Chapter 39 Section 5

I saw all the people who participated in the yacht trip again, and it was dinner time much earlier than yesterday.Whereas last night's menu was dominated by sumptuous, fresh sashimi, today's meal is reminiscent of a family restaurant—steaks, lettuce salad, soup, and plain rice served on a plate.Looks like frozen food and canned food are all out. If the dining atmosphere is more lively, in fact, such dishes will still make people very happy to eat.But almost none of the people present spoke. The only thing they heard was the sound of knives and forks hitting the dinner plate, which made the air in the restaurant even heavier, as if they were being tortured.

I left the leftover half of the steak and more than two-thirds of the rice on the dining table, got up and left the table, and walked to the living room.The owner of the hotel, Moriguchi, was reading the newspaper with a tired face. Moriguchi put down the newspaper after noticing me, and rubbed his right shoulder with his left hand. "Today is really exhausting," said the hotel owner. "Yes!" "I was also warned by the police about a lot of things! The lights around the hotel are too dark, and the fence on the other side of the cliff is not safe enough. They let me know thoroughly that it will be too late when things happen 'That's the truth!"

I couldn't find any words to comfort him at all, so I kept silent, walked over to him and sat down. "I really never dreamed that this kind of thing would happen." I don't know if it's because I didn't answer the conversation, but he just said to himself: "If I knew this kind of thing would happen, I shouldn't have done it." What kind of mahjong are you playing?" "Did Moriguchi-san stay in the mahjong room in the basement last night except leaving his seat to lock the entrance?" Facing my question, he nodded as if he was exhausted. "Actually, I almost never do this. It was really too long yesterday. As long as Mr. Shansen invites you to a game, it's hard to refuse!"

"You mean, it was President Yamamori who offered to play mahjong?" "Well, that's why I also found a chef!" "Is that so..." Kind of weird, I thought.Although it would be endless to doubt, it is not impossible to use Moriguchi as an alibi witness. "So you've been with President Yamamori all the time?" "Yes, even after playing mahjong, we stayed together in this living room. Did you really see the process?" "Yes." If what Moriguchi said is the truth, then you have to doubt President Yamamori and it really doesn't make sense.After I nodded to Moriguchi, I got up and left the living room.

After returning to the room, I sat at the desk and began to sort out everyone's actions last night.Dongzi definitely did not die accidentally, nor did she commit suicide, so I can only start from the point of "someone lied". The results after sorting are as follows. Takuya Yamamori, Yusuke Ishikura, Moriguchi and Chef - stayed in the mahjong room after dinner.Only Moriguchi left the table at 10:15 to lock the door.At half past ten, everyone arrived in the living room. Mrs. Yamamori and Yumi—were in the living room until ten o'clock.After returning to the room, after Yumi went to bed alone, the wife went to the mahjong room and met with President Yamamori at around ten o'clock.

Masahiko Takemoto and Noriko Murayama—they were all in the living room a few minutes before 9:30.Then went up to the top floor. Saburo Kanai—in the living room until about half past nine.Then go back to the room and take a shower and go to the top floor.It was about a few minutes before ten o'clock, and then he joined Takemoto and Murayama. Harumura Shitsuko—in the living room before nine forty.Entrusted by his wife, he went outside to observe the road conditions. After returning, he and his wife took Yumi back to the room, and went up to the top floor by himself.It seemed to be around ten o'clock at that time, and I met Takemoto, Murayama, Kanai and the others.

strangeness. After re-examining this result, I found a very strange phenomenon.This phenomenon is: everyone seems to have agreed in advance, and all get together as soon as ten o'clock arrives.There are two gathering places, one is the mahjong room and the other is the top floor. And no matter which side, there is a third party who is most suitable to prove the authenticity of the alibi.On the other side of the mahjong room are Moriguchi and the chef, and on the top floor is Masahiko Takemoto. I can't see this situation as a coincidence.It seemed to me that all this must be the manifestation of some well-planned ruse.

The question is what kind of trick is hidden here. As a mystery writer, however, I have no clue about this ruse. Fuyuko, help me—— I muttered to the empty bed.