The Thief Read Online Free PDF Page B

there are only two people. There used to be two other women like that, but they both got pregnant and quit. There’s a secretary as well, but she’s on holiday overseas this week. Your job is to intimidate the woman and tie her up so that she doesn’t get in the way. To assist, in other words. Only Niimi will threaten her, talking like he’s Chinese. You’ve been told how to do that, right? Because you’re used to armed robbery as well.”
    The man looked at Ishikawa and curled his lip. Ishikawa nodded briefly.
    “Of course the mistress is a real looker, but don’t get any ideas. I guess you’re not starved for women. If you’re horny, with five million yen you can screw as many women as you like. Yeah, we’re paying you five million. Any objections?”
    It was the second time I’d heard that, but I shook my head anyway.
    “The gangsters around there are all morons. Can’t use them. If they see a woman they can’t control themselves. They’d leave semen and saliva, and if they just killed her she’d put up a fight and there’d be skin under her fingernails.”
    The three men laughed a little, as if in response.
    “They’d get stupid ideas about the money as well. But I don’t think I have to worry about you. You’re not dumb, and I heard from Tanabe that Nishimura never gave them any trouble about the split.”
    I did my best to keep a poker face but couldn’t prevent a flood of sweat. That was my real name. I’d never told it to Tanabe or Ishikawa or anyone. I tried to look at Ishikawa but couldn’t catch his eye.
    The man turned to Tachibana.
    “You I don’t know, but I guess you’ll do. You’re ambitious. I can see it in your face. An ambitious lad isn’t going to risk his life for that sort of money. Anyway, here’s the plan. The woman’s bedroom is here. According to our listening devices, the old man calls the woman to his bed but never goes to hers. So as soon as you get inside the house you three go to this room and tie her up. If she’s not there, go straight to the old man’s room and do it there.You don’t have to deal with the old man. Just concentrate on taking care of the woman. Whatever happens, don’t let her scream. Easy.”
    The man was sighing more frequently, as if he was getting sick of talking. The tall man tried to take over but he held up a hand to stop him. As he did so I could see the mark on his neck more clearly.
    “In fact, this scheme is really interesting. I wish I could join you. In his safe the old man’s got eighty million yen he’s been avoiding taxes on. Apart from that, there are some papers in there that we need. The others will threaten them and make him open the safe. You don’t have to do that, and if you can it’s probably best not to look. But that might be impossible. Most guys can’t help looking at money, just like they can’t help looking at a beautiful woman. You’ll use Japanese swords to scare him. Guns don’t look realistic, and for scaring someone in a hurry cold steel is best. We’ll give you the rope to tie her up afterwards. It’s the same type as a gang of Chinese burglars used a month ago. You’ll be wearing clothes and gloves and socks that are only sold in China. One of them was actually worn by a Chinaman in that gang. Theseguys will cunningly snag that piece of clothing on a door so they leave some fibers in the room. You’ll have special full-face helmets so you don’t drop any eyelashes. We’ve got two kinds of shoes—one set with the soles sanded off, and some with the same sole pattern as the ones the Chinese gang were wearing. That whole gang has already been taken out by some guys in Shinjuku. Even their bones are gone. If the old man self-destructs and decides to report the tax evasion and documents to the police, they’ll still have to go to a lot of trouble just to get as far as that Chinese gang. And since they’re already dead, the investigation will hit a dead-end. We’re going to make them think that