kscans

Chapter 17 - Straying 4 (31–40)

The next day, August 3rd, after borrowing an unmarked patrol car from the Kitami District Headquarters, the two began an unofficial investigation into the Isaka Group for the morning. They conducted voluntary interviews with employees who had been Shinoda's subordinates and executives who had been his colleagues in the past. As for the president, Isaka, he was still absent from the office and could not be interviewed, though it was highly likely he would have refused anyway. However, the previous president, Daikichi, had died two years ago in December 1993, and his son Masamitsu, the current second-generation president, had quit a major construction company in Tokyo to take over as president in April 1993, prior to that. Consequently, it seemed he had no direct connection to the incident. For that reason, as before, there was no particular need to force an interview at this stage.

Among the executives, Mita, who was currently the Vice President and had been a colleague of both Kitagawa and Shinoda as a Managing Director in the past, received them, just as he had during the search at the time of Kitagawa's arrest. First, Kosaka explained to Mita about Kitagawa collapsing at the police station and apologized at the same time. Mita naturally seemed to know the situation, but he didn't particularly complain to the police. Rather, he might have felt there was no merit in souring relations with the police over every little thing. Regarding Shinoda's character, Mita didn't speak ill of him, but he remained vague about the reasons for his promotion, saying he didn't really understand it. However, both Kosaka and Nishida sensed that he wasn't hiding anything, but truly just didn't know.

They spent a considerable amount of time questioning him about Shinoda, but like the employees, they couldn't get anything more out of Mita than they already knew. Just as they were about to give up and return to the District Headquarters, Mita's wristwatch caught Kosaka's eye. It looked identical to Kitagawa's watch.

"Oh, that watch is..."

"Is something wrong, Detective?"

"Is that watch a commemorative gift from the Isaka Group?"

"Yes, that's right... Wait, Detective, how did you know it was something distributed by our company!?"

Mita stared intently at Kosaka's face as if he were looking at a psychic.

"Ah, I understand your surprise. However, there's no trick to how I knew; it's because 'Isaka Group 40th Anniversary' was engraved on the back of Kitagawa-san's watch. And I saw that you were wearing the same one, Mita-san. That's all there is to it."

"I see, so that's it. You should have said so from the start."

Mita smiled as if relieved and took it off himself to show them. Naturally, it was the first time Nishida had seen the watch. Taking the watch from Mita, Nishida looked at it intently and asked again,

"A Royal Felipe? These are expensive, aren't they?"

Mita replied,

"Well, yes. I only received it as a gift, so I haven't actually heard how much it cost, but when I showed it to someone knowledgeable about watches, they said it probably cost around a million yen. Well, especially since it was the end of the bubble era back then, it might have cost even more."

"A million yen...? And you distributed those to the employees?"

Nishida voiced his surprise.

"No, I recall other commemorative items were given to general employees, but they were supposed to be just something like table clocks. Those who received the same one as this were employees at the department head level or higher and the executives at the time... Still, even though it was the bubble era, the previous president, Daikichi, was the founder, so he had that kind of grandiosity. He started the business from scratch in 1950 after the war and built it up to this. Back then, he was like a one-man contractor, starting with track maintenance for the JNR, but now we've stopped doing those low-profit jobs and do everything from public works and large-scale construction to housing... He passed away two years ago in December, but he was a man of incredible vitality. He was a bit of a dictator, though... I hope President Masamitsu, his son who took over that spring, will eventually gain that kind of presence..."

Mita reminisced with a suggestive tone.

"So, Kitagawa-san also received that watch at that time?"

Kosaka confirmed, trying to bring the conversation back from the tangent.

"That's right. It would be May of the year Kitagawa and Shinoda were both promoted from department heads to Managing Directors that these watches were distributed. May of 1990 was exactly the 40th anniversary of the Isaka Group," Mita answered.

"Still, to get a watch like this for free, I'm just plain envious," Nishida said as he returned the watch to Mita.

"Well, I value it as such, but not everyone feels the same way," Mita replied with a hint of irony.

"What do you mean by that?" Kosaka asked, following the flow of the conversation.

"I'm talking about Kitagawa and Shinoda. Especially Shinoda."

"Oh? What's the story?"

It didn't seem like something that would relate to the case, but since there was nothing else left to ask, Kosaka prompted him further, this time out of curiosity.

"I don't think it's an interesting story for you detectives, but if you're requesting it, I suppose I have no choice..."

After a brief preamble, Mita continued while looking at the watch that had been returned to him.

"When was that... Right, it was just before Kitagawa went on a long-term business trip to America, so July of '92... Since Kitagawa and Shinoda had been colleagues for a long time, they were fairly close despite their different personalities, and they apparently went out together often. So, the two of them went fishing at Lake Saroma? Somewhere around there, and apparently stopped at an onsen to bathe on the way back. And at that time, they supposedly mixed up their watches in the changing room. However, Kitagawa was scheduled to go to America on a business trip the next day, and neither of them noticed the mix-up until then, so the story goes that Kitagawa spent his time wearing Shinoda's watch, and Shinoda wore Kitagawa's. I remember Shinoda telling me that as a funny story afterward. Well, things changed a bit after that, though."

Kosaka and Nishida, who had been listening out of mere curiosity until a moment ago, stared seriously at Mita's mouth as soon as the story of Kitagawa's long-term business trip three years ago came up, as it overlapped with the matter of the alibi.

"And what were those circumstances?" Nishida urged.

"Well, yes. It was after that; Shinoda lost the watch. He was always a bit restless, but of all things, losing someone else's expensive watch caused quite a stir. We involved people from the company and searched all over, but in the end, it was never found. Apparently, Kitagawa wasn't that angry when he was contacted in America, but after he returned to Japan, he was indeed in a bad mood for a while. Shinoda intended to give him his own as a replacement, but Kitagawa couldn't very well accept it if the name engraved on it was someone else's."

Mita laughed lightly and resumed the story.

"When was it that the fuss over losing it happened... Repair work on a national highway bridge in Yubetsu (Town) was delayed, and to make up for that delay, the Obon holidays, which usually start around August 8th, were pushed back a few days just for the crew involved in that work... It was around the time Shinoda went to check the site, so I think it was between early and mid-August."

Hearing Mita's story up to that point, Kosaka felt like posing a single question.

"Wait, if I think about it, that story is strange. At that time, Shinoda-san lost Kitagawa-san's watch, right? Then why was Kitagawa-san wearing his own watch now?"

Nishida had the same question, so he waited with interest for Mita's answer.

"I see. Now that you mention it, that's true. Well, you see, interestingly enough, just about a month ago, a contact came from one of your colleagues."

"Colleagues?"

Kosaka made a suspicious sound, so Mita corrected himself awkwardly,

"My apologies. I meant a contact came from the police."

However, Nishida understood that Kosaka wasn't displeased with the expression, but rather felt a sense of incongruity in the flow of the story about a contact coming from the police.

"No, I meant, what on earth does it mean that there was a contact from the police?"

Mita seemed relieved by Kosaka's remark and said,

"Is that what you meant... Er, they asked, 'Is there a person named Kitagawa at your company?' and 'A watch that seems to be Kitagawa's property was seized from the belongings of a thief the police caught, so we'd like you to confirm it.'"

Kosaka changed his tone and asked further,

"Was that the Kitami Station?"

"No, I don't know where it was. I only heard the general details from Kitagawa or the secretary... Probably, the secretary handled the call... Sakazaki-kun, maybe. I'll check."

Saying so, Mita picked up the phone and called the extension, and the female secretary who was summoned entered Mita's room immediately.

"Sakazaki-kun, do you remember the story about the call from the police to Managing Director Kitagawa?"

"Vice President, of course I remember. If I recall..."

The secretary opened her organizer and flipped through the pages.

"Ah, here it is. It was a call from a detective named Tatebayashi from the Asahikawa Nishi Station at around 14:00 on Monday, June 26th."

"What did they say again?"

"As far as I heard, it was about the watch and a confirmation of the employment history of a person named Tomioka who used to be here."

"Tomioka? I haven't heard that part."

"I'm sorry. I was instructed by Managing Director Kitagawa not to mention it..."

The secretary looked as if she had truly made a mistake, but rather than blaming her, Mita tried to question the content. If the one who gave the instruction was Kitagawa himself, he probably felt it couldn't be the secretary's responsibility.

"That can't be helped. So, is that Tomioka the story of Tomioka Tadashi, who quit our company over a year ago?"

"Yes, that's right. They wanted to confirm during which period Tomioka was employed. Regarding that, I investigated immediately, reported to Managing Director Kitagawa, and I believe the Managing Director contacted the police from his end."

After Mita finished listening to the secretary's report, he asked the two,

"From what I'm hearing, does it mean that an employee named Tomioka, who was here, stole Kitagawa's watch from Shinoda in some way, and that was discovered just recently within the jurisdiction of the Asahikawa Nishi Station?"

"Based on what the secretary said, I believe that is likely the case," Nishida agreed immediately.

"So the culprit was one of our own... Did Kitagawa want to hide that?"

Mita seemed puzzled as to why Kitagawa would hide it, but he concluded briefly,

"In any case, it seems to be as you've heard."

Kosaka asked again,

"While we're at it, Sakazaki-san. Sorry, but could you look up when that person named Tomioka was at the company, from when to when?"

She replied,

"No, I have it noted in my organizer to report to the Managing Director, so I can tell you right away... It was from September '91 to September '93."

"From the sound of it, was he a mid-career hire?" Nishida asked Sakazaki, and Mita answered in her stead,

"That's right. I think he was in his mid-thirties when he joined. He was supposed to be the type who drifted from one construction company to another. He had skill, but he was a bit loose with time, and there were rumors he was light-fingered, so he ended up leaving in the form of a voluntary resignation. To think he'd get caught for theft after going to Asahikawa, it's just as you'd expect. At the time he came to us, we were supposed to have had the police check that he didn't have a 'record'... Thinking about it all together, in my memory, the department he was in was involved in the construction of the Yubetsu Great Bridge, so given the timing, I think he probably stole it somehow when Shinoda went there."

He said this with an air of exasperation.

"Bringing the conversation back to this year, so did Managing Director Kitagawa go to Asahikawa to pick up the stolen watch?" Nishida asked.

"No, someone from the Asahikawa Nishi Station brought it to Kitami for confirmation at that time. They said it was along with some questioning. Since there's a distance between Kitami and Asahikawa, they seem to have accommodated him. The Managing Director was worried it would be troublesome to meet at the company... It was June 28th; it seems they met at a family restaurant near the company on that day. I wasn't present at the time, but I recorded it since I was the one who made the appointment with the police. I only heard from the Managing Director afterward, but he apparently requested that they not prosecute for this matter. It seemed that if he were prosecuted, it would take longer for the watch to be returned properly. I recall it was returned about a week later, around July 5th. I remember the Managing Director happily showing me the watch on his wrist."

Sakazaki told them this while carefully checking her organizer.

"Kitagawa-san told the detective from the Asahikawa Nishi Station, 'Please don't prosecute,' right?" Kosaka pressed.

"Yes, I heard that from the man himself."

Kosaka noted Sakazaki's response and glanced at Nishida. Nishida understood well what Kosaka wanted to say. And then,

"I'm sorry to ask for something difficult, but is it possible to pinpoint the day Shinoda-san lost the watch?" Nishida asked.

"Pinpoint it? Even if you say that..."

Mita's silence continued for a while, but then,

"Wait! It might be written in our construction log that Shinoda came... Sakazaki-kun, go to the Civil Engineering Section of the Construction Department and get the construction log. Er, it's the repair work for the Yubetsu Great Bridge, the summer of '92. I think they'll understand if you say that."

Saying so, Secretary Sakazaki hurried out of the room.

It must have taken just under fifteen minutes; while Nishida and the others were killing time talking about the economy, Sakazaki returned.

"It was there. This is it."

When Sakazaki handed the log to Mita, Mita flipped through to find the relevant part and hit upon it immediately.

"Found it, found it. Just as I thought..."

Muttering that, he turned the open log toward Kosaka and Nishida.

"He went several times, but in August, he went on the 10th and the next day the 11th, and the 12th—three days in a row. And the 12th was the last construction day before Obon, and work resumed from the 20th after that. The reason he went three days in a row was probably because he lost the watch and intended to search for it. Still, my memory is quite something for my age, isn't it?"

Mita said this with a laugh, but Kosaka and Nishida could only give half-hearted responses, as the dates in the log, especially August 10th, wouldn't leave their minds. Then Kosaka asked as if he had just remembered,

"I'd like to speak with the person who was in charge of this construction?"

Mita said apologetically,

"The person in charge and the construction workers from that time who are still with us are currently out at a site in Shari for pier construction, and they won't be back for a while."

"I see, that's a shame... Well, if it truly becomes necessary to speak with them, I think we'll come to visit ourselves, so please convey that to them."

Kosaka replied with a look of disappointment.

Nishida and Kosaka exchanged a few more words with Mita and Sakazaki after that, but they couldn't draw out much more, and their interest was, in a sense, turning toward a new investigation. They had already obtained that much material. Ending the questioning at an appropriate point, they decided to hurry back to the District Headquarters.



"Kosaka-san, you noticed the watch well."

"It was truly just a coincidence. When Kitagawa collapsed, I thought I had to hand over the belongings I was holding to the family, so I checked them. I just happened to find the watch then and it caught my interest."

As soon as they got into the car in the Isaka Group parking lot, the two immediately entered an "investigation meeting." Nishida started the engine and pulled the car out right away.

"Despite Kitagawa having a practically perfect alibi of being 'overseas,' why was he so desperately searching for Yoneda's body? That was somehow unclear, but the possibility has emerged that the loss of this mixed-up watch is the key. The timing of the loss, if Mita's story is true, is highly likely to be August 10th, right after Yoneda presumably went missing and was murdered. It doesn't seem like a mere coincidence."

Nishida took that and said,

"In my opinion, I think it was Shinoda who murdered Yoneda on August 10th, 1992, three years ago. And considering the possibility that Shinoda lost the watch at that time, if it were dropped near where Yoneda's body was buried, naturally the person whose name was engraved on that watch—his colleague Kitagawa—would be suspected first. He searched in a panic but couldn't find it. Of course, since Kitagawa himself has an ironclad alibi, ultimately Shinoda himself would be suspected. He probably even dug up the place where Yoneda was buried to search. And Kitagawa wasn't angry about the watch being lost itself, but rather he was angry that Shinoda confessed that the loss of the watch might be related to the murder of Yoneda. In other words, there was a possibility that the watch with Kitagawa's name on it, which Shinoda had been wearing, was dropped or buried somewhere at the murder scene."

When Nishida said that much, he stopped talking to organize his thoughts while waiting for a red light. And as if to hide his restlessness, he put his hand on the gear and shifted back and forth between 1st and 2nd while keeping the clutch depressed, but he resumed talking immediately.

"To repeat, in the unlikely event that the discovery of Yoneda's body and the discovery of the watch happened almost simultaneously, there's a possibility Kitagawa would be suspected first. Of course, since he didn't think the discovery of Yoneda's murder was that likely, Kitagawa would have been furious, but he didn't go as far as raging at the time, and he probably left it alone until this year. In fact, Yoneda's murder had not been known until now. However, that's when this whole bone collection fuss happened. For Kitagawa, he needed to avoid the discovery of the watch and the discovery of Yoneda's murder happening at the same time, so he tried to find the disposal site of Yoneda's body that he had heard about from Shinoda—or perhaps had confirmed with Shinoda while he was alive—and at the very least, try to recover the body. Presumably, it also served as a re-search for the watch at the same time. What do you think of this idea?"

He stated his thoughts.

"Yeah. I have the exact same thought," Kosaka nodded deeply.

"However, if that's the case, there's also a problem. Suppose the watch was discovered along with the body without having returned to his hands, and Kitagawa was suspected first. But Kitagawa had a certain alibi. He's in a position to claim this if it comes to it. The timing of Yoneda's murder is somewhat vague, but it's impossible to argue that he was alive until the guy returned from America... Even if the watch came out from around the body at the same time, this is an absolute trump card. In this interrogation, he didn't claim it at first, but he ended up using it after all."

"The alibi is actually quite powerful, and he would have understood its significance. Even if the watch came out with the body, there would have been ways to gloss it over by saying it was stolen. But the problem for Kitagawa is that there was a possibility that he, including Shinoda, was involved in Sada's disappearance eight years ago. If the police were to probe his surroundings during the investigation, they would end up poking around his 'guilty' conscience. Isn't that something he'd want to avoid at all costs? That's why he tried to recover the body, including the watch."

"I see. Psychologically, I can understand the part about wanting to prevent troublesome things."

"However, regarding the watch problem, the watch turned up from an unexpected direction—the police—and Kitagawa's initial worry was resolved. When I and Takeshita visited the Isaka Group for the Yoneda case and first contacted Kitagawa, the reason he was strangely composed despite Yoneda's murder coming to light might have been due to that situation. That day was certainly July 1st, so it was after Kitagawa had actually been shown the watch by the police and confirmed it. In that situation, there was zero information linking the Yoneda case to Kitagawa... However, while the crisis directly falling on Kitagawa from the watch was avoided, the fact of Yoneda's murder itself was exposed by Nishida and the others along with the discovery of Yoneda's body. The reason he didn't claim the existence of an alibi from the start this time makes sense if you consider that if he claimed it, we would naturally press him on why Kitagawa, who wasn't involved in the incident, knew that disposal site. If that happened, there was a possibility he would have to spill what he had heard from Shinoda. And that might even extend to the matter of Sada's disappearance depending on the circumstances. Various things would become inconvenient. Even if he played his trump card, the next troublesome problem would show its face. Still, on the lawyer's advice that it was better than being treated as a murderer, he finally appealed that matter to the police. By the way, I think the reason he stopped the prosecution of Tomioka regarding the watch was also because if it became a case, the questioning would become full-scale, and he thought it would be troublesome in various ways?"

Kosaka laid out his reasoning in detail.

"Certainly, regarding the watch, that speculation also holds up. Still, I wonder how much Lawyer Matsuda, who probably gave the advice, knows?"

"I don't know. I think he probably knows that Kitagawa is harboring something bad..."

Nishida nodded at those words and stopped the car as the light had just turned red. And then,

"By the way, if Shinoda murdered Yoneda, the problem is the motive. There's no point of contact between the two at all."

He changed the subject.

"That's it. I'm thinking about that too. That alone is the big mystery of 'why was Yoneda killed?' from before Kitagawa's involvement was suspected... However, as per the previous assessment, if Yoneda was accidentally caught up in an incident, then the relationship between Sada's disappearance and Kitagawa and Shinoda... There's a strong scent that something is connected."

Kosaka spoke while turning his face toward the wind blowing in from the passenger window.

"Just as a side note, do you think today's Mita or other people from the Isaka Group were involved in Sada's disappearance?"

Nishida voiced the question he had been wondering about for a while, following the flow of the conversation.

"At least when I was involved in the investigation, no such stories came up. But after the forced termination of the investigation, just like with Kitagawa and Shinoda this time, suspicions of such involvement have emerged, so at this point, we can't conclude that other people from the Isaka Group weren't involved. However, regarding Mita, I don't get that kind of scent. He doesn't feel like he has the loquacity of someone trying to hide a crime."

As Kosaka said that, he moved his gaze from Nishida beside him back to the other side of the windshield.



Before the afternoon investigation meeting, Kosaka and Nishida reported the matter of the watch to Ootomo and Kurano in advance. Both of them had tired expressions, perhaps due to yesterday's interrogation, but they showed considerable interest when they heard the new information and reasoning from the two. To be honest, although Kosaka had effectively received permission from Terashima, Nishida's participation was a gray area, and since they hadn't received any permission from Investigation Headquarters Chief Ootomo or others, the two were prepared to be scolded to some extent. However, the two investigation leaders, who were relatively kind to their subordinates, did not openly blame Kosaka and Nishida. Of course, it could also be said that it was because the independent investigation had produced "results." Kurano in particular had high interest and expectations for this report. He suggested that they would hammer out the details at the meeting, but he told the two that he would check with the Asahikawa Nishi Station regarding the watch before the meeting.

However, all four of them felt keenly that if Shinoda was the actual perpetrator of Yoneda's murder, the fact that he was already dead meant that even if the case could be solved, it would mean a defeat for the police in a sense. Even if the police could send the papers to the prosecutor, it's impossible for the prosecution to indict a deceased person.

In the meeting that began just before 2:00 PM, the results of the Inspector's hearing following Kitagawa's hospitalization during detention were first announced by Inspector Iihara from the Hokkaido Police Headquarters and Criminal Investigation Director Toyama. Regarding the arrest on a separate charge itself, the conclusion was reached that it was sufficiently appropriate as a level that could lead to an arrest for the main charge, and that there were no major illegal acts in the interrogation. However, the possibility that sufficient consideration was not given to his health became an issue, and as a result, Michishita, who had conducted high-pressure interrogation, received a reprimand under the Local Public Service Act.

On the other hand, for the Kitami District team, Ootomo and Kurano were to receive an admonition, and Hiruma a strict warning. It was clear that these were punishments in the sense of making the investigation leaders take responsibility for the results. While Michishita's punishment was a legal one, the punishments for Ootomo, Kurano, and Hiruma were not legal disciplinary actions, but rather nominal punishments in cases where there was no need for legal punishment but it wasn't something that could be overlooked, which clearly showed that.

Michishita had been sent back to Sapporo on a night train yesterday to take responsibility, and he was no longer seen at the Investigation Headquarters. The expressions of Headquarters Chief Ootomo and the investigation leaders Kurano and Hiruma were grim, but since the fact that there were no clear violations was also recognized in the inspection, it wasn't that dark. Perhaps the "result report" from earlier had helped "soften" their expressions a bit.

When the report by the Inspector ended, Ootomo, as the person in charge, apologized to the investigators for the series of commotions. After that ended, the discussion about the investigation following Kitagawa's hospitalization began. Kosaka first explained the matter of the watch, and Kurano proposed an investigation policy for it.

"I think you've understood Kosaka's story and thoughts. Given that he's in that state, the reality is that there's almost no possibility of hearing anything from Kitagawa in the future. If that's the case, there's even a fear that Kosaka's story about the watch will become the last resort. In that sense, we'll need to investigate this matter quite thoroughly. Naturally, I want to dispatch investigators."

As Kurano said that, he added Tomioka's name under the part written about Shinoda on the whiteboard. When Kurano called the Nishi Station, he was told that Tomioka had already been indicted for multiple thefts and was being held at a detention center in Nayoro (official name: Asahikawa Prison Nayoro Detention Branch).



When interrogating an arrested suspect, in many countries other than Japan, the pattern is to be detained in a detention center separate from the police station and undergo interrogation by the police there. On the other hand, in Japan, it has become common practice to be held in a detention cell within the police station and undergo interrogation within the police station. This is the so-called "substitute prison" problem. Bar associations have also viewed this as a problem for many years, but as if going against the trend, it has even come to be explicitly stated in the law, and there is no prospect of improvement at all.

However, as expected, if one is indicted as a result of interrogation during detention, unless there are exceptional circumstances, they are held in a detention center until the sentence is finalized. Detention centers are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, not the police, and are treated almost the same as prisons. The fact that the period spent in a detention center is also counted as the period during which the sentence was executed is also related to this similarity.

Incidentally, a death row inmate whose death sentence has been finalized waits for the execution of the death penalty in a detention center, not a prison. The reason it is not a prison is that the start of a death row inmate's sentence (in the case of the death penalty, it also means the end of the sentence) only holds true once the "execution of the death penalty" occurs, so until then, they are in the same status as an "unconvicted (sentence not finalized) prisoner" whose sentence has not been executed, which seems to be the reason.



"Kosaka, I want you to go to the Asahikawa Nishi Station and to Tomioka in Nayoro for questioning. After all, I think Kosaka is the right person for this, or rather, has the qualifications. What do you think?"

Kurano appointed Kosaka for Tomioka's questioning, but it was a perfectly reasonable thought. If he had appointed a detective from the Kitami District Headquarters here, it would be insulting the "contributor" who had drawn out the matter of the watch this far.

"Understood. I will put all my energy into questioning Tomioka," Kosaka said firmly. Kurano didn't add anything particular after that, but since he didn't say anything, it would naturally mean that his partner Takeshita would go with him. Nishida also felt that was good for Takeshita. However, that was betrayed immediately afterward.

"Oh right, I'm going to have Mitsushima support Kosaka this time. Mitsushima was at the Asahikawa Nishi Station before Kitami, so I think things will go smoothly in various ways when hearing stories. That's the reason. So, sorry, but Takeshita, please stay here this time. Mitsushima, I'm counting on you."

This was because an unexpected remark came out of Kurano's mouth. Furthermore,

"That's right, since we're at it, maybe I'll have Nishida go too. Nishida was also involved in digging up this lead. A three-person system is unusual, but since this is important, it should be fine. That's not a problem, is it, Headquarters Chief?"

Headquarters Chief Ootomo nodded silently to the inquiry Kurano added.

Nishida, who had been seeing and hearing the series of events, checked on Takeshita's condition near him before his own. Takeshita didn't have a particularly dissatisfied face, but Nishida sympathized with Takeshita, thinking he might have some inner resentment. He even wondered if it was a retaliation against Takeshita for defying the Investigation Headquarters' policy, but he didn't think Ootomo and Kurano were such narrow-minded people. He decided to interpret it as Mitsushima's appointment being exactly as Kurano said.

"I checked just now, and it seems Tomioka's trial is scheduled for tomorrow, so I think the best schedule would be the Asahikawa Nishi Station tomorrow afternoon, August 4th, at the earliest, and Nayoro the day after. I had a brief meeting with the Nishi Station at the point I heard from Kosaka and the others before the meeting, but I'll hammer it out properly once more later, and then I'll have the three of you contacted. So, I'm sorry it's sudden, but I'm counting on you."

After Kurano announced that briefly, he moved on to the next agenda item, the explanation of Kitagawa's medical condition and the possibility of continuing the questioning.

After the investigation meeting ended, Nishida said to Takeshita,

"Sorry about that."

But Takeshita said in a tone that suggested he didn't particularly care,

"It's not something the Team Leader needs to apologize for, and I don't really mind either. Kurano-san's reasoning makes sense too."

"If you say so..."

Nishida thought it would be worse to mention it further, so he decided not to speak of this matter again.

After that, Kosaka and Nishida decided to have a brief meeting with Mitsushima. Although Mitsushima had been at the Investigation Headquarters from the beginning, he hadn't directly interacted with Kosaka and Nishida, let alone the members of the Engaru Station, so they only knew each other's faces.

Mitsushima was a 35-year-old detective from Furano who was younger than Nishida and had been in the Violent Crimes Unit of the Asahikawa Nishi Station until last year. His career as a detective was about eight years and he seemed to be a high school graduate hire, but he seemed to Nishida to be a person with quite intellectual thoughts. For the time being, his personality was also a frank type, and it was certain that he wasn't the type with whom communication would be difficult even if the acquaintance was short. And finally, in the meeting between Kurano, the Nishi Station, and the Nayoro Detention Center, it was decided that they would stop by the Nishi Station tomorrow afternoon and the Nayoro Detention Center the day after, as originally planned.



The next day, August 4th, Kosaka and Mitsushima came from Kitami by car, picked up Nishida at the Engaru Station, and headed for Asahikawa. It was a clear day, and a refreshing Hokkaido-like summer sky spread overhead. Heading toward Asahikawa on Route 333, passing through Maruseppu Town (currently Maruseppu, Engaru Town due to merger) and Shirataki Village (currently Shirataki, Engaru Town due to merger), as the scenery gradually became deserted, they proceeded along a steep uphill road with many hairpin turns and eventually reached the Kitami Pass at an altitude of 857m.

"Let's take a little break."

Kosaka suggested taking a breather, perhaps out of consideration for Mitsushima, who had been driving all the way from Kitami. When they parked the car in the parking area of the pass, there was no one else besides Nishida and the others, and it was deserted. The shop was also closed, telling of the low volume of traffic.

When heading from Asahikawa to Kitami, it is common to take Route 39 from Sounkyo through the Sekihoku Pass and pass through Rubeshibe, and it can be said that there are almost no cars that go out of their way to pass through the Kitami Pass. Only people who have residences or business between Engaru or Yubetsu and Kamikawa Town or Asahikawa would pass through here (Author's Note: Currently, the Asahikawa-Monbetsu Expressway, which passes under the Kitami Pass through a tunnel, has opened in parallel, and it seems even fewer cars pass through Route 333). Each of the three marveled at the sight of the vast sea of trees spreading below while stretching and bending their bodies.

"It's been a while since I've passed through the Kitami Pass, but the view is as good as ever."

Kosaka raised a voice of admiration while having a smoke.

"Summer is good, but the autumn foliage season seems even better."

Mitsushima also agreed. Nishida had passed through several times since coming to Engaru, but it was his first time taking a break at the pass, so he was fully enjoying the superb view of the pass. However, it didn't take that much time until Nishida's eyes fell on a stone monument at the pass.

When Nishida went closer, under a stone monument with "Monument to the Victims of the Central Road Excavation" carved in large letters, the circumstances and history of the construction of the road, which was called the Central Road at the time and passed through the Kitami Pass, were explained.

(Reference: http://bellac.web.fc2.com/Resized/ktouge.htm)

"It's the story of the Prisoner Road..."

A voice came from behind Nishida, who was looking at the inscription. For Kosaka, who was from Rubeshibe, it seemed to be a fairly familiar story. Now that he mentioned it, Nishida had also heard the story when he did something like the history of Hokkaido's development in elementary school. Mitsushima, who arrived even later, also seemed to know the outline.



The Prisoner Road is a name derived from the use of prisoners from the then Kushiro Shujikan Abashiri Branch (now Abashiri Prison) and Kabato Shujikan (predecessor of the current Tsukigata Prison; however, historically it was once discontinued and revived after the war) for the construction of a military road from Sapporo to Kitami in the Meiji era with Russia in mind, and it is a common name for the Central Road, Kitami Road, etc.

Because the road was excavated and opened in a short period through unexplored land, it caused a large number of victims, and inhumane construction was carried out, such as burying the bodies haphazardly in the surrounding area. Through the process of uncovering history, mainly after the war, memorial services and the like have come to be widely performed. There is also a theory that it is the origin of the tako-beya labor in Hokkaido, including the later Jomon Tunnel.

http://www.kangoku.jp/data2.html



"The development of Hokkaido is full of things like this. Just like the Jomon Tunnel this time..."

Nishida felt somewhat unpleasant, but he had no choice but to agree with the word Kosaka blurted out bluntly,

"That's only natural. They developed such a vast, tree-covered, and severely cold place all at once. It's a case of might makes right."

However, when he thought that the good view from the Kitami Pass, which probably hadn't changed since the construction of the Prisoner Road, was brought to modern people by the road made through that harsh construction, it seemed to Nishida to be a somewhat ironic thing.

Before noon, the three arrived safely at the Asahikawa Nishi Station. Guided by Mitsushima, they headed from the entrance through the station toward Investigation Division 2, which has jurisdiction over thieves and fraudsters, where Detective Tatebayashi, whom they were meeting this time, was located. As they passed through corridors and stairs, Mitsushima, having belonged there until a year ago, was frequently called out to by acquaintances, but although there was plenty of time until the appointment, perhaps out of consideration for Kosaka and Nishida who were accompanying him, he ended up repeating many times awkwardly,

"It's been a while. I'm sorry, but I'm in a bit of a hurry right now..."

Seeing that, Kosaka finally said out of consideration,

"I know where the room is now that we've come this far, so you can go ahead and wait there?"

But he declined,

"No, no, I can't do that. I'm here for work."

While waiting for Tatebayashi while drinking tea in the reception room of Investigation Division 2, Tatebayashi appeared immediately, leading his subordinate Nagano. Tatebayashi was a veteran theft section leader in his 50s, and Nagano was still a young rank-and-file detective. Since Mitsushima had been in the Violent Crimes Unit at the Nishi Station, he didn't seem to have a particularly deep relationship with the two. They entered into conversation while exchanging the kind of standard greetings common among colleagues.

"Still, I never imagined at the time we caught Tomioka that the stolen watch could be related to another case, and a murder case at that. I was surprised when I received the contact from the Kitami District Headquarters."

Tatebayashi started off that way.

"This case has had various things from the beginning of the case, and we're having a hard time. This matter was discovered thanks to the quick wit of Detective Kosaka here."

Nishida replied that way. However, Kosaka cut the flow once and said,

"Then, first, please tell us the circumstances of Tomioka's arrest," starting the questioning.

"Tomioka, who quit his job in March and was unemployed, ran low on money, so on June 18th, he first broke into the first victim's house and stole money and credit cards. After that, on the 22nd, he broke into the second victim's house, stole a bankbook and jewelry, and encountered a neighbor when he went outside. From there, we received a report, and when we put out an emergency alert, about four hours later, he was questioned by our officers and arrested on the spot."

When Nagano answered, Tatebayashi added to it,

"And following the search of his home on the 24th, we seized several items that were thought to have been kept from several thefts. Among them was the luxury watch of Kitagawa, which was the reason you visited today. After briefly questioning Tomioka about the watch, we confirmed it was stolen property. However, because the person Tomioka claimed to have stolen it from and the person thought to be the original owner of the stolen property were different, we needed to confirm various things. So on the 26th, we made a confirmation call to Kitagawa, and on the 28th, we dispatched two investigators to Kitami. Since he himself did not wish for prosecution, we effectively let the matter go, and after that, the evidence was returned. You probably know this much..."

"I understand the general flow. So, was one of the two people who met Kitagawa in Kitami Detective Nagano?"

"Yes, that's right."

To Kosaka's question, Nagano answered clearly like a young person.

"How was it when you met him?"

Nishida joined the conversation.

"Even if you ask how it was... This is just my personal impression, but I think he was in quite a good mood. He said it had been several years—er, if I recall, he said three years—since he'd seen the expensive watch, so I thought it was understandable to feel that way at the time."

Nagano was desperately trying to trace his memory while scratching his cheek with his finger.

"You said he requested not to prosecute?"

This time Kosaka confirmed, and he replied,

"Yes. After I showed him the watch and had him confirm it, he started saying that. But actually, it was a help for us too, or rather..."

He trailed off. As if to follow up for the young man, Tatebayashi supplemented,

"In short, at the point we confirmed with Tomioka, the story was that he stole it from a person named Shinoda in Yubetsu Town... If that's the case, the jurisdiction ends up being different. If it's Yubetsu, it's exactly the jurisdiction of Nishida-san's Engaru Station, right? Moreover, the jurisdictions of the court and the prosecutor are also different, with Asahikawa (Asahikawa District Court) and Kitami (Kushiro District Court Kitami Branch). We thought this would be troublesome for our processing too. So the fact that Kitagawa didn't wish for prosecution was a godsend for us, and even more so because all the other seized items were within our jurisdiction."

At the point of the questioning at the Isaka Group yesterday, they had understood that it was highly likely the watch was stolen from Shinoda in Yubetsu Town, but it was clear that from the perspective of the Nishi Station, that fact could cause various troublesome situations.

"Ah, I understand. That hand-over and contact and all that are troublesome. I see... Did you explain that point when you met Kitagawa?"

"Kosaka-san, I didn't go as far as to induce him like that. It's something a police officer shouldn't do, to make the other party not press charges, right?"

What Nagano said was perfectly correct. Certainly, it should not happen that a police officer induces a victim not to file a complaint. Even if it did happen, it should be for a valid reason, and it is out of the question to use police effort as a reason. Needless to say, the crime of theft does not require a complaint—in other words, it is not a crime prosecutable only upon complaint—but there are cases where the police do not build a case if the victim does not wish for prosecution.

"Which means, it's fine to say that Kitagawa refused to make it a case as a pure expression of his own will..."

Nishida said as if to confirm while taking notes.

"Did you tell Tomioka that Kitagawa said not to prosecute?"

Immediately after that, Mitsushima finally opened his mouth, seeing that the two senior detectives were not questioning.

"Yes, I did after I returned from Kitami. When I said, 'You should be grateful,' he was making a spiteful remark like, 'He wasn't a bad boss, unlike Shinoda.'"

The three detectives understood from Nagano's story as well that Shinoda was not very well-liked.

"So, did you hear here what the situation was when Tomioka stole the watch from Shinoda?"

"Kosaka-san, since it was decided not to prosecute, I had heard the general things until then, but I think it would be better to hear the story from the man himself in Nayoro at the level you require. I can show you the materials from when we questioned him if necessary."

When Tatebayashi answered Kosaka that way, Kosaka replied,

"No, as you say, it seems better to hear it from the man himself. I'll hear it there tomorrow."



The questioning from the detective in charge at the Asahikawa Nishi Station proceeded without any waste, as expected since it was conducted between the same detectives, and they were able to finish earlier than expected. On the other hand, regarding stories that directly linked to the case, there were only results to the extent that they had to expect the direct questioning of Tomioka the next day.

After that, they were preoccupied with conversation with the vibe of a gossip session between detectives, but as expected of a police station in an urban area, they could see that they were busy, so Nishida and the others chose to leave early, as they couldn't let them be occupied with useless time. After having a late lunch at an old Asahikawa ramen shop, they briefly toured Asahikawa city under Mitsushima's guidance. Since it was impossible to question Tomioka at the detention center within today, the work they had to do was already finished. A tourist mood was inappropriate, but for the detectives who had been working on the investigation even on their days off, it couldn't be denied that it was a brief respite.

When evening came, they finally left Asahikawa city to head for today's accommodation in Nayoro. While seeing the Daisetsu Mountains to the right rear, the three's car proceeded straight north.



Nayoro City is a core regional city in northern Hokkaido, located about 70 kilometers north of Asahikawa, and like Asahikawa, it has a basin topography. Due to the influence of the topography, it has a typical basin climate with hot summers and cold winters. There is also a Self-Defense Forces garrison, and in that respect, it could be called a mini Asahikawa. The industry is basically agriculture, and it is famous for the production of glutinous rice.



"Still, I wonder why they went out of their way to build a detention center in Nayoro. I often thought that when I was in Asahikawa before..."

What Kosaka said was also reasonable. Certainly, it is an incomprehensible setting that there is no detention center in the second largest city in Hokkaido, and there is a detention center in a place 70 kilometers away. Even lawyers who criticize "substitute prisons" might inwardly think that it is more convenient for interviews to be detained in a jurisdiction within Asahikawa city. Nishida also had no experience working in Asahikawa, but since he had heard such stories from senior detectives, he had no choice but to agree with Kosaka's point.

While they were talking like that, they crossed the Shiokari Pass on Route 40, famous for Miura Ayako's novel "Shiokari Pass," and entered Nayoro city in about two hours from Asahikawa. Although it was the height of summer, by just before 7:00, it was becoming the time when the veil of night falls. The temperature had also dropped to the point where it felt a bit chilly in short sleeves when the windows were open, as is typical of a basin. It also drizzled on the way.

Upon entering Nayoro city, they soon checked into the business hotel they had reserved in the city center. Then they faxed the report of the questioning to the Investigation Headquarters from the hotel and finished the day's work. After that, they went out to the entertainment district in Nayoro city, and after finishing dinner, the three drank to an extent that wouldn't interfere with tomorrow's duties and deepened their friendship.



On the morning of August 5th, after checking out of their accommodation, the three went to the Nayoro Detention Branch and fulfilled an interview with the imprisoned Tomioka. Tomioka appeared before the three, led by a prison officer, with a defiant attitude. When the detectives' self-introductions ended, he blurted out as his first words,

"The detectives from Kitami have some business with me? I heard you came for an investigation, but I should have been overlooked regarding the watch?"

Tomioka made a half-spiteful remark. Nishida admonished him,

"Rest assured, we didn't come to catch you," and then asked Tomioka,

"I want you to tell me in detail, from before and after, what the situation was when you stole the watch from Shinoda."

"I don't really want to say it now since I wasn't prosecuted, but..."

Tomioka was the same as ever, but when he was slightly intimidated by Kosaka,

"This is an important story that relates to a murder. This is no time for fooling around!"

He began to speak bit by bit as if half-giving up,

"Murder!? Is that true... I don't really get it, but if the detective says that much, I guess I have no choice..."

"I think it was a story from August three years ago."

At that point, Kosaka interrupted the story and asked,

"Do you remember specifically what day it was?"

"No, I don't remember that far. I have a memory that it was before the Obon holidays, though."

"Isn't it August 10th?" Mitsushima also asked, but Tomioka shook his head and avoided a definitive answer,

"Now that you mention it, I feel like that might be it, but I don't know for sure."

Since the presence or absence of Tomioka's conviction on this part did not become a major problem for the credibility of the testimony, the three let the story flow as it was.

"I'm going to continue the story, okay? When I was working as a member of the Isaka Group on the repair work for the Yubetsu bridge in a public works project, the construction was delayed and the start of the Obon holidays was also delayed. So the executive Shinoda came to see how things were going before noon. He was the type to be disliked because he was quite strict with his subordinates, so everyone was uncomfortable with him, but not much time had passed since he came when he suddenly left in a great hurry. I was a bit happy with my colleagues that 'the nuisance is gone.' And when he came, he was in a suit and should have come in the company's black-painted luxury car for executives, but after changing into work clothes, he left in a jeep that was at the site. A considerable amount of time passed, and he came back right after that day's work ended. I'm sure the work ended at 6:00 PM every time, so I think it's certain it was around 6:00. He had a tired face, somehow."

Because Tomioka suddenly told a story worthy of attention, the three listened with tension.

"Is that story about the jeep and the story about changing clothes true?"

Nishida pressed him, as it was a story that was quite related to the case.

"If you doubt me that much, go ask the field supervisor or colleagues from that time. What merit is there for me to tell a lie now?"

Nishida had some thoughts about Tomioka, who turned his face and gaze sideways and wore an exasperated expression, but it was a more serious problem not to be able to capture the facts by offending him. He endured that and threw another question.

"That's certainly true. So, do you know whose jeep it was?"

"My memory of whose it was has slipped a bit, sorry... I remember the color. It's red."

"Understood. I wished you remembered that part, but it can't be helped. Then please continue with the story from earlier."

"Then I'll continue. And he changed back into a suit in the office and went back to Kitami in the luxury car he came in. However, in the office locker room, I was the first to find a watch that looked awfully expensive lying there. Even if I say so myself, I'm light-fingered, so I immediately tucked it into the pocket of my work clothes so that other colleagues wouldn't find it. I didn't check it well at the time, but I thought it was probably Shinoda's watch. And after that, so it wouldn't be found, I put it in a blue plastic trash bag and buried it in the ground at the site. To collect it later. As expected, Shinoda came in work clothes again the next morning and was making a fuss, 'Didn't I leave a watch here?' He might have considered the possibility it was stolen, and even over the field supervisor's objection, he checked the belongings of us workers and the subcontractors, but I'm telling you, I anticipate that much in advance. And he went back after noon."

Tomioka wore a fearless and hateful smile, but he immediately followed up the story.

"However, he came again the morning of the day after that too. And since he knew from the day before that it wouldn't come out even if he suspected us, he didn't do things like checking us, but in the end, he seemed to be digging up and searching the places he searched the day before again by himself that day too; after all, he came in work clothes. On this day, I think he left before noon. Anyway, the construction entered the Obon holidays on that day, so he seemed to have given up after that. Well, serves him right. But bad things don't go that well. After Obon, when I collected the watch and checked the back, it was a 'Kitagawa' name-entry one. I don't know why, but Shinoda was wearing Kitagawa's watch. I couldn't very well sell a watch with a name on it, but it was also impossible to return it now, so I kept it myself all this time. That's the end of the story that it was found out in the recent theft case. Is this enough?"

"What about the work clothes? Were they dirty for consecutive days?"

"Like the story from earlier, I didn't look at things like that one by one. I'd know if there was a conspicuous stain. In the first place, I don't know if they were the same work clothes all the time, and he might have washed them, right?"

He became irritated at Kosaka's question, but they could understand what he was trying to say. However, as a detective, it is natural for Kosaka to ask and eliminate various things.

Still, Tomioka's story matched the schedule of Shinoda's actions found from the construction log they heard at the Isaka Group. Considering that, it was thought that there was no mistake that August 10th was the day Shinoda's watch was stolen. And Nishida was recalling that the circumstances under which Tomioka obtained the watch were the very "habit of losing things" he had heard from Shinoda's wife. If he returned to the office after—although it is a somewhat leap-of-faith reasoning at this point—suppose he murdered Yoneda, it is not hard to imagine that he would have been in a panic. In that sense, he must have been in a mental state where he was even more likely to lose things than usual.



"Back to the story. Regarding Shinoda's car, did Shinoda really not come in his own car?"

Kosaka voiced what he had been concerned about from the beginning.

"You're persistent... I have a memory that the car he usually drove to the company was a red Audi or some other foreign car, but at that time it was the company's black-painted—probably a Crown? I think. Is that a problem?"

He asked back with interest while appearing reluctant.

"I can't give a detailed explanation for investigation reasons, but I'm confirming because it will be quite important testimony."

Kosaka returned that to him flatly.

"I see. Well, it's pointless to ask. If you can't believe me, like I said earlier, you should also ask the people who were together at the time. I don't have a need to tell a lie."

Tomioka's tone was confident. Rather than the audacity of telling a lie, it looked like an attitude of 'if you're going to investigate, go ahead and investigate.'

"By the way, you said he came in a car for executives, but does that mean there was another person driving?"

Nishida inserted a question.

"No, basically this is from when I was there, but for things like a driver, a male secretary just drives as a substitute driver when the president gets in. A mere executive drives himself unless there's a fellow passenger. At that time too, Shinoda should have driven himself."

"And Shinoda borrowed someone's jeep that was at the construction site and drove out himself, right?"

"Kosaka-san, yeah, like I said. I don't know why, but maybe he went to a place where the company's Crown wouldn't do. Considering he changed into work clothes."

Tomioka's point was also what the detectives were thinking. And the appearance of the gravel road and mountain path near that Jomon Tunnel floated in Nishida's mind. Just as the police vehicles were, it's possible for even a sedan-type car to pass normally, but considering things like splashing gravel, it's a road one would hesitate to drive a luxury car like a Crown, especially if it was a company car. Kitagawa seemed to have gone that far in his own reasonably luxury car, but there would still be a difference in that it was his own car. Of course, the psychology of not wanting to damage it because it's one's own car can also work...

"You said he changed into work clothes and left, but do you know about what time it was?"

"It's certain it was before lunch. That said, it wasn't right after the construction started either. I think it was around 11:00, though I'm not confident on this point."

"By the way, do you know the reason why Shinoda, who suddenly came to inspect, went to another place?"

"I don't know that at all. Now that you mention it, it's a mysterious action, but I didn't care about it one by one back then."

"When he came back, were there stains on the work clothes?"

"No, I didn't look that closely. He looked tired, though."

Tomioka also answered Mitsushima's successive and accurate questions without hesitation. At first, he had openly shown a lack of motivation, but perhaps he had time on his hands, as he also seemed to have started enjoying the conversation with the detectives.

"Don't you have other questions? I'll answer anything."

Tomioka even showed the composure to prompt questions.

"Tell me more in detail about how Shinoda was when he came to the Yubetsu site for about two days after he realized the watch was lost."

Nishida took that and heard more of the story.

"I talked about it earlier, but well, I felt he was quite worked up. It was an expensive watch, and it was a watch he apparently got from the company? and from what we see as a result, it was Kitagawa's watch, so he probably couldn't afford to lose it... Either way, even if he has a bad personality, it's not normal to go as far as checking subordinates' belongings, that."

"I understood about that. Sorry, but I want to ask other things. For example, clothes, or the car..."

"Ah, I see. Certainly, now that you mention it, from the next day, he came in something like work clothes from the start. I feel like the car wasn't a Crown but a white Land Cruiser the company owns. Nishida-san, you're sharp."

"I see, I see..."

Nishida had a quite satisfied expression at Tomioka's words. Of course, it wasn't a social compliment, but about the content of the testimony.

Nishida and the others had speculated that the reason he went to Yubetsu for three consecutive days after the 10th, on the 11th and 12th, was for the purpose of searching for the watch, but looking at the change in Shinoda's clothes and car, it was possible to think that he might have been searching near the Jomon Tunnel again? as well.

"About those two days he came in that Land Cruiser, how long was he at the Yubetsu site?"

Nishida pressed further.

"The memory around there is not clear. However, it wasn't that he was there all day on both days, and I feel like he went back at a fairly early stage after noon. Well, please just keep the story here to the extent that I feel that way."

If they took Tomioka's testimony as it was, it was strongly considered that he went to search for the watch at the murder scene of Yoneda after going to the construction site on the following two days as well. If there was a fear that he had left physical evidence at the murder scene, he must have been anxious, even though it was a deserted place with little possibility of discovery. It wouldn't be strange if he went to the Jomon Tunnel for consecutive days, just like Yubetsu. And he must have also hoped it was in a place other than the Jomon Tunnel.

"Just as a side note, how was Shinoda after that? How was he after he stopped searching?"

Kosaka changed the subject.

"The Yubetsu construction ended in early September, and he came just before that, but I think he didn't come at all until then. After that, even if I saw him at the company or at the site, I didn't feel anything particularly changed about him..."

While looking at Tomioka, who was desperately trying to trace his memory while crossing his arms,

"What do you think about Kitagawa, who was the original owner of the watch?" Mitsushima asked slowly.

"Kitagawa? Hmm, he was on good terms with Shinoda, but he was more personable than Shinoda. If I knew it was his watch, I might not have laid a hand on it, but it's too late now..."

He spoke in a strangely emotional tone, but he said,

"He quit the Isaka Group the year before last... no, that was like being half-kicked out, but even then, he called out to me as I was leaving. 'Take care,' he said."

After saying that, he fell silent for a while.

"About that Kitagawa, he became unconscious during our interrogation the other day..."

Nishida told the fact as if it were hard to say.

"What? I'm surprised he's unconscious, but what do you mean by interrogation? Isn't it Shinoda who's involved in the case? I haven't heard the story about Kitagawa from the prison officer."

Looking at the surprised Tomioka,

"Shinoda also died last year," Nishida continued.

"He died... But he already looked in bad health when I quit, so I'm not particularly surprised. More than that, it's the story about Kitagawa. What happened?"

He didn't even show a sign of caring about Shinoda, whom he disliked, but it seemed different for Kitagawa after all.

"I'm sorry, but I can't say that. It's important investigation information."

"Then don't say unnecessary things. You only ask me what you want to hear!"

Tomioka made a spiteful remark to Nishida and lightly kicked the desk, but the three didn't particularly react. It was probably because they thought it was indeed a remark that gave unnecessary information, other than Nishida.

After that, in a forest-like atmosphere that had changed from just a moment ago,

"Well, fine... I'm in no position to care about others either... Anything else to ask me?"

He probably didn't repent, but with his eyes closed, he uttered a voice that seemed to suppress his emotions.

"I've been allowed to hear everything I wanted to hear now. It was a help. I might come to hear something again, but it would be a help if you could cooperate at that time too..."

When Kosaka spoke somewhat reservedly,

"Hmph, do as you like. It would be a help if you didn't come if possible, though. Now, hurry up and release me!" he blurted out.

Kosaka called the prison officer as if that were the signal, and Tomioka disappeared from before the three. Perhaps because they couldn't help but feel something different from the figure who talked big in the back of Tomioka being led away by the prison officer, the three remained sitting deeply in the pipe chairs in silence until Mitsushima's remark,

"Well then, shall we go back?" came out.



The questioning ended around after 10:00 AM. There was nothing else to do, but they couldn't spend time as freely as the day before, and the three were to return to Engaru and Kitami as they were. At Mitsushima's suggestion, they decided to take a different route for the return trip than the one they took coming. The plan was to take Route 239 from Nayoro, head toward Monbetsu, and then pass through Nishiokoppe Village on Prefectural Road 137 to Engaru. Both Kosaka and Nishida agreed that this route would be the fastest for the return trip since they didn't need to stop by Asahikawa.

They passed through Shimokawa Town, which produced Kasai and Okabe (Author's Note: Okabe later became a gold medalist at the Nagano Olympics, and Kasai became a silver medalist at the Sochi Olympics. Ito of the team where Kasai won the bronze medal is also from the same Shimokawa Town as Kasai), members of the jump team silver medalists at the '94 Lillehammer Olympics the previous year, and passed through the center of the aforementioned Nishiokoppe Village, famous for its ice tunnel. After that, upon entering Prefectural Road 137, they continued to drive along a single road that also gave a sense of being unexplored.

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=414keLRK6Lw

During this journey, it might be a succession of overwhelming scenery for anyone other than a Hokkaido resident, but for the three, it was nothing more than a sequence of tedious sights, and although they weren't particularly avoiding it, the conversation naturally turned to investigation-related matters.

"Shinoda came to the Yubetsu construction site for an inspection on August 10th, and after that, for some reason, he suddenly changed clothes, changed the car, and left. He came back in the evening. Now, how long does it take from the Yubetsu Great Bridge at the construction site to the Jomon Tunnel..."

Kosaka was asking himself, but Mitsushima, who was driving earlier, said,

"If it's from Yubetsu to the Ikutahara city area, I think he can probably go in about 40 minutes. However, from there to the Jomon Tunnel, we might have to consider another 30 minutes including the mountain path and walking. If so, I think we should look at over an hour. But since we have nothing to do today anyway, it might be good to actually try it."

He gave an accurate opinion.

"Hmm, certainly we have nothing to do and we have time. Shall we try it... Even if we consider two and a half hours for the round trip at this point, even if it's three and a half hours from the murder to burying the body, it's six hours... It's normally possible for Shinoda, who left before noon, to return to Yubetsu in the evening. Well, let's try to see how long it actually takes for one way. Shall we drop Nishida off at Engaru, go to Yubetsu, and try it on the way back to Kitami?"

To the plan Kosaka proposed, Nishida immediately raised an objection,

"No, if we go to Ikutahara, we'll have to return to Engaru again on the way back, so I can't very well make you go through the trouble, so I'll refrain from going that far, but at least let me accompany you from Yubetsu to Engaru."

"If you say that much, neither I nor Mitsushima mind, but we're just going to measure the time. Honestly, I think it's a waste of time, though?"

"That's true, but it's work after all. No, rather, it might be better to have you and the others go straight back to Kitami, and have the members of our Engaru (Station) measure it anyway."

To Nishida's counter-proposal, Kosaka asked Mitsushima,

"Now that you mention it, there's such a way too. Mitsushima is also putting on mileage... What do you think, shall we leave it to Engaru (Station)?"

"If Kosaka-san is fine with that, I don't mind at all. If we can go back quickly, that's also good for us."

Mitsushima gave a nonchalant reply and stuffed gum into his mouth, perhaps to prevent sleepiness.

"After that, we have to question the people who were engaged in the Yubetsu construction at the time after all. We can't decide based only on Tomioka's story, right? There's also information we want to supplement, including the reason he left."

"Yeah, we have to head to Shari at the earliest possible stage."

Kosaka also felt the need to go to the construction site in Shari where the construction workers from that time were, which he heard from Mita the day before yesterday, just like Nishida's opinion.

While having such a conversation and talking about the appropriateness of the content of the punishment for the superior detectives the other day, the timing overlapped with lunch when they entered Takinoue Town. They filled their stomachs at a diner in the deserted center and started the car again toward Engaru. After a while, Mitsushima stepped on the car's brakes at the junction of Prefectural Road 137 and Prefectural Road 305 that appeared before them.

"It'll be a bit of a detour, but why don't we stop by the famous Konomai Mine ruins? I haven't seen it, so I want to see it. We still have plenty of time. If we go left at this 305 junction and then right at the junction a little further ahead, it'll be 137 again to Engaru, and if we go straight on 305, we'll come out at the Konomai ruins. If it's no good, I'll give up, but..."

The two were taken aback by the sudden story, but when Kosaka asked,

"How long will it take?" he was told it wouldn't even take an hour. Then Kosaka reluctantly agreed,

"Well, fine. I decided to leave the Yubetsu matter to Engaru anyway..."

However, as for Nishida, he had a bit of interest in the Konomai ruins, so there was a part of him that was inwardly attracted. Mitsushima put it in gear again, turned left at the junction toward Prefectural Road 305 toward Monbetsu. The junction toward Engaru appeared immediately, but they passed through there now, and as they headed toward the Konomai area, ruins began to enter their sight on the left and right.



As also slightly mentioned in the matter of the gold in Ikutahara, the Konomai Mine in the Konomai area of Monbetsu City is already a closed mine, but it was a gold mine that boasted one of the leading production volumes in Japan. The ore deposit was discovered in 1915 (Taisho 4), and after that, management was transferred to the current Sumitomo Metal Mining in 1917, and operation continued until 1973. Strictly speaking, from 1943 when the war situation worsened until right after the war, for the maintenance of military industry, due to the importance of copper, iron, coal, etc. over gold, a policy was adopted to move equipment and workers to other mines, so there was a period when it was effectively closed.

During this time, centered around the 1950s, it boasted quite a production volume even in the history of Japanese gold mines, and produced about 73 tons of gold by the time it closed. Also, as a mine castle town, it recorded a population of over 10,000 at its peak during the war in the deep mountains, and even in the revival period after the war, quite a few mine-related people resided there, but after the mine closed, it turned into an uninhabited ruin all at once.

As is common, there are stories that victims such as Japanese and drafted Koreans also appeared under quite bad labor environments before the war, while there is also a theory that it was under a fairly decent environment for a mine at the time, and there are mixed evaluations, but as a matter of reality, it cannot be denied that a certain number of victims appeared due to labor accidents peculiar to mines. However, it would be appropriate to see that the treatment of miners had improved to some extent after the war.

Currently, besides the office of Sumitomo Metal for treating water containing harmful substances coming out of the mine ruins, no one lives there, and one of the leading ruin sites in Japan stands quietly. Perhaps because of that, there are many ghost stories of that kind, and it is a spot known to those in the know nationwide, though it is plain, where ruin enthusiasts also come.

Also, as trivia, the composer Miyagawa Hiroshi (also known as the creator of the theme song for Space Battleship Yamato and "The Peanuts") lived in Konomai in his childhood due to his father's work, and there is a story from the man himself that he utilized the image he experienced during his residence in Konomai when composing the hit song "Giniro no Michi" (from Wikipedia). There is also a story that Monkey Punch, the original creator of Lupin III, also lived there in his childhood (Author's Note: Source credibility is not so good).

Konomai Gold Mine Reference Links

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/ikeboo2011goo/e/47c1ab0c59f616eedce7cdd359e6db39

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/b2unit0000/20918447.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9jp6qYP9Uw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y43s-XAnZdU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCMucEObLmE



"So this is the rumored Konomai..."

Kosaka muttered while looking at the signboards of old town names appearing one after another on the left and right of the road. Just as the chimney towering over the refinery ruins entered his sight,

"Shall we take a little stroll through the ruins?"

Mitsushima asked that, but he had turned the steering wheel himself before the two agreed.

When they entered a side road from the road and parked the car, the three went outside. The glass of the reinforced concrete buildings that looked like a bit of an apartment, which were thought to have been collective housing for staff, was broken, and tree branches were stretching from those windows toward the inside of the buildings. Also, buildings with the famous mark of the Sanyo Group (Author's Note: I will change the company name) were seen here and there. They were probably the company's buildings.

"It's hard to imagine now that a town of this scale became uninhabited all at once due to the mine closing."

Nishida looked around to the left and right while being careful of his footing.

"It's fine because it's daytime, but it would be scary if I came here alone in the middle of the night."

Mitsushima laughed somewhat exaggeratedly.

"Mitsushima, anyone would be scared. I can't even imagine the night in a place where few cars pass even during the day. It's a natural thing to be scared."

Nishida replied half-exasperatedly, but on the other hand, Kosaka stood before the monument of the school ruins and began to look at it in silence.

"Did something catch your interest?"

Nishida saw that figure and called out.

"It's no big deal. I was born in Rubeshibe and grew up almost there, but there was a time when I was in the Betsukai (Town) area due to my old man's work. But the middle school I was enrolled in at that time is closed. Because of that, I might have gotten lost in sentiment for a bit."

To the senior detective with a wry smile,

"Is that so... Certainly, if you have such an experience, the way you feel in a place like this might be different."

It wasn't a social compliment, and Nishida's attitude was as if he could understand. In the meantime, the two spent a short time quietly while standing still on the spot. Mitsushima seemed to have sensed such a situation, as he was looking around various other places by himself.

They stayed in the ruins for just under 30 minutes as they were, and when they returned the way they came and merged with Prefectural Road 137 again, they entered the Engaru city area in less than an hour. Somehow Engaru looked like a big city, but the image of the Konomai ruins probably made it so. After bidding farewell to Kosaka and Mitsushima in front of the Engaru Station, Nishida entered the station into the Detective Division.

When he greeted Section Chief Sawai and reported the questioning, the subordinate detectives also gathered. It was a great achievement that Shinoda's involvement in the case became even more likely due to the content of Tomioka's testimony. Naturally, regarding the verification of the required time from Yubetsu to Ikutahara, it was permitted immediately. However, the weight of Section Chief Sawai's words,

"Even if the culprit is Shinoda, the fact that he's already dead hurts..."

was something that also could not be denied for all the detectives including Nishida. Even if the crime could be proven, it was nothing more than a formal arrest in the form of sending papers by the police, and he would not actually be indicted by the prosecutor. It was because it didn't change the fact that the case couldn't be solved in the true sense.

"Now that you mention it, I don't see Takeshita?"

Because he was concentrating on the report, Nishida didn't notice Takeshita's absence.

"He went home before noon today. I gave special permission because he hadn't taken a break for a long time and there didn't seem to be any major movements today. Although there are no movements, I normally wouldn't permit it in this situation, but since he's the one requesting it, it probably isn't such a careless purpose."

"Is that so... I thought it would be better to have Takeshita here for the verification of the required time."

Nishida's way of saying it was flat, but in reality, his desire to have Takeshita there was strong.

"That should be established even without Takeshita. That aside, who's going with Nishida?"

Because the Section Chief called for volunteers rather than appointing them himself, everyone who was there raised their hand.

"Well, I guess it would be like that..."

Ignoring the Section Chief's mutter,

"Then it's rock-paper-scissors for you guys. Two winners."

Nishida was arbitrarily specifying the selection method. As a result of the battle between the five of Komura, Yoshimura, Sawada, Kurosu, and Oba, Yoshimura and Kurosu won.

"So, the three of us are going."

Nishida saluted the Section Chief half-jokingly and left the Detective Division room with the two.



They arrived at the starting point, the Yubetsu Great Bridge, in about 20 minutes from the station. Kurosu, who was driving, said while checking his watch,

"At this rate, is it possible to reach the vicinity of the site within an hour?"

"In urban areas, we have to consider the time of day, but around here it's not a problem at any time of day."

As Yoshimura said, because it is an area unrelated to the concept of traffic jams, there is no need for comparative verification by time of day.

"Then let's depart for the site."

With Nishida's word, they head back toward the Engaru direction this time. They proceed west on Route 242 smoothly, pass our Engaru Station on the right in the direction of travel, and head south this time, but 30 minutes had passed by the time they entered the Ikutahara town area. While it is fine while driving on the national highway, Nishida's only anxiety was that he didn't quite grasp how long it would take to drive the unpaved part from there to the vicinity of the Jomon Tunnel. It was because he hadn't measured it exactly when he visited several times for investigation, and it was only a sensory thing that it would probably be okay.

When they bid farewell to the national highway, entered a narrow road, and entered the unpaved section from there, they couldn't put out much speed, so Nishida and Yoshimura began to feel a bit of impatience while looking alternately at the watch and the scenery in front of the windshield. Of course, it wasn't that it was taking more time than expected. The "Beware of Bears" signboards that usually bothered them didn't enter their sight this time.

"Oh, I see it."

When the open space to park the car entered his sight, Yoshimura involuntarily raised his voice.

"Alright, from here we can go in a little over five minutes by walking, so it's about an hour and 10 minutes to the site... It's not fast, but it's within the acceptable range."

When the three parked the car, they hurried along the mountain path to the place where Yoneda was buried. The site had already returned to the same state as before the discovery of the case, but the three reached that place without getting lost. When they looked at the watch, it was about an hour and 12 minutes, as Nishida predicted.

"Well, looking at up to two hours and 30 minutes for the round trip, I talked with Kosaka-san earlier, but it was a quite sharp prediction. If we have three hours to murder Yoneda and bury him here, we can manage somehow."

Nishida nodded alone with satisfaction.

"But how is it? We came directly because we know Yoneda is buried in this place, but in the first place, the reason why Shinoda came here is at a stage where we don't really know, right? Certainly, since the place where Yoneda disappeared and the place where he was buried almost match, we can predict the murder place is also the same, but the circumstances under which Shinoda came to this place are not understood at all... We don't even know if he came directly here."

Kurosu's point was hitting a quite painful spot. As a matter of reality, although they are assuming the premise that Shinoda came directly to the place where the body of the young Yoneda was buried (which is also highly likely to be the murder place) due to the loss of the watch, Kitagawa's movement three years later, and the change of Shinoda's car and clothes discovered this time, the reason for coming here remained unknown. It is a story based on the detectives' reasoning that the murder of Yoneda and Shinoda's movement might be linked.

"That's true as a matter of reality, but since Shinoda is dead, we have no choice but to do something with further investigation. However, I don't think it's that wrong, I."

Nishida noticed himself that it was a way of saying it to convince himself rather than telling Kurosu, but now he had no choice but to go the way he believed before detailed logic.

From there, they hurried back to the Engaru Station, and when they summarized the result that the murder of Yoneda by Shinoda is sufficiently possible as predicted into a report, Nishida faxed it to the Kitami District Headquarters in preparation for the next day's investigation meeting. He omitted the matter of Nayoro since Kosaka and the others should have already reported it.



On the morning of August 6th, Nishida was watching NHK television with the members of the Engaru Station in the meeting room of the Kitami District Headquarters until the start of the meeting. On this year, which marked exactly the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the memorial special program at the time of the atomic bombing was more focused than usual, perhaps because it overlapped with Sunday.

"The war has become distant."

Nishida felt like saying that somehow, but he just said it quietly to himself as a monologue.

Because this investigation meeting was following the report of the Asahikawa/Nayoro journey of Kosaka, Nishida, and Mitsushima, it was proceeding quietly in the form of repeating questions and answers with the three centered around Kosaka by both Headquarters Chief Ootomo and Investigation Lead Kurano.

Naturally, the three insisted on the importance of questioning the site-related people at the time, and although the leadership had already laid the groundwork in advance, they came to accept it. Also, regarding the use of the car for executives that emerged from Tomioka's testimony, they made a phone confirmation to the Isaka Group within the day, while also making an appointment for questioning the site-related people who should be in Shari now, and as a result, they were able to confirm it from the ledger of the usage status of the Secretary Section at the time.

Although the details are unknown, from a simple memo, it seems the cause was that Shinoda's private car could not be used due to a vehicle inspection at the time, and he was commuting by taxi. Also, it was found that unless he was the president, a driver would not be attached, so it was normal for Shinoda to drive himself despite it being an executive car.

The executive car was not used by Shinoda from the next day onward, but unfortunately, it was not clear if the replacement was the company's Land Cruiser. This is because the check sheets for the operation status of the company's ordinary cars were only kept for a short period. However, from the fact that the usage status of the Crown was as per Tomioka's testimony and the fact that there was a Land Cruiser among the company's cars, it goes without saying that the credibility of Tomioka's testimony also became higher.

On the other hand, they also had them ask if there was anyone in the Isaka Group who saw Shinoda within the company in Kitami from August 10th to 12th, 1992. However, although there probably were people at the time, currently there was no one whose memory remained, so unfortunately, it seemed they would not be able to obtain testimony about Shinoda's appearance when he stopped by the company.

On top of that, the three of Kosaka, Nishida, and Mitsushima decided to work out a response for the next day's questioning. The items to be confirmed in this questioning are:

1. Whether there is anyone among the site-related people at the time who knows the reason why Shinoda suddenly left the site, and if they do, questioning the content.

2. Whether there is anyone who knows in detail about Shinoda's appearance and state when he returned to the site, and if they do, questioning the content.

3. Questioning about the situation when Shinoda appeared at the site to search for the watch over two days from the next day.

These three will be the main axes. In particular, if detailed testimony about 1 and 2 can be obtained, it can become important circumstantial evidence to support Shinoda's involvement in the murder of Yoneda. The three wanted to reinforce this part somehow. However, neither Kosaka himself nor Nishida or Mitsushima could have noticed at this point that it would become impossible for Kosaka to participate in the next day's investigation as a conclusion.

It was after 3:00 PM when Manager Hiruma suddenly jumped into the small meeting room next to the meeting room where the three and other detectives who had finished a series of simulations were resting. Although he attracted the attention of other investigators, the Manager didn't seem to care at all and raised a voice close to a shout toward Kosaka.

"Kosaka, sorry but go back to your jurisdiction immediately!"

Before Kosaka and other investigators who couldn't grasp what had happened,

"It seems a strangled body, seen as a rape-murder, was found by a forestry office employee in the forest of Tanno Town. Although it hasn't been confirmed, it seems to be the girl from Bihoro who had been missing for several days. Moreover, another decomposed female body was found nearby. At this point, the possibility of serial murder is high."

Immediately after Hiruma explained, Kosaka's mobile phone rang. From Kosaka's tone when he answered the phone, it seemed to be a call from a superior in his jurisdiction.

"Yes, I was just receiving an explanation of the situation from the Manager here. Yes..."

After a while, Kosaka hung up the phone and said,

"It was a call from our Section Chief. There was a request to return to the station, so I will return to my jurisdiction as per the Manager's instruction. Sorry to Nishida and the others, but it's impossible for me to accompany you tomorrow for this reason..."

After first telling the Manager a word, he also apologized to Nishida and the others.

"No, no, Kosaka, rather we have to apologize. We're the ones who forced a Violent Crimes Unit Team Leader from an unrelated jurisdiction to come here because of his local knowledge..."

Hiruma said while making a gesture of waving his hand sideways.

"Kosaka-san, we'll do the rest here, so please go back quickly."

At Nishida's word, Kosaka nodded silently, put on the suit he had taken off, and left the room while bowing to the other investigators. Hiruma, who saw him off, gathered the other investigators while wearing a bitter expression,

"The problem is that this matter affects not only Kosaka but also us here..."

"Naturally, the District Headquarters also has to set up a special investigation headquarters jointly with the Kitami Station for this matter, but we have to set up two investigation headquarters at the same time, including this one. Moreover, if it's a serial rape-murder, the social impact is huge. We're mobilizing the 1st Squad of the Investigation Division 1 here now, but it's also impossible to make the only remaining other squad the reinforcements for that. I think there will be considerable support from the Headquarters (Hokkaido Police Headquarters) too, but since the initial response is important, I want to mobilize almost everyone, for two squads, in the initial stage as the District Headquarters. Therefore, my thought at this point is to get through the investigation here with the Engaru team and a very small number of the District Headquarters team for a while."

When he said that much, a light stir arose from the investigators. Of course, the Manager didn't care about it one by one and said,

"I'm thinking of leaving Mitsushima, who is involved in this questioning, and Kitamura, who is paired with Nishida, as the District Headquarters team, and taking all the other investigators over there. Section Chief Sawai has already approved, and the Investigation Headquarters Chief also intends to have Engaru's Station Chief Makita promoted from Vice Headquarters Chief tentatively to handle it. Since Section Chief Kurano will also be active as the lead officer over there, I'm thinking the lead officer here will be Section Chief Sawai of the Engaru Station as a substitute. Maybe support will come here from the Headquarters too, but the probability is low... Basically, it would be faster to request support from other detectives of the Engaru Detective Division."

He laid out the decisions unilaterally.

However, Manager Hiruma's story was a perfectly reasonable judgment. While the murder of Yoneda was also a case being investigated simultaneously, the Yoneda case was a past case for the time being, whereas the murder of the high school girl was an ongoing case, and there was a high fear of a serial murder where early resolution was key. After all, it is a theory to conduct a full-scale investigation in the initial response, and it is natural that the Yoneda case is neglected to some extent. In that sense, it could be said that Nishida was in a state of resignation.

Because of that,

"Manager! I think we can manage here somehow, so please throw your full effort into the new case with peace of mind."

Nishida returned that to Hiruma.

"Really, to the Engaru team, I'm sorry that we ended up not being much of a force in the current situation... Despite being a superior organization, the investigation of the jurisdictional team was the one producing results... Conversely, it can also be interpreted as you guys being able to manage on your own. For now, it's the minimum manpower, but you have no choice but to do your best within that."

Hiruma showed a look of regret, but there was probably no lie in that thought itself. For Nishida, he rather felt sorry that Mitsushima and Kitamura remained in this investigation "unluckily," or rather were made to remain. It's bad for the victim, but to be frank, the investigation of a socially flashy case can be called the star compared to the investigation of washing out a plain past case. Mitsushima, who is in front of him, is not even showing a sign of being particularly regretful, but it might be because he is in front of Nishida. Kitamura is not in this place now and should be in the next meeting room, but what does he think about "remaining"? Even if he questioned him directly, from Kitamura's personality, he wouldn't show such dissatisfaction at all, which Nishida also understood well...

"So, for the other members, I think an investigation headquarters will be set up within today, so please be mentally prepared so that you can take a combat stance at any time when that happens."

At Hiruma's instruction, Nishida returned to himself again. What he should do now is not to grasp the feelings of the two, but how to manage the investigation from tomorrow onward. Immediately after Hiruma left, Nishida also took Mitsushima and returned to the meeting room.

"Section Chief, I just heard the story. We'll be short-handed, but what shall we do?"

As soon as he saw Section Chief Sawai's figure after entering the meeting room, he called out.

"Oh, did you hear? What about Shari tomorrow? I heard Mitsushima will stay here, but shall I attach one person for Kosaka's share?"

"No, there's no need for three people to go when we're short-handed. The ironclad rule is basically a pair of two. Mitsushima and I will manage tomorrow somehow. That aside, is it okay for us to withdraw from Kitami for a while?"

"No, Headquarters Chief Ootomo has already given permission to use the facilities of the District Headquarters depending on the case."

"Is that so. That's a help when we want to investigate centered around Kitami for consecutive days."

"After that, it seems they'll make it so we can also request support from the Hokkaido Police Headquarters in case of emergency, so there's nothing for us to worry about. In the first place, even if manpower becomes necessary, I think we can handle it by putting in other investigators from our Detective Division. Tell me anytime if there's a problem."

Sawai made a gesture like hitting his chest with his fist as if to say "rest assured," and then patted Nishida's shoulder a few times with his palm.

"Support is really appreciated, but if possible, I want to try to solve it only with our Engaru. If results come out in tomorrow's inquiry, such a possibility might emerge."

"If that can actually be done, our Hokkaido Police Headquarters Chief's Award is also certain, but let's not count our chickens before they hatch at this point. But I'm expecting a little."

Sawai wore a smile, but Nishida was actually more serious than that.



On August 7th, Nishida arrived at the Engaru Station from his home at 5:00 AM and made preparations to depart for Kitami. Because he is a single-person household and can see newspapers at the police station, Nishida does not take a newspaper at his home in Engaru, but when he briefly looked through the morning edition of the "Hokkaido Shinpo," a powerful newspaper in the prefecture that was delivered to the station first thing in the morning, the serial rape-murder from yesterday was on the front page. Although it had become quite a stir on the television news from evening, because it didn't make it to the evening edition in time, it had become the top news in the next morning's edition. Nishida thought that Kosaka and the other people from the Kitami District Headquarters would be about the time to start moving now. In such a case, since a short-term resolution is required both socially and by the police, it should be a quite busy investigation including the jurisdiction. As a person who has a daughter the same as the victim, he couldn't help but wish for the struggle of his colleagues.

And after finishing breakfast with bread from a convenience store, he headed for Kitami before 6:00 AM. In a little over an hour, when he picked up Mitsushima in front of the District Headquarters building, they headed for the site of the pier construction of the Isaka Group beyond Utoro, a tourist spot in Shari. During the journey, as far as he heard from Mitsushima who took over the driving, the other investigators seemed to be quite bloodthirsty, and the atmosphere was considerably different from their own "case."

Of course, although it is the same murder case, it is unavoidable that the way they put effort into it changes because it is an ongoing case. And Kitamura, who stayed behind, should have arrived at the Engaru Station by now, contrary to Nishida. During the journey, they were prepared for some traffic jams because it was the tourist season, but perhaps because of the time of day, it wasn't that crowded. After all, the fact that it was the Monday before Obon also seemed to have influenced it. When they proceeded along the national highway along the Okhotsk Sea, which reflected a highly transparent blue, and proceeded further through the Utoro area, which is a base for Shiretoko sightseeing and where hotels and the like are concentrated, the target site came into view. It looked like a replacement construction for a pier crossing a valley. When they parked the car in the parking lot in front of the prefabricated construction office where several passenger cars thought to be construction vehicles and workers' cars were parked, Mitsushima, who went ahead, opened the aluminum door with a clatter. Then,

"Oh, the detectives from Kitami?"

A man who seemed to be middle-aged called out to the two from inside. Whether the contact for the request for cooperation to the Isaka Group yesterday had properly come to this site, there seemed to be no need to name themselves from here.

"Yes, sorry for being busy."

Nishida said that while entering inside before Mitsushima, bowing lightly, and showing his police badge. Mitsushima also presented his reservedly from behind. And each named themselves and introduced themselves lightly.

"You were earlier than I thought. I thought it would be around noon." The man was checking his watch while putting out a business card.

On the business card, it was written "Field Manager Kondo Takayoshi."

"Field Manager..."

When Nishida muttered as if puzzled,

"Oh, the official name is just Field Manager, but generally it's the field supervisor," Kondo spoke business-like as it was a common thing.

"I see. There are various callings in the police that are different from what they are generally called, is it the same as that?"

"Yes, that's right. Well, you must be tired, so please sit down for now."

When Kondo said that to Nishida and the others, he took out canned coffee from the refrigerator and placed it in front of the two. His own share was a plastic bottle of tea.

"I've heard the general story from our Mita yesterday. I've been told to cooperate to the maximum. Still, did the dead Shinoda do something? I heard the police search also entered for the Kitagawa matter the other day. That Kitagawa also apparently collapsed at the police station? Somehow while I'm here, it seems our company itself is being suspected by the police..."

He clearly wore a look of bewilderment.

"It's not the whole company. Well, I can't say the details, but various things happened... And we were also indebted to Vice President Mita the other day."

Nishida took a sip of the canned coffee.

"But I was surprised. To think that the story of that day has become something important for the police. Was the deceased Shinoda involved in some case during his lifetime? The Vice President also didn't seem to know specifically, but looking at the detectives' bite, he said it must be so."

"I can't speak specifically, but it's as you guessed."

Nishida placed the canned coffee on the table and took out a notebook.

"So, what we want to ask Kondo-san is about the actions and appearance of Managing Director Shinoda over the three days from August 10th to 12th, 1992."

"Yes, I've heard. As expected, I didn't remember the dates, but after receiving the contact from Mita, the events of that day also remained well in my impression, so I was a bit surprised."

"Oh, in your impression."

"That is because, you see, the Managing Director came to see because there was a delay in the construction period, but we were also severely scolded... I had a terrible time from the morning of that day. However, was it before noon, a phone call came to the site from our president—president, but I mean the previous one—and after that, the Managing Director left the site in a great hurry."

"A call from the president. Do you know the specific content?"

Mitsushima asks at the perfect moment. Because it was a testimony that appeared for the first time, it was content that Nishida was also concerned about.

"As expected, I don't know. After the Managing Director reprimanded me, he went out of the office to see the construction site, but after that, a call came from the president saying, 'I think the Managing Director is over there, hurry up and call him,' so I went to call the Managing Director. And the Managing Director took the call, but..."

When he said that much, Kondo put the plastic bottle of tea to his mouth. And after the movement of the Adam's apple going up and down when he took a sip to moisten his throat entered Nishida's sight clearly, he busily tightened the cap of the remaining bottle and continued the story.

"He suddenly raised a voice tinged with anger toward the president, 'There's no way that's true!' so I was also surprised. Toward the one-man president who was the founder. When I first received the call from the president, I felt he was also quite in a panic, and since the Managing Director was also like that, I thought something quite big had happened."

"That's very interesting. And what was the development after that?"

Nishida prompted the continuation.

"After that... well, for a while he repeated things like 'it's strange' or 'unbelievable.' I didn't know what they were talking about, but since the president's voice was even leaking from the phone, I think he was also raising a loud voice. And after such a sequence of exchanges continued for a while, he said, 'Then I'll go check, if you say that much. I'll explain how it was when I get back!' and hung up the phone somewhat violently. And immediately after, he said, 'I'm going to a place where the company's Crown won't do, so lend me a car that can be used for off-road like a four-wheel drive.' My car is not much of a car, but since it was a normal sedan, I had no choice but to ask for and borrow a jeep from the president of a company that came for subcontracting. Well, since he's a subcontractor, he probably couldn't refuse either... And he changed into work clothes that were extra at the site. Oh, I forgot to say, but he was in a suit when he came. Since he just came to see the situation and say a few words to me, he probably was in a suit... Anyway, that's what it is. Because various things remained in my impression, I remembered the events of that time quite firmly."

"The company's Crown is a black Crown, and the jeep is a red jeep, right?"

Nishida confirmed just in case.

"Yes, exactly so."

"Who is the owner of that jeep?"

"A person named Masuda-san."

"Understood."

The story up to here was basically as per Tomioka's testimony, but several new testimonies also emerged. That the reason Shinoda suddenly left the site was a phone call from the president, and that an argument occurred from that phone call. And that the owner of the jeep he drove away was found out.

"Did he not say specifically where he was going or what he was going to do?"

Mitsushima's tone had become hurried because there was a development in the story.

"Specifically... he shouldn't have been saying that. If he had said it, I think I would remember it along with the series of memories of that day."

"Is that so... Then is there anything else that bothers you at that time?"

Mitsushima closed his mouth in a straight line as if disappointed, but then asked again as if he had changed his mind. Kondo showed a gesture like thinking for a moment in response to that.

"Now that you mention it, I think he was also talking about lending him a shovel..."

"A shovel!?"

Nishida bit.

"Yes, I think he was talking about needing a shovel."

"And you lent it, right?"

"No, I recall there was no need to lend it."

"No, no, that's strange, right?"

Because it was a part that became quite important considering the need to bury Yoneda's body, Nishida's way of saying it was openly dissatisfied, and Kondo's expression seemed to cloud for a moment.

"Even if you say that, because it was so, I am also saying so."

He spoke in an clearly dissatisfied tone.

"Oh, I don't think it's a lie. However, if so, the story doesn't connect, so..."

As expected, since offending the other party is not good for the investigation, Nishida made an excuse.

"If that's the case, it's fine... President Masuda, who ended up lending the car, was also in that place, and the story became 'If it's a shovel, it's loaded in the back of the car,' and the Managing Director also confirmed that. So the story is that it became unnecessary."

Receiving Nishida's follow-up, Kondo also seemed to have been convinced for the time being and explained in detail.

"I understood the matter of the shovel, but was he not also requesting something like a pickaxe at the same time?"

"Regarding a pickaxe, I don't have a memory that the Managing Director was saying to lend such a thing. I think it was only a shovel."

"...Is that so, understood."

Nishida's tone became openly disappointed. Because the cause of Yoneda's death was assumed to be a brain contusion by a sharp object to the head, a pickaxe was thought to be one of the quite powerful murder weapons. Here Nishida took another sip of canned coffee to take a breather. Mitsushima also did the same, as if he had waited for the timing when he saw the senior detective take a breather.



Kondo, who was watching the two, also seemed to have been influenced and began to open the cap and drink tea again. He seemed to be drinking a considerable amount this time, as the thin green line floating on the bottle dropped rapidly. Nishida, who had already taken the "required amount" on the spot, was conversely watching Kondo's drinking, but Kondo noticed that and suddenly took the bottle from his mouth, busily tightened the cap again with a squeak, and placed it on the table.

"About the pickaxe, while I was drinking tea just now, I remembered something that bothers me a bit."

"Anything is fine, so please."

Nishida prompted while wearing a fake smile.

"At that time, Masuda-san was opening the back door of the jeep and showing the Managing Director that various tools were loaded and having him confirm. I'm not confident, but because I have a memory that there were quite various things, maybe there was also a pickaxe among them. However, to repeat, I'm not confident, though."

Kondo emphasized his lack of confidence to Nishida as if to press him, but even if only such a possibility remained, it was content that made him sufficiently expectant.

"No, that can't be helped. It's a story from three years ago, and you weren't looking at it consciously. Including that matter, I have to confirm with that Masuda-san? soon."

"Nishida-san, actually, that Masuda-san is exactly participating in this site too. He always helps with our bridge-related work. Unfortunately, it seems he scrapped it, and it's not the car from that time now, though."

"Is, is that true! Please say that first! I thought I had to hear the story from Masuda-san too, but to think he's in this place! It's very convenient! Of course, you'll let me hear the story after this, right?"

At Kondo's unexpected words, Nishida became excited. The fact that the important jeep was scrapped flew somewhere.

"I'm sorry about that. I thought I'd say it when I was asked about the owner of the jeep earlier, but because the story was cut with 'Understood' immediately, I missed the chance to say it... I'll try talking to Masuda-san after this. Well, Masuda-san won't refuse."

"Wow, this is a great help!"

Nishida naturally broke into a smile, but Mitsushima next to him was not so much.

"Masuda-san is a company in Monbetsu, so if he weren't here, we would have had to go to Monbetsu, and the detective might be lucky. Our bridge pier construction is not done that frequently either."

For Nishida, because the physical distance from Engaru to Monbetsu is closer than coming to Shiretoko, the reason he was happy was completely different. It was because "trouble was saved" and because if there are two witnesses at the same time, they can complement each other's memory, so the certainty of the testimony becomes higher. In other words, Kondo's story was frankly off the mark, but it was certain that it was luck at a level that didn't matter. Still, hearing about Shinoda is the priority now. Nishida brings the story back.

"We'll hear the Masuda-san related story later, but for now, could you let me hear the story of Managing Director Shinoda after that?"

"So he left with the car he borrowed, and around the time everyone returned from the site after the construction ended, the Managing Director also came back."

"How was he at that time? In detail if possible."

"He had a feeling of being quite exhausted. When I said 'Good job,' he only reacted with a faint voice. That person who was somewhat arrogant..."

While answering Mitsushima's question, Kondo was wryly smiling. As expected, Shinoda's reputation was bad here too.

"How about the stains on the work clothes? Was there a trace as if he had worked with a shovel somewhere?"

"I don't have a strong memory that they were very dirty, but they might have been dirty in their own way... That part hasn't remained in my impression much, unfortunately. However, anyway, I remember well that he looked tired."

"I see, then that's enough."

Nishida withdrew easily. Kondo was squinting and trying hard to trace his memory, but that part seemed unclear. However, rather than having a confident but careless testimony, it was rather appreciated for Nishida. It is self-evident that wrong information leads to a wrong investigation.

"By the way, about those work clothes, I think he changed back into a suit and returned when he went home, but do you know what happened to them?"

"I think he certainly changed back into a suit. About the work clothes, I think the Managing Director took them home as they were. I didn't receive them. Well, to say 'return the work clothes I lent' to a company executive is also... They're things placed as extras. However, back to the story of the stains earlier, because he went out of his way to change, at least he must have been sweating. It was midsummer. If you think that way, were they dirty after all..."

Even if he had returned them, there was no way those work clothes were preserved in that state, and Nishida thought 'it's impossible' after he spoke, but it couldn't be helped since it came out. However, if a trace like a bloodstain remained on the work clothes, it is certain that it would become quite powerful evidence, and he couldn't help but ask.

"Now that you mention it, did the Managing Director make some kind of contact with the president after returning to the office at the site?"

Mitsushima asked what Nishida had completely forgotten.

"No, he shouldn't have done it on our office phone. That said, mobile phones shouldn't have had signals properly at the Yubetsu construction site at the time, and I also think he wasn't carrying one. After all, after returning to Kitami, I think he reported whatever the story was. Well, in the first place, if he had one and it was getting through, the president would have called the Managing Director directly. If the Managing Director had called from a public phone or something on the way back here, we have no way of knowing. The place he went itself seems to be somewhere in the mountains, and..."

Kondo even did the reasoning we should do.

"Then let's end the story of August 10th here, and next, please let me hear the story of the next day and after. He came at an early time on the next day too, right?"

Nishida asks while turning to the next page because the two-page spread was full of notes.

"On the 11th, first, a call came from the Managing Director first thing in the morning, and he said, 'Is there a watch with Managing Director Kitagawa's name on the back over there?' And when I searched briefly and didn't find it, I said, 'I don't see it,' and he asked, 'Did you really search properly?'... In the end, he said, 'I can't trust you guys!' and came to the site after all. I think he came around 10:00 AM. And suddenly he gathered the workers and checked their belongings. We also asked him to stop because 'it affects the relationship of trust,' but... After it didn't come out, he and I searched the site and the office thoroughly, but of course we didn't find it. And he left in the afternoon as he was."

"About that 11th, we've already obtained testimony that the car was a white Land Cruiser and the clothes were already work clothes at the point he came, but is that correct?"

"You've investigated well. Who did you hear it from?"

"About that, a bit..."

Mitsushima, who asked the question, conversely was asked and became vague. To be honest, Nishida thought it was fine to "put out" Tomioka's existence, but he might have considered the discovery of the circumstances of the relationship between the imprisoned Tomioka and Shinoda.

"Is it a secret of investigation information? No, that's correct, and my apologies. It was the company's Land Cruiser. There was a possibility that it would get dirty with dust or something while digging up and searching various things, so I think he came in work clothes for that reason."

Kondo seemed to have sensed it from the two's appearance, stopped further pursuit, and answered what he was asked.

"However, with only that, the reason it was a Land Cruiser is not explained well. There might be the fact that it's okay to ride in dirty clothes, though..."

Nishida threw a question. Of course, the reason it was a Land Cruiser was because he had almost concluded it was for going to the site in Ikutahara.

"If you say it that way, that's true... Even if the executive car couldn't be used, there should be normal sedan types among the company's cars... It might have been for stopping by the same place as the day before or the same place as the day before. Well, that's not something a layman like me should think about."

"That's certainly true. I became stubborn in the flow."

Nishida bowed his head frankly.

"Then let's end the matter of the 11th with this, and move the story to the 12th. Please tell us about that day."

"On the 12th, he came directly without even calling, and it was like he was carefully re-searching the places he searched on the 11th. Because I was busy on that day and I was also fed up with the Managing Director's attitude from the day before, I didn't help. He didn't say anything either, though."

"The 12th was also a Land Cruiser and work clothes, right?"

"Yes, that's right. However, I have a memory that he went back earlier on that day than on the 11th. Well, something that didn't come out the day before wouldn't come out from the same place."

This point also matched Tomioka's testimony. They couldn't have coordinated their stories, and the certainty of both testimonies should be quite high.

"Was there no stain on the work clothes?"

"No, there wasn't, for sure."

Nishida, who had been continuing the questions, was concerned about where Kondo's conviction for the answer to this question came from, unlike the matter of the work clothes on the 10th.

"Is the reason you can say that much, excuse me, from the strength of your memory alone?"

"Of course. The work clothes of executives are a bit different from general work clothes, and there are two types of colors, gray and light blue. On the 11th it was gray, and on the 12th it was light blue. That's why it remains in my impression. Incidentally, I didn't say it because the story didn't go that way earlier, but the work clothes I lent to the Managing Director on the 10th were the same as what our general workers wear."

"I see. Then it should remain in your impression."

It was a convincing answer, but unlike Kondo, the reason Tomioka's memory about the work clothes was not clear might be because he didn't have such prior knowledge. In any case, if Kondo's testimony is a fact, even if he worked and got dirty after leaving the Yubetsu construction site on the 11th and going to the murder site in Ikutahara, he shouldn't have carried that stain over to the next day.

And both Nishida and Mitsushima thought they had finished hearing what they should hear from Kondo at this point, and finally, they were to question Masuda, who was said to have lent the car. Leaving the two in the office, Kondo went to talk to Masuda, but it took almost no time, and he returned with Masuda.

Masuda, who was in the line of sight as he stood up and introduced himself, was quite elderly, a person whose appearance seemed to be in his mid-60s. With a sunburnt face and a small and thin build, his arms looked quite thick. Although he is a president, since he comes out to the site even at this age, it is certain that it is not a very large company. Nishida thought he was a "master" type rather than a president.

"Sorry for calling you out."

"No, no, I don't quite grasp the situation, but since it seems to be an important investigation... I was also asked by Kondo-san, so it can't be helped. I don't have a business card now, I'm sorry."

Masuda made a gesture of "forgive me" with his hand and sat down.

"From what I heard from Kondo-san, you want to hear the story of when I lent the car to that 'big shot' of the Isaka Group at that time?"

From the way he said 'big shot,' Nishida judged that there was no prior acquaintance with Shinoda.

"That's right."

"Well, I was asked by Kondo-san and it was like I had no choice. I had seen him several times at the site before, and he had an arrogant attitude, so I thought he was a big person at Isaka-san's place, but I don't want to lend to someone I don't know, because it was my beloved car."

After he finished speaking, Masuda, who was handed canned coffee by Kondo, opened it without hesitation and drank it as it was, so Nishida lost the timing for a question. Then Mitsushima said as if to take away the right to question,

"According to Kondo-san's story, you've already let go of the jeep, but is that correct?"

"Oh? You heard from Kondo-san? Yes, yes, as expected, since I had ridden it for 15 years, I scrapped it last spring. A 'good job' kind of thing."

"Is that so... After all, it's scrapped."

Mitsushima involuntarily clicked his tongue. He probably didn't mean it as an insult, but Nishida saw the expressions of the two for a moment. Fortunately, they didn't seem to mind particularly.

However, he had completely gotten mixed up in the confusion, and Nishida had hardly noticed the weight of the matter, but after all, the fact that the jeep was scrapped was a quite painful fact. Although the possibility is not high, even if it wasn't Masuda's ownership, if the car itself remained even under another person's name, although three years had passed, it might have been worth investigating residues such as bloodstains. Also, the possibility of obtaining physical evidence that he went to the site in Ikutahara might not be zero. The reason Mitsushima was not that happy when he was told the fact that Masuda was coming to this site earlier was probably because he took this meaning more significantly than Nishida at that time. Nishida was a bit ashamed. However, for what was lost, it is something that cannot be helped now. He has no choice but to switch.

"You were told by Shinoda about the need for a shovel and showed him that various tools were loaded in the back, but do you remember if there was a pickaxe among them?"

Nishida had the meaning of pulling himself together, but as if he couldn't wait, he suddenly hit the core.

"Of course there was. And that big shot named Shinoda of course knew."

Masuda used 'of course' twice. He seems to be quite certain.

"The reason you can say Shinoda knew, why can you say that? Regarding a pickaxe, he didn't seem to be particularly requesting it, though."

Nishida's question was because he had expected a reply to the extent of 'when he was looking at the tools, it should have caught his eye.'

"The day after I lent the car, when that person came again, he said to me, 'Sell me the pickaxe that was loaded in the car for 20,000 yen.' If you're told 20,000 for a pickaxe, of course you'll be surprised!"

"What! Is that true!"

When Nishida said that, he became leaning forward. Mitsushima also stopped his hand taking notes and concentrated on the story. Nishida didn't know clearly how much a pickaxe costs, but he didn't think it would cost 20,000. Considering that, it's not a strange story that Masuda was surprised. And it also makes sense that it remains well in his impression. And above all, paying 20,000 for a pickaxe is also proof that he wanted that pickaxe that much.

"And did you hand it over?"

"Of course. I wondered why he would put out that much, but for me, the reason doesn't matter. Isn't that right?"

"That's right. If I were told that, I would do the same."

Nishida answered that way, but inwardly, the fact that the 'actual object' had already been collected by Shinoda weighed heavily on him. It's probably already been disposed of. Just like the jeep, two precious pieces of evidence were lost. He moved to the next question immediately with a clinging thought.

"On the 10th, the day before, when he returned the car, was there no such story?"

"No, there wasn't. There wasn't even a word of thanks for lending the car. Well, because he was tired, he might have forgotten. Or maybe buying the pickaxe for 20,000 was intended as a thank-you, I thought later. Well, it's expensive anyway, though."

Masuda laughed it off.

"Excuse me, but from the time the car came back until you handed it to Shinoda, I think there was probably an opportunity to see the pickaxe, but was there any trace of a problem?"

"Problem? I don't think there was a chip or anything."

"I see. Was that pickaxe you handed over something you used for work or something?"

"No, basically for our work, we hadn't been doing things like using a pickaxe for about 10 years. What was loaded was also just to the extent of being loaded as a spare, thinking I might use it for my own mountain vegetable picking. Probably, it should have been in a condition like new, which I had hardly used since I bought it."

"Do you know about how long it had been since you bought it at that time?"

"...That's difficult, but I noticed the handle of the one I had before that was becoming loose. So the one I bought as a replacement was when I had already ridden that jeep for quite a while, so about three years, at the longest estimate. Honestly, I don't know for sure."

Synthesizing what Masuda said up to here, probably the pickaxe Shinoda bought was not that damaged even before he murdered Yoneda, and at the same time, it was highly likely that there was no trace of a chip or bloodstains that could be seen by the eye even after the murder. Especially regarding bloodstains, Shinoda probably wiped them off before loading it into the car, or did something like stabbing it into the ground and wiping it. Anyway, it's certain to see that it remained almost the same as when he first bought it. However, the reason he didn't buy it from Masuda or steal it within the day of the 10th was probably because of Shinoda's forgetful personality, or because he was concerned about others' eyes as the workers returned from work when he returned, and he couldn't take it home on the spot. It means that he thought about obtaining it surely by a "peaceful" means because it was Masuda's thing and there was a fear of a fuss if it was lost, although the murder site is one thing, but on the mountain path on the way back. However, he was in a panic in various ways and forgot on the day.

Anyway, the reason Nishida was so particular about the state of the pickaxe was because since there is already no "actual object," he had no choice but to obtain the same thing as that pickaxe and compare it with the wound left on Yoneda's skull, so he wanted to confirm at least how the state of that actual object was before and after lending.

"About that pickaxe, as expected, you don't remember where you bought it or the product name, right?"

"No, I remember well. Both the one I handed over and the one I bought as a replacement were from the home center 'Ester Homer' in Monbetsu. I don't know the product name, but I have the same thing loaded in my car now, so you should see that. Because I should have bought the same thing as a replacement after I sold it."

Nishida, who was answering Masuda's rapid-fire questions, and Nishida, who was processing them mechanically, but Nishida became leaning forward again.

"Then please show it to me immediately!"

"Detective, why are you so particular about the pickaxe?"

Masuda had been responding without complaining, but as expected, he seemed to have felt a sense of incongruity in Nishida's words and actions from earlier. And Nishida himself had been thinking hard about how much he should reveal about the content he was investigating.

However, the choice of being completely silent would be impossible considering having the other party cooperate, which Nishida was made to recognize again from Masuda's remark. A difficult balance of how much to reveal is necessary. However, since the police are investigating Shinoda now and it's even careful, it should be a case of its own, which the other party should already know. Moreover, the more they investigate, the more what they are investigating will be exposed. Either way, Nishida resolved that it was a matter of time before it was exposed to the other party after all.

"We are investigating the relationship between Shinoda-san and a certain murder case."

"Murder!? Did Managing Director Shinoda commit a murder?"

The two showed a quite shaken appearance at the word "murder" suddenly uttered from the detective's mouth. Kondo in particular was quite surprised and choked on the tea he was drinking, and even asked Nishida back.

"That's a big deal. Detective, it's true, right?"

Masuda also confirmed to Nishida with his eyes wide open, but Nishida also affirmed it with a serious face.

"This is bad... In other words, it's fine to say that someone died by the pickaxe I sold, right...?"

Masuda, who was stunned for a while, seemed to have pulled himself together somehow and said,

"Then I have to show the pickaxe I have now immediately. I'll have you confirm it..."

Saying so, he stood up and tried to guide Nishida and the others. The two detectives and Kondo also followed Masuda.

The car that was at the end of the parking lot where Nishida and the others had parked was a Pajero. He doesn't know if he likes these off-road types or if they are necessary, but it's a fact that it's the same model even after he replaced it. When he opened the back door, several tools were loaded there. Probably, they were loaded in the jeep in the same way.

"It's this. It should be the same one."

Nishida and Mitsushima confirmed the pickaxe Masuda handed over carefully. This was also in quite good condition, and it was clear that it was hardly used. If what Masuda has said so far is a fact, probably the "wound" should almost match. Of course, if the manufacturing process or the like were different, it couldn't be said for sure, but in that case, they have no choice but to confirm directly with the manufacturer stuck on the handle of the pickaxe.

"I'm sorry, but could you lend this to the police for a while?"

"No, no, of course you can take it. I don't particularly use it."

To Nishida's request, Masuda readily consented without a second thought, but the reality might have been that he felt he couldn't say NO because of the guilt that he might have sold the evidence to the culprit, rather than readily consenting. However, of course there was no malice in that past act, and Nishida was rather only grateful for Masuda's cooperation including his testimony.

Regarding the 12th, since Masuda had no contact with Shinoda at all, they stopped the questioning here for now, and with the replacement pickaxe borrowed for appraisal, Nishida and the others headed for the Kitami District Headquarters. It was because a model of the wound part molded from Yoneda's skull was placed in the Forensics Division.

At the same time, because there was a quite large "harvest," when he contacted the station by radio with an outline before the appraisal, Section Chief Sawai was quite surprised at the sudden progress, but he took a calmer attitude than Nishida had imagined. As a matter of fact, he thought it was okay to be a bit happier.



Arriving in Kitami in a little over two hours, Nishida and Mitsushima entered the Kitami District Headquarters building. However, there was no usual liveliness, and it was wrapped in a quite quiet atmosphere. Because it was different from the air until the other day, Nishida felt an illusion as if he had strayed into a world of another dimension, but when he thought about it well, he realized it was because a considerable number of detectives had gone out to the special investigation headquarters at the Kitami Station for the serial female murder.

And he ran into a detective named Hourai in the corridor who had been investigating together until the other day. He seems to be remaining to organize the information sent from the investigation headquarters as he is attached to the District Headquarters. When he asked about the investigation status, the decomposed body also had traces of rape, but the victim has not been identified. It seems highly likely that a missing person's report has not been filed. He realized that he should give up on expecting cooperation from the District Headquarters for a while, as they seem to be considering it might be prolonged.

He entered the room of the Forensics Division and handed the pickaxe borrowed from Masuda to Shibata, the Forensics Lead and the forensics officer in charge of the Yoneda murder case. Shibata was staring at the two's faces while listening to their story, but as soon as he finished listening, he said,

"Is it true, is this the same pickaxe as the murder weapon?"

and blurted out his favorite unconscious spiteful remark. That said, he immediately matches the pickaxe with the wound part of the model he brought.

"Oh. This is a surprise. It matches perfectly! I can't confirm it right now, but this is probably it, no doubt. Good job. Congratulations."

It's a way of saying it that doesn't seem to be praising from the heart, but the true intention should be different. Nishida and Mitsushima decided to take it in the literal sense.

"So, what's the development after this? The probability that the dead man named Shinoda or whatever killed Yoneda has jumped up, but is it the usual form of sending papers?"

"Shibata-san, only the fact that the murder weapon is probably the same as this pickaxe was proven, and it's not clear if Shinoda actually went to the murder site, let alone the murder. I think he went and murdered based on several pieces of circumstantial evidence, though... Objectively, that's still at the stage of 'he probably went' at most, so I think it's tough unless we manage to prove that somehow. To take it to the extreme, there's also a logic that Shinoda sublet the pickaxe to someone and that person killed Yoneda, or a completely unrelated stranger happened to use the same type of pickaxe, which is not impossible. Circumstantial evidence is certainly showing Shinoda's crime, but..."

He laid out other possibilities in a roundabout way, but of course he was convinced that there were almost no such possibilities.

"I understand what Nishida is saying, but it's just a story of a theoretical possibility, and normally it's the crime of Shinoda who borrowed it, as a matter of reality. If you've come this far, can't you manage the rest? After all, it's clear that the conclusion will be non-prosecution."

"Even if the other party is deceased, and even if it's non-prosecution, we will do that carefully."

"That's the model of a detective. For now, I'll keep this. The appraisal report might take a few days, but as you know, we have our hands full with the high school girl murder. I want you to release me quickly once the business is done. Is that okay?"

"I understood. Then I'll hang up."

Before Nishida finished saying it, the receiver was hung up with a clatter from the other side. While rubbing his ear, Nishida quietly placed the receiver, immediately called Sanno Kanamono again, and got the statement that they haven't done any model changes at all since 1982. Also, he was able to confirm that they have had dealings with the home center Ester Homer since Ester Homer was established in 1975, so they should have been delivering pickaxes all along. From this side too, the certainty of Masuda's testimony and the match between the pickaxe Shinoda took and the wound rose further.