HIROKI MEIRO (The Endless Maze)
written by Miura Ayako
translated by Deborah Davidson
Chapter Three: The Man in the Dark Glasses
(1)
Kanahiko left executive director Mizobuchi's home and walked for half a block when raindrops began to fall. He clicked his tongue in annoyance and hastened his pace. Heavy drops of water splattered into patterns of flowers on the lamp-lit pavement. It was still two more blocks to a street where he could hail a taxi. He raised the collar of his suit coat and was about to make a dash for it when a car pulled up next to him.
"Mr. Machizawa, hop in," said a hoarse voice. The crew cut head of Kyukichi Denjou poked out of the window on the driver's side.
"Oh, Mr. Denjou. Are you on your way home?" Kanahiko said in surprise. Denjou had also been at the Mizobuchi home.
"Yeah. I'll drop you off somewhere if you like."
"Thanks. Just to where I can catch a cab, if that's all right." Kanahiko got into the car. The seats were cushioned and comfortable. He found it odd that Denjou had stopped for him. Kanahiko would, on occasion, run into Denjou at the Mizobuchi home. Mizobuchi gave his subordinates free use of two rooms in his home where they would play mahjong or discuss various matters and confirm each other's loyalty to the boss. His daughter Toshie seemed to enjoy serving food and drinks to the guests, while casting ardent glances at each and every one of them. Denjou was one of the regulars at these gatherings. But he was not an employee of the company. No one really knew what Denjou's role was. He appeared to be not yet forty, but his academic background, occupation, and marital status were anyone's guess. Some said he was a private investigator. Others said he was a racketeer. Still others said he was a gangster affiliated with one of the Osaka-area mobsters.
"He'll do anything for money. He'll collect debts, make threats, maybe even commit murder," some whispered. But no one was certain of Denjou's identity. And though he was occasionally to be found at the Mizobuchi's, he seldom mixed with the other visitors. He smoked a pipe and passed the time in a corner of the room, alone with his private thoughts. His hair was crew cut, he wore dark glasses, and he seemed almost to avoid the company employees. They greeted him with a simple bob of the head but hardly ever engaged him in conversation. When someone approached Denjou--which rarely happened -- he would turn away with a cynical smile. When invited to complete a foursome for mahjong, Denjou would wordlessly wave the invitation away. After repeated incidents like this, they naturally began to leave Denjou alone. His presence at the Mizobuchi's house did not weigh particularly on anyone's mind. The men were aware that Denjou was summoned occasionally to the executive director's private rooms for confidential meetings that lasted for a long time -- longer than Mizobuchi met with even his most favored subordinates. It was clear that Denjou was valuable to the boss. Only Kanahiko sometimes greeted Denjou with a simple "Nice weather, isn't it, Mr. Denjou?" or "I saw you in town last night." Denjou himself would make brief replies, though he would never be the first to speak. It was therefore quite out of the ordinary for Denjou to invite Kanahiko to ride in his car.
"You've saved me a lot of trouble, Mr. Denjou," Kanahiko said to Denjou's back with a tentative smile, marveling that even Denjou had the decency to offer a ride to someone caught in the rain. He was not so different after all. But the very next moment, Denjou startled Kanahiko with the most extraordinary comment.
"Mr. Machizawa, you're on your way to T hotel, I believe."
"What did you say?" Kanahiko swallowed his breath. That was exactly where he was headed. Eiko was waiting for him there. Denjou grinned at Kanahiko's reflection in the rear view mirror.
"That Mrs. Kitakouji..."
"How... How did you know?" It was impossible that anyone could have found out about their relationship. They took pains to arrive at their rendezvous point thirty minutes apart, one taking a room and reporting the room number by phone to the other. The one who arrived later would then have no need to deal with the front desk but could go straight up to the room. The room was always a single, never a double. Even the hotel staff could not be suspicious. Also, they would leave the room separately. And they always chose first-rate hotels. There were always art exhibits, receptions, and meetings of one kind or another going on in first class hotels which would screen them from suspicion if either of them were to be seen by an acquaintance. How had he found them out? Kanahiko turned his nervous gaze to the window.
"Startled you, didn't I?" Denjou grinned.
"But Eiko Kitakouji is just a friend of mine. She's the sister-in-law of a college buddy. And tonight we were..."
"Oh, stop it." The tone was polite, but Denjou laughed once more. "Who cares? You're a man. Have fun."
"Mr. Denjou?"
"Hm?"
"How did you...?" But Denjou drove without responding. Rain beat against the windshield. The wipers repeated their simple right, left, right, left exercises over and over.
As he watched the movement of the windshield wipers, Kanahiko grew agitated. Lights from oncoming cars flashed on his face. His pulse raced. Denjou's continued silence frightened him. He lifted himself up from the seat.
"Uh... Mr. Denjou. You can let me off right here. I'll get myself a cab."
"Relax, Mr. Machizawa. I'll get you to the hotel without fail."
"I've decided not to go."
"Is that right? Can you do that? Mrs. Eiko's expecting you."
"You..."
"I'm not going to get in your way. There's no need to change your plans."
Kanahiko did not know what to say. Denjou was Mizobuchi's right-hand man. No doubt Denjou had already reported Kanahiko's secret to him. If that was the case, his hopes of marrying Toshie were dashed to pieces. Kanahiko expelled a sigh of despair.
"What's the matter?" Denjou seemed to be enjoying himself.
"Mr. Denjou, how did you find out?"
"About you and Mrs. Kitakouji?"
Kanahiko nodded in resignation. The car was coasting down Miyakizaka hill. The Diet building stood tall and silent against the night sky. Even that silence contributed to Kanahiko's increasing anxiety. What if Mizobuchi were to learn of this? The thought was driving him to distraction.
"Mr. Machizawa, let me tell you what I do for a living. I'm a private investigator." A hint of menace had entered Denjou's voice.
"An investigator?"
"The fact is, I've been hired from a certain quarter to check on Mrs. Eiko's movements. And what do you know, you were the fish I reeled in." Kanahiko made no comment and Denjou continued. "Man, was I surprised. The man who's expected to marry Mr. Mizobuchi's daughter is Mrs. Eiko's favorite playmate. Who would've thought?" Kanahiko held his silence and Denjou went on. "Think how surprised Mr. Mizobuchi will be when he hears about this. His daughter trusts you completely." He spoke in an oddly courteous tone. Kanahiko had been staring at the oncoming traffic, but his heart suddenly flip-flopped.
"You mean you haven't told him yet?"
"No. Mr. Mizobuchi hasn't commissioned an investigation of that kind. My client is a certain top class corporation, and I don't lightly pass along a client's secrets. Professional ethics, you might say." Denjou laughed dryly. Kanahiko watched his face in the rear view mirror with stifled breath. Denjou glanced at his reflection.
"Mr. Denjou, Mrs. Eiko and I really only get together for tea..."
"Really? For tea, eh? I didn't realize that."
"Yes, just for tea. Even if it is at a hotel."
Denjou suddenly began to whistle. The drawn out notes were to the melody of the song "Forbidden Pleasures."
(2)
Denjou stopped whistling.
"You're quite certain that you just have tea with her?"
"Quite certain," said Kanahiko, pulling himself together.
"So this must be from one of those times you were having tea." Denjou's left hand pressed a switch under the dashboard and a cassette tape recorder began to play the sound of Eiko's slightly nasal sensual groan. Then came the sound of his own voice panting her name.
Denjou turned off the tape. Kanahiko chewed his lip, feeling like the blood was rushing out of his body. The recording completely exposed the relationship between Eiko and himself. Denjou fast-forwarded the tape, and played a section of it further along.
"Okay, I'll leave the room first." It was Kanahiko’s voice.
"See you on Saturday then. At the T Hotel. I'll get there at 9:00 and wait for you. Is that all right?"
"I don't know about next Saturday. I have..."
"Surely you're not going to tell me you can't make it, Kanahiko. Really! " There was a change in Eiko's tone. "All right. If you don't want to come, that's just fine. Here's a little pocket money to last you till next time. Is thirty thousand yen enough?" she said coldly.
"Eiko, don't be angry. You know how crazy I am about you."
"Empty words," she retorted, but there was relief in her voice.
"Nine o'clock next Saturday at the T Hotel, then."
"That means you'll come?"
"Even if I have to overcome a thousand obstacles, your highness."
Satisfaction rang in Eiko's laughter. The tape machine switched off. Kanahiko felt trapped.
"That's a clever wire-tap," he ventured.
"Oh, they make some even better than this one nowadays," Denjou said contentedly. "Mr. Machizawa, part of the reason your company is doing so well is wire taps such as this one. It isn't all due to the hard work of model employees such as yourself."
The car was now cruising down Kasumigaseki Boulevard where all the government buildings stood. Most of them were dark except for a few scattered windows that were still lit, and the city had the feel of night.
Denjou drove the car silently for a time. Kanahiko also kept quiet. Is he going to try to sell this tape to me, he wondered anxiously. He could somehow scrape together five hundred thousand from his savings. Maybe Eiko was Denjou's target. As part of the Mutsui clan, she'd be worth a million or two. He had to keep Mizobuchi from hearing this tape, at any cost. Losing his chance to marry Toshie was what he feared most. Denjou must be aware of this. In spite of his claim not to reveal secrets lightly, he had probably blackmailed others with tapes like this one. The car came to a stop.
"Why did you stop here?"
"I want to make a deal with you." There was a thick and cloying quality to Denjou's voice. Kanahiko braced himself.
"What kind of deal?"
"Well, considering that Mr. Mizobuchi is a client of mine, I would ordinarily be expected to tell him what I know about you." It was just as Kanahiko expected. He waited for Denjou's next words.
"But I haven't done that. Not yet. Would you care to do me a little favor to show your appreciation?"
"A favor?" Kanahiko spoke courteously, expecting Denjou's next words to be about money.
"Oh, it's nothing special. Mrs. Kitakouji has moved back home with her parents. It seems that she's going to file for a divorce." Kanahiko listened. "We have information leading us to believe that another marriage has been arranged for her."
"Another marriage?" This was news to Kanahiko. He already knew about the divorce. It was to become finalized next month. But he had heard nothing about another marriage.
"Marriage to a career diplomat wasn't a sweet enough match to suit her family anyway. And speaking of unpalatable marriages, Mr. Mizobuchi does not relish the idea of your marrying his daughter. He'd be happy to be rid of you," Denjou said, laughing derisively. "But Miss Toshie has taken a fancy to you - and her father would do anything to keep her happy. That means he's pretty much stuck with the situation as it stands." It was clear that when Denjou had discovered Eiko's affair with Kanahiko, he had found himself a nice prize indeed. Kanahiko was acutely conscious of his own vulnerability. It was only because Toshie had threatened to elope that her father had given reluctant consent to the marriage.
"Mr. Machizawa, your relationship with Mrs. Eiko is actually a valuable card for you if you play it right."
Kanahiko did not immediately understand the meaning of Denjou's words.
"This is the favor you can do for me. Have Eiko jot down the names of the people her father meets with, every day for one month."
"Who he meets with?" The request was totally unexpected.
"Yes. It's just that simple."
"But surely you can easily get that information on your own."
"No, it's not quite as easy as tracking Eiko's extra-marital affairs."
"Why not?"
"As you probably know, the Mutsui manor is built on nearly a hectare of land and is accessible through four different gates. There's no telling which of the four gates a guest will pass through on any given day. It's not easy to keep all four gates under surveillance."
"Oh." The need for four gates was an indication of Mutsui's need for avoiding public scrutiny of his activities. Eiko's father Tozaburo was rumored to be even wilier than his brother Ri'ichiro, the head of the clan.
"I want you to get whatever information you're able to. It's only for a month. Find out whom he meets with. That information alone is worth five or six years of investigating on my own."
Kanahiko did not reply.
"You'll agree to do this, of course. In exchange, I'll work things in your favor where Mr. Mizobuchi is concerned."
"I don't know whether Eiko will cooperate."
"You're the only one who has a chance of getting her to do it. You see, you're the only one she's indulging herself with at the moment." Kanahiko wondered if that was true. "The information I'm asking for is crucial to the well-being of your company as much as it is for my client. I'll do anything in my power to return the favor, Machizawa. Anything."
Suddenly, Fuyumi came to Kanahiko's mind.
"I'll do what I can," he replied.
"Great."
The car sped once more through the rainy night.
(3)
"Is something wrong?" Eiko asked. She gave Kanahiko an inviting look as soon as he walked through the door of the hotel room.
"No," Kanahiko answered dispiritedly, his mind on Denjou, who had just dropped him off in front of the hotel.
"You don't look like nothing's wrong." She was lovely in her black dress with white flowers, and she knew it.
"You look ravishing." Kanahiko grasped her by the shoulders and pulled her lips to his.
"Are you really all right?" After the kiss, Eiko lowered herself into a chair and looked up at Kanahiko.
"I'm fine."
"Your kiss wasn't up to its usual standards." She gave him a playful scowl.
"I have a favor to ask you, actually," Kanahiko said with sweetness in his voice, as he pulled a chair up close to her.
"A favor? Now I wonder what that could be." She loved to have Kanahiko fawn over her, just as she hated to be told what to do. He understood this very well.
"Well, it's not an easy favor to ask." Kanahiko wondered if it would have been wiser to wait until they were making love. But he was too pressed to give it that much thought.
"Oh. You want to end our relationship." She gave him a challenging look.
"Are you out of your mind? I wouldn't dream of it, even if you would."
"Then, what is it?" She was restored to good humor and gently touched his necktie.
"This will sound odd, but... I need to know what guests your father receives at his house."
Eiko stopped undoing his necktie. She gave him a long, hard look which sent chills up his spine. After a pause, she asked him sharply,
"To what end?"
"End?"
"Who put you up to this?"
"No one."
"Kanahiko, is this what you had in mind when you got involved with me?"
"Certainly not! You know better than anyone, that's not so," he said truthfully.
"Even if it wasn't your original intention, maybe your feelings have changed since then?"
"Of all people, Eiko, you know I don't have what it takes to play games like that. I never intended..." Kanahiko fell silent, frightened. It had suddenly occurred to him that Denjou might have bugged the room again. On second thought, he realized that it was unlikely. When Denjou had dropped him off at the hotel, he had said,
"Have fun. I've got all I need on this one tape. I won't have to stoop to eavesdropping on you anymore." And he had driven away laughing. Dully Kanahiko watched the traffic swallow up Denjou's car. Denjou had all he needed. And he was too busy a man to use the same method twice on the same target.
"I never dreamed I'd be asking this of you. Not till tonight."
Eiko watched him intently and then crossed her arms over her breasts.
"Then why now?"
"I had no choice."
"If I'm supposed to tell you who my father meets with, it must mean that someone intends to make a profit at my father's expense." Kanahiko said nothing. "I suppose you know that there are four gates to our estate." He nodded. "Do you know why? It's because Father finds them necessary. And just because we live under the same roof doesn't mean that I know who he meets with or when. Only his secretary and my mother are told." Her voice was cold and dry. Kanahiko hung his head. He realized that he had gone about this thing all wrong. It only made matters worse that she was speaking in riddles. But he had a lot at stake here. He raised his head and gazed at her. An idea suddenly came to him.
"Eiko. I hear that you're getting married again." The look on Eiko's face changed. "I understand that the divorce will be finalized soon. Then you'll have a six month waiting period before you can marry again."
"Kanahiko," Eiko said softly.
"Yes?"
"Where did you get this information? No one's supposed to know."
"Even you?" He asked solemnly.
"Oh, you're just angry because I didn't tell you? How strange. Where could it have leaked from? If Kitakouji finds out before our divorce is finalized, he might drag out the procedure just to spite me."
"That's just fine with me," Kanahiko said in a deliberately sulky tone.
"Kanahiko, you wouldn't say anything to Norisada about this, would you?"
"I don't know. We do see a lot of each other."
"Are you threatening me?"
"Certainly not. But you haven't been fair to me. You could've told me."
"Are you jealous?"
"Of course I'm jealous. You never considered me a candidate?"
"What about you? Have you ever seriously considered marrying me?"
"What use would that be? A salaried man like me has no place among the Mutsuis."
"Anyway, what difference does it make? It doesn't make up for what you're asking me to do." The expression on her face was solemn. Kanahiko's gaze drifted to the small, framed picture of the ocean that hung on the wall. Then he stood and placed his hands on Eiko's shoulders to steer her toward bed as he always did. She gently removed his hands.
"Not till we're finished talking, Kanahiko."
"I didn't realize it would be so hard for you to find out who your father meets with." Kanahiko pretended innocence and bewilderment. The room was lit by a single lamp and it was dim. In the light of the lamp, he was the perfect picture of the guileless young man.
"Come on, little boy. Who put you up to this?"
"Executive director Mizobuchi," he relied impulsively. It would not do to confess that Denjou, a man he knew nothing about, was blackmailing him. He would have to find a more appropriate time to tell her the truth, if indeed he ever did.
"Of KB Construction Company?"
"Yes." Kanahiko sat back down.
"This director of yours. How does he know about us?"
"Uh..." For a moment he was at loss for a reply. "Actually, I told him that Norisada Kitakouji was a college buddy of mine and that his sister-in-law was an incredible beauty. I know it was foolish of me, but I have no pedigree to brag about, so that's what I said. Of course I didn't tell him we were seeing each other."
"Of course you couldn't tell your boss you were having an affair with a married woman," Eiko laughed.
"Eiko, if you're getting married, I might as well too."
"Oh?" A look of relief passed quickly across her face. Kanahiko had been a potential impediment to her upcoming marriage.
"To help me endure your leaving me for another man. The best thing for settling me down would be to get married."
"Is a match being proposed for you?"
"Not anyone I'm excited about. Mr. Mizobuchi's daughter."
"Oh, I see. You have to stay on his good side, then."
"Right. And since I was making this big deal about how close I was to the Kitakouji family, I guess he decided to test me to see how true it was. When he asked if I could find out who Mutsui was receiving at his home, I told him nothing could be easier."
"What a fool you are," Eiko laughed, thrusting out her bosom.
"I know. I'm pretentious and I'm reckless."
"What am I going to do with you?" After a thoughtful pause, she continued. "Well, I know now that you haven't been meeting with me just so I would spy for you. I don't suppose anything drastic would result from my telling you who Father meets with. Anyway, why should I care? I like being a bad girl." She curled her lips. "It's too much trouble to keep track of every one of his guests, but I could make a note of his most important callers two or three time a week."
"Really, Eiko?"
"Really. I'm the black sheep of the family anyway. It's fine with me if the Mutsui Group is brought down." Once more her laughter rang out and she stood up. Kanahiko took her into his arms without hesitation and laid her across the bed.
(4)
The road traffic alongside KB Construction Company quickly diminished after sundown, in spite of its proximity to the Ginza shopping district. Once in a while, a dating couple would materialize out of the shadows and then disappear into them again.
Kanahiko left the office and began walking toward the Ginza. Fuyumi had called him and was waiting for him. Even if Denjou did not expose his affair with Eiko, Fuyumi was certain to reveal their relationship to Mizobuchi before long. And even if Mizobuchi was willing to overlook an indiscretion or two before marriage, Toshie would not. She was a jealous woman, and there were plenty of men who resented his good luck and would be glad to take his place. He could not afford to slip up now. It was imperative for him to play the role of the model company worker at least until the engagement was official.
He took a quick look behind his back, a habit he had developed after Denjou had taped his clandestine meetings with Eiko. Whenever he left his home or office, Kanahiko always checked the immediate area. Whenever he entered a coffee shop or restaurant, he looked back at the street from which he had come. He continued down the street, disgusted with himself.
It was a warm night for November. The crowds became thicker once he was past Showa Avenue. The streets were also better lit. He took his time. There were still ten minutes before the department stores closed and Fuyumi got off work. Kanahiko peered into the shop windows of shoe shops and examined neckties, so that by the time he walked through the door of the Wild Rose coffee shop, he was late for his date with Fuyumi. It was a small, unassuming shop with only fifteen tables, but it was known for its delicious spaghetti. More than half of the seats were occupied. Fuyumi noticed him enter and stood up in relief. She gave him a clinging look. Kanahiko wearily took a seat.
"You came."
"Yeah." He took out his box of cigarettes without smiling. Fuyumi quickly lit a match from the book of matches provided in the ashtray.
"You seem to be in a bad mood."
"I'm just tired." Kanahiko reminded himself that treating her coldly would only complicate matters, and he forced a smile. "I'll have spaghetti with meat sauce. And a salad. What'll you have?"
"I'll have the same."
Kanahiko drew his brows together. It irritated and oppressed him to have Fuyumi order the same thing he did. The waitress took their orders and left the table.
"Order something you like. Don't just imitate me." As he spoke, he realized that any love he had ever felt for Fuyumi was gone. She was prettier than Toshie. Her skin was smoother. Her personality was not bad. Soberly considered, Fuyumi was without doubt a sweet-natured person. But all Kanahiko saw in her now was an obstacle to his worldly success. How could he get rid of her? The murderous thoughts that had first entered his mind the night she had tracked down his house were flitting through his mind more and more frequently. It would make things so simple if she would just drop dead. After a long wait, the spaghetti arrived at their table and Kanahiko began to eat. In silence, Fuyumi also began to eat.
Kanahiko took an idle glance at a table diagonally across the aisle, and he almost dropped his fork in shock. Denjou sat there, his attention riveted on them. Kanahiko paled and then flushed. He stood to his feet. Denjou grinned.
"Mr. Denjou."
"Keeping busy, I see," Denjou said, flashing a meaningful glance in Fuyumi's direction.
"Uh..." Kanahiko scratched his head in embarrassment. "I'll be in touch with you this weekend about our business."
"I'm relieved to hear that. I hope you enjoy your dinner."
Kanahiko sat back down. It was difficult to relax with Denjou only a few feet away.
"Who is that?" Fuyumi asked in a small voice.
"Someone from work," Kanahiko replied, taking a mouthful of spaghetti, which suddenly seemed to have no taste.
"Kanahiko. When are you going to do as you promised?"
"I told you it's a bad time. The company's in turmoil right now."
"Marriage is a once-in-lifetime thing. What could be more important than that?"
"All right. All right. Let's finish eating and talk about this someplace else, like the park."
"The park? Why not my place?" Fuyumi was not in a mood to meekly follow Kanahiko's orders.
"All right. But keep it down, will you? People can hear."
"I'm not saying anything I mind having overheard." Fuyumi was desperate not to be deceived by Kanahiko. Kanahiko ate in silence. Denjou sat nearby quietly drinking coffee. He seemed to be straining with his whole body to listen in on their conversation.
"There's something else..." Fuyumi said, looking up at Kanahiko.
"I'll hear what you have to say later."
Fuyumi blinked dejectedly for a moment.
"I'm pregnant."
"What!? You're kidding." Kanahiko's voice rose. Fuyumi looked steadily at him without comment and then pulled her salad toward her. She seemed strangely composed.
"Are you serious, Fuyumi?" Kanahiko's voice was low.
"I think you said you wanted to talk about it later," she said coolly. "It's a warm night, isn't it?"
"Let's get out of here." Kanahiko stood up. Denjou also stood up. Kanahiko hastily sat back down. Denjou also took his seat.
"It would be a waste to leave this good food uneaten," Fuyumi murmured. She watched Kanahiko as Kanahiko watched Denjou.