el.angeleyes-第95节
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〃Only one person killed him；〃 Tori said； rising； 〃and that person must answer for the insult。〃
Hitasura had poured more tea。 〃This time； Tori…san； I would think it better if you let the matter drop。〃
〃It is a question of honor；〃 Tori said。 〃If I back away； then I am worth nothing。 To my employers； to myself。〃
Hitasura said nothing； and she left him pouring more tea for himself and for a guest who was no longer there。
Over the next several weeks Tori dived deep into the bowels of Tokyo。 She wheedled； cajoled； threatened； plied her contacts with drink。 Nobody knew a thing about Tom Royce's murder。 Either that or they were involved in a conspiracy of silence。 It could happen。 For all of Tori's fame； and the respect she was given by the Japanese； she was still gaijin； an outsider。 And now； trying to run down Tom Royce's murder； she came to the realization that as much as she wanted…needed…Japan to be her home； it was not。 She was born Caucasian； and here that alone counted too heavily and irrevocably against her。
With a kind of relief she never thought she would feel； she flew back to the States； spent ten days being debriefed by Bernard himself in Mall Central in Virginia； then headed west to Los Angeles and Diana's Garden。
Ellis Nunn didn't say； What the hell are you doing here？ He didn't say anything； he was on a business trip in Europe。 Greg was off on some top…secret assignment for NASA。 That left Tori to fend for herself with her mother。
Within a week that familiar stifling feeling had returned； and Tori packed her bags； flew directly back to Tokyo。
It was good to be back。 The city seemed scoured clean； bright with nervous energy； a beating heart that never faltered。 It didn't matter that in her absence so many buildings had been torn down； others built in their stead； that she hardly recognized certain districts…that was part of Tokyo's uniqueness； and she felt immediately at ease。
She threw herself back into her work； but the specter of Tom Royce's murder continued to haunt her。 Now she could not get her interview with Hitasura out of her mind； What if it was one of his lieutenants who had murdered Royce； or even worse； Hitasura himself？
Tori asked herself what she would do if the worse came to the worst。 Would she try to bring Hitasura down； or would she back away； as he had first suggested？
This was the essential question that gnawed at her the night she was at The Neon Starfish。 It was a club just this side of respectability； on the outskirts of the Ginza； starlit with colored lights； with a transparent floor beneath which lusciously colored tropical fish swam in lazy circles。
There were two Japanese businessmen； drunk on sake； who she had been aware of for some time。 They looked as similar as bookends； though one was shorter than the other。 They had already taken off their suit jackets； hung them up on seat backs。 They wanted women； but were apparently too drunk to make it down the block to the local akachochin； where they could have their pick of the litter in return for a sum of money equal to a month's paycheck。
Instead they had begun a series of obnoxiously maudlin reports on the pathetic state of their home lives。 Tori had just about had it with stories of their suckling at their wives teats as they had done with their mothers； when； as drunks are often wont to do； without warning they veered off on another topic entirely。
Now they were intent on impressing one another with tales from the office where； latter…day samurai as they apparently considered themselves； they were rife with legends of their boardroom prowess。
This also proved to be boring； and Tori was considering changing tables to escape the white noise； when the shorter man said to his pal； 〃That's nothing。 My boss killed a man。 Yes； yes； of course； it's true。 I swear it！ We got drunk together last week； and he told me so himself。 'I killed an American；' he said。 A drastic resolution to a problem； I said； but you know my boss； very old…fashioned； es from the Murashitos…his ancestors it is said were samurai at the court of the first Shogun； Ieyasu Tokugawa。 But now he tells me that this American raped his daughter； and I say； did you go to the police？ 'What？' he said crossly； 'and involve my poor daughter further？ Do you think I would consider holding her up for public inspection； or dragging her through the courts？ No； no； not a chance。' This had to be settled quickly； privately； absolutely。 I agreed。 Yes； yes； I believe he did right。〃
Tori moved closer to the shorter businessman； and at one point； in leaning over to find something in her handbag； she palmed his wallet out of his inside jacket pocket。 She dug out one of his business cards； and five minutes later slipped the wallet back without having been detected。
The next morning she presented herself at the executive offices of Tandom Polycarbon。 They had a dozen floors in a huge building in Shinjuku； and the chairman's suite was on the top floor。 She asked to see Tok Murashito； but was told that the chairman was in the middle of a board meeting and； furthermore； would be tied up all day。 There was an appointment book on the secretary's burlwood desk； but she did not ask Tori if she wished to make an appointment。 Tori was apparently beneath her notice。
Tori said sweetly； 〃Just tell Mr。 Murashito that Tom Royce's sister is here to see him。''
〃I'm afraid that Murashito…san has left instructions not to be disturbed；〃 the secretary said。
Tori leaned over the desk； put her face close to the secretary's； expanded her wa to its limits。 〃Call him。 I'll wait。〃 The secretary jumped as if poked with a hot fork。 Her hand trembled as it picked up the receiver。 She dialed an internal number； spoke briefly； waited a moment； then spoke again at length。 In a moment she hung up。 She seemed frightened。 〃Murashito…san will see you in his office；〃 she said； getting up。 〃I'll show you the way。''
The secretary led Tori through thick wooden doors； down a hushed carpeted corridor whose walls were covered with color blowups of microscopic views of different man…made fabrics that Tandom Polycarbon had designed； created； and patented。 These photographs were matted and framed like works of art。
Tok Murashito had an office that faced west and south； a magnificent view that was in itself a major work of art。 But the inner walls of his office were adorned with a Braque； a Schiele； and a Manet。 Tori was impressed； as she was meant to be； both by Tok Murashito's wealth and his good taste。
Fuck good taste； Tori thought as the secretary withdrew。
Tok Murashito made certain that she had the office to herself before he made his entrance through a discreet side door hidden within the walnut paneling that housed a wet bar； a magnificent Olmec head that belonged in a Mexican museum； and six shelves of books more suitable to a lawyer's office。
He was shorter than the short drunk man who had spilled the beans the night before at The Neon Starfish； but he was thicker； too； with the wide shoulders and upper arms of a bodybuilder。 The way his muscles stretched his suit； he seemed to belong in a dojo or a gym rather than a boardroom。 The way he was built； Tori saw； he'd have to have all his clothes made to order。
〃Well；〃 Tok Murashito said without preliminaries； 〃what is it you want？〃
Okay； Tori thought。 〃You murdered an American named Tom Royce。〃
Murashito didn't blink。 〃I had just cause。〃
〃I wonder whether the police will think so。〃
〃The police won't be called。〃
〃Oh？ What makes you think that？〃
Tok Murashito walked past his desk； looked out his windows。 It was a magnificent view； but it was also a long way down。
Murashito put his hands behind his back。 〃Why would the police be called？''
〃They usually are when a murder has been mitted。〃
He nodded。 〃That's true。 In fact； they're already on the case。'' He smiled。 〃Surprised； Miss Royce？ The police have been in contact with me。 You see； we knew one another。 Royce and I did business from time to time。〃
Tori recalled Tom Royce's cover as a textile salesman； thought； Fronts have to be maintained in order for them to seem legitimate。 〃So you knew him；〃 she said。 〃Do the police also know you had a motive？〃
Tbk Murashito went very still。 〃Who are you？〃 he said。
Tori ignored him。 ''You didn't report the rape of your daughter； did you？〃
Now an odd thing happened。 Murashito's face changed； and if Tori hadn't known better； she would have sworn it relaxed。 He turned quickly away； as if embarrassed。 〃She's already endured more pain and suffering than any young woman should。''
Tori went silently up behind him。 She said； 〃I'm not Tom Royce's sister。 My name is Tori Nunn。 Do you know me？〃
Tok Murashito shook his head no。
〃I'm the Wild Child。 I could kill you right here and no one would know about it。 Do you understand me？〃
Tbk Murashito said nothing for some time； then he said； 〃You're a foolish young woman。 There is too much fire burning inside you。 Go home。〃 When she did not move； he turned to face her。 ''One of these days you'll discover that there are alternatives far preferable to violence。〃
〃That's curious advice； ing from you。〃
〃Giri。 I did what I had to do。〃
Tori looked him in th
