Dimension Fracture by Corinn Heathers Read Free Book Online Page B

the table next to Misaki. My fiancee promptly refilled her glass, but I noticed that she went at her second one a bit slower, likely to prolong her enjoyment of the flavors than over any real concern about the alcohol content.
    “Mama should be back pretty soon,” So-yi said, and sure enough, I caught the sound of a passkey being tapped against the auto-lock on the front door. A skittering sound heralded the arrival of my mother's overly excitable Shiba Inu, Kaede.
    “So-yi dear, I'm back,” my mother's voice called out.
    “I'm in the dining room.” So-yi gave me a sly look and I nodded approvingly. I could hear my mother opening the sliding glass door leading to the back yard as she released Kaede into the wilds of her domain. The door shut and I waited, sipping at my beer calmly as Yoshiko Ashley walked into the dining room. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of me, showing absolutely no hint of surprise.
    “What's this? You actually want to be a part of this family now?”
    I rolled my eyes. Two out of three wasn't bad, I suppose. “Of course not. I was just stopping by to raid my sister's booze supply.”
    Mama's sidelong gaze softened and she smiled widely. I stood up and obligingly allowed her to scoop me up in a hug that was surprisingly gentle. Usually Mama was the type to give rib-cracking bear hugs, but she knew very well that I wasn't in peak physical condition anymore.
    “It's good to see you, Mama,” I said, my voice growing thick with emotion. My eyes started to sting just a little, and my mother gave me one of her patented Mom Looks as her infallible Mom Senses detected what was about to happen.
    “You're never going to stop being a crybaby, are you?”
    I sniffled and giggled simultaneously. “Hasn't happened yet in the past twenty years, so I doubt it.”
    “If you wanted to surprise me with your random visit, you should have parked your car somewhere I wouldn't have seen it,” Mama told me as she sat down at the table. She took hold of the pitcher of watermelon soju cocktail and poured herself a glass, much to Misaki's obvious dismay.
    “Oh, calm down, little fox,” my mother snapped, rolling her eyes exasperatedly. “I made this earlier and I can always make more. I'll even teach you how, if you want.”
    “O-okay.” Misaki sipped self-consciously at her drink. Her expression brightened again as Nicole appeared, her hair still damp, dressed in a loose-fitting brown yukata that Mama probably brought from the Takeda house. Even beneath the relatively shapeless garment I could see the swell of her pregnant belly.
    “Am I invited to this party, too?”
    I held my beer bottle up in salute. “Of course, the more the merrier. Sit down next to your lovely wife and let's have ourselves a proper family visit.”
    Nicole pulled a chair out across from Misaki and sat between So-yi and Mama, a glass of ice water in her hands. Of course she'd be abstaining from the alcohol, what with the pregnancy and all. I also noticed the ashtray my sister usually sat out for me was absent, again for Nicole's sake. Even though modern cigarettes were not much worse for you than a cup of coffee, the acrid smell of smoke was sure to nauseate a pregnant woman. I curbed my usual urge for a smoke by taking another sip from my drink.
    “So, what brings my least favorite daughter to visit out of the blue like this? Usually it takes me days of nagging to get you to come down to see us.”
    I gave my mother a look that defied description. “Star put us on a new case and it's going to be an ugly one. I doubt Misaki or I will have time to breathe, much less do normal-people things like spend time with family. So we thought it'd be a good idea to come visit before the investigation officially started.”
    “How is she doing these days?” Mama asked. “Such an elegant young lady.”
    “I don't know. We don't exactly socialize—or have any contact outside of work, really. Cell structure, compartmentalization, need-to-know