Chapter 32 Section 8

On the third day after the incident, Komura and Muto went to Tokyo. First of all, they wanted to find the woman who had been with Akiko at the class reunion that day. Her name was Mako Yamamoto, and she ran a beauty salon. "Well, yes, Qiuzi and I were together all the time that day. We gathered at six o'clock in the evening until ten o'clock at night. Because Qiuzi and I were very good at drinking before, and we drank until the end that day. Together all the time. So, what happened to her?" To be on the safe side, the two criminal police called several other people who attended the class reunion, and everyone proved that Qiuzi was indeed with everyone at that time.This means that the woman in the photo with Tomoo Abe is not Akiko.

Then, the detectives met with people from the Detective Club at a coffee shop near Abe Fumiko's house.Detectives have also contacted Fumiko in the past few days, but she has not been at home. The detectives appeared a minute before the appointed time, two men and women in black.You can feel different from ordinary people just by looking at it. Komura police officer explained the situation to the detectives, emphasizing the necessity of asking the detectives to assist in the investigation.Detectives said that as long as the client agrees, they can assist the police investigation. "Last Monday, Fumiko Abe commissioned you to investigate her husband's actions, right?"

"That's right." The male detective replied in a dull voice without cadence. "The investigation was terminated on Thursday." Detective explained Sachio's actions on that Wednesday.Basically the same as what Fumiko said. "No photos?" "Well, because she said at the time that she even wanted the negatives, so I gave them all." Komura nodded to show that he understood, and then took out a few photos from his pocket, one of which was of Akiko, and the others were of unrelated women. "Is the woman related to Sachio in here?" The detective and his female assistant carefully looked at the photos together. During this time, their expressions changed. Komura explained to see if there were any people they thought were familiar in the photos.

"The woman that day couldn't see clearly, so I can only say that she looks a little like this person." As he spoke, the detective picked out Qiuzi's photo. "Understood." Satisfied, Komura put the photo back into his pocket.It seems that Fumiko is not lying. "Is this woman the same woman from that day?" the detective asked.Because please help yourself, so you can't just ignore the case. "No, it doesn't seem to be this woman. Mrs. Fumiko may have mistakenly thought it was this woman. In order to confirm whether it is really similar enough to be mistaken, we invite you to take a look."

"Ah, yes." "It's really similar. This woman's name is Akiko Manabe. It seems that even her husband mistakenly thinks that the one in the photo is his wife." "Did you show that photo to this husband named Akiko Manabe?" "Yeah, it seems that Fumiko was very angry at that time." Then, Komura told the detectives that Fumiko had gone to Manabe's company. "I heard that Manabe gave all the photos at that time. So, what did Manabe do with these photos?" "Why should it be disposed of?" "This, is there any consideration?"

Komura looked at the watch on his wrist and stood up.Because there is one more place to go. The next thing Komura and the others are going to is Manabe Koichi's company Daying Trading.In the company's reception room, a young employee named Sato under Manabe received the visiting detective.Sato still remembers the fact that Mimiko Abe came to the company. "First, I called and made an appointment to meet. At that time, she did say that her name was Abe." "After we met, what was Manabe-san's expression when he returned to the office?" "The minister was in a bad mood when he came back."

Sato's voice lowered, "I haven't spoken all the time, I think that woman named Abe must have said something bad." As for what he thought at the time, Sato didn't want to tell Officer Komura. "Wasn't Miss Sato present when I met that woman named Abe?" "Well. Anyway, it's a private conversation of the Minister. But anyone happened to see that woman coming out of the drawing room. Shall they be called?" "Okay, just to make sure." Sato said "please wait a moment" and went out.After about five minutes, two young people, a man and a woman, came in.The man is Matsumoto and the woman is Suzuki.

"Matsumoto-kun saw the woman walking out of the reception room. Miss Suzuki saw it when she was delivering tea." "Really? By the way, is it this woman?" Officer Komura took out Fumiko's photo and handed it to the young woman.She just glanced at it and nodded, "Yes, that's her." He showed the young man named Matsumoto again, but he immediately shook his head and said, "No, not this woman." "Isn't it? Please take a closer look." So Matsumoto looked at the photo carefully, but still said with a disapproving expression: "It's really not. It's a woman younger than her. Wearing glasses, she is a very beautiful beauty, and she is also well-dressed, so I am very impressed. .”

"Oh……" how did this happen.Komura thought.Did Manabe meet any woman other than Fumiko that day? "Ah, Mr. Detective." Sato said in a somewhat hesitant tone, "Miss Suzuki is talking about the woman in this photo, so there is no doubt about it? But Matsumoto-kun saw another woman, I think." "Thank you, that seems to be the case." The village police officer who packed up the photos also became suspicious.He looked at Matsumoto again and said, "Did that young woman also meet Mr. Manabe?" "yes." "What time was that?"

"I don't think it was three o'clock. I went to the vending machine to get some coffee when the woman came out of the drawing room." "Ah, so—" Sato interrupted, "the minister met this woman named Abe after meeting that woman. I remember the minister asked her to come to the reception room at three o'clock on the phone." "Yes, this will explain clearly." Komura nodded in agreement.Still, he was thinking about the young woman. After thanking Sato and the others, Komura and Muto left Daying Trading.So far they have basically deduced the truth of the case clearly.