Tokyo Zangyo by Michael Pronko

Author:Michael Pronko
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Michael Pronko
Published: 2021-07-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Takamatsu put out his cigarette. “You take this one,” he growled to Hiroshi, both of them staring at Chizu shivering by the smoking lounge. “I’m going to get a ladder and check out the parking garage camera.”

Takamatsu and Imasato walked back to the hatch door and disappeared inside. Chizu bowed to Takamatsu and walked toward Hiroshi.

“It’s cold up here,” Hiroshi said.

“The wind’s blocked over there,” Chizu said, pointing at the other corner where large, Plexiglass barriers lined the two sides of the roof opposite the crime scene.

Chizu was tall with shoulder length, neatly cut hair that the wind blew dancing around her face. She moved easily, hunching her shoulders like too-tall people do. Inside the protective barriers, the wind lost its icy sting. Chizu circled to face the door from the elevator and looked at Hiroshi. She had thick lips and high cheekbones, and her eyes weren’t afraid of his. They were intelligent and searching.

“Thank you for answering my LINE message,” Chizu said. “I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you. I’m not always free to send messages.”

“What did you want to talk about?” Hiroshi asked, letting his eyes rest on hers.

“I changed my mind.”

“About talking with me? It’s all right to—”

“No. About the topic. Before, I wanted to give you my understanding of what happened. But now I hear you’re interested in seeing the files on Onizuka.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Actually, it does.”

Chizu blinked. “A friend in the ministries.”

Hiroshi wondered if that was the silent thirty-something official he and the chief met. If not, it was someone like him, with a younger, fresher view of how the government ministries and large companies interacted.

“There are a lot,” Chizu said, keeping a close eye on the door.

“A lot of friends? Or a lot of files?”

Chizu smiled, making her even prettier, even in the dark.

“Files,” she said.

Hiroshi tried to keep her talking, but she kept looking at the door. “You’ve seen all the files?”

“I had to file them,” Chizu said. “Or refile them.”

“Where are they?”

“I’ll have to show you. Otherwise you’ll never get to see them.”

Hiroshi turned to look at the door. “Can you take me now?”

Chizu shook her head. “That’s why I wanted to schedule tomorrow lunch. I have a dentist appointment, the only way to get away from work, but now you know what I wanted to tell you, so it’s better not to risk it.”

Risk what? Hiroshi wanted to ask, but instead he nodded reassuringly. “I wish you’d tell me more about what you know.”

“I will. But not now. Not here.” Chizu stopped herself and turned from the door to look out through the Plexiglass barrier toward the Imperial Palace grounds. It was dark in that direction, but you could make out trees and the moat, and a guard station in front of the old stone wall.

Chizu was young, but already had a larger comprehension of the world. It came through in her calm manner and direct stare, and in the wariness with which she answered, not resistant, but cautious.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.