Midday light filtered through the half-drawn curtains of Satoru's small sitting room. The mechanical keyboard clattered without pause as his fingers darted over the keys, working to decipher the new note Kaito had found the previous night. Kaito sat to one side, arms folded, watching each line of binary numbers appear and vanish on the screen.
'Here we are…' murmured Satoru, straightening in his chair. '"Saturday at 22:00",' he read aloud, 'and another address.'
Kaito frowned.'Two nights in a row… This guy wants me to play along.'
Satoru swivelled in his seat and fixed him with a grave look.'Kaito… if the killer saw you yesterday, tonight he could be waiting for you. Or he might not turn up at all. This could be a trap to kill you, or a diversion to throw you off.'
'I know,' Kaito replied, lighting a cigarette he didn't intend to smoke, merely holding it between his lips. 'But if there's the slightest chance of catching him, I'm going.'
'Then go early. Much earlier,' Satoru pressed. 'An hour, two… I don't know, but don't turn up right on ten.'
'I'll be there two hours early,' Kaito said firmly, getting to his feet and slipping the note into his coat pocket. 'And if he doesn't show, at least I'll have confirmed something.'
Satoru sighed.'Just… be careful. If anything happens to you, I won't forgive myself.'
Kaito gave the faintest of smiles.'Thanks for everything, Satoru.'
As Kaito stepped out of the flat, his phone vibrated. Reiko's name flashed on the screen.'What is it?' he answered.'I want to know how the case is progressing,' Reiko's voice was taut, as though she were juggling a dozen thoughts at once.
Kaito told her about the new message and the address.'I'm going tonight. Before the time.''I doubt he'll show,' Reiko warned, 'but go. And if he does appear, don't give him the slightest chance to get away.''Understood.'
He ended the call and drove home. The hours passed in quiet preparation: cleaning and checking his gear—magazines, torch, a small tactical knife. By eight o'clock sharp, he was already in front of the address from the letter.
It was a two-storey house, beige façade, with a small front garden. The interior lights were on.
Kaito rang the bell. A woman in her early thirties opened the door. Her hair was tied in a messy bun and her apron bore flour stains.'Yes?' she asked, a trace of wariness in her voice.
'I'm Kaito, a private detective. I need to speak with you.' His tone was deep but steady. 'A killer is looking for you.'
She let out a small, nervous laugh.'What? That's impossible.''No, ma'am,' Kaito insisted. 'It's very real. Let me in and I'll explain.''Look, I don't know who sent you, but there are no killers here,' she replied, starting to close the door.
Kaito produced his badge, holding it up for her to see.
She hesitated for a moment, then relented, opening the door wide.
They stepped into the dining room. The house smelled of freshly baked bread.'Would you like a coffee?' she asked, still a touch guarded.'No, thank you.' Kaito settled into one of the chairs. 'The killer left a letter saying he'd be here at ten o'clock tonight.''But… it's eight now,' she said, glancing at her hands. 'Well… I suppose I can make dinner in the meantime.'
She disappeared into the kitchen, and Kaito began to look around. On a shelf he spotted several photographs: the woman and a boy of about ten, smiling in holiday snapshots.'Your son?' he asked when she returned with two glasses of water.'Yes. And he's all I have.'
Kaito's brow furrowed. The victims in the recent cases… all of them mothers. A coincidence far too neat.
Time passed. Kaito quietly inspected every corner, searching for signs of surveillance or prior forced entry. Suddenly, a child's scream shattered the calm. It came from upstairs.
The woman dropped a spoon and clapped her hands to her mouth.'Yūji!'
Kaito was on his feet instantly, drawing his pistol.'Stay here.'
He climbed the stairs silently, one hand on the banister to muffle his steps. He stopped before a door that was ajar, then kicked it open.
Inside, the boy sat on the floor watching a horror film. He flinched at the sight of Kaito aiming a weapon.'Easy,' Kaito said, lowering the gun. 'I'm here to protect you.''Mum!' the boy cried out.
There was no reply. The house suddenly felt colder. Kaito shut the door from the outside.'Stay in here and don't open it,' he ordered.
He bounded down the stairs two at a time—only to see the front door standing wide open. He raced to the kitchen.
The woman was tied to a chair, tape across her mouth. Her eyes filled with relief when she saw him. Kaito ripped the tape away.'Look out!' she managed to cry.
Movement to his left—a huge hooded man stepped forward, brandishing a baseball bat. He swung it hard, catching Kaito on the arm and knocking the pistol to the floor.
Kaito staggered back, searching blindly for a weapon. His fingers closed around a glass bottle on the counter. He smashed it against the attacker's head, making him reel. Without pause, Kaito struck again.
The man, dazed, growled and bolted for the exit. Kaito moved to cut him off, but the man hurled the bat in his direction. Kaito ducked, the wooden missile whistling past his head.
By the time he straightened, the attacker was climbing into a black car. The engine roared and the vehicle vanished down the street.
Kaito swore under his breath and returned to the woman.'Are you all right?' he asked, cutting her bindings.'Yes… thank you.' Her hands trembled as she rubbed her wrists.'Call the police. Tell them everything that happened. It'll help you feel safer.' Kaito holstered his weapon and headed for the door.
She nodded.'I will. And you? Aren't you staying to…?''No,' Kaito interrupted gently. 'I've got my own trail to follow.'
Before stepping out, he turned back one last time.'Did he give you any letter? Anything unusual?''No. Nothing.'
Kaito nodded and disappeared into the night, leaving behind the house, the scent of bread, and the echo of a bat slicing through the air.