Chapter 37 - Light and Shadow 16 (97-100 Takeshita: Confronting the Osaka Organized Crime Department)
When they returned to the waiting room, Murono and Hatayama, who were in a sense more "hustling" than when Nishida and the others were there, were reflected through the one-way mirror, but Motohashi was leisurely getting through it with a practiced attitude. Glancing at that, Kurano confirmed with Nishida and Takeshita,
"How was it? From what I saw from here, there's no mistake about the Sada murder, right?"
"No problem. Including the revelation of secrets, as long as the metal powder and bullet component analysis from Shibata-san match, we'll undoubtedly be able to indict him. Rather, won't everything until we take him to Hokkaido be more troublesome?"
"I can't say that's not true... Well, I won't be involved that far, so it's fine."
Kurano gave a wry smile, but there was no doubt that coordination among the bigwigs of the Hokkaido Police, Osaka Police, National Police Agency, and the Public Prosecutors Office would be necessary.
"Also, the existence of the man who introduced Motohashi to Isaka has surfaced, right?"
"I was surprised by that too. This is it."
Nishida said so and showed Kurano the likeness Motohashi had drawn.
"This... He's likely someone related to the Isaka Group, but what do you guys think?"
"I think the possibility is high," Nishida and Takeshita said in unison.
"Then, let's have it investigated immediately. Get photos of the Isaka Group's employees and executives from eight years ago in Kitami (Headquarters), and you guys can ask Motohashi again later. It shouldn't be a very difficult hearing. It's better to just do it directly in Kitami rather than Engaru to get it over with quickly, right?"
"I don't think there's a problem, but please send a report to our Section Chief Sawai from you, Kurano-san. It would be an act of exceeding authority to decide on our own."
Nishida limited himself to saying that in response to Kurano's question.
"Of course I know. I'll tell Section Chief Sawai properly. Also, confirmation of the coffee shop and inn, and confirmation of Motohashi's stay at the inn will be necessary. It'll be faster to do this in Kitami too. I'll have them do this along with the previous matter..."
Kurano said so and noted down the necessary items.
"That's fine, but..."
Takeshita started to speak apologetically.
"What is it? If there's something, don't hesitate to say it."
Nishida prompted.
"Then without hesitation. Motohashi said something concerning. The paper and luggage Sada had. There's a high possibility that Shinoda and Kitagawa seized things from the body that they thought were important. Especially the paper is suspicious."
Since the facts were not clear, Takeshita also had a somewhat unconfident expression, but that was unavoidable since most of the people involved were dead and time had passed. And he continued his statement further.
"Continuing from the talk with the Team Leader earlier, if Kitagawa and Shinoda engaged in a new 'struggle over terms' with Isaka, do those 'materials' like the paper no longer exist?"
"So you think they still exist, Takeshita?"
Kurano anticipated him, perhaps having realized the tendency of Takeshita's way of speaking.
"Yes. I think it's reasonable to continue holding onto them to stabilize their own positions."
"I see. If that's the case, since Shinoda died of illness, I don't know who was managing them initially, but even if Shinoda was managing them alone, there should have been time to hand over the management rights to Kitagawa. In other words, we need to search his house first."
Kurano said so and nodded to himself.
"Was it a mistake to be satisfied with seizing the shoes when we searched Kitagawa's house for the hit-and-run?"
Nishida regretted it, but there was no point in saying it now, and it was quite doubtful whether things would have developed this way even if they had found it then.
"Alright! Along with the previous matter, let's instruct Kitami Headquarters to move immediately! Anyway, I'll contact Sawai later. Investigation takes priority first."
Kurano said so and took out his mobile phone. The Osaka Police team, including Section Chief Hiramatsu who was beside him, was having Yoshimura explain carefully and trying to grasp the situation, but as it became this detailed, it seemed difficult to understand immediately, regardless of whether Yoshimura's talk was organized or not. Since even the people directly involved in the investigation found it hard to understand, it would be a problem in its own way if they understood everything just from yesterday's meeting or Yoshimura's talk...
"Team Leader, also there are a few points that bother me a bit."
Takeshita spoke in a tone that wouldn't disturb Kurano's phone call.
"There's more... What is it this time?"
"First, about the story Motohashi spilled, he consistently called Isaka Daikichi the person who 'instructed' him and didn't say a word about him 'requesting' it. Even in the document the Osaka Police confirmed to the Hokkaido Police, we actually thought those were the same thing, but in the current hearing, he didn't call Isaka the requester or client even once. To me, it looked like he was clearly treating them as different things."
Nishida heard that and understood the reason why Takeshita had dared to ask the "obvious" question at the end. And he felt his own lack of recognition. At the same time, he was astonished that Takeshita had been listening so carefully.
"What does that mean?"
Nishida asked back, putting aside his surprise at Takeshita.
"In Motohashi's series of incidents so far, he hasn't given the specific name of the 'client' even once."
"I know that."
"Even this time, regardless of whether he really doesn't know Isaka's name, he didn't bring it out himself. However, compared to his attitude toward other incidents, I feel like things are going 'too well.'"
"Isn't it just that he gave up on everything because he was sentenced to death, as per Motohashi's words?"
"Are you serious? If that were the case, he'd bring out the clients for other incidents too."
"Didn't he say that for other incidents, 'the police couldn't even find a lead'? This time, we presented Isaka Daikichi to him as the suspect in the photo."
"That sounds like nothing but a convenient excuse. Besides, why did he spill that he received a request in a series of murders? Because it's strange, isn't it? If he originally intended not to reveal it, he could just say he killed them himself. There's no need for suggestive confessions that lead to extra pursuit. I can't help but think that he confessed that 'there is a client' for other incidents halfway just to maintain consistency with the purpose of proactively confessing (to the police) that he was requested by someone for the murder of Sada."
Takeshita's argument was indeed on point in terms of logic. It was a fact that Motohashi's confession was strangely cooperative, even considering that the Hokkaido Police were leading the hearing. In the first place, at the stage of confessing at the detention house, saying things like "there were collaborators introduced by the client," although he didn't give names, was strangely specific compared to confessions of other incidents. One could sense a scent of wanting to "reveal" it proactively. Perhaps Motohashi, after grasping that they had grasped something to some extent, was giving hints skillfully, making the investigation side have the illusion that "the police are holding the initiative," and might have the intention of inducing some kind of state...
"No, that can't be!" Nishida strongly denied it in his head. Of course, there was no room for Motohashi, who had been detained all this time, to know such a thing. The information a major criminal can obtain in a detention house is limited. It was an impossible story. Nishida thought better of it and then questioned Takeshita back.
"Well, I can't deny that you think so. But then, what kind of meaning comes out of the distinction between the instructor and the client?"
"What if Motohashi made us think he had substantially confessed the murder 'client' for us, but the reality was different... What if the person who specifically instructed the murder and the person who requested the murder were different? In the information that came from the Osaka Police to the Hokkaido side by inquiry, the distinction between request and instruction wasn't clear, but that might have been aimed at by Motohashi to confuse us, or although he was distinguishing them, the Osaka side might have confused them on their own."
"Eh? They're the same thing!"
Nishida expressed his doubt blatantly.
"Then let me rephrase it. What if the person who finally directly instructed the murder and the person who initially requested the murder from Motohashi were different?"
When he heard Takeshita's explanation, Nishida asked back to make it easier for him to understand,
"Is what Takeshita wants to say, to use another analogy, the relationship between a building owner who requested a construction company to build a house and the master carpenter who commands the carpenters of that construction company?"
However, Nishida internally regretted that it became a rather difficult analogy, but Takeshita also said,
"Well, it's something like that. I wonder if Isaka was in a position like a field manager who came from the prime contractor."
while making a slightly unconvinced face. But perhaps thinking there was no time to dwell on details, he probably used Nishida's expression as it was.
"But, we see it as Isaka being blackmailed by Sada about his own matter, right? There's a motive to directly request the killing, isn't there?"
Takeshita made a slight grimace at the "counterattack." Nishida might have hit a sore spot.
"That's the problem... If we can think of it, since it's unlikely that Isaka would be an acquaintance with a hitman like Motohashi, in the sense that he asked a 'middleman,' that middleman might be the 'client' in Motohashi's recognition. However, I just can't help but be bothered by Motohashi's distinction between 'instruction' and 'request' in this interrogation. If he makes us police misunderstand that Isaka, who instructed Motohashi, is the client himself, he will succeed in concealing the original client, right? If that happens, since Isaka, Shinoda, and Kitagawa, who were involved in the murder, are already deceased (T/N: hotoke-san — slang for a dead person), the case will be solved on the surface, and no one but Motohashi will be held accountable. On top of that, Motohashi is already going to be executed for other things, so no one loses. And the doubt can also be said for the matter of Motohashi's success reward."
"The matter of the success reward?"
"This incident is completely different from Motohashi's other incidents so far in that Motohashi did not make the murder itself public in real time at the time of the crime. It's an incident where the existence of the murder itself cannot be easily confirmed unless the body is actually checked or the murder is seen on the spot. Other crimes have 'objectivity' because they become news shortly after or immediately after the murder, but this one doesn't. That's why, five years later, in Isaka's phone call, Shinoda himself, who probably buried Sada's body, also led to him going to check Sada's body. Of course, since Shinoda himself had actually witnessed the murder with his own eyes, it was a lot of trouble and he probably ended up having to kill Yoneda, which was nothing but a nuisance..."
"That's true," Nishida chimed in.
"So earlier Motohashi said he left the report of success to Shinoda and Kitagawa. Well, regarding the report, I think it was enough to show the clothes with bullet holes that Sada's blood probably adhered to and the remaining luggage. However, if Isaka were really the client, I think Motohashi would report it himself. Because he needs to say, 'The body won't come out, but I did the job as requested, so give me the money,' right? Regarding this matter."
Takeshita had a face that looked like he couldn't be convinced no matter what.
"Motohashi said, 'I have a principle of not contacting after the murder.' However, if we take that to mean that there's no need to report success one by one because the murder will be revealed immediately and cause a stir, it can be said that it doesn't apply to this Sada case. Of course, if that was a lie, there's no need to distinguish cases that far... Looking at the progress so far, Motohashi is clearly a 'professional' (T/N: shigotonin), even if he is a villain... I think he has pride in what he has done. I think the reason he completely left that important part to Kitagawa and Shinoda, who were basically total strangers even if they were collaborators at the time, was because Isaka wasn't the real 'customer' for Motohashi."
"If that's the case, did Motohashi report to the true client Takeshita speaks of with his own mouth? Is that what you want to say? But, as you just said, he said 'I have a principle of not reporting after the murder myself.' In the first place, in this case, Motohashi said he prompted Kitagawa and the others to report to Isaka, right? At least to Isaka... If we take the state where the fact that he actually killed is recognized by the general public as objectivity, in a murder carried out where neither Isaka nor any third party was present and intended to be left as missing, if it has even a tiny bit of objectivity, it's only the two who were together and evidence like the clothes, right? If the principle of not reporting was guaranteed by the objectivity of previous incidents, in the Sada incident, it should become necessary to have the two report along with the evidence, more than Motohashi's own words. Since we can infer without problem from the phone conversation between Shinoda and Isaka three years ago and Shinoda's subsequent actions that Isaka hadn't actually confirmed the body, I think we can say that objectivity wasn't there..."
Nishida remained confused by Takeshita's statement, but he asserted himself in his own way.
"What the Team Leader is saying might be true if we look at it only by the measure of objectivity. However, then why didn't he go together and say it himself after having the two report as well? He could just receive the money on the spot, if it was prepared... Motohashi's actions after the murder are somehow hard to swallow if Isaka was the true client."
He strongly felt that he might be overthinking Takeshita's obsession with his own theory, but he couldn't just dismiss it flatly.
"Even if Takeshita's thought was so, Motohashi doesn't have a means to properly prove it to the true client you speak of, does he? The complete objective evidence is, after all, at most Sada's clothes and luggage, and if that was done to Isaka by Kitagawa and Shinoda, it wouldn't exist unless a report went from Isaka or the two to the true client. Well, if you say that happened, then that's that... Or is the relationship between the client and Motohashi a relationship of trust that doesn't require those?"
It was a statement similar to an admonition from Nishida's earnest feeling of wanting Takeshita to understand by logic, but Takeshita dared to counter it after receiving it head-on.
"Indeed, at first glance, the report Shinoda and Kitagawa would have made would have more objectivity. However, let's think about it the other way around. If the testimony that he met the two for the first time the day before is true, isn't Motohashi trusting the two too much? Because if the two lied about who killed him, couldn't it be anything?"
"Eh?" Nishida asked back, unable to grasp the meaning.
"Because, if he doesn't have him confirm the body directly, the clothes with blood and bullet holes from the handgun are the direct evidence, right? But if it just has blood on it, couldn't they just make holes in the clothes with a pickaxe and claim 'We were the ones who killed him. Give us the money too,' in the extreme? Motohashi didn't report himself and even vanished from Kitami, according to the testimony... He left the most important part to the two he suddenly met, no matter how much objectivity there was. Isn't it common practice to go along and have the two testify? The same goes for the matter of the money transfer earlier. There's also the fact that the flow of money in the series of incidents hasn't been grasped, but in this case, it's more convenient to receive it on the spot, right? Is the intermediary route for the money to flow that solid?"
Takeshita's counterattack also indeed made sense. No matter how much Isaka was the 'client' as Nishida said, the relationship between Motohashi and the three—Isaka, Kitagawa, and Shinoda—was extremely thick or thin. Crimes by people who don't know each other are indeed hard to be found out, but on the other hand, for that, actions emerge that wouldn't hold up unless Motohashi trusted the three quite a bit. If Motohashi is telling the truth, there needs to be a bond that "strongly connects unrelated people."
"Hmm."
Nishida was at a loss for words, but Takeshita pushed further.
"What if. If not only Isaka had murderous intent toward Sada, but also a true client with a meaning beyond an intermediary, and if that person was behind it, Motohashi's actions can be explained somewhat. Since that client and Isaka are naturally connected, Motohashi could leave the report to Isaka in peace. The client would trust Motohashi's own story, with whom he is directly 'contracting,' more than the two of Isaka's underlings, so after that, even if the two who cooperated said something appropriate, things like the success reward would be secure, that kind of relationship. Moreover, I feel like the client is in a higher position than Isaka, at least for Motohashi. That makes it easier to explain Motohashi's attitude toward Isaka. Even if Isaka is nothing more than an instructor for Motohashi, he's leaving Isaka, who is more closely involved in the important part of the murder and whom he can meet after the murder, alone... If we assume my theory, the reason he doesn't have to say 'I properly killed him' to Isaka is that he can't understand it without such a relationship."
At this point, Nishida could also see parts he could agree with in Takeshita's thought. Takeshita also sensed such a change in Nishida's state of mind, and his way of speaking became somewhat softer from being confrontational.
"So, if, if we can look at it that way, can't we think that Motohashi's confession this time has another intention?"
"Beyond an intermediary? Another intention?"
Nishida again lost sight of Takeshita's talk which he had finally begun to see, but Takeshita didn't mind.
"Currently, the people thought to be involved in the murder of Sada are Isaka, Shinoda, Kitagawa, and Motohashi. Ah, I'll exclude the guy who took Motohashi to Isaka... There's no need to let that person know about the incident in detail, and it's better to have as few 'parties involved' as possible for this kind of thing... If he's Isaka's servant, he'll follow Isaka's orders and act without the details being revealed, and I think it's more rational to think that way."
Indeed, since the 'newly surfaced' man was not present at the meeting place, it was doubtful whether the murder of Sada had been disclosed to that man. From the ironclad rule that the number of people who know this kind of talk should be as small as possible, if he was a person within the range of Isaka's orders, it would be no problem if he just said "There's such a man, so bring him from the inn." If he said he was asking for undercover work in the industry, there should be no need for further explanation for the unnatural exchange. Of course, after that, Isaka was suspected by the police, so it can't be said that he didn't cast a suspicious eye. But even so, if he was a trusted subordinate, he wouldn't go out of his way to inform the police. While Nishida was thinking that, Takeshita continued to present his own theory.
"But ironically, on September 26th of this year, the same day Sada was killed, Kitagawa's life support was removed and he died... If we think on the premise that it's doubtful how much the man who took him to the coffee shop, who newly surfaced, was informed of the 'conspiracy,' can't we say that currently, all the parties involved who know the incident in detail are dead except for Motohashi? Isn't Motohashi's confession this time a chance to 'deliver the finishing blow' there?"
Nishida immediately understood that the finishing blow Takeshita spoke of meant that, considering Motohashi would be executed in the future, all the direct parties involved in the incident would vanish from this world, and by having the story "conclude" among those four people through Motohashi's testimony, the incident would reach its end without spreading to anyone else.
"If that's the case, does it become a conspiracy theory that Motohashi was prompted to confess by the true mastermind client?"
Nishida asked in a slightly faltering tone, as if searching for Takeshita's true intention.
"That's exactly what I'm saying!"
Perhaps because they were having a conversation that was heated in its own way, although it was calmer than the peak, Nishida and Takeshita, sensing the atmosphere where other people were watching the Osaka Police's hearing while also being curious about the conversation between the two in the waiting room, lowered their voices again.
"Then there's an even bigger question. If he wants to reveal it in a proactive sense like that, why didn't Motohashi say the year he killed Sada himself? He should say it straight out instead of saying things like the year before the ferry was abolished."
"No, things like the year before the ferry was abolished can be found out immediately if you look it up, right? Compared to vague testimony that he really doesn't know, it's very easy to identify. Rather, I think it's blatant. In the first place, considering Motohashi's response to previous hearings is flawless. I think even that is within his 'calculation,' you know?"
Takeshita showed a counterargument as if flowing water down a vertical board (T/N: tateita ni mizu — an idiom for speaking fluently). In fact, considering Motohashi's words and actions that don't show an opening to the opponent, if one takes a cynical view, every casual word might have a meaning. He thought so earlier too, but it doesn't look like he's skillfully leading Nishida and the others and making the investigation's 'conclusion' come out in the direction Motohashi aimed.
"In addition, the timing is just too good. Not to mention Kitagawa's death, Sada's body was discovered at the end of August. Motohashi's story can also be investigated smoothly from now on because there was the story that Sada's body had been discovered by the Team Leader, but if it hadn't been found, it would be quite troublesome. After all, it's true that Motohashi wouldn't remember it in detail either. If that happened, even if Motohashi confessed, it might have been difficult even to discover Sada's body, even the place where it was originally buried. It's because it was Shinoda, who had local knowledge, that he knew the burial place even five years later... Mostly, the body itself was moved from the original place to the grave marker, five years after the incident. It's even more dangerous, as a condition for the searching side. I can even declare that it would never have been found!"
"Umu. I can't deny that."
Naturally, Nishida agreed with that point, also considering that it would result in self-praise.
"If Motohashi's confession led to this in the sense of delaying the execution, rather, the fact that we found the body by even tracking down the movement of the body would be a definite minus. Because the investigation would take longer if the body wasn't found. But the reality is the opposite. The investigation proceeds easily because there are almost no contradictions. If that's the case, if there's a mastermind, it'll be convenient for that person too."
Takeshita's statement again gradually became heated, and it seemed to Nishida that it was overflowing with confidence.
"On the other hand, the revelation of Sada's disappearance as a murder case, in other words, the discovery of Sada's body, hasn't been reported much even in Hokkaido. If my theory is a fact, at least that information must have come in, otherwise this conspiracy wouldn't hold up. Whoever the final mastermind is, I see that a resident of the prefecture is definitely involved in this conspiracy. In the extreme, including people related to the Hokkaido Police."
At Takeshita's word "Hokkaido Police," it entered Nishida's field of vision that Hiramatsu, who shouldn't be directly related, clearly moved his gaze from the one-way mirror to the two who were fighting the argument. Kurano, knowing Takeshita's personality well, perhaps had anticipated this much of a statement, and showed no reaction at all.
"I understand Takeshita's thought so far. But there's one more big question. Even if Motohashi acted to protect the mastermind now, what is the compensation? Motohashi is just waiting for execution. Unless it's a personal debt of gratitude, I don't know the reason."
"I don't know that either for now. But I see it as not strange if there's some kind of hidden side."
Takeshita's stubborn attitude didn't start today. Since he's also sharp, once he's decided on something, it's a waste of time to persuade him further. However, Nishida wanted to say just one thing.
"But, if I may use a blunt expression, so far it's nothing but your imagination. Even if we consider Motohashi's personality, it doesn't go beyond the realm of speculation. It makes sense in its own way, but it's also a stretch."
Nishida's words were somewhat harsh. But since there were many outsiders in the same place, it was also because he stepped in to play the role of suppressing it a bit for Takeshita's sake. As his superior, he wasn't in a position to join in and be happy about his subordinate's extraordinary reasoning.
At that time, Kurano finally took his face away from the mobile phone once and said,
"Since you're talking about Motohashi and Isaka, I'll also say a word to you two while I'm at it."
Nishida and Takeshita unconsciously turned their faces to Kurano and watched him intently.
"In the investigation at the time after Sada's disappearance, because there was testimony by Isaka about Sada's funding and so on, they supposedly checked Isaka Group-related and Isaka's surrounding accounts and funding just in case, also for backing up. But it seems there was no particularly unnatural large flow of money. Conversely, can't it be said that the reward for the murder request to Motohashi wasn't moving from Isaka-related bank accounts or funds? At least amounts like the two million for the down payment and eight million for the success reward didn't surface as far as they captured at the time. That's how it is. I don't know what that means, but if you say the one who paid wasn't Isaka, then it makes sense in its own way. It just makes sense, though..."
After speaking to the two with such implication, he continued the phone call again. Takeshita heard that and turned his face back to Nishida,
"If that's the case, the one who paid might be the mastermind?"
Kurano's statement seemed to have become a bit of a tailwind for Takeshita.
"In any case, we need solid evidence for that..."
Nishida cautioned him. Conversely, Nishida himself hardly noticed that his own unconscious expectation was also included, that if Takeshita could prove that, the situation would start moving all at once.
"I know that."
After saying just one thing, he turned toward Hiramatsu who was beside him and said,
"Excuse me. Motohashi's death sentence should have been finalized on September 11th, but from there until he confessed on October 2nd, there's quite a period, though I wouldn't say a month. Even if we take his words 'I want to spit it all out and feel refreshed before I die' at face value, I don't think it takes that long to reach that state of mind. Because, even if he was denying it on the surface, he actually killed them himself, and the death sentence was finalized in court?"
He presented his doubt.
"Well, there's a certain logic in what you say, but..."
Hiramatsu didn't deny Takeshita's "dissenting" view, but added,
"In the first place. Conversely, if he's going to spill now, it feels like he should have done it earlier. I don't know what kind of change of heart he had, but he's a terrible guy."
"If that's the case, it should make sense in its own way to think that something happened during this time that made him change his mind. I'm sure you're investigating, but did anyone come to visit him recently or anything like that?"
"We're naturally investigating that even without being told. But no one has come since the death sentence was finalized. He was originally abandoned by his relatives, and none of his relatives have come to see him since he was caught. Once the death sentence is finalized, basically no one but relatives can visit (Author's Note: This was improved in the revised Prison Law, but before May 2007, the rule was that no one but relatives could visit. Because of this, there were cases where supporters tried to establish contact by means of practically disguised adoptions or marriages), so that's why. So, it's not like someone came recently. However, regarding letters, it seems there was one from a journalist (T/N: bunya — slang for journalist) who had been interviewing him directly since a bit before that, at the end of September after the death sentence was finalized."
The Osaka Police also seemed to have investigated that point without fail, and it was probably completely in his head. Hiramatsu finished speaking smoothly.
"That means a newspaper reporter was coming to visit before the death sentence was finalized, right?"
Takeshita still persisted. Hiramatsu didn't hide a somewhat exasperated expression, but said,
"Of course that's how it is. It seems that reporter came occasionally, not to mention the lawyer. If you're curious, why don't you check with the detention house staff?"
He made a proposal to Takeshita for the time being.
"I see. Understood. Including the timing of the letter, I'll check it out a bit."
Takeshita said so and left the waiting room. By the timing of the letter, he probably wanted to say the coincidence with the time of Kitagawa's death.
"Hiramatsu-san, I'm sorry, he's just that kind of personality... He's excellent as a detective, but he has a single-minded side and tends to run wild a bit. It would be strong when it's directed in a good way..."
Kurano, who was still giving instructions on the phone, stopped the conversation once and apologized profusely, but Hiramatsu said,
"No, it's fine... Detectives are worth it if they're that persistent. It's fine for them to be like that while they're young. I've also run wild two or three times and been hit by my boss. Isn't it after forty that you learn to balance it? From what I hear, he's certainly a sharp young man. It's a problem if they're stupid and run wild."
He pretended not to care much. At this time, Nishida didn't feel a slight unease about Takeshita's stubbornness, but like Kurano, he recognized that Takeshita's strength was also there. Therefore, an expectation of "maybe" was actually sprouting in his subconscious, but as an "organization man," Nishida also harbored a dilemma that it would be better to suppress it himself.
Takeshita presented his police ID to a passing prison officer, explained the situation, went to the window for visitation procedures, and had the application ledger checked. Indeed, the names "Osaka Midosuji Legal Service Lawyer Kaiyama Takeshi," "Osaka Midosuji Legal Service Ichiriki Shunsuke," and "Osaka Midosuji Legal Service Lawyer Umeda Kazuma" were listed there, along with "Tozai Shinbun Social Division Reporter Shiino Satoshi."
"Are all three lawyers in charge of Motohashi?"
Nishida confirmed with a young prison officer who identified himself as Hidaka, and he said,
"I think the lawyers Kaiyama and Ichiriki are the ones in charge, but I don't know what position the one named Umeda is in. I saw Kaiyama and Ichiriki often before, but as for Umeda, at least I remember seeing him for the first time after mid-August... Looking at the ledger now, it seems he appeared after August 2nd... Well, since they're lawyers from the same office in the first place, it's not strange for him to appear as a support role..."
Hidaka said while peering into the ledger.
"I see, a support role..."
"As for the reporter named Shiino, it seems he was meeting him for various interviews from early August until the death sentence was finalized. The story is that he intended to publish something like Motohashi's confession record. In the first place, it seems Umeda mediated before Shiino started meeting Motohashi. A colleague who was accompanying the visitation with Umeda was saying irritably in August, 'That lawyer Umeda earlier was telling Motohashi that a newspaper reporter wanted to meet him for a book.' I don't know the details, though."
he replied. Takeshita became interested in that, so he requested Hidaka,
"Excuse me, is that colleague here now? I want to hear from him about that."
"If that's the case, I understand. I think he's probably not busy now, so I'll call him on the extension."
He responded to Takeshita's request and called a colleague, a prison officer named Tsuruma.
"Tsuruma-san. Please let me hear the story when the lawyer named Umeda and Motohashi were talking about the newspaper reporter."
"I'm happy to tell you the story. I think it was early August..."
Saying so, he looked at the application book and nodded to himself.
"Yes, it was August 4th... So at that time, that Umeda guy must have been saying to Motohashi, 'Actually, there's a newspaper reporter who wants to meet you, would you meet him? It seems he wants to put out a book looking back on your life. It's also a chance to appeal to the world about your circumstances and claim your innocence, so I want you to try meeting him.'"
Tsuruma's story was quite specific.
"I see... However, there's something that bothers me... I'm very sorry, but you remember it quite in detail for a story from more than two months ago."
Takeshita threw a question, knowing it was rude.
"It seems I'm being suspected of something."
Tsuruma gave a wry smile, but asked back,
"Was it Takeshita-san? What did you think of Motohashi until now, even though it might be meaningless now that he's confessed everything? At least I was convinced that Motohashi must have done it. Not only from the situation of the series of incidents, but also his attitude toward us who were actually in front of him was bad..."
"To be honest, based on various circumstantial evidence, well, I also thought he was the culprit."
Takeshita also conveyed his thoughts frankly.
"Right? That's why I was very angry that the lawyer was saying such things. What do you mean, publishing a book looking back on his life... With such anger, I also complained to this Hidaka, and I remember it clearly."
The reason Tsuruma's memory was vivid was indeed well understood from his explanation. Certainly, if it's a person who is clearly guilty, even if there was an unfortunate half-life, the world might sympathize, but a change like thinking guilty is innocent wouldn't happen because of that. Moreover, from the perspective of a person who was seeing Motohashi in front of him, not only would he think the motive for publication was stupid, but combined with the bad attitude, it's not strange to feel angry that trying to appeal his misfortune in the first place was even more audacious.
"So that's why you remembered it in detail. I see, I understand well. Sorry for calling you out."
Takeshita lowered his head slightly. And after saying thanks to Hidaka and Tsuruma, he headed to the Treatment Department, which handles the treatment and disposition of detained suspects and death row inmates, to confirm the letter that was said to have arrived for Motohashi from Shiino. While hurrying down the hallway at a light run, in addition to the character images of Shiino, who was the only one to contact Motohashi by letter after the death sentence was finalized, and Umeda, who suddenly appeared in August, he was bothered by the relationship where Umeda conveyed Shiino's request to Motohashi.
When he arrived at the Treatment Department, he was allowed to check the copies of the letters. There were three in total, but the important one would be the one letter sent after the death sentence was finalized, also considering the timing of the confession. He only glanced at the previous two and focused his interest on that one.
The content was a very brief message. It arrived at the detention house on September 29th. It reached Motohashi the following day, the 30th. October 1st was Sunday. Motohashi started confessing on the 2nd, immediately after that. Takeshita scrutinized the letter multiple times, suspecting that this was indeed suspicious. (Author's Note: It is recommended to view this letter on a PC or a large tablet. The trick later on cannot be identified without a large screen.)
Motohashi-san
The recent verdict this time was very disappointing, not only for you but also for me.
As time passes from now on, it will be accepted... no, there is no way it can be accepted.
To be honest, I am aghast at the fact that I can no longer meet you.
Even so, the means of a special appeal still remains without raising the white flag.
However, in the judgment of the lawyers, there was no possibility of it being overturned with that.
Certainly, if what you did is true, it is not permitted legally or socially.
However, during this one month I was with you, there was still nothing that
made me feel that you are a heinous criminal. Until now, at the point of being
a suspect, I had nothing but hatred for them, just like everyone else.
Only this time was different. The frustration of not being able to explain the specific reason in words.
And what that is, it seems I can no longer even track it down.
It is a pity that the last interview became the last time I saw your face, but
only that smile at that time has become my salvation. Anyway, please make sure
not to become self-desperate until the very end. Well, for now,
I will stop here this time, but if there is an opportunity to send a letter, I will write again.
Shiino Satoshi
*
"It's a plain, unremarkable letter... For something written by a professional, I feel like it's a somewhat childish text..."
When he confirmed that with the prison officer in charge, Tada, he replied with a wry smile,
"Yeah. I censored it many times, but since there was no problem with the text itself, I let it through as is. But looking at his attitude, the overwhelming majority of people would feel he's a heinous criminal. In that sense, the content written by this sender might be strange if it's strange."
Takeshita himself, as far as he met him today, Motohashi's attitude had nothing that would make one think he was innocent. Even considering that he didn't seem to have any remorse after confessing, Tsuruma and Tada's stories were persuasive. In any case, in terms of the timing of the confession, this is indeed suspicious as a trigger. Takeshita had a copy of the text re-copied to read again later, put it in his pocket, and hurried back to the waiting room behind the interrogation room where Nishida and the others were waiting.