The Tattoo Murder by Akimitsu Takagi

Author:Akimitsu Takagi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pushkin Press
Published: 2022-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

33

The tattoo artist was haggard from the suffering of war and internment, but Kenzo could see a clear genetic echo of Kinue’s lovely face in the still-handsome features of this weary survivor. There was absolutely no question about it, this was the man from the photographs, the man with the Jiraiya tattoo. Kenzo swallowed, hard. He could hardly believe that he was standing face to face with Tsunetaro Nomura, in the flesh.

“This gentleman is Mr. Matsushita,” O-Kané said, by way of introduction. “He has been very kind to my husband on many occasions. When he mentioned that he would like to see a tattoo artist at work, I brought him along.”

“Oh, I see,” said Tsunetaro brusquely. “Getting tattooed can be poison for a young person, you know.” He glared at Kenzo.

“My name is Kenzo Matsushita,” Kenzo said, “and I’m not really a candidate for a tattoo. I’m a graduate student at the medical school of Tokyo University. I just thought that I would like to observe a tattooing session, from the point of view of a scientist.”

“You don’t want to get too caught up in this world.” Tsunetaro’s voice was stern, but his facial expression had relaxed perceptibly. “I’ve seen it a hundred times. You may start off as an impartial observer, but tattooing is like narcotics. You become fascinated, then addicted, and the next thing you know you’re ruining your own skin with ink and dyes.” The tattoo artist’s voice was filled with self-contempt.

“I’m certain I’ve seen your face before,” Kenzo said, pursuing his own agenda. “Are you by any chance the son of the Horiyasu who used to live in the Honjo area?”

“That’s right,” said Tsunetaro warily. “I’m Horiyasu’s son. Why?”

“You had a sister named Kinue, is that correct?”

“Yes, I do. Do you know where Kinue is now?” Tsunetaro asked almost breathlessly, not seeming to notice Kenzo’s ominous use of the past tense.

“You haven’t heard?” Kenzo said gently. “Kinue was murdered about two months ago, in Kitazawa.”

Tsunetaro’s mouth dropped open, and he stared at Kenzo in shocked amazement. The stick of sumi ink he had been grinding fell into the inkstone, and his eyes were filled with fear and disbelief. “Murdered? Kinue? Is that really true?”

“I wouldn’t dream of joking about something like that,” Kenzo replied.

“I see,” said Tsunetaro slowly. “I’ve only been back in Tokyo for a month, and I haven’t read the newspapers at all. I’ve been searching for both my sisters in my spare time, but with no luck at all. If you know any details, please tell me.”

Kenzo knew all the details, of course, but he tried to be brief as he told Tsunetaro what had happened so far. In keeping with his agreement with Chokatsu, he omitted the fact that his brother was a police chief. As Kenzo spoke, Tsunetaro’s face gradually clouded over with a curious expression of suspicion mixed with terror. “Those photographs that Kinue gave you—do you still have them, or were they confiscated by the police?” he asked when Kenzo had finished his narrative.

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