Chapter 19 Section VII

After the on-site evidence collection came to an end, the Sunagawa Police Department and Shiki Detective went to the main house of the Gotokuji family to interrogate Gotokuji Maki.The whole picture of the case is still confusing, but Maki's testimony may make the truth come to light.Detectives have such expectations. After all, in this case, Maki is a surviving victim who was killed directly by the real murderer, and may even witness the murderer. The detectives inevitably looked forward to the information she provided. In the reception room, the two detectives were sitting on the comfortable sofa with their waists sucked in, waiting for Gotokuji Maki.

I heard that she is a nineteen-year-old female college student studying at a university near Kuzuigawa City. "That girl named Maki seems very pretty, and the investigators are talking about it." "Hey, since it's that lady's daughter, it's understandable." However, the other party did not come to the meeting room for a long time. When the two were a little tired of waiting, there was finally a faint knock on the door.The Sunagawa Police Department stood up like a spring to welcome them. "Hello, hello! Ms. Gotokuji Maki...it doesn't seem to be. May I ask who you are?"

Standing behind the door was a fat, round-faced middle-aged man in overalls. "My surname is Guimu." The man was the housekeeper, cook and gardener of the mansion.He bowed his head respectfully with well-trained movements. "Ah, it turns out that Mr. Guimu is you. Although I forgot your name, I have an impression of your appearance. I remember we met once ten years ago. It seems that you are a little fatter now." The police department only said "a little fatter" which is quite considerate, but in fact he is as round as a tumbler. "I'm honored that you remember my appearance, and I'm glad to see Mr. Detective Detective hasn't changed at all. Mr. Police Department at that time... I forgot what to call him, Police Department Takagi? Police Department Takahashi..."

"You mean the Gaolin police department. Well, he is still doing well, but he has been transferred to a staff member. Speaking of which, what can I do for you?" "I want to prepare drinks for you two, so I'm here to ask you what you want to drink." "Thank you very much, we are very hot and thirsty. In this case, please give me a cold draft beer..." "Police, police department!" Shiki stopped the police department who suddenly lost control. "Police, it's not allowed. Ah, Mr. Guimu, as long as it's a cold drink, it's fine. Ah, barley tea is ready, barley tea."

Gui Mumian said "Understood" without changing his face, and left.The Sunagawa police department smacked their lips softly, and made no effort to hide their reluctance to lose their morning draft beer this time. Soon, Guimu brought ice cold barley tea.The Sunagawa Police Department seemed to be expecting a little from the bubbling amber liquid, and took a sip cautiously. "What, it's genuine non-alcoholic barley tea. Wouldn't it be nice to be considerate? Boring." The police department has been unable to take back the mood of complaining, and it will be troublesome to keep complaining before Maki shows up.Shiki seized this good opportunity and brought up the topic that had been delayed until now.

"Speaking of which, Police Department, what was the specific content of the case ten years ago? It's time for you to tell me." "You want to know that much?" "Rather than wanting to know, it seems like I'm the only one who didn't know about the case ten years ago." "That's true. Well, although I'm not sure it's related to this case, it's better to let you know. The case ten years ago was..." The Shachuan Police Department moistened their throat with barley tea, and then dug up the memory of the case ten years ago. A doctor named Yajima Yoichiro was killed in the greenhouse of Gotokuji's house: the roles played by Gotokuji Toyozo and Changdai at that time; the case handling process of Gaolin Police Department: At that time, the three-hour crime period was shortened to one hour of latitude and longitude; looking for Eyewitnesses get nowhere; there's a pissing white-collar guy at the end who gives fantastic testimony... and so on.

In the end, Yoichiro Yajima's murder became an unsolved case, and the police department's narrative ended here. "...That's the way it is. Shiki, what's up, do you have anything to say?" "I don't have anything to say, but..." Shiki lowered his voice as if he was worried that the wall has ears, and expressed his honest feelings. "It turns out that the former police department liked to draw conclusions casually." "Well, I have nothing to say. I ignored the fact that the testimony of white-collar workers who urinate everywhere is superficial, but it was inevitable. At that time, I wanted to become a socialistic detective who paid attention to clues of reality. Even if such an incomprehensible situation occurred, I would I don’t think it should be so absurd as to shout about the modus operandi or the logic of the crime.”

"Well, it seems that you have changed a lot in the past ten years." "I'm not the only one who has changed, the city has also changed. Ten years ago, Kuizei River City was not a strange city where a lucky cat would appear at the scene of a murder. Since the city has changed, the case will also change; since the case has changed, the criminal police will also change. .That's how it is." I see.It is also a murder case with a greenhouse as the stage, but the case ten years ago is indeed different from this case.That is, crime has evolved over the course of a decade?