Chapter 19 Chapter Nineteen

In the afternoon, I went to Akasaka.From the coffee shop facing Waibiao Boulevard.After around 2:10 in the afternoon, I saw Daisuke Yuguchi's fat body outside the glass door, and Yuguchi also saw me immediately, and walked over with a light wave. "Sorry to keep you waiting." "No, no, I'm embarrassed to find you out temporarily." Tangkou works in a nearby TV station, and he is a student of my university, and it is only a one-time experience of working together. He ordered coffee and I refilled another cup of coffee. After chatting with each other about the current situation, I started to enter the topic.

"By the way, did you have any idea about asking you on TV just now?" As soon as he asked, he frowned and said: "We seem to have done a lot of investigations internally, but the Katsuragi family and the police are very tight-lipped, and it seems that no matter how we investigate, we can't find out why." "But not all the news is on the TV news. There should be some unpublished content now, isn't it?" I asked Tangkou about Katsuragi Juri's disappearance.I explained this to Tangkou in advance: something happened at the house of the vice president of our company's largest customer, Sunstar Motors, and we hope to collect relevant information earlier.And Tangkou had no doubts.

"The upper echelons of the news team may have heard something, but it didn't spread to our subordinates. Then... Mr. Sakuma should have the basic information, right?" Tangkou said while resorting to him Notepad. "That's just the outline of the matter. But I still want you to tell me the whole story again." "It's fine. Hmm... First of all, when Ms. Juri disappeared..." Tangkou read the contents of the notepad, but there was nothing new, I just pretended to be very interested and continued to listen. "What about the clue of kidnapping? Is there any?"

"It's not clear yet, but I think probably not." Tangkou said with some certainty. "How to say?" "We're just talking here." He looked around and moved his body closer. He said, "The people in the press club said that the person in charge of the kidnapping case in the Metropolitan Police Department has not moved. If there is a kidnapping case, announcing When Ms. Juli disappeared, it was about ten days ago, so she should have taken action! It is impossible for people in the press club not to know. Although the police have already started to take action, such as several criminal police officers went to Katsuragi's house to guard and search, etc. There seems to be no movement."

"At the time of the disappearance, the kidnapping team of the Metropolitan Police Department did not move? Is this true?" "Yes. That's what they say." I suddenly thought of something.The Metropolitan Police Department did not act?There is no such reason!The daughter of the Katsuragi family was kidnapped. It would not be an exaggeration to mobilize the largest police force to search, and the reporters guarding the Metropolitan Police Department could not have noticed. If what Tangkou said is true, then there is only one possibility. Katsuragi Katsutoshi himself repeatedly emphasized that he did not call the police.The police were called after the ransom was taken away.And after a period of time, Shuli still didn't come home.It's unbearable.He just did it.This possibility is high.

Why not call the police?I think it is because I am worried that if the police report to the police and the prisoner finds out, it will endanger Shuli's life. "That's wonderful." Tangkou continued, "According to what the reporter said, Mr. Ge Cheng called the police in the past few days. Why didn't you call the police when Yi disappeared? Everyone is full of question marks." "Mr. Katsuragi didn't explain it." Tangkou protruded from his lower lip, shook his head and said: "When asked for clarification, he completely refused to be interviewed. 'There is no need to explain more than what has been reported.' He only made general statements like this."

I thought to myself, crossing my hands over my chest.Why did Katsuragi Katsutoshi not rely on the power of the police at all for this kidnapping case?Just consider paying the ransom and the daughter will come back, call the police and wait until after that? I mentally deny the idea, there is no reason to do so.I don't think Katsuragi will give in to bullying.He has the confidence to play the game and knows how to play offensive and defensive battles with prisoners. There is no reason to raise the white flag at the beginning. There must be a ghost in this, and the fake Juli must have a lot to do with this!

"Did Katsuragi's family members find out?" "Ah, it's not that difficult. It has been found out." Tangkou took out new information and put it in front of me. There is a row of names written on it, Katsuragi Katsutoshi, wife Miko, eldest daughter Juri, and second daughter Chiharu. "So there is another daughter." I looked at the information and asked, pretending not to have any questions. "Yes. Now I'm studying in a private high school, maybe my senior year." "Senior year... oh, which one?" "The full name is—" Tangkou said the name of the school.It is a high school attached to a famous private girls' university.

It would seem unnatural to just ask Katsuragi Chiharu, and I also asked some things about Juri and his wife, but Yuguchi didn't know the details of the situation very well, and I probably knew more. "The whereabouts of the eldest daughter are unknown, and the wife and sister are not feeling well." "I heard that my sister seems to be greatly stimulated. Anyway, my sister has been ill since she disappeared." "Being ill? Miss Qianchun?" "Yes. Some media rushed to Qianchun's school as soon as they found out some privacy and inside information about Katsuragi's family, but Qianchun had already asked for sick leave, and she started asking for ten days ago. It's not all to hide from the media, it's really because of her poor health. Looks comfortable."

I tried very hard not to look strange in front of Tangkou, but felt that my throat was very dry, and I drank all the water in the glass in one gulp. "This...can you give it to me?" I reached out to get the information. "Please take it. This must have a great impact on Mr. Sakuma. This happened before the launch of the new car of Nissei Motors." "It feels like I was interrupted halfway." I didn't say that I had been excluded from this case.There is no need to say it. Tell him politely that you still bother him in your busy schedule, pick up the bill and stand up.Walked out of the coffee shop and drove a taxi, said the address of the company.When the car started, I used the information Tangkou gave me just now.I watched, and had a change of heart.

"Mr. driver, I'm sorry, I'll go to another place, please go in the direction of Meguro." "Meguro? Where is it near Meguro?" I told him the name of the girls' high school, and the driver seemed to know it. Needless to say, this girls' high school is the school that Katsuragi Chiharu attended. I got off the taxi tens of meters in front of the school rail.The time for school has passed, and only students in twos and threes walked out of the school gate. There is a small bookstore in front, I pretend to stand in the bookstore and read magazines, and observe to find suitable female students.This is a school that the outside world thinks is a rich family, but they also dye their hair and imitate the make-up of famous artists, just like ordinary high school girls. I am afraid that the school rules have been loosened a lot. After the number of students decreased, two girls came over. Both of them had dyed brown hair. They must be walking in a lively place, and they would be picked up about once an hour on average. They had pretty good faces.Presumably they are also very confident about their looks.I made up my mind and approached them. "Sorry to bother you!" I greeted them with a smile, and the two of them stopped at the same time, with surprised expressions on their faces. "I'm not some weird guy, actually someone who does this kind of work." I used my business card, the name of a TV station different from Tangkou, which is the best weapon for high school girls. As I expected, the two showed expressions of curiosity and anticipation at the same time. "It's a bit rude, I want to ask how old you are now?" "Senior year." I guessed it, and I laughed secretly in my heart. "Is there some time now? I want to ask the two of you something." "Hmm... what's the matter?" Sure enough, it was the one on the left who asked. "There is a classmate named Katsuragi Chiharu in the third year of high school. I wonder if the two of you know about her sister's disappearance?" "Oh! I know. Everybody's talking about it at school." "Katsuragi-san is currently on leave, is this true?" As soon as I asked, the one on the right immediately whispered to the other, and the expressions of the two were very different from the first time, that is to say, they became wary. "We are not in the same class as you." The girl on the left returned the name tag to me and said, "We were warned not to say what we have or what we don't have." "Ah...then can you tell me Katsuragi's three-year class?" But two people just waved and walked past me quickly. After that, I asked three more people, and the results were similar.I only asked that Katsuragi Jyuri was in the second class of the third year, and wanted to ask more, but everyone quickly dodged.The school also considered that the media would come to the school, and kept an eye on the students not to make inappropriate remarks. Doing some strange things in this place, it would be troublesome if the school found out, but I just want to find out some things before I am willing. I shifted the location to Meguro Station.Because it is a private school, it is impossible for most students to walk or cycle to school.You can tell which school it is just by looking at the uniform. In the store, I immediately saw a girl who was tall and had long hair. She was reading a magazine.I approach her from the side.Excuse me, said hello to her.The long-haired girl frowned and glanced here, obviously vigilant.I think it is probably impossible to use the method just now, and give up the means of striking up a conversation. "I'm the person who traced the disappearance of the daughter of the vice president of Sunstar Motors. May I ask you something?" I asked straightforwardly in a small voice. The long-haired girl's expression immediately changed, but she wasn't wary. On the contrary, she showed concern. "Anything already known about this?" she asked me back. "No, there's nothing...the police don't want to release the news." "Yeah..." She looked down. "You and Chiharu are..." "classmate." I nodded greatly, good luck!Finally achieved the goal. "Do you want to find a quiet place to talk? Five or ten minutes is fine. By the way, this is what I do." Showed her the business card. "It's from the TV station. But I don't think I can say anything special." "It's okay, just tell me about Chiharu-san." She checked her phone, as if checking the time.He closed the phone all of a sudden, nodded and said, "It should be fine in about thirty minutes." thanks, i say. There was a fast food restaurant next to the store, so we walked in and sat down by the window on the second floor.The long-haired girl bought yogurt ice cream, and I got a cup of coffee. According to what she said, Chiharu started to rest at the same time as I met Juri and ran away from home.She asked for sick leave, but did not explain what was wrong with her. "The class teacher only said that he was not in good health and that he might have to rest for a while. But the teacher probably didn't know what the disease was. Later, when he asked in the teacher's room, he tilted his head and said that he was not very clear. I don't think it was acting." "Did the teacher ask about Katsuragi's family?" "Maybe there is. But I probably won't tell the teacher. After all, it's because my sister disappeared and I was seriously ill, right? It's hard for her parents to say such a thing. And in her When my sister disappeared, she seemed to be hiding something." The girl scraped the yogurt ice cream with a spoon and talked while eating.The tip of her pink tongue licked the ice cream in and out between her lips. "Are you close to Chiharu?" "Basically, it's close. I've been to her house a few times." "Have you seen Shuli?" "I don't. Qianchun has a sister. In fact, I only found out about it because of this case. She didn't even mention it. I asked other friends to find out that everyone is the same. Isn't it strange? When I heard Her sister's whereabouts are unknown, so she can figure it out. But she will be sick because of this stimulation, it must be her very important sister!" I have no opinion on these.I have my explanations, but no need to tell her. "Have you seen her since Chiharu started resting?" "No, I called and wanted to visit her, but my aunt refused." "Rejected? What did she say?" "Qianchun is not at home, and was sent to a sanatorium far away to recuperate, even if I go home, I will not see Qianchun." "Sanatorium... May I ask which one it is?" She shook her head with a spoon in her mouth and said: "I didn't ask. It seems that I don't really want people to visit her. I also feel disappointed." I nodded, I can understand her mood. "By the way, do you have a photo of Qianchun?" "Qianchun's photo, I don't bring it with me now, I should have it when I get home." "Where is your home? I'll take you back, can you show me the photos?" She looked at me suspiciously, frowned and said: "Is this kind of thing good for others to look at casually?" "Just take a look. I won't borrow it from you. I will pay you back on the spot." "Then why do you want to watch it? Does Qianchun have anything to do with the case of her sister's disappearance?" She is quite sensitive, and she did not let go of her guard against me. "I think there is always a chance to meet Qianchun. Before meeting her, it's better to confirm her appearance. I don't even know what she looks like, so I can't find her if I want to." The words seemed unconvincing, but the long-haired girl seemed to understand, she nodded and said, wait a minute.Then use your phone. "what are you going to do?" "Wait a minute!" She started texting while I drank bad coffee. After typing the text message, she looked up at me and said: "Is Chiharu's sister really kidnapped?" I almost choked and said, "Who said that?" "Everyone is discussing in private, saying that it is actually a kidnapping." "Where did you hear the rumor?" "I don't know, the words spread like this before I knew it. Hey, is this true?" "The police didn't release it like that, at least I haven't heard of it." "Is it that agreement called what?" "Ah, the reporting agreement. But it shouldn't be like this. Maybe someone higher up knows something." "If it's really kidnapping and you haven't returned after ten days, then..." She lowered her head and escorted her: "Forget it, if you tell the truth and it becomes true, it will be terrible!" What she wanted to say, I knew right away.This is also something that is practically hoped not to happen. Her cell phone rang. "Ah, it's here so soon." "what?" "Qianchun's photo, I just sent a text message to ask a friend to send it over. That friend has a scanner. Ask her to scan Qianchun's photo and send it over." "That's it..." Really, quite surprised.Using the Internet wisely, maybe these high school girls are better than bad salespersons. "Well, that's okay." She turned the phone screen towards me, and the phone screen was a few inches smaller, showing the face of a smiling girl. Although it was the same as I expected, the impact was not small.Although I still want to deny some of my assumptions in my heart, the picture says it all! The one shown above is the face of Juli, the girl who was with me a few days ago and also participated in the game together! Back at the company, there is no way to do things at all, it is really not the time to work.Just sorting out the thoughts in my head is no longer enough. My deduction was correct, it was not Juli who appeared in front of me, but my younger sister Chiharu!It was Chiharu who ran away from home! The part I don't understand also starts here.Why did she use Shuli's name?Purely on a whim?If this is the case, then before the game starts, they should not tell the truth. It was the same with Katsutoshi Katsuragi at the beginning, and the performance of the Katsuragi family also had many inexplicable doubts.When they first received the threatening letter, they should have known that the abducted person was not Jyuri but Chiharu, and they would make mistakes without pointing out the culprit's mistake. There is no need to make corrections, lest the prisoner be angered if it is not done well, they should have considered it this way. There is only one thing that is certain, the fake Juri, that is to say, Chiharu has returned home, and it is not that her whereabouts are unknown, but it seems that she is in a nursing home or has moved to another place, at least she is under the protection of Katsuragi's family under. It is the real Juli who has no news, and I have never met this Juli. Where did Katsuragi Jyuri disappear?The unlucky words of the long-haired girl appeared in my mind, I shook my head, even if it had nothing to do with me, it was Qianchun who had something to do with me! Another ten days passed, and my mood was not calm. There seemed to be no progress in the newspapers or news, or the case of Katsuragi Juri's disappearance.To be honest, I wish nothing had happened.If possible, I really want to break into Katsuragi's mansion, and angrily tell them to find Qianchun to come out and meet!Then he grabbed Katsuragi Katsutoshi's collar and asked him what he was thinking! Sustained lack of sleep, this morning, I was lying under the quilt, it was already time to get up, but my head was very heavy, I wanted to make up some reason to ask for leave from the company. In this situation, I was awakened by the sound of the phone, and it kept ringing like a death ring, so I had to crawl out of bed and pick up the phone: "Hey... hello..." "Sakuma? It's me, Otsuka!" "Ah! What's the matter?" "I heard your voice, so you are still sleeping, so you haven't seen the TV yet, right? Turn it on and watch it! Call if you know anything!" He just said these things to facilitate his work and hung up the phone. I turned on the TV while scratching my head.It's the morning news, and the male announcer is reporting something.Juli!Hearing this name, I lost my sleepiness and turned up the volume. "In the early hours of this morning, the body of a young woman was found in Yokosuka City. The identity of the woman's body was verified through fingerprints and other verifications, which proved that she might be Ms. Katsuragi Juri, the eldest daughter of the vice president of Sunstar Motors. Ms. Juri disappeared about 20 days ago— —”