Scene 1: Preparations
Kaito's Office, 18:45
The desk lamp cast its pale glow over a sea of papers and photographs. Cigarette smoke curled slowly upwards in spirals above the table. Kaito was going through the notes and evidence on the bloodstained-lips killer one more time.
On the wall, newspaper clippings, forensic photographs, and maps of Kyoto formed a disturbing collage. The latest lead, deciphered thanks to Satoru, was still fresh in his mind.
He rubbed the back of his neck.If that bastard really is following me, then he'll come for me. I can't afford to fail again.
The image of the woman with her lips cut away merged with the memory of his wife. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to force the vision aside, but the pain clung on.Satoru was right; this is more dangerous than I thought.
He dialled Satoru's number.'Yes?' came his friend's voice, the clatter of a keyboard in the background.'I'm going to take more drastic measures,' Kaito said bluntly. 'I think they'll try to hit me soon.'
The typing stopped.'Are you sure?''I am. If you see anything strange, or I can't get in touch… you'll know the worst has happened. Stay alert.''Kaito…' Satoru hesitated. 'Don't do anything stupid.''It's not stupid if it's necessary.' Kaito hung up before hearing a reply.
He stood, holstering his pistol and slipping a couple of spare magazines, a folding knife, and a tactical torch into his jacket. The night's chill was already seeping in through the window. It was time to close the office.
Scene 2: The Unexpected EncounterDeserted street near Kyoto's docks, 21:15
The sea breeze carried a salt-and-metal tang. The dockside lamps flickered now and then, casting the streets into intermittent shadow.
Kaito was walking towards his car, hands in his pockets, ears tuned to the silence. Something was off. A few metres behind him, the echo of measured footsteps repeated each time he turned a corner.
He didn't look round straight away. He counted in his head. One, two, three pairs of steps.Three men… and they don't sound like passers-by.
He quickened his pace, turning into a narrow alley he knew well — one that led straight to the car park where his vehicle was waiting. But halfway down, three silhouettes emerged to block the exit.
The one in the centre, a tall man with a leather jacket and a scar across his cheek, smiled to reveal yellowed teeth.'You shouldn't have stuck your nose where it doesn't belong, detective,' he said, toying with the baseball bat in his hand.
Kaito, expression unmoved, took a step forward.'Who sent you? The same man who's killing innocent women?'
One of the others snorted.'We don't ask questions. We just follow orders.''Then I'll have to beat it out of you.'
The first man charged, bat raised high. Kaito sidestepped and drove an elbow into his ribs. The thug let out a grunt, and before he could recover, Kaito wrenched the bat from his hands and smashed it into his knee, dropping him to the ground.
The second came at him with a knife. Kaito dodged the slash and, using the bat as leverage, struck the man's wrist, sending the blade clattering to the ground. A follow-up blow to the temple left him sprawled unconscious.
The third, seeing his companions down, took a step back — then bolted into the darkness.'Hey!' Kaito shouted, but didn't give chase. More important to check the ones he had.
He searched their pockets. No ID. Just a cheap mobile phone with no SIM card — the unmistakable signature of a dirty job.
Scene 3: Back at Satoru'sSatoru's Flat, 22:05
Kaito rapped on the door with his knuckles. Satoru opened it, giving him a once-over.'You've got a cut on your brow and blood on your hand. What the hell happened?'
'Them,' Kaito said, stepping inside and tossing the bat onto the sofa. 'Someone wants me dead.'
Satoru locked the door.'I told you, Kaito. This guy doesn't play fair.'
Kaito dropped into a chair.'I'll bear it in mind. But I'm going to find him first.'
Satoru picked up the bat, examined it, and shook his head.'This is hired help. They probably don't even know who their boss is.''I know. But someone paid them to scare me… or kill me.'
'You can't keep doing this — leaping from one attack to the next,' Satoru shot back. 'We need a plan.''We'll have one,' Kaito said, lighting a cigarette. 'But I'm going to need you to keep decoding anything that comes up.''I always do.' Satoru's eyes lingered on him with concern. 'Just don't bring me your corpse to analyse.'
Kaito allowed himself a brief smile.'I'll do my best.'
Scene 4: The Final MessageAbandoned building near the docks, 23:30
The damp, mould-stained walls swallowed the echo of voices. In a dimly lit room, beneath the sway of a single dangling bulb, the three thugs — or what remained of them — knelt before a figure cloaked in shadow.
The mysterious man sat still, hands folded on his knees. Only his mouth was visible in the gloom.'So… you couldn't handle a single detective,' he drawled, voice cold.
The scarred thug swallowed hard.'Sir… he was stronger than we expected…''I don't accept excuses,' the man cut in, standing with unhurried grace. 'No one fails in my plan. No one.'
His right hand slipped into his jacket. The thugs glanced at each other in alarm. A moment later, the metallic glint of a pistol caught the light.
Three shots. Three bodies hit the floor. The smell of gunpowder mingled with damp and blood.
The man holstered his weapon and stepped to a broken window, from which the docks could be seen in the distance.'Detective Fujimoto…' he whispered, with a smile that never reached the light. 'It seems you'll be more interesting than I thought. Get ready… because next time there'll be no escape.'