The Devotion Of Suspect X Read Online Free PDF Page A

jail?” Misato asked.
    “Well, I suppose so, yes.” Yasuko’s lips shaped a smile. She could already feel herself giving up. “I did kill him, after all.”
    Misato shook her head violently. “But that’s not fair!”
    “Why not?”
    “It’s not your fault. It was all
his
fault. He was gone, history! But he kept coming back, tormenting you, and me … You shouldn’t have to go to jail for him.”
    “Murder is murder. Everything else is just details.”
    Oddly enough, Yasuko could feel her own feelings coming under control as she explained the situation to Misato. She could almost be coolheaded about the whole affair. And as soon as she began to calm down, she started wondering if it was really true that she had no other option. She hadn’t wanted Misato to grow up the daughter of a nightclub hostess. A murderer’s daughter had to be worse. But she couldn’t think of a way out. Still, even if there was no getting around the fact of what had happened, at least she could try to make both of them look as good as possible in the eye of the public.
    Yasuko saw the cordless phone where it lay in a corner of the room. She went over and picked it up.
    “Mom, no!” Misato darted across the room, trying to take the receiver from her mother’s hand.
    “Let go!”
    “No, you can’t!” Misato shouted, grabbing Yasuko’s wrist. She had a strong grip, probably from those hours of badminton practice after school.
    “Let go of me,
please
.”
    “No, Mom, I won’t let you do it. I’d rather turn myself in.”
    “Nonsense! What are you talking about?”
    Misato shot her mother a defiant look. “
I
hit him first. You were just trying to save me from him. And even after it all started, I helped. I killed him, too.”
    Yasuko’s body stiffened, and her grip on the phone weakened. Misato snatched it from her hand. Hugging it to herself she went to the far corner of the room, turning her back on her mother.
    Yasuko thought furiously. What would the police do? Would they believe her if she said she’d killed Togashi by herself? Would they just take her word for it?
    No, the police would make a thorough investigation. She had seen enough police dramas on television to know that they would want evidence—and they would use every means at their disposal to get it. They would question the neighbors, there would be a forensics team, and then—
    Yasuko’s vision dimmed. The police could threaten her all they wanted, she would never tell them what Misato had done, she was sure of that. But what if their investigation revealed the truth anyway? It would all be over.
    She wondered if there was some way she could make it look like she had killed him by herself, but she soon discarded the idea. If she tried anything of the sort, they’d see right through her amateurish efforts.
    I have to protect Misato.
The girl had had it so tough, growing up with a mother like her. Yasuko would gladly give her own life if it meant Misato would not have to suffer anymore.
    So what should I do? Is there anything I
can
do?
    A curious sound shook Yasuko out of her thoughts. Gradually, she realized it was the phone, ringing as Misato clutched it. Misato’s eyes went wide and she looked at her mother.
    Yasuko quietly extended her hand. Misato bit her lip, then slowly handed over the phone.
    Yasuko steadied her breath, then lifted the receiver to her ear and pressed the talk button. “Yes? Hello? Hanaoka speaking.”
    “Um, hi. It’s Ishigami, from next door.”
    Yasuko stared stupidly at the phone.
It’s that teacher again. What could he possibly want this time?
“Yes? Can I help you?”
    “Erm, well, actually, I was wondering what you were going to do.”
    Yasuko had no idea what he meant. “I’m sorry, about what?”
    “Just, well—”
Ishigami paused before continuing.
“If you were going to call the police, well that’s fine, I’ll say nothing about it. But if you weren’t, then I was thinking there might be something I could do