Chapter 6 Chapter Six

Kindaichi Kosuke this man is like a magician.As soon as he showed up, the situation changed, which was really amazing.Of course, he is still very humble about this. "The discovery of the prosthetic leg and cane is actually not my credit. I didn't think there was such a thing there at the beginning, so I deliberately searched for it. I just wanted to follow the escape route of the murderer, and then search for it. I walked through that road once, and finally saw the sewage pit." Kosuke Kindaichi said with a relaxed smile, "If the murderer has left anything behind, the sewage pit is the most ideal place. I just looked for it. Looking for it, I didn't expect to find such important evidence."

Regardless of the motive, it was the fake leg and cane that revealed the truth of the case that almost entered the maze and became the key to solving the case, so it is still his credit. After the discovered prosthetic leg and walking stick were temporarily handed over to the police station, Kosuke Kindaichi stopped by and came to my residence.This man's appearance is not good, but his words are very attractive, and he will attract people unconsciously. "No wonder, no wonder, so to speak, you have seen a man wearing a prosthetic leg three times in total? The first was the night when you met He Chuan's wife for the first time and sent her back... When did that happen? Can you remember exactly? date?"

I can see that date by looking at the diary, it is April 5th. "It turned out to be like this. In other words, it happened to be a week before the incident. By the way, on the day of the incident, that is, on the evening of the 12th, you saw the man with the artificial leg again. face?" I froze for a moment, and looked at the other party again. "The other person's face?...No, I didn't see it clearly. When I rushed out from the main entrance, that guy was standing at the corner fifty meters away...and it was evening again, and it was filled with thick fog." I said so Explaining, and then staring at him strangely, "Mr. Kindaichi, what do you mean? Could it be that person is not Junkichi..."

Kindaichi Kosuke nodded slightly. "If you didn't see the other person's face clearly, this possibility is also possible. Sunglasses and fake legs... I'm afraid you can immediately take him for that guy based on these alone. Just the fake giggles and giggles The sound of walking legs, I thought it was Kamei Junkichi, right?" "But, but... Ah, yes, then, why is Kanako so frightened? She is different from me. She should be very familiar with Junkichi's appearance." "No, the reason is the same. The brim of the hat is pulled down, the collar of the coat is turned up, and the sunglasses... Anyway, wearing sunglasses is not a good thing, plus the most characteristic artificial leg... Anyone who sees this attire immediately thinks it's that man."

"But... who is that man? Ah, by the way, what happened to the real Kamei Junkichi?" "I don't know about this. It's because I don't know that I need to investigate." Kosuke Kaneda shook his disheveled head and said, "By the way, on the evening of the 12th, I heard that a person who claimed to be Ka Chuan's wife——Ume The woman from my house came to visit, didn't you?... Could you tell me about the situation at that time in detail?" Meizi's visit left a deep impression on me, so I remembered all the questions and answers I had with her in my mind.

After I finished speaking in detail, Kosuke Kindaichi seemed to be excited too. While scratching his messy hair desperately, he said, "So that's the case, no wonder... so, she suddenly changed her attitude midway... Seriously shaken, isn't it? It turned out to be like this, so it turned out to be like this..." He thought for a while, and then said: "By the way, do you know who that Meizi is? She is quite famous in Kansai, and she also runs a girls' school. That is to say, she is an educator. I heard that she and He Chuan has two children, one goes to a business school and the other goes to a girls' school. Therefore, this case is a heavy blow to that family. After all, the husband's indiscretions, which he had tried so hard to conceal before, were completely punished. exposed."

No wonder the woman's attitude and words were so outrageous, I just understood. "Ah, thank you. In this way, the general situation will be clarified..." Kosuke Kindaichi nodded again and again, "By the way, next, I want to visit Kagawa's house. I have something to talk to Ms. Kanako Ask. However, because it is too abrupt, the other party will definitely be shocked, can you accompany me?" I can't ask for more.Because I was scared too, I asked Kanako to meet this man alone.Moreover, it would be a pleasure to hear what new situation this man can dig out from Kanako.

However, in the end, Kanako was unable to provide any new information. Instead, when Kosuke Kindaichi said that the man who followed her on the evening of the 12th might not be Kamei Junkichi, and the murderer himself might be someone other than Junkichi, She looked extremely surprised, as if she had suffered a serious injury, her face turned pale instantly. "Yo, so...so scary...who could it be?" Kanako asked in amazement, she hesitated as soon as she said the words, "No, so to speak, I didn't see clearly that evening , the face of the man with the prosthetic leg. And... That night, also in the dark, I was strangled by the neck... Uh, so, if I doubt it like this, it's not impossible to doubt it. But... Except Junji Besides, who would do such a terrible thing... Uh, after all, I am this kind of woman, and maybe I will offend others. But... I really can't think of any deep hatred that would make Such a terrible act of human beings. There is no way anyone but Junkichi can hate us so much!  …”

"Ma'am, is that right?... Except for Kamei Junkichi, is there really no one who hates you so much?" "Ah...that is to say, there really is such a person?...Who? Who is it? Who is it..." "For example, where is Mr. Kagawa's real wife Umeko?" Kosuke Kindaichi said seriously. "Ah! That's her...no...it's impossible for her to do such a terrible thing..." Kanako shook her head repeatedly, "yes, that's right, she hates us even more than Junkichi. But... ...She is a woman, how could she do such a terrible thing..." "She's bigger than I am, though she's a woman. And she's a strong-willed woman, isn't she?"

"No, no! It's impossible for her to do such a terrible thing, so terrible...so terrible..." Kanako stared at Kosuke Kindaichi with burning eyes. "No, I didn't assert that she is the murderer. I'm just saying that even she can dress up as a man with artificial legs. By the way, madam, I have one more thing to ask..." "Hmm..." Kanako rolled her eyes and glanced at Kindaichi Kosuke. "It's about Mr. He Chuan. When Mr. He Chuan was killed, he was almost naked except for a pair of underpants, right? What's going on?" "Ah, I also told the police about this. He Chuan has the habit of sleeping naked. He said it's warmer to sleep like this..."

"If this is the case, then it would be strange." Kosuke Kindaichi suddenly took out something from his body and handed it to Kanako, "Look, here is a photo of the scene. It was taken by the police when the wife was unconscious. Photos of upstairs bedrooms." Seeing the photo taken out by Kosuke Kindaichi, Kanako's face suddenly turned red.It's no wonder that Kanako's provocative posture in the photo is clear at a glance, even cruel.Kanako nearly passed out. "This photo..." "Don't you understand? The one on the right side of the photo is your husband's quilt, right? ... But there are clearly folded pajamas on the quilt, don't you? You know that your husband is used to sleeping naked all year round, Why are you taking out your pajamas?" Kanako froze for a moment, raised her head, and stared intently at Kosuke Kindaichi.It took a long time for her to lower her head slowly, her face flushed as if on fire. "It's too much, it's too cruel...I'm sure I can't tell the truth about the bedtime when I asked someone about the couple... I hope you can forgive me." "Ah, ah, yes, yes, yes?... I'm really rude." Kosuke Kindaichi blushed, "No, no... It's okay... It's okay, it's me...I'm wrong." Kosuke Kindaichi Not knowing what to do, he scratched his disheveled hair desperately, then suddenly stood up and said, "I'm really rude. That's all for now... Ah, by the way, can I have a look at the scene by the way?" "Please." Kanako stood up and led the way. After Kosuke Kindaichi walked into the living room, he immediately stared at the heavy curtains hanging in the corner. "Ah, the murderer is really hiding behind the curtain, isn't it?" "Behind the curtain..." I was taken aback, and looked at Kosuke Kindaichi again.Kanako's eyes widened in surprise. "Yes, yes, don't you know? The secrecy of the police is really annoying. Look, this curtain..." As mentioned earlier, there is a recess like a closet on the inside of the curtain.Kosuke Kindaichi led us there, pointing at the curtain from the inside.I took a closer look and saw that the curtains were obviously scuffed near the chest height. "That is to say, the murderer was waiting here in fear. At that time, he couldn't help holding onto the curtain. Later, Mr. He Chuan walked in, and that tragedy happened... This is the police's opinion." After Kosuke Kindaichi finished speaking, he lightly dusted the dust off his body. "Ah, thank you very much. Goodbye then." Having asked all that should be asked, and said all that should be said, Kosuke Kindaichi drifted away.