The Sudoku Puzzle Murders Read Free

she?”
    Cora smiled. “Sherry’s bad at sudoku.”
    “What?”
    “It’s all math. There’s no words for her to wrap her torturous mind around. I, on the other hand, love sudoku for just that reason. No damn words. No clues with double meanings. Just numbers. They’re either right or they’re wrong.”
    “You mean … ?”
    “I’m a whiz at sudoku. I beat Harvey fair and square. I could beat most men on the eastern seaboard. You can’t believe what a relief it is to actually have an expertise I profess.”
    “So where’s Sherry?”
    “She got a little behind in her work. I’m not sure why. Something about a wedding.”
    “Uh huh.” Aaron absently pushed gravel with his foot. “Dennis been around?”
    “Aaron.”
    “Hey, I’m out of town, I worry. The guy won’t leave her alone.”
    “And neither will you. I swear to God, I don’t know which one of you agitates her more.”
    “Then he’s been here?”
    “I haven’t seen him. Sherry hasn’t mentioned him. That’s all I know.”
    “She hasn’t mentioned him?”

    “No, and if you’re smart, you won’t either.”
    Aaron sighed. “Okay. Tell her I’ll call her from the paper.”
    “You’re going to work?”
    “I gotta write a puff piece on your presentation.” He shrugged. “Thanks to Harvey, it will be a little more interesting.”
    Cora watched Aaron go, took a drag on her cigarette. What would it be like to have a newsman as an in-law? Aaron was a good guy, but even so. Some of the nicest people in the world became absolute gorgons once you married into their families. Husbands included.
    “Miss Felton?”
    Cora looked up in annoyance to see who had interrupted her train of thought. Her expression immediately changed. The gentleman was quite striking. He was a young Asian man, not tall, but solidly built. He wore slacks, a blue blazer, and a white shirt, open at the neck, which, on a Sunday afternoon, made him better dressed than most of Bakerhaven. He was clean-shaven, his gleaming black hair was razor-cut. A scar on his left cheek from his lip to his chin didn’t detract from his appeal, merely gave him character.
    To a woman who had not been married in awhile, he looked awfully good. Cora felt that old tingling sensation. She was almost embarrassed to be caught smoking, considered stamping out her cigarette. Instead, she mustered up her trademark Puzzle Lady smile, weighed possible responses to the gentleman’s query. Prudently opted for the single word, “Yes.”
    He hurried up and took her hand. “I am so pleased to meet you. I am Hideki Takiyama. I am a great admirer of the Puzzle Lady.”
    “Are you really?” Cora practically simpered, then reined herself in. Her niece was always warning her to find out who they were before she showed her true colors. “You’re not from around here.”
    “No. I am from Japan.”
    “Oh. That’s a tough commute.”
    He smiled. “Yes.”
    Cora sized him up. “Listen, Hideki, if you came all the way from Japan to hear me speak, that’s a little scary.”

    “I am sorry to disappoint you. I am in New York on business. It is not nearly so far.”
    His English was excellent. Cora wondered if she should tell him so, or whether that would be offensive. It occurred to her life had been easier when she was drinking. She said whatever the hell she felt like, and never worried about the consequences. Of course, she sometimes wound up married.
    “I am sorry that I cannot say I came around the world to find you. But in a way I did. I have heard of you in Japan, of course. We get American television. I have seen your excellent advertisements for breakfast cereal.”
    Cora shuddered at the thought. She covered by pretending to blush.
    “But please. Let me tell you how much I enjoyed your presentation. And the ease with which you defeated that man.” He leaned in confidentially. “Was that prearranged?”
    “Lord, no. Harvey is always trying to ambush me in one way or another. He probably