Keigo Higashino: Salvation of a Saint

‘I’m just glad I finished it in time,’ Ayane said quietly.

After dinner the party relocated to the living room, where the men announced they would move on to whiskey. Yukiko wondered aloud if she could have some coffee, so Hiromi headed back into the kitchen.

‘Oh, I’ll make the coffee,’ Ayane said. ‘Why don’t you get some glasses and water for the whiskey? There’s some ice in the freezer.’ Ayane went to the sink and filled the kettle.

By the time Hiromi returned to the living room with a full tray, the conversation had turned to gardening. The Mashibas’ garden had numerous small outdoor lights placed at clever angles; even at night the various shrubs and potted plants were attractively displayed.

‘It must be tough taking care of so many flowers,’ Tatsuhiko said.

‘I’m a little fuzzy on the details,’ Yoshitaka replied, ‘but Ayane does seem to tend to them pretty regularly. There’s a few up on the second-floor balcony, too. She waters those every day. I couldn’t be bothered myself, but she doesn’t seem to mind. She really does love her flowers.’

Hiromi got the impression that Yoshitaka wasn’t particularly engaged in the topic of growing things; she was aware of his general indifference to the natural world.

Ayane brought coffee for three back from the kitchen. Remembering the whiskey, Hiromi hastily began pouring water into two glasses.

It was already past eleven when the Ikais started making rumblings about going home.

‘Well, that was a feast. And quite a present, too!’ Tatsuhiko said, standing. ‘You should come over to our place next time — of course, it’s a complete mess with the baby and all.’

‘I’ll get around to cleaning soon enough,’ Yukiko said, jabbing her husband in the ribs before giving Ayane a smile. ‘You’ll have to come and see our little prince. Though he looks a bit more like a fat cherub right now.’

Ayane assured her she’d love to come and visit.

It was getting close to the time when Hiromi needed to be heading home, too, so she decided she would leave with the Ikais. Tatsuhiko offered to have their taxi drop her off at her apartment.

‘Oh, Hiromi, I’ll be out tomorrow,’ Ayane called out as the younger woman was slipping on her shoes in the entranceway.

‘That’s right, it’s a three-day weekend, isn’t it? Are you going away?’ Yukiko asked.

‘Not really, just to my parents’ place.’

‘That’s up in Sapporo?’

Ayane nodded, smiling. ‘Yes, my father isn’t doing so well, so I thought I would keep my mother company. It’s nothing serious, mind you.’

‘Well, that’s too bad. And here you are giving us a baby shower!’ Tatsuhiko looked sheepish.

Ayane shook her head. ‘No, please, don’t worry. Like I said, it’s nothing serious.’ Turning her attention back to Hiromi, she said, ‘If anything comes up, you have my mobile number.’

‘When are you coming back?’

‘Well...’ Ayane made a little frown. ‘I suppose I’ll have to give you a call when I know for sure. I won’t be away that long.’

‘Right, okay.’ Hiromi glanced towards Yoshitaka, but he was staring off into the distance.

Finally taking their leave, the three of them walked down a side road from the Mashibas’ house to the main street, where Tatsuhiko hailed a cab. As Hiromi would be dropped off first, she got in last.

‘I hope we didn’t talk too much about children,’ Yukiko said as the taxi pulled out.

‘So? It was a baby shower,’ Tatsuhiko said from the front seat.

‘I was just thinking that we should have been a little more considerate of their situation. They’re trying to have children, aren’t they?’

‘Yoshitaka said something along those lines a while back...’

‘What if they can’t have children? You haven’t heard anything, have you, Hiromi?’

‘No, nothing. Sorry.’

‘Oh,’ Yukiko muttered, sounding disappointed.

Hiromi wondered if they had offered her a ride home in the hope of prying information out of her.

The next morning, Hiromi left her apartment at nine o’clock, as usual, to head over to Anne’s House in Daikanyama. They’d converted an apartment into a classroom where they taught patchwork quilting. The school was Ayane’s brainchild, and thirty or so students came to learn techniques directly from Ayane Mita herself.

As she walked out of her building Hiromi was surprised to find Ayane standing there, a suitcase by her side. Ayane smiled when she saw her.

‘Ayane! Is something the matter?’

‘No, I just wanted to give you something before I left.’ Ayane reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a key.

‘What’s that for?’

‘It’s a key to our house. Like I said, I’m not exactly sure when I’ll be able to return home... I was hoping I could give you this just in case anything came up.’

‘Well, I guess so.’

‘Would it be a problem?’

‘No, it’s not that. But this is a spare, isn’t it? You have your own copy?’

‘Oh, I don’t need one. I can just call you on my way home, and if you can’t make it, my husband will meet me.’

‘If you’re sure...’

‘Thanks.’ Ayane took Hiromi’s hand and placed the key in it, closing her fingers until she was holding it tight.

‘So long,’ Ayane said, and she walked off, pulling her suitcase behind her.

‘Wait,’ Hiromi said, thinking. Then, more loudly: ‘Ayane?’

Ayane stopped and looked around. ‘Yes?’

‘Oh... nothing... just, have a safe trip.’

‘Thanks.’ Ayane gave a little wave and resumed walking.

The quilting classes ran until late in the evening, and Hiromi hardly had a moment to herself. By the time she was seeing the last students off, her neck and shoulders were as stiff as wood. She had just finished cleaning up the classroom when her mobile rang. She took a look at the display and swallowed. It was Yoshitaka.

‘Classes all done for the day?’ he asked as soon as she lifted the phone to her ear.

‘Just now, yes.’

‘Great. I’m out with some clients now, but I’ll be home as soon as I’m done. You should come over.’

He spoke so casually that Hiromi wasn’t sure how to respond.

‘Unless you have other plans?’

‘No, not at all... you’re sure it’s okay?’

‘Of course it’s okay. Suffice to say, she won’t be coming back for a while.’

Hiromi stared at her handbag. The key Ayane had given her that morning was tucked inside the inner pocket.

‘And there’s something I wanted to talk to you about,’ Yoshitaka added.

‘What?’

‘I’ll tell you when I see you. I’ll be home at nine. Just give me a call before you come.’ He hung up before she could reply.

Hiromi ate by herself at a pasta place, then gave Yoshitaka a call. He was home, and there was excitement in his voice when he told her to come over quickly.

In the taxi on the way to the Mashibas’, Hiromi languished in a bit of self-loathing. It irked her that Yoshitaka didn’t seem to have a shred of guilt about what was going on. Yet, at the same time, she had to admit her own happiness.

Yoshitaka greeted her at the front door, smiling. He didn’t hurry to get her inside. His every movement was calm and assured. In the living room, she smelled coffee brewing.

‘It’s been months since I made my own coffee,’ Yoshitaka said, coming up from the kitchen with a cup in each hand, neither of them on a saucer. ‘Hope I didn’t mess up.’ He handed her one of the cups.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen you set foot in the kitchen.’

‘Maybe not! I haven’t done much of anything since I got married.’

‘She’s a very devoted woman,’ Hiromi murmured. She sipped her coffee. It was dark and rather bitter.