Chapter 145
Although detectives would consciously work overtime when encountering major cases, this didn't mean they stopped eating and drinking, and they still needed to return to headquarters to communicate progress with other colleagues.
Therefore, when it got completely dark and was no longer suitable for questioning passersby or searching abandoned buildings, people gradually returned to the investigation headquarters, organizing their daily reports while discussing case progress with others.
"Eh? You said there's major progress?"
A voice in the conference room suddenly got louder: "What progress? Who told you?"
Immediately, many people looked over. Some who were grabbing time to eat rice balls stopped chewing, afraid of missing the conversation.
Kitami Hitoshi also heard this commotion and felt somewhat anxious.
There was actually progress, major progress... wasn't this efficiency a bit too high? It didn't match normal Japanese police case-solving speed!
He'd thought he could watch police fumble around like clowns, unable to even understand why the deceased died, then end as a cold case. He hadn't expected his website to be exposed in less than a day, with plans to search for filming locations based on video backgrounds...
Although he felt he probably hadn't left evidence at the scene, he was still somewhat uneasy.
The first and second times, he'd definitely been carefully cleaning the scene, but after so many successes without ever being discovered, this not only made him more contemptuous of police but also made his behavior more casual. There might be oversights.
If his hair or even fingerprints were left at the scene... current DNA technology was sufficient to match him. Although Kitami Hitoshi's previous crimes hadn't been discovered and he'd never been caught, so his DNA wasn't in databases and couldn't be matched to him, it was still a hidden danger.
So he was now actively accompanying seniors everywhere "searching" for scenes, trying to ensure that if explanation was needed, he could say "I must have accidentally left this during investigation" as a reasonable excuse.
His purpose in joining this case's investigation headquarters had changed from closely watching police for entertainment and seeking thrills to becoming the entertainment himself, full of anxiety.
This sense of defeat, which had already nearly shattered the always-smooth-sailing Kitami Hitoshi's mentality, now had talk of new major progress... Kitami Hitoshi almost wanted to flip tables in frustration!
But he wasn't stupid, so he endured and patiently eavesdropped.
The person who'd dropped the information lowered his voice, but surrounding people could still hear if they listened carefully: "They say several more bodies were dredged from Toda Rowing Course!"
The person talking to him immediately gasped: "Just how many people did they kill!"
"Based on the website situation, this should be all of them. The killer might have recently moved from Toda to this area, discovered that because parasites were found here, there weren't many people around, so it was more suitable for dumping bodies, and changed locations..."
Kitami Hitoshi broke out in cold sweat.
They'd already investigated to this extent... this really was huge progress!
Going deeper, they'd discover he was formerly from Tokyo University's rowing club, that Toda Rowing Course was their training location, and when he'd considered destroying evidence, his first thought was there. Later, becoming a police officer and coming here, he'd changed locations.
...But normally, no one would pay attention to where an intern used to come from. Maybe he didn't need to be too nervous... No! This case's advancement speed was clearly abnormal. He might sleep and wake up to find they'd already investigated him!
Why, why was it so fast—
"Inspector Megure made a great contribution this time!" Those two were still chatting. "Too bad the Inspector isn't career track—his promotion has probably hit the ceiling..."
"Aren't you curious how Inspector Megure's previous case style was steady and methodical, but this time he suddenly became so aggressive?"
"...Ah, could it be..."
"Others and I also guess it might be that person's contribution."
Although they were mysteriously evasive and wouldn't say "that person's" name, Kitami Hitoshi guessed it.
...It must be Samukawa Shinryu! Only Samukawa Shinryu's strange aura would make everyone's chat attitude so weird!
Kitami Hitoshi gritted his teeth. From the first moment he saw Samukawa Shinryu, he'd realized this guy was different, but at that time he hadn't realized ill intentions, even slightly envying and admiring the other. Then the other turned around and advanced the case by a ridiculous amount!
But this lake was because Fukasawa suddenly died and couldn't hand over properly, causing the body to be directly exposed. There was no reason for bodies at Toda Rowing Course to be discovered!
Now he really felt Samukawa Shinryu might have known about the "Strawberry Night" website before, even might have investigated it long ago, just concealing and not reporting, now stepping on his hard work to claim credit...
But if the other even knew his body dumping locations, he might have long known his identity too.
This gradual information release might be forcing him to find the other to negotiate compromise... This malicious feeling matched the rumors about liking to toy with criminals!
Kitami Hitoshi felt the logic finally made sense!
Samukawa Shinryu, this guy, as a police officer, toyed with both police and criminals in his palm—indeed more sophisticated than his methods. He admitted defeat...
...No, he couldn't swallow this anger.
How about finding someone to assassinate Samukawa Shinryu? But he had no yakuza connections and didn't know where to find people—ah.
Kitami Hitoshi suddenly remembered meeting someone at a bar recently who called himself detective Conan, but whose real identity was yakuza. Could he ask this person if they had such services?
No wait, the other already knew he was police, and he'd even acted like he was devoted to public service, only forced to deal with yakuza for intelligence... That excuse was fine before, but if he called asking "Can you introduce a killer?" wouldn't that be handing over leverage?!
Don't solve Samukawa Shinryu only to have that yakuza detective threaten him—out of the wolf's den into the tiger's lair wouldn't be wise.
But not trying felt too unwilling... why not ask anonymously?
So when Kitami Hitoshi went to the hallway vending machine to buy coffee, he switched his phone's SIM card, found that flashily-dressed detective's contact information, and sent an email.
[Very sorry to disturb you. Someone introduced you to me, saying I could inquire about commissions... Do you provide 'cleaning' services? Price negotiable.]
After sending the email, Kitami Hitoshi returned with his coffee, anxiously waiting for a response.
After a while, his phone vibrated.
Kitami Hitoshi checked the email without attracting his partner's attention.
The reply: [Different difficulty levels have different prices. Describe the target.]
Kitami Hitoshi was extra cautious. To avoid exposure, he randomly mentioned someone else first, planning to test reliability before revealing the real target: [It's a third-rate manga artist.]
[Convenient to call?]
Kitami Hitoshi hesitated. He'd never commissioned such work—was this step to confirm he wasn't joking? Or to confirm sincerity?
He'd bought a voice changer for fun before... might as well try.
So Kitami Hitoshi found an excuse to go to the rooftop again, carefully locking the door, then replied that it was convenient.
Soon, a call came.
Kitami Hitoshi pressed answer, then remained silent, trying to let the other side play first so he could consider how to respond and avoid saying wrong things and falling into disadvantage.
Then he discovered the other side didn't follow common sense at all, directly stating his name: "Kitami Hitoshi?"
Kitami Hitoshi's heartbeat immediately intensified.
Something was wrong! How could the other side directly guess him?!
He'd clearly anticipated that if he directly said he wanted to kill Samukawa Shinryu, the other would investigate, discover Samukawa Shinryu was investigating this case, then connect it to him through the "Strawberry Night" website where he'd given the other the URL... So he hadn't told the truth, but he was still exposed!
Could this email address be newly applied and only given to him?!
Kitami Hitoshi, being a Tokyo University graduate, was arrogant and conceited but still smart, quickly thinking of a reasonable explanation.
No problem—he could argue he was conducting a sting operation to see if the other really engaged in illegal activities... Anyway, he no longer needed this detective to join Strawberry Night. At worst they'd just cut ties.
This guy surely wouldn't report him to police—sting operation was a fairly reasonable excuse. Thanks to the "police sting operation" news that made a fuss before New Year for giving him inspiration!
...No wait, that police officer seemed to be Samukawa Shinryu! He didn't want to thank Samukawa Shinryu! He'd freeload!
Kitami Hitoshi quietly took a deep breath, keeping this excuse in reserve while continuing to pretend, seeing if the other was bluffing: "Who do you think I am?"
"Of course Kitami Hitoshi!" The yakuza detective's voice sounded completely righteous. "You think just because you turned on a voice changer, I wouldn't recognize you?"
"...I clearly didn't say a word just now. I don't understand how you reached such a conclusion."
The yakuza detective answered very sincerely: "Oh, because I only gave this contact method to you."
Kitami Hitoshi: "............"
So he really only gave it to him!
He didn't believe his luck was so bad to coincidentally encounter the other changing email addresses... Could the other change email addresses every time he went out to exchange contact information?!
This person was sick!
But he'd already prepared an excuse, so he could use it directly: "Sorry, I actually... wanted to test whether you accepted such illegal commissions, attempting a sting operation... I'm anxious since I haven't accomplished anything major during my internship... You can retaliate as you wish, but if money can solve it, I think that's good for both of us. What do you think?"
"I see, it's a sting operation. I thought you wanted to assassinate Samukawa Shinryu."
Kitami Hitoshi: "...???"
Hah?! He could guess this too?! Did this person have supernatural powers?! Or...
The yakuza detective was still very earnestly apologizing: "Sorry, after getting that website, I investigated the 'Strawberry Night' situation... You really know how to have fun. I saw today's news too—the mission progress is all Samukawa Shinryu's doing, right? I completely understand you wanting to assassinate him!"
Kitami Hitoshi nearly wanted to vomit blood: "Why did you investigate this?"
"Uh, personal habit? After all, I'm also an information broker. Such interesting stuff definitely needs investigating. I haven't thanked you yet—thanks to you giving me this website in advance, I was ahead of competitors in completing related commissions."
Kitami Hitoshi suddenly had an ominous premonition: "...What commission? Wait, could Samukawa Shinryu's intelligence..."
The yakuza detective laughed heartily.
"Haha, that's right—it came from me. I was thinking of thanking you then. Do you need me to give you a cut?"
Kitami Hitoshi: ".................."
I was the one who originally made you notice this intelligence, and now you've sold me out while saying you want to thank me and give me a cut?!
Do I lack this bit of money?!
I lack a time machine and regret medicine! Why did I mention this website to you back then?