Chapter 68
A peaceful morning passed. Mobile Investigation Unit Fourth Mobile Investigation Fourth Group, number 404's three members had normally patrolled their jurisdiction without receiving any emergency notifications.
"Nice." Ibuki Ai said happily. "This way we can go back and eat!"
Usuha Izuki pondered: "For 24-hour work shifts, how are meals arranged?"
"Usually we return to base, but sometimes when we're tied up, we can order takeout." Officer Shima seriously trained the newcomer. "Although it gets a bit tiring over the day, now we've reformed to four-shift rotation with 24-hour patrol once every four days. As long as you rest well, you can adjust your condition."
Usuha Izuki was quite satisfied with this arrangement.
Previously he could only go to the organization on weekends, but now his schedule would be more flexible.
"I don't think 24 hours is tiring at all—it feels like there's nowhere near enough time." Ibuki Ai said.
"That's because you always want to solve cases..." Officer Shima took a deep breath. "Recent criminals are getting more cunning—either creating alibis or fabricating evidence. Even elite detectives are troubled, and 24 hours isn't nearly enough. The old days when people impulsively killed someone then got caught while fleeing are becoming rarer."
Usuha Izuki: "Tokyo people are like that. In Fukuoka they're more self-aware—knowing they're not capable, they hire professional hitmen."
Officer Shima suddenly had an ominous premonition: "............"
Ibuki Ai asked his question directly: "Huh? Is Fukuoka's public safety that bad? How do you know?"
"I went to university in Fukuoka." Usuha Izuki answered matter-of-factly.
Officer Shima put on a pained expression.
Excellent—this wasn't an ordinary troublemaker but a very opinionated troublemaker from a questionable region and problematic class!
The incident where Fukuoka's former mayor colluded with yakuza and nearly turned Fukuoka into Asia's little Gotham finally couldn't be suppressed after the former mayor stepped down. Metropolitan Police had hotly discussed it, marveling at what a bizarre place Fukuoka was and developing prejudices against police working in Fukuoka.
—No wonder they always felt something was off about Fukuoka police during previous exchange studies or cooperation. Turns out they were complicit!
This newcomer attended university in Fukuoka—no wonder his behavior was so unconventional, saying he'd teach criminals a lesson and scaring them into psychological trauma... Seriously, did he pass background checks? Did he do anything suspicious in Fukuoka?
He vaguely felt this guy had been thoroughly influenced by Fukuoka with its hitmen everywhere, and his thinking patterns probably couldn't be corrected by six months of Police Academy training.
Continuing this topic would ruin his lunch, so Officer Shima took a deep breath: "Since we haven't encountered any incidents, let's head back—"
You can't set flags. Before Officer Shima finished speaking, the Mobile Investigation Unit's communication suddenly crackled to life.
"First Mobile Investigation calling Fourth Mobile Investigation. Incident in XX district, suspected home invasion robbery-murder case, location is..."
Ibuki Ai: "Ah, that's really close to us."
Undoubtedly, their lunch was ruined. Mobile Investigation 404, being closest, was directed by Mobile Investigation headquarters to proceed to the scene.
After confirming someone had died and this was a criminal case, detectives from the jurisdiction quickly responded.
"Oh? Isn't this Shima-kun?" Inspector Megure had just arrived at the entrance when he saw Officer Shima with exhaustion written all over his face.
"Inspector Megure." Officer Shima snapped back to attention and greeted him. "Long time no see."
He used to be a detective in Criminal Investigation too, but later due to certain incidents, he transferred to Mobile Investigation. Now all his old colleagues were at the scene, making things a bit awkward.
Inspector Megure was also considerate, not asking unnecessary questions and going straight to business: "What's the situation?"
"The deceased is an entertainer. The reporter is the president of her talent agency, also her boyfriend. He came to the apartment to find her because he couldn't contact his girlfriend all day. The reporter used his own key to open the door. He claims he last saw the deceased yesterday and says her key was lost the day before yesterday. He suspects whoever found the key committed home invasion. The deceased died of asphyxiation. There are no footprints in the room—the perpetrator entered wearing slippers, possibly an acquaintance."
"I see. Thank you for the preliminary investigation." Inspector Megure listened carefully while walking inside. "We'll take over from here."
The two were still at the entrance when they suddenly heard an outburst from inside.
"Saying I'm the criminal—do you have evidence?!"
Before Inspector Megure could react, Officer Shima was already rushing inside in shock.
It's Samukawa! It must be Samukawa!
Although when girlfriends or wives died, the perpetrator was most likely the boyfriend or husband, and he also suspected that president had problems, they were police! You can't make accusations without evidence! If the other party filed a complaint, Samukawa would be writing self-reflections!
Ultimately, solving cases wasn't their job. Investigation Division One was here—couldn't he leave it to them?! Why cause such a scene just as they were leaving?!
"Samukawa!" Officer Shima rushed into the room. "Investigation Division One detectives are here. We should go."
Inspector Megure followed behind him, mouth twitching: "Samukawa?"
His gaze swept around and indeed spotted that familiar figure.
Mobile Investigation Unit members all wore plain clothes, and intern Samukawa Shinryu was no exception.
After Investigation Division One's uniformed officers entered the scene, that figure in an oppressively black trench coat, hands in pockets, standing before the reporter became particularly out of place.
"Inspector Megure, long time no see." Samukawa Shinryu nodded slightly. "This is the crimi—"
Officer Shima rushed forward to interrupt: "Who the criminal is can be left to Inspector Megure. We should continue patrolling..."
"Wait." Inspector Megure stopped Officer Shima's action. "I'd like to hear Samukawa-kun's thoughts."
Officer Shima objected: "Inspector Megure, Samukawa is just an intern with our Mobile Investigation Unit. He has no experience."
Although Samukawa Shinryu had indeed precisely identified the perpetrator in the bomb case, that was because the criminal was lurking suspiciously around the scene. After Samukawa Shinryu knew there was a bomb inside, seeing the person did seem very suspicious—the probability of catching the right person was high.
Moreover, Samukawa Shinryu was just a Police Academy student then, not the officer responsible for that case. Even if something went wrong, it could only be called improper methods of heroic intervention, not worthy of disciplinary action.
But this situation was different.
This case was assigned to their group, making Samukawa Shinryu one of the responsible parties. With responsibility came serious consequences if problems arose.
Officer Shima knew Samukawa Shinryu was smart, but smart people could make mistakes too. Once he took responsibility in front of so many people, if the investigation went wrong, Samukawa Shinryu would definitely bear responsibility.
As his supervising senior, no matter how much he disagreed with Samukawa Shinryu, he had to protect him and not let him fall into workplace traps. This was a matter of principle.
Inspector Megure, having navigated the workplace for so many years, immediately saw through Officer Shima's protection of Samukawa Shinryu. He said with mixed emotions: "Shima-kun, I don't mean anything else. Samukawa-kun has helped me solve cases before, and his thinking is indeed very enlightening. Since he has ideas, letting him speak is fine."
Officer Shima hesitated, then sighed and stepped aside.
Samukawa Shinryu said: "The reporter claims the perpetrator found the victim's key that was lost the day before yesterday."
The president said coldly: "Yes, so he could secretly open the door, take off his shoes, sneak in quietly, kill Yura, then steal money and flee."
Yura was the deceased's name—an entertainer who wasn't very famous.
Samukawa Shinryu shook his head: "If it were me, having a key, I wouldn't choose to rob when the victim was home, but should choose when she's not home during the day."
Everyone silently looked at him: "............"
You don't need to use yourself as an example... What kind of person are you putting yourself in the place of...
The president choked: "...Maybe the criminal was interested in Yura. Yura is an entertainer after all—if she recognized him..."
"The victim has no other marks on her body. She simply died of asphyxiation." Samukawa Shinryu said. "Moreover, the premise for all this is that Yura-san actually lost her key..."
He calmly picked up a receipt: "This is from when you and Yura-san last met—a receipt for her purchase at a luxury store. I just called to ask the person who served her. They said yesterday Yura-san mentioned to her that the key wasn't lost—she found it in front of her boyfriend. Since you know about this, why are you pretending not to know?"
Inspector Megure was shocked: "Ah? Then wouldn't the only people with keys be the victim and..."
His gaze turned to the president.
The president's face became ugly: "...Saying whoever has a key is the criminal is just your speculation. Professional thieves can open locks even without keys..."
Officer Shima, having once been an elite in Investigation Division One, couldn't help speaking up: "This level of thief would never choose to burglarize when someone's home—the deceased was watching a movie before she died. This apartment's soundproofing isn't particularly good. Just listening at the door would reveal someone inside. Conversely, the neighbor's apartment was empty—why wouldn't a thief choose next door?"
This case was already clear. The murderer was indeed this president—his lie was too outrageous.
The case itself wasn't very difficult. Just making a few more phone calls to ask people the deceased had contacted recently would solve it. No wonder Samukawa Shinryu was so confident in his direct accusation—he'd gotten new intelligence while out making phone calls. His initiative was quite strong.
But they still lacked crucial evidence. If no evidence could be found... In the past, facing such situations, they could only watch helplessly as someone they knew was the criminal walked free. Police sometimes felt helpless too.
The president insisted this was all their speculation—they had no evidence.
"To disguise it as home invasion robbery, he took quite a few things, but other items could be thrown away, and money spent later... If I remember correctly, you watched her enter that luxury store—that was your last meeting. If money she got back from the store after you parted appears in your wallet, with the clerk's fingerprints on it, how would you explain that?"
He couldn't explain it because he realized his wallet indeed still contained that money.
The change from the luxury store wasn't small—he really couldn't spend it all quickly.
The president couldn't accept his plan failing so quickly and instinctively became stubborn: "Yura and I were very much in love. Why would I kill her?"
"Because your company is going bankrupt." Samukawa Shinryu picked up the notebook used for recording during earlier questioning. "Yesterday, you met with the last investor. They still refused you. With the company bankrupt, your social status will decline, and you won't have the ability to continue providing Yura-san with a superior quality of life..."
Up to this point, everyone could follow the reasoning.
Very common passion killing—probably ran out of money, girlfriend would abandon him too, so he killed in anger...
"But Yura-san loved you very much. Every detail in this room shows she was sincere toward you. She must have been looking forward to marrying you and surely fantasized about future life with you... So, to avoid disappointing her, you chose to kill her before she learned about your bankruptcy."
Everyone: "...???"
Huh?! Is something wrong with the logic here?! Is this normal person logic?!
And why is this guy speaking so fluently?!
Inspector Megure looked at Samukawa Shinryu in horror, finding him thoughtfully adding:
"But before that, you should have fantasized countless times about killing Yura-san. I'm right, aren't I?"
The president looked at him with an indescribable expression, then suddenly seemed relieved.
"Ah, I see. You're the same as me... In front of you, there's really no need to hide anything anymore. Yes, I loved Yura very much, and I did indeed fantasize about killing her... There was no reason—I just wanted to kill her. If it's you, you should understand me, right?"
"Sorry, I can't really understand you."
Samukawa Shinryu replied: "If I were you, I would have killed Yura-san the day before yesterday when she discovered the key wasn't lost. That way I could avoid her going to the luxury store the next day and leaving evidence unfavorable to me..."
Officer Shima urgently called a halt: "Stop—Inspector Megure, the case is solved. We still need to continue patrolling! We'll leave first!"
—Help! What is this newcomer saying in front of everyone?! His former colleagues are looking at Samukawa strangely, like they want to arrest him!