Chapter 107 - Name and Reality 30 {Combined 54/55} (127-128, 129-130: Doubts Arise Regarding the Results of the Internal Investigation of Oshima's Office — Conflict Among the Upper Brass)
In the end, the investigation team, having decided to search for the possibility of an internal investigation until the last minute, began gathering information by pretending to be people unrelated to the police in the area around Oshima's office. It was a method of picking out shops that office staff had been frequenting for a long time and casually probing the situation inside the office.
In that process, it was an investigation close to a wish that some information about Secretary Nakagawa or the 4th floor of the office might be obtained. However, naturally, the closer they got, the more risk there was of being guarded against as suspicious movements. It was an investigation on the premise that people who had recently moved to the vicinity or salesmen who had come on a business trip would be impersonated, and coffee shops and stores would be visited by one person at a time, and one person would only do a hearing at one location.
Furthermore, if many people heard similar stories in one day, it could become a rumor in the neighborhood, so it was a tough hearing with a limit of two to three stores per day. It goes without saying that the efficiency was very poor, so considering the remaining days, it was a quite forced method, but it couldn't be helped since the superior, Director Koyabu, was saying they wouldn't raid without certain information.
On the other hand, Higashidate continued to testify about the detailed situation at the time as far as he could remember. There was no problem at a level that would back up Higashidate's crime, and for Nishida, he was focusing more on how to probe the inside of Oshima's office than that.
*
On July 26th, the subordinate Mayuzumi brought back interesting information from a coffee shop diagonally across the street from Oshima's office. It wasn't information about Oshima's office itself, but it was that gas inspections were being carried out and planned in the area around the office from mid-July to the end of August. Because of that, the coffee shop apparently had a notice posted that it would be temporarily closed for lunch in early August.
And after returning to the investigation headquarters, when they checked with the utility company, Kitami Gas, they confirmed information that "equipment inspections are being carried out by dividing the areas for the conversion of gas types from the previous year (2001)" (T/N: Author's note: Regarding this, there is the 'Kitami City City Gas Leak Accident' which served as a hint for the idea, so please refer to Wikipedia. It was also on the national news, so some may remember it. It seems that gas detoxification conversion work was being carried out from 2001. https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8C%97%E8%A6%8B%E5%B8%82%E9%83%BD%E5%B8%82%E3%82%AC%E3%82%B9%E6%BC%8F%E3%82%8C%E4%BA%8B%E6%95%85).
Naturally, Oshima's office was included in that area and was in the target area for future inspections. Having obtained this information, Nishida and the others immediately asked Kagawa's father and Higashidate, and they both confirmed that there were cooking facilities such as gas stoves in the rooms on the 4th floor seven years ago and one year ago, respectively. In response to this, the investigation leadership reached a natural conclusion. They would have the inspection date moved forward and send an investigator into the office to "reconnoiter" by blending in with the gas inspectors.
However, there were still problems. First, whether Kitami Gas would allow it. After all, it was based on the bold move of moving the inspection schedule forward. And even if it were permitted, knowing that the investigation target was Oshima Kaiji's office could be a pressure on Kitami Gas, so it was necessary to hide it well. In other words, they wanted to avoid having only Oshima's office moved forward. They wanted to have at least a certain number of cases inspected together. For this reason, Nishida presented a plan.
"To Kitami Gas, we can probably go with 'There's an uncertain tip that a wanted criminal is hiding in the surrounding area, and we want to have an investigator pose as an inspector to conduct a roller investigation of the area,' right?"
"I see! However, while that itself is a clever plan, the problem is Oshima's office... As expected, they'll think that such a person wouldn't be in Oshima's office, so it's quite possible that they'll partially refuse there."
Mitani voiced some problems while agreeing with his subordinate's opinion.
"What about that? Would they really say to exclude only Oshima's office? It's more convenient for Kitami Gas to do the areas all at once, isn't it? I don't think that'll happen."
Since it was his superior, Kusaka didn't go as far as to dismiss it, but he stated an opinion that gently denied it.
"Rather, after presenting the possibility that some apartments behind Oshima's office are the hiding places, why don't we use a 'convenient excuse' like having the investigator reconnoiter from the top of Oshima's office first and then investigate there? If we do that, wouldn't Section Chief Mitani's concern be groundless?"
Mayuzumi, who brought the information, presented a persuasion for the other party that was quite logical.
"Umu. It would certainly be a reason for a detective to go to the upper floors together. I don't know much about the inspection method, but even in the unlikely event that the lower floors are sufficient, it seems like it would be a reason for the real gas company inspector to deceive the Oshima office side by telling them they're going to inspect the gas stove upstairs. Good! Let's go with this!"
Criminal Investigation Director Koyabu was also deeply convinced and, as a request from the police, he spoke to Kitami Gas.
As expected, with this much reason, the other party didn't refuse everything from moving the inspection forward to having an investigator accompany them as an inspector. And for the investigator to infiltrate, Mayuzumi was selected, partly due to this achievement.
*
Sunday, July 28th. Sanada reported that Isaka was almost certainly forging receipts. Sanada had made contact with a woman who had been in charge of accounting at Sanmaru Heavy Machinery, a long-time business partner of the Isaka Group, and who had given them blank receipts with the amount part left blank, until she left the company for marriage a year ago.
About three years ago, because there was an inquiry from the Isaka Group's accounting about the maintenance costs for civil engineering heavy machinery, when that woman contacted them with the transaction amount, she ended up having a dispute with the person in charge of accounting at the Isaka Group, and eventually, it became a matter between the presidents of both sides and was left as if it hadn't happened.
It seemed that the reason it developed into such trouble was that both sides didn't coordinate the matter of the blank receipts down to the "bottom." With this, the arrest charge for Isaka was decided as "forgery of a signed private document." All that's left is to arrest him at the same time as the other three.
*
Tuesday, July 30th. The temperature didn't rise much for summer, and it was gloomy weather. It was also the day when the advancement of the inspection schedule was approved by Kitami Gas, which had listened to the police's claims to the maximum extent, and was to be executed.
The investigation headquarters was dominated by a tense atmosphere, partly because they were betting on Mayuzumi's internal investigation. Mayuzumi had already gone to Kitami Gas. During the infiltration into Oshima's office in the afternoon, he was scheduled to use the digital camera attached to a cell phone, commonly known as "Sha-mail," which had begun to spread around the previous year, to take pictures if there were bullet marks.
The trick to silence the shutter sound had already been completed. The accompanying inspector naturally knew Mayuzumi's identity, but since it was judged that it should be avoided at this point to have it known that "something was done" at Oshima's office, they stopped him from bringing in a proper camera and decided to silence the shutter sound as well. However, since the resolution of the image would drop, they were a bit worried about that point.
While constantly communicating appropriately, Mayuzumi repeated the inspections, and finally, he was to enter Oshima's office for inspection with two original inspectors. In fact, the inspection was apparently to normally inspect all gas equipment and appliances, so there was no need to even plot to enter the assembly room on the 4th floor, and he entered the 4th floor in a natural way.
Also, it seems that no one from the office in particular followed them around during the inspection work. Since the 4th floor was also to be normally inspected, the false infiltration investigation purpose of "reconnoitering the surrounding apartments" in advance ended in a slight failure, but as expected, he couldn't ignore the "setting," so Mayuzumi opened the window and showed such a "gesture" while casting a sharp gaze at the wall.
As he looked while being careful not to be misled by the holes, he looked at the wall in the direction he had heard from Higashidate in advance, and he was convinced that the color of the wall was slightly sunburned and at least it hadn't been remodeled for a certain number of years. At the same time, since it was a room also used for meetings by supporters, there were countless holes processed into the wall to absorb "noise," just as Higashidate had testified. However, according to information investigated in advance by the investigation headquarters, this "hole processing" actually seems to have a greater effect in preventing sound from reflecting too much in the room than for the purpose of soundproofing.
Anyway, while being careful not to be misled by those holes, as he looked, he could certainly confirm that there were three holes that looked like something.
"Is this it? There are three, hey..."
Mayuzumi hesitated for a moment, but there was no time to hesitate there. He immediately took a Sha-mail without being caught and sent it to the investigation headquarters. He also checked the wall on the side Higashidate hadn't confessed to see if there were any others, but since he couldn't find any holes that looked like it, he left the room with the staff who had finished the inspection work. And after leaving the office, Mayuzumi, after excusing himself from the two accompanying him, contacted the investigation headquarters from a slightly distant position.
"How were the photos?"
"Yeah. We could confirm it, but if you look closely, excluding the holes that are apparently originally in the wall for soundproofing, aren't there three?"
Yoshimura also grasped the situation and asked Mayuzumi about that point.
"It seems so... However, there was nothing else that corresponded to it."
Mayuzumi had no choice but to answer that way.
"I see... Understood. We have to have Higashidate confirm it, don't we?"
Yoshimura could only say that, and Mayuzumi hurried back to the two gas company staff to accompany them for the inspection of the nearby apartment groups as per the advance setting.
*
"After all, the story is that this was all there was."
Koyabu, who received Yoshimura's report, widened his eyes and,
"No mistake, right?"
He emphasized.
"Unfortunately..."
Nishida also answered that way, but
"It's much better than there being none, but it's also a problem that they've increased..."
He had a quite grim face.
"For the time being, as Yoshimura says, let's show the image to Higashidate and worry after that."
Onga, as a veteran, mediated the situation,
"Well, that's true."
Koyabu also agreed and instructed to conduct the hearing immediately.
*
In the confirmation hearing that began 30 minutes later, Higashidate, who saw the image, immediately tilted his head.
"The white spots are certainly the same, but I wonder if the wall was such a pure white color. Also, I feel like the height was higher. On top of that, three holes?"
He spoke in a tone that showed he had no confidence at all.
"Hey! Confirm it properly! It depends on your statement, so please..."
Kusaka was more like pleading than being angry at the indecisive attitude.
"Even if you say that, it's a problem... Seven years might have been longer than I thought."
He muttered to himself like that.
Nishida, who was watching from behind, was also praying as it was the last resort, but it seems that no matter how much time passed, Higashidate never definitively concluded that they were the bullet holes from that time with confidence. At the point where the two bullet holes in the confession content had become three, he had a quite bad feeling, but if there are other points that don't match Higashidate's memory, it could become quite serious, not just a simple memory error. Koyabu and Mitani, who were with him, were clearly restless and,
"Nishida, a moment."
They beckoned him.
"How do you think about this situation!"
Nishida was questioned by the two as if he were a suspect, but
"However, I think the possibility of a simple memory error in the number is quite possible given that such unnatural holes are open."
He made an excuse, although it was a difficult one.
"But still... If it were just that two became three, it would be fine, and the color might not be that different, but on top of that, if even the height is different from the impression... hmm."
Mitani tilted his head.
"That's true; in the statement, it's 1m, but with this, it feels like it's a bit lower..."
Nishida was also confused.
An outlet was captured next to the image, but considering the position of a normal outlet, it certainly seemed that it didn't have the height of 1m from the preliminary statement. This was also something that needed to be confirmed directly after Mayuzumi returned.
"Anyway, we have to hear from Mayuzumi and then decide what to do. There's no time until Higashidate's indictment. We have to decide on the raid and arrest by today and request a warrant by tomorrow."
Koyabu said that and let out a deep sigh.
When they heard from Mayuzumi, who returned two hours later, it was indeed that the height was not 1m. In response to this, the situation became even more confused. Koyabu decided to make the final decision after discussing it with Yasumura, the Headquarters Chief, who is the person with ultimate responsibility, and a leadership meeting was held with Yasumura also participating.
*
"I understand the situation well from what you've told me. So, in what direction do you all want to reach a conclusion?"
Yasumura started quietly after receiving the explanation.
First, Koyabu, the Criminal Investigation Director, reacted.
"Even considering the seven years, there's a possibility that a remodel was carried out, and there's a risk that the three holes were created later and are unrelated to bullet holes. If that happens, nothing linked to the incident will be found in the raid, and as a result, the credibility of Higashidate's entire disclosure of secrets regarding the interior may drop. In that case, the raid, which was intended to strengthen the proof, might instead be used by the other side as a reinforcement to deny involvement. Of course, if the opponent were an ordinary person, it might not have much impact, but when dealing with an influential person at Oshima's level, there's a danger that an impression will be made in court that Higashidate's testimony is unreliable. To be honest, the Japanese judiciary can be moved in any way depending on the power of the defendant..."
Nishida thought as he listened that this statement was a hidden self-deprecation that criminal trials are usually quite advantageous for the prosecution and police.
"Therefore, it may be necessary to avoid a situation that gives a negative aspect to the proof of the entire case. I think the arrest of the related persons itself can be done somehow even without this, from Higashidate's other testimonies. However, in reality, when indicting Secretary Nakagawa, quite a bit of the physical evidence will probably rely on the bullet holes and the physical evidence of the bullet components that should be detected from them. If that's not there, even if we can indict, it's also a fact that it will become an element to be poked at in various ways in the public trial. After all, it's related to Oshima... I want to prove the bullet holes, but if they aren't there, it'll have the opposite effect. Since it would be bad if it resulted in casting doubt on the indictment itself, shouldn't we postpone the raid and Nakagawa's arrest for now, given the current uncertain situation?"
Having stepped that far in his statement, Koyabu watched to see how Yasumura would react.
Yasumura, who had been listening silently,
"In other words, is what the Criminal Investigation Director wants to say that we should avoid both the raid and Nakagawa's arrest for now?"
When he confirmed,
"Well, I guess that's it... Given who the opponent is."
He replied as if it were hard to say.
"I see... Understood. What is Section 1 Head Mitani's opinion?"
"To be frank, I am of the same opinion as the Criminal Investigation Director."
Mitani, who was addressed, gave the same answer.
"Then, what about Tegoshi-kanrikan?"
He addressed Tegoshi while keeping his brow furrowed.
"The proof of Higashidate and Kagami's involvement in the murder can be perfectly done, but if we can prove that the preliminary practice was actually conducted in Oshima's office, it's a fact that the subsequent development of the indictment for Secretary Nakagawa's involvement in the hospital shooting incident would be, well, quite easy. Also, since the credibility of Higashidate's testimony would be significantly higher, the impression of other testimonies in court would also improve. However, the problem is if we can't prove the preliminary shooting practice in the raid. There are several other testimonies that seem to be disclosures of secrets related to the three, but currently, none of them are directly linked to the incident. Depending on whether we can scientifically prove the testimony that they conducted target practice at the hiding place, there should be a difference, though I won't say it's 180 degrees. Furthermore, if we can't prove it, the credibility of Higashidate's testimony will also drop. To be honest, if the opponent weren't related to Oshima, I think it's at a level where we can sufficiently carry it from indictment to a guilty verdict with just the other testimonies, but we don't know what might happen. Just in case..."
Tegoshi demonstrated the previous two's statements more specifically, and having said that much, he faltered at the end.
"And the conclusion?"
Yasumura prompted him to speak as if staring him down, but
"It's true that if the raid ends in failure, the persuasiveness of the opponent's claim of innocence would increase, although it's a matter of degree, and that would have the opposite effect. At this point, it might be safer to avoid both the arrest of Nakagawa and the others and the raid for now."
He ended up with the same opinion as the previous two. And finally, it was Nishida's turn.
"Then, shall we hear Assistant Section Chief Nishida's opinion last..."
Nishida, having been told that, made up his mind and began to speak.
"As the three of you have said, I think it's certainly necessary to sufficiently consider the risks in the event that the raid ends in failure. However, the analysis of the bullet marks is also a common recognition in everyone's opinion as being necessary. When that serial killer Motohashi confessed to the murder of Sada Minoru, one factor that became the deciding factor for being able to indict him as the perpetrator and for the guilty verdict in court was that traces of a bullet remained in Sada's ribs. This time too, if the same outer components as the bullets actually used in the shooting can be detected from the bullet holes, we should be able to say for certain that the perpetrator of the shooting incident was on the 4th floor of Oshima Kaiji's office."
Nishida first preached the necessity of the raid by citing the investigation from seven years ago.
"At the same time, as per the Manager's statement, it will of course increase the credibility of Higashidate's testimony, and it should be useful for proving that Higashidate and the others had the intent to cause the shooting incident at the point they were hiding in Oshima's office. Higashidate testifies that Secretary Nakagawa hid the three while knowing the plan for the incident, had them conduct preliminary action practice, and helped them escape, and it will also be a definitive element to back that up. In the first place, the fact that unrelated persons... or rather, yakuza, were staying in Oshima's office for a long period is self-evident that there was approval from Nakagawa, who is the head clerk and has been managing the local area for many years, and if it can be proven that they were already plotting to be involved in the incident from the time they were staying there, the proof of Nakagawa's involvement in the incident is also certain. And what Nakagawa, Oshima's right-hand man, does can be said to be the result of reflecting Oshima's intent, so eventually, when we bring up Oshima, who was in Tokyo at the time, it will be a certain basis for Oshima's involvement in the incident, even if not a powerful one."
Having said this much, he searched the expressions of everyone present.
Except for Yasumura, they seemed to have blank expressions as if saying "We know that," but he still had to make his claim. Seven years later, he couldn't "bend" now. For Nishida, he couldn't afford to follow the same path as that winter seven years ago by being talked out of it.
"Finally, what is in a sense the most important element is that the date of Higashidate's indictment can no longer be extended, as you know. On the final day of the detention extension, it goes without saying that he must be indicted. At the same time, if we indict the perpetrator of the hospital shooting incident in which three people were killed, considering the impact, we must now definitely convey that fact to the news organizations. We were somehow able to keep it hidden at the point of arrest, but we can't gloss it over at the indictment. If that happens, it's like publicly notifying Nakagawa, Isaka, Sakamoto, and Itagaki that the hand of the police is approaching. As a result, evidence might be destroyed, or some measures might be taken beforehand. That must be avoided at all costs! No matter how I think about it, even if it's a gamble, I think raiding the office before Higashidate's indictment is essential. If we don't arrest the four together, I repeat, the destruction of evidence and such will be unavoidable. In the first place, even if we postpone the raid on the office or the arrests, Higashidate's memory won't return... There's no way to know for sure if those holes are bullet holes or not with just an internal investigation, no matter how much time passes! We just have to do it!"
Nishida had no choice but to be conscious of the statute of limitations for the Sada Minoru murder case, and including that, he couldn't afford to say leisurely things at this point. His voice was unconsciously quite forceful toward the end.
But as soon as he finished speaking, Koyabu cut in.
"I understand well what you want to say. I also understand that Nishida is bearing the practical responsibility for the investigation. But! In this situation, it's clearly a dangerous gamble, you know!? You're saying this knowing that, right? I also think, like Nishida, that we should conduct the arrests and the raid if possible. But even so, whether there is enough certainty to match that—that's the biggest problem right now!"
Mitani and Tegoshi, who were listening, nodded at that.
"Since the opponent is who he is, I can painfully understand your thoughts, but precisely because the opponent is who he is, isn't it necessary to prove Nakagawa's involvement and intent in the incident at a level where they can't even make a sound? Really, how long should we wait? And at least regarding the statute of limitations for the Sada Minoru murder case, if it stays normal, the statute of limitations is at the end of September. Of course, with Motohashi as an accomplice, there's more than two months from his indictment to the finalization of the verdict (T/N: Author's note: While a person who was in an accomplice relationship is indicted and until the verdict is finalized, the statute of limitations for another accomplice is also suspended. It is not necessary for this accomplice to be identified in advance), and in addition to that, Oshima has a record of traveling abroad for about 10 days in total including other foreign trips, so the statute of limitations will be extended by about three months, so it should be fine until the end of the year. However, if we can't do anything, it will be the 15th year of the statute of limitations for the Sada Minoru case by the end of the year! Either way, regarding Sada's case, it's going to be an investigation after the hospital shooting murder, so we have to settle the shooting incident early!"
Nishida, although he thought he was at a disadvantage against three superiors, couldn't easily back down because his feelings for this case were different. He had a strong regret that he should have resisted more against Criminal Investigation Director Otomo, who told him the order to withdraw the investigation support from the Engaru Station in December seven years ago.
"This is going nowhere..."
Koyabu irritably averted his gaze from Nishida.
"What do you think, Headquarters Chief Yasumura? Depending on the case, it could even become the responsibility of the upper (brass), so of course you're opposed, right?"
Tegoshi-kanrikan asked Yasumura for his opinion, and although he had been sitting deep in his chair listening to the opinions, he leaned forward and,
"Well then, let me give my own opinion."
He looked at the four of them in turn as if to confirm.
And,
"I don't think any of you would deny that the practical general manager of this case is Assistant Section Chief Nishida, partly because he investigated the case seven years ago. If that's the case, if that person says he wants to conduct the arrest and the raid as soon as possible, I would like to respect that opinion."
He stated his opinion smoothly and concisely.
"Headquarters Chief Yasumura, you're serious, aren't you?"
Mitani widened his eyes and questioned Yasumura.
"Of course I'm serious. That is my conclusion."
He replied calmly.
For a while, the Headquarters Chief's office was filled with an indescribable atmosphere of tension, but after Koyabu cleared his throat,
"Headquarters Chief Yasumura. It's true that even if the raid fails, the indictment of Secretary Nakagawa may be possible, but if we think about the 'future,' we should have to consider that some negative aspect will emerge, right?"
In terms of expression, it was blurred, but it probably meant, "You and we will also be affected in our promotion evaluations, so please spare us from bearing the risk." However, to those words, Yasumura said,
"I am very sorry, but we exist to guarantee the peaceful social life of the citizens, and we should not investigate based on whether we as an organization or its members bear risks or not. It should be necessary to judge based on whether it is useful for resolving the case, right? Furthermore, in investigations against mere ordinary citizens, the current situation is that unnecessary arrests and raids are being carried out frequently. Of course, regardless of whether such things are good or bad, it shouldn't be allowed to change our attitude depending on the opponent. After all, the great principle of equality under the law is imposed on us!"
He counterattacked with a level of idealism and hypocrisy that could be called such from the perspective of people doing practical work.
If you just take the literal meaning of the words, it was his usual polite tone, but the "pressure" of each and every one of Yasumura's words at this time was a dignified one that was completely different from the usual. No, the pressure was not just in the words; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it felt to Nishida, who was nearby, as if it were coming from his entire body.