Free Alice-Miranda in Japan 9 by Jacqueline Harvey Page A

them wandering off. Are you hungry, boy?’
    Kiko’s stomach was in knots. Food was the last thing she felt like.
    â€˜I called you for lunch but you were still doing the laundry. Did you do the ironing too?’ Obaasan asked. ‘If that’s the case, I will keep you forever.’
    The clothes weren’t even dry and Kiko hadn’t the first clue about ironing.
    â€˜Well, I have left you some noodles and chicken and rice,’ Obaasan said. ‘You did a good job with the sorting. Better than fat boy. He is my grandson and the stupidest boy I have ever known. Maybe I will get rid of him and keep you instead.’
    â€˜Does Taro do other jobs?’ Kiko asked quietly. She was hoping he had some chores outside the house.
    â€˜What did you say, boy? Speak up! My hearing is not as good since my last birthday. Eighty-two and suddenly you are on the downhill slide, though I am still a baby compared with that lot in there.’ Obaasan pointed her thumb over her shoulder towards the sitting room.
    â€˜I could go to the market for you,’ Kiko said a little louder. Kiko had seen grocery bags in the kitchen the day before and wondered who was responsible for the shopping.
    â€˜Mmm. Taro is always messing up my order. If you like, you can go to the market tomorrow. I have a very looooong list.’
    â€˜Do you need me to go today?’ Kiko asked. She was desperate to get outside and search the alley for her necklace.
    Obaasan shook her head. ‘No.’
    The old woman shuffled past Kiko into the bedroom.
    She reached under the covers and pulled out Kiko’s backpack.
    â€˜I will look after this for you.’
    Kiko’s heart froze. ‘Why?’ she whispered.
    â€˜This is my insurance. I don’t want you to take my shopping money and run off, boy.’ Obaasan grinned. Flecks of noodles sat between her yellow teeth. ‘Whatever is in this bag must be important to you. I’m sure you would have run away last night if it hadn’t been sitting under my foot. I will give it back once I am sure I can trust you.’ The old woman unzipped the top and pulled out the change of clothes Kiko had brought with her. ‘But you can keep these. I don’t want you to smell bad.’ Obaasan held them out. She squinted through her glasses. ‘Mmm . . . maybe you are not so good at washing – have you turned your own underpants pink?’
    Kiko quickly snatched the underpants and white t-shirt. She felt sick. Her necklace was already gone. There was no way she could lose her mother’s diary too.

 
    Hatsuko stared at the screen. A bald man beside her was fiddling with a piece of electronic equipment on the desk. Her two black-suited assistants stood watching too. A map of Tokyo appeared and within a few seconds the image zoomed in on a red blip. It was moving along a street in the area called Asakusa.
    â€˜Aha!’ Hatsuko exclaimed. ‘Am I not a genius?’ The woman leaned closer to the screen. ‘But what is she doing there?’
    Yuki and Yamato shrugged.
    Hatsuko turned to the technician. ‘How quickly will the car be ready?’
    â€˜It will take another day,’ he replied, his eyes downcast.
    â€˜Work faster. I need her to be in the safe house as soon as possible,’ Hatsuko hissed.
    â€˜I could take another car,’ Yuki suggested. ‘And Yamato could guide me from here.’
    Hatsuko thought for a moment then shook her head. ‘You cannot take her off the street in broad daylight. Anyway, I’m sure it is just a coincidence she is in that part of the city. She won’t find what she’s looking for.’
    â€˜But isn’t it dangerous for her to be outside? What if someone realises?’ said Yamato.
    â€˜Perhaps you should have thought of that before you lost her! She has run away, numbskull. She doesn’t want to be found. She will be lying low and realising just how hard life can be.