Chapter 40 Section 5

The scene is on the coast of Minato City, with seagulls flying in the sky, and Hinode Station is nearby. The deceased, a young woman, was thrown on the side of the road and found by a passing truck driver. The cause of death is unknown. The police station in the jurisdiction temporarily notified the headquarters. After hearing the general explanation, the headquarters decided to send someone over to take a look.Kato thought, it's bad luck that several "temporaries" overlapped and were assigned to him. He was smoking a cigarette when Nishizaki came back with a smile on his face. "They said we worked hard, and they seemed to be looking forward to our return."

"It must be. It's not easy for people from the headquarters to come forward for such a trivial matter." The two got into Nishizaki's car parked on the side of the road. Kato rented an apartment in Omori, and Nishizaki lived in Kamata, which was further ahead.As long as you reach the first Keihin National Highway, you can drive in a straight line.Kato guessed that the boss sent the two of them, perhaps just because it was convenient for them to go to the scene, and Nishizaki still had a car.In addition, both of them are single, so even if they are called out in the middle of the night, they don't have to worry about their family being unhappy.

"Let's go back after eating ramen here." Kato raised his chin at the signboard on the left. "Okay." Nishizaki responded positively.These two have long been used to it, even looking at the dead body will not affect their appetite. The two parked their car on the side of the road and walked into a ramen restaurant that was open until five o'clock in the morning. Kato stopped his chopsticks when he ate about a third of the Jajangmen. "Shall we talk about Xin Haimei's winter trip?" "Xinhai?" Nishizaki looked surprised, "Ah, that woman. Of course, what else do you think is wrong?"

"That Asagaya widow... No, it's the one whose husband disappeared. I went to see her." "Oh?" Nishizaki leaned back, "It seems that you really take it seriously. Why?" "It's not the same name and surname, it really is that Xin Hai Mei Dong." "What's the matter? Kato, don't you also say that this kind of chance is possible?" "Only that woman makes me feel that it's not that simple." "Is it because that woman is so attractive that you can't forget it for a long time?" Nishizaki wanted to make a joke, but Kato stuck the thin slice of meat with his chopsticks without a smile on his face.

"What do you think that woman is doing now? Don't be surprised, she has now become the boss of two companies." Nishizaki didn't know how to answer when he heard the words, and washed down the food in his mouth with the water in the cup. "In such a bad world, there is someone so capable." "One is a beauty salon, which now has a very popular beautician, and the business is booming. The other one is what you guess? Original jewelry and sales, and I heard that there is a business cooperation with Huawu." "Ah..." Nishizaki stirred the noodles in the bowl with his chopsticks, "I don't know what to say. I don't know if this kind of thing happens often or is very rare."

"How could it be so often? Just two years ago, she was just an ordinary shop assistant and a victim of the Great Hanshin Earthquake. At that time, it was not easy to maintain her life. Why does she have some super beautician now, and she can develop with Huawu?" Business Cooperation?" "He has indeed done it. What can be done? There are indeed some powerful characters in this world, but they are different." "That's the problem." Kato pointed at Nishizaki with his chopsticks. "Because she is such a different woman, she is accidentally related to the two cases. It doesn't make people feel right. I think there must be something behind it."

Nishizaki smiled wryly while eating ramen: "You think too much, and, that... Soga, is the company employee of the missing Asagaya, so it's hard to say whether it counts as a case or not." "A big man disappeared, of course it was the case." "I can't understand this feeling." Nishizaki picked up the bowl and tilted his head, "Kato, even if there is a relationship, Xinkai had an appointment with Soga, but he didn't wait for Soga in the end. Do you think she's lying?" "I didn't say that." "I'm afraid it's only by chance." Nishizaki began to drink the noodle soup.

Kato didn't want to say any more.No matter how you explain it, it is difficult for others to understand the thoughts that are not clear in your mind. Kyoko Soga said that Mifuyu Shinkai introduced her to work in Huaya, and Kato also felt suspicious about this.For Xin Haimeifuyu, Soga Kyoko is just the wife of someone who wants to send her family photos, and she never met herself before Soga disappeared.Soga was a subordinate of my late father, but with this level of relationship, would you help introduce jobs? Kato commissioned an acquaintance at the Suginami Police Station to obtain relevant information on Takato Soga's disappearance.The Suginami Police Department did not seriously investigate, and only formally asked Shinkai Mifuyu and Soga's colleagues about the situation, but they went to the coffee shop where Meifuyu and Soga made an appointment to investigate.The people in the coffee shop testified that they had indeed seen a woman like Meifu.

After leaving the ramen restaurant, Kato hardly said a word.Nishizaki didn't take the initiative to talk, maybe he mistakenly thought that he didn't respond to the matter about Xin Haimeifuyu, which made Kato unhappy. The next afternoon, Kato sat in a coffee shop in Kojicho.Just after three o'clock, a fat man in a suit appeared.The weather was cold, but the man was sweating on his forehead, holding a large brown envelope in his hand—it was the sign of the appointment.Kato stood up and nodded at the man. "Are you Mr. Kato?" the man asked. "Yes. I'm sorry for taking the liberty of asking you out."

"It's nothing. I will do my best to assist Zeng me. I called his wife yesterday and told him. She was very happy and said that the police finally started to act." This person's surname is Sugawara, and he is a colleague of Zeng Gai's filial piety.According to Kyoko, he has the closest relationship with filial piety. Kato first asked him to talk about the situation before Takato Soga disappeared. "I guess you've heard from his wife too. Work is going well, and there's a big deal coming up next week. It looks pretty busy. When we chatted, I couldn't see any difference from usual. It's impossible to imagine him leaving home Run away, the world evaporates."

With his slender eyes open, it could be seen that what he said was not just for entertainment, but he thought so from the bottom of his heart. "Mr. Sugawara, did you talk to Soga when you left the company?" "I've said it. It's rare for him to pack his things and want to go back early. I asked him if he had any arrangements, and he said he had an appointment to meet someone. That's all." "About what time was it?" "Well, I don't remember clearly, it should be past six o'clock, almost half past six. When he just disappeared, his wife asked the same question, and I remember answering like this." Kato had indeed heard about it from Kyoko Soga. "Head Sugawara, do you know a woman named Shinkai Mifuyu?" Sugawara nodded. "I heard from Zengwo's wife that she made an appointment to meet Zengwo, and it was the daughter of our company Xinhai." "About that Xinkai, Mifuyu's father, what are you mainly talking about?" "Zeng I always said that I was taken care of by Minister Shinkai before." Sugawara nodded with his chin retracted, and it became a double chin. "So, when I learned that Minister Xinhai passed away in the earthquake, I was very sad It seems that one year after the earthquake, he happened to be on a business trip to the Osaka headquarters and said he wanted to visit Kobe by the way.” "One year after the earthquake... last year." "Well, it should be. Ah, that's right, it's been less than a year, it feels like a long time ago. "I heard from my wife Zeng that it took him a long time to find Xin Haimeifuyu's residence, but since he made an appointment to meet, it seems that he found it through some means, and even his wife didn't know the specific process. Sugawara Sir, what have you heard?" "I haven't heard of these details." Sugawara sullenly said, "I just heard from him many times that he wanted to give his daughter the photos of Minister Xinhai before." "Have you seen that picture?" "No, I haven't seen it. Zeng I am a gentleman. I don't think it should be shown to others casually." Kato nodded, and I heard that Soga didn't even want my wife to see it.Kyoko said she saw it once, and it was a very ordinary family photo.Kyoko doesn't have a deep impression of Meifuyu, and can't remember what she looks like in the photo. "Mr. Sugawara, have you met Shinkai Mifuyu's father?" "No, I have been in Tokyo, and Minister Shinkai is at the Osaka headquarters. So I said that he was taken care of at that time." "Is there anyone who knows Xinhai better—I mean Minister Xinhai. I want to ask something." "People of similar age who have stayed in Osaka probably know about Xinhai's situation." Sugawara's eyes showed a trace of guard, "Why do you ask Minister Xinhai about it? I don't think it has much to do with Zeng Gai's disappearance. " Kato thought, and sure enough, he poked his head too far.He smiled. "That's it. Next, I plan to meet Xin Haimei Fuyu, and I want to know some background in advance." "Oh..." Sugawara's puzzled expression didn't disappear, "If it's just for this, I think it's better not to investigate Minister Xinhai too much." "what do you mean……" "I just listened to what I said, and I don't know the details." Sugawara leaned forward from the table, as if he didn't want to let the people around him hear, "Our company had problems a few years ago, and Minister Xinhai resigned." "Oh, question?" "I heard from Zeng that Minister Xinhai is not responsible, so I won't talk about it. Because of this background, I guess everyone is reluctant to talk about Minister Xinhai in public." Kato said with a smile: "It's too exaggerated to talk about public occasions, just tell me." Sugawara also smiled, and the smile was obviously squeezed out. "Mr. Kato is a police officer. Telling the police is equivalent to making it public, isn't it?" "Oh, I see." "Because this is the case, I'm sorry. I will do my best to assist with other things." "Thank you. I'll pay the bill." Kato reached for the bill. "No, you should use this part of the tax as the cost of finding Soga." Sugawara said as he grabbed the bill and walked towards the cashier. Sugawara realized that the police were not concerned about Soga's disappearance, but the company's problems, so he was a little unhappy.Kato shrugged secretly. After leaving the coffee shop, Kato took the subway, took the Yurakucho Line to Ginza 1-chome, and walked along Chuo Avenue.Soon, the signboard of "Osmanthus Hall" appeared on the right, which was the shop where Soga Takato and Shinkai Mifuyu made an appointment to meet. Sugawara said that Zeng I left the company in Kojicho at around 6:30 in the evening.The appointment time with Xin Haimei was at 7 o'clock. It can be inferred that I and I took the same route that day, but I did not appear in the Osmanthus Hall.In this simple route, it is impossible for a big man to be kidnapped. Since kidnapping is impossible, it means that Soga went elsewhere out of my own will.Is there something else?The appointed time is coming soon, even if you are suddenly invited by others or something urgent happens, you should call Xin Haimeifu. But what if Xin Haimeifu called him? Suppose Mito Shinkai said that he wants to change the meeting place, what would happen?I would definitely go there without a doubt, no matter where.It doesn't matter if it's not Ginza, even if it's the wilderness that is perfect for kidnapping. The only person who can direct Soga Takato's Disappearance is Shinkai Mifuyu, and Kato is sure of that. still have a question.Even if Meifuyu called Soga elsewhere, it would be impossible for a woman alone to carry out the action, and she was indeed in the Osmanthus Hall at the time.Is there an accomplice? But if there is no evidence, it is meaningless to assume any number of times just to make the reasoning work.Because of this, Kato wanted to further explore the relationship between Takato Soga and Miyu Shinkai.There should be no need for a man who just sent family photos for himself to disappear. After passing the Osmanthus Hall and walking for a while, Hanaya appeared in sight, and Kato walked in, carefully avoiding Kyoko Soga who was working on the first floor, and went up the escalator. The staff at the third-floor store did not seem to have changed much from two years ago, except that Akiko Hatayama, who was the most harassed by stalkers at the time, was missing. Sakuragi, who was once fainted by the stench of the gas, is patrolling the store.He was a lot fatter than two years ago, but he was even more majestic. As soon as Kato walked over, Sakuragi immediately reacted.Despite the surprise on his face, he still showed a gentle smile. "Long time no see, I caused you trouble last time." He lowered his well-combed hair. "I happened to be nearby because of other things. I want to say that by the way, but I want to ask about the situation after that." "Oh, come here." Sakuragi led Kato to the table inside.It seemed he didn't want to talk about that in front of his guests. Kato only wanted to ask about Guan Tianxin Haimeifuyu. In order to conceal his intention, he first asked other shop assistants, such as how they are doing recently, whether there are any sequelae of harassment, etc., and asked them if they have any relatives.Sakuragi said that there was no abnormal situation again, and it felt like those female shop assistants had completely forgotten about that incident.Hatayama Akiko was transferred to the Yokohama branch, but this transfer had nothing to do with that incident. Kato pretended to inadvertently ask about Xin HaiMeiFuyu's situation.He knew that she had already resigned and started a new business, but when he heard Sakuragi talk about it, he still pretended to hear it for the first time. "It's amazing. Now she has a cooperative business with Huawu, and I have to use honorifics to her when we meet." Sakuragi smiled wryly. "You're so young, it's amazing. You're still single, do you have a lover?" Kato pretended to be relaxed, and smiled lewdly on purpose. Sakuragi suddenly became serious and put his index finger to his mouth. "In our place, it is forbidden to talk about this topic about her, and please don't ask other shop assistants this question. If gossip spreads, it will be troublesome." "how?" "You are a policeman, so I'll just tell you the truth. I heard that she is going to get married, and her partner is not an ordinary person. Only a few people know about this. I hope you will keep it a secret." After a lot of chatter, Sakuragi said who is that person. Hearing that it turned out to be the president of Huawu, Kato couldn't help being stunned.