Кэйго Хигасино - The Name of the Game is a Kidnapping

I wasn’t sure if Juri took my point, but she mutely raised and lowered her shoulders.

I decided to go on. “The kidnappers who knocked you out with the ether make a quick getaway in the car. Their destination is a hideout they secured in advance. There they have enough food and an assortment of daily necessities. Naturally, they have a phone line, plus a computer. They also have a TV set. They can stay holed up for days with you in captivity.”

“And the location of the hideout?”

“That’s pretty important. We can’t choose carelessly. We have to think about where their hideout would be alongside coming up with the perps’ personalities.”

“If it’s all the same, make them cool.”

“Unless it’s necessary, we won’t. For instance, one of their traits would be that they’re incredibly cautious and tenacious, but at the same time, when they do act, they’re swift and bold.”

“Huh, is that right.”

“Think about it. Given the abduction method, the perps somehow learned that the Katsuragi girls occasionally slipped out of the house, and kept lookout on the estate waiting for a chance. They wouldn’t do that if they weren’t cautious and tenacious. At the same time, when the chance did arise, they didn’t hesitate. That means they also have the power to act.”

“I see.” Juri gave a slight nod and looked at me with upturned eyes. “Can I ask one thing?”

“What is it?”

“Am I all tied up at the hideout?”

“I’m trying to decide if you would be or if you’re just being held there. What about it?”

“Um...” She licked her lips and said, “Do I get raped there?”

To Mr. Katsutoshi Katsuragi,

We have your dear daughter. If you would like her returned safely to you, then abide by our demands. First, prepare hundred million yen in cash.

This goes without saying, but do not contact third parties or the police. If you do not uphold this, the deal is off.

Note that we have not done your daughter physical harm, but depending on her attitude, there are limits to our chivalry. We believe a quick decision would be best for both of us.

I swiveled my chair a half-turn toward Juri. “So, how much should we make the ransom?”

After having peered at the computer screen, she had sat back down on the bed. “I take it you’re going to make it over one hundred million yen?”

I smiled. “Why not? Who do you think got kidnapped? The daughter of world-renowned Nissei Automobile’s executive vice president. We can’t demand less than a hundred million, that’d be chump change.”

“I wonder if they would pay that much. For a child by a mistress.”

“The kidnappers wouldn’t know that.”

I swiveled back my chair and rested my hands on the keyboard. In the empty blank of [hundred million yen] I typed the number [3].

“Three hundred million yen? Why?” Juri asked.

“No particular basis. If I must say, to throw them off.” I reached for my can of beer. “It might have the effect of making them wonder if the kidnappers are a trio. These days, three hundred million yen perhaps isn’t a whole lot, but if we made it ten or twenty, even your father wouldn’t be able to gather that much right away.”

“So... three hundred million yen. If we split it, that’s one-point-five hundred million yen each.”

“I’m okay with just a tenth. Thirty million yen. The one who needs money is you.”

“You don’t need money?”

“I do. But the goal of this game isn’t just that.”

I operated the mouse. A colorful 3D image appeared on the screen. On the top was a title. It said “AUTOMOBILE PARK.”

“What is that?”

“The fruits of months of labor. If some blockhead nutcase hadn’t interfered, this dream of a world would have become reality.”

I clicked with the mouse. A digital gate opened, revealing a world of automobiles. If you continued to the right, you could see the invention’s early days. From cars that used steam engines, to classics, an assortment of gems that would make an aficionado drool.

“It’s like a museum.”

“It’s not just a museum. Those places always have warnings, don’t they. Patrons, please do not touch the exhibits . But at this automobile park, there are no tasteless warning signs. On the contrary, the patrons can test-drive all the cars. From ones that require you to hand-crank the engines to Toyota 2000 GTs and F1s, you can ride anything. Even without a license.”

“How?”

“Each area has several simulators. With them, you can virtually experience riding any car you wish. In a nutshell, it’s like an arcade driving game. Even the scenery changes by make and model. Say, for the Toyota 2000 GT, it’s set up so you feel like you’re driving around in the good old Showa era.”

“Huh, sounds fun.” Juri seemed genuinely impressed. If only her father had been as simple.

“Coming into contact with the history of automobiles, the patrons gradually approach our own times. Past that area, you enter a speculative future auto world, but there’s a special corner right before it. Frankly, that’s the centerpiece. Nissei Automobile’s new car is concealed in this corner. The simulator installed here lets you experience riding in the new model before anyone else. The simulator here’s amazing. Unlike the toys in the other areas, it’s the real deal brought in from Nissei’s R&D department. Patrons will be able to verify the new car’s performance as if they were actually driving it. Its image video and music would play at the same time, even as technical advisers rapid-fire its advantages. By the time you’ve left this special corner, pamphlet in hand, you’re wondering how you might take out that loan.”

I’d been speaking breathlessly, but noticing how Juri was staring at my face, I stopped. Then I sighed and switched the screen back to the ransom letter.

“I’ll say this again, but if it weren’t for that cranky old man of yours, everything I just talked about would be reality. Nissei Automobile’s new car would have been a marketing success, and Cyberplan’s stock would’ve risen. It would have made everyone happy.”

“So basically you’re causing an abduction ruckus out of spite because your plan was chopped?”

“If you’re interpreting it as revenge, that’s unfortunate. I told you from the start, didn’t I? This is a game. I’ve challenged your geek of a father to a match. It’s to find out once and for all who is the master.”

“But Papa doesn’t know it’s a game. Isn’t that unfair?”

“Uh-uh. Katsutoshi Katsuragi wouldn’t leave this up to the police. He’s bound to scheme and strategize in his own way. Of course he won’t know that I’m his opponent, but make no mistake, he’ll play. The real battle begins then.”

I reread the ransom letter on the screen.

I’d considered various phrasings for the last bit that went [we have not done your daughter physical harm], set off by Juri’s question about whether she’d be raped by the perps.

Having trapped an attractive girl of her age in a room, the kidnappers would no doubt be visited by uncouth desires. According to my setup, the kidnappers were two men. Perhaps it made better sense for one or both of them to rape the hostage if only to crush her will to flee.

But I couldn’t get myself to go along with a scenario where the kidnappers violated Juri. Of course, actually doing so wasn’t an option. I didn’t have any interest in that. But in that case, she would have to lie. Once it was over — assuming our crime was successful, of course — the police would ask her about every little thing. Did the kidnappers lay a hand on you? In short, they would be sure to inquire if they’d had their way with her. What would be the best reply for her? How did hostages who were actually treated in such a way respond? This was the hard part. If she didn’t give a straight answer, wore a bitter expression, and teared up, the detectives might infer what had happened. But the issue was whether Juri could act. I decided I couldn’t expect that. It wouldn’t do to underestimate the investigators’ insight.