Alice-Miranda in Japan 9 Read Online Free PDF Page A

was now safely tucked away in a drawer in Hatsuko’s apartment until it was needed. Who could tell how the girl’s father would react to the news? But she would be there to console her brother and convince him to do what was best for everyone. And soon enough she would have what was rightfully hers.
    Hatsuko waited until Kenzo’s footsteps receded down the corridor, then turned away from the sliding door. She had more important things to do than sit with her melancholy brother. She turned sharply to her left and strode down the narrow corridor. After going down two flights of stairs and unlocking a low door, she entered a small basement room.
    Two men in black suits looked up as she entered, and bowed quickly at her.
    â€˜What are you doing here?’ Hatsuko demanded. The men resembled a pair of naughty schoolboys. There was no way they could have completed their task already. ‘Where is she?’
    Both men gulped. Yuki cast his eyes to the floor, while Yamato stared at the ceiling, neither of them wanting to speak first.
    Hatsuko could feel the heat rising in her body. ‘You’ve lost her, haven’t you? Don’t just stand there like imbeciles – one of you find your tongue and explain to me!’ she hissed.
    The taller man, Yuki, straightened and looked ahead, focusing on the blank wall. ‘We did not expect her to go to the subway. We followed her, of course, but there were too many people.’
    â€˜Too many people – in Tokyo? What a shock! You’re more stupid than I ever imagined.’
    He cleared his throat. ‘Please forgive us. One minute she was there and the next she was gone, like a puff of smoke. We have been searching for hours but there’s no sign of her.’
    â€˜This child cannot just disappear!’ Hatsuko screamed. ‘Not until I say so! Who is helping her?’
    The men looked at each other and shrugged.
    Hatsuko stormed towards the pair. ‘Pathetic! Useless!’ she shrieked. The men flinched.
    Hatsuko stalked back across the room, her mind ticking over. They must find a snow drop in a puddle. A snow drop who wanted nothing more than to melt into the waters around her and disappear forever. Hatsuko smiled to herself. It was a bitter irony. She wanted the same thing for her little snow drop too – but only if she was in control.
    â€˜What did she take with her?’ Hatsuko strode back to the men. Their heads were bowed and they dared not look up. ‘Surely you know that!’ She tipped Yuki’s chin upwards and stared into his eyes.
    Finally he spoke. ‘A backpack with some clothes and her mother’s diary.’
    The other man looked up. ‘And she took the necklace, the one her father gave her.’
    â€˜The necklace! But she wasn’t wearing it when she left.’
    â€˜No. It was in her pocket. I saw her take it out when she was walking,’ the other man said.
    â€˜So you were that close and still you lost her?’
    Both men nodded.
    A stifling silence enveloped the room. Hatsuko stared ahead, a frightening smile forming on her lips. ‘Oh, this is perfect. I should have known I would have to rely on my own abilities.’
    The men wondered what she was talking about. Kiko was still missing and the fact that she had taken a gold necklace and a diary with her was not any help as far as they were concerned.
    â€˜Come with me, you idiots,’ Hatsuko sighed. She stalked towards the far end of the room and unlocked another door. ‘I will show you how to do your jobs.’
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    Cecelia Highton-Smith tapped on the girls’ door then slid it open and whispered, ‘Good morning.’ Alice-Miranda, Millie and Jacinta were still asleep on their futons in the middle of the tatami floor. Despite starting off in separate corners, they’d somehow wriggled to the centre and were huddled together like caterpillars in their downy cocoons.
    Millie was the first to