Chapter 7 Section five

If it's not lunch break, it's hard to meet other people in the corridor on the second floor.Accounting class, parenting class, supervision class... the doors of each classroom are closed tightly, and it is impossible to see what is going on inside.The surroundings were very quiet, only the sound of Mikami's footsteps in the waxed corridor. "Police Division" - The words on the faded doorplate always feel a little tense. Mikami pushed open the door, and after silently bowing to Police Section Chief Shirata who was sitting in the front, he walked forward while looking at the investigative officer's seat by the window from the corner of his eye.

There was no sign of Erdu, the lamp on the table was not turned on, and the documents were not displayed.If it's not on vacation, maybe it's in the "Personnel Room" on the second floor of the North Office Building.Recently, it has been widely rumored that the personnel change work for next spring has already begun.The blueprint for cadres and personnel is planned by Erdu.Ever since he learned of this fact from Secretary Ishii, his chest has been feeling depressed.What happened to my transfer?Is this unheard of back-and-forth change really the idea of ​​Chief of Police Akama?

Mikami walked through the police department's floor and knocked on the door of the minister's room. "Please come in." Ishii's voice came from the other side of the door, just like on the phone, an octave higher than usual. "Excuse me." Mikami stepped on the thick carpet. Akama leaned on the sofa contentedly, rubbing his protruding jaw with his fingers.Gold-rimmed glasses.Hand-made tailored suits with straight stripes.The cold gaze shot from the sideways eyes.The general rookie policeman's stereotype of the special examination team is nothing more than this, and the appearance of his special examination team has not changed so far.He was only forty-one years old, five years younger than Mikami.Next to Akama, the man in his fifties with a timid and flattering expression and thinning hair was Ishii.The latter was waving him over.

Before Mikami was seated, Akama said at the top of his head: "It was really hard for you yesterday." His tone was as relaxed as if he had just finished a shower on a summer evening. "No. On the contrary, my private affairs delayed my official business. I'm really sorry." "It's okay, sit down, how is the local police station? Is there any help?" "Yes, everyone, including the director, is very helpful." "That's good, I will also thank them for you." The tone of the protector was particularly uncomfortable to hear. Three months ago, when he was desperate, he asked Akama for help, and confessed to him that his daughter ran away from home the day before, hoping that he would dispatch all police stations in the county to help search, not just the nearest jurisdiction.At that time Akama made an unbelievable action in front of him.He added an additional note to the photocopy of the request for assistance that Mikami brought, and called Ishii, ordering him to fax it to this office, and the recipients were the Life Safety Bureau, the Criminal Bureau, and even the Chief's Cabinet.After Akama finished writing, he said to Mikami: "Don't worry, a special search will be launched from Hokkaido to Okinawa within today."

He will never forget Chima's smug expression at that time, and he soon understood that it was not just because of the superiority of being able to show the strength of the special examination team in this hall, that expression also included the expectation of the result.Through the gold-rimmed glasses, Akama stared at Mikami.He thought to himself, the local police who had been refusing to obey him all this time would finally fall into his hands this time, and he would not let this opportunity pass.Mikami's heart skipped a beat, only then did he realize that the other party had grasped his weakness.However, as a father who is worried about his daughter's safety, what else can he say at this time?

"Thank you, I will never forget this kindness." Mikami lowered his head, lower than the table, lower than his knees... "The problem is, this is the second time, right? It's too hard to go there every time!" Akama also focused on Ayumi today. "As I said before, you might as well hand over Ling Qianjin's personal information to the jurisdiction! Not only the headshot and physical characteristics, but also the medical records of fingerprints or teeth. There are actually many clues, aren't there?" He didn't need to say it, he had thought about this problem himself.Every time I received a contact, the moment I lifted the white cloth and saw the face of the deceased, it was no different from torture, and Minako's spirit was on the verge of collapse.Still, he couldn't make up his mind.Fingerprints, palm prints, tooth shape, traces of dental treatment... These are indeed very powerful information when confirming the identity of the deceased, but once these materials are handed over, it is tantamount to finding his daughter's body, which he cannot accept at all .

"Let me think about this matter again." "If you want to go faster, you will lose less." — What is lost? Reason desperately suppressed the anger that was about to explode.This is provocation.Akama is testing the limits of his obedience. Mikami changed his mood again and said: "Minister, what do you want me to do?" Immediately, there was no longer any curiosity in Akama's eyes. "Actually it is……" Ishii spoke instead of Akama, and it was obvious that he had endured it for a long time. "The chief is coming to inspect." Mikami's reaction was half a beat slower, because this matter was completely unexpected.

"The chief inspected...?" "Just now I received a notice saying that it will be next week today, and we are in a hurry! However, it has been several years since the officer came to inspect." Mikami looked at Ishii, and felt that Ishii, who was beaming with joy, was really ashamed.Is it because Akama from the special examination team is here, so this feeling is particularly strong?The chief of the National Police Agency is the man who stands at the apex of the pyramid of 260,000 police officers.For the local police, it can be said to be out of reach.But so what?It's just that the chief came to inspect, so is it necessary to be so happy?At this time, Mikami finally figured out the man Ishii.Just like the eyes of young people who grew up in the countryside will brighten up when they mention the metropolis, Ishii always has a pure yearning and awe for the Police Agency.

"What are you coming to inspect?" Mikami switches to work mode and asks.Since he was recruited as a publicity officer, it must be a very propaganda inspection. "It's 64!" Akama answered his question. Mikami looked at Akama in surprise, only to see a meaningful smile in the corner of Akama's eyes. 64——This is the code name of the "Xiangzi little sister's kidnapping and ticket tearing incident" fourteen years ago.That was the first kidnapping case in the D County Police's jurisdiction.The kidnappers cleverly stole a ransom of 20 million yuan, and when the abducted seven-year-old girl was found, she was already a horrible corpse.The matter has not revealed the dawn of solving the case until now, and it is not known who the kidnapper is.At that time, Mikami belonged to the Special Criminal Investigation Unit of the First Investigation Section, and as a member of the "close-range rear-end chase team", he followed the car of the girl's father to the place where the ransom was paid...

The awakening of the hateful memory certainly brought a lot of shock, but hearing from Akama, who is a member of the special examination team and also a layman in the investigation, the code name of the incident that was only circulated privately in the criminal department, made him even more frightened. There was a big jump.Could it be that this so-called "investigator" and "data man" has already placed his intelligence-gathering contacts in the criminal department within a year and a half of his tenure? But... this question was immediately replaced by other questions.

64 is the most heinous incident in the history of the D County Police, there is no doubt about it.Even if it is raised to the level of the Police Agency, it is still recognized as one of the top major unsolved criminal cases.However, it has been fourteen years since the incident happened, and it is an undeniable fact that the incident itself has already been turned into dust.At the beginning, 200 police officers were summoned to set up a special search headquarters, and downsized all the way, there are currently less than 25 registered investigators left.Although the signboard of the special search headquarters has not been removed, the name in the criminal department has also been downgraded to "specialized class".There are only a year and a few months left before the prosecution period.No one is discussing this case in the streets and alleys, and it is said that no citizen has provided clues for a long time.Even the media would only think about this incident once a year at most, and then publish a report that couldn't be smaller in the journal when the incident happened.Why is this kind of moss-covered case still the object of inspection by the chief?Do you want to announce to the world that you will do your best before the deadline for prosecution? "What is the purpose of the inspection?" Asked by Mikami, Akama's smile grew stronger. "Of course it is to motivate responsible investigators and publicize internally and externally! By the way, let me express my determination to solve major criminal cases." "The problem is, the case was already fourteen years ago. In fact, it was an inspection to realize the prosecution period, right?" "From the perspective of publicity effect, I don't think there is any better than the old case. Moreover, this inspection seems to be proposed by the chief himself. It is not so much publicity for the people as it is for internal publicity. " Internal publicity.The last sentence made Mikami suddenly realize. ——It turned out to be a problem in Tokyo. I'm afraid that's true.Since last year, the high-level personnel of the National Police Agency have taken many actions. In order to suppress the mainstream Security Bureau, it took four generations before Tanabe, who was from the Criminal Bureau, was appointed as the chief.Tanabe also made a high-profile threat to rebuild the criminal police organization.Unexpectedly, only half a year later, Tanabe passed away without warning due to acute hypertension in July this year.The person who took his place was Deputy Officer Otsuka from the Security Bureau. Although it was a reasonable personnel arrangement, the hasty decision made Tanabe's death a bit tragic.In the eyes of the on-site police who were used to sympathizing with the weak, it was hard to guarantee that they would not have the feeling that the Police Department was taking advantage of Tanabe's sudden death to regain the position of chief.To put it simply, the inspection is Kotsuka's statement, which is used to emphasize that he will inherit Tanabe's will and will never ignore the criminal police... "Next is the specific inspection itinerary." Ishii took out the note, and Mikami also quickly took out the notepad. "Although the case has not been fully finalized, uh... the chief will come by car at noon. After lunch with the chief, I will go to inspect the site where the corpse was abandoned in Sada Town, lay flowers and incense there... and then return to the center Department, to encourage the search of the headquarters, and then go to the victim's house to condolences, and there for another incense stick... Finally, I was interviewed by reporters at the distance from the victim's house to the car... Probably this is the itinerary." Mikami stopped copying. "Hold a press conference as a surprise interview?" Unannounced interviews refer to interviews in which interviewees stand or walk while answering questions from reporters surrounded by them. "Well, that's right, that's what the Chief Cabinet Secretary said. Compared with holding a formal press conference in a conference room, doing so seems to be more effective." The harsh expressions of the reporters flashed in his mind, and Mikami's heart sank to the bottom. "Where are the photos? Are you going to take them at the site of the abandoned corpse?" "No, it was filmed at the victim's home." "Should reporters be allowed into the victim's home?" "Is there not enough space?" "It's not about that..." "The officer folded his hands in front of the Buddhist altar, and the family members of the victim are behind him... The officer seems to hope that the TV or newspapers can present such a composition." The picture of the top leader of the police organization promising the family that he will solve the case is indeed impressive. "You don't have much time left. You have to obtain the consent of your family members in two days." Akama interjected from the sidelines, and his tone returned to his usual command tone. Mikami nodded noncommittally. "What's wrong? Is there a problem?" "No……" Presumably the family members would not refuse the officer's condolences, but he was still not very happy to ask him to go to the victim's home to make this request.At the time of the incident, he did not say a few words to the victim's parents.Those who had in-depth contact with the victim's parents were mainly members of the "Self-Residence Class".Later, after another transfer, three months after the incident, Mikami was transferred to the Second Investigation Section, and no longer had any relationship with 64. "...I understand. All in all, I will go to the group of people in the special class first, and ask about the latest situation of the family members." Misami answered carefully.As a result, Boss Akama frowned unhappily. "There is no need for this! Don't you also know the family members of the victim? Don't negotiate with the family members directly through the criminal department." "Ok……?" "Because it's the work of the police. Once you get involved with the Criminal Department, it will definitely become complicated, right? I'll tell the Minister of Criminal Affairs when everything is ready. Until then, it will be done in secret." --secretly? Mikami couldn't guess Akama's real intention.Want him to skip the criminal department to deal with this matter?I also know that it will definitely make things more out of hand.This is not any other case, but 64! "Also, about the media..." Akama ignored him and continued. "It may be the first time you have encountered this situation, so I will tell you first. Although it is an informal surprise interview, but because of this, there are no restrictions, and those reporters can interview the chief casually. It is still necessary Do a good job in the process of preparing inquiries for the parliament, and let reporters ask questions casually, so that the chief executive cannot answer them all at once. First of all, the press club should be required to write down the questions to be asked in advance. The time for questioning on the day is only For about ten minutes, the questioners are limited to the reporters who work for the newspaper. We must resolutely let the press club know that we must not ask any unruly questions that day. Do you understand?" Mikami's eyes fell on the notepad.Indeed, it is necessary to obtain an agreement with the press club in advance, but given the current situation, is there a way to have a peaceful discussion with them? "I heard that the reporter seemed to be making a fuss today!" Mikami's uneasiness was immediately seen through by Akama.No, it was someone who immediately reported the commotion in the advertising room to Akama. "What's the actual situation like?" "Pretty nasty fight over anonymity." "Let them make trouble. You must not give in! Just give them a little bit of color, and they will push forward to open a dyeing room. So you must hold on. In the end, we gave the news, and they can only do it." Take it honestly. Make sure they understand that." The Akama faction easily put forward this difficult request. Mikami still couldn't understand why Chima took such a tough attitude.No matter how much he hates the media, with his bureaucratic head from this office, whether he wants to or not, he should still hope to deal with reporters efficiently.However, he completely ignored the loss caused by the lack of "candy".Or did he never think about weighing the pros and cons at all? It didn't seem to be the case, but Akama had finished speaking, and seemed to be fumbling around in the pocket of his jacket in order to find something. Mikami glanced at Ishii.He was writing on a note with a red pen, looking happy.This made Mikami's mood several times worse than before entering the minister's office.The ominous premonition was indeed correct. "Then I'll go out first." Mikami closed the notepad and stood up.Perhaps smelling from this series of actions that he was only obedient on the surface, when he was about to leave the minister's room, Chima added another sentence. "But she really looks like you! You must be very spoiled!" Mikami stopped in his tracks, turning his head cautiously and fearfully. Akama is holding the side shot photo that Kyohiro used in his hand. I really look like you... Mikami has never talked about the whole story of Ayumi running away from home so far, but now it seems like he was slapped in the face.At that moment, a crack appeared in Sanshang's expressionless mask. Akama seemed satisfied. "About fingerprints and dental medical records, you can discuss it with Mrs. Zun again! I also hope to help you to the best of my ability." The willpower to resist lasted only a few seconds. "...Thank you." Mikami bowed deeply.He vaguely felt that several places in his body were throbbing with blood.

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