Stray Dog Page #2

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tonight, where I met you.

I ran by him at the door

when you took off after me.

Boy, was he shocked.

Hey, that means you've still got

his ration card. Show me.

Man, you're a real amateur.

We hit 'em up for our share

when they bring the gun back.

This business is all about taking 'em

for everything we can.

After all, we're dealing with crooks.

Tough customers.

Hardly my game.

Meaning?

Remember the guy reading the paper

behind you? He's my lookout.

He holds on to the guy's ration card.

No use panicking.

They've all flown the coop by now.

Get it together, man.

Hurry up and take me in already.

It's so damned hot in here,

I'll roast to death.

No big deal, anyway.

Why are you so desperate

to get your Colt back?

You should have tried to grab

a pile of guns from that fence,

not just your Colt.

Shouldn't have brought her in.

But, sir...

I know how you feel. But there's

no proof she ever even had your Colt.

There's more than one Colt

in the world.

There was an assault

and robbery last night.

They took a bullet

out of the victim's elbow.

It's over in Evidence now.

It came from a Colt.

Cut it out.

No point imagining the worst.

Homicide detectives can't afford

to be so sensitive.

You look awful thin.

Been pounding the pavement?

Well, better to suffer

while you're young.

It's official.

- What?

You'll work three months at half pay.

And how about taking the day off?

EVIDENCE - WEAPONS

Yes?

Who examined that Colt bullet?

Oh, I did.

There's no record

of a bullet from this Colt.

Unless there's a match,

bullets never help us crack cases.

Just like a fingerprint,

the spiral marks on the surface...

What is it?

I misfired over here once.

Hmm. So?

Same type of bullet.

Please compare it.

Where'd you find it?

Please.

Congratulations.

It's from the same Colt.

Excellent police work.

Have a look for yourself.

Thank you.

LETTER OF RESIGNATION

You're taking responsibility?

There's no excuse.

Bad luck either makes a man

or destroys him.

Are you gonna let it destroy you?

Depending how you take it,

bad luck can be a big break.

Why not get yourself

put on this case?

Officer Abe's representing

Homicide on this one.

Like to join him?

- Yes.

Sato's with the precinct.

Great cop. Used to be with Homicide.

I'll call him

and get you on the team.

And before you go...

that pistol dealer's moll you brought in.

Why not talk to her again?

She may know something.

I'm on my way.

- Number 18, please.

- She's out.

- Out?

- A precinct cop took her in.

- Precinct cop?

- Yes. Room 4.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

I'm Murakami, Homicide.

That's the guy who booked me.

I'm Sato.

What? Oh, Sato-san.

What is it?

They've put me

on that new case of yours.

I just got orders

to work with you.

I'll need your advice.

Looking forward to it.

About the Colt

this woman handled?

Yeah, Abe filled me in on it.

Besides, it's the rare thief

that packs a Colt.

This guy you loaned the Colt to,

what's he like?

What's he like?

Let's see...

He had a winter jacket, even in this heat.

- Black?

- How did you know?

- He's also a lefty.

Yeah? Is that right?

Well, you can think it over

while you're smoking.

Hey, I remember.

He lit a match with his left hand.

I remember he was shaking bad.

I said, "You're not gonna blow

your brains out with that pistol?"

What's the guy's name?

- How would I know?

- Liar. You saw his ration card.

Sure I did. But it was pretty hard

to make out the letters.

I always hated school.

And who's got the ration card?

His name?

- Dunno.

- It's Kimura, right?

No, it isn't.

Who is it, then?

Guess you're protecting

your boyfriend.

- I am not.

- Liar.

- I'm not lying!

- When they protect 'em like this,

you can be sure

they're an item.

- Name's Honda.

- Okay, spill it all while you're at it.

I'll help myself to another one.

Honda's digs?

I wouldn't know.

I really don't know.

He's just stringing me along.

He'd never tell me.

Where's he hang out, then?

I don't know.

I remember.

I've heard he's keen on baseball.

I bet he goes to the stadium.

Does he have a record?

Yup.

He was bragging how he did time

for half-killing a woman.

- When was that?

- Who knows.

All right.

C'mon, wait till I've finished

my smoke.

Shoot. You get what you need

and you're gone.

Go see what you can

turn up on Honda.

It may just be an alias,

but it'll get you started.

And where are you going?

Well.

What's the coolest place around?

Sato-san.

I found it.

His real name's Tachibana.

Get a bunch of copies

of this photo. Then a warrant.

I don't know anything about

the location or the investigation.

Your arresting her was a big break.

We're nearly done.

We pick up Honda, get the ration card,

and put out an APB. It's got to be him.

A black winter jacket.

A Colt.

Which he clutched in his left hand.

A hand that was shaking

like a leaf.

'Cause he panicked

and shot it off for no reason.

Just your typical case

of an amateur running amok,

although the consequences

for the victims are severe.

A young woman?

Yeah, he got 40,000 yen off of her.

Three years' worth of savings.

Her whole dowry.

Got to work

another three, four years.

By then, she won't be young anymore.

Groom's waited 10 years,

counting the war.

The injury's nothing.

Just wants her money back.

That terrible gun.

What is it?

What's wrong?

The Colt, it was mine.

Someone stole it from me.

If only I hadn't screwed up.

If it wasn't a Colt,

it'd have been a Browning.

I have an awful feeling

something worse will happen.

We're all set.

The hawkers have his picture.

Well done.

Quite a game, huh?

Not again.

It's just that

something's bothering me.

What's that?

What?

That night, the perp came back

to return the gun.

But there I was,

busting that woman.

He must have thought

I got his card, too.

Maybe that's why he went out

and robbed and shot that girl.

Hey, there now.

Is the perpetrator

your responsibility?

No, but I checked. There were

no armed assaults the night before.

I mean, he'd gotten hold of the gun,

then had second thoughts.

And he wanted to return it,

but then...

So what?

Instead of brooding,

prevent the next incident.

He stole 40,000 yen. He's bound

to run through it pretty fast.

And what happens

when he runs out of dough?

He'll rob again. Once does not a habit

make, but the second time,

a stray becomes a rabid dog.

Am I wrong?

No.

We'll put everything we've got

into grabbing Honda.

He'll turn up today.

No baseball fan would miss this game.

Thank you for your patience.

The Giants vs. The Hawks.

And the lineup is...

How many people we got here?

- 50,000 they say.

- One of 50,000, huh?

How 'bout some ice pops?

Sweet popsicles.

Popsicles here.

We'll take two.

Twenty yen, please.

Play ball!

Popsicles.

Anyone want a popsicle?

Gimme a popsicle.

Hey, hey.

Sorry, I'm all out.

Then why push 'em?

- Now, the hard part.

- I'll get him.

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