Chapter 4 Murder at the End of Summer in Nanji

After typhoon No. 15 passed fiercely through the Kii Peninsula, the coast of Shirahama suddenly took on the appearance of late summer. At this time, there were few people on the coastline, and the laughter of children playing in the water could not be heard.Of course, this is also because the children's summer vacation is over. Due to the strong reflection of the sun on the sea at noon, the contrast with the sudden drop in temperature after sunset, and the cold wind blowing from the sea at night, people feel the breath of autumn more deeply. Shirahama, which has regained its former tranquility, finally has some guests who are obviously not summer tourists.

These were guys who liked the quiet beach, the fishing, and other interests of the sea, but one of the men was there for something else entirely. September eleventh. At 11:40, the YS flight from Tokyo arrived at Nanki Shirahama Airport.The person mentioned just now came to Nanji on this flight. His name is Toyo Hashimoto. He is 30 years old this year. He used to be a criminal policeman in the First Investigation Section of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. detective agency. Yesterday, a 27-year-old lady came to commission the investigation, her name is Miyako Ogata. Her single sister, a company employee, asked for a leave of absence from the company on September 5th, and wanted to spend a pleasant end of summer in Nanki Shirahama.She was supposed to return to Tokyo on the 8th, but there has been no news.What is particularly worrying is that on the 10th, Typhoon No. 15 hit Nanji.

News reports said that there were no deaths from the typhoon, but Miyako did not dispel her anxiety.So she hoped that Hashimoto Feng would investigate anyway. Her younger sister is Yumi Inobe.The surnames of the two sisters are different. This is because the older sister, Miyako, is married and took her husband's surname. "I wanted to go to Shirahama to find my sister, but unfortunately my husband had a heart attack and was admitted to the hospital, so he couldn't leave Tokyo for a while," Miyako said to Hashimoto Toyo. She has only one younger sister, and the two sisters have always depended on each other for life.

Recently, my younger sister Yumi published a "Photobook".Probably because they are two sisters, their hobbies are very similar.And the younger sister, Yumi, looks prettier than her elder sister.Yumi's hairstyle is also shorter, which looks youthful and moving. "What hotel does she live in Shirahama?" Hashimoto asked. "It's the S Hotel near the beach. But she's not there anymore. I called to ask about it on September 7th, and the front desk said she had already checked out the room." "Then I can only start there first." After Hashimoto finished speaking, he packed up and left Tokyo.

Due to the short runway of Nanki Shirahama Airport, only YS type aircraft can take off and land.It takes two hours to get here from Tokyo, but because the typhoon has just passed, the speed of the plane is still relatively slow and cautious. After getting off the plane, Hashimoto asked for directions at a fast food restaurant near the airport, and then went straight to S Hotel. Due to the typhoon, there are still many thick trunks and fallen leaves scattered on the road at this moment.With cars driving on it, it feels like summer is gone forever. It was his first time to Shirahama.But he went to the sea in Shonan and the sea in Izu several times, all in late summer.They all give a feeling of emptiness and loneliness.Shirahama at this time also made people feel the same.

The car came to the beach along the winding ramp, and this area was indeed more "desolate", and only a few young people rowing boats could be seen on the sea. Hotel S is built on a piece of land protruding from the sea.The lobby of the hotel, which was very crowded a week or two ago, was very quiet at this moment. Hashimoto showed the photo of Inobe Yumi to the staff at the main service desk and said her name. The young waiter flipped through the accommodation registration and said, "She did stay here on September 5th. The check-out time is 10 am on the 7th." "Is she alone?"

"Yes, one person." "Are there many young girls traveling alone in summer?" When Hashimoto asked, the waiter said with a confused look, "No, very few. But after September, the number of customers gradually decreased, and single women like to come here at that time." "What does she do every day?" "Swim in the hotel pool, take a walk or something." "Does she look happy?" When Hashimoto asked, the waiter said with a bit of embarrassment: "Sometimes her expression is not very good, and we are also a little worried. There is a place called 'San Duan Bi' in this area, where people often commit suicide. But she We haven't heard of any young girls committing suicide since we checked out."

"Didn't you ask her why she was upset?" "No. Because it's impolite to ask." "Perhaps the room attendant asked?" "I don't know about this." "Can I see the room attendant?" After Hashimoto finished speaking, the waiter called a housemaid who was in charge of cleaning Yumi's room. She is in her forties and is a native of Shirahama.The man is chatty and has answers to Hashimoto's questions. "I was really worried about her appearance at the time! I asked her why. We are uneducated, but I have seen all kinds of guests, and it is still possible to chat and amuse yourself."

"What did she say?" "She works as an employee in a big company in Tokyo. She met a man of the same age at a disco, but they broke up later. So why come to Shirahama to 'hurt...'?" "'Sad Tour'?" "Ah! Yes! Look, I can't even learn it!" "Then how did you persuade her?" Hashimoto asked. "I said it's nothing to lose love once or twice in your life! My husband and I have divorced several times! But aren't we living well now?" "What did she say?" "She just kept thanking me. I saw that she broke up with a man she liked, and she couldn't turn around for a while."

"She lived here until the night of the seventh?" "Yes!" "Didn't you say you're going back to Tokyo right away?" "I've said it before, but..." the waitress tilted her head and thought for a while. Hashimoto followed her words and asked, "'But' what?" "Because I was worried about what would happen to her when she went back like this, I told her not to go back to Tokyo right away. She agreed. Then she sighed again. I thought that because Tokyo had a broken-up lover, she didn't want to go back Well. Why, she really didn't go back?"

This time it was the waitress who asked Hashimoto back. "She didn't go back to Tokyo immediately after checking out on the 7th, but went somewhere. Is there any place that young girls like to go in the Shirahama area?" "Let me think about it." She said after a short pause, "Some like to go to Nara and Kyoto; others like to go in the opposite direction, to Ise and Shima!" "Oh." Hashimoto quickly memorized these place names. "What is there to do in Shirahama?" "Wow! The watchtower in the sea, the thousand seats, the third wall, Hongjue Temple, Kinkakuji Temple, Yuanyue Island, Adventure World..." After she finished speaking, she quickly explained, "But the guest stayed on the 5th and left on the 7th." , maybe they’ve all been there!” "Then I'm going to have a look too!" Hashimoto said. Hashimoto doesn't know how the young girl who lost her love will behave. All he knew was that Yumi hadn't returned to Tokyo.Since she had already canceled her room at Hotel S in Shirahama on September 7th, Hashimoto had to search everywhere. Hashimoto decided to visit these tourist spots in Shirahama first. Using the map as an index, he first looked for it from the watchtower in the sea.This tower was originally owned by a hotel called "Semoya", but later tourists who didn't live in this hotel also came to visit it. Hashimoto walked towards the watchtower about a hundred meters away from the sea.The trestle bridge at the foot leads to the watchtower.In midsummer, there must be overcrowding on the trestle bridge, but today Hashimoto is the only person on the entire trestle bridge. He arrived at the watchtower and saw that there were more than sixty steps in total.A couple of tourists who arrived on the tower first were looking at the fish in the sea below through the circular window on the tower. Hashimoto handed over the photo of Yumi Ibe to the staff on duty, and asked him if he remembered such a person.He didn't expect the staff to remember such a person from among the many tourists, but the young man answered with certainty: "I remember this person!" Hashimoto was taken aback, "Why do you remember?" He asked in surprise. "This person suddenly felt uncomfortable with me, and I helped her." "uncomfortable?" "Yes. She squatted down suddenly and couldn't move at all. I was a little scared, so I called her several times, let her sit on my chair, and asked her to drink wine from the restaurant. Later, she I thanked me and went back.” "What time was that?" "It's the seventh, it's noon on the seventh!" he answered clearly. "Where did she go then?" "I don't know. I think she went to see the sea again," replied the young man. "Why do you think she went to see the sea?" "Before she left, she asked me where is the best place to see the sea." The young man replied with a smile. "Then what place are you talking about?" "I said standing on the mountain is the best view. There are 'Thousands of Places' and 'San Duan Bi' nearby. Since there are always suicides on 'San Duan Bi', I specifically asked her to be more careful!" "What did she say?" "Nothing was said, I think she understood what I meant..." Having said that, this young man is also a little vague, probably he doesn't have much confidence either. So Hashimoto hurried back to the car and drove towards "Thousands of Seas". He was driving on the coastal road.After a while, we arrived at a large parking lot.There was only one four-wheel-drive vehicle parked there. In front of him was a huge snow-white, flat rock stretching towards the sea. In front of it is the blue sea. In front of the rock, sat two fishermen.Like the owner of that car. Hashimoto walked towards the rock. Looking at the sea from here gives people a magnificent and majestic feeling.The tranquility of the noisy past of the beach shows the tranquil beauty of nature. Did Yumi come here on the seventh day?Hashimoto thought to himself. If she had been here, what kind of mood did she use to view the sea? Hashimoto returned to the parking lot and asked the manager, "It's so quiet today! How was the day on the 7th?" "No. 7? Before typhoon No. 15?" the small administrator raised his tanned face and asked. "right." "After that typhoon, there were a lot fewer customers! On the 7th... there were quite a few cars on the 7th!" "I don't know if he came by car, but did you see this female tourist coming on the 7th?" As Hashimoto said, he handed over Yumi Inobe's photo for him to look at, and told him about the style of clothes she was wearing that day that he found out at S Hotel. "I have never seen this woman, but I have seen a woman who looks similar to her." The administrator replied. "real?" "Ah, it's in the 'Qianxidi' area." As he spoke, he pointed in one direction, "It's a young girl, squatting there, looking at something blankly. She looked weird, so I walked over and called She called out. Because it was too close to the sea, I was a little worried, afraid that she would accidentally fall down. Or it would be terrible to jump from there!" "Is that the man in the picture?" "Like." That's all the administrator said. "Then did she say anything to you?" "She said that she felt uncomfortable when she saw the sea. And her face was pale at the time. I told you to call an ambulance, but she ran away in a hurry." "That's what you told her?" "Yes. Anyway, I think this woman is a bit strange." "Where did she go?" "Did you go to the 'Sanduanbi'!" the administrator said after thinking about it. "Then why don't you go after her?" Hearing Hashimoto's question, the administrator immediately became angry, "What do you mean by that?!" "Isn't it possible to see the 'three-section wall' from here? It's only seven or eight hundred meters away?" "Actually, I was also worried when the woman ran away, because someone committed suicide there before, so I told the car owner to pay attention!" "Boss Che?" "It's the companion who manages the parking lot with me." "Ah. What happened next?" "Later, the woman arrived at the station, and there happened to be a car going to the direction of Shirarahama opposite to the 'Sanduanbi'. The woman disappeared after the car drove away. So did the woman get on the bus and went to Shirarahama, or in a blink of an eye I don’t know if I was blocked by a car and went to the ‘San Duan Bi’. I don’t want to go after her, but my job can’t let me leave, besides, people who go to the ‘San Duan Bi’ are all committing suicide!” The administrator still said reluctantly. "sorry!" Qiaoche quickly apologized to him, and then left here. The administrator behind him asked loudly again: "What's wrong with that woman?" "Investigating!" Hashimoto replied angrily. Hashimoto decided to go to the "Sanduanbi" to have a look. After walking for about a few minutes, I finally saw the signboard of "Three Sections of Wall".Following its instructions, Hashimoto turned right and saw a souvenir shop first.There are no customers in the store, maybe the owner of the store is in the back room, and no one can be seen from the outside. "Sanduanbi" is a famous scenic spot, but there will not be many tourists until the next tourist season comes. After Yi Ben glanced at the shop, he walked towards the cliff of "San Duan Bi". This is a very long cliff. It is fifty or sixty meters high from the sea. This height is enough to make people dizzy. The big waves below the cliff surged one after another. The top of the cliff is surrounded by a steel fence, but today the gate is locked.There is also a Guanyin statue on the other side, which is probably used to save the dead who jumped into the sea and committed suicide. Yumi Inobe is here?Hashimoto stared blankly at the sea, thinking to himself. The fiery red sunset is slowly sinking below the sea level of the sea. If she comes here on July 9th, what is her plan? Is it for viewing the scenery?Or looking for a suicide spot? Hashimoto couldn't come to a conclusion, so he had to go back to the souvenir shop. After he shouted several times into the shop, an old lady in her sixties finally showed her head. "what to buy?" Hashimoto had no choice but to take a few pieces of dried cuttlefish and asked her to weigh them and wrap them up.After paying the money, he took out a photo of Inobe Yumi and asked: "September 7th, have you seen this woman?" The old lady looked carefully under the lamp for a long time, and then called out her wife from the back room. After the two counted together in a low voice, the old man said: "It seems to be her." The old lady also nodded, "Yes, it's her!" "Can you tell me about her?" Hashimoto asked. "To be precise, it happened on the 7th. The sky was a little dark that day, and I thought there were no customers left, so I had to pack up and close the store. But I saw a person standing on the rock over there." "No, I was always worried that that person would jump into the sea, so I hurried over and brought her back." The old lady interjected. "What happened next?" Hashimoto asked. "I thought it would be terrible for her to throw herself into the sea, so I persuaded her to come to my house, entertained her with tea and snacks, and chatted with her for a long time." "What are you talking about?" "Ah, that's a lot!" the old man said loudly. The old lady interjected again: "Anyway, we didn't ask her if there was anything she couldn't bear to worry about, but asked her if she needed help or not. At first she didn't say anything, but then she told us little by little. Said She's from Tokyo, she's broken in love or something." "Did you say her name?" "No. But it's very similar to the woman in the photo." The old man glanced at the photo again and said. "What happened to her after that?" Hashimoto asked. "I took her to the bus station and put her on a bus bound for Shirahama Station. Since the plane to Tokyo is gone, maybe I can still catch the train back to Tokyo. Anyway, I want her to go back early. " There are two lines of trains from Shirahama to Tokyo: one is through Nagoya; the other is through Osaka, and both lines can reach Tokyo. In terms of time, it is faster to arrive in Tokyo via Osaka. Hashimoto made the calculations after returning to Hotel S. It takes 25 minutes to get to Shirahama Station by bus from "Sandanbi". If you arrive at Shirahama Station at 6:00 p.m., you can catch the express train "Kuroshio Ninety-Four" at 18:10 p.m. The train arrived at its terminus, Tennoji, at 20:18; it took thirty to forty-five minutes from Tennoji to Shin-Osaka Station. Then change from there to the Shinkansen "Hikari" train bound for Tokyo. It departs from Shin-Osaka Station at 21:00, and the time is just right. So Hashimoto called Miyako. He reported the results of today's investigation to Miyako. "According to the owner of the souvenir shop in 'Sanduanbi', your sister should have boarded the Shinkansen train from Shin-Osaka on the 7th." "But my sister didn't come back!" Miyako said. "So she didn't listen to the shopkeeper's advice." "What will happen then?" "Didn't go back to Tokyo, maybe went to other places or still stayed in Shirahama." "But she should contact me!" "I think she's in a situation where she can't be contacted." "I can't figure out why she can't contact me. Could it be that she..." Miyako suddenly raised her voice. Hashimoto quickly persuaded: "It's okay. Isn't there no news about your sister's body being found from the 7th to today?" "Then where is she now?" "I think she's devastated by a broken relationship and still on 'Heartbreak'. Do you know the name of that boyfriend of hers?" Hashimoto asked. "He only called my sister. At that time, I thought it was someone she met at the disco ball, so I didn't ask his name." Miyako replied. "Is that so? I'll check around Shirahama tomorrow and report back to you." "I have to go to the hospital where my husband lives to stay with me in a while." Miyako said. "Where is the hospital?" "Toda of Nishi-Izu." "It's so far away!" "Hey, my husband said that the hospital is fine, and there is nothing you can do. Then I'll call you tomorrow." After saying that, Miyako hung up the phone. The next day was the twelfth, Hashimoto went to the Shirahama Police Station after breakfast. He explained about Yumi Ibebe in the reception room and showed the photo. "She stayed at Hotel S from September 5th to 7th; she checked out around 10 am on the 7th, but her whereabouts were unknown afterwards." After Hashimoto finished speaking, a police officer named Harada asked, "Could she have committed suicide?" "Her family members are also worried about this. And from the witnesses, they all feel the same way. Could you please find out if the deceased was found in the Shirahama area from the 7th to today?" Hashimoto asked. So Harada checked the list of people who committed suicide and died in accidents from the 7th to today. Within the jurisdiction of the Shirahama Police Station, five people died in six days.All five of them were not locals, but tourists. Two young men from Tokyo ignored the warning and swam in the sea before the typhoon. On the 11th, their bodies were found drowned.Both are colleagues in the same company. The other three people, a couple in their thirties and their five-year-old child, died in a traffic accident.They were driving back to Osaka on the 8th when they collided head-on with a truck and all three died.The truck driver, a 20-year-old male youth, has been arrested, but it appears that both parties were responsible for the accident. "That's all. There is no one named Yumi Inobe." Harada said. "Can you think of it this way: She committed suicide by throwing herself into the sea before the typhoon came, and was washed away somewhere by the typhoon?" Hashimoto asked.He didn't want that, but he couldn't ignore it. "It's possible that this is not the case." Harada also nodded. "Is there no hiding place for 'sad' young girls around Shirahama?" When Hashimoto asked, Harada asked a little puzzled, "How do you say that?" "For example, in order to calm themselves down for a week or two, don't they live in a nearby monastery?" Hashimoto said. "Yes." Harada said after thinking for a while, "Practitioners often go to Koyasan. I have never practiced, but if I am interested, I will go to Koyasan." "Has the young girl gone?" "There is also a nun's Cisonin Temple in Koyasan. In the past, women were forbidden to go to Koyasan, but you can enter the Cisonin Temple. The locals call it 'Woman Koya', and it is also a beautiful place!" Harada said. Koyasan was opened by Kobo Daishi, and the Cisunin Temple was the residence of the master's mother. What Hashimoto was concerned about was that on the way to Koyasan, there was a place called Ryujin Onsen.Recently, bathing in hot springs has also become popular among young girls in the city.Maybe she'll live there when she goes to Koyasan. So Hashimoto went straight to Koyasan again. At the same time, the First Search Division of the Metropolitan Police Department received a report that a body was found in Room 502, Yotsuya Apartment, Yotsuya 3-chome, Tokyo.Totsukawa Police Department has rushed to investigate. This apartment was built between Yotsuya Sanchome and Shinanocho train station. The deceased was a young man of twenty-five years old. His name is Keisuke Goto, and he is a single company employee who likes to travel. He died in a one-room bedroom.This bedroom is the size of six straw mats. Goto died in his pajamas.He was hit with a heavy object on the back of the head and stabbed with a dagger in the back.Probably because he was suddenly hit on the head by the murderer, and after he was unconscious, the murderer stabbed him in the back and died. The murder weapon that struck him on the head was quickly found: a thick glass ashtray rolled to the floor, stained with blood. The murder weapon that was stabbed in the back was not found at the scene. Since the indoor air conditioner has been turned off, probably due to the lingering heat of the past few days, the dead body has begun to rot. "I've been dead for at least four days." Forensic doctor Sakaguchi said to Totsukawa. "So he was killed on September 8?" "I think so. If it's an old man, that's another job for a newspaper reporter. 'Lonely in the City'!" "That's right. Neighbors and apartment managers didn't notice the death of the resident. If the company's boss finds out that his subordinates don't come to work for a few days without a reason, it won't be so many days to find the door!" Totsukawa said. Later, the deceased's boss, Takumi Shintani, the chief of management, confirmed that the deceased Keiju Goto asked for leave from September 6th to 8th. "Later, when the day came, I didn't come to work. I couldn't find anyone and I was angry! But when I came today, I found out that he had been killed." "If you ask for leave until the 8th, then you will not go to work on the 9th for no reason?" "yes." "Why did the company wait until today?" Totsukawa asked. Xingu smiled wryly, "He said he asked for leave for a trip. We don't know where he went. We just know that there was a typhoon on the 10th, and he might be trapped somewhere. No one answered the phone, so I waited. It's today." "I really don't know where he went?" Kamei asked from the side. "Yes. Because when employees ask for leave, we generally don't ask about these things in detail." Xin Gu replied. "How is this person?" Totsukawa asked. "An average person. His personality and work are average, but he is still able to do what he decides. He is a person with a modern style and loves life. He just likes to travel, and he often uses paid vacations to travel." "Do you have a lover?" "Ah, how do you say this? Anyway, he likes to travel alone, so he won't have a specific lover?" Xin Gu said. "Does anybody hate him?" When Totsukawa asked, Xingu immediately replied: "No! There will be no such thing!" "why?" "When the company's year-end party is held, he often acts as the convener, so enthusiastic! Of course everyone is happy to have someone do such a thing." "He likes to help people?" "Yes! It can also be said that curiosity is particularly strong." "If it's too strong, it will be hated by people, right?" Kamei asked. Xingu tilted his head and thought for a while, "Maybe, but it won't kill him!" Probably so.Some people don't want others to intervene in their own affairs.Even if there are difficulties, it is not necessary to kill him. After Totsukawa explained the judicial autopsy, he asked Nishimoto and Kusaka to go to the K Industry Headquarters where Goto worked.Because maybe there are some things that the section chief doesn't know, but his colleagues will know a lot. Nishimoto and Kusaka returned three hours later. "I know where Keisuke Goto went from September 6th to 8th, it's Nanki." Nishimoto reported to Totsukawa. "Where is Nanji?" "It is said that he wants to rent a car to go around Shirahama, Kushimoto, and Nachikatsuura. That's what his colleague said." "Did you go?" "Yes. He also called back from Shirahama on the night of September 6th. He must have gone to Shirahama." "Go alone?" "Seems." "He was killed when he came back?" "I think so." "Anything else about the Goto situation?" Totsukawa asked. "There is another interesting thing, similar to his love of Zhang Luo, he also likes to investigate things." Sun Xia said. "Why is it similar to Ai Zhangluo?" Kamei asked puzzled. "Some people have nothing to worry about, and others are disgusted! Newcomers, especially female employees who are new to the company, like to ask questions about this and that, and then seem to pass on what they have learned to colleagues. Disgusted!" "And this thing?" "Sometimes the person being 'investigated' would quarrel with him." "But this will not lead to murder!" Totsukawa thought for a while and said. When Wu Dao's body was found, his door was locked. It seems that the murderer killed Wu Dao and locked the door before leaving. There is no need to lock the door if you are stealing.It seems that acquaintances are more likely to commit crimes.Because Goto was wearing pajamas when he died. "But you can't think it was done by someone from the company." Nishimoto said hastily. "why?" "As I said just now, some of the female employees hate him, but they haven't hated him enough to kill him. There are also some male employees who hate him, but it seems that there is no financial conflict, so I won't to murder." "Does he have a lover in the company?" "No. We asked a lot of people, but they all said they hadn't heard of it. Those who play with him are not counted." Kusaka added. The results of the forensic autopsy came out. The time of death was deduced to be between ten o'clock and twelve o'clock in the night of the eighth day.Five stab wounds to the back resulted in massive blood loss and died. The dagger that was used as the murder weapon was also later found in the apartment's gutter.It was a fifteen-inch mountaineering dagger.No fingerprints were detected on the handle.Later, two other daggers were found in Goto's room, but it seems that Goto bought them himself. "Perhaps the trip from September 6th to 8th was the reason why he was killed." Kamei analyzed. Totsukawa sent two photos of Keisuke Goto to the Wakayama prefectural police, and asked them to investigate whether Goto had been to Nanki from the 6th to the 8th; if he had, were there any clues that led to his murder. Longshen Hot Spring has several guest rooms, as well as folk family-style dormitories.Hashimoto's family inquired with Yumi Inobe's photo, but no one had seen this person after the 9th. Hashimoto was helpless, so he left Ryujin Hot Spring and came to the Koya Ryujin Panshan Highway at an altitude of about 1,000 meters. He drives the car with ease. There are continuous mountains on the left and right. If there are clouds, it's like walking in the sea of ​​clouds. Since there are always detours, he doesn't feel sleepy at all. At the end of this forty-two-kilometer toll road, you will reach Mount Koya. After Hashimoto parked the car in the parking lot of the courtyard, he brought Yumi Inobe's photo to the temple office. People here saw the photos and listened to Hashimoto's introduction, but no one said they had seen this woman.He went to Jingangfeng Temple and Cizunyuan Temple in Zongben Mountain to ask again, but the result was still the same. It seems that Yumi Inobe has never been here. It was already night when Hashimoto returned to Hotel Hachi in Shirahama. After eating, he received a call from Miyako. "Have you learned anything about my sister?" Miyako asked. "I just came back from Koyasan, but there is no news." "Koyasan?" "Yes. I wonder if she went there because of Mihe's pain of losing love?" "Did she go?" "No, I didn't go." Hashimoto was talking when there was a knock on the door. He told Miyako to wait a moment, then opened the door.An attendant said Harada of the Hamada police station told him to go downstairs. After quickly agreeing, Hashimoto said to Michiko: "There may be some news. I'll go and call you later!" "I'm in the hospital. There's no phone in my husband's ward. I called from a pay phone outside the hospital." "Then what to do?" "I'll call you in fifteen minutes." Miyako said. After Hashimoto put down the phone, he quickly came to the lobby on the first floor, and he saw Harada waiting there in casual clothes. "On my way home, I wanted to drop by your place. Aren't you looking for a girl named Yumi Inobe?" "Any news?" Hashimoto asked. "Around 4.30pm this afternoon, a fishing boat caught the body of a young girl in its net." "Is that Yumiko Inobe?" "It's very similar, but I can't decide because the body has begun to rot." "Why don't you tell her family to come?" Hashimoto said. After obtaining Harada's consent, Hashimoto returned to the room immediately, just as Miyako called. Hashimoto quickly told her that the police found a female body.Miyako fell silent for a moment. "I'll get there as early as possible tomorrow. It would be nice if you could go to the Shirahama Police Station." "Yes, I'll go with you!" Hashimoto said. The next day, Hashimoto left the hotel immediately after breakfast and went to the Shirahama Police Station. The air in the Shirahama Police Station was not tense, perhaps because it was not a murder case. Hashimoto was immediately taken to the morgue, where a young female corpse had been placed in the coffin.Due to the long-term immersion in seawater, the female corpse was already highly swollen.It is difficult to judge whether the deceased is Yumi Inobe from the photos. When it was almost noon, Miyako also arrived. When she saw the female corpse, her face suddenly became very pale.Maybe she didn't expect this corpse to become so "cruel". She stared at the female corpse, and after carefully examining her clothes and legs, she suddenly burst into tears. "Is that your sister?" a policeman asked. Miyako reluctantly raised her head, wiped her tears with her hands and said, "Yes." Miyako said her sister has a scar on her left leg just below the knee, from a skiing injury Yumi suffered as a freshman in high school. The police went to check her fingerprints again.Yumi's fingerprints were taken from the room where she lived. The comparison results with the fingerprints collected from the female corpse came out at night. It turned out that the female corpse was Yumi Inobe. Miyako decided to stay at Hotel S that night, and Hashimoto explained to her that her work was over. "This result is regrettable. Although your sister was found, but I was not the one who found it, so I can't charge for it." Hashimoto only collected labor service fees, transportation fees and accommodation fees as required. Then Miyako said, "Since I have to take care of my husband, I want to cremate my sister as soon as possible and return to Tokyo. Hashimoto-san, how about you?" "Anyway, I've come to Shirahama, and I want to stay for another two or three days, forget about it and go back to Tokyo." Hashimoto replied. The next day, Miyako left the hotel early in the morning in order to cremate her sister's body. Hashimoto borrowed fishing rods from the restaurant, bought fish food, and went to Shirarahama.He used to fish a lot, but lately he hasn't been able to, and he really wants to take advantage of the opportunity. He also brought a box lunch prepared in advance by the restaurant. He came to sit down on the concrete embankment and started fishing.Three or four days have passed since Typhoon No. 15, and the sea has returned to its usual calm. The buoy does not move, but Hashimoto does not necessarily want to catch fish, but finds pleasure in "fishing". The weather is not so hot, which makes people feel refreshed. He lit a cigarette leisurely and looked towards the distance of the sea.He gradually became a little sleepy, so he stubbed out his cigarette and lay down on the embankment. In the clear sky above, strips of floating clouds slide past like pieces of silk. Looking at it, he fell asleep unconsciously. Suddenly he felt something moving, so he opened his eyes suddenly. The appearance of a middle-aged man appeared in his eyes. "Hey, it really is you!" the man said to Hashimoto with a smile. Hashimoto quickly got up and took a closer look at the man. "Ah! Isn't this Kamei?!" "It's me, long time no see!" Kamei still smiled. "Kamei, are you coming to Shirahama to play?" "What are you talking about! It's work! Looking for you! The people in the hotel said you were going fishing, so I followed the road to find you." Kamei said and sat next to Hashimoto. "Why are you looking for me! What's the matter?" "It's a homicide." "In Shirahama?" "No, in an apartment in Tokyo, a young male employee was found killed on the night of September 8th." "Then why come to Shirahama?" Hashimoto asked. "The name of the deceased is Keisuke Goto. He took leave of absence to travel to Nanki from September 6th to 7th. Especially he stayed at Hotel Hachi in Shirahama on the 6th." "He lives in the hotel under his real name?" "Yes. Goto was killed after returning from his trip to Nanki. So we need to investigate his travels. I also knew when I went to S Hotel that a woman who lived in S Hotel was drowned at the same time. ,and……" "I'm investigating that woman!" "yes?" “是的。我受她姐姐的委托来白浜。要我找一下她下落不明的妹妹。结果妹妹的尸体被渔民打捞上来了。” “好像她从九月五号到七号住在S饭店。” "right." “她的情况怎么样？”龟井看着大海问道。 “据我的了解，她因为失恋来到了这里，每天都在和自杀的诱惑抗争着。在自杀者非常多的'三段壁'附近开店的一对夫妇还说看见她站在那里要自杀的样子，还让她进到店子里招待了她，劝她尽快回东京。” “但是井边由美在'三段壁'自杀了？” “在哪儿不清楚。但是她自杀后被十五号台风冲到海上，后来被渔民打捞上来了。”桥本说道。 “原来这样。她是为了求死而来白浜的呀！” “从结果看是这样的。” “她多大了？” "Twenty-five." “还这么'守旧'？”龟井十分惊讶，“仅仅因为失恋就自杀？” “对。现在的姑娘，什么失恋不失恋的，去夏威夷走走，在海边蹓蹓，一下子就把以前的男友忘到脑后去了，哪儿有这么痴情的？！” “可毕竟还有'古板'的姑娘嘛！” 桥本说完又问了一句：“东京的杀人案和这个姑娘有什么关系吗？” “还不清楚。如果东京的案子和他南纪之行有关，那么他三天的旅行和住在同一个S饭店的井边由美也就可能有什么关系。因为五岛启介是在十五号台风来之前回东京的嘛！”龟井说道。 “可我认为她和东京的那个事件没有关系嘛，因为她九月八号就死了嘛！” “可五岛启介也是同一天夜里被杀的嘛！” “会不会五岛启介就是井边由美的恋人？” “不是。我们调查了五岛的事情，在他认识的人中没有井边由美的名字。而且要分了手的男女怎么会住在同一个饭店？”龟井分析道。 “可你不是认为他们两人一定有什么关系吗？” “那是我的假定。” “五岛启介于九月六号住在S饭店，何时退的房间？”桥本问道。 “第二天的九月七号，但后来他的行踪就没人知道了。” “这么说，有一天他们两个人是在同一个饭店里？” "right." “我也调查了井边由美的行踪，但在饭店里没有人看到她和男性说过话。” “是的，我也问了饭店的工作人员，也没有人看到他和年轻姑娘聊过天。” "yes……" “可是，九月六号已经是夏末了，客人应当很少的。” "right." “那井边由美的出现不是很显眼吗？因为她还是很漂亮的嘛！”龟井说道。 “是的，她是很出众。” “五岛启介是个喜欢探秘的男人，恃别是他对女性有特别的这种爱好。而且井边由美在住宿登记表上使用了真实姓名和地址。也许五岛回东京后会去调查那个姑娘的事情呢！” "Wait a moment." "What's the matter?" “井边由美可没有回东京呀！她是死在这里的，就算五岛回到东京后调查了关于她的事情，他们也不会在东京见面呀！所以因为这个原因他被杀是不是说不通的呢？”桥本说道。 “你还真动脑子了呀！”龟井笑着说道。 “不好意思了。” “不必客气，你说的也有道理。” “五岛被杀，会不会还有南纪旅行之外的理由？” “反正现在还没有发现。这个人除了爱打探事情外是个没有特征的公司员工，又不嗜酒，也没有向谁借过钱什么的。什么赌博和弹子房他也几乎没干过。可他偏偏一回来就被杀了！” 正当龟井说的时候，饭店的一名工作人员来到堤坝上对他讲东京来电话找他。 “一块儿回去吧。”龟井劝桥本。 于是两个人回到了饭店。 这是十津川打来的电话。 “我们查到一件事儿：五岛在他住的公寓附近的一家冲扩连锁店里冲了一卷胶卷。北条早苗取回来了。” “是这次南纪旅行的照片吗？” "yes." "What does it look like?" “二十四张几乎都是风景照，其中有三张是女人的照片。” "woman?" “两张是在白浜拍的，是同一个女人。” “是井边由美吗？” “我想是她。北条已经拿着照片去你那里了。最好还要让饭店的人员确认一下。” “好吧。我在这儿见到桥本君了。他正在调查井边由美的事情，是她姐姐委托的。”龟井说道。 下午北条早苗就把照片带来了。 有两张很明显是在S饭店拍的，而且好像是用变焦镜头在一个远的地方拍下的。 他们把这两张照片让饭店的一些人员看了，这些人都异口同声地说是住过的井边由美。 “所以，看来五岛是对井边由美感兴趣了。”龟井满意地说道。 “是不是因为她长得漂亮呢？”桥本说道。 “另一张是什么样的？”龟井问早苗。 “是这张，但不太清楚。” 说着早苗把另一张照片递给了龟井。 这一张不是在白浜，虽然拍得不清楚，但可以看出似乎是在东京。由于是夜里，所以那个女人的脸部不清楚。 “不像是井边由美。这个人的长发很明显。而井边由美是短式发型，和这个人的不一样。”桥本盯着照片说道。 “果然是这样的。可他为什么这么拍呢？”龟井喃喃说道。 桥本也陷入了沉思之中。 早苗在一旁说道：“是不是他拿着相机边走边拍的？” “为什么？”龟井盯着早苗问道。 “他旅行回来拿着照相机呢。” “对，五岛九月七号回的东京，那时他带着相机，是在回家的路上拍的吧？” "right." “这张照片是第几张？” “是二十四张一卷的第二十三张。” “是最后的了。” “他要拍一个夜景，但正好一个女人走了进来，所以拍上了。”早苗判断道。 “你说呢？”龟井又看了一眼桥本。 “我想多半是他又对这个女人感兴趣了吧。而且他又要拍第二张时这个女人离开了他的视线。” “还可能他怕被这个女人知道就慌忙逃走了呢，或是别的什么原因。” 龟井一说，早苗笑了笑，“还有的妇人是看要拍她，自己先逃走呢。” “这儿是什么地方？”桥本盯着照片问道。 “背景好像是辆出租汽车。”龟井说道。 “西本刑警说不是东京站。”早苗说道。 “不是东京站的出租汽车站？” "right." “可是五岛的公寓在四谷三丁目呀！不坐出租汽车，坐地铁可不快。”龟井说道。 “这样一来不就有意思了吗？”桥本说道。 "why?" “因为他对这个女人产生了兴趣，于是他没有下火车后直接走地铁或中央线，而是一直走到了出租汽车站。”桥本说道。 “问题是五岛为什么对这个女人产生了兴趣？”龟井面带难色地问道。 “我有这么个假设。”北条早苗犹豫了一下说道。 “你说说嘛！”龟井催促道。 “这个女人是不是在白浜见到的井边由美，或是说是在白浜见到的同一个女人……” “可发型不一样嘛。”桥本说道。 早苗笑了笑解释道：“我就有假发嘛！上班时就要短发，休息时我想改变一下心情就戴长发的假发。那时和朋友一见面，他们都会很惊奇的呢。所以我认为她会不会是改变了发型。而且也许还会化一下装呢！” “原来这样。你不讲我们男人哪里知道呀！” 龟井点了点头又突然看了一眼桥本问道：“你怎么啦？” 因为桥本的脸色一下子变得十分苍白。 他从口袋里取出了一张照片放在了龟井和早苗的面前。 “请看一下这张照片。” “这是井边由美的照片吧？” 龟井莫名其妙的样子，他不知道桥本是什么意思。 “对，这是她姐姐要我找她妹妹时给我的。” “你的意思？” “她和她妹妹长得很像，就像刚才北条早苗说得那样，她换上一副长发，再化一下装，就和她妹妹一个样子了。”桥本表情僵硬地说道。 “你是说她们姐妹俩很像？” "right." “反正我觉得这张照片好像是考试的准考证上用的。”桥本说道。 龟井也看出来了，“是啊，是不是在商场的自拍部拍的？如果是对方拍，被拍的人表情都是很自然的；但要自拍，表情多少看上去不大自然。” “可不是嘛！” “也就是说，姐姐美矢子成了抹妹由美。是不是她把一张自拍的照片交给你让你去找她的妹妹？” "right!" “可饭店方面说是井边由美从九月五号就住在那儿了呀！” “是不是为了让桥本先生认为她妹妹因失恋自杀的？”早苗插了一句。 “而且她的妹妹和她预想的一样被发现了溺水而死的尸体——” 龟井说了一句后突然说道：“马上和十津川警部联系一下！” “太有意思了！” 打完电话后，十津川的脸上露出了笑容。 于是他马上命令西本和日下去调查美矢子夫妇。 美矢子的丈夫绪方博史，退职后干成了自己的事业。 “他在崎玉县的浦和市郊区有一处住宅。他退职后经商，在市内开了一家吃茶店。但因为他有病住了院，美矢子也要陪床，因此店子停业了。”西本报告道。 “不在东京？”十津川有些意外。 由于美矢子来到位于新宿附近的事务所委托桥本调查她妹妹一事，于是便主观上认为她应住在东京。 “他们夫妇俩常在店里干活，而且她的妹妹在休息时也常来帮忙。由于姐妹俩很像，所以那一带的人常说'一对姐妹花'。” “美矢子的丈夫住在哪家医院了？” “西伊豆的富士疗养所。” 日下让十津川看了一下他的笔记本。 十津川又感到可疑：干嘛要去那么远的西伊豆？ 于是他又向西本他们下达进一步详细调查美矢子情况的命令。而他自己决定去西伊豆看一看。 为了节约时间，他在三岛下了新干线火车居，立即乘上一辆出租汽车赶赴西伊豆。 与其说是医院，不如说是一处疗养所更为准确。十津川来到了位于三津浜附近的这栋建筑后首先是这么一个感觉。从这里还可以清楚地看到富士山。 十津川见到了名叫浅井的所长。 “您这里有一位叫绪方的人吗？”他开门见山地问道。 “啊，有的。他的身体已经恢复了，但记忆力还恢复不了，真麻烦呀！”浅井答道。 “记忆力？他得的是什么病？不是心脏病吗？” “不，是意外的事故。” “事故？” “他在自己家里的车库修理汽车时吸入了过量的汽车废气昏迷了。虽然身体恢复了正常，但由于大脑缺氧造成的记忆力减退一时半会儿还没有恢复。为了康复才来到我这里的。”浅井解释道。 “记忆力可以恢复吗？” “噢，这一点他的夫人非常清楚。他只是对事故前后的事情记不起来了，而且最近的事情也没有了记忆，也就是医学上讲的'近期记忆力丧失'。他也不知道自己为什么会来这里。” what 's wrong?十津川心存疑惑。 他朝病房里看了一眼，绪方坐在轮椅上，他的妻子美矢子像对待孩子似地温柔地对他说着什么。 “你在这里住了一个星期了。你看这里看到的富士山多漂亮呀！” 美矢子一边说着一边把绪方推到了走廊上。 十津川利用这个机会，向负责治疗绪方康复的医生询问了美矢子的事情。 年轻的栗木医生对他讲道：“她常来看她丈夫。她对她丈夫真是全身心地服侍呢！” “那你知道汽车废气中寿的事情？” "Of course." “她有一个叫井边由美的妹妹来看过他吗？”十津川又问道。 “不，除了他夫人，没有第二个女人来看过他。” 为了慎重起见，十津川又在护士站问了一下其他护士，但回答也是一样的。她们都非常佩服他妻子为他做出的牺牲，同时也说再没有见到其他女人来看过她。 由美失恋后，干嘛连她姐夫也不来看一下呢？ But…… 十津川心中又画了一个问号。 和恋人分手后又选择死亡的由美，不是在公司休息日时还常去姐姐的店里帮忙吗？ 虽然自己失恋了，但姐夫出了意外事故住了院，不和姐姐一块儿来看姐夫恐怕说不过去吧？ 这些疑点渐渐地集中到了美矢子的身上。十津川决定马上返回东京。因为他认为美矢子早已准备好了说辞：妹妹失恋了，没有心情来看姐夫等等。 如果美矢子这样说，十津川没有任何反驳的理由。因为他对于美矢子的丈夫和死去的妹妹由美一点线索还没有掌握。 一回到东京，西本他们又向他汇报了新的情况。 “井边由美是九月五日向公司请假去白浜的吧？”西本问道。 "Yes!" “可公司方面说不是这样的。” “没有请假吗？” “说是从八月二十五日就没去上班，后来写信说因为自己身体不舒服请求休息几天。因为字体不一样，公司认为可能是她的姐姐写的。” “十天前就没去上班？” “准确地说是十一天之前。”西本说道。 日下又接着补充说：“还有一件奇怪的事情。美矢子的丈夫是八月二十四日夜里十一点半左右被救护车送到医院的；而她的妹妹从第二天就没有去公司上班。” "This is interesting!" “美矢子说她丈夫是在修理汽车时因吸入废气中毒的。后来经过抢救，命是保住了，可双腿麻痹了，记忆力也不行了，经过介绍，这才住进了西伊豆的疗养所。” “说修理汽车时废气中毒有证据吗？”十津川问道。 “本人对中毒前后的事情全记不清了，是他妻子美矢子证明的。”日下答道。 “八月二十四日夜里出的事儿，可从二十五号到九月五号井边由美在什么地方、干什么呢？”十津川问道。 “由美的公寓在目白。淸水和田中两个人正在调查。”西本答道。 不一会儿，清水和田中两个人回来了。 “从八月二十五号，井边由美就一直不在她的公寓里。”清水报告道。 “怎么知道的？” “公寓的管理人员讲，她的报箱里塞满了报纸，而且还说邮寄的东西也因她不在都退回去了。是不是从二十五号开始不在还不敢断定，但由美的邻居也是说从那几天才注意到她没有回来。” “那她这段时间去了哪儿了？” “会不会八月二十五日她已经在白浜投海自杀了呢？”田中说道。 “不可能。尸检证明她的死亡时间是九月八号。” “那尸体会不会是另外一个人的？凡溺死者都因水的浸泡而肿胀，会分辨不清的吧？” “不，核对了死者的指纹，是由美本人。” “要不就是在她去白浜之前，一个人先去别的地方进行了'伤心之旅'？比方说北海道啦、九州啦。” “可这么长时间的旅行，不是有点费解吗？” “要是说奇怪的话，有一点可疑，也许是碰巧了：八月二十四日夜里美矢子的丈夫中毒送进了医院，而第二天井边由美就没去公司上班，后来又死在了白浜。也许是偶然，不过也太巧了吧。”十津川说道。 十津川决定再去一次西伊豆。这次不是去见大夫，而是要见一下美矢子。 美矢子住在附近的一家宿舍。 十津川到达后，约美矢子出来散步。他们一边走在通向大海的N河的岸边一边聊着。 “我想打听一下井边由美小姐的事情。” “我妹妹已经死了，我希望不要再打搅她的在天之灵了。”美矢子反感地说道。 “这个我懂，但不调查一下，有许多事情无法弄明白。无论如何你一定要配合。”十津川不软不硬地说道。 美矢子非常防备地看了十津川一眼，然后停下了脚步。 “坦率地说，我对死去了的妹妹也并不十分了解，因为她有她的人生观！” “我明白。可你讲过，她在公司休息日时不是常去你在浦和市的店里帮忙吗？”十津川问道。 "Is such that." “我们打听了一下，你妹妹从八月二十五号就没去公司上班，到她去白浜的九月五号，这段时间里她在哪儿，在干什么？” “在她家里。”美矢子厌烦地说道。 “不，管理员的证词说她根本不在。” “要不就去什