Um, Suzu…”
Unable to just sit by and watch, Seiji had started to call to her, when—
Odoro snapped his fingers sharply.
Blinking as if he’d startled her, Suzu glanced around. “Goodness. Where am I?” She looked like a lost child. Her face showed confusion and unease, and she appeared disgusted with and disappointed in herself. She seemed to have completely forgotten why she was here. “Oh dear, how awful. I wonder why I imposed on you… Goodness gracious, you’ve even treated me to coffee. I’m so sorry. I hope I haven’t made a nuisance of myself.”
“It’s all right. You came to speak with me about your dog, and I’ve accepted your request.” Odoro’s voice was perfectly calm. He seemed to have said the words specifically to reassure her.
Suzu looked back at him steadily. Then, without warning, her face crumpled. “Oh, I’m so glad. I’ve wanted to talk to someone about it so very badly. I just don’t know what to do with them anymore. Thank you so much for your help.” She bowed deeply.
However, when she raised her head, her expression had changed yet again. Her eyes had gone vague. She smiled brightly at Odoro, as if they’d been making small talk. “I should be going. I’m not sure who you are, but you’ve been very kind to this old woman, and I appreciate it very much.”
The word that skimmed across Seiji’s mind sent a chill down his spine.
Dementia.
“Will you go straight home?” Odoro asked.
Suzu cocked her head like a finch. “Let’s see… I think I’ll stop by the library, then pick up something to eat from the supermarket deli. According to the weather forecast, the rain’s supposed to get stronger.”
“…I’d recommend delaying your return home for as long as possible today.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“Because it will make it easier to find the dog.”
Now there was a significant-sounding statement.
Like Seiji, Suzu looked dubious. Rising from the sofa with some effort, she bowed deeply to Odoro. “Please do take care.” As she tried to board the elevator, her chair-walker’s wheels caught in the gap, stalling her.
Odoro promptly got up. “Let me help you.”
“Gracious, that’s sweet of you.”
In an unexpected display of kindness, Odoro caught the end of the chair-walker and lifted it one-handed, shifting it into the elevator with ease. Then he helped the appreciative, embarrassed Suzu in, and the elevator started to descend.
…I didn’t see that coming. Seiji had just assumed this guy was violence and sadism incarnate, someone with a completely busted personality. But it seemed he had an unexpectedly chivalrous side.
Impressed, Seiji quickly tried to sit down on the empty sofa, but…
“Dwah!”
He pitched forward and fell. Odoro had stuck out a leg and tripped him.
“Beg pardon,” Odoro said, without even looking at him. For just a moment, he frowned slightly, as if he was concerned about having soiled the toe of his shoe. Then he promptly reclaimed his seat on the sofa. “…This is very strange.”
“Go bald right this second,” Seiji cursed him under his breath. Giving up on the sofa, he sat on the floor, hugging his knees. Then he thought about the exchange he’d just heard. “Was that what they call ‘sundowning’? We should contact somebody who’s close to her, instead of looking for her dog. Maybe the local welfare commissioner, or at least someone who’ll be her friend…”
If her dog kept running away, it was probably just because she was forgetting to lock up. This sounded like a job for a clinic or the neighborhood association, not a detective.
However, Odoro gave him a look that seemed to say, Who would have believed this dog could talk? “I see. So this is what happens when fools speak.”
…Who does he think he is anyway? Some kind of prince? I suppose he is, come to think of it…
“Hm,” Odoro muttered. “That was five breeds.” He tapped his index finger on the arm of the sofa. “The dog characteristics that Suzu gave correspond to a Chihuahua, a pug, a papillon, a toy poodle, and a dachshund—the only common trait is that they are all small breeds.”
Huh? What exactly was he talking about? Seiji had no idea.
Um, so basically, he picked up on something from what Suzu said?
When Seiji was with Shiroshi, he tended to forget, but Odoro was the one who was publicly treated as a great detective. Seiji always got the urge to label him second-class, but perhaps the man was actually competent.
Getting up, Odoro went over to the study space at the back of the loft. Opening one of the desk’s locked drawers, he took something out and slipped it into his jacket. It looked like a revolver to Seiji—but surely he must have been seeing things.
Then Odoro took a fedora off the desktop, placed it on his head, and picked up the walking stick that had been leaning against the desk. “We’re going out.”
“Huh?”
“Since the Enma Ministry sent that notice, I suppose I’ll need to take you with me.”