Chapter 23 first quarter

Takehachi went straight to Akita.Former congressman Topei Tateyama and trainer Nishida Sunkichi once met in Akita, so we need to investigate. Tateyama took the "Tsugaru" express to Akita on the 15th.Xi Tian followed the horse's owner on the 16th.Tateyama went to Akita because he was going to attend the party's local meeting, which he heard from his Tokyo office; Nishida followed him on the 16th when he heard it when he was in Fuchu. However, these are all rumors, and I can't be sure unless I investigate it myself. Sotsui reached Akita in the middle of the night. He wanted to know which hotel Tateyama stayed at when he came to attend the party's local meeting.

In front of the station, there were three or four people wearing the hotel logo clothes, soliciting the guests who stayed at the hotel.Takehachi Sokui stepped forward: "May I ask if the local meeting of the XX Party was held here on June 17?" "Yes. There are quite a few politicians from Tokyo!" "At that time, there was a member of parliament from Tokyo called Tateyama Topeira, which hotel did you stay in?" "Most people live in the Misawa Hotel, which is the largest and most beautiful hotel in the area. I don't know if the senator you're talking about lives there."

"Thank you!" Takehachi hailed a taxi in front of the station and drove straight to the Misawa Hotel. The hotel is right in the center of the bustling street, quite luxurious.But at this moment the lights were out and the door was about to close. "I just got off the bus, is there any room available?" A waitress said unhappily: "It's fine for the lodging alone. The cooks are off work, so you can't do it for dinner." "I ate it on the way." "Then please come in!" Takehachi Sochii followed the waitress inside, and there were four or five waitresses bowing to welcome customers.

"I got off late, I'm causing you trouble!" He came to a beautiful room.While looking at the paintings on the wall, the waitress brought tea and snacks. "Excuse me, please." Takehachi Suijing said kindly, while stuffing a 5,000-yuan bill that he had prepared into her hand. "how?" The waitress hesitated for a moment, then immediately pocketed the money and thanked her.She was a tall person of about twenty-two or three years old. "You're late enough!" "Yes! There are too many things to do, so I'm late. It's delaying your rest!"

"Nothing. This is our business!" The tip that was given just now seemed to take effect immediately. "There is something I want to inquire about." "What's up?" "I heard that many politicians came from Tokyo on June 16. Are they staying here?" "Yes. The 17th, 18th, and 19th days are the county branch meetings of the XX Party, and many people have come!" "Is there a congressman named Tateyama Topeira among them?" "Yes, there is. I happen to be in charge of entertaining him." "That's really a coincidence." Takehachi Sujii cheered up, "Did he live here until the 19th?"

"yes." "Did a man named Nishida come to see him? Nishida came from Tokyo on the night train on the 16th. He must have arrived the next morning!" "Then he came by the 'Tsugaru' express. 'Tsugaru' arrived at 8:50 am the next day, and was a morning visitor." "Yes, yes. He may be in a suit, but he's a horse trainer." "Oh!" The waitress tilted her head and thought for a moment. "By the way, they talked about horses. Is he a tall man of forty-five or six years old?" "Yes. It's here after all." Takehachi Suijing was a little disappointed.

"They talked about Mr. Tachikawa's horse going to participate in the Fukushima Race Meeting." "Well. That's right." Horse trainer Nishida Sonkichi set off from Tokyo on the 16th in the "Tsugaru".That's right.His robbery can be fully proved here, "Did he also stay here overnight?" "No. Said to take care of the horses and be back soon. Just had a lunch here." "In addition to the hustle and bustle at that time, there is no room, maybe go to another hotel!" "Yes. It was really chaotic at the time. Since the 16th, all the rooms have been reserved, leaving only one vacant room."

"How come no one lives there?" "That journalist was also going to come with Mr. Tateyama. But he didn't come." "What? A journalist?" Takehachi Suzui was taken aback. "What's his name?" "I'm not in charge of entertaining, so I don't know..." "Can you figure it out?" "Then, go to the counting room downstairs and ask!" It seems that the five thousand yuan tip is still working. Takehachi Sukui was in a very restless mood.Could it be that the journalist who said he was coming with Tateyama Topei was Yamazaki?Although Yamazaki's actions are not clear, he took the box (the one that contained his own body and was found later) to Tabata Station. Maybe it was him?The waitress came upstairs again.

"You've worked hard. How's it going?" Takehachi Suijing said with a smile. "That guest's name is Yamazaki." As expected.Takehachi Sujii immediately became excited: "Did he reserve that room himself?" "Yes. Telegram from Tokyo on the 14th requesting that a room must be reserved for him." "Do you still have that telegram?" "No. That kind of thing has already become waste paper." Takehachi Sochii took out his notepad and made a brief note. The waitress was very surprised and stared at him with wide eyes: "What? Is even such a thing worth investigating?" she asked anxiously.

"No. That's right, Mr. Yamazaki and I are hot people. I'll let him know when I get back, because I've caused trouble here, and I should express it." "Oh! Then there's no need." The waitress was relieved and smiled. "But." Takehachi looked at the waitress' single eyelids and slightly upturned nose and said, "How do you know that he came with Senator Tateyama when you received a telegram from him to reserve a room?" "It says so in the telegram! So we know they know each other." "Have you told Mr. Lishan? Didn't Mr. Lishan book the room for nothing?"

"Yes. After noon, no one came. There are many other guests, and they want to use the room. We asked Mr. Lishan what to do? Mr. Lishan said: 'Don't wait for him, give the room to someone else!'" "Oh! Mr. Tateyama knows that Yamazaki is coming." "Yes. Like that." "Didn't he think it was an accident?" "Yes. He doesn't think it's anything. He just thinks that he made a reservation and didn't come, so there must be something wrong!" Takehachi Sochii took out his cigarette, and the waitress graciously lit a match for him.As he smoked, he thought: Didn't the editor-in-chief Yamazaki want to go to Akita with Tateyama?Tateyama took the "Tsugaru" for 15 days, and Yamazaki went to check the box on the same day. "Tsugaru" departs from Ueno Station at 21:40.It was 20:30 for Yamazaki to check in the boxes. From this point of view, after Yamazaki checked in the box at Tabata Station, he still had time to get on "Tsugaru". If that's the case, Tateyama former Councilor was not surprised that he reserved a room in vain, because he knew that Yamazaki would not go with him, and it was natural for the room to be vacant? However, what is more noteworthy is what the waitress said, that is: When Lishan heard the telegram to reserve a room, he was surprised. this point is very important. He immediately jotted it down in a notepad. He glanced at the waitress, who looked tired: "Ah! I'm so sorry. You have worked hard, please go and rest!" "Then, you can rest too! See you tomorrow." The waitress said goodbye and walked out of the room. Takehachi opened the notepad and wrote: ⑴The editor-in-chief Yamazaki and the ex-senator Tateyama are traveling together on the "Tsugaru" and intend to go to Akita. (A telegram to the hotel attests to this.) ⑵He disappeared from "Tsugaru".It can be proved that it became a box corpse at Koriyama Station.Where did Yamazaki disappear? (3) Judging from the fact that Mr. Tateyama was not surprised by the fact that he reserved a room and stayed in the future, it can be considered that he knew that Yamazaki had disappeared from the train.That is to say, Tateyama is related to Box Corpse. (4) Although Nishida departed from Ueno Station by the "Tsugaru" on the 16th, it is also related to Yamazaki's murder. Takehachi Sojii sorted out his thoughts into lines, and when he wrote ⑷, he suddenly had an idea and hurriedly took out the train timetable from his bag. Looking back and forth, I know that there is an express train "Hope" before the limited express "Tsugaru".This is the departure from Ueno at 16:30 and arrives at Fukushima at 21:25.Fukushima is the terminus. "Hope" arrived at Koriyama Station at 20:25.The existence of this train gave him great inspiration. If it is presumed that Yamazaki took the 15-day limited express "Tsugaru", where did it disappear, become a box body, and was picked up at Koriyama Station?That is between Ueno and Koriyama stations.However, it cannot be imagined that it disappeared as soon as it set off from Ueno and turned into a corpse at Koriyama Station, so the inferred distance has to be shortened. The station name and departure timetable of the limited express "Tsugaru" between Ueno and Koriyama are as follows: Omiya, 20:11; Koyama, 22:54; Utsunomiya, 23:23; Kuroiso, 0:24; Shirakawa, 0:53 1:29 at Koriyama. This was followed by the express train "Hope". Omiya, 18:59; Koyama, 17:40; Utsunomiya, 18:07; Nishinasu, 18:55; Black Machine, 19:16; Shirakawa , 19:45; Sukagawa 20:13; arrived at Koriyama 20:25. In this case, it must be limited to the "Tsugaru" Limited Express in order to match the livestock transport vehicle departing from Tabata Station at 20:50 at the intersection of the problem.That is to say, it is 22:50 for the livestock transport vehicle to arrive at Xiaoshan Station.Afterwards, "Tsugaru" entered Oyama Station one step later, and drove ahead of the livestock transport vehicle.During this period, the editor-in-chief Yamazaki might be tricked into the livestock cart by Sueyoshi's stable attendant. Takehachi Sotsui had always had this idea before. However, it is worth considering that Yamazaki and Tateyama ex-senator went to Akita together.Did they really go together?That won't be known until tomorrow. Sotsui Takehachi gradually became sleepy and fell asleep. Woke up at eight o'clock the next morning.Normally he would sleep until ten o'clock, but today he had something on his mind and couldn't fall asleep. Breakfast the next day was also delivered by yesterday's waitress.The 5,000-yuan tip from Takehachi Suzui has benefited him a lot. He came out of the hotel and ran to the post office. After listening to his request, the telegram sending and receiving office took out the receipt book and read it repeatedly: "Ah! Found it!" said a long-faced watchman. "The telegram to the Misawa Hotel was received at 5:32 p.m. on June 14. The telegram said, 'Reserve two rooms on the 16th, and go with former member of Tateyama, Yamazaki...' Is this it? " "Yes Yes." Yamazaki wrote clearly that he was walking with the former member of Tateyama. "Where did the telegram come from?" "Iidabashi. I received it at 3:40 in the afternoon." "What? Iidabashi Bureau?" Sotsui Takehachi secretly rejoiced: "Who is the address and name of the power generator?" "I have to ask the Iidabashi Bureau about this, but it will take three hours to get the message back." "That's unnecessary!" This is no longer necessary.It was taken by Jiro Yamazaki, that's right. The telegram was sent from the Iidabashi Bureau, which shows a lot of problems.There is a "Miyayaga" teahouse in Kagurazaka near Iidabashi, and Tateyama Topeira often goes there. ——It is possible that Yamazaki Jiro went to "Miya Naga" to look for Tamaya on the 14th.I met the former Tateyama MP there, and they talked about something.In the end, they agreed to go to Akita together.Whether Yamazaki will meet Nishida has attracted the attention of Takehachi Sukui, and now this is not a problem.Tateyama former councilor is the backstage of this incident. Yamazaki used a telegram to reserve a room at the Misawa Hotel. The decision was made immediately after talking with Tateyama, and the telegram was sent after he came out of "Miyayaga".It only takes a little more than ten minutes to walk from "Miyayong" to Iidabashi Station. Yamazaki ran away from his home in Ota District at 9:20 on the 15th, and his whereabouts have been unknown since then.It can be considered that he has already sat on "Tsugaru".The problem is that on the label of the box he checked in (he himself was a corpse in the box), he wrote it with his left hand to cover up his handwriting. Although we don’t know who wrote it, why did he ship it himself?I ran away from home at 9:20 in the morning and went to the station with my suitcase at 8pm. Did you prepare your suitcase during this period? In any case, on the 14th, Yamazaki met with Tateyama former Congressman, why didn't Yamazaki tell me? ... Sotsui Takehachi thought. --yes.Yamazaki could not tell me that he had secretly gone to the Fuchu Racecourse without telling me, leaving straw shavings on the back of his jacket.The conversation with Tateyama also cannot be made public. But why did Yamazaki keep it a secret? It may be that Yamazaki smelled the truth about Okase Masahira's murder during his independent investigation.He didn't want to publish in the newspaper, but to coerce the other party to share the spoils with money!There can be no other explanation than this. From this point of view, Okase Masahira's killing was related to Tateyama Toupei.No, it's not just Okase, it's also related to Yamazaki's murder. ——Yamazaki was eliminated because he knew the truth about Okase's murder.So he was killed and silenced. Takehachi Sochii set off from Akita by car before nine o'clock, and arrived at the Fukushima Racecourse after three o'clock in the afternoon. He made his way to the Stable Row, for the races had just ended and there were still a number of stable attendants there. He walked up to a thirty-four or five-year-old stable attendant who was turning straw. "The horses at the Westfield Stables are just behind this stall," replied the stable attendant.He seemed to be bored with idleness, eager for someone to talk to him. "Do you know when Mr. Nishida Sunji came back?" Takehachi Sokui asked kindly, pretending to be a fan of horse racing. "Yes, he came back on the seventeenth." The seventeenth is the day from Nishida to Akita.How did he say he came to Fukushima? "Is there nothing wrong?" "That's right! The horse race started on the third day, and he came back three days before the start of the race." If you use the day when the game starts as a benchmark, there will be no mistakes. "Did you come with Mr. Tateyama, the owner of the horse?" "The stable attendant Sueyoshi said that Mr. Tateyama stayed at Iizaka Onsen." That is to say, Tateyama went to Iizaka Onsen after the county branch meeting. "When did Sueji bring the horse back?" Takehachi asked in a leisurely tone, smoking a cigarette.The other party also put down their work and started smoking. "He led the horse back to the stable at two o'clock in the afternoon on the 17th. It was also the day when Mr. Nishida came, so there is no mistake." The stable attendant said seriously. "It didn't arrive until the 17th, and it was already getting late by then." Takehachi Sochii said this because he knew that the livestock transport truck left Koriyama at 9:30 p.m. on the 16th.It won't take that much time to get to Fukushima Racecourse. "That's right. I also asked Moji, why did he come back so late? He said that the horse fell ill on the way, and it took time to treat it, and Moji complained about it!" That was Sueyoshi acting, and Takehachi Sukui knew it well. "That horse is 'Xinuo Di'!" He seems to be an expert in horse racing. "yes." "It's not so good in the game!" "No. Moji said that the horse was sick, and everyone believed it. So I have been paying attention to 'Xinuo Di'. It is strange. He is very energetic and runs very vigorously. Harlan Thame lasted twelve seconds. He won The first mile! It’s Sueyoshi who took care of it well!” "oh oh!" "The betting ticket is also unpopular. The forecasters are very angry because they believed Suekichi's words and provided wrong information." "Really, there is everything!" He strikes up a conversation. Sue Ji used Ma's fake illness as a reason for being late to publicize, maybe he asked someone else to buy a betting ticket for him!This is one to watch! "Then, what did Suekichi say afterwards?" "He just scratched his head and said that he didn't expect to get better so quickly. Maybe it wasn't a disease in the first place! When he was happy, he invited us to eat grapefruit!" "Grapefruit?" "Yes. It was a gift from the owner of the horse, Mr. Tateyama, and I shared three of them. Others also got so many. I don't know why there is some sand on the grapefruit." "sand?" The Tateyama former councilor was elected from the central region, and the pomelo produced in his hometown, but why is there sand attached to it? "That's not what Nishida-san gave you, but Sueyoshi, right?" "Yes. He gave it when he came." "Did you go back to Tokyo together?" "No. Nishida-san went back to Tokyo the night after the horse race. Sueyoshi was three days late because of the truck, so he went back with the horse." There was nothing left to ask, and Takeshi Sotsui thanked him and left. He took the last train.He had a fit from the alcohol he drank at the Fukushima hotel, and fell asleep as soon as he sat down.Maybe it's because I'm too tired. But vaguely heard: "Xiaoshan, Xiaoshan." The sound of the station announcement. He suddenly opened his eyes, because Xiaoshan Station had a deep impression in his subconscious mind. Outside the car window is the twilight of dawn.Although it was only half past four in the morning, it dawned early in summer. In the twilight, the white platform and the long row of heavily colored trucks on the opposite side could be seen. Just like this, the "Tsugaru" stopped here, and the livestock truck stopped on the other side of the platform to make way. Looking at the scenery outside the car window, Takehachi thought to himself: Yamazaki was sitting on the seat of the parked "Tsugaru". At this time, Sueyoshi got off the livestock transport truck parked on the avoidance line, and he knocked on the platform from the platform. window glass.When Yamazaki noticed him, he called, "Come down, come down!" Knowing that he was the stable attendant at Nishida's stable, Yamazaki got out of the car.He had seen Mokichi when he went to the stables to investigate before, and the straw clippings stuck to the back of his jacket was proof of his visit to the stables. He had imagined this before, but this time it was slightly different, because he got a new situation in Akita. The reason why Yamazaki went with Tateyama former Congressman was because he knew the truth about Okase Masahira's murder. The result of their conversation had something to do with going to Akita.Because Tateyama had an arrangement to go to Akita to attend the county party branch meeting, and it could not be changed, the unfinished conversation in Tokyo had to be continued in Akita.Anyway, it was Yamazaki who made a threatening request.Maybe it's a monetary requirement, or something else.But because the request was too high, Tateyama couldn't immediately agree, so the conversation continued to Akita! No, wait a minute.Takehachi Sokui continued to think... When Sueyoshi stood on the platform and knocked on the window glass, Yamazaki Haruhiro was sitting with Tateyama former congressman.How did Tateyama react?Sueyoshi called Yamazaki, and Yamazaki agreed, and if he continued talking for a while, he was turning a blind eye! This is getting a little weird again.If Sueyoshi had a connection with Tateyama, he wouldn't have done it in front of Tateyama. By the way, even though they are traveling together, Tateyama and Yamazaki don't necessarily have to sit shoulder to shoulder!It may also be sitting separately, or it may not be in the same compartment at all.Wu Ning said that it was reasonable for Yamazaki to sit in another compartment.why?Because: the carriages in which the Tateyama former councilors took were all influential and authoritative figures who attended the county party branch meeting.That day, there were three powerful faction leaders, and twelve or three staff members accompanied them.Tateyama Tohei was a key member of the party when he was an incumbent member of parliament.The seats around him must have been occupied by other staff... In other words, even if Yamazaki and Tateyama were traveling together, they did not necessarily sit in the same carriage, or the seats were far apart. Therefore, Sueyoshi did not call Yamazaki out in front of Tateyama. Yamazaki dawdled out of the car. The parking time of "Tsugaru" was three minutes, and Yamazaki planned to talk to Sueyoshi during this time. In the past, it was believed that Sueyoshi tricked Yamazaki into the truck by telling Yamazaki the truth about Okase Masahira's murder as a bait.It seems wrong now.He didn't need Moji himself to know the truth.Besides, he had to return to the seat of "Tsugaru" within three minutes of parking time... So Yamazaki got off the car and went to the platform to obtain more powerful information! Yes.It must be so. Yamazaki came to Sueyoshi, Sueyoshi told him to go over there, as if he had some secret to tell him, walked towards the platform where the livestock transport truck was parked, and made a gesture to stay away from the parked bus, It's convenient to say something in a whisper.In the shadows, Sueyoshi made a sudden attack, such as using a dagger or something, to hit Yamazaki's ribs or abdomen. Yamazaki couldn't cry out, and couldn't resist... it is good.What about the future? Afraid that Sueyoshi would really stab him, Yamazaki had to obey Sueyoshi's words and follow him to the livestock carriage.Maeji threatened him so that he could neither cry out nor run away.At this time, "Tsugaru" started to leave, and Yamazaki was locked in the livestock car and stayed there with Sueyoshi... So it's true. Sueyoshi strangles Yamazaki to death in the livestock cart.Regardless of whether it was due to Sueyoshi's own will or under the orders of Tachikawa or Nishida, it is certain that the criminal who directly killed Yamazaki was Sueyoshi. Thus, three questions remain. (1) Sueyoshi hanged Yamazaki when the car was driving near which station? - Impossible during parking hours.why?Because the flight attendant may come to inspect during the parking time.This requires vigilance. (2) Is Sueji acting alone?Or is there an accomplice?Or murder by instigation? (3) How could it be Yamazaki's body that was packed in the 191 freight train and consigned by Yamazaki?This is the most important unsolved mystery. As far as (1) is concerned, of course it is on the way to Yaita Station after departing from Oyama Station! The reason was that Sueyoshi called the steward at Yaita Station and threatened that the horse was sick.If Yamazaki was still alive, he wouldn't dare to do such a thing.When he dies, he can cover up and hide the body.There are many things that can be used in a cattle car. For example, a horse coat can be used to cover a corpse, which is enough to fool the steward. Therefore, it can be seen that Yamazaki was killed as soon as he passed the Oyama Station.As far as the prisoner's psychology is concerned, the sooner the trouble is over, the better. The problem is the presumption of time after death.It was previously thought to be the evening of the 15th. (That was before knowing that Yamazaki was going to check in the boxes).However, the inferred time of anatomical results is not absolute.There may be some margin of error.