The Last Curtain by Keigo Higashino: Featured Excerpt

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Regardless of a long time having handed, Yasuyo Miyamoto might nonetheless recall that day with absolute readability. It had been proper initially of September. She acquired a telephone name from a buddy, a girl who ran a sizzling­spring resort simply outdoors Sendai.

There was this girl. Might Yasuyo give her a job? That was what the decision was about.

The girl had contacted Yasuyo’s buddy after seeing an commercial she’d posted for a dwell­-in maid. The difficulty was the girl had no related job expertise and was a little bit on the outdated facet. And though Yasuyo’s buddy couldn’t supply her the job, she was reluctant to ship her on with nothing.

“She’s simply cut up up together with her husband and she or he has no different household. She’s right here in Sendai as a result of she as soon as got here right here on trip and she or he thought it was fairly, a pleasant place to dwell. She’s superb­-natured, very collectively. Fairly a looker too.

She has expertise working within the nightclub scene. That’s why I assumed she is likely to be an excellent match on your bar.”

The girl was thirty-­six, Yasuyo’s buddy went on to say, however she appeared youthful.

No hurt in assembly her, thought Yasuyo Miyamoto. Ya­suyo ran a small restaurant and a bar. Simply the opposite day, one of many women on the bar had gotten married and give up. The grey­ haired male bartender was nonetheless in place, however Yasuyo wanted to get a deal with on the staffing scenario. And she or he knew that her buddy was an excellent decide of individuals.

“Tremendous. Ship her over to see me,” Yasuyo stated into the telephone. 

About an hour later, the 2 girls had been sitting collectively in Yasuyo’s bar, which was not but open. As Yasuyo’s buddy had stated, the girl was a basic Japanese magnificence with a kind of good oval faces. At thirty-­six, she was precisely ten years Yasuyo’s junior, however she definitely appeared youthful than her age. Correctly made-­up, she would look implausible.

The girl’s title was Yuriko Tajima. She’d been dwelling in Tokyo, which defined her lack of a regional accent.

She’d labored at a membership in Shinjuku for a few years in her early twenties. After her father died in an accident, the odd jobs her sickly mom might get weren’t sufficient for the household to get by. Yuriko labored on the membership till she acquired married and her mom died a couple of years after that.

Though she was no chatterbox, Yuriko answered all Yasuyo’s questions with none evasiveness. Her method of talking was nice and educated. Yasuyo acquired the impres­sion that Yuriko was fairly good. She notably appreciated her approach of creating eye contact. Maybe her face might have been a little bit extra expressive however there was nothing dour about

If something, thought Yasuyo, the male prospects would in all probability see one thing soulful and pensive in her.

Yasuyo determined to provide Yuriko every week’s tryout. Her baggage consisted of a few massive suitcases.

“How had been you planning to make a dwelling after separating out of your husband?” Yasuyo felt impelled to ask.

“It was silly, I do know, however I used to be determined to depart house. That was all I might consider,” Yuriko whispered, trying on the flooring with a pained expression on her face.

Though there was clearly extra to the scenario than met the attention, Yasuyo stopped herself from prying any additional.

Yasuyo lived in a home she’d inherited, together with the bar and the restaurant, from her husband. They’d deliberate to have youngsters, so the home had a few spare mattress­rooms. Yasuyo determined to let Yuriko keep in one in every of them.

“If I do find yourself providing you a full­time job, we’ll want to seek out you your individual place. I’ve a buddy who’s an actual property agent.”

 Yuriko teared up when Yasuyo stated this. “Thanks. I promise to not allow you to down,” she stated, ducking her head repeatedly.

And that was how Yuriko ended up working in Yasuyo’s bar, Seven. Yasuyo’s hunch that Yuriko can be fashionable proved to be appropriate. The bar’s prospects all thought the world of her.

When Yasuyo dropped in to see how issues had been going throughout Yuriko’s first week, the outdated bartender sidled over and whispered in her ear.

“That one’s a keeper. Since Yuriko acquired right here, the entire ambiance of the place has modified. It’s not like she’s essentially the most sensible conversationalist or something, however her simply being tright here is sufficient to give the place a contact of glamor. There’s one thing mysterious about her, one thing you possibly can’t fairly put your finger on. She’s in that candy spot between formality and frankness. She’s an enormous addition to the bar.”

Yasuyo didn’t want it spelled out; she might sense the change within the temper. She misplaced no time in providing Yuriko a full­time job.

Yasuyo was true to her phrase and the 2 girls went residence looking collectively. They visited a number of locations and the one which Yuriko lastly picked was an residence within the northeast part of Sendai. Yuriko appeared to love that it was an old-­long-established Japanese­type place with tatami mats on the ground. As there was nobody else obtainable, Yasuyo grew to become Yuriko’s guarantor.

Yuriko maintained a seriousness about her. The bar began to draw extra regulars and it was all the time very vigorous. Most of the patrons had been there to see Yuriko, however she was by no means taken benefit of or dragged into any type of messy scenario. She will need to have realized handle that again at her earlier bar job, Yasuyo thought.

Again then, Japan was having fun with an financial increase and the bar was a constant moneymaker. For her half, Yuriko began to really feel at house in Sendai.

Nonetheless, there was one thing that weighed on Ya­suyo’s thoughts. The 2 girls started spending time collectively, speaking about all types of issues, however Yasuyo couldn’t assist feeling that Yuriko was by no means utterly frank together with her. This was commonplace. Yuriko by no means actually revealed her true self to anyone else both. Understanding that Yuriko’s charisma was what made her engaging and was one of many causes for the success of her bar, Yasuyo felt conflicted.

Yuriko confirmed no signal of wanting to enter the main points of her divorce. When Yasuyo instructed that perhaps her husband had been taking part in round, Yuriko made it very clear that that was not the case.

“It’s all my fault,” she stated. “I failed. As a spouse . . . and as a mom.”

This was really the primary time Yuriko had revealed that she was a mom. She turned out to have a son. He was twelve years outdated when she walked out on her husband.

“That will need to have been actually terrible. I guess you’re determined to see him?”

Yuriko smiled wanly.

“In fact, I wish to see him, however I don’t should. I simply strive not to consider him. In the end, there was no emotional bond there. Not with my husband and never with my son.”

Yasuyo requested her if she had a photograph of her son. Yuriko shook her head. She didn’t have even one.

“If I had a photograph or something like that, I’d by no means have the ability to overlook about him.”

As Yuriko stated this, a stern glint appeared in her eye.

She’s cruel with herself. Was this what led to the breakdown of the wedding? Yasuyo questioned. Yuriko had been working at Seven for round ten years when a significant change occurred. Yuriko developed a deep attachment to one of many bar’s patrons.

Yuriko referred to him as Mr. Watabe. Yasuyo had met him a couple of occasions within the bar. He used to sit down on the counter within the nook sipping a weak whiskey and water whereas studying {a magazine} or listening to the radio with earphones. He gave the impression to be in his late fifties and was of middling peak, neither fats nor skinny. From the hardness of his biceps, Yasuyo suspected he was in all probability a laborer of some type.

Yasuyo, sensing that one thing was occurring between the 2, requested Yuriko about Watabe. Barely shamefaced, Yuriko acknowledged that she was in a relationship with him. He all the time used to remain till closing time when he got here to the bar. That was how Yuriko had picked up on his emotions for her. Over time, she’d come to really feel the identical approach about him.

Yuriko apologized to Yasuyo.

“You’ve no purpose to apologize to me,” stated Yasuyo. “I’m completely satisfied for you. I all the time thought you’d be higher off with a person in your life. Is he already married? I’m guessing he’s single. If he’s, then what’s holding you again? Why not marry him when you’re at it?”

Yuriko didn’t rise to the bait. “Oh, I couldn’t try this,” she stated halfheartedly, shaking her head.

Though Yasuyo acquired the impression that the connection continued after that, she selected to not pry. It was apparent sufficient that Yuriko didn’t wish to speak about it. Watabe’s life appeared to have issues of its personal.

Ultimately, Watabe stopped coming to the bar. When Yasuyo requested why, Yuriko defined that he had gone someplace else—someplace a good distance away—for his work. He labored within the electrical energy enterprise and needed to journey throughout Japan.

It was across the identical time that Yuriko herself modified. She acquired sick and began lacking work. The signs weren’t all the time the identical. Generally she’d a light fever; at different occasions, she simply felt typically run­down.

“This might be severe. You must go to the physician and get your self a correct checkup.”

At any time when Yasuyo instructed this, she all the time acquired the identical reply: “No, I’m effective.” After some time, Yuriko was capable of resume working and was each bit as dedicated to her work as earlier than.

Some whereas later, Watabe reappeared in Sendai. Yasuyo felt an unlimited sense of aid. Poor Yuriko will need to have been so depressing being left on their own, she thought to herself.

A number of extra years handed this fashion. The financial bubble had lengthy collapsed and Yasuyo’s restaurant was struggling. She wished to supply good meals at an affordable value, however enterprise was extra aggressive than ever. Two new eating places opened near hers, battling fiercely over a small handful of shoppers.

Issues weren’t trying any higher for her bar both. As soon as once more, Yuriko’s well being began breaking down and she or he usually failed to point out up for work. Ultimately, she approached Yasuyo and requested for permission to give up.

“The best way I’m now, I’m solely inflicting you issues. I’m not younger both; you’d be higher off hiring somebody to interchange me,” she stated with a bow of apology.

“What nonsense! Everybody is aware of that you simply’re the one who made Seven into what it’s immediately. For those who’re having issues along with your well being, then take a while off, get checked out, get the remedy you want, and get higher. Take on a regular basis you want. I could rent any person else within the meantime, however I promise you they’ll be nothing greater than a stopgap. I’m frightened about you. Are you consuming correctly? You’re so skinny. It’s not regular . . .”

Yasuyo was proper. Yuriko had misplaced a lot weight that it was painful to take a look at her. Her cheeks had fallen in, and her chin was bony and angular. Her lovely oval face had misplaced all its delicate curves.

“I’m effective. Actually I’m. I don’t need you worrying about me . . . ,” Yuriko stated. Yuriko had by no means been one to put on her feelings on her sleeve, however her face appeared much more clean and expressionless than ever.

Yasuyo considered Watabe. What was occurring with him? He was off once more in some faraway a part of the nation, got here the reply. That may’t be serving to Yuriko really feel higher, Yasuyo thought.

Yuriko ended up having to take a very long time off work. Though Yasuyo was busy working each her companies, she nonetheless discovered the time to telephone her buddy. Often, she even went to see her.

Yuriko’s well being appeared removed from good. Yasuyo usually discovered her mendacity on her futon and she or he didn’t appear to be consuming correctly. Had she gone to the hospital? Yasuyo requested. Sure, stated Yuriko, however that they had not been capable of pinpoint what was improper together with her.

Yasuyo knew that the earlier she took her buddy to a correct hospital the higher, however her work was overwhelming and she or he merely couldn’t discover the time. Earlier than she knew it, it was winter once more and one other yr was approaching its finish.

Someday, a lightweight snow began falling early within the after­midday. If the snow settled, even wholesome individuals would have bother negotiating town streets. Anxious about Yuriko, Yasuyo gave her a name.

No reply. The telephone rang however nobody picked up.

In poor health comfy, Yasuyo instantly wrapped herself up in her hooded down jacket, pulled on a pair of shoes, and set off. Yuriko nonetheless lived in the identical residence she’d had since she first arrived.

The residence constructing was two tales tall and divided into eight items. Yuriko’s residence was on the second flooring on the far finish. Yasuyo went as much as the entrance door and rang the bell. There was no response.

She observed that the mailbox was overflowing with unsolicited mail and promoting flyers. Her coronary heart fluttered in her chest. Yasuyo tried the bell once more.

The following second her coronary heart jumped into her throat. She might hear the intercom ringing on the opposite facet of the entrance door.

She began banging on the door. “Yuriko, Yuriko, are you there? For those who’re there, say one thing.”

There was no sound from contained in the residence. Yasuyo turned the knob however the door was locked.

She ran down the steps and, noticing an indication with the title of the true property firm, she rapidly referred to as them.

About thirty minutes later, somebody from the true property firm let Yasuyo into the residence. Because the door opened, the very first thing to catch her eye was Yuriko, sprawled on the kitchen flooring. Yasuyo tore off her boots and dashed over to her buddy, calling her title as she put her arms round her and lifted her off the ground. Yuriko’s physique was chilly, stiff, and startlingly gentle. Yasuyo thought she might detect the trace of a smile on her waxen face.

She began to weep aloud.

The police took away Yuriko’s physique. Noticing the grimace on Yasuyo’s face, the detective in cost, who was in a go well with, stated, “It’s okay. We all the time put them again to regular earlier than we give them again to you. In addition to, I’m guessing that an post-mortem received’t be wanted. The residence’s not been tousled. It doesn’t appear like against the law’s been dedicated right here and suicide appears unlikely too.”

Yasuyo was taken to the police station for questioning. The police requested her how she’d gotten to know Yuriko and what chain of occasions had led to her discovering her buddy’s physique.

The detective listened to what she needed to say. “It sounds as if she has no household then?” he requested.

“That’s what she instructed me. She has a son together with her ex however I don’t assume they’re in contact.”

“Have you ever acquired the son’s contact particulars?”

“I don’t. And I don’t assume Yuriko did both.” 

“I see.”

The detective muttered below his breath, “That’s not a lot assist.”

The police launched Yuriko’s physique the next day. Ultimately, no post-mortem was carried out.

“We estimate that she’d been lifeless two days when she was discovered. The blood exams didn’t flip up something suspicious. The physician on the hospital thinks that coronary heart failure is the likeliest reason behind dying. She in all probability had a pre-existing coronary heart situation.” 

Listening to the detective, Yasuyo was overcome by an intense feeling of regret. I ought to have pressured Yuriko to go to the physician.

Decided to provide her buddy a funeral service, she went forward and made all of the preparations herself. The primary particular person she wanted to get in contact with was Watabe. The police had turned over Yuriko’s cell phone to Yasuyo together with the remainder of her results, so she appeared by way of her contacts listing. There have been only some names in it. There was her personal landline and cell; the restaurant; Seven; then Yuriko’s hairdresser and round fifteen of her favourite prospects from the bar. The decision log confirmed that Yuriko had not made a single outgoing name within the final two weeks and the one incoming calls had been from Yasuyo.

Yasuyo shuddered as she thought in regards to the loneliness of Yuriko’s dying. What had gone by way of her buddy’s thoughts as she collapsed onto the chilly kitchen flooring with no one to see and no one to speak to? Had she considered the person she beloved? Or was it her solely little one, her son?

She discovered Watabe within the contacts listing.

She referred to as utilizing Yuriko’s telephone. If she referred to as from her personal telephone, Watabe may assume twice about choosing up a name from a quantity he didn’t acknowledge.

The telephone was picked up nearly instantaneously. “Sure,” stated a delicate voice.

“Uhm . . . Is that Mr. Watabe?”

“Sure, talking.” There was a guarded observe in his voice.

He will need to have been anticipating to listen to Yuriko.

“I’m sorry to name you out of the blue like this. My title is Yasuyo Miyamoto. , from Seven, the little bar in Sendai. Do you keep in mind me?”

There was a brief pause on the different finish of the road adopted by a grunt. “Has one thing occurred to Yuriko?” he requested.

“Sure. Now, I would like you to pay attention calmly to what I’ve to say.” Working her tongue over her lips, Yasuyo paused for a second then stated: “Yuriko is lifeless.”

She might hear somebody inhaling deeply on the different finish of the road. Like Yuriko, Watabe didn’t let his feelings present, however he was clearly shocked.

Yasuyo heard him clear his throat. “When did it occur?” he requested in a muted voice.

“I discovered her yesterday. The police assume she’d been lifeless for 2 days by then. They are saying it was coronary heart failure . . .”

“Proper. Effectively, thanks for all the things you may have accomplished.” Watabe’s voice was flat and emotionless. Yasuyo couldn’t detect any trace of shock or sorrow. If something, it appeared he’d been half anticipating one thing like this.

Watabe emitted a weak groan when Yasuyo defined that she was arranging the funeral and hoped that Watabe would have the ability to come to make the normal providing of incense.

“I’m terribly sorry, however that received’t be doable.”

“Why? You may not have been married, however you two had been an merchandise for years. I do know you’re busy, however absolutely you possibly can work one thing out?”

“I’m sorry, however I’ve problems with my very own. I actually hope you possibly can manage a pleasant service for her.”

Yasuyo began feeling nervous. From his tone, she might inform that he was about to finish the decision.

“Please, don’t hold up. If I don’t do higher than this, I do know Yuriko won’t ever relaxation in peace. I imply, what am I imagined to do together with her ashes?”

“I’ve acquired an concept about that. Hear, I promise I’ll be in contact very quickly. Are you able to give me your mobile phone quantity?”

“I suppose . . .”

Yasuyo gave him her quantity. Watabe repeated that he can be in contact quickly and hung up. Yasuyo simply sat and stared on the clean display of her mobile phone.

A modest funeral was held the subsequent day within the smallest room on the native funeral corridor. Yasuyo had contacted the regulars at Seven, so a couple of individuals confirmed up. Nonetheless, it was a slightly unhappy and tacky ceremony.

As soon as the cremation was over, Yasuyo took the urn containing Yuriko’s ashes again house together with her. She knew she couldn’t hold it there ceaselessly. She additionally wanted to consider Yuriko’s residence. As her guarantor, it was Yasuyo’s accountability to clear the place out. What ought to she do with Yuriko’s issues. Ought to she simply throw all the things away?

A number of days handed as she questioned what to do. She made repeated calls to Watabe. He by no means picked up.

Yasuyo thought that he will need to have run out on her. The chances had been that he would by no means get in contact. He in all probability couldn’t cope with the trouble.

Per week after Yuriko’s funeral, the realtor referred to as to remind her to clear the residence. Now I’ve no selection, thought Yasuyo decisively. I’ll simply have to scrub the place up and get rid of something pointless—which can in all probability imply nearly all the things.

She was on her approach out of the home when her mobile phone rang. She picked up and heard a flat, uninflected voice. “Is that Ms. Miyamoto? That is Watabe right here. Sorry to be so sluggish to get again in contact.”

Yasuyo sighed closely. “Oh, thank goodness. Truthfully, I used to be beginning to assume you’ll by no means name me again. I had no luck getting by way of to you.”

Watabe chuckled softly.

“I canceled the contract for that telephone. I solely used it to communicate with Yuriko.”

“I see. However nonetheless . . .”

“I’m sorry. I ought to have made that clear. Anyway, you don’t want to fret about something. I’ve discovered any person who can take Yuriko’s ashes and her results off your fingers.”

“You’ve got? Who?”

“Yuriko’s son. He lives down in Tokyo. It took me some time to trace him down, however I managed to seek out his handle. Have you ever acquired a pen helpful?”

“Oh . . . okay.”

“I’m afraid I couldn’t get a telephone quantity for him. I assumed maybe you may ship him a letter?”

“I’ll try this. What’s the son’s final title? Is it Tajima like his mom?”

“No, Tajima have to be Yuriko’s maiden title. She will need to have reverted to it after the divorce. The son’s household title is Kaga.”

Kaga’s first title was Kyoichiro, Watabe went on, and he labored for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police.

“He’s a policeman?”

“Sure. That in all probability means he’ll get again to you. He’ll be a really conscientious particular person, I’ll guess.”

“However what about you, Mr. Watabe? Received’t you come and supply incense whereas Yuriko’s ashes are nonetheless right here with me?”

Watabe briefly lapsed into silence.

“Whats up? Are you continue to there?”

“No, no . . . I’m afraid I can’t. I’d such as you to overlook all about me. After immediately, I received’t be contacting you once more.”

“What do you . . . ?”

“Goodbye. Thanks very a lot.” 

“Hey! Only a—”

She was nonetheless begging him to remain on the road when he hung up on her.

Yasuyo stared blankly on the title and handle she’d jot­ted down. Kyoichiro Kaga. She’d get in contact with him. It was the one factor she might do.

About The Last Curtain by Keigo Higashino:

A decade in the past, Tokyo Police Detective Kyoichiro Kaga went to gather the ashes of his not too long ago deceased mom. Years earlier than, she ran away from her husband and son with out clarification or any additional contact, solely to die alone in an residence far-off, leaving her estranged son with many unanswered questions.

Now in Tokyo, Michiko Oshitani is discovered lifeless many miles from house. Strangled to dying, left within the naked residence rented below a false title by a person who has disappeared with out a hint. Oshitani lived far-off in Sendai, with no recognized connection to Tokyo – and neither her household nor pals have any concept why she would have gone there.

Hers is the second strangulation dying in that approximate space of Tokyo – the opposite was a homeless man, killed and his physique burned in a tent by the river. Because the police search by way of Oshitani’s previous for any clue that may shed some gentle, one of many detectives reaches out to Detective Kaga for recommendation. Because the case unfolds, an sudden connective emerges between the homicide (or murders) now and the long-ago case of Detective Kaga’s lacking mom.