Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Death Prediction

Arsenic is highly poisonous and cannot be bought with a general doctor's prescription. If Isao Hoshino wants to buy it, he must create some reason to buy it from a pharmacy, or ask for it from a friend who has such things. So Kamei proposed to clean up all the friends and acquaintances around Isao Hoshino who may have provided arsenic. Isao Hoshino needs to meet a lot of people in his work, and among them, there are probably people who can provide arsenic for money. Totsukawa decided to take a two-pronged approach. On the one hand, he sent people to find clues to the arsenic, and on the other hand, he also sent some people to find the proof of the "Mercedes-Benz".

A classmate of Masako Hoshino said that after they graduated from university, she rode in Masako's white Mercedes-Benz.If this statement is correct, Masako should have bought this kind of car during that time. Therefore, Totsukawa sent someone to check the registration ledger of the "Land Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Transportation Bureau" during the three months from March to May after Masako graduated from University. In this ledger, there is a clear record of the new car registered under the name of Masako Hoshino on April 2. There are also numbers. Then, they went to the "Mercedes-Benz" import company in Tokyo, and found out that Masako bought a white 500SEL "Mercedes-Benz" car.Of course, the registration number is the same as that of the Land Section.

At that time, she didn't realize that something would happen in the future, so she registered with her real name and address openly. The Gotemba car accident occurred on February 7 of the following year. If it is said that Masako was riding a domestic car at this time, then Totsukawa's reasoning cannot be established. Kamei learned about it in detail at the import and export company. He learned that Masako's car was disposed of shortly after she had a traffic accident, that is, on February 12 of the second year after she bought the car, the car became a waste car due to a traffic accident .

The accident happened late at night on Koshu Street. The detectives visited the Kitazawa Police Station, which was in charge of handling the accident at the time, and learned about the strange accident. At 2 o'clock in the morning, Masako drove the white "Mercedes-Benz" car and crashed into the rear of a large truck parked on the side of the road. "The driver was a young woman named Masako Hoshino, and she was driving fatigued." Detective Murata, who dealt with the accident at the time, told Nishimoto. "What was the situation?" asked Nishimoto. "She collided with a large truck of considerable size. The front of the 'Mercedes' was completely rotten."

"Is Masako Hoshino injured?" "Slightly injured, it will be fine in two days." "Is the truck that was hit parked?" "yes." "So the truck isn't in the right place?" "No, the truck is parked on the side of the road, in the allowed parking area." "Is it fatigue driving?" "Yes, she herself admitted it." "Did you think there was anything suspicious about her appearance?" "Nothing, I think she was driving tired, because it was after 2 o'clock in the morning! And she happily covered all the maintenance costs of the truck at that time."

Murata said. After receiving this report from Nishimoto, Totsukawa fell into deep thought. On February 7 of that year, in Gotemba, a girl was run over to death. The front of the Mercedes that ran over the dead man must have had damage from the impact, and police have recovered several pieces. After those five days, Masako may have deliberately driven into the normally parked truck. But Totsukawa is still very cautious about this reasoning. At that time, Masako's father was still alive. Could it be that she was driving her father's car when she hit someone? Totsukawa decided to find out.

It turned out that Masako's father's car was a brown "Jaguar". Masako's father also said that he liked the "Jaguar" brand since he was young and never let anyone else drive his car. Compared with the investigation of Che's situation, the investigation of medicine has made little progress. What is important is that no evidence of Hoshino's use of arsenic was found. Therefore, Totsukawa decided to meet with the health care physician of the Hoshino family. This is a nearly 60-year-old doctor named Aitian. "I have known the Hoshino family for 20 years."

Aida said to Totsukawa. "Did you hear what Masako said about her recent discomfort?" "No. And in the past three months, she hasn't called once. Because I haven't received a call from her saying that she is unwell, I think she has been in good health. Why... what happened?" "When I saw her a few days ago, I saw her face was very bad." As soon as Totsukawa said, Aida tilted his head and thought for a while and said: "She will call me even if she is a little unwell. She has been in poor health since she was a child, and I often see a doctor for her. She only recovered after she went to college."

"Can you go to her house and see how she is?" Totsukawa invites Aida to Masako's house. "What happened to her?" Aida asked. "Because it's only possible, I can only ask you to go. According to our understanding, she may have been poisoned, that is to say, she has taken drugs such as arsenic." Totsukawa said. Aida looked at Totsukawa in astonishment. "That's how we worry." "Did she eat it by herself, or was someone let her eat it?" "It's... not easy to say." Totsukawa said apologetically. "I'll go to her house tonight!"

Aida finally agreed. Totsukawa waited for the result. At 11 o'clock that night, Aitian called. "I've been to her house." "So, from a doctor's point of view, how is her health?" Totsukawa asked eagerly. "There are two suspicious things. One is that she wears heavy makeup. She usually wears almost no makeup, and she wears some light makeup when necessary. I know this well. Her heavy makeup today surprised me, as if to It's not good to hide your face." "And some more?" "Her pulse was irregular. I asked for further testing, but the husband was adamantly against it. Very strange for a husband who is on good terms!"

Aida said. "Where's Masako herself?" Totsukawa asked. "She also objected to my seeing a doctor, but I still think further examination is necessary." "Why do you think her husband objected?" "I don't know. Generally speaking, if the wife is sick, the husband should not object to her going for examination and treatment!" "You said that Masako himself is against further examination and treatment?" Totsukawa asked again. "Yes, and her expression is indifferent, I've never seen her like this before!" Aida said. "In any case she should be given a further detailed examination. I am very concerned." Totsukawa said. "Yeah, how about taking her to the hospital for an examination when her husband is not at home? I don't think it's okay." "Then give it a try." Totsukawa had no other choice. There is no time left. Detective Hojo Sanae, who was arrested by the Shimonoseki Police Station, has been formally prosecuted. Of course, the prosecution was based on "suspected murder". Newspapers carried out unprecedented reports with the headline "Police Crimes in Service" in eye-catching characters, and news programs on TV stations also introduced the progress at length. Of course, Totsukawa has to attend as a witness for the defense, but in comparison, catching the real murderer as soon as possible is much more important than a strong defense. "We have to work hard!" Totsukawa encouraged Kamei and the others. Dr. Aida called. "I want to see you right away." He said to Totsukawa. "Have you learned anything about Masako Hoshino?" Totsukawa asked eagerly, but Aida didn't answer directly: "I have something to tell you." "Well, where?" "Can you come to my place?" Aida asked. So Totsukawa went to Aida Hospital alone. This is a private hospital built in a first-class area next to the station. Because it was getting late, there were no patients in the hospital, and the whole hospital was silent. Totsukawa and Aida sat down in the consultation room, because there was Hoshino Masako's medical records here. "If you look at her medical records, you will understand. Her body is not strong, but her internal organs are very good. Her heart, liver, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, etc. are all normal 6 Last October, under my persuasion , the couple had a health checkup and a blood test, and they were all normal." Saying that, Aida also took out the X-ray film for Totsukawa to look at. Sure enough, her lungs and gastrointestinal tract looked good, and her heart was not enlarged. "Then what do you want to say to me?" Although Totsukawa didn't understand, he also asked while looking at the X-ray. "Today, according to what you said, I estimated that her husband went to her house when she was not at home. Although she was unhappy, I still checked her." "The stomach is not very good, and the liver is also swollen, but the examination in October last year was still very good!" "What disease do you think you have?" Totsukawa asked. "The liver is an important organ. Masako doesn't drink too much and lives a regular life. Such a degree of swelling in such a short period of time should not have occurred. The condition of the stomach is also incredible." "Could it be some common disease?" "It's not like that." "Then what do you think it will be?" "I'm worried that maybe it's really some kind of poison, because that's the only way to cause a sharp enlargement of the liver in a short period of time." "Could it be some kind of poison like arsenic?" Totsukawa asked. Aida said palely: "yes!" "Did you tell Masako?" When Totsukawa asked, Aida shook his head: "If I say it, she will faint from fright. I'm thinking, maybe something happened to her family? So I want to discuss it with you first." "That's great." Totsukawa said happily. "In addition to the husband and wife, their family also has a driver and a servant. Could it be her husband who made her take poison..." Aitian said while staring at Totsukawa. "What do you think of Mr. Hoshino? It's Masako's husband." Totsukawa asked back. "Frankly speaking, I don't know that person. I learned about Masako's marriage from a weekly magazine. It's very troublesome." "Is it the death of her husband's fiancée?" "Yes, and he also resigned from the first-class trading company. Before that, I told Masako's father that marriage is a big event, and you must be cautious." "Do you think their marriage is good?" "I don't think so, and Isao Hoshino's expression is incredible." Aida said. "What's up with him?" "This person doesn't like to talk to others very much. I also heard that Masako's expression is not as cheerful and bright as before marriage. I think they got married very reluctantly." Aida said. "So that's the case." "So, what should we do?" Aida asked Totsukawa. Aida looked very seriously. "Anyway, I hope to help Masako. I know her parents very well, and I have known her since she was a child." "Can a poisoning like arsenic be detected if a detailed examination is carried out?" Totsukawa asked. "I think it's okay. If you eat it every day, it will slowly accumulate in your body." "Can you forcibly hospitalize her?" "I don't have the conditions for hospitalization here. I have to send her to a bigger hospital. But the problem is Masako herself because she is not happy with my examination! There is no reason to hospitalize her. I think this may not be possible. " "The reason for her refusal is to believe in her husband's love?" Totsukawa asked. "I don't know that." "then what should we do……" Totsukawa whispered. When Masako's husband is away, she can be brought out forcibly. But then there will be trouble: if she herself is unwilling, then Isao Hoshino can sue the court for "abduction". In this way, it becomes chaos. And, without evidence that she had taken arsenic, there was no way to go any further. "There are only two ways." After deliberation, Totsukawa came up with two solutions. "Then please tell me!" Aida said. Totsukawa said with a wry smile: "We assume, but not necessarily right, that the first way is to have evidence that Masako's husband got the arsenic; the second way is to find some reason to convince Masako to let her check it." Aida shook her head in disappointment. "It's the same as not saying anything. If you wait until you find the evidence, Masako may have died long ago." "I understand this. But the person concerned does not agree, and the clothes inspection cannot be carried out!" "Is there no other way?" Aida asked again. Totsukawa thought for a while, then asked Aida: "Is there any chance for Masako to go out?" "Of course I can't say no, but now that she is so weak, she has to let the servants do all the shopping." Aida replied. "Can you call her out?" "What are you doing?" "I can't say the reason, anyway, you can call her out, right?" Totsukawa asked. Aida shook his head: "Should we still force her to be sent to the hospital?" "Isn't this way okay?" "Then what are you going to do?" "Anyway, you just call her out. I can't tell you why now." Aida felt a little uneasy. "You must tell me what you want to do, because you are asking me to participate in this matter." "I understand what you mean. Then, even if the police entrust the citizens to do things, isn't this the head office?" Totsukawa said. "but I……" "Do you have a hospital with a good relationship? That is, a hospital that has the conditions for inpatient examinations." Totsukawa asked with a serious expression. "A nearby Yamada Hospital is fine, and I have a good relationship with the director of that hospital." Aida said. "Okay, let's go to Yamada Hospital." "Tell me what you want to do!" Aida begged. "It's better that you don't know. Tell me, when will you call her out?" "anytime is fine." "Then tomorrow at 2 o'clock in the afternoon." Totsukawa said. "Where are you calling?" Aida asked. "Anywhere is fine, anyway, let her go out of the house. But...not too far, she will take a car if it is too far. It is best near her home!" Totsukawa said. Totsukawa gathered all his subordinates together and asked: "Which of you drives the best?" Nishimoto glanced around and said: "Mr. Sunxia." "Are you confident?" Totsukawa glanced at the young Kusaka. "Of course, I also participated in a car race!" "No, it doesn't need to be fast." As soon as Totsukawa said, Kusaka's face changed a bit: "Then how do you drive?" "Just hit someone lightly, just fall over, don't let this person get hurt, it's just a scratch at most." Totsukawa said. "Why bother?" Hikaka asked. "Let Hoshino Masako be hospitalized! She is in poor health, but she is determined not to be hospitalized for an examination, and her husband Hoshino Isao also opposes it. In this case, she can only wait to die, so we have to take special measures." Totsukawa explained. "Then hit her with a car?" "Of course, it's troublesome if you get injured. Just a light bump, enough to be sent to the hospital." "Call an ambulance?" "I thought so too at first, but I was afraid that before the ambulance came, she stood up and refused to go to the hospital! So the car that hit her had to be taken to the hospital. The hospital is very close to her home, and it is called Yamada Hospital." "Is the hospital set up too?" Nishimoto looked at Totsukawa in surprise. "Of course it's settled, it's a famous hospital! So don't worry." Totsukawa said. "Send it in the car that hit her, then you can't drive the patrol car." Kamei said. "Of course, use your own car." Totsukawa looked at Kamei and said. This time it wasn't racing, but bumping into people, and they were a little hesitant under the sun.They are worried that if they do not grasp the scale well, they will not be able to take care of it if there is a big problem. Seeing this, Totsukawa said to Kusaka and the others: "Forget it, it's not good to push this kind of thing to you, let me do it! I have a little bit of experience, and I will definitely do a good job." Kusaka hurriedly said, embarrassingly: "Is it all right?" Totsukawa smiled and waved his hand. "No problem, I should do this from the beginning, you can do other things. Once her condition is checked out in the hospital, I will contact Hoshino Isao immediately, and then pay attention to observe his reaction , you have to watch carefully!" "Will he run to the hospital as soon as he hears about it, pretending to be a loving couple?" asked Nishimoto. "Maybe. That guy made a false impression five years ago and killed his fiancée, and killed his younger brother a few days ago... Of course, no evidence has been found yet. If arsenic is found in Masako's body this time, it will be Prove that he is a murderer. Just because he is such a guy, so you have to be more careful, who knows what he will do?" Totsukawa said. When only Totsukawa and Kamei were left in the room, Kamei frowned and said: "I don't agree with you doing this!" "Aren't you going to participate tomorrow?" "Yes. Even though you did it out of desperation, as a police department, it's too..." "Isn't this just adding food to public opinion?" Totsukawa laughed.But Kamei still said with an unnatural expression: "They'll write something like this: 'The current police department hit someone with a car, and they're people involved in the search!' Do you understand what that means?!" "I see." "Can't you think of another way?" Kamei asked. Totsukawa shook his head: "I've tried many ways, but nothing works. It's because she herself refuses to conduct a detailed examination! She even refuses the advice of a health care doctor for many years. We can't force her to be taken to the hospital. The consequences will be even more serious. If it’s a child, you can lie, but you can’t lie to her. But if you wait any longer, she may die, and it’s too late!” Kamei asked: "That's not clear. If she noticed and knew she was dying, why did she act like that? Could it be that she was committing suicide?" "Tell me why." "It's very simple. Five years ago, she and Isao Hoshino's car ran over a little girl and killed a little girl in Gotemba. She is mentally under heavy pressure, due to years of depression, she feels great fatigue, so she wants to be relieved like this." "You mean, she knew she was going to die, but she was enduring it?" "Maybe." "Do you think Isao Hoshino knows about her situation?" "Don't you know? If you knew, maybe you wouldn't agree with her to do this." Kamei said. That night, Totsukawa returned home, but he didn't say a word about the above to his wife Naoko. The wife would definitely object to the plan of hitting someone with a car. But Totsukawa didn't have a private car, so he had to say to Naoko: "I'll borrow your car tomorrow." Naoko's car is a small "Austin" made in England. Naoko didn't ask why, so Totsukawa thanked her very much. The next day, Totsukawa drove his wife's red "Austin" out the door. The body of the car is small, so it will be safer to hit people. Totsukawa also felt ridiculous for having such an idea suddenly. Kamei still insisted against doing this, but Totsukawa always interrupted cheerfully.Totsukawa knew in his heart that Kamei was doing it for his own good. Regarding this plan, Totsukawa didn't even tell Honda, the chief of the first search department, because Chief Honda definitely opposed it. At 11 a.m., Totsukawa called Dr. Aida. "I've made an agreement with her. She will come out on time at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, but please tell me what you want to do!" Aida said. Totsukawa worried that Aida would gradually discover his plan, so he said: "I can't talk about it yet, but please rest assured that this is definitely for her own good." "Could it be Masako's death?" Totsukawa said with certainty. At around 1:00 p.m., Totsukawa drove the "Austin" out. It was 1:46 when we arrived near Hoshino's house. He decided to wait until 2 o'clock in the afternoon, waiting for Masako to come out of the house. A strange idea came into his mind. Deliberately hitting someone with a car, I have never experienced it in my life, I hope this is the first time and the last time. Is it right to do this? Suddenly there was another kind of uneasiness in his heart. However, if you don't do this, Masako will die, and then there will be no last insider in the world. After Masako died, even if arsenic was found in the autopsy, Hoshino Ko can be said to have been drunk by herself, and he didn't know it at all. A little after 2:00 p.m., Masako came out of the house. Totsukawa drove the car slowly.