Chapter 32 Section 3

On the second day after the body was found, the police received a warning signal: On the day of the presumed crime, a woman had peeped into Noheira's house through the fence.According to witnesses, the woman was about 40 years old, wearing a suit and appeared to be a salesman. The police recovered many insurance certificates from Nohira Kaseko's room, all of which were handled by the same company, and a woman named Mase Kimiko was in charge.The police immediately found a photo of Kimiko for witnesses to identify, and the witnesses concluded that they saw this woman. Kaoru and Kusanagi immediately set off to find Kimiko Mase.When I went to her unit to ask, I realized that she had gone home, so the two went to her home instead.

The apartment where Kimiko Mase lives is located 15 minutes' walk from Nodaira's house.One-bedroom, open the door to the dining room, and even the Japanese-style room inside can be seen at a glance.Kaoru and the others sat across the table and talked with Kimiko in the small dining room. In the room inside, a girl who looked like a junior high school student was watching TV.According to Kimiko, since the death of her husband three years ago, the mother and daughter have been dependent on each other. Kimiko looks good and thin. Although it seems that she is trying to use makeup to modify her dark face, it is undeniable that her charm still exists.Although she is forty-one years old, Kaoru estimates that some clients may still put their seal on the contract because of her beauty.

Kimiko doesn't know that Noheira Kashiko is dead.Maybe she was just playing, but she did show a big blow.His face, which was not very good, became paler and paler, and his eyes were congested with blood.Kaoru felt that if this was acting, then the acting skills would be too good. She didn't forget that she had indeed met criminals with such superb acting skills before. Kimiko confessed to the fact that she had been to Nodaira's house on the day of the incident, saying that she was going to explain the personal pension insurance contract she participated in to Nodaira Kashiko.She said that she arrived at Noda's house after three o'clock in the afternoon and left around four o'clock.

"Someone said that you once peeped into Ms. Nopeira's house through the fence?" Hearing Kusanagi's question, Kimiko said "Ah" and nodded, "Because I haven't contacted her beforehand, I just want to check outside to see if Mrs. Nodaira is at home." "Across the fence? To confirm whether the other party is at home, just ring the doorbell, right?" "I know that. I rang the doorbell later that day. I peeped in first because I thought it best not to go near the door of her house." "Why don't you want to go near her door?"

"That's because her family has a dog named Xiao Hei who barks fiercely. As long as someone approaches her gate, the dog will bark non-stop. In fact, I am quite afraid of dogs. Every time I go in and out of her house At that moment, I felt like I had made up my mind to die." "Haha, that's what happened. Then did Xiao Hei call you at you that day?" "Of course I did." "Was it when you went back?" "Yes." Kimiko nodded, then looked at Kusanagi in surprise and asked, "Is there any question, Kuro?" Kusanagi glanced at Xun, then turned his gaze back to Kimiko again: "Since the incident happened, Xiao Hei's whereabouts are unknown."

"Huh, is that so?" Kimiko said with her eyes wide open. "Do you know anything? Judging from the current situation, you should be the last person to see Xiao Hei." "Even if you tell me that..." Kimiko muttered while tilting her head in embarrassment. "Then let's change the question. Have you seen the Buddhist altar in Ms. Nopeira's house?" "I've seen it." "Then did she mention anything to you about the altar?" Although Kimiko showed for a moment that she didn't understand the question asked by the other party, the possibility that she was playing a show cannot be ruled out.

"Are you talking about gold?" she said "Yes. You really know the secrets behind the Buddhist altar." "She showed me once. Couldn't the gold have been stolen?" Kusanagi did not answer her question, but instead asked: "Do you know if there are other people who know the secret of this dark compartment?" "This..." She lowered her head and muttered, "I don't know about this." "Is that so. Finally, would you please tell us what you did after you left Ms. Nopeira's house? We would appreciate it if you could explain in as much detail as possible."

Hearing Kusanagi's question, Kimiko frowned.She probably sensed that Kusanagi was asking for her alibi. "Afterwards, I went to a few old clients and went back to the office. I remember it was around seven o'clock. Then I went to buy some things to take home. It was around eight o'clock when I got home." "and then?" "And then I just stayed at home." "Are you alone?" "No, my daughter is here too." Kimiko Mase said and turned her head slightly behind her. The girl was still watching TV in the Japanese-style room, and her fair cheeks could be seen from behind.

Kusanagi nodded and said, "Ms. Mase, we have a request, can we take a look at your home?" Kimiko raised her face and asked, "Do you want to search the house? Why?" "I'm sorry, we have to search every household when we go to inquire. It will be done right away. I think you don't want men to touch your things, so let Neihai come, what do you think?" Although Kimiko looked bewildered, she still nodded reluctantly. "In that case, there is no other way. Please." Kaoru said "Sorry", stood up, and took out the gloves from her pocket.

She started her search in the dining room first, the purpose of which was naturally to see if there were gold bars hidden.Although there is no search warrant in hand, it is impossible to conduct a thorough search, but fortunately, there is not much room to search in a small house. After searching carefully, Kaoru did not find the gold bars.On the contrary, she understood how embarrassing the lives of the mother and daughter were.There are not only the minimum electrical appliances needed for life in the house, but each of them is quite old.There are very few things in the refrigerator, and there seems to be no habit of refrigerating or freezing food needlessly.Clothes are not a thing of the latest fashion.What is even more surprising is that even the reference books on the shelves are almost all used by others.Because some of the books are clearly printed with the year of publication, which can be seen at a glance.

After searching the closet, Kaoru looked at Kusanagi and nodded. "Thank you for your assistance. Maybe we will ask you some more related information in the future, and please take care of me at that time." Kusanagi stood up and bowed to Kimiko, and said. The two left the apartment, and after walking a little distance, Kusanagi asked Kaoru, "What do you think?" "I don't think she could have committed murder. At least she's not the type to kill for money." "Why do you think so?" "Because I have witnessed their living conditions with my own eyes, I think that if she is a person who will easily commit crimes, it is impossible for her to endure that kind of life for a long time. In today's world, apart from them, I really don't know Knowing someone who stuffs soap crumbs into the orange net bag and keeps using it." "But sometimes people are obsessed with ghosts!" "Senior Kusanagi, do you think she is suspicious?" "How should I put it, once I see a mother and daughter like them, it's hard for me to make a calm judgment." "A mother and daughter like that?" "Mother and daughter who depend on each other and live strong lives—oh, let's not talk, let's go." As Kusanagi said, he suddenly quickened his pace, and Kaoru hurried to catch up.