Stumble in through the front door, kicking the door closed behind and throwing the lock with an elbow. Steady against the wall, breathe in, shaky, exhale, stammered.
He wasn’t sure what made him want to call her up so soon again, out of the blue. Perhaps it was rereading the journal entries from that night, or the fact that he’d been trying to take her advice. Regardless, parked in the far end of the courthouse parking lot, Hakuba pulled out his phone and dialed Himura Emi’s phone number.
What did he want, though? The detective realized a little too late that he probably ought to have a specific reason to mention when and if Emi answered. Coffee, maybe? That was a normal thing to do among friends and interested parties, wasn’t it? Yes… Coffee. The perfect excuse for any time, anywhere, and with anyone.
He let it ring, pleased by his clever ‘plan.’