Chapter 104 Section Fourteen

There is Santa Claus sending cards at the door of the store, and Christmas songs adapted from classical music are continuously played in the store.Factors such as Christmas, the end of the year, and opening discounts interacted, and the store was crowded.Looking around, the visitors were almost all young women, Sasagaki thought, it really looked like swarms of insects surrounding the flowers. The first store of "R&Y" in Osaka run by Yukiho Shinozuka has a grand opening today.This place is different from the stores in Tokyo. "R&Y" occupies the entire building. There are not only clothing in the store, but also accessories, bags and shoes on the exclusive floor.Sagaki doesn't understand, but it is said that the store is full of high-end brand names.In a society that is suffering from the bursting of the bubble economy everywhere, here it is marketing in the opposite direction.

There is a space for drinking coffee next to the escalator from the first floor to the second floor, where customers can take a break.An hour ago, Sasagaki was sitting at a side table overlooking the first floor.Passenger traffic did not decrease after dark.He also queued for a long time to get in, and there is still a long queue at the entrance.Afraid of being looked down upon by the clerk, Sasagaki ordered a second cup of coffee. Sitting across the table from him was a pair of young people.In the eyes of others, it should be a young couple and the father of one of them.The young man whispered to him, "Still haven't shown up."

"Yeah." Sasagaki nodded slightly, his eyes still looking downstairs. The young couple are both officers of the Osaka Police Headquarters, and the man is still in the first search department.Sasagaki looked at the clock, the business hours were about to end. "I don't know yet." He murmured. Naturally, what they were waiting for here was Ryoji Kirihara.Once you find him, you must immediately arrest him.No arrests are possible at this stage, but he must first be taken into custody.Sagaki, who has retired from the police position, knows him very well, and came here to assist in handling the case, which was arranged by Koga, the chief of the first search section.

Kirihara is suspected of murder. When Sasagaki saw the shards of glass in the potted cactus at Shinozuka's house, a thought flashed through his mind, that was the dress Isamu Matsuura wore when he disappeared.Several people testified that "he often wore Ray-Ban sunglasses with green lenses". Sasagaki Tokoga investigates the broken glass.His intuition was correct, it was indeed a Ray-Ban lens, and a small piece of fingerprint left on it was also very similar to his own fingerprint collected from Matsuura's room, with a 98% coincidence rate. Why are there fragments of Matsuura's sunglasses in the potted plants?According to speculation, when the original owner of the cactus, Karazawa Reiko, put the soil into the flower pot, the lens had already been mixed in the soil.So, where did the soil come from?If you are not buying soil for gardening, it is the most reasonable guess to use the soil from your own yard.

But a search warrant is required to excavate Tang Ze's courtyard.It is really difficult to judge whether such a bold decision should be made based on such weak evidence.In the end, Koga, the head of the first search department, agreed.Although Karasawa's house is currently unoccupied is a major factor, but Sasagaki explained that Koga believed in the persistence of the retired old policeman. The search was carried out yesterday.There is bare soil near the wall of Tang Ze's family courtyard.Veteran searchers started digging there almost without hesitation. After excavating for about two hours, a white bone was found.There was no clothing on the body, and he had been dead for seven or eight years.The Osaka Prefectural Police has sought the assistance of the Scientific Research Institute to identify the deceased.There are several methods, at least it should not be difficult to prove whether it is Isamu Matsuura.

Sasagaki is convinced that the deceased is Matsuura, because he learns that Shirato is wearing a platinum ring on his right pinky finger.The appearance of Matsuura wearing the ring on his hand seemed like yesterday in retrospect. Moreover, there was another piece of evidence on the right hand of the corpse—several human hairs were wrapped around the fingers that had turned into white bones, and it was presumed that they were torn off from the opponent's head during the fight. The question is whether it can be judged that it is Kirihara Ryoji's hair.In general, hair owners can be identified based on factors such as hair color, luster, hardness, thickness, medullary index, distribution of melanin particles, and blood type.However, the hairs found this time fell off many years ago, so it is still unknown to what extent the judgment can be drawn, but Koga has already been prepared for this.

"If it really doesn't work, please ask the Scientific Police Research Institute." He said so. Koga plans to conduct a DNA test.The method of using DNA sequence similarities and differences for identification has been applied in several cases in the past one or two years.The National Police Agency plans to introduce this system to police departments at all levels across the country within the next four years, but it is still exclusively arranged by the Scientific Police Research Institute. Sasagaki had to admit that times had changed.Nineteen years have passed since the pawn shop murder case, and the years have changed everything, even the way the case is handled.But the key is to find Kirihara Ryoji.Evidence is meaningless if he cannot be arrested.

Sasagaki proposes to monitor Yukiho Shinozuka, because the goby is next to the gun shrimp.He still believes so strongly. "On the opening day of the Yukiho boutique, Kirihara will definitely show up. Opening a store in Osaka has special meaning for the two of them. Besides, Yukiho also has a store in Tokyo to take care of, so they can't come to Osaka often. They will definitely not miss the opening day. "Sasagaki strongly advocated to Koga. Koga agrees with the retired policeman.Since the store opened today, several teams of investigators have taken turns to go into battle, changing locations from time to time, and continuously monitoring "R&Y".Sasagaki had been with the investigators early in the morning. About an hour ago, he was still in the cafe opposite.But Kirihara showed no sign of showing up at all, so he came to the store.

"Does Kirihara still use the name Akiyoshi Yuichi?" the young policeman asked in a low voice. "I don't know, it may have been changed." After replying, Sasagaki thought about another unrelated matter - the pseudonym Akiyoshi Yuichi.He always felt that this name seemed familiar, and finally figured out the reason not long ago. He heard the name from Kikuchi Fumihiko in his boyhood.Kikuchi Fumihiko was suspected by the police for the rape case, and it was Kirihara Ryoji's testimony that he was innocent.But why was he suspected in the first place? Because someone reported to the police that the key ring left at the scene belonged to Fumihiko Kikuchi.Kikuchi said that the "traitor" was Akiyoshi Yuichi.

Why did Kirihara choose this name as a pseudonym?The reason for this may only be known by asking him himself, but Sasagaki has his own opinion. Most likely, Kirihara knew that his survival was based on betrayal of everything, so he called himself Akiyoshi Yuichi with a bit of masochistic thoughts.But now, none of that matters. Sasagaki can be said to be sure to fully understand the reasons why Kirihara framed Kikuchi.The photo in Kikuchi's hand is extremely unfavorable to Kirihara.It is said that the scene of Yayoko Kirihara and Isamu Matsuura's tryst was photographed in the photo.If Kikuchi takes the photo to the police, what will be the impact?The investigation may therefore be reopened.Kirihara was worried about losing his alibi on the day of the murder. Since Yayoko and Matsuura were busy with private meetings, Kirihara was alone.From an objective point of view, it is impossible for the police to suspect him as a primary school student at the time, but he still hopes to conceal the matter.

After meeting Yayoko Kirihara last night, Sasagaki believed in his reasoning even more.That day, Kirihara Ryoji was alone on the second floor, but he didn't stay there all the time.In that densely populated area, just as a thief can easily enter and steal from the second floor, it is not difficult to go out from the second floor.Liang Si climbed down from the roof and returned by the same way. What did he do in the meantime? The store started broadcasting an announcement that the business was about to close, and the crowd changed direction immediately. "Looks like it won't work." The male policeman said, and the female policeman also looked around with a depressed expression. The steps drawn up by the police are to interrogate Yukiho Shinozuka today if Ryoji Kirihara is not found.But Sagaki objected to this. He didn't think Yukiho would disclose any information that would help clarify the case.She must have looked surprised enough to fool anyone, saying: "Bones were found in my mother's yard? It's unbelievable. What's going on?" She prevaricates like this, what will the police do?When Matsuura was killed seven years ago, it was New Year's Eve, Karasawa Reiko was invited to Yukiho's house, this has been proved by Makoto Takamiya.However, there is no evidence of any connection between Yukiho and Kirihara. "Mr. Sasagaki, look..." The policewoman pointed quietly. Looking in that direction, Sasagaki couldn't help but widen his eyes.Xuesui was walking slowly in the store, she was wearing a pure white suit, with a perfect smile on her face.That was beyond her beauty, it was the radiance of her body, instantly attracting the eyes of the customers and shop assistants around her.Some people looked back after passing by, some looked at her and whispered, and some looked at her longingly. "What a queen," whispered the young policeman. However, in Sasagaki's eyes, the queen-like Yukiho is superimposed with another completely different figure: she met in that old apartment, the girl who has nothing to rely on and refuses to open her heart . "If I could have known about that earlier..." The words he said to Yayoko last night echoed in his mind again. Yayoko had mentioned it to him five years ago, when she was quite drunk.That's why there's no hiding it. "Now I dare to say that my husband is not good at all. In fact, he was not like that at first, but he gradually changed later. He doesn't touch women, but touches those...how should I put it? Going slanted. That's called love." Is it pedophilia? I am interested in little girls. I also bought a lot of those weird photos from people with connections. Those photos? As soon as he dies, I will dispose of it immediately, so it goes without saying?" What she said next surprised Sasagaki even more. "Once, Matsuura told me a very strange thing. He said that the boss seemed to be buying little girls. I asked him what he meant by buying little girls, and he told me that he was paying for very young girls. I slept with him. I was shocked and said that there was such a shop. Matsuura laughed at me and said that the proprietress clearly came from that line of work before, but she didn’t know anything. These days, parents are selling their daughters to make a living.” Hearing this, a storm blew up in Sasagaki's mind, and all thoughts were confused.But in the aftermath of the storm, what was once pitch black is now as clearly seen as the sun has been lifted from the clouds. Yayoko hadn't finished speaking: "Soon, my husband started to do some inexplicable things. He ran to ask the lawyer he knew, what procedures should be followed to adopt someone else's child as an adopted daughter? When I questioned him about this, he said He lost his temper and said it had nothing to do with me. This was not enough, and he also said that he wanted to divorce me. I think there must be something wrong with his head at that time." Sasagaki believes that this is the key. Yosuke Kirihara often went to the apartment of Nishimoto's mother and daughter, not for Nishimoto, but for Nishimoto Yukiho.He must have bought her body many times, and the room in the old apartment was used for this ugly transaction. At this time, Sasagaki naturally had a question: Is Yosuke Kirihara the only client? What about Terasaki Tadao who died in a car accident?The task force regarded him as Nishi Bundai's lover, but no one could conclude that Terasaki did not have the same hobbies as Yosuke Kirihara. Unfortunately, none of this can be proven now.Even if there were other clients at that time, there is no way to trace them. The only one who can be sure is Kirihara Yosuke. Kirihara Yosuke's one million yuan was indeed the transaction amount proposed to Nishi Bundai, but the money was not for her to be a mistress, but the price for adopting her daughter.Presumably, after buying sex several times, he hoped to take her daughter as his own. After Yosuke left, Wendai was alone in the park swinging.What thoughts were swaying in her mind? After Yosuke finished talking with Fumyo, he went to the library to meet the beautiful girl who had captured his heart. Sasagaki could clearly recall what happened next: Yosuke Kirihara took the girl into the building.Did the girl ever resist?Sasagaki guessed maybe not.That's what Yosuke must have said to her: I've already paid your mother a million dollars... It was disgusting to even imagine what happened in that dusty room.But what if someone saw that scene? Sasagaki didn't believe that Ryoji was playing in the ventilation pipe at that time, and he should be heading for the library when he left from the second floor of his house.He may often meet Xuesui like this, showing her his good paper-cutting.Only that library is the resting place for their two young hearts. But that day, Liangji saw a strange scene beside the library: his father and Yusui walking together.He followed them into the building.what are they doing in thereThe boy felt an indescribable uneasiness.There was only one way to spy on them, and he crawled into the air duct without thinking.So, he may have seen the most unbearable scene. At that moment, in the boy's heart, his father was just an ugly beast.His flesh must have been dominated by grief and loathing.To this day, Sasagaki still remembers the injury suffered by Yosuke Kirihara, which was also the injury in the boy's heart. After killing his father, Liangji let Xuesui escape first.Stacking bricks behind the door should be a child's brainstorming method, hoping to delay the discovery of the murder case.Then, he got into the ventilation pipe again.Thinking of what kind of mood he was crawling in the ventilation duct, Sasagaki's heart felt as if a knife was piercing him. Afterwards, it is not known how the two of them coordinated the agreement.Sasagaki guessed that there was probably no such thing as a coordinated agreement, they just wanted to protect their souls.As a result, Yukiho never showed his true colors to others, and Ryoji is still wandering in the dark ventilation duct to this day. Ryoji's direct motive for killing Matsuura should be because Matsuura held the secret of his alibi.Matsuura may have discovered by chance that Liangji might have committed the crime of patricide, and he most likely hinted at this to Liangji, threatening him to participate in the counterfeit game software operation. But Sasagaki thinks Ryoji has another motive for killing Matsuura.Because no one can be sure that Yosuke Kirihara's pedophilia did not start with Yayoko's affair.In that secret room on the second floor, Liangji must have been forced to witness the ugly situation between his mother and Matsuura countless times.It was that man who drove my parents crazy—no wonder he decided so. "Mr. Sasagaki, let's go." The police's greeting brought Sasagaki back to his senses, and when he looked around, there were no other customers in the cafe.didn't show up... I felt a sense of loss in my heart.Sagaki felt that if Kirihara hadn't been found here today, he might never be caught again, but he couldn't stay here.Let's go, he helplessly supported his heavy body. Walking out of the cafe, the three climbed up the escalator together.The guests left in twos and threes.The shop assistants seem to be satisfied that the first day's promotions have been successfully concluded.Santa Claus, who is handing out cards at the store, is riding the upward escalator, and he also looks happy and tired. After getting off the escalator, Sasagaki scanned the store for a week, but there was no sign of Yukiho. At this moment, she might have already started to calculate today's turnover. "Thanks for your hard work." Walking out of the store, the male policeman whispered. "Where." Sasagaki said, nodding slightly.In the future, it can only be handed over to them, to the younger generation. Sasagaki left the store with the other customers.Police posing as lovers quickly left to walk toward colleagues who were monitoring at other locations.Maybe next they will go to Xuesui for questioning. Sasagaki pulled up his coat and started walking.Walking ahead of him was a mother and daughter who also seemed to have just come out of "R&Y." "I received a great gift, I will show it to my dad when I go back." The mother said to the child. "Okay." A three or four-year-old girl answered with a nod. She was holding something in her hand and was shaking it lightly.For a moment, Sasagaki opened his eyes wide. The girl holds a piece of red paper and cuts out a beautiful elk silhouette. "Where did this come from?" Sasagaki grabbed the little girl's hand from behind. The mother showed a look of fear, trying to protect her daughter. "Yes, what's the matter?" The little girl seemed to burst into tears at any moment, and all passers-by looked sideways. "Ah! I'm sorry. May I ask... where did this come from?" Sasagaki pointed to the paper-cut in the little girl's hand. "Where did you get it... from?" "Where did you send it?" "In the store." "Who delivered it in the store?" "Santa Claus," replied the little girl. Sasagaki immediately turned around, ignoring his aching knees from the cold, and ran with all his strength. The store doors have begun to close, and the police are still nearby.When they saw Sasagaki's appearance, their faces changed. "What?" one of them asked. "Santa Claus!" Sasagaki yelled, "That's him!" The policemen came to their senses immediately, forcibly opened the glass door that was about to close, broke into the store, ignored the clerk who stopped them, and rushed up the escalator that was not working. Sasagaki was going to rush in after them, but then a thought popped into his mind.He turned into the alley next to the building. How stupid!How stupid of me!How many years have I been following him?Doesn't he always guard Yusuho where people can't see it? Going around to the back of the building, Sasagaki saw a staircase with iron handrails and a door above it.He climbed the stairs and opened the door. There stood a man in front of him, a man in black.The other party also seemed to be taken aback by the sudden appearance of someone. It was a strange time, and Sasagaki immediately understood that the person in front of him was Ryoji Kirihara.But he didn't move an inch, didn't make a sound, and a corner of his brain calmly judged: This guy is also wondering who I am. However, this period of time is probably not even a second.The man turned around and ran in the opposite direction. "Stop!" Sasagaki said urgently. Across the corridor is the store.The figures of the police appeared, and Kirihara sprinted with all his strength between the shelves displaying bags. "That's him!" Sasagaki yelled. The police all stepped forward to give chase.This is the second floor, Kirihara is running towards the escalator that has stopped, Sasagaki believes he can't escape. But Kirihara didn't run up the escalator, but stopped, turned over and jumped to the first floor without hesitation. The clerk screamed in his ears, and there was a loud noise, as if something had crashed.The policemen raced down the escalator. Sasagaki also reached the escalator.His heart couldn't take it anymore, he pressed his painful chest and slowly went downstairs. The huge Christmas tree has fallen, and next to it is Ryoji Kirihara.He was in a big character shape, motionless. A policeman approaches, trying to pull him up, but then stops and looks back at Sasagaki. "What's wrong?" Sasaki asked.The other party did not answer.Sasagaki approached, trying to make Kirihara face up.At this time, the screaming sounded again. There was something stuck in Kirihara's chest, it was difficult to identify due to the gushing blood, but Sasagaki knew it at a glance.Those were the scissors that Kirihara regarded as his treasure, the scissors that changed his life! "Hurry up to the hospital!" Someone shouted, and the sound of running footsteps came again.Sasagaki understands that these are futile, he has long been used to seeing corpses. Suddenly feeling someone around, Sasagaki raised his head.Yukiho was standing beside her, her face as white as snow was bending towards Kirihara. "Who is this person?" Sasagaki looked into her eyes. Xuesui was expressionless like a puppet.She replied coldly, "I don't know. The store manager is solely responsible for hiring temporary workers." Before the words fell, a young woman appeared from the side.Her face was livid, and she said in a weak voice: "I am the store manager Hamamoto." The police began to take action.Someone took measures to protect the scene, someone prepared to interrogate the store manager, and someone put Sasagaki's shoulders and asked him to leave the corpse. Sasagaki staggered out of the police circle.I saw Xuesui going upstairs along the escalator, his back was like a white ghost. She didn't look back once.