Headless by Tristram Lowe

Author:Tristram Lowe
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-946398-02-4
Publisher: Mortimer & Ambrose

The sugary smell of cream puffs came from a Beard Papa on the station side of the department store. It was underscored with the gray cough of diesel fumes and a note of pungent human sweat, all of which was mellowed by the light chill in the air. Normally, Akio would have queued up to get a chocolate-covered cream puff, but not today. His stomach felt uneasy.

The station itself was ground level and open to the outside. Walkways accessed by escalators passed over the tracks to get to the further platforms.

The whine of a train braking sounded over the bustle of the station’s patrons. Automated machines dispensed tickets next to ones that dispensed good luck charms. A photo booth gave temporary sanctuary to a group of giggling girls delaying the moment they had to head home to face tiresome chores, a strict father, and an overly protective mother.

It was just starting to get busy as the workday ended. People were mostly rushing about, intent on being somewhere else fast. But some didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry at all; their destination was evidently no more appealing than where they had departed. One man with a flat expression shambled his way down the wide walkway, his black shoulder bag nearly dragging on the platform. He moved like a satiated zombie—he had eaten all the brains he could handle—not intent on getting anywhere or doing anything anytime soon.

Masami scanned the main terminal with a slow sweep of her robot eyes—Akio was pretty sure she had lasers in them. She was so methodical.

“It’s early,” she said. “Let’s look around. Two of the murders happened here late at night: Eichi Himura and Katsu Fukui, both salarymen. All of the murders were about a month apart, and he’s just killed again recently. So he won’t be killing anyone tonight, but we can still get a feel for the place, try to figure out why he’s killed here twice.”

They set about getting the layout of the place, slowly walking the length and breadth of the station, perusing each platform. Akio discreetly eyed each person they passed. Was one of them the next headless victim, or perhaps even the killer himself? Doubtful, since we know who that is already. They separated to peer into restrooms and even gave the ticket agents a good once-over.

Nothing seemed unusual. People were going about their business, despite the killings. The last murder in the station had been a month previous, and no one was running down the platform slicing off heads at the moment. People had to get on with their lives, after all.

They killed about an hour observing, but found nothing interesting. Akio suggested they question one of the ticket agents. He was making a decision, taking charge. Good. And Masami agreed. Her recent irritation with him seemed to have disappeared completely. But then, she was a master of hiding her emotions.

“Just let me do the talking, okay?” she insisted.

After easing into the topic with a few

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