Holmes of Kyoto: Volume 18 [Parts 1 to 2] by Mai Mochizuki

Author:Mai Mochizuki
Language: eng
Format: epub

2

“Happy New Year,” said Yilin. “I’m sorry for visiting without advance notice.”

She sat on the sofa, pressing her hands together in apology the way a Japanese person would, gorgeous as ever with her large, bold eyes, straight nose, and glossy black hair. Today, that long, straight hair was done half-up, giving her a clean and professional impression.

“Don’t worry about it,” said Komatsu, shaking his head and hands. “Thanks for coming.”

Kiyotaka placed cups of coffee for each of them on the table and sat next to Komatsu, facing Yilin. Ensho stayed at his desk, continuing to play his card game. Yilin avoided looking at him. Did something happen between those two? Komatsu wondered.

“Um, I have a request for you...” Yilin began.

“Yes?” Komatsu and Kiyotaka awaited her next words.

“An acquaintance of my father is currently visiting Japan. She’s coming to Kyoto soon, and I’m hoping you can act as her tour guides and bodyguards while she’s here.”

“Who is she?” Kiyotaka asked.

“The only daughter of a rich man in Hong Kong. Her mother is Japanese, so she’s fluent in the language. She says that in Hong Kong, she doesn’t get much freedom because of the risk of kidnapping, so she wants to relax and have fun in the safety of Japan.”

Komatsu’s face stiffened. “Uh, wouldn’t Japan be just as risky?”

“Her visit is classified information. Back at home, she has a stand-in pretending to be her and not leaving the house.”

“A stand-in?” Ensho scoffed with an exaggerated shrug. “How rich are these people?”

Kiyotaka gave a strained smile and looked at Yilin. “I’m honored that you’d ask, but I think it’d be too much pressure for us to act as bodyguards for a lady of her caliber. We’re not professionals in that field.”

“Yeah, it’s not like they can’t afford a real security detail,” said Ensho.

“I’m aware.” Yilin nodded. “Her father has professionals guarding her at all times. What she needs is someone to be her guide in this city, who can protect her when she’s in a pinch, and...”

“And?” the three agency members asked in unison.

“Apparently, he has to be handsome...”

“So that’s what this is about,” said Komatsu.

“Several skilled and knowledgeable male guides have been appointed so far, but she fired all of them immediately. I think you’re the only person in Kyoto qualified for the job, Holmes. And I was thinking Komatsu could back you up.”

There was no role for Ensho. Yilin seemed to think he no longer worked for the Komatsu Detective Agency.

Komatsu gave Kiyotaka a sideways glance. The cold look on the young man’s face made it clear that he wasn’t interested. Of course he wasn’t. They were essentially being asked to babysit a rich girl.

“I’m sorry, but I still don’t think we’re—”

“Please,” Yilin said, interrupting Kiyotaka. “You’ll have professional bodyguards supporting you, so all you have to do is be a good tour guide. I think the compensation is quite good. Let’s see...” She hurriedly opened the calculator app on her phone. “It’s about this much per day. Would you be able to do it?”

She showed them the day rate.

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.