Chapter 155 - Name and Reality 78 {106 Alone} (252–253 Motohashi's Crime Note 4)
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"...was a real help. So, I want you to take this on this time too."
"Does that mean another offing?"
"Yeah, that's right. Sorry. But this time, since Nagatacho is involved, it'll be a very important matter for our future. I have no choice but to rely on you, whom I can trust!"
"Nagatacho... so it's related to Hakozaki (of the Minyu Party)?"
"Yeah, it's a request from Oshima there. You know him, right? Oshima Kaiji, who was the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. He probably heard various things about us from Hakozaki."
"In that case, surely it's not a politician target, is it!? If that's the case, it'll be quite tough."
"No, as expected, that would become a major incident. I wouldn't be able to accept it in the first place, and I couldn't ask you either."
"I see... Then I'm somewhat relieved. ...So, the opponent is?"
"Apparently, it's someone who's been meddling in Oshima's past matters. He's said to be over 60. It seems quite desperate for Oshima."
"Meddling in the past... Well, if Oyaji goes that far, I have no choice but to accept."
"I knew you'd say that! But since we need to hammer out the details a bit more, I'll call you again tomorrow around noon with the specifics. Is that okay?"
"Understood. I'll be waiting tomorrow."
"Then, tomorrow."
"Excuse me."
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"...Yukio?"
"Yes. I was just waiting."
"It's the continuation of yesterday's talk."
"Yes."
"Regarding the timing of the job, it seems we need to settle it by around the end of September."
"The end of this month!? Um, today is... the 15th, so that means only about two weeks."
"I think it'll be less than two weeks. It's not firmly decided, but as for the date, they want it done around the 25th."
"Ah, so that's also the client's convenience rather than ours?"
"That's how it is. The target is scheduled to visit Oshima's hometown in Hokkaido, and they want him dealt with there."
"Hokkaido!? Oyaji, I've only been to Hokkaido once for a bit of sightseeing, and if the date is decided for such an unfamiliar place, I think it'll be quite tough in this period..."
"Regardless of the date, they'll apparently prepare people to cooperate with you locally."
"Cooperate?"
"Yeah, there's a man named Isaka who's an influential supporter of Oshima, and the story is that he and his underlings will help you on-site. There are plenty of places in the mountains of Hokkaido where not a single soul is around, so the plan is to lure the opponent there, and after you off him, they'll help bury him. Your job is just to pump the lead into him. The talk is settled that they'll be the ones to lure him out. Isn't that a relief compared to before?"
"It's a relief, in a way..."
"Well, I know your heart is heavy in its own way... So, for the specific details, I'm told they want you to go to Kitami in Hokkaido by the 22nd. This is strictly required."
"Kitami by the 22nd? I'll have to take a piece with me, so I'll need to go by rail, but well, is there a certain amount of leeway... I recall Kitami being near Abashiri, famous for 'Abashiri Bangaichi'."
"As expected, your knowledge in that area is abundant. Like you said, it's near Ken-san's Abashiri Bangaichi. I've heard that with the 'JNR', even if you stay somewhere along the way from Osaka, three days should be plenty (to arrive)."
"Well, if I really hurry, it won't take two days. It would be faster if I could use a plane, but as expected, that's impossible... By the way, Oyaji! The JNR was already split and privatized in the spring, so it's JR now."
"That's right! I slipped up. But JR and JNR are doing the same thing, right? You're as meticulous as ever. You won't live long!"
"Hahahaha, that's just like you, Oyaji, not worrying about the small things!"
"Jokes aside, your lodging in Kitami is already decided. It's an inn called Kume Ryokan near the station. Apparently, it's reserved from the 20th, so it's possible to enter early. Well, it would be better to contact them in advance about when you'll be staying. And Kume is the Kume of Kume Hiroshi. I'll tell you the phone number, so take a memo."
"Ah, I'll get it ready now..."
"Yes, go ahead."
"0157-○○-△△△△"
"Did you get it?"
"Oyaji, I got it, but I want you to say it slowly instead of saying it all at once. It's too hectic."
"But with your memory, that should be a piece of cake, right? It's a time-saver!"
"Well, fine... So, is 0157-○○-△△△△ correct?"
"Correct. And the address is Kitami City..."
"Even if you tell me the address, it's all Greek to me."
"That's true too. It's better to call and ask directly, or ask at a police box."
"A police box is a bit much."
"Ah, a bad joke!"
"As usual, your jokes are harsh, Oyaji."
"And that man Isaka, your collaborator... he's also an old man over 60, but apparently they want you to call him and Oshima's secretary in Kitami, Nakagawa, immediately upon arriving in Kitami. Though, like the inn, it might be better to contact them about a day before arriving... So, I'll tell you their phone numbers."
"Yes, go ahead."
"First is Isaka. 0157-○△-△△○△... Got it?"
"Is 0157-○△-△△○△ okay?"
"Correct. Next is Secretary Nakagawa. 0157-△△-△○○○..."
"Um, 0157-△△-△○○○?"
"Yeah. That's fine. Anyway, this time, the big difference from last time is to make sure the murder isn't discovered. If it's discovered, it'll be bad for Oshima's side in various ways. Well, since your role is just to kill, and after that you can leave it to the collaborators, it might be pointless to emphasize that to you."
"But I wonder if this much preparation time is okay... I'm worried if I can properly meet the target."
"The 'setup' is their job. Your job is just to make sure you finish the target. Focus on that."
"Well, it's true that worrying now won't help."
"That's right. And about the important matter of the reward..."
"Oops, I completely forgot."
"You could just forget it forever!"
"Don't say such heartless things!"
"That's a joke; it's a big job with 2 million for the retainer and 8 million for the rest if successful!"
"Now that's a prosperous story!"
"Conversely, it means it's that heavy of a job. Don't slip up. And the retainer will be handled the same as last time, but the delivery of the success reward is a bit different."
"In what way?"
"Once it's successfully finished, call that Nakagawa. Then, meet up somewhere in Kitami and report the success directly. Nakagawa is in Kitami, but he won't be directly involved in this matter at all until after the fact. So, the plan is for you to meet directly after everything is finished, report the results from your own mouth, and receive the remaining 8 million directly from Nakagawa there."
"I see, for my part, it's honestly helpful to get it right away, but I think that's also a very 'irachi' (Kansai dialect for 'impatient/hasty') way of handling things."
"It seems Oshima in Tokyo wants to know the result immediately... I've told him you're one of the subordinates I trust most, so it seems Oshima will accept your report as is. Though I suppose that'll include the stories of the guys who cooperated with you too."
"I see. I understand that point too. But in an unfamiliar place like Kitami, where should I meet him..."
"Wouldn't the inn be fine?"
"Well, in the worst case, that's fine too. It depends on the opponent. And, it's hard to say, but I'm thinking of going while sightseeing to calm my nerves until I get to the site; is that okay?"
"Regarding that, since the opponent said to be in by the 22nd, I'll stay hands-off during that time. I'll leave it to you."
"It helps to have you say that."
"Does that mean I have to make sure I can hand over the retainer immediately?"
"No, even if it's a retainer, it can be later."
"I'm pushing various unreasonable demands on you this time, so that won't do. I'll have it ready by noon tomorrow. Anytime after that is fine. Also, call my place once during the trip."
"Yes, I intend to."
"Then I'm counting on you!"
"I'll do my best."
"Later!"
"Excuse me."
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Here, Takeshita slowly pressed the stop button. Then, as if deeply moved, he spoke while savoring the words,
"It was a help... For the case we've been pursuing for many years, a major piece of evidence... finally... finally has come out."
When Kuroda asked,
"I don't quite get it, but will this conversation be evidence for the case?"
Takeshita replied,
"Of course, that conversation itself is evidence for another case, but regarding the case we were pursuing, I think the content of the tape just now will be quite important evidence. Motohashi-san's intention in going out of his way to tell us there was evidence must have had this primarily in mind. It should also serve as evidence for important cases for other police departments in charge of other incidents."
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What was significant about the content of this tape was, after all, that it was planned in advance for Secretary Nakagawa, the 'manager' of Kitami, and Motohashi to actually meet for the report of the murder and the delivery of the reward. The fact that they had realistically met within the premises of Kitami Station after the execution of the murder was something for which the testimony of Reporter Naruo, Igarashi's colleague, could be expected, and it also included solid physical evidence: the fingerprints of the two remaining on the 10,000 yen note and the ticket. With this telephone conversation, the 'purpose for which the two met' became clear. In other words, it becomes possible to newly establish the charge of aiding and abetting murder against Nakagawa in the murder of Sada Minoru as well.
In addition, it was mentioned within the conversation that Takigawa instructed Motohashi to "kill Sada at Oshima's request." If this were subjected to voiceprint analysis, the fact that the conversation was actually held between the two could "officially" establish the possibility of applying the crime of murder as solicitation of murder or as a co-principal in a conspiracy by Takigawa toward Motohashi.
However, the major remaining problem was that the fact that the origin of this request was from Oshima was only being told through Takigawa's mouth. Unless Oshima himself admitted it, clear corroboration would become troublesome. In other words, with this conversation alone, it should be nearly impossible to convict Oshima Kaiji of murder as solicitation (indirect solicitation of murder by Oshima toward Motohashi through Takigawa) or as a co-principal in a conspiracy. This is because it would run into the problem of the so-called principle of excluding hearsay evidence, which states that the content of hearsay cannot be adopted as evidence in court as is (though it is possible under certain conditions).
However, a way to resolve that was also beginning to emerge through other means. First, as a prerequisite, since the plan to meet for the post-facto report of the murder and the delivery of the success reward between Nakagawa and Motohashi, which was in this recorded audio, is clearly backed up by testimony and evidence, the credibility of the entire content of this conversation increases.
And on top of that, the most important thing was that if Nakagawa's aiding and abetting of murder could be proven, the possibility would emerge of proving the solicitation of the murder of Sada Minoru, or at the very least the solicitation of aiding and abetting murder, or conspiracy as a co-principal in aiding and abetting murder, through the absolute master-servant relationship between the boss, Oshima, and Secretary Nakagawa. In that sense, this part could be called the core. Of course, building the case would not be easy...
It is unknown now to what extent Motohashi had considered the proof for the sake of his "revenge," but unless he had precognitive abilities, it is impossible that he had premised it on the testimony of Reporter Naruo, which came out after his death, in terms of chronology. Naturally, Takeshita surmised for the time being that his mind probably hadn't gone as far as the exclusion of hearsay evidence, but if he had studied the Code of Criminal Procedure while waiting for his execution, it wasn't a completely impossible story. In that case, it wasn't unthinkable from the ciphered descriptions in the letter that he might have ignored Oshima's involvement for the sake of revenge and only thought about building the case against Takigawa, but that seemed a bit too sloppy in a different sense for Motohashi.
In any case, through a mix of necessity and coincidence, not only had the target, Oshima Kaiji, been brought within range—albeit partially for now—but the building of a case against Takigawa, which had been unexpected, or rather, that had more surely come into view. And Takeshita pressed the play button once more.
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