Sitting in the armchair, Iwase spoke quietly, evidently believing that the voice from the bedroom belonged to his daughter.
‘You’re right. And that’s why I sent for you,’ came the innocent voice from the bedroom.
Akechi Kogorō had come in following Iwase.
‘Is your daughter going to bed?’
‘Yes, she’s just changing her clothes now. She says she’s feeling a bit off colour.’
‘I see. Well, then, I’d better leave. Good night.’
After the detective had left for the adjacent room, Iwase locked the door. He wrote some letters for a short while, then, as usual, he took out the Calmotin from the drawer, drank some with water from a bottle on the table and went to bed.
‘Sanae? How do you feel?’
As he asked this he moved around her toward the bed in the corner. She pulled the blanket up to her chin, turned her face into the shadow, and with her back to him answered somewhat grumpily, ‘I’m fine! I’m a bit sleepy.’
‘Oh dear, you’re a bit strange tonight. You seem a little angry.’
But he was not particularly suspicious and being careful not to upset his out-of-sorts daughter he sang softly to himself while putting on his nightclothes and slipping into bed.
The powerful sleeping pills – with which Mme Midorikawa had secretly replaced the jeweller’s night-draught – proved effective. As soon as Iwase laid his head on the pillow he was overcome by drowsiness and, without any time for thinking, he soon fell into a deep sleep.
Just over an hour later, around ten o’clock, Akechi Kogorō was reading in his room when he was startled by a loud knocking at what seemed to be the adjacent room. Stepping out in the corridor to investigate, he saw a hotel clerk holding a telegram in his hand anxiously trying to rouse the jeweller.
‘It’s strange that he isn’t replying even though you’ve tried so many times.’
A little anxious, Akechi joined the clerk in knocking loudly at the door, regardless of any disturbance to the other guests.
The repeated knocking seemed to counteract the powerful sleeping draught, for Iwase’s drowsy voice came from within the room.
‘What is it? What’s all this racket?’
‘Could you just open the door a minute. There’s a telegram for you.’
After Akechi had shouted this, a key scraped in the lock and the door opened.
In his nightclothes and looking very sleepy, Iwase rubbed his eyes as he opened the telegram, and looked at it in a daze.
‘Oh hell! More pranks! And you want to wake a man from his sleep for this!’ he said, tutting disapprovingly as he passed the paper to Akechi.
‘Tonight – stop – be careful at twelve – stop’
A simple note, but the meaning was clear. This was one of the threatening messages and its meaning was ‘Sanae’s kidnapping will take place tonight at midnight.’
‘Is your daughter all right?’
The tone of the private eye’s question showed he was somewhat concerned.
Approaching the door of the bedroom a little unsteadily, Iwase looked at the bed in the corner and said in a reassured voice, ‘She’s fine. Don’t worry. She’s sleeping right next to me.’
Akechi also went behind and peeped in to see Sanae sleeping peacefully with her back turned to them.
‘Recently Sanae has been taking Calmotin every night just like me so she sleeps soundly. And tonight the poor thing said that she wasn’t feeling particularly well so please don’t wake her up.’
‘Is the window closed?’
‘Yes, don’t worry. It’s been latched shut all day.’
Iwase then climbed into bed.
‘Akechi-san, would you mind locking the door and looking after the key.’
The jeweller was so sleepy that even locking the door seemed a bother.
‘Actually, instead of that, I’ll stay in the suite for a while. Please leave the bedroom door open. If we do that, I’ll soon realise if anyone breaks the window and tries to get in while you’re asleep because I can see the window from here. We only need to watch the window – there’s no other way in or out.’
Once Akechi had taken on a case, he discharged his duty faithfully. He sat down in a seat in the lounge, lit up a cigarette, and steadily monitored the bedroom.
Some thirty minutes passed without anything happening at all. Occasionally the private eye got up to go and peep into the bedroom, but Sanae remained asleep in the same position. Iwase was snoring loudly.
‘What! Are you still up? I came because the hotel clerk told me just now that a strange telegram had arrived and I was a little worried.’
Surprised by the voice, Akechi turned to see Mme Midorikawa standing just outside the half opened door.
‘Is that you, Mme Midorikawa? There was a telegram, but I’m here, so everything will be all right. I’ll stand guard, even though it’s pointless.’
‘So, did a threatening telegram arrive at the hotel, then?’
As she said this, the lady in black opened the door and came into the room.
…the lady in black opened the door
and came into the room.
Now perhaps readers will think that the author has committed a major bungle here. They might object that because Mme Midorikawa had disguised herself as Sanae and was sleeping in the bed beside Iwase, it would make absolutely no sense for the same Mme Midorikawa to be coming into the room from the corridor.
But the author has not made a mistake. Both are correct. And this is the only Mme Midorikawa in existence. What this all means will become clear as our story unfolds.
‘Is Sanae sleeping quietly?’ asked Mme Midorikawa as she closed the door and sat down in front of Akechi. Her voice was low and she was looking toward the bedroom.
‘Um,’ responded Akechi absently-mindedly, obviously deep in thought.
‘With her father?’
‘Hmm… yes.’
As mentioned in the previous chapter, Iwase Shōbei was still in a drugged sleep in the bed adjoining Sanae’s bed, after having asked Akechi to guard them.
‘Not very informative answers, are they?’ smiled Mme Midorikawa. ‘So what are you so deep in thought about? Surely you’re not worried now that you’re on guard here?’
‘Oh, you’re still talking about that silly wager,’ said Akechi, finally lifting his head to look at her as he took up the challenge of the beautiful woman. ‘You’re hoping I’ll lose, and that poor girl will be kidnapped, right?’
‘Oh, how could you say such a thing? That I would wish such a terrible tragedy on Mr Iwase! I’m just worried about her. So tell me, what did the telegram say?’
‘Just to be careful at midnight,’ he explained, as if he found it humorous.
He glanced at the clock on the mantle. It read 10:50.
‘There’s still a little over an hour. And I’m sure you’ll sit here the whole time. Won’t you be bored?’
‘No, not at all. I’m enjoying myself. If I weren’t a detective, how many times in my life would I be able to enjoy such dramatic moments? But you must be tired, Mme Midorikawa. Please, take your rest.’
‘My, selfish, aren’t we? I’m enjoying myself perhaps even more than you! Women just love wagers. May I stay here with you, although I’m sure I’m a bother to you?’
‘Still talking about that wager? As you wish.’
The unlikely couple sat silently for a while facing each other, and then Mme Midorikawa noticed a pack of playing cards on the desk. She proposed a game to fight off sleepiness, and when Akechi agreed they began a strange game of cards while waiting for the midnight caller.
It was a very long hour indeed, precisely because it was so threatening, but thanks to the cards it seemed to pass fairly quickly. Of course, throughout their gaming Akechi never failed to look into the
bedroom through the open door, noting that the window remained perfectly normal – and if the kidnapper was to enter the bedroom, the window was the only route left open.
‘Let’s stop, shall we? It’s five to twelve now,’ suggested Mme Midorikawa, with an irritated expression showing she could play cards no longer.
‘Still five minutes. We have time for another hand. And if we keep playing, I’ve no doubt that midnight will pass with nothing untoward happening,’ drawled Akechi, inviting her as he shuffled.
‘Oh, stop that! You mustn’t slight the kidnapper. As I said before, I don’t think this person will break that promise. I’m sure… even now…’
Her face was tense, taut.
‘Mme Midorikawa, you mustn’t get so nervous,’ laughed Akechi. ‘Where in the world is this mysterious kidnapper going to enter from?’
At his words, she lifted her hand, and pointed at the room entrance.
‘Ah, the front door. Well then, to set you at ease, why don’t I just lock it?’
He rose, and walked over to lock it securely with the key he had received from Iwase.
‘There. Unless they break down the door, no-one will be able to approach Sanae’s bedroom. As you know, there is no way in except through this room.’
Mme Midorikawa, like a child terrified by a ghost story, raised her hand again to point at the window, shadowed in the gloomy bedroom.
‘Ah, the window. So you suggest the kidnapper could enter the courtyard and use a ladder? But the window is securely locked from the inside. And even assuming the criminal should break the glass and enter, I can see the window quite well from here – and in that event you would be able to witness my ability at shooting a pistol.’
As he spoke, he tapped his right-hand pocket meaningfully. A small pistol was hidden there.
‘Sanae is sleeping so peacefully, unaware of what’s happening,’ said Mme Midorikawa, peering quietly into the bedroom. ‘But why doesn’t Mr Iwase wake up? He’s far too unconcerned for my taste!’
‘He mentioned that they both take sleeping draughts every night before retiring. They must be worn out by the fear of that terrible note.’
‘My goodness! There’s only one minute left! Akechi-san, are you sure everything’s all right?’
She stood, voice quavering.
‘Yes, everything’s just fine. Absolutely nothing will happen.’
Akechi had also stood, quite unconsciously, and was peering bemusedly at Mme Midorikawa’s face, which was so unusually agitated.
‘But there are still thirty seconds,’ she argued, returning his gaze with fire in her eyes. The woman thief was drunk with the thrill of victory. At last, the time had come to surpass Akechi Kogorō, the famous detective, and scream in triumph.
‘Mme Midorikawa, are you so certain of the kidnapper’s skill?’
His eyes, as well, were smouldering: he was trying valiantly to decipher the bizarre expression on her face. What was it? What in the world was this beautiful woman thinking, to be so excited?
‘Yes, I am. Although it could just be my imagination running off with me. But when I think that even now the twilight knight could be sneaking closer, ready to snatch this beautiful child from our midst, I can see it happening right in front of my eyes!’
‘Ha, ha, ha!’ Akechi finally burst into laughter. ‘Please, Mme Midorikawa, take a look! While you’ve been enjoying your medieval storytelling, the clock has already passed midnight! Looks like I’ve won the wager after all. Shall I claim your jewels now? Ha, ha, ha!’
‘Akechi-san, do you truly believe that you have won the wager?’
Her red lips were twisted now, speaking oh-so-slowly. As she savoured the ecstasy of victory, she had even forgotten her assumed role as a lady of class.
‘What..? You mean, you are…?’
Akechi discerned the meaning of her comment instantly, and his face drained of colour as a terrifying and unknown fear swept through him.
‘You haven’t yet checked to be sure that Sanae is still safe or not,’ she prodded, crowing in victory.
‘But, but… Sanae-san is still…’
The famous detective was foundering fast. His broad forehead was suddenly shiny with greasy sweat.
‘You will tell me she is quietly asleep in bed, I’m sure. But I wonder if that is really Sanae-san, sleeping there… I wonder if it couldn’t be a totally different girl?’
‘That’s… impossible!’ he asserted powerfully, but it was clear he recognized the threat in her words as he ran into the bedroom and roused Iwase.
‘Wha…? What is it? What’s happened?’ asked Iwase, sitting bolt upright as he finally defeated the last traces of sleepiness and woke up fully.
‘Please, look at your daughter. Is that truly your daughter sleeping there?’
A most absurd question, one hardly worthy of the famous Akechi.
‘What in the world are you talking about? Of course it is. If it isn’t my daughter, who could it possibly…’
He broke off suddenly. As if suddenly noticing something, he stared at the back of Sanae’s head as she lay sleeping with her face turned away from him.
‘Sanae! Sanae!’
Although breaking into coughs, Iwase continued to call her name. There was no answer. He left his bed, and approached hers, wavering unsteadily, then placed a hand on her shoulder to awaken her.
‘Akechi-san! She’s gone!’ the old man shouted, furiously.
‘Who is it? The person sleeping there, it’s not Sanae?’
‘Look! This isn’t a person at all! We’ve been duped like fools!’
Akechi and Mme Midorikawa ran to her bed… it wasn’t a person. What they had been so sure was Sanae was actually just the head of a doll. The head of a storefront mannequin had been decorated with a pair of eyeglasses and a Western-style wig to look just like her. The quilt had been bunched up to simulate her body, and a blanket thrown on top.
The head of a doll. What a trite device; what an outstanding scam. A trick played by children. But, exactly because it was the sort of trick you would expect from a child, the adults fell for it completely. Even Akechi Kogorō had never thought the kidnapper might do this sort of thing.
Even so, who in the world was the ‘twilight knight’ that Mme Midorikawa had mentioned? Who in the world could have kidnapped Sanae and left that silly doll’s head in her place? The reader already knows: the twilight knight was, of course, none other than Mme Midorikawa herself. As mentioned in the previous chapter, she disguised herself as Sanae and climbed into bed, fooling her father. After he had drugged himself asleep, she set up the doll’s head and returned to her own room. Readers will recall that when she visited Iwase’s room she was carrying a bulky bag with her. That was the core of the trick, the doll’s head.
In all his years learning to be a detective, Akechi Kogorō had never felt so miserable. There was nothing he could say in response to Iwase’s betrayed trust, or to Mme Midorikawa, either. And for the root of the failure to be this doll’s head, this child’s prank, was so embarrassing as to be unbearable!
‘Akechi-san, my daughter, whom I begged you to protect, has been stolen! You have to get her back! Hurry and get started! And if you can’t handle it by yourself, call the police… yes, I’ll have to rely on the police now! Call the police! Or shall I?’
Iwase Shōbei was furious, so furious that he had forgotten to be a gentleman, spitting out words to savage Akechi.
‘Please, wait. If you start a ruckus now, we won’t be able to capture the criminal. The kidnapping has happened within the last two hours.’
Through incredible effort, Akechi had recaptured his composure, and was thinking keenly again.
‘I can say with confidence that nothing happened while I was on guard here. The only conclusion is that the crime was carried out before that telegram was delivered. The intent
of that telegram, in other words, was not to warn us that the girl would be kidnapped, but rather to make it look as if the crime was to be committed at midnight, and keep all our attention focused on this room until then. The criminals planned to make good use of that time to flee to a place of safety.’
Mme Midorikawa chuckled.
‘Oh, excuse me. I laughed when I shouldn’t have. But when I think of the famous detective Akechi Kogorō spending two hours faithfully guarding a doll’s head…’
Ignoring where she was entirely, Mme Midorikawa was belittling Akechi. She had won a complete victory, and could not restrain the fierce joy bubbling up.
Akechi ground his teeth together and withstood her derisive laughter. He had lost, he admitted it. But he could not accept that his defeat was total. Deep in his heart, he felt that there was still a chance, a hope. And until he found out for sure, he could not accept defeat.
‘Even so, my daughter will not come back to us if we just stand here and wait,’ interjected Iwase, growing more irritated by the unsympathetic words of Mme Midorikawa, and turning to attack Akechi. ‘Akechi-san, I’m calling the police. Surely you have no objections?’
Without waiting for a reply he staggered off toward the living room, and reached for the telephone. And at exactly that instant, as if it had been carefully planned in advance, the bell began to ring.
Although Iwase tutted in irritation, he was left with no choice but to lift the receiver. He began ranting and shouting at the poor operator, but then called in anger for Akechi instead.
‘Akechi-san! It’s for you!’
Hearing this, Akechi snapped alert and leaped for the phone as if he had suddenly remembered something.
He conversed with the other party attentively, and then closed the conversation mysteriously, saying ‘Twenty minutes? It doesn’t take that long! Fifteen? No, that’s too long, too. Ten minutes. Come running in ten minutes. I can only last for ten minutes. Got it?’
‘If you’ve done, would you kindly have the operator telephone the police?’ asked Iwase sarcastically, confronting Akechi.
The Black Lizard and Beast In the Shadows Page 5
