Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino Read Free Book Online

inside. Kishitani, the key.’
    Kishitani pulled a key from his pocket and handed it to Ayane, who accepted it with a perplexed frown.
    She used the key to unlock the door, opened it, and stepped in. The others followed, with Kusanagi bringing up the rear, the widow’s suitcase in one hand.
    Inside, Ayane asked: ‘Where was he?’
    ‘This way,’ Mamiya said, walking down the hallway.
    The tape was still stuck to the floor in the living room. Ayane saw the outline and stopped, her hand over her mouth.
    ‘According to Ms Wakayama, he was lying here, on the floor when she came in,’ Mamiya explained.
    Ayane shook, then her legs buckled and she fell to her knees. Kusanagi saw her shoulders trembling, and a quick hiccuplike sob escaped her lips. She caught her breath and asked in a thin voice: ‘Around what time was it?’
    ‘Near eight when she found him,’ Mamiya answered.
    ‘Eight … What could he have been doing?’
    ‘Apparently, he was drinking coffee. We’ve cleaned it up, but there was a coffee cup on the floor, and a little coffee had spilled.’
    ‘Coffee …’ She looked up. ‘Did he make it himself?’
    ‘Excuse me?’ Kusanagi asked.
    Ayane shook her head. ‘It’s just, he doesn’t do that. I’ve never seen him make his own coffee.’
    Kusanagi noticed Mamiya’s eyebrows twitch.
    ‘He never made coffee?’ the chief asked.
    ‘Well, I know he used to before we got married. But he had a coffeemaker back then.’
    ‘And you don’t have one now?’
    ‘No. I didn’t need it so I threw it out. I use a single-cup dripper.’
    A hard light came into Mamiya’s eyes. He spoke: ‘Ma’am, I can’t say anything for sure without the autopsy results, but it’s likely that your husband was poisoned.’
    Ayane’s face went blank for a moment, then her eyes opened wide. ‘Poison? Like, food poisoning?’
    ‘No. A very potent poison was discovered in the coffee found at the scene – though we don’t yet know exactly what kind of poison it was. Which is to say that your husband’s death was not due to illness or a simple accident.’
    Ayane covered her mouth again, blinking repeatedly. Her eyes were growing redder by the moment.
    ‘Why would he … How could that happen?’
    ‘We don’t know. Which is why I wanted to ask if you had any ideas.’
    This, apparently, was what Mamiya had been talking about when he’d said that the situation had changed, Kusanagi thought. Now it made sense that the chief had showed up in person.
    Ayane pressed her fingers to her forehead and sat down on the nearest sofa. ‘No. No idea at all.’
    ‘When was the last time you spoke with your husband?’ Mamiya asked.
    ‘On Saturday morning. We left the house together on my way to the airport.’
    ‘Was there anything unusual about him, or his behaviour, at that time? Even the smallest details can help.’
    Ayane sat still for a moment, as though searching inwardly; then she firmly shook her head. ‘No. I can’t think of anything.’
    No wonder
, Kusanagi thought. Having to bear the shock of her husband’s death, knowing only that he’d died under suspicious circumstances – and then to learn that he’d been poisoned …
    ‘Maybe we should let her rest a bit, Chief,’ Kusanagi said. ‘She’s probably tired after the trip from Sapporo.’
    ‘Yeah, you’re probably right.’
    ‘No, I’m fine,’ Ayane said, straightening. ‘Only, if I could change, that would be nice. I’ve been in the same clothes since last night.’ She was wearing a dark-coloured suit.
    ‘Since last night?’ Kusanagi asked.
    ‘Yes, I was hoping to find a quicker way back to Tokyo, so I got dressed for the trip ahead of time.’
    ‘Then you haven’t slept at all?’
    ‘I couldn’t have even if I’d tried.’
    ‘Well, that won’t do,’ Mamiya said. ‘You should probably rest before we continue.’
    ‘No, I’m fine. I’ll change and come right back down,’ Ayane said, standing.
    Kusanagi watched her leave the room,