Read Online Dismissed With Prejudice (9780061760631) by Judith A. Jance - Free Book Online Page A

daughter, if Kimi was supposed to be the child that still offered hope, then Tadeo had screwed up again. Royally. He had bet big on yet another losing horse.
    Falling silent as her mother approached within earshot, Kimi hurried forward to help Machiko cross over the bridge, where she sank gratefully onto a bench.
    â€œTwo hours,” she said. “Done in two hours.”
    Kimi shook her head. “Two hours to move a lifetime.”
    Machiko looked at her daughter. “Things are nothing. When they finish, we go.”
    â€œGo?” Kimi echoed in surprise. “Go where?”
    â€œHome with you. Like your father say.”
    Kimiko Kurobashi looked shocked, dumbfounded. “But we can’t,” she objected. “There’ll be all kinds of arrangements to make—the funeral, the auction.”
    Machiko was adamant. “No. We go today. Soon. In two hours.”
    While she had been off supervising the movers, Machiko Kurobashi had uncovered a daunting reserve of inner strength.
    Kimi turned to me, pleading for help. “We can’t leave, can we, Detective Beaumont? Shouldn’t we stay here or in Seattle in a motel for a day or two until things get settled?”
    â€œIt would probably be better…” I began.
    Machiko didn’t give me a chance to finish my answer. Ignoring me, she slipped out of English and into Japanese, speaking quickly, urgently. Words flew back and forth between the two women in short, rapid bursts. The argument lasted for several minutes. I couldn’t translate a word of it into English, but the outcome was obvious. Kimiko made zero progress. Machiko’s mind was made up and she wasn’t changing it.
    Defeated, Kimi turned to me, shaking her head.“Mother insists that there’ll be no service of any kind, no funeral. She wants the body cremated and the remains sent over to us later. She says that I should go with you now while the movers are here and sign whatever papers are necessary so we can leave as soon as they finish loading the truck.”
    I could think of no good reason why they shouldn’t leave Kirkland as planned. There was no reason to think they were in any danger. From an investigative standpoint, neither was currently under any suspicion. Besides, they were only going east of the mountains, not out of state. They would be returning to Kimi’s home and horse and job. It’s not easy to go on the lam and take a thoroughbred Appaloosa with you. In other words, having them leave town would be a little inconvenient, but under the circumstances, it wasn’t out of the question.
    â€œLet’s go now, then,” I said. “Dr. Baker, the medical examiner, won’t be able to release the body until after the autopsy, but you can sign the paperwork and designate where you want it sent.”
    Kimi nodded. “All right. Wait here while I go change.”
    She got up and strode off to the Suburban, where she took a small suitcase out of the back and disappeared into the house with it. Machiko watched her daughter go, her head bobbing up and down in approval.
    â€œKimiko good girl. Smart, too,” Machiko said.
    â€œYou’re lucky to have her,” I said.
    Machiko nodded again.
    â€œMay we ask you some questions?”
    â€œI try to answer. Do my best.”
    â€œWhen was the last time you saw your husband?”
    â€œYesterday morning. He leave home early to catch ferry.”
    â€œWhere was he going?”
    She shrugged. “Do not know.”
    â€œWhich ferry, did he say? Winslow? Bremerton?”
    She shook her head.
    â€œDid he call you?” I asked.
    Machiko nodded gravely. “Yes. On phone.”
    â€œWhat time?”
    â€œNoon.”
    â€œAnd what did he say?”
    â€œHe say, wait one more while. Things be better.”
    â€œWhen he didn’t come home last night, did you think to try calling him at the office?”
    Machiko shook her head.
    â€œDid you