Page 59 of Sixty Meters Under
“Yes. He’s waiting for you.”
Ryosuke inhaled deeply. He still suffered from his hangover, but this was important. He couldn’t say no.
He put the phone in his pocket and Ayame looked at him with raised eyebrow. “Are they calling you in for questioning?”
“Yeah.” Ryosuke got up and checked himself in the mirror. He looked like a mess, but he didn’t want to waste time and energy to change into something more presentable. His comfy tracksuit should be suitable for this occasion.I’m just going to be questioned for a few minutes and get back into the room.
“Are you going right now?” Ayame asked as she saw him walk towards the door.
“Mhm.”
Ryosuke’s anxiety climbed up with every step. The hangover made it only worse. His head throbbed as he tried to think clearly.They will question me about our time in the men’s restroom.Ryosuke sighed and ran his hand through his hair.But, I have nothing to fear. Scarlett and I were just talking and I was helping her clean up. That’s all.Although he didn’t remember every detail while they were in the restroom, he was confident he didn’t have any reason to worry.
He remembered again how he felt when Ayame told him the news.
Shock, disbelief, even nausea overwhelmed him. Hearing that Scarlett was gone just like that was a hard pill to swallow.
As Ryosuke arrived at the desired level, another question arose.My dad said Detective Landberg was going to question me. But I don’t remember them introducing another detective at our first meeting. I guess Anna Landberg has a husband, so that could be him, no? Still, why didn’t they introduce him?Ryosuke wondered.
Ryosuke walked past the theater, and on the other side of the hallway saw his father.
“Dad…”
“Ryosuke. Come in. Detective Landberg is waiting for you.”
Ryosuke entered the room he had never been in before. He noticed Hugo was also inside and that the room had another smaller room with a window. He realized this was probably where he would be interrogated since he couldn’t see Detective Landberg.
He greeted Hugo who nodded his head and pointed to the door that led to the other room. Ryosuke bowed slightly and walked to his right. When he crossed the threshold, he wasn’t prepared for what awaited him. As soon as he realized who was sitting at the table, he almost had a heart attack.It’s him! Anna’s son. Of course!Ryosuke scolded himself for his stupidity.I should know this.But since the man didn’t look much like a detective, it didn’t occur to him it may be Lennart.
Lennart’s eyes were focused on him. Ryosuke walked into the room, trying his best to appear calm and casual. “Good day to you, Mr. Landberg,” he greeted and made a small bow.
As he glanced at his own legs, he remembered that he had come in his tracksuits and with his face and hair looking like a disaster.
Damn.
“Good day to you too, Mr. Kato. Please, have a seat.” Lennart pointed at the chair on the other side of the table. Ryosuke knew he couldn’t afford to hesitate.I just need to act normal. I can do that, even though this whole situation is quite bizarre.He fought the urge to turn around and walk away, but he couldn’t do it, and that irked him. He felt embarrassed and awkward.If I had known yesterday what awaited me today, I wouldn’t have dared to look at this man the way I did.
Ryosuke looked everywhere but at Lennart as he approached the table and seated himself on the wooden chair. At the same time, he could feel the man’s piercing gaze on him and felt like he was being examined under a microscope. His heart pounded, and he prayed his hands wouldn’t shake.
When Ryosuke settled in his seat, it was only natural that he looked his interlocutor in the eyes. It was a big challenge, but he knew he had no other choice. He looked up, trying his best to keep his emotions under control, and locked his gaze with Lennart only to find his eyes sharp as a knife looking back at him.
Ryosuke swallowed and stirred nervously in his chair when Lennart’s deep voice echoed through the room. “So, Mister Kato,tell me everything that happened yesterday evening at the bar.” Lennart casually leaned back in his chair. He had one hand resting on the table while squeezing a white little ball with the other. Ryosuke noticed small tattoos adorning Lennart’s fingers and his left arm below the elbow. Although he wasn’t familiar with the letters, he came to the conclusion they were some Nordic symbols.
Ryosuke’s cheeks heated. For a moment he thought the detective was referring to him staring in his direction the whole night, but he quickly remembered the reason he was there.
“What do you want to know exactly?” Ryosuke added quickly to mask his emotions.
Lennart stopped squeezing the ball, but his eyes remained on him. “I’ll rephrase the question: why did you hit Scarlett?”
“W-what?” Ryosuke’s eyes went wide. “No, I didn’t hit her.”
“Her husband told me Scarlett suffered a head injury while she was in the men’s room. With you.”
Ryosuke blinked a few times, trying to remember everything that had happened in the restroom. “I know that I didn’t hit her. I had no reason to. I didn’t even know that she had an injury.”
“How so?” Lennart asked and continued to squeeze the ball.
Ryosuke’s mouth hung open. “I am not a violent person! And I have never hit anyone in my life.” He raised his voice a notch higher. “What if she got that wound before entering the restroom?”
