Read Online The Devotion Of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino - Free Book Online Page A

man asked without even glancing at the badge in Kusanagi’s hand. He seemed to know already that they were detectives.
    Kusanagi took a photograph from his jacket pocket. It was a picture of Togashi from when he had been a used-car salesman.
    “This is photo from a few years ago, but—have you seen anyone resembling this man around here recently?”
    The man stared intently at the photograph for a moment, then looked up at Kusanagi. “Can’t say I know him.”
    “Right, I’m sure you don’t. But, I was wondering if you had seen anyone who looked like him?”
    “Where?”
    “Well, for example, somewhere in the local area?”
    The man squinted again at the photograph.
This is a dead end,
thought Kusanagi.
    “Sorry, never seen him,” the man said. “I don’t really remember the faces of people I pass on the street, anyway.”
    “Yes, of course,” Kusanagi said, already regretting having come back to question the man. But, since he was here, he might as well be thorough about it. “Might I ask, do you always come home at this time?”
    “I suppose it depends on the day. Sometimes I’m late with the team.”
    “Team?”
    “I supervise a judo club. I’m responsible for closing up the dojo at the end of the day.”
    “Oh, you’re a schoolteacher, then?”
    “Yes, high school,” the man replied, and he told them the name of the school where he worked.
    “I see. Well, then, I’m sorry to have bothered you. You must have had a long day,” Kusanagi apologized, lowering his head.
    It was then that he noticed the mathematics textbooks piled up in the entranceway.
Oh, great,
he thought, a lump growing in his stomach,
a math teacher.
Math had been Kusanagi’s worst subject in school.
    “Ah, I was wondering—” he said, trying to shake off the feeling. “Your name here on the plate by the door … do these characters read ‘Ishigami’?”
    “That’s right, I’m Ishigami.”
    “Mr. Ishigami, I was wondering if you remember what time you came home on the tenth of March?”
    “The tenth of March? Why, did something happen?”
    “No, nothing to do with you, sir. We’re just gathering what information we can about events in the local area that day.”
    “I see, well, March 10, huh?” Ishigami stared briefly into the distance before returning his gaze to Kusanagi. “I’m pretty sure I came home directly that day. I would say around seven o’clock.”
    “Anything unusual happen next door that evening?”
    “Next door?”
    “Yes, um, Ms. Hanaoka’s place?” Kusanagi asked, lowering his voice.
    “Did something happen to Ms. Hanaoka?”
    “No, nothing. We’re just gathering information.”
    A curious look crept over Ishigami’s face. He was probably starting to imagine what could possibly have happened to the mother and daughter living next door. From the look of his apartment, Mr. Ishigami was single.
    “I don’t recall anything unusual, no,” Ishigami replied.
    “No loud noises, or talking?”
    “Hmm.” Ishigami scratched his neck. “Sorry, nothing comes to mind.”
    “I see. Are you friends with Ms. Hanaoka by any chance?”
    “Well, she lives next door, so we meet each other now and then and say hello. But that’s about all.”
    “I see. Thanks, and we’re sorry to have bothered you.”
    “Not at all,” Ishigami said, nodding and reaching for the door. Kusanagi saw that he was lifting his mail from the box that hung on the inside of the door. The detective’s eyes went wide for moment when he saw the words “Imperial University” written on one of the letters.
    “Erm,” Kusanagi said hesitantly. “Did you graduate from Imperial University?”
    “Huh?” Ishigami started, his eyes opening a little wider. Then he, too, noticed the address on the letter in his hand. “Oh, this? Must be an alumni letter. Does whatever you’re investigating have anything to do with the university?”
    “No, I had a friend from there is all.”
    “Oh, yes, I see.”
    “Er, sorry for the