Chapter 11 Chapter 10: The Scarecrow Disappears

"The section chief wants to see you." Criminal Miyazaki said to Tajima. After hearing this, Tajima immediately felt his facial muscles stiffen.Because he had already expected what the section chief would talk about. Tajima knew that the police were looking for Masako.The spearhead of the investigation was neither directed at Yukiko Kataoka nor at Bumyo Sukawa, but at Masako Yamazaki.Even Nakamura police assistant went to Iwate to investigate, Tajima also knew.Not only Tajima knew about this matter, but also reporters from other newspapers.But they don't know why Nakamura Police Assistant went to Iwate.Tajima is the only reporter who knows the reason.In normal times, Tajima would be very excited under the influence of scoop news, but since this matter was related to Masako, he was not excited.

When Tajima walked to the door of the section chief’s office, the reporters from other newspapers said to him whether they were sincere or joking: "You're really cunning to make underground deals with them!" Of course, this is a joke.But Tajima felt a bit ironic. In the section chief's office, the section chief and Nakamura police assistant are waiting for Tajima. "Please sit down wherever you want!" said the section chief. After sitting down, Tajima habitually took out the recording paper, and when he noticed his inappropriate behavior, he shyly put the paper away.From now on I will be interrogated by them.

"I have something to ask for your help, so I invite you to come today." The section chief said: "Of course, we don't want to force you to cooperate, and we can't force you to cooperate. If possible, please assist us." "I'll do my best if possible." "Who are we chasing now, you must know?" Nakamura Police Assistant said. "I think I know." Tajima said bluntly: "Even if I say I don't know, can you believe me?" "We are looking for Masako Yamazaki," the section chief said in a very serious tone. When Masako's name came out of the section chief's mouth, Tajima suddenly felt uneasy that her existence was so far away.To the section chief and Nakamura police assistant, Masako is no longer a young girl with both body and mind, but a suspect.Although it is natural, Tajima is very disgusted.

Tajima silently lit a cigarette. He didn't know whether it was because of dry throat or some other reason, but the smell of the smoke was very spicy. "We know how you feel." The section chief continued: "We know both your delicate position and your painful feelings. However, as we are concerned, this is our due duty. We must investigate the murder case and arrest the perpetrator!" "..." Tajima smoked silently.The smoke tastes more bitter.He tossed the long cigarette, which he had smoked only a few puffs, into the ashtray on the table. "We believe that Yamazaki Masako was the prisoner who killed Hisamatsumi."

"nonsense……" "Aren't you suspicious of her yourself? You investigated her savings passbook and found out that she took out 100,000 yuan on October 26." "Did you let Criminal Miyazaki follow me and monitor my actions?" "Yes. We also investigated other cases. We compared the handwriting of Masako Yamazaki and the woman wearing sunglasses who deposited 200,000 yuan at the Ueno branch of the Samsung Bank. He was blackmailed to pay him 200,000 yuan on October 30." "That is to say, Yamazaki Masako had a motive to kill Hisamatsu." Nakamura police assistant added.

"But..." Tajima said: "Masako was not the only one who was blackmailed by Hisamatsu, right? Yukiko Kataoka was also one of them. The bar proprietress Kinukawa Fumyo was also blackmailed. Although the form was different, the result was the same. Apart from these two people, the one who was blackmailed by Hisamatsu Maybe there are still people? Therefore, it should not be confirmed that the reason for Hisamatsu's murder was the dispute caused by his extortion. Perhaps someone among his neighbors hated him and killed him!" "We have also investigated this." Nakamura smiled reluctantly and said:

"We have investigated everything that should be investigated. As a result of narrowing the scope of investigation, we ran into Yamazaki Masako." "Didn't the police focus on Arimiko Kataoka?" "We admit that we watched her. It was you who took her off the list of suspects. Because you confirmed that Tian Xiongjin, the manager of the Qingyezhuang apartment, did not commit suicide, but homicide. If the same criminal committed the murder, then Yukiko Kataoka The clues should be interrupted. So..." "So you conclude that Masako is a criminal?" "It's not a conclusion, but it's being investigated." Assistant Nakamura Police Department said cautiously:

"We also investigated whether Yamazaki Masako was at the scene on the day Ta Kumakin was killed." "Then is she there?" Tajima asked in a nonchalant tone.There was a tremor in the voice.In order to calm down his uneasiness, he took a second cigarette in his mouth. "That day, the company she worked for did not take a break. However, she left work early on the grounds of abdominal pain." Assistant Nakamura Police Department said: "The Aoba-so apartment is just on the way for Yamazaki Masako to go to work, so as long as she goes to work early in the morning, she can change the milk bottle even if she doesn't ask for leave. We think she left early to put the milk bottle stained with Ai's sleeping pills back to the original place, That is, changing the milk bottle."

"Is there any evidence?" "Unfortunately, there is no evidence yet." "In that case, maybe she really left early because of abdominal pain." "Colleagues advised her to see a doctor in the company's infirmary, but she refused to listen." "So you came to that conclusion?" Tajima said dryly: "I sometimes have headaches and stomachaches, and I don't want to see a doctor. Taking a step back, even if she leaves early due to illness, you can't doubt her because of this. Isn't this too hasty? Because she is still young, she may leave early due to illness Watch the movie she really wants to see?"

"You protect her mood, we can understand..." "I didn't say this in the mood of protecting her." Tajima raised his voice and said: "No matter what kind of evidence there is, Changzi is not a criminal. Because Changzi can't kill Jiusong! The day Jiusong was killed, she was with me. Moreover, we have been together. When she heard Jiusong screaming, she Right next to me. Then, how could she kill Hisamatsu?" "I have read your testimony over and over again." Nakamura police assistant said with displeasure: "That's why we want your cooperation."

"Do you think I gave false testimony for Changzi? If you doubt it, you are completely wrong! I will never testify with a lie!" "In the beginning, we suspected you of perjury. Because when Hisamatsu died, only you and Yamazaki Masako were near him. As long as the two of you agree with each other, any clever perjury is possible. But now, We do not believe that you perjured yourself." "I really didn't lie." "But in the testimony, is there anything missing? This is a question worth considering, right?" Nakamura police assistant secretly looked at Tajima's face.The section chief leaned back in his chair and squinted at Tajima. Nakamura continued: "We think that the incident that day was cleverly arranged by the criminal. According to the plan, the criminal chose Sanjiao Mountain as the murder scene, and asked Jiu Matsumi to go there. He chose you in order to prove that he was not at the scene." Assistant Nakamura used the word "criminal" without mentioning the name Masako Yamazaki at all. "It means that you are being used by the prisoner, we think so." "Changzi is not that kind of woman!" "You can think so. But no matter what kind of woman, as long as she commits a murder, we, as the police, must arrest her!" "I understand that." "Since you understand, then please help me!" "Changzi is not a criminal!" "Please read the testimony record again!" The section chief who had been silent all this time said in a low voice. Nakamura police assistant took out a printed document and put it in front of Tajima. Tajima glanced at it and said: "It's the same as reading it or not. I'm not lying at all!" "This, we know." The section chief still said in a low voice: "We didn't ask you to correct it! Just read it through!" "..." Tajima had no choice but to pick up the document and read it page by page. As he read the typewritten text, the events of October 15 came back clearly to his mind. Masako's smile, the blazing sunshine in late autumn, the red leaves all over the mountain, the inverted road signs, the tunnel in the bushes, Masako's white sweater, the man's screams, Hisamatsumi's painful face, all flashed through his mind one by one. Nothing was missing from the testimony record.But Tajima remembered one thing. This is a personal matter and has nothing to do with the case. "How is it?" Nakamura police assistant asked Tajima: "Is there anything missing?" "No!" "Really? No matter how small it is, as long as you miss it, please tell us!" "I didn't write about taking pictures of her. Is it necessary to tell you about personal matters?" "Tell me, please! How many photos of Masako Yamazaki did you take?" "Only took one picture." "Where was it filmed?" "In the bush tunnel. There was a stone in her shoe and I took a picture of her as she was removing the pebble from the shoe." "Is it in the bush tunnel?..." Nakamura police assistant asked thoughtfully: "Can you tell me a little more about the scene at that time? The area is so narrow that two people cannot walk side by side." "I'm going ahead." "So……" "I spoke to the back, but there was no answer, so I turned my head to look, and saw Changzi squatting there. She said that a stone got into her shoe. The way she squatted was ridiculous, so I took a picture .” "Masako Yamazaki was out of your sight until you turned your head to look at her?" "That's right." Tajima said dissatisfiedly: "It's only two or three minutes! Hisamatsumi was killed after Masako and I walked out of the bush tunnel. Those two or three minutes should not have anything to do with this case." "..." Nakamura police assistant thought for a while and said: "Is there anything else you forgot?" "No." Tajima said firmly: "All in all, Masako didn't kill her! If the police arrest her, I will stand on the witness stand and prove that it is impossible for her to kill Hisamatsu." "We will not arrest Yamazaki Masako indiscriminately." The section chief said calmly: "It's just that we feel that Masako Yamazaki has done something. Going to Sanjiao Mountain and reversing the signposts was pre-arranged by Masako. We want to prove it." When he walked out of the section chief's office, Tajima felt very uncomfortable, his face seemed to be covered with scum, he felt uneasy and excited at the same time. Tajima didn't believe what the section chief said, nor could he accept such a fact.He simply cannot believe that Masako betrayed him and used him to kill Hisamatsu.He thought it was just random speculation by the police.The police treat Masako as a victim in order to cover up past failures.The actions of the police should be despised. But,…… When he thought this way, he felt uneasy again.On the one hand, he firmly believes that Changzi has not committed a crime, but on the other hand, he has doubts and uneasiness lurking in his heart. At the time of the incident, Tajima had no doubts about Masako.There is no connection between the killings and Masako Yamazaki. However, after seeing Hisamatsumi's savings passbook, his self-confidence crumbled.This kind of doubt and anxiety has continued until now, and it is constantly expanding. The so-called "love deeply without suspicion" is just a myth of love.Tajima still loves Masako deeply.But he couldn't dispel his doubts about Chang Zi. Tajima walked out of the investigation department and walked towards Shinjuku. He suddenly wanted to retrace the route of October 15.Because he didn't believe the words of the section chief and Nakamura police assistant.It was also because he wanted to refute the police's so-called "it was all Changzi's fault". Arrived in Shinjuku at half past ten.Arrived thirty minutes later than that day, but the time didn't matter.The climate is also different from that time.It is impossible to repeat the exact same two things. The underground station of the department store was brightly illuminated by fluorescent lights just like that day. Tajima stood in front of the ticket office, looking up at the road map hanging on the wall.The station name of each station is marked on it, and local places of interest and historical sites and illustrations are attached next to the station name. That day, Masako said: Because the name of the station "Sacred Miracle Sakura Hill" is the most romantic, I bought a ticket to go there.Was this also part of her plan? Tajima looked at the station names from Shinjuku to Keio Hachioji Terminal in order.He found several "romantic" station names: Luhua Park Azalea Hill Domo Cemetery Double Kawara Baicao Garden Hirayama Castle Park In addition, there are some interesting station names.Compared with the station name of "Sacred Miracle Sakura Hill", the station name of any station is more romantic.Of course, feelings vary from person to person.On the issue of the station name, it is difficult to be sure that Masako has tampered with it. Tajima breathed a sigh of relief. Tajima shifted his gaze from the route map to the Xianguang tour guide information desk. Masako told Tajima: She asked the person at the tour guide information desk, and the person told her: The triangle mountain that the staff like to go to is at the Holy Relic Sakura Hill.Are these Changzi's hands and feet again? Tajima walked towards the tour guide information desk. The words "Keio Shinjuku Tourist Information Center" are written in gold on the large glass door.Through the glass door, you can see the three staff inside are answering customers' questions with guidebooks in their hands. Tajima opened the door and walked into the room.A gust of hot air rushed over.The heater is a little too hot. Tajima asked a male staff member: I would like to know the situation of the Holy Miracle Sakura Hill.The young staff said like an endorsement: "The first few sights you see when you walk out of the station are: Enmeiji Temple, Kumano Shrine, Kontohiro Shrine and other shrines. Of course, there are also the Holy Relics Memorial Hall, the Wushou Experimental Ground, and the villa of Marquis Mimi Sanjo. Why is it named Sakuragaoka What? Because the hills in this area have been a spot for viewing cherry blossoms since ancient times. In the first year of Wanyan, the villagers planted 360 new cherry trees..." Tajima quietly listened to the staff's explanation, but he didn't hear the name of Triangle Mountain until the end.he asked: "I heard that there is a triangle mountain there?" "Yes, there is such a mountain." The staff nodded and said: "Standing on the top of the mountain, the surrounding scenery is beautiful. But it is not famous, and there are no cherry trees." "So, you wouldn't persuade tourists to go there, would you?" "yes." "I heard that Triangle Mountain is a mountain suitable for staff, is that true?" "Suitable for staff...?" After asking back, the staff smiled secretly and said: "I haven't been there, so I don't know if it's suitable for staff to visit." "Not long ago, you told my friends that." "Us?" the clerk asked suspiciously.He had no recollection of such a thing.He questioned two other colleagues.They also shook their heads to indicate that there was no such thing. "We will not introduce Sanjiao Mountain to tourists at all. Because there are many places of interest in the sacred cherry hill." "My friend said it was recommended by you." "Strange!" the clerk said puzzledly: "The three of us have been working here since the establishment of this tour guide information office. We have never recommended Triangle Mountain to tourists. Did your friend make a mistake?" "Maybe I made a mistake." Tajima whispered.That's all he can say. "Did that friend of yours get injured in Triangle Mountain?" the staff asked. Tajima shook his head and said: "No. He said it was a very pleasant outing." Tajima felt uncomfortable in his chest as if he had been punched. Changzi said that Sanjiao Mountain was obtained from the tour guide information desk, which is a complete lie. Changzi had known about that mountain for a long time. However, she must not be doubted just because of this. Tajima said to himself.She pretended not to know Triangle Mountain, and lied about what is suitable for staff to visit, etc., perhaps in order to make the holiday more enjoyable. Tajima did something similar.Once, he and Changzi rode a "roller coaster".He had ridden a "roller coaster" before, but told Masako that this was the first time he had ridden in his life.He thought it was funny to lie like that.Masako probably felt the same way, right? Tajima deliberately ignores the distinction between the two. There is a big difference between an innocent lie while riding a "roller coaster" and a murder-related lie while visiting Triangle Mountain. However, he will not deceive himself forever. Tajima bought a ticket to the sacred cherry hill. The tram was as empty as it had been that day.There was an air of melancholy and melancholy in the carriage. After the tram started, Tajima closed his eyes. He thought: Before arriving at the destination, some happy things should be considered.Tajima thought the case would be over eventually.When the real culprit is found (of course, this culprit is by no means Masako), the murder case will be over.In this way, I can marry Masako immediately. The word "marriage" recurred in Tajima's mind countless times.The word has always been very sweet.But now it has become an empty vocabulary without any flavor. The chaotic thoughts have not been straightened out, but the train has arrived at the station of Shengji Sakura Hill. The sky is clouded over.A low gray sky announces the arrival of winter.There were only a few people on the platform.Standing on the platform, you can see the billowing smoke of burning dry grass rising from the direction of Tama River. Tajima walked out of the ticket gate.The station is very peaceful.The owner of the color photo printing shop is reading a weekly magazine unwillingly.A group of children are burning a bonfire in a clearing. Tajima walked forward along the same road. Masako once held Tajima's arm on this road and leaned against him.Was she doing this to prevent Tajima from looking back?Could this be her trick too? Tajima didn't want to think so.He was convinced that what Masako did was an expression of his love for him.But…… The inverted road sign has been adjusted today.Tajima walked towards the tunnel of trees.The dead leaves accumulated on the road rustled.Did the dead leaves make any noise that day?He can't remember exactly. The red leaves have all fallen. Tajima stopped and looked around.Is this where Changzi said the stone fell into the shoe?Can't remember the exact location.Tajima squatted on the dead leaves.The dead leaves were so thick that the ground was completely covered. Masako wore a pair of cream low-heeled leather shoes that day.Although the leather shoes fit well, it cannot be said that stones will never get in. Of course stones can get into shoes. However, there is a thick layer of dead leaves under the feet, and there is not a single pebble.Tajima peeled away the dead leaves with his hands, revealing the brown ground without pebbles at all. Tajima panicked.He stood up hastily and looked around.He thought maybe there were pebbles somewhere, but in this tunnel of trees there was only a carpet of dead leaves stretched together.There are no stones at all. Changzi said that the stone got into the shoe. Could it be that this is also a lie? Doubts flashed across Tajima's mind.But that day was different from today. At that time, the trees were full of red leaves, and the dead leaves had not yet covered the ground thickly. Tajima brushed off the dead leaves stuck to his trousers and returned to the station. Tajima once took a photo of Masako.It was color reversal film, and you just plugged the negative into a slide projector and it projected.After zooming in, you may be able to see the condition of the dead leaf clearly. Tajima took out the slide projector from the closet when he returned to the apartment. It was still bright outside, so Tajima drew the curtains to darken the room.Use a new quilt nailed to the wall as a screen.He inserted the reversal film into the slide projector, flicked a switch, and the screen burst into vivid colors.Tajima carefully adjusted the focus cabinet of the lens. The original blurry face quickly became clear. The bright red leaves and Masako's brown sweater formed an extremely beautiful contrast.Masako, who was squatting, was holding a cream-colored leather shoe with her right hand. Tajima's eyes naturally fell to Masako's feet. He could see the piles of dead leaves.Although the dead leaves were not as thick as they are now, they have formed a carpet of dead leaves. Tajima took a slap in the face.When I turned off the slide projector, I suddenly found a strange thing on the screen. Looking carefully, it turned out to be a line. Behind Masako was a thin line.Just about knee height.Since Masako was squatting, he could only see one end.The line seems to be pulled sideways to the sides. It's a thin brown line.If it's a black and white photo, the line will dissolve into the background.Because of the cover color film, it shows a different color from the background.After zooming in on the reversal film, I could see it more clearly, but the photo for Changzi was blurry because it was too small. what is this? Tajima stared at the screen and thought. It looks like a stretched rubber band, a hemp rope, and a wire.This thread is stretched taut, like a taut bowstring.What happens if the foot touches that line? Tajima thought. The word "trap" occupied Tajima's mind.The "trap" set up when catching wild animals can be made into a "trap" that stabs a dagger at a person's chest as long as it is slightly modified. Tajima remembered that day as they walked forward while pushing against those annoying branches with their hands.Today he also pushed the elastic branches out of the bush tunnel. Daggers can also be shot like arrows.There are countless branches that are as flexible as bows.Could this thin brown line be the trigger? This thin horizontal line is as high as the knee.If a person walks through there, his feet are bound to be caught.Under normal circumstances, people might notice that line, but not only is it dark there, but also they have to keep pushing off the branches that bounce on their faces, so they have no time to pay attention to their feet. Tajima remembered the weapon used to kill Hisamatsu.Police have said the murder weapon was a rasp-bladed dagger with black ink on the blade. At that time, Tajima wondered why criminals would take the trouble to make their own daggers?Now find out the mystery. Criminals believe that ordinary knives cannot achieve the purpose, and only daggers like arrows can penetrate the human body.As for the ink on the blade, it is to prevent the blade from shining, otherwise it is easy to be noticed.Police said the knife was also fitted with gauntlets.This is presumably for ease of mounting on the "trap". Tajima knew that Masako was born in a mountain village in northeast China where black bears and foxes often haunted.Before entering Tokyo, she had been living there.Of course, Changzi should know the "trap" of catching wild animals, right?With her clever mind, it is entirely possible to transform the "trap" into a murder weapon. Maybe Masako killed Hisamatsu. But how did she set that trap? Was it set when she said that the stone entered the shoe and squatted down?This is simply not possible.How can you set up a "trap" that can kill people in just two or three minutes? That "trap" may have been set in advance. That day, Tajima met Masako in Shinjuku at ten o'clock.If you get up earlier in the morning, you can go to Triangle Mountain to set up a "trap".The signposts may have been reversed at that time as well. When Tajima walked that part of the road, he neither saw the dagger nor touched anything on his feet.Maybe then, she took the trigger off. After Tajima walked by, Masako pretended to have a stone in her shoe, squatted down and pulled the wire equivalent to the trigger to knee height.If you only do this action, two or three minutes is certainly enough. Hisamatsumi fell into the "trap". Tajima glanced at the screen again.Masako was once angry about taking this photo and asked Tajima to give her the negative as well.This was not because her image was ruined in the film, but because she was afraid of including the "trap" in the film. However, after Hisamatsumi's death, police officers from the Nantama Police Station searched the tree tunnel carefully.They didn't find anything suspicious.Not even a single rope was picked up. why? The answer was found immediately.Tajima once went down the hillside to see Hisamatsumi.During that time, Changzi was the only one on the hillside.She has enough time to remove the "trap".And she was carrying a bag on her body. Although there were sandwich bread and seaweed rice rolls in the bag, it was more than enough to put some rope and wire. Tajima turned off the slide projector, stood up inadvertently and opened the curtains. In the dark room, he held his head motionless and thought deeply. The next day, Tajima went to the holy site of Sakura Hill.He can't control his impulses. The sky is blue today, the opposite of yesterday's cloudy sky.The wind is cold. Triangle Mountain is still silent. Tajima walked into the tunnel of trees with a heavier heart than yesterday.The dead leaves still rattle underfoot. Only one person can pass through this criss-crossed forest path.Tajima found that this path was the most suitable place to set up a murder "trap".It is impossible to walk here without pushing aside the lush foliage with hands or sticks.If you are a little careless, this flexible branch will spring back.When pulling the branches, you will not pay attention to the "trap".And there's no place to hide from daggers here. The question is how to make the dagger stab a person's heart?What was the standard for setting up that "trap"? This mystery has not yet been solved, and Tajima wants to investigate another matter. Maybe there are traces of rope rubbing on the branches?He wants to look into this issue. While dealing with the bouncing branches, Tajima carefully inspected each tree. Have!On the trunk of a slender but strong tree there are traces of rope rubbing.This insignificant trace is hard to spot without looking carefully. Tajima's sense of despair soon replaced the joy of discovery.It was Masako Yamazaki who killed Hisamatsumi.As the section chief and the Nakamura police assistant said, Masako had planned the date that day for a long time. Tajima remembered the scene when Hisamatsumi appeared in front of them bleeding. Tajima clearly remembered Hisamatsumi's painful face and the hands reaching out to him as if asking for help.Maybe he wasn't asking Tajima for help.That day, Hisamatsu probably also came to Sanjiao Mountain at the invitation of Changzi.He thought Masako was the only one, but now he found that there was another man beside her.Of course he will follow.Jiu Song is a person who loves to find other people's secrets, and has a gloomy personality.Changzi set up this "trap" based on his characteristics.Jiu Song really fell into the "trap".When the dagger pierced his chest, Jiu Song must have known that it was Chang Zi who killed him.Thinking about it this way, the hands stretched forward in both directions were not asking for help from Tajima, but trying to grab Masako. Tajima walked out of the bush tunnel and came to the hillside where Hisamatsu tumbled down.The mangosteen is still as extremely dense as it was then. Tajima stared down the hillside for a while. At this time, there was a loud noise in the bamboo bushes.Tajima was taken aback, and immediately shifted his gaze to that side. A man's face appeared from among the bamboo bushes.The man is wearing a trench coat.Dingqing saw that it was the assistant of Nakamura Police Department.The Nakamura police assistant was also surprised when he found Tajima.He slowly climbed up from the bottom of the hill. Nakamura Police Department Assistant's hands were covered with mud.While patting the mud off his palms, he grabbed Tajima. "You probably already know that Yamazaki Masako is a criminal." Nakamura said to Tajima: "It was she who set up a 'trap' to kill Hisamatsu! There are often bears in her hometown, so she thought of using a dagger as a murder weapon, and also thought of setting a 'trap'. The folk tale "Hunter Mansaburo" spread in Iwate Prefecture It also has some enlightenment for her. This is the story of a hunter killing a bear with a spear. Her dagger is equivalent to the hunter's spear. Masako lured Hisamatsu to the bush tunnel, just like the hunter Wan Sanlang drove the bear into the bamboo path... " "I know about setting 'trap'." Tajima said expressionlessly: "That's why I'm here." "I can only sympathize with you..." "I don't need sympathy. I want to know what you're doing down the hill?" "Find the Scarecrow." "scarecrow?" "Yes. Scarecrow." Nakamura police assistant smiled at Tajima and said: "After Hisamatsu was killed, we received a call from the Nantama police reporting that a farmer's scarecrow had been stolen. At that time, I thought it had nothing to do with the murder case, and thought that the Nantama police station reported a worthless But now I think the scarecrow is an important clue. You should also understand this. Whether the dagger can accurately penetrate Hisamatsu's chest, the criminal needs practice. The life-sized scarecrow has become the best test object .” Tajima's last question was also solved.In this way, Yamazaki Masako could not escape the guilt. "Where's the scarecrow?" "We've found it." Nakamura Police Assistant said cheerfully, "It's just below the hillside. There are several scarecrow marks on the scarecrow's body." "..." Tajima wanted to say something, but finally didn't speak. "There is another incident, which we don't think has anything to do with the murder of Hisamatsu, and has never been paid attention to. Three or four days after the murder of Hisamatsu, children from nearby farms ate the laver rice rolls they picked up and caused food poisoning. Later, we remembered Masako Yamazaki backpack." Tajima listened attentively. "To set the 'trap', you need a rope and a rubber band. But these things were not found at the scene. Why? Because Yamazaki Masako hid these things in the backpack. If the backpack is too inflated, it will attract the attention of you and the Nantama Police Department. So, she threw away the laver rice rolls that were in it. It was warm and the child got food poisoning after eating the spoiled laver rice rolls.” "..." "The evidence is overwhelming. We are going to arrest Masako Yamazaki. If you interfere with us, we will arrest you too."