Chapter 8 Chapter 8: Black Net Woman

After seeing Kuniko, everyone understood why Sanji Yamada was unwilling to introduce her to Manager Beichuan and his friends, because Kuniko looked two or three years older than Yamada, or maybe a little older.Because of this, though, she seemed calmer and calmer.She went to Kaneko Hospital first, and came here after seeing Yamada. It was obvious that there were still traces of tears around her eye sockets. very clear. "When did you start to know about this incident?" To Inao's deputy police department's question, she replied: "Until the time of work, when I went to work in the store, the evening paper was delivered, and it was the proprietress who saw it and told me immediately."

"It really shocked me, because Xiaosan was the only witness in the murder of a woman that night not long ago. It was too terrifying." Seeing that the proprietress Takeko Aso got a little excited, and started to express her opinions endlessly, the police department stopped her and said, "Madam proprietress, please wait a moment, the incident of Miyoshi Yamada has not been confirmed yet, and What was involved in that incident last time, or maybe it was an accidental incident." "Really, but the reporters I met at Jinzi Hospital just now are convinced that the murderer of the previous incident did it... and it was written that way in tonight's evening paper."

"Hey, the news always likes to report things with exaggeration. By the way, when did Miss Kuniko know Mr. Yamada?" "It has been more than a year. Xiaosan's hometown is Takasaki, and my hometown is Xiaomoro. When I returned to my hometown during the Mid-Autumn Festival last year, I met him at Ueno Station, and gradually became friends." It can be seen that Guozi came here after she made up her mind, and there was no trace of timidity in her expression.Although she can't be regarded as a beauty, she has fair complexion and a delicate face, and the hotel work clothes she wears also give people a sense of generosity.

"Mr. Police Department, you just said that this incident may be accidental. You don't really think so, do you?" As expected of a woman born in the Xinzhou area, Guozi is a bit aggressive, and her eyes are equally piercing. "No, that's not what it means. People in our business try to keep a low profile as much as possible when making judgments about problems. Does Miss Guozi have any clues as to who hurt Xiaosan?" "No, no, at the beginning I often reminded Xiao San to be careful, because his name and photo were reported, and he also felt like he had become a hero. He would brag about what he saw that night when he saw anyone. I warned If you pass him, doing so may provoke the murderer..."

"Ah, is that right? Wait a minute and listen to how Xiao San described to you what happened that night. Now please tell me what happened last night first. Did you meet Xiao San last night?" "Well, he abducted him to our shop yesterday after he got off work from the hotel." "What time was that?" "It seemed to be about half past ten, and I was in the tatami private room on the second floor at that time." "Ah, yes, it's about half past ten." The proprietress Takeko Aso also echoed: "I was on the first floor at the time. The downstairs of our store is full of seats and there are also cooking sales. Xiaosan often goes home after eating and cooking in the store after get off work in the hotel."

"Then, what time did he leave?" "It should be a little after eleven o'clock." "Did he say something about the last case? Or did he have a look of fear, did he say something like being followed by someone?" "No, I didn't say anything like that. We wanted to live together a long time ago, but we have no house. He said yesterday that he wanted to solve the house problem within this year anyway. However, because there were a lot of customers in the store yesterday, I wasn't able to talk to him a few more words either. If I had known that something like this would happen to him, I should have talked to him more yesterday."

Guozi suddenly became sad, and hurriedly pressed his handkerchief to his eyes. According to Guozi, Sanji Yamada didn't feel the slightest sign of the imminent danger in advance.In this way, the search authorities feel more and more responsible. "Don't be pessimistic, the doctor said there is still hope." "The doctor told me the same thing..." "Little San, did he drink alcohol yesterday?" "No, he doesn't know how to drink, so he can't be drunk and hit by a car." "Ah, yes, then please tell me, how did Xiaosan describe to you what happened that night, please try to explain in detail."

But after listening to Guozi's words, I didn't find any new clues, but at the end, Guozi's casual words caught everyone's attention. "I said this to him at the time: 'Have you ever molested that woman? Anyway, the door was locked, and the woman couldn't resist at the time. Did you just take advantage of her...'" "Well, well, then, how did Xiao San answer?" "I said it half-jokingly at the time. Unexpectedly, he became serious. So I felt strange, so I continued to question. Unexpectedly, he confessed this time." "Confession? So, Xiaosan did have misdeeds with that woman?"

"No, there is nothing in the ending. He said that he had some thoughts at the time, but in fact he just touched the woman's chest. Thinking that this woman didn't even know her name, he was afraid that they would be confused in the future. Then he controlled himself. He begged me to believe him, and I told him at the time that since he had done nothing wrong, why didn't he report it to Mr. Manager? Although it was just a job of mopping the floor, Isn't it hard work?" "Well! Oh, and then?" "Then, Xiaosan said this: 'There is no such thing, I said I would clean the floor, but the woman said it was because she made it like this, she had to clean it herself, and then I let her do it, Unexpectedly, she actually mopped the floor clean.' When Xiaosan talked about this, he laughed, and he said that the things in the suitcase that the woman was carrying must have been wet. "

"That woman ever carried a suitcase?" Kosuke Kindaichi asked as if taken aback. "Yes, that's what Xiao San said." "How big is the suitcase?" "I don't know, I haven't asked, so what..." "It's nothing, I'm just thinking: How can a prostitute carry a suitcase when she brings her clients to the hotel? Mr. Police Department, did Xiao San tell us about the suitcase?" "No, I don't have that impression, Xiaosan may have forgotten to mention it." "No, maybe it's because our question was not specific. Besides, Miss Guozi."

"Ok." "If the incident last night was not accidental, and it was also done by the murderer of the last case, it means that someone must have followed Xiaosan. Have you noticed this..." "No, I haven't noticed... Madam Boss, have you seen anything unusual?" "I didn't pay attention either. There seems to be nothing unusual in our store." "But, Miss Guozi." "Ok." "You have always been worried about Xiaosan, but Xiaosan didn't care. In this way, you should be more worried. Think about it from the sensitive point of view of being in love with a friend. Is there any abnormal situation or feeling Did something abnormal happen to Xiaosan..." "Let me think about it." Guozi tilted his head and thought for a moment, as if he remembered something, "Ah!...it seems..." "Like... like what? Do you remember anything?" "But, that happened on the 23rd of last month, before the newspapers began to publish the story of Xiaosan..." "However, on November 23rd, it was already after the strange incident happened at the 'Queen Hotel'. The strange incident happened in the 'Queen Hotel' on the night of November 18th." "Well, it's true in that sense." "What happened on November 23rd? Whether it is related to the incident is up to us to judge." "Well, that, lady boss, wasn't my handbag stolen at Isetan last month? It happened on that day." "Yes, yes, you did tell me, what happened that day?" "Mr. Police Department, I really don't know if this matter is related to the case..." "Okay, okay, tell me first, how did the handbag get stolen?" "The thing is like this. On the 23rd of last month, both of us happened to catch up with the public holiday, so we made an appointment to meet at the lounge on the second floor of Isetan at ten o'clock in the morning." "Well, well, and then?" "That day, when I arrived at the appointed place, it was ten ten o'clock, and Xiao San hadn't arrived yet, so I sat on the bench in the lounge and waited for him. At that time, there was a woman sitting on the same bench. Looking up at the outside of the lounge while reading a magazine." "Is she also waiting for someone?" "I thought so too at first, but following the woman's line of sight, I found that she was staring at the men's room. I guessed that the friend she was waiting for was going to the toilet. However, after a while, from the toilet The one who walked out turned out to be Xiaosan!" At this time, Kosuke Kindaichi and the police department of Waitori looked at each other. "Well, well, and then?" "Thinking about it now, I feel that it was a little strange. When Xiaosan saw me, she smiled and waved to me. At that time, the woman was shocked, and suddenly stood up straight, as if she was about to run away. Seems like it. But she understood that Xiao San was greeting me, so she quickly turned her face away and hurried out of the lounge." "So, that woman is waiting for mistress?" "Thinking about it now, it should be like this. However, I didn't think so at the time. I was just taken aback when she mistakenly thought that there was a man she didn't know, and suddenly greeted me. So I said to Xiaosan at the time that it was all Because he greeted people suddenly, which startled the other women." "What did Xiao San say?" "He asked what kind of woman it was, and then looked around, but he never saw the woman just now." "Have you not seen that woman since then?" "yes." "Then the purse was stolen..." "That's right, because it was a rainy day, we decided to watch a movie. But there was a sale on the sixth floor of Isetan that day, so I asked Xiaosan to wait for me, and I focused on choosing products. I don’t know when the handbag disappeared.” "In that handbag, is there anything, such as a business card, that can contact you?" "Well, there are many... I don't have a business card, but I always carry our store's business card with me, and I also have matches in the store. Later, yes, it really gave me a headache." "Headache? Why?" "That day, when I came out of my home in Ikebukuro, I received a letter from Xiaomoro's sister-in-law. I was going to read it in the tram after I got on the train, but I put it in my handbag without opening it. was stolen..." "So, the thief can know your name and address based on the contents on the envelope?" "It seems that it is indeed related to this incident?" Guozi couldn't help but feel scared, and his voice began to tremble. Kindaichi Kosuke did not answer Kuniko, but looked at Takeko Aso: "Miss Boss, have you been working in the store on the first floor?" "Well, on the second floor there is Guozi taking care of him..." "Well, her handbag was stolen on the 23rd of last month. Since then, have you found any suspicious people among the new customers?" "Suspicious guest? This..." "Is there anyone, as if nonchalantly, asking about her or Xiaosan?" "Most of the people who come to our store are regular customers. Of course, there will be some passing customers coming in, but I can't think of any customers like the one you just mentioned..." It can be seen that that guy has already grasped the work place and address of Guozi by using the information in the handbag. There is no need to take risks and go to the Dujuan Hotel specifically. It is enough to wait at the "Queen Hotel" or the Dujuan Hotel. "Then, finally, let's ask Miss Guozi the most important question. What kind of person is that woman who seems to be staring at Xiaosan? Do you remember her appearance?" "That person looks to be around thirty years old, with a black net hanging from the black hat she wears, covering her nose... She wears a lot of makeup, her coat is black, and nothing else is obvious The characteristics of the..." "Will you recognize her when you see her again?" "If she's still dressed like that... because I haven't seen her face, or I can recognize her by feeling, but I don't have much certainty, I just feel that she is a tall and slender woman." Waiting for the Police Department to interject: "Speaking directly, does that woman have the feeling of being a nightingale?" "Maybe, but if so, it's a very high-end one, because at first glance, she looks like a young lady." Guozi was suddenly discouraged again: "Or, I was thinking too much, that person just mistakenly thought that Xiaosan was greeting her... He took Xiaosan as a hooligan or something, so he was shocked, and it had nothing to do with this incident .” Guozi suddenly became a little hysterical and started crying again. When Takeko Aso comforted Kuniko while leaving, Kazukosuke Kaneda thought for a while with frowning brows, and suddenly he turned his face to the police department: "Mr. police department, the manager of the 'Queen Hotel', when Tomokako Hayama checked out, Have you seen her?" "Then, then she will definitely return the key to the front desk." "Then can you make a phone call to confirm whether Tomokako Hayama took a suitcase at that time? If so, please tell me the size of the suitcase." "Mr. Kindaichi, what's in the suitcase..." "It's nothing, just for the sake of prudence, I want to know." Wait for the Police Department to call the "Queen Hotel" immediately.Manager Beichuan confirmed: Tomokako Hayama did carry a suitcase, a large suitcase about 80 centimeters long and 50 centimeters wide, but Tomokako Hayama didn't seem to put much effort into carrying the suitcase.