Chapter 31 Chapter Thirty
At ten o'clock in the morning the next day, the funeral ceremony and farewell ceremony of Kiyoka Makabe were held at the "Zoshigaya Funeral Ground" in Toshima Ward.I parked the blue bird in the Mejiro Avenue parking lot about 200 meters away, and walked towards the destination on foot.The rain that started falling in the early hours of the morning seemed to be about to stop this morning, but when we came out of Shinjuku, it became stronger and began to fall again.It is a bad rain that will come from the side when the wind blows, and even if you open an umbrella, it will have no effect at all.
The funeral ground is located on the south side of Zoshigaya 1-chome near "Zoshigaya Cemetery".Many funeral attendees and other related personnel gathered at the entrance of the funeral ground, together with the interview team of the media, etc., it was quite disorganized.The kidnapping case was heavily reported in the morning papers this morning, so I kind of expected it in my mind.Despite the gloomy weather, the chaos is far greater than I expected.The kidnapping and ransom case and the killing of the hostage girl are enough to occupy a whole page of headlines. In addition, the victim is an excellent violin genius girl, so it has attracted more attention from the world.The process of the case reported by the media is almost described incisively and vividly, but about the subtle parts!In particular, the description of the situation where the girl was killed is rather vague.Whether it is because the search headquarters controls the information released to the public by the media, or after the information was released, the public information was suppressed and not reported in order to cooperate with the search situation, this part is not clear.In the part about me, I only wrote that I was not particularly hindered when I paid the ransom at the night restaurant "Air Gourmet".The report did not touch on what happened at Yuki's house last night. Is this because the deadline for writing was missed?This is not known at all.The report wrote: Two important people who are considered to be related to this case are under investigation, which should refer to Akutsu and Hosono.However, it may be a plan to search the headquarters. According to the results of the investigation, it may be possible to replace the names of Takuya Yuuki and Chiaki Kamura.
Facing the camera, the female TV reporter held an umbrella and a microphone in each hand, with a mournful expression on her face, and she was reporting in a sad voice.It is a special national condition of Japan to add emotions of joy, anger, sorrow and joy to the news, which is also evidence that the news is no longer objective.European and American TV news is reported as quickly as if there is no time to invest in emotions, and only the attitude of crying or laughing is up to the audience.Both approaches have their own merits, but the latter is indeed more reasonable, and it can also increase the amount of news.
Female journalists are quick to grab and hold out microphones to big names in music and publishing.The other party is also a smooth person, even if he is not instructed, he can naturally face the camera, repeating the old sayings that should be said on this occasion.The rites of death are not held for the dead, but for those who live on.
As soon as I entered the entrance to the funeral service venue with mournful violin and orchestral music, I was directed to a tent surrounded by black and white curtains.I put away my umbrella and waited for the order, put down what was due, and wrote my name in one of the funeral attendee books lined up on the table.Behind the tent, there seemed to be a considerable number of police officers disguised as funeral workers.Two small video cameras mounted on pipes supporting the tent were filming all those attending the funeral.This is futile and indiscriminate shooting.
There are also tents lined up on the sidewalk about 20 meters away from the white-walled building leading to the funeral ceremony site, so there is no need to hold an umbrella.The last tent has a lockable umbrella stand with a number plate, and I also store my umbrella there.Once you enter the entrance of the building, there are five reception desks in the order of relatives, neighbors, friends, music, and publishing, just like registering the names of funeral participants.I was in the middle of the line behind the reception desk.In front of the entrance, a male reporter from another TV station was facing the microphone with a depressed expression.
"...in the sad melody of the second movement of Miss Qingxiang's favorite 'Symphony for Violin and Viola Concerto', despite the unfortunate rain, the funeral attendees continued to arrive. This beloved by many Miss Qingxiang was sent to a cruel eternal sleep by the hateful kidnapper. In the end..."
At the reception desk, I was told where to sit, and I wore a small black floral ribbon on the chest of my jacket—it was assigned to those who did not wear mourning clothes or badges.Then I entered the venue.
On the front is a large altar covered with white chrysanthemums.It is not an easy task to prepare such a large number of chrysanthemums in this season.In the center, there are two oversized photos of the face of Kiyoka Mabe smiling innocently and a girl wearing a dress like an adult playing the violin with a ecstasy.Before that, Makare's body was placed in a small coffin covered with a white cloth and placed on a white wooden table.The melody that seems to be narrated by the violin flows out from the girl's violin in the photo, and permeates the chrysanthemum on the altar to echo.It is roughly estimated that 300 seats have been set up in the venue, and 80% of them have already been seated by funeral participants.According to the configuration diagram I saw at the reception desk, family members and relatives are in the front row near the altar, neighbors and friends are in the central part after that, music-related personnel are surrounded on the left, and publishing recruiters are on the right. Personnel I are arranged according to this sorting order.After I found out that I was assigned the seat I should sit in, I confirmed that there was still some time before ten o'clock, so I walked outside the venue first.
At the entrance, I passed thirty children of about ten years old. They were led by a female teacher in mourning clothes.All of them had solemn expressions, and among them some female students had tears in their eyes.Because I have never seen Kiyoka Makabe before I was alive. As a violin genius girl, she has always looked like an adult in my impression. Now I suddenly know that the deceased was originally a member of this group of children, which makes me feel like I was suddenly attacked. stunned.I lit a cigarette in the smoking area set up outside the venue, and the cigarette tasted extremely bitter.
A group of nearby funeral attendees, the orchestra conductor whom Chikako Kamura had seen at the Ginza Club, and the middle-aged pop writer whose picture was often advertised in newspapers and magazines, were each expressing their own thoughts about when they first met Shiraka Makabe. Extraordinary impressions spoke, and those who surrounded them listened carefully.
I noticed that among the group of five or six men who were talking, one of them was staring at me without moving.He didn't greet me, didn't ignore my presence, just gave me a vague nod, and I responded to him in a similar way.Judging from the response the day before yesterday, it was an unnatural indifference.But at the time, we still thought that Shiroka Makabe would never be killed or thought so.
Kai Tsugumi seemed to be explaining my situation to the men on both sides of him.Before long, the crowd was all staring at me.The slightly younger, taller, shorter-haired, tanned businessman standing on the right side of Keisuke should be Keiro Kairo, the second man on a business trip to Hakodate, Hokkaido; The taller man with the shorter cropped hair must have been Yoshiki Sannan, who was a boxer from his size and body movements.If one compares the father Professor Kai, the eldest son Keiji, and Keihiko who was sent out as an adopted son, it is not immediately possible to feel that they are father and son.But when the two sons are added, it's like the missing piece of the puzzle is filled in, and it can be seen that they all have a slightly similar, common appearance.In particular, the second son, Keiro, is like the key to solve the mystery, and he seems to have the appearance of combining the characteristics of his father and brothers.
All three brothers were wearing almost identical mourning suits that appeared to be emergency purchases.After they talked about me briefly, they naturally returned to their own topics.Only Sannan Keiki stared at me until the end with his sharp eyes sunken slightly due to the weight reduction plan under the short hair.At this time, a young man who seemed to be helping with the funeral ceremony, who seemed to be a student of the University of Music, ran over quickly and said to the three people: "The chairman of the funeral ceremony is calling you." They left through the door in the hall together with the young man .I finished my cigarette and returned to the venue.
I walked behind the line of elementary school students just now.While looking for a seat, someone whispered my name.I turned around and saw Detective Isaka from the main office and Director Ochiai of the Mejiro Bureau sitting side by side.The Commissioner did not wear a uniform, but a black two-piece mourning dress.This is the same intention as the plainclothes policeman and the camera in the tent, because it is speculated that the kidnapping accomplice or someone similar will appear at the funeral, so is it dressed like this?Or is it simply that if the police officer appears here, it will be too irritating to the family members?I don't know for sure, but it's probably the former!After all, the police don't have that kind of concern.Since Isaka pointed at the seat next to her, I passed the aisle in front of them and sat down in the third seat.
"What are you going to do?" Isaka asked in a stern tone. "To mourn the dead." I replied.
Isaka frowned. "I know this kind of thing...but you also have to try to consider the mood of the family members."
"Yes. But this hand of mine once held one end of that girl's fate, so I have to come to worship."
"...That's okay, but I hope you won't attract too much attention. You know why we have to attend the funeral ceremony like this!"
I nodded. "That is to say, those two people last night - Yuuki and Kamura Chiaki, you think they can't reach the core of the case alone!"
"Not necessarily." Isaka replied, but there was an expression of complete affirmation on my face.
"How's Yuuki?" I asked.
Isaka and Director Ochiai glanced at each other quickly, then looked at his palm and thought for a while.
"...It's still the same." Isaka replied after a long time.
"Where's Chiaki Kamura?" I asked.
"It's even more troublesome." Isaka replied: "Her voice does not match the voiceprint of the blackmail call at all. According to the identification results, although it sounds the same deep voice to the ear, Chiaki Kamura's voice is obviously a female voice. , but the phone call showed that more than 80% of the voices were men's voices."
"Does it match Yuuki's voice?"
"No, it's completely different. Regarding the man who called Ajiujin and you, Ajiujin's testimony is the same as what you said last night. He asserted that the man on the phone could never respond to someone who is deaf." owned."
"Is it possible that Yuuki still has some hearing in her ears?"
"He himself said that he had felt abnormalities in his ears since a year ago, and then the symptoms continued to worsen, and he became completely deaf five or six months ago. Now the doctor is helping him to check in detail. After the examination this morning, The doctor first gave an opening remark that it was still impossible to judge, and then said that it might be a disease such as 'Meniere's disease' or 'sudden hard of hearing'. It is said that a third party can strictly judge whether the ears can hear or not. It is quite difficult. It is also possible for some patients who are considered to have a minimum hearing loss, coupled with psychological factors such as excessive stress and fatigue, to become completely deaf. Yuuki's situation is like following his mother Worsening symptoms of 'dementia'. The doctor said he couldn't be wrong."
"Did you tell me about the pistol from the Nishikori Police Department?"
"Yes. The doctor replied that if that is the case, it is more certain that he is 100% deaf." Isaka sighed.
"Even with that kind of search, the headquarters is uncharacteristically cautious, isn't it? Regardless of whether there may be other accomplices or masterminds, rather than spying here aimlessly, I think it's time to thoroughly investigate those two people. .”
"It's not two people anymore." Isaka said with a bitter expression.
"what happened?"
"Chiaki Kamura has a complete alibi at the time of the kidnapping and delivery of the ransom."
"what……"
"On the afternoon of Wednesday, the 18th, when the kidnapping happened, she went to Shimoda, Izu to participate in the new job cosmetics sales training camp. The day after the three-day intensive training camp ended, that is, your night restaurant along the Seventh Avenue. She took the bus back to Tokyo with her fellow trainees when she was running around. There are too many witnesses.”
"What is she going to do?"
"Her mother Kamura Chikako hired a criminal police lawyer named Fupo who is very skilled, and came to talk to her early this morning. In the name of taking care of her mother-in-law Yuki Kinuko..." Yisaka's face that could not hide his anger seemed to be He has forgotten who he is talking to and said in general: "Kinko Yuki was transferred to a private hospital for professional elderly care near her home early this morning. Chiaki Kamura should be released when we return to the office. Once released , unless we find other new evidence next time, it will be very difficult for us to summon her as a suspect. The lawyer named Bu Po has been interrupting from the moment he arrived at the scene, and it is impossible to figure out who is investigating. Who did you call?"
Isaka stared at my face, and I finally understood the reason why he grabbed me and rapped about the whole story!He wanted me to contact Chiaki Kamura.If the policeman becomes garrulous, he must have a reason.
"Is there no alibi for Yuuki?" I asked.
"He himself has always insisted on the rhetoric of 'being with his sick mother'. But you also know about the lock outside his mother's room! He should be able to leave the house at any time. We will investigate thoroughly once the funeral is over, anyway. We can’t let him keep saying that the suitcase was picked up. This kind of kidnapping victim’s cousin-in-law accidentally picked up the suitcase discarded by the kidnapper at the Nishi Shinjuku dump. Regardless of the fact that it is an isolated island in the sea, it is absolutely impossible in this city."
The violin music flowing in the venue ended, and the venue was surrounded by silent silence.The venue was nearly full, with regular funeral attendees crammed behind the seating lines.Although the air conditioner was running, the stuffy heat caused by the crowd and the humidity from the rain-soaked clothes made the air in the venue stagnant and dull.I looked at my watch, it was more than ten minutes past five.
A tall, middle-aged man in a day dress appears to the right of the altar, standing in front of a microphone, as Chopin's "Funeral March" begins.He apologized for the delay in the start of the service, and asked funeral attendees to stand, invite relatives of the deceased to enter, and then seated funeral attendees again.The pre-recorded biography of the deceased began to speak through the loudspeaker.In terms of eleven years and three months of life, it is still a long experience, but only the date of birth and the names of foreign celebrities are more eye-catching.Even if she only had a simple and ordinary life in elementary school, she must want to live twice, three times, or longer than eleven years, right?When the resume presentations ended, so did the funeral music.
The master of ceremonies, in day dress, reappeared and delivered the opening words of the ceremony. "At the beginning of the funeral ceremony, I would like to greet all the guests. Although today is a busy time for everyone, I am very grateful that you can come to the funeral ceremony. Next, the farewell ceremony of the funeral ceremony of the late Ms. Makabe Haruka will begin. Although I am not very considerate, but I have been honored by the father of the deceased, Mr. Osamu Mabe, who has been kind to me for many years, and also Takakawa of the Japan Literary Artists Association as an emcee." He took a breath and continued: "I would like to invite everyone to participate. Please stand up and pray for the late Miss Zhenbi Qingxiang's blessings, please pray silently for a minute."
It was as if more than three hundred kinds of thoughts had stopped, and they were all focused on a little life that had been far away.There I listened for a voice that would clarify all the facts.But Death remained silent all the same, and said nothing.
After the silent prayer, Professor Masaki Kai, who introduced the chairman of the funeral committee, delivered a brief condolence speech.Then four funeral attendees walked to the coffin in front of the altar and read a eulogy to the photo.At the beginning, it was a formal eulogy for being a director of the "Youth Music Promotion Association" foundation.I bet he never saw the dead at all!The second person is the conductor, who said that he noticed the talents of the deceased before anyone else, and the whole text is a eulogy that proudly discloses his knowledge.The third person is the president of the parents' association of the deceased's elementary school. His eulogy frequently used place names such as Mejiro, Ikebukuro, and Toshima. It was a eulogy for regional revitalization.Finally, there is the farewell speech of a girl in the same class, conveying that the deceased is not a genius or anything among the children, but just an ordinary girl, which is a comforting eulogy.
Then read the condolence post and telegram, which is also mixed with English and German condolence post and telegram sent from foreign countries.The emcee's introduction is a post from famous orchestras and musicians in Europe and America.
"...The above condolence post and telegram has been read out. Next, to pray for the blessing of the late Ms. Mabe Qingxiang, a flower presentation ceremony will be held."
The music of the steady Requiem Mass slowly began to sound.
"I would like to ask the chairman of the funeral committee, Mr. Kai Masaki, to present flowers."
Hundreds of white chrysanthemums were prepared on both sides of the altar for the flower presentation ceremony.Immediately after Kai Masaki, the name of the bereaved family Osamu Mabe was called, and the bereaved family and relatives also presented flowers after that.The names of celebrities in the music and publishing worlds were then rolled out, and later flowers were laid out according to the seats.Soon it was our turn, and I followed Director Ochiai and Inspector Isaka.
The coffin covered with shining light and white silk cloth has been completely covered by white chrysanthemums.I put the chrysanthemum next to the coffin and bowed silently.I don't have any thoughts.Immediately afterwards, I noticed that someone behind me was about to make room and turned around.
A woman in mourning kimono stares into my face.Not yet fifty years old, she looks younger than her actual age—if it is exaggerated, her girlishness has not disappeared—female, giving people a kind of remnant of her former youth as a well-known woman Image of pianist.But the sudden misfortune made her sickly and emaciated, and she looked like someone who would be lying on a hospital bed.It is impossible for anyone other than the mother to suffer such a blow because of the girl's death.
"...You are Mr. Sawazaki... Anyway, please go back."
Some of the funeral attendees who were laying flowers nearby noticed the anomaly and squinted at us to avoid it.
Osamu Mabe hurriedly stood up from the funeral seat and ran to his wife, hugged her shoulder from behind and whispered, "Kyoko, calm down. Mr. Sawazaki has done his best to save Qingxiang more than anyone else."
"I don't want anyone related to Qingxiang's death to appear here!" Her tears overflowed and slid down her cheeks.
At some point, Qing Yan came to my mother's side, held her hand tightly, and looked up at my eyelids.Behind him, Professor Kai's expression full of bitterness can be seen.It seems like it's about to cause a commotion, but that's not my intention.
"Mr. Sawazaki," Mabe said, "my wife has become confused since Qingxiang passed away, and has lost her judgment. Although I have explained your matter to her..."
"It's only natural that Madam feels this way. Then I'll leave first! I'm sorry!" I took a step to avoid Makabe and his wife.
"Hello—" someone called me from the altar.
I stopped and looked back.Professor Kai's three sons stood in front of the coffin, arranged in order, the younger one was closest to me, and the closer to me the more hostile towards me.Yoshiki Kai, who was at the front, walked towards me with a white chrysanthemum in his hand.
"Take this back." He handed me the chrysanthemum. "We don't want to accept flowers from unreliable detectives who didn't deliver the ransom."
Although I didn't want to cause such a thing, the commotion had already spread around the altar.I took the chrysanthemum from him, then walked past him to the girl's coffin, and offered flowers again.
"What are you doing?" Kai Qingshu ran over and pinched my shoulder deeply with his fingers.He was several centimeters taller than me, and I thought he was a middleweight striker.
"The purpose of presenting flowers is to pray for the blessings of the dead, and you don't need your permission." I shook his hand away and planned to leave the place. "You bastard!" Qing Shu yelled, his hand quickly turned me back, and at the same time his straight right fist cut through the air and flew towards my chin.Even if expected, it's impossible to avoid the punches of a man aiming for a college boxing title.My whole body was shocked, and I felt the flames and darkness in my eyes flickering alternately, and then I staggered backwards.I kicked away the unoccupied seats in the front row, and I fell to the floor.Instinctively, he raised his head slightly, but fortunately the back of his head was not facing the chair, so the impact when his body hit the floor was lighter than expected.
There were wailing and panic voices in the venue.The camera flash seemed to flash two or three times, but maybe that was just an image in my head.
"Qingshu, stop!" I don't know who is yelling.
When I was struggling to stand up, Kai Keiki grabbed the collar of my jacket with both hands, and pulled me up without muddling.His angry face appeared before my eyes.As soon as I got my feet on the floor, I whispered into his ear with my tongue that was about to tangle.
"If you do this, you will not be a champion! I will definitely let you be disqualified for violent behavior." Anger and blood disappeared from his face in an instant.While the strength of his hands was slackening, I also grabbed the underarms of his mourning jacket with both hands, and stood with my feet apart.Then, in an instant, push his right knee up between his hips with full body strength.He let out a groan, took his hands off my neckline, and bent his body as if to fold in two.I took two steps back and one to the right, returning a straight punch to his jaw.As expected, he had been trained. His body didn't fall down, but he barely stood up.As soon as I made sure his arms couldn't fight back, I grabbed the collar of his jacket and pushed my left knee hard up against his chin this time.He groaned again and rolled slowly to the floor.I tidied up my messy clothes and walked towards the exit of the funeral hall.
During that time, I was stung by the sight of the funeral attendees; the flash of the photographer who kept pressing the shutter for no apparent reason; Both knees also hurt: especially the child-like hostile gaze of Makabe Keihiko hurt me even more!
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