A Dog in Water Read Online Free PDF Page B

the show. They were playing Junior Walker & the All Stars’ “Shotgun.” I’d heard the song numerous times when I was a kid. I felt nostalgia sneak up and steal my sense of reality, making me feel uneasy like I’d wandered into the wrong place.
    The band played a few more songs then ended the show. The performers descended from the stage as the audience applauded. Katsuya wiped away his sweat with a towel as he stepped down. Unlike his bandmates, he spoke to no one and walked straight towards the bar.
    “Gimme water!” he shouted to the girl behind the counter. He saw me and stopped in his tracks.
    I slowly stood up and waited until he had drained the glass of water the girl handed him before approaching. He stared fixedly at me.
    “Let’s take this outside,” I said and walked out without waiting for a reply.
    It was already dark outside. I waited for Katsuya under the dim streetlamps that dotted the alleyway. Katsuya ascended the stairs, a cigarette in his mouth, and stood in front of me.
    “You a detective?” He eyed me as he lit his cigarette. “Na, no real cop would do something stupid like setting up a car accident.” He exhaled a large puff of smoke and glared at me from head to toe. “But you don’t look like a gangster, either. Wait, you a private eye?” He nodded several times to himself as if he’d finally put the pieces together. “So you set up last night’s accident just to get a look at my license. You moron. Why go through all the trouble when I woulda shown you my license if you’d just asked?” His bulging muscles showed clearly through his T-shirt. He had the physique of a competitive swimmer. “So why’re you here? Did Junko ask you? Did she ask you to beat me up?”
    “I just couldn’t stop thinking about what you said last night.”
    “Huh? What’d I say?”
    “ ‘You’d better pray you never cross my path again.’ ”
    “Yeah? And?”
    “I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if I did cross your path again.”
    Katsuya instantly narrowed his eyes. “Ho, ain’t you a comedian, pops.”
    “I’ve always loved beating the crap out of garbage like you.”
    Katsuya stared at me in silence, seeming to weigh my words. “Hmf, I see. So that’s what’s up.” He smirked. “You wanna piss me off and make me get violent so you can call the pigs on me.” He drew closer to me, slowly. “I’ve got priors, so I’ll definitely end up doing time.” He peered into my face. “But is that really what you want? If they take me in, I’ll tell ’em everything, all about what I did to Junko …” He looked like he was thoroughly enjoying himself. “And my brother will find out. Will she be able to survive that?”
    “If you do that you’ll only extend your sentence.”
    “I don’t give a fuck. If I wasn’t prepared for that I’d never be able to force women to keep me fed.” He was brimming with confidence. He was so sure he could best both Junko and me. “I don’t make empty threats. If I say I’ll do something, I’ll do it. All three bitches that sent me to prison? I sent them all to hell.”
    This man wasn’t human. He was some other kind of creature clad in human skin.
    “I’ve risked my ass for my track record. If bitches think I won’t follow through with my threats they won’t become my slaves.” He giggled with enjoyment. “Did you see my message? Huh? Do as I say and I’ll let you fuck Junko, too. How’s that sound, Dick?”
    I felt every drop of blood in my body come to a boil. “In that case, my only choice is to kill you.” The words leapt out of my mouth unchecked by my brain.
    Suddenly I didn’t think that was such a terrible idea.

5
    “Kill me? You? Ha ha ha!”
    As he continued laughing, he flicked his still-burning cigarette at my face. I reflexively tilted my head to avoid it. I knew a kick was coming. Instead of trying to evade it I closed our distance. Though I felt a dull impact in my left thigh, the kick from an