Chapter 24 Section 8

Sekihara, Komaki, Gifu Hashima, Nagoya, Toyota, Toyokawa, Okazaki, Sannichi, Oi Matsuda, Yokohama, and then Atsugi, Tokyo.The above is the 1,150-yen section of the Tomei-Meishin Expressway. Between Atsugi and Tokyo... Ah——Sayama is very concerned about this section.For other sections, for example, to get a receipt from Sekihara and Komaki, you have to get off the expressway twice halfway.However, because Tokyo is the end point of this section, you only need to get off the expressway at Atsugi. Did the prisoner get off the expressway at Atsugi on the way to transport the body from Osaka to Tokyo?Why do you have to do that—?Maybe it was because of a traffic jam caused by a car accident, I got off the expressway halfway, took the general national highway No. 246 under the expressway to Atsugi, and then drove onto the Tomei Expressway from there.In the area from Gotemba to the Tofuliango Tunnel, car accidents often occur in the middle of the night.

Sayama tried to ask the Japan Road Corporation.However, the answer I got was that the Tomei Expressway was in good condition that night and there were no accidents.Anyone who has ever driven from Osaka to Tokyo on the Tomei Expressway will know that this expressway is smooth and comfortable to drive. "So, is it true that the prisoner planned to get off the highway at Atsugi from the very beginning?" Sayama said to himself, and his eyes fell on the road map.He looked around the Atsugi Interchange, but there was nothing special about it. He glanced at his watch, it was almost eleven o'clock in the evening.He stretched his hands upwards, took a deep breath, and heard someone behind him say, "You seem to be in a tough battle."

It turned out that Xintang came back, and he should have gone to the Ogikubo Department. "You're slow, did the Ogikubo Bureau get any news?" But Shindo sat in front of Sayama, pursed his lower lip and shook his head. "The parcel was stamped with the postmark of the Chofu branch, but the person in charge couldn't remember the prisoner's face at all. After all, it had been a few days, and the post office staff had to deal with a large number of customers every day, so it's no wonder they couldn't remember." "Besides, Saturday and Sunday were separated, and the body was found late. Maybe the prisoner was lucky."

"The prisoner is not only lucky in this matter. People from the Ogikubo Bureau seem to have gone to the Toyu Department Store where the pens are packaged, but none of the clerks seem to remember what the customers who bought the pens for the crime looked like." "Really? But pens are different from small packages. There can't be so many customers buying pens that the clerk doesn't remember them at all." "You are right. Pens are not bought every day. But it is because of this that the clerks forget. For example, at the Toyo Department Store in Shibuya, the pens used for crimes were sold two weeks ago. There is a record on the invoice, so it can’t be wrong. The people from the Ogikubo Department seem to have asked other branches, and every branch sold pens two weeks ago. Because of this, it is not surprising that the clerk has no memory.”

"So the prisoner was ready two weeks ago?" "That's right, the prisoner was ready before Nishina Naoki was killed?" "really weird." "It's very strange." "If you were ready to use hydrogen cyanide gas to commit crimes at that time, wouldn't you usually use this trick to kill Naoki Nishina first?" "I think so too, or are the criminals who killed Naoki and Hashimoto different?" "No, I think it's the same person. Hashimoto was murdered because he had something to do with Naoki's murder, and this was planned by the criminal from the beginning...?"

"I don't know." Sayama scratched his head.I always feel that the case is stuck, and a certain link has been decoupled. "Mr. Sayama." Xintang said solemnly, "I want to visit Nishina Naoki's hometown." "Home?" "This statement is very strange. It is the home where Naoki lived before he was adopted by Nishina's family at the age of fifteen. It is also the hometown on the mother's side." "Yes. Where?" "Toyohashi in Aichi Prefecture. His mother's siblings should live in that area. I want to know more about Naoki's background. I always feel that because he is a member of the Nishina family, the details are really elusive."

On this point, Sayama also felt the same way. "Very well, it depends on whether Mr. Taniguchi agrees." "That's where the problem lies. Can Mr. Sayama please tell the director? I think if Mr. Sayama speaks, the director should be able to listen." "That's not the case, but I'll just say take a look. I want a breakthrough now." After speaking, Sayama turned his attention back to the road map.He also wanted breakthrough points.Although he is also interested in the criminal's motive for killing Naoki, he wants to solve this matter first. "Have you found a reasonable explanation for that receipt?" Shindo also asked Sayama from the opposite side, staring at the road map.

"It's difficult. I think that receipt is definitely related to the murder case, but I can't find a clue. At present, I think it is a receipt for traveling between Atsugi and Tokyo." He explained the reason for reaching this conclusion. Shindo listened carefully to his explanation, but asked a question: "No, it may not necessarily be Atsugi and Tokyo." "Why? For other sections, you have to get off the expressway twice." "I know that, but I'm concerned about where the body was found. The location is Naoki's apartment, right? That's Komae."

"I know that. Is there a problem with that?" "If it's Komae, it's faster to get off the expressway in Tomei Kawasaki than in Tokyo, isn't it?" After finishing speaking, Shindo flipped over the road map nearby, and Sayama looked at the map and exclaimed.So that's the case, Xintang was right.If you want to get off the expressway to Komae, it is relatively close to get off the expressway in Kawasaki. "I was so careless." Sayama couldn't help muttering. "Or is the prisoner also careless?" Hearing Shindo's words, Sayama shook his head in denial. "A prisoner with a well-planned plan cannot deliberately take a long way. You are right, if you want to get off the highway, you will choose Kawasaki. So, where is the receipt from when you drove there?"