he statue of the twelfth-century warrior monk Benkei was far smaller than

she had expected. She had pictured something she would have to look up to,

but in actuality, the thing was little more than life size. It wasn’t on a high

pedestal or protected by a fence, so you could reach out and touch it.

Kaori was in the Hamacho Green Road park. It was a little before ten

at night and the air was cold and crisp. With the trees muffling the glow of

the streetlights, it was dark underfoot.

From the TV reports, she learned that Fuyuki fled to this park on the

night of the crime. She hadn’t caught its name, but the Benkei statue had

furnished a clue.

She was eating dinner in her apartment when she got a sudden urge to

see the place: the place where Fuyuki had made his last ever phone call. It

was cold, so she put on her coat and wound a muffler around her neck

before setting off. She found a diner in the area that was still open, popped

in, and asked where the park with the Benkei statue was. The lady in the

diner was really nice.

She took a deep breath. She could feel the cold in her lungs. She

suppressed a shudder. When she exhaled, she was surprised that her breath

wasn’t white.

The place was eerily quiet, but Kaori decided to walk down the

wooded path nonetheless. She passed a bench nestled in a stand of dense

trees. Where did Fuyuki hide that night? she wondered. Did he crouch down

behind some trees?

“Kaori.” She heard his voice; it was more like a groan. Her name: that

was the first word Fuyuki had uttered when he called her that night.

“I’ve done something awful. Something terrible’s happened. I don’t

know what to do.”

What state of mind was he in when he called her? It was right after the

call that he had tried to run away from the police officer and been hit by a

truck.

Something had gone wrong—that was the only possible interpretation

of events. Fuyuki would never kill another human being.

She noticed what looked like a large package on a bench. Curious, she

walked toward it, before coming to a sudden, startled stop. A white wrist

was protruding from beneath a gray blanket. It was a person, huddled up

and asleep.

Suddenly, Kaori felt afraid. This section of the park was unusually

dark.

She spun on her heel and walked back the way she’d come. As she

approached the Benkei statue, she saw that someone was standing beside it.

It was a tall man. She couldn’t make out his face, there was a streetlight

behind him, but he was looking at her.

She turned and started to walk away.

“Ms. Nakahara.”

Startled at the sound of her name, she almost tripped and fell.

The man dashed up to her. “Are you all right?”

It was that detective. The one called Kaga from the local Nihonbashi

police.

“I’m sorry. I scared you,” he said with a smile. The sight of his white

teeth reassured her somehow.

“It’s me who should be apologizing. I couldn’t see your face.”

“What are you doing here at this time of night? Are you…?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “I wanted to see where Fuyuki made his last

phone call and the place where the accident happened.”

“I thought as much. It’s actually that way. The accident happened at

that end of the park.” Kaga pointed along the path in the opposite direction

from which Kaori had come.

“Oh.”

“Do you want to see the place? I can show you.”

“Could you?”

“Of course.”

She felt much safer with the detective around and agreed

unhesitatingly.

“No Detective Matsumiya today?” she asked as they advanced along

the tree-lined path.

“We went our separate ways a few minutes ago. We try to see as little

of one another as possible outside of work. We’d only get sick of each

other.”

She could tell that he was trying to put her at ease. She smiled.

“Why are you here, Detective Kaga?”

“Oh, no special reason. When I get stuck on a case, I always revisit the

place where it all started. That’s my modus operandi.”

“The place where it started…”

“That’s what this place is. After all, that’s why you’re here too. Or am

I wrong?”

Kaori shook her head wordlessly. She was starting to detect the same

warmth and humanity in Kaga that she had already sensed in his partner

Matsumiya. At some point, her initial distrust had evaporated. Are all

detectives like this, or are these two just special?

The trees cast dark shadows on the ground. So frightening a moment

ago, they now struck her as no more than fantastic patterns.

They were approaching the park exit. A large road, with a great deal of

traffic, came into view.

“Shin-ohashi Boulevard,” Kaga explained. “This is the road your

boyfriend ran out into.”

“Here…”

It was so ridiculously unfair. To one side, there was a three-lane

highway. To the other, an off-ramp for the elevated expressway.

She pictured the truck hitting Fuyuki. She closed her eyes. She could

feel the emotion welling up and knew she was on the verge of breaking

down. She was determined not to cry.

She took a number of deep breaths, then reopened her eyes.

“Thank you. Thank you for showing me where it happened.”

Kaga nodded, appeared to hesitate for a moment, then said, “Could

you come with me a bit farther? Just over there.”

“Of course I can. What for?”

“Just a small thing,” Kaga said vaguely as he set off down the street.

They went along Shin-ohashi Boulevard. Kaori had no idea where

they were headed.

After a short distance, they got to a convenience store. “Could you

wait here a moment?” Kaga asked. He ducked inside, before quickly

reemerging with a plastic bottle of hot Japanese tea and a can of milk tea.

He held them out to Kaori. “Which one do you prefer?”

“I’ll take the Japanese tea. Thanks.”

“These were the only hot drinks they had. I’d have preferred cocoa.”

“You like cocoa?”

“It’s not that. I thought something caffeine-free would be better for

you.”

“Ah…” What a thoughtful man he was. More considerate than she was

for sure.

Kaga started drinking his milk tea. Kaori unscrewed the cap of her

plastic bottle.

“My boyfriend adored cocoa, you know,” she said after drinking a

mouthful of her hot Japanese tea. “Whenever we went to the diner, he

would be up and down getting nonstop refills at the drinks bar.”

“Had a sweet tooth, did he?”

“I guess. And he liked a drink too.”

She would never get the chance to go to a diner with Fuyuki again.

Nor to clink glasses at a pub.

“How are you, physically? I imagine you’ve been told not to move

around too much?” Kaga asked as he walked along, can of tea in hand.

“It’s not a problem. The doctor told me it’s good to be active.”

“Really? I’m pleased to hear it. Which reminds me, have you told

people that you’re pregnant?”

“Not yet. I plan to tell my friends back up north any day now.”

“What about your boyfriend … Mr. Yashima? Did he mention having

told anyone?”

She was pleasantly surprised when Kaga referred to her boyfriend as “mister” rather than as “the suspect.”

“If he did, he didn’t tell me. He hadn’t really been seeing much of

other people recently.”

Neither she nor Fuyuki had anyone with whom they were especially

close in Tokyo. Thinking back, it would have been good for them to have

had someone they could turn to for advice.

Kaga came to a stop at a large intersection. There was a store with a

large signboard advertising doll cakes, the local specialty.

“Is my being pregnant significant? Do you think it’s connected to the

case?”

“I don’t know. By the way, are you familiar with Suitengu Shrine? It’s

a place people go to pray for safe childbirth. That’s what it’s famous for.”

“The name’s kind of familiar.”

“Have you been?”

“No.”

“And you didn’t discuss it with your boyfriend?”

“No.” Kaori’s hand went automatically to her belly. Praying for safe

childbirth. The thought had never even occurred to her. Any normal couple

would have friends and family around to give them advice about stuff like

that. “Why does that matter?”

In response, Kaga pointed to the far side of the intersection. “See the

neighborhood police station over there?”

“Yes.”

“It’s a bit hard to make out, but Suitengu Shrine’s just behind it. That’s

why this intersection is called…”

Kaori looked up at the traffic light Kaga was pointing at and

understood. This was Suitengumae Intersection.

“Takeaki Aoyagi, the man who was killed, used to visit Suitengu

Shrine. On a regular basis.”

Kaori started and looked hard at Kaga.

“Well? Jog your memory?”

“What are you getting at? I never met Aoyagi.”

Kaga nodded. The expression on his face was bland and devoid of

surprise.

“As I thought. Good.”

“What’s this all about?”

Kaga grunted and tilted his head to one side. “Maybe someone else is

pregnant.”

“Who?”

Kaga gave a rueful grin and scratched his head. “Beats me. That’s why

I decided to come back to where the whole thing started.”

Kaori scrutinized the detective’s face. Kaga didn’t believe that Fuyuki

was guilty. That was why he was so preoccupied.

“It’s gotten colder. You should probably be thinking about going

home. I’ll take you.”

“Don’t worry about me. I want to ask you a favor, Detective Kaga.”

“What is it?”

“The crime scene is within walking distance, isn’t it? Could you take

me there?”

Kaga’s eyes widened. “Right now?”

“Yes. Is it too much to ask?”

“I’m not saying that…” He furrowed his brow, thought for a few

moments, then gave an emphatic nod. “It’s fine. Let me just double-check:

The doctor is okay with you moving around?”

“That’s what he said.”

“Fine, then. Come with me.”

The traffic light changed as if on cue. Kaga set off and Kaori followed.

They took a left at the next intersection. Most of the shops and

restaurants were closed. The only places that were still open were the bars.

“What sort of person was Fuyuki?” Kaga asked. “What did he do for

fun? Did he like reading?”

“Let me see,” said Kaori. “I never saw him read a book. He hardly

even read comics. If you put me on the spot, I’d probably say watching

sports. He watched plenty of baseball and soccer on TV. He wasn’t a diehard

fan, though.”

“The two of you went to a movie the day before the incident, didn’t

you? Did Fuyuki like movies?”

“Oh … well, we went to the movies from time to time. We don’t have

much money, so we only went when someone gave us tickets or we won

tickets for a preview screening.”

“Preview screening?”

“Yes, whenever we found out about a preview screening, we’d apply

straightaway. We used to win quite a lot of tickets.”

“You did? Is there a trick to it?”

“There certainly is.”

Kaga turned to look at Kaori, startled at her emphatic tone.

“A postcard,” she said. “You apply by postcard. With most of the

offers, you have to apply via text or email. We don’t try for those. Loads of

people apply because it’s so easy to do, and the competition is ferocious.

Applying with a postcard is more hassle and costs money, so most people

aren’t interested. That increases your chances of winning.”

“I can see that.”

“There are some offers where you can apply online or by mail. Even then, you stand a better chance of winning if you apply by postcard. I think

they have separate draws for the two kinds of applications. We don’t have a

lot of money, but we always keep a stock of prepaid postcards.”

“So that’s the secret.”

“Where you get your information from is another factor. If information

about the offer is available on your phone, then the competition will be

brutal. We always look for offers that are not online.”

Kaga came to a stop. “Where, like in movie magazines?”

“Close.” Kaori held up a finger. “Think about it. Who reads movie

magazines? People who love movies, of course. So they’re likely to apply

for free movie tickets. No, what we do is to check the movie section in

regular magazines, and not women’s magazines either, but men’s

magazines.”

“Why?”

“Can’t you figure it out, Detective Kaga? Women love getting

something for nothing and they don’t think twice about the hassle involved.

Men are different. If there’s even the slightest bit of effort involved, they’d

rather just pay the money and get it over with.”

Kaga nodded briskly and resumed walking at a slow pace. “I’ve

learned something new today.”

“That whole thing was my idea, not Fuyuki’s. If it were up to him,

he’d just go out and buy tickets. You should give it a go yourself, Detective.

With my system, you’re sure to score some tickets.”

“I’ll give it a try.”

Kaga was walking at a very leisurely pace, and keeping up with him

was easy. Eventually, she saw a bridge ahead. “That’s Edobashi Bridge,”

Kaga said.

They crossed a wide road and walked across the bridge. They reached

a set of stairs at the foot of which there was an underground passage. Kaori

recoiled. She remembered that the crime had taken place in an underground

passage.

“Was it in there?”

“Yes.” Kaga nodded.

The passage was short and rather narrow. The white walls were

brightly lit.

Just being there was enough to make Kaori start trembling all over. A

man had been murdered here and everyone thought Fuyuki was responsible.

It was like an invisible wall closing in on her. She had nowhere to run.

“Are you feeling okay?” Kaga asked her.

Kaori looked at the detective. “Detective Kaga, Fuyuki didn’t kill

anybody. He’s just not capable of it. Believe me. I beg you.”

She knew her protestations wouldn’t accomplish anything, but she

couldn’t help raising her voice. It reverberated in the cramped underground

passage.

Kaga looked at her. His gaze was cool, detached. He’s got the eyes of a

detective, Kaori thought. That’s the face of a man who trusts only the facts

and never lets his emotions get the better of him. Appealing to a person like

that is a waste of time.

Kaga’s next remark caught her completely off guard. “Yes, I know

that,” he said.

“What!” Kaori peered into the detective’s face. “You know? You

mean…”

Kaga nodded and headed for the exit. Kaori scuttled after him.

Once they were outside again, Kaga pointed at the street corner in

front of them.

“After the victim was stabbed, he made his way along this street to

Nihonbashi Bridge.”

“Ah … yes, I saw that on the news,” Kaori said, then sighed. “But

why there of all places.”

Kaga frowned briefly in puzzlement, then a look of comprehension

dawned on his face.

“Of course. Matsumiya told me about it. How you two hitchhiked all

the way down here to Tokyo.”

“That’s right.”

“Nihonbashi Bridge must mean a lot to you. Anyway, have you seen

what you wanted to see?”

“No, I want to go to the bridge,” Kaori answered brusquely. “I want to see it again.”

“Okay,” Kaga said.

They set off, side by side. There was almost no one on the street,

although they were in the middle of the capital city and it wasn’t that late at

night. And there were almost no cars. Someone who’d been stabbed could

be staggering along here and there isn’t anybody to notice, she thought.

“I’m going to ask you a question. I don’t want you to take it the wrong

way,” Kaga said. “What are you planning to do about the baby? Raising a

child will be difficult, the way things are now.”

“Are you saying I shouldn’t have it?”

“I’m not saying that. Just—”

“I’m going to have the baby,” Kaori interjected, cutting Kaga off. She

placed her right hand on her belly as she walked. “I’m going to have the

baby,” she said again. “If I don’t have this baby, I really will be completely

alone. I know it won’t be easy. Not having a father will make life tougher

for the child. But I’ll make it work. I’ll make a go of it somehow.”

Without her intending, her voice had grown more forceful, partly

because she was trying to reassure herself. I mustn’t give up. I’ve got to be

strong for me and for my baby.

Kaga said nothing. Kaori peered at his profile, wondering what he

thought of her. He was looking resolutely in front of him.

“I suppose you think I’m just talking tough,” Kaori ventured. “That

I’m being naïve and sentimental.”

Kaga turned and looked her full in the face. “If you’re being

sentimental, then that’s good news as far as I’m concerned. I’d be a whole

lot more worried if you had lost all hope and had nothing to look forward to

in your life.”

“Detective Kaga…”

“You’ll be okay. I know plenty of women who’ve done a great job

raising their kids on their own. Matsumiya’s mother for one.”

“Your partner? What, his mother was a single mom?”

“You’d never think so to look at him. He looks like he was born with a

silver spoon in his mouth.”

Kaori nodded. That was her impression of him too. She felt slightly

reassured.

Nihonbashi Bridge with its magnificent monumental stone parapet

came into view. Kaori recalled the first time she’d seen the bridge. She was

astonished to find such a splendid structure buried under an expressway.

They walked toward the foot of the bridge. They had just begun to

cross it, when Kaga came to an unexpected stop. He was looking straight in

front of him.

A figure was loitering halfway across. A young man of high school

age wearing a hooded parka. He was gazing up at the ornate lamppost on

the parapet.

He turned and started walking in their direction, then came to a jerky

and abrupt stop. Surprise was all over his face.

Kaga went up to him and said a few words. Making an impatient

gesture with his hand, the young man turned around and took off in the

opposite direction.

Kaori went up to Kaga. “Who was that?” she asked.

“The son of the victim. I’d told him that we found his father leaning

against the base of the statue there. That’s why he came to have a look, I

suppose.” Kaga looked up at the statue beside them. There were two

dragon-like creatures seated on either side of a lamppost.

“Are they dragons?”

Kaga smiled.

“They look like dragons, but they’re actually kirin, creatures from

Chinese mythology. You’ve probably seen them on the beer labels.”

“Of course.” Kaori nodded. “I didn’t know they had wings.”

The bronze statues they were looking at had wings on their backs.

“Traditionally, kirin don’t have wings. The architect opted to give his

kirin statues wings after deciding to use them to adorn his bridge, or so the

story goes.”

“Why did he do that?”

Kaga pointed to the midpoint of the roadway. “Because this was once

the point of origin for all the roads in Japan.”

“Of course—I knew that. ‘Kilometer zero’ … Is that what they call

it?”

“That’s right. Kilometer zero for all the roads in Japan. This was people’s jumping-off point for journeys all over the country. That’s

supposedly why he decided to put wings on his kirins’ backs.”

“I didn’t know that.” Kaori took another look at the statues.

They’re like us with all our hopes and dreams back then, she thought.

We left the sticks and hitchhiked all the way down here. We thought that was

only our first step. We thought we had the whole world at our feet. We had

such big dreams. We felt as though we had wings and could fly off into a

bright, shining future.

In the end, they had never managed to get off the ground.

And Fuyuki was dead.