Free Year of the Talking Dog: A Hana Walker Mystery (The Hana Walker Mysteries Book 2) by Patrick Sherriff Page B

ID…”
    “I borrowed it.”
    “…illegally entered the concert with boyfriend…”
    “He’s not my boyfriend.”
    “…impersonated a journalist…”
    “I am a journalist, a student journalist.”
    “…because you were being chased by ninja…”
    “He’s not a ninja. He’s a mad man with a stick or sword.”
    “…in flu mask…”
    “Not a flu mask, a round heavy-duty mask.”
    “And he wants to kill you because of the name of a girl. And that’s your story is it?”
    “No. It’s not a story. It’s the truth.”
    “This story will get you prison sentence. For one year. You caused scandal. Scandal is not good for Japanese. The lead singer wasn’t singing live and you proved that on camera. And the camera picked out the name on your pass around neck and showed that to stadium and then on news. NHK’s Hikaru Hayashi isn’t happy. Not happy at all. Since it was her name around your neck, and that’s what Japan saw on the rival networks. Quite embarrassing you see. She lost a lot of respect.”
    “I could give her an exclusive if she wants?”
    “She doesn’t want. She wants to press charges. Let’s go over it one more time, yes?”
    What could I say? We had been through the conversation ten times. Every time Detective Watanabe had got his facts wrong and waited for me to correct him. And every time I corrected him, he had got it wrong again. He would have made a terrible journalist. But, I realise, I would have made a terrible detective.
    “I’m not a bad person, detective. I don’t have all the answers. But I will find them.”
    “I don’t think you’re a bad person. And I don’t want to see you go to jail. But that is what you are facing. Do you understand? Do you know what that would mean for your future career as journalist? Prison not a nice place to be. There’s not really any way back from place like that for sensitive persons. Serious bad persons are there, not little bad persons, but big bad persons. I don’t believe you are big bad person. I don’t believe you belong there.”
    I stare around the room. It was like any doctor’s office, train station or deputy headmaster’s office.
    “I don’t want to go to prison.”
    “I know you don’t.”
    “I didn’t do anything very bad. I’m trying to do the right thing.”
    “I believe you. And that’s why I think we can find a way out of problem. If you just make small statement. Maybe you don’t completely believe yourself. I know I often don’t. But if you just, for official records, you understand, agree that you did small thing against the law, say you are guilty and I’m sure you will be out on the street, free in a minute.”
    “I could get out of here?”
    “Of course. But, you understand how it is, you must agree that you were to blame for what you did. Admit a little of the wrong and you will be out of here.”
    “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
    “I know you didn’t mean to do anything wrong. But if you just agree that you broke some laws and that you won’t do that again.”
    “I can’t promise not to do again what I didn’t already do. I don’t know detective, but I’m feeling very tired and a little confused. I haven’t slept and I haven’t eaten since, I don’t know. If you’d let me rest I could think about your words.”
    “Don’t think so much. Confess and you can go. This is playing a game. You play ball with me, I’ll play ball with you.
    “I don’t want to play with your ball. I’m not in the mood for playing games.”
    “Well, let’s start again. You stole someone’s ID...”
    “I borrowed it.”
    “…illegally entered the concert with boyfriend...”
    “He’s not my boyfriend.”
    “…impersonated a journalist…”
    “I am a journalist, a student journalist.”
    “…because you were chased by ninja…”
    “He’s not a ninja.”
    “…in flu mask…”
    “It’s a round, heavy-duty mask, probably to disguise himself.”
    My mind starts wandering as I answer his