The next thing we knew, we were outside, right in front of the small apartment building.
The detective had quickly looked at the intercom that also operated the door, and took a picture of it, before sending it by message.
Which, once again, proved that she was dependent on someone else for some aspects of her business.
Night was beginning to fall, and the street lights had been switched on all over the neighborhood, even though the sunlight was still tinting the darkening sky slightly orange.
The sound of train cars could still be heard in the distance, lost in the noise of the traffic getting denser and denser.
People were coming home after a hard day's work, invading the platforms of the stations, the bus stops, the streets with their cars, or even the lanes reserved for bicycles. It was as if everyone had agreed to go out at the same time, but to different places. And even though we were slightly out of the center of town, the neighborhood we were in was also getting busy. The children, teenagers and other students had already arrived home a while ago; and it was the turn of the working people, no longer having the carefree attitude of their younger years, to follow the invisible path that would lead them to their homes.
Personally, I couldn't remember ever being happy to be back home; even when I was younger. For me, it was primarily the place where I slept at night, and where my personal belongings were. So I didn't understand why people liked going back to their houses, apartments, or studios so much. What was so special about it, after all?
But already, my moment of distraction had caused me to lose sight of the detective. The strange woman was no longer in sight, and, looking up to the upper floor of the residence, saw Mrs. Munehara looking at me as she lightly parted the curtains in front of her window. I could recognize even from this distance her short bowl-shaped haircut.
It's true that, even when she hardly showed herself, she was perfectly visible from the courtyard. But come to think of it, it wasn't necessarily the best place to stand.
The space in question was a dirt plaza, except for a small patch of asphalt on which a bike shed was built. There was a large tree in one corner, and some shrubs. But other than that, not much of a place to hide.
"What are you doing, Nijima-kun?" asked the detective.
I wondered where the voice I had just heard was coming from, but even looking around, I couldn't see it anywhere.
"This way!" she exclaimed a little louder.
I turned my head toward the perimeter wall, and, looking up, saw her head and arms sticking out above it. It was as if she had climbed the wall from the other side.
I knew I had to get out if I wanted to continue this conversation - and assessment, for that matter - while keeping her from falling.
Stepping out of the courtyard of the residence, I quickly saw her jump back to her feet, a sign that she had indeed climbed the wall.
"What were you doing? "I asked, confused.
"I was checking if we could still see Munehara-san's apartment from this place," she explained, pointing right next to her to the wall that was taller than her. "And that's definitely the case. But... I can't see anyone hanging on the wall like I did... "
Yet she seemed to have already figured out some things, which to me were still unclear.
Maybe she was bluffing to give herself a style, or maybe she was really smart.
Dusting off her hands on her pants, and leaving some dust and sand on them, she went towards the road to cross it and find herself on the other side. Then, turning toward the residence, she smiled.
"I knew it! "she exclaimed.
I decided to look in the same direction, and saw with surprise, that Mrs. Munehara's window was half visible above the wall. A few meters back had been enough to make it possible to observe the small apartment from a distance.
"The stalker is surely standing here, whenever he makes his call," she deduced calmly.
She then carefully observed the portion of the sidewalk where we were, without finding any additional clues.
That's when her cell phone rang briefly.
She had just received a message, and was now reading it carefully.
Meanwhile, I was looking around us.
The street we were on was moderately busy; but even if people saw a person making a call from the sidewalk where we were standing, they wouldn't remember it. It was far too ordinary to be notable.
There was also the odd fact that I enjoyed being in the company of the young female detective.
I didn't realize it at the time. But now that I was paying attention, it had to be noted that my daily life could have been described by others as mundane, even boring to death.
However, to find myself overnight participating in an 'investigation', I rather enjoyed it, although it was drastically different from my routine.
Turning my gaze to the left to follow a car that had just passed in front of us, I saw that a figure was standing at the corner of a building, about a hundred meters away. I could hardly make it out, having only one functional eye at the moment, but I could still see that it was slightly leaning forward, only its head and upper torso being visible. It was as if she was spying on us.
It couldn't be...?
But as if to confirm my fears, a hand was placed on my shoulder, making me jump.
"You finally saw it, too. Right?" whispered the detective close to my ear.
Which, once again, made my heart race.
She was really good at it.
But this time, I didn't have time to dwell on the strange sensation I had felt; her hand quickly left my shoulder, and the figure disappeared from my field of vision.
"This guy was watching us as we searched the area," the detective explained. "And I think he realized we were there for him."
Which meant it was probably the stalker I'd spotted at the time. This prompted me to ask a question.
"What do we do now?"
She turned her back to me, ready to cross the street again to the apartment building.
"Nothing, yet!"she boasted.