Chapter 19 Chapter 17 People Surrounding the Dead

Two days later, Horie returned to Tokyo, and Teramoto stayed at the hotel in Hakone.Totsukawa and Kamei detectives asked Nishimoto and other detectives to stay in Hakone to monitor Teramoto, and then returned to the search headquarters in Tokyo. "Let's re-examine this incident again." Totsukawa said this to Kamei detective as soon as he returned to the search headquarters.It was obvious that Totsukawa was a little uneasy. Although it is known that Teramoto met Horie in Hakone, there is no way to prove their relationship, and his relationship with Horie is still unknown.In the current situation, it may be difficult to unravel the truth of the incident twenty years ago.

"The question is, does Teramoto of group N have anything to do with this incident?" Kamei detective said. "I think it's related," Totsukawa said. "You mean that Kitahara's murder of Sasaki, the assassination of Kusaka Detective, and the killing of N Group officials Sancun and Jianyuki were all ordered by Teramoto?" "Yes. Unfortunately there is no evidence to prove it." "Do you think Teramoto did that because of the incident twenty years ago?" "Yes. Turtle, do you think so too?" Totsukawa asked with a smile. "Although I think so too, the problem is that we investigated Teramoto in various ways, but we couldn't find any evidence that he was related to the incident 20 years ago. Master Horie was in the United States at that time, and it had nothing to do with the incident 20 years ago." Detective Kamei Said with a puzzled look on his face.

"We can boldly assume that." "What if?" "This is purely my assumption. Could the incident twenty years ago have something to do with the old Diet member Horie?" When Totsukawa said this, Detective Kamei opened his eyes and said, "But, he was a minister!" "Everyone has two personalities." "However, I don't think that a person who has served as a minister will be involved in the serial killings, let alone the murders that only target young women. Even if he is a murderer, everyone is already dead, and someone will kill for him ?"

"Perhaps the murder was done to protect the honor of the deceased. Teramoto said that he respected the old Diet member Horie very much." Totsukawa said. "In that case—" Detective Kamei suddenly fell into thought. "Old Turtle, what's the matter with you?" "I recalled the investigation report of the incident 20 years ago. The report did mention that the car was a red Porsche and a black premium car. At that time, only the red Porsche was noticed. However, judging from the current situation, the black luxury car is also very Suspected." "I remembered too."

Totsukawa also nodded. There was no mention of the black luxury car in the first killing at Hibiya Park. It is clear that the black luxury car was mentioned in the incident where a couple was attacked and a woman was killed in Tama River. According to the investigation report, a white Porsche and a black premium car were parked at the scene. Police were so focused on the Porsche that they ignored the black luxury car. Judging from the circumstances at the time, perhaps this was a natural thing.But if Ishizaki, who was driving a red Porsche, was not the murderer, then the person who was driving a black luxury car would be very suspicious.

"I suddenly thought, could the person driving that black luxury car be the old Horie member of the Diet?" Totsukawa's expression not only dimmed, but also became very serious. Because he knew that the conclusions he and Kamei Detective had reached were not trivial. Therefore, Congressman Horie is not only the soul of the Conservative Party, but also served as a minister three times. However, they both suspected that he not only raped women, but also killed three women in a row. Even Detective Kamei said with a livid face: "Only the old Diet member Horie is the murderer, so he can understand the reason for putting pressure on the investigators twenty years ago."

"Yes, because the serial killings happened when the former member of Parliament Horie was the Minister of State, if the police find out that he is the murderer of the serial killings, it will not only cause an uproar in the cabinet, but also cause great harm to the Conservative Party. harm." "In this way, isn't it possible to understand the reason why Ishizaki repeatedly appeared at the murder scene?" Kamei detective said. "Because he is the secretary of Diet member Horie?" "That's right. Maybe he suspected that Congressman Horie was the murderer and followed him?"

"Yes. This kind of reasoning can solve the doubts until now." Detective Kamei said the same. "It can also explain the reason for the pressure and understand the reason for Ishizaki's suicide. He probably committed suicide to protect the reputation of Horie Diet member? Twenty years later, the murderer killed Sasaki who re-investigated the incident for this purpose. Probably. Teramoto asked his people to kill Sasaki in order to protect the reputation of the former member of the Horie Diet, right? No, it may also be to claim credit for Master Horie, because he also formed a political organization and wanted to enter the political circle. The events of years ago were his best stepping stone into politics?"

"I think so too. If Teramoto ordered Kitahara to kill Sasaki, the police department's reasoning should be correct. Teramoto Hakone met Master Horie, I think it must be for this matter. With mutual coordination, will Master Horie meet?" What promise do you make to Teramoto?" Detective Kamei said. "However, it is difficult to prove this matter. One member of Parliament Horie is dead, and the second Teramoto and Master Horie will not tell us the truth." "If the minister knows that we are investigating the old member of the Diet Horie, he will stop us immediately." Detective Kamei said with a shrug.

"yes." Totsukawa also nodded in agreement with Detective Kamei. Minister Mikami is the head of the investigation headquarters for this incident. Although he is a serious person, he cares a lot about what other people say, especially what politicians say. Therefore, as Detective Kamei said, once he knew that they were investigating the old Diet member Horie, he would turn blue with fright and stop them. Therefore, many members of the Conservative Party, to which Member Horie belongs, have contacts with high-ranking police officers. Master Horie, also a member of the Conservative Party, must have put pressure on them both through senior police officers.Totsukawa thought so.

"However, if we don't investigate, we won't be able to solve the incident." Totsukawa said a little displeased. "So, shall we launch an investigation?" Kamei Detective asked. "Are we going to meet the big guy face to face? Or start investigating the small stuff?" "By big men, do you mean politicians?" "Yes. I think there should be a few politicians who were familiar with the deceased who are still alive. Let's ask these people face to face. What do you think?" "If we do this, the minister will know right away. Not only will those people not answer, but they will also prevent us from investigating." Detective Kamei said. "To be honest, I think so too." Totsukawa said with a smile. This kind of straightforward investigation will never find any evidence and will not be successful. "So, we started our investigation small?" "I think so." "Where to start the investigation?" "I'd like to go to Matsue, the hometown of the former member of the Diet, because there must be many people who know about him there. In addition, you can also ask about Teramoto's father by the way." "However, if the two of us acted together, it would be too conspicuous. Others must know that we went to Songjiang for something." Detective Kamei said a little worriedly. Totsukawa nodded and said, "I also thought of this, so I plan to go alone, and you stay in Tokyo to continue the investigation." "Can I do it alone?" Kamei detective asked. "I'm only worried about what will happen here after I go to Matsue." Totsukawa said, "Kisaka Detective is recovering. I'm not worried about him. I'm worried about Sasaki Kitiko. I hope she won't act recklessly." "Don't worry, when Nishimoto and the others come back, I will ask them to keep an eye on her. She also encountered the same problems as us, and it is difficult to take any action." Detective Kamei said optimistically. "It is true according to common sense, but women are different from men. They often act on the basis of feeling and it is difficult to predict, which makes me worry." After Totsukawa told the Kamei detective to be careful, he set off for Songjiang. Since it was past eight o'clock in the evening and there was no flight, Totsukawa had no choice but to take the sleeper express "Izumo No. 3". Detective Kamei sent him all the way to Tokyo Station. "When you get there, please be careful." Kamei detective said. Totsukawa smiled and said, "Don't worry, they won't kill me." "No, don't think that way. Because our reasoning is correct, the murderer specifically targets people who want to reveal the truth, which can be proved by the murder of Sasaki." Detective Kamei said a little worriedly. "Okay! I'll just play it safe." Totsukawa agreed. The sleeper limited express "Izumo No. 3" that Totsukawa took departed from Tokyo Station at 21:30. The time of arrival in Songjiang was 10:16 am the next day. The car was very empty. After Totsukawa climbed onto the upper bunk, he opened the memorandum pad and reviewed what was written on it. Things just went on and on from there. Detective Kosakai and Detective Sasaki, who were in charge of investigating the case, were eyeing Ishizaki, secretary of Diet Member Horie. Because Ishizaki's red Porsche repeatedly appeared at the scene of the incident. However, the investigation by Kosakai Police Department and Sasaki Detective came under pressure. This is probably because Ishizaki is the secretary of the former Minister of State Horie Diet Member? Kosakai and Sasaki investigated and arrested Ishizaki regardless of pressure. After Ishizaki was released, he committed suicide by leaving a suicide note saying "I am wronged". At that time, the newspapers not only reported the news of Ishizaki's suicide as "suicide of protest", but also blatantly accused the police of slandering good people and disregarding human lives. Regardless of whether Ishizaki was the murderer or was wronged, the person is already dead, and there should be no need to confirm it now. However, the Kosakai police department who arrested Ishizaki later believed that Ishizaki was wronged. Detective Sasaki seems to think so too. Therefore, twenty years later, Sasaki carried on Kosakai's behest and investigated the incident again. However, Sasaki was killed by those who did not want that incident to be exposed again. Just as Totsukawa thought, the real culprit of the incident twenty years ago was Horie Masashi, and those who wanted to protect his reputation ordered the gangster Kitahara to kill Sasaki, right? (Speaking of which, how is the current Masashikai organization doing?) Totsukawa thought. Masashikai is the support club of former Horie Diet members, and Ishizaki became Horie's secretary after joining the Masashikai. Master Horie, who inherited his father's mantle and was elected as a member of the National Assembly, will naturally use the Masashikai, so the Masashikai should still exist, but the name may have changed. (Is Zhengzhihui also related to this incident?) Totsukawa was so deep in thought that he fell asleep unconsciously. When he woke up, the train was near Kinosaki. Totsukawa got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash his face. When he was about to go back, he suddenly felt that someone was watching him. When he looked back, there was not even a single person in the passage. (Could it be my nervousness?) Although Totsukawa thought so, he couldn't help but be careful because of his years of working as a criminal police officer. After getting dressed, Totsukawa walked to the passage and watched the scenery outside the window. At 6:29, the train arrived in Kinosaki. Maybe you want to travel to the hot spring town?Five or six passengers get off here. Since there was no dining car connected to this train, Totsukawa bought bento from the salesperson on the train. After the bed was converted into a seat, Totsukawa sat down to eat a bento. While eating bento, he remembered what Detective Kamei said. (Someone came to spy on me so soon?) Totsukawa thought. The "Izumo No. 3" that Totsukawa took arrived in Matsue on time at 10:16. He told people at the station that he wanted to know the deeds of the old member of the Horie Diet, and he was immediately called to the Horie Masashi Memorial Hall near the lakeside park.Totsukawa took a taxi to leave the shopping street in front of the station and cross the bridge across Lake Shinji. You can see Matsue Castle.Taxis are driving along the lakeside road.Horie Masashi Memorial Hall is located on the inn street. It is a brand new second floor building. Totsukawa did not meet the curator in his sixties in the name of a criminal police officer. "I am collecting information on Mr. Horie in Tokyo." After Totsukawa finished speaking, the curator named Ono smiled and asked him to sit down. "Mr. Horie is the light of his hometown, he is a very remarkable person." Ohno enthusiastically described Mr. Horie's deeds of building a gymnasium and swimming pool for the citizens of Matsue, and also showed him the pamphlet. "What is displayed in this memorial hall?" When Totsukawa asked, Ono stood up and said, "I'll take you to visit." The first floor is an exhibition room, displaying photos of Horie when he was the Minister of State, and the pens, leather bags and glasses that Horie is said to have used. Horie's masterpiece "Exploring Political Situations" is also displayed in the exhibition room. "Is this his autobiography?" Totsukawa asked. "Yes. It's out of print now. If you want to read it, I can send you a copy, because I still have a few." After Ohno finished speaking, he gave him a hardcover copy of "Exploring Political Situations". This book may have been written by Horie, or it may have been written for him by others. Totsukawa turned over a few pages, starting from Horie's childhood. "I heard that Mr. is very flamboyant, is this true?" Totsukawa asked. Ohno smiled and said, "Mr. has a lot of affair, and I have heard a few of them." "What kind of woman is it?" "It's mainly an artist. What I know is his affair with a popular artist in Songjiang." "When did that happen?" "It happened when my husband became a minister for the second time. When he returned to his hometown, the folks held a grand welcome party for him. That's when the scandal spread." "What kind of artist are you?" "At that time, I was twenty-seven or eight years old, and I should be forty-seven or eight years old now, but she is still very beautiful." "Are you still an artist?" "No, she is currently the owner of the club. Her name is Kanako, and she uses her own name as the club's store name." "I want to meet her." After Totsukawa finished speaking, Ohno thought about it and said, "It's a membership-only club. If you want to go, I can call for you." Totsukawa checked into a hotel by the lake, and after dark, crossed the bridge to the club near the station.The club was in the basement of a residential building. Since Ono had already called, as soon as Totsukawa arrived, the boss, Kanako, immediately came out to meet him.She is a very gentle woman. "I heard that you are studying Mr. Horie." Kanako said happily. "Yes, so I want to hear your opinion of Mr. Horie." Totsukawa said. "Sir is a very good man, not only sincere, but also very manly." "Is his relationship with women complicated?" Totsukawa asked. Ke Naiko smiled and said, "You mean he has other women?" "yes." "Honestly, he has other women, and I know two of them." "What kind of woman is it?" "Both are younger than me." After saying that, Naiko burst out laughing suddenly. "It's useless to be jealous now, because the husband is dead." "Is sir popular with women?" Totsukawa asked. "Yes. Because he's honest, rich and handsome." "Does sir have a strange temper?" "Strange temper?" "Such as a sudden violent behavior, or a drunken madness—in short, does it seem like a different person suddenly?" "Why do you ask such a strange question?" "Because I've heard such rumors." "No, sir, that never happened. I think it's a rumor from a candidate in the same constituency as sir. I know other politicians. Generally, politicians are arrogant and can't be trusted. But sir, no. This kind of problem." Kanako said. (This woman seems to have a crush on Horie Masashi.) Although Totsukawa thought so, he still doubted whether Horie might be the murderer. There have been incidents of rape and murder of girls before, and the suspect is a well-known 60-year-old lawyer. The lawyer is usually upright and specializes in fighting injustices for others. He has won the reputation of a righteous man and is highly respected by the public.When Totsukawa investigated him, the prosecutor also said that he could not be the murderer. It wasn't until he brought the seventh girl into the car and molested him that he was caught by Totsukawa and others and arrested on the spot. Totsukawa thinks it is a kind of pathology, other than that, there is no way to explain the murderer's behavior. When the lawyer was arrested, he also admitted that he was mentally ill. Will this incident be similar to this? Maybe Horie Masashi is an outstanding politician. He has served as a minister three times, probably very prestigious and politically powerful, right? He is very popular with women, and people still respect him now that he is dead. This is a normal thing, and there is nothing strange about him. However, it cannot be said that he has no shortcomings at all. Such people also have a dark side. But it is not easy to find out his dark side.Totsukawa thought so. The first is that Horie is dead. The second is that even if the people around Horie knew it, they would hide the truth in order to protect his reputation or their own interests. Besides, there are other reasons. That is what happened twenty years ago. In any case, we must find a way to break through this bottleneck. Totsukawa goes to visit Tomio Okamoto, who is running for Diet in Shimane Prefecture with Horie. Okamoto has retired from politics and is living a leisurely life in Matsue City. Although Okamoto is seventy-two years old, his body is still very strong. Totsukawa was taken to a spacious reception room. "If it's Horie, I know something about him," Okamoto said. "All I hear is that he is great, but what I want to know is his real side, because I always feel that he is not as great as the legends say." Totsukawa said. "Well——" Okamoto folded his arms and looked at Totsukawa and said, "From my point of view, he is not as great as the legend says." "Are you saying he has a lot of flaws too?" "To put it simply, he is not qualified to be a Japanese politician. Generally speaking, a politician is surrounded by a large number of people. This is for their own benefit, because after all, there are too few politicians with personality." "In other words, he also committed illegal acts?" Totsukawa asked directly. Okamoto said with a smile: "Your statement is too superficial. He raised money from the outside world to become the leader of the party. In order to make the outside world happy to donate, he had to use profit to induce him. This is the reality of Japanese politicians. " "During Horie's activities, is there an unknown side? Have you heard any secret rumors about him?" "I don't know what you mean by that?" "For example, did he get into any trouble with the police?" After Totsukawa said that, Okamoto shook his head and said: "No, he didn't cause any trouble to the police. Although he is my political enemy, I have to admire him in this regard!" Totsu felt a little disappointed. (Masashi Horie has nothing to do with the incident?) If so, why does the event still haunt us like a ghost today, twenty years later?After Totsukawa returned to Tokyo, he re-investigated the incident again.