Chapter 19 Mysterious lily of the valley

Toshio Mizuno sat in the spacious office, stretching boredly on the swivel chair.The rare free time this afternoon is really rare.Yuko Saneda, a typist who is also a secretary, is just as bored as he is, flipping through magazines on his lap.There is an air of lethargy in the office. At this time, the phone rang.Mieda Yuko jumped up from her chair and went to get the microphone.The telephone was placed on Mizuno's desk, and Yuko always answered the phone first.Because under certain circumstances, it is necessary to lie that Mizuno is out and not in the office. But this time Mizuno waved his hand, not letting Yuko take the microphone.He answered the phone himself.

"I'm Mizuno." Mizuno always deliberately lowered his voice when he was on the phone.Maybe it's his desire to hide his age at work: Lowering his voice can make it seem like he's more than 33. "Is it the managing director? You want to kill Madam, don't you?" The other party's voice was lower than Mizuno's.It was an unfamiliar voice. "Hey, have you made a mistake? Here is..." "No, that's right, I'm calling Mr. Mizuno Toshio, the executive chairman of Mizuno Pharmaceutical Company." "Which one are you? Do you want to give me your name..."

"It doesn't matter whether you name or not. Let's talk about what you just said. What are you going to do?" "Nonsense! To the chairman..." Having said that, Mizuno swallowed his words back.One was because Yuko Saneda was watching the phone uneasily; the other was that he was uncomfortable with the habit of changing his name to "Chairman" whenever someone said "madam" on the phone.He thought she was indeed the chairman, but why couldn't she be called "wife" or "wife"? "Hey, I don't want to hear an excuse!" The other party didn't care about Mizuno's subtle pause and said again, "Anyway, it's true that you want to murder your wife. I want to talk to you about this matter, how about it? Can you Can't take a suggestion?"

Mizuno remained silent.He wanted to hang up, but he wanted to hear that suggestion again. "It's very simple, just let me carry out this murder. I'm afraid you don't have the ability to kill people..." "You? For what?" "No reason. For you! You want to do it, but you can't. I'll do it for you. That's what it means. How?" "But who are you?" Mizuno stopped putting on airs.He had already fallen into the opponent's trap and caught up with the opponent's beat. "Want to know my identity and name? Isn't it against the rules to ask? It's not necessary. Well, let's get down to business. If you accept my suggestion, please put a white flower in the vase on your desk tomorrow morning." .Understood? It's a white flower!"

"Ah, hey...then..." Mizuno wanted to ask "what about the conditions", but he hesitated to speak.He thought: This is too dangerous.If he offered to negotiate terms, it would be tantamount to admitting that he wanted to kill his wife Kumiko. "What did you say?" the other party asked back.His voice was still low. Mizuno hung up the phone without answering. "Director, what's the matter?" Saneda Yuko stood up, turned her well-proportioned and slender body to Mizuno, and asked softly. "Ok?" "Look at you sweating!" Yuko took out a handkerchief and handed it to Mizuno.

"Really? I'm a little tired." Mizuno took the handkerchief and wiped his forehead.A strong smell of perfume stimulated his sense of smell, which came from the handkerchief. "Are you tired? Don't be too nervous." Yuko seemed to be talking to herself.Maybe she felt that it was inconvenient for her to get too deeply involved in Mizuno's life. "Yeah." Mizuno replied casually.But the few words from that phone call just now always flashed in his mind and became a fixed voice. "Do you understand? White flowers! Do you understand? White flowers!"

Toshio Mizuno is the remarried husband of Kumiko Mizuno, chairman of Mizuno Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.Six years ago, he was just a small clerk in the secretarial department.After marrying Kumiko, he changed his wife's surname and served as the executive chairman. Mizuno Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a private limited company established after the war.The company was founded by seniors of Kumiko's ex-husband Yoshikichi Mizuno.By the time of Yaoji's generation, it was changed to a joint-stock system, and the shares were distributed to the company's key personnel.However, Yaoji still owns more than half of the shares.

Yogi died in a car accident seven years ago.He has no children, and his widow, Kumiko, inherits the entire estate.As a result, Kumiko became the chairman of Mizuno Pharmaceutical Company.She has the means of an entrepreneur, and she just happened to catch up with the golden age of pharmaceutical companies-the upsurge of health care medicine.Perhaps because of these two conditions, in her generation, the company's operating performance has skyrocketed.By the first anniversary of her deceased husband's death, her position in the company was already solid. Therefore, she decided to marry Toshio Maekawa, a staff member of the secretarial department, just after finishing the memorial ceremony for the anniversary of her ex-husband's death.At this time, it can be said that no one dares to object.

People commented in private: "The chairman is also a living person! This is also human nature." "Another woman, busy up and down in the company, enough hard work for her. Women, after all, want to go home." In a sense, these words reflect the staff's goodwill towards her. Kumiko was 30 years old when she remarried.The new husband, Maekawa, changed his surname to Mizuno at the age of 27. Toshio Mizuno approached this marriage purely from the perspective of interests.He majored in business administration in college, and he is very confident in the management of modern companies.He has had a dream since he was a student, to run a company, try out his theories, and then revise them.However, considering the distance between dream and reality, he was disheartened.It will take 20 to 30 years to climb from the position of a small employee to the throne of an enterprise leader if the promotion goes smoothly.If you are unlucky and reach retirement age before becoming an entrepreneur, you will have to leave the company.Thinking about it this way, he was unwilling to be lonely, but he was also very anxious.He thought: My life may end before I realize my youthful dreams.Manly man, who can bear this kind of grievance?

Therefore, although he knew that his colleagues looked at him coldly, he still worked hard to seek the appreciation of his superiors.He is desperate to realize his dream, counting on becoming an entrepreneur as soon as possible. The sky has eyes, and he was spotted by the wise eyes of the female chairman.In the eyes of some women, he is also considered a handsome man, and perhaps this also paved the way for him. When Kumiko proposed marriage to him, he immediately weighed the pros and cons.Kumiko is in her thirties, her appearance is not beautiful, and she is almost middle-aged, with brown spots appearing on her skin, and the curves of her body also feel bloated.But he still ignored these "disadvantages" and agreed to the marriage.Relying on the strength of his marriage, he can leap to the throne of an entrepreneur. This charm is enough to make up for those "disadvantages". This should be a worthwhile transaction.That's what he thinks.

For a man, the most important thing is a successful career.Compared with this goal, falling in love and getting married are insignificant.This is his philosophy of life. However, somewhere in his calculations there was an error. The biggest mistake was that he did not expect that Kumiko would still refuse to give up the position of chairman after marriage, but only granted him the position of "managing director".In fact, this is a false name, and the fate of the company is in the hands of Kumiko as always.He had proposed reforming the company's organizational structure, but Kumiko vetoed his first plan, citing insufficient funds.At that time, the company's system was such that even important matters had to be submitted to the chairman for decision, and nothing could be done without Kumiko's permission. In the second and third years of marriage, he also tried to confront Kumiko's tyranny.Yet Kumiko hardly minded the resistance.He didn't have the courage to divorce Kumiko and find another job in another company.If he went to a new company, he would have to deal with the account books again, copying and writing by himself, and he would have to ask his superiors for instructions.He didn't want to go back to the life of a clerk like that.As the years passed, he also gave up.He often laughs at himself: Kumiko is just a necessity for my sex life.He gradually got used to a comfortable life and was content with this position. Still, he often recalled his high school ambitions and thought to himself: If only Kumiko were dead.So saying he wanted Kumiko dead was definitely not wronging him. Mizuno told no one about the strange phone call.He thought: Maybe it was deliberately embarrassing me, or it was a prank.On the other hand, he had to admit that he did have this desire. That night, he deliberately went into the study with a novel he didn't want to read, and delayed going to bed so that Kumiko could go to bed first.In the details of this private life, Kumiko is beyond her reach.Mizuno pondered the call for about an hour after Kumiko fell asleep. First of all, he thought that the caller knew him.The other party lowered his voice so low, because he was afraid that Mizuno would recognize his voice.Secondly, the other party knew that Mizuno wanted Kumiko to die, which showed that he knew the company's situation and Mizuno's character well.Also, he asked Mizuno to put white flowers in the vase on the desk tomorrow as a sign of agreement, how could he see this sign?Of course, it is the employees inside the company, which can be seen at a glance through the glass door. From this point of view, the other party is an employee of the company. However, the question that Mizuno is most concerned about is whether to put white flowers in the vase tomorrow. If that call wasn't just a prank or a trick, but a signal from a real "killer", then plugging white flowers is indeed a feasible way.This is not written in black and white, there is no need to worry about being seen by a third party, and there is no need to be afraid of leaving evidence.Except for Mizuno and the killer, only God knows.From the killer's point of view, he can get Mizuno's answer without revealing his true face.This kind of thing is too bookish, but because of this, it seems real.Mizuno was already dubious about that phone call. However, he was still hesitant about whether to agree to the other party's request.He wasn't indecisive about whether or not to kill Kumiko.At the beginning of the marriage, he just regarded Kumiko as a "means".Now that I know that this "means" is useless, there is no need to hesitate to get rid of it. The question is, if the murder is successful, does the case have any impact on his safety?This is what worries him the most.If Kumiko died at the hands of others, the police would naturally find out that they were the biggest beneficiaries of Kumiko's death.Following this principle, the police will definitely doubt themselves.Of course, considering Mizuno's status as the executive director of a pharmaceutical company, the police may not arrest him hastily, but I'm afraid that repeated interrogation and endless stalking will inevitably be necessary.This is unbearable.He would develop a psychosis and eventually have to confess.In doing so, he is ruined. What's more, the killer may also be arrested, and he will undoubtedly confess to Mizuno.This way, he will also be arrested.Mizuno thought it impossible for him to deny his connection to the killer while in prolonged detention. "It's not feasible after all." Mizuno came to this conclusion.Although he felt it was a pity to give up this hard-won opportunity, he didn't have the courage to take the risk.He had nightmares that night, and even dreamed of the police interrogating him. "That proposal cannot be accepted." He made up his mind, but he still had this matter in his heart.On the way to work the next day, a car drove past the flower shop, and he felt a little itchy in his heart, and the idea of ​​buying white flowers flashed by. So when he arrived at the company and walked into the office, he naturally set his sights on the vase on the desk. In the vase was a bouquet of lilies of the valley.The flowers of lily of the valley are naturally white. He froze at the door.Sanzhi Yuko asked him good morning and he didn't respond, just staring at the vase.He couldn't comprehend the scene before him.Who planted this bouquet of white flowers against his will?Is this not a bondage? "Director, what's the matter with you? Your face is pale!" After hearing Yuko's words, he recovered from the momentary collapse. "No, nothing." He replied with a straight face. "Even if I talk too much. Why don't you go see a doctor?" Yuko was still talking. Mizuno thought: She is indeed a good girl.I like the tenderness and consideration.As a woman, why doesn't Kumiko have such advantages. "Well, it's no big deal! Did you plant the lily of the valley?" "Yes. A friend in Hokkaido sent it to me. It was still airmailed! So the fragrance is strong and beautiful!" "Really? You really inserted it? Didn't someone tell you to insert it?" "Of course not. What's the matter? The director doesn't like it?" "No, it's not that I don't like it..." But Mizuno didn't know what to do with the bunch of flowers.Tell Yuko to throw it away immediately, it will disappoint Yuko's intention to please him.What's more, the killer may have seen this bunch of white flowers and is taking action.He wanted to report it to the police, but the police would never believe it.On second thought, could this accidental coincidence be an apocalypse of fate? Yuko didn't know the details, and added: "I think the flowers are cute, and I distributed them to the general affairs minister and all the colleagues in the secretarial department." Mizuno suddenly felt a little funny.Is it worth worrying about?That call was most likely purely a prank.If you make a big fuss about such a trivial matter and call the police, or tell Yuko to throw the flowers away, you will be laughed at instead. He forced himself not to think about the bouquet of flowers anymore, not to mention that he was scheduled to visit the factory today. However, while Mizuno was inspecting the factory, he received a report of Kumiko's death on Wednesday.Wednesday is Kumiko's day off, she doesn't work in the company.Kumiko said that it is necessary to rest one day a week for beauty. Kumiko died in the bedroom.Unexpectedly, her body was completely naked.When Mizuno drove home from the factory, the prosecutor of the District Prosecutor's Office had completed the autopsy, and the identification department had also completed the on-site identification.The police immediately led him into the bedroom. The moment he entered the bedroom, Mizuno turned his eyes away.It wasn't that the murder scene was horrible, but that the scene was very different from what he expected.When Mizuno learned of the fact that his wife had been killed while driving home, a terrible scene appeared in his mind: the house was in a mess, Kumiko was unrecognizable, and there were bloodstains around the body... However, facts and imagination It was completely different. If there were no serious police officers present, the room would be the same as usual. It would be impossible to imagine that this was the scene of a murder. Mizuno looked aside out of shame.He married Kumiko, not for love, but a marriage concluded on the basis of interest.He didn't love his wife at first, but when he saw his wife lying naked on the bed, he was still ashamed of her nakedness being exposed in front of others. Besides, Kumiko's body was shamelessly exposed, and her lower half was extraordinarily loose.It seemed that she was fully satisfied before she died.This made Mizuno associate with Kumiko's situation at that time. Mizuno was puzzled: what was Kumiko doing when she was killed? He asked the young detective beside him, "Is this how she died?" The young criminal policeman cast a questioning look at an older man standing next to the corpse, as if asking him if he could answer this question. The older man had been watching Mizuno with cold eyes since he entered the room.Mizuno felt that he was a capable police officer who was born for this job.Mizuno felt the intimidation of his gaze. "Yes, that's how she died." The police officer replied clearly.At the same time, he paid attention to Mizuno's reaction. "Ah...but..." "Oh, it's inconvenient to talk here. Find another place. Is there a suitable place?" He spoke to Mizuno in a tone that seemed to be asking for advice, but was actually giving an order. Mizuno led him into the reception room.The officer produced his business card.He is the Chief Criminal Officer of the S Police Department, Yamauchi Police Department. After exchanging pleasantries, they sat down on the sofa.Mizuno first apologized: "I should make tea, but the nanny is off today..." "You're welcome. By the way, what happened to the babysitter's break?" "One day a week. On Wednesday, my wife doesn't go to work in the company, and I also give the nanny a day off. We are usually not at home, and the nanny is mainly to look after the door. My wife wants to be quiet on the rest day and doesn't want to be disturbed, so Send the nanny back too." "Oh, so that's the case. However, there may be other reasons why Madam sent the nanny back?" Mizuno heard the implication in the Yamauchi Police Department's words. "How do you say that?" "Okay, let's start from the beginning." For some reason, the Yamauchi Police Department changed the subject, "Just after 11 o'clock, the S Police Station received a call reporting that someone had been killed." "Call! Is it a man?" "Listen to me. The murder scene mentioned in the phone call is the mansion. We rushed here and saw that the lady was dead, just like that. Ah, that's right! Mr. Mizuno, you know Watanabe Katsuji this person?" "Katsuji Watanabe? Ah, I know him. He's an employee of the company secretarial department... What's wrong with Watanabe?" Katsuji Watanabe is a young employee who joined the company four or five years ago and is not yet married.He has a good appearance and is assigned to the secretarial department. He has won the trust of the chairman, Kumiko, and has been a guest at home several times. "What is he like?" Yamauchi Police Department did not answer Mizuno's question. "Not very clear. I only know that he is a very capable young man, and he is also decent." "He was in this room when we came." "Watanabe? What's going on here?" "Well, he was the one who made the call just now. He claimed to have killed someone." "what?" "That is to say, it was this Watanabe who killed Madam. This is what he said..." "But, why does Watanabe..." "After listening to his statement just now, he has been taken to the police station. According to his confession..." Having said that, the Yamauchi Police Department took a cigarette from Yamauchi's pocket and lit the fire. According to the Yamauchi Police Department, Katsuji Watanabe's confession is as follows. A few months ago, Watanabe had an affair with Kumiko once a week.Among the lovers, Kumiko is the proactive one.However, for Watanabe, it is half for pleasure and half for maintaining the image of the chairman. The two almost always met at the Mizuno mansion on Wednesdays, when Kumiko was on vacation.It was Kumiko's idea, she was afraid of being discovered elsewhere.As the chairman, Kumiko has urgently decided documents that need to be reviewed even on vacation, so Watanabe took on the task of delivering the documents and the chairman's seal. Before Watanabe's visit, Kumiko was ready to wait for her lover.Watanabe arrives at the mansion, the bedroom.That's how things "work". Kumiko always hugs Watanabe naked, and then makes various requests to Watanabe, some of which even Watanabe dare not obey.However, in order to fully satisfy the strong desire of this middle-aged woman, he had to make compromises and follow suit ruthlessly.One of these demands was to have him strangle Kumiko by the neck. The bodies of the two are integrated, and their desires continue to rise.Every time when she reached the top, Kumiko's body would convulse, and she would yell, "Strangle the neck!" Watanabe moved in response, and tightly grabbed Kumiko's neck with both palms.Kumiko temporarily fell into a coma due to intense pleasure or difficulty breathing.Then Watanabe immediately let go of Kumiko and got dressed by herself.When he was dressed, Kumiko woke up from the coma.There are precedents for this. Things continued in the same way that day, until Kumiko passed out.Because the weather has turned hot, both of them are sweating profusely, which was not the case before. Watanabe wiped off his sweat and put on his clothes, thinking that Kumiko would gradually regain consciousness, so he looked towards the bed. Suddenly, Watanabe shuddered: Kumiko was dead.His hands, which were fastening the belt, stopped, and he hesitated for a moment before coming to Kumiko's side. He stretched out his hand and shook Kumiko's body. Although the remaining warmth was still there, it was as heavy as a dead object. He was so embarrassed that he quickly felt for his pulse, but he couldn't feel it anymore.As a result, he was in a mess.He put his ear under the breast that he had just caressed just now, but he still didn't hear the slightest sound.He put his palm close to his mouth and nose again, but he didn't feel a trace of breath. "She's dead." Watanabe thought.He immediately thought of fleeing the scene.But after thinking about it, the police used modern investigative techniques to find out his crime in a short time.In addition to his fingerprints, there are many other traces of him left in the house.It is simply impossible to destroy them all. Reluctantly, he called the police station and confessed everything... After listening to Watanabe's above-mentioned confession, Mizuno's thoughts were so chaotic that even he himself couldn't sort it out.He had to face two things at the same time. Kumiko finds a lover without telling Mizuno.The lover is either someone else or an employee of the company.After all, this incident was a blow to him.He knew that he didn't love Kumiko, but he was very angry about Kumiko's stealing her lover. "Wednesday off" was originally for this kind of business?The attitude of Kumiko seen in the bedroom just now came to his mind.On that white and fat body, Watanabe... She crossed her legs shamelessly, supporting Watanabe, her two smooth white arms wrapped around Watanabe's back... Kumiko is not a woman but a bitch, right? However, Mizuno was angrily thinking about Kumiko and Watanabe's relationship, and at the same time had another thing to think about. This is the telephone and the white lilies of the valley of the day before.Does this have anything to do with Kumiko's death?Did Kumiko die by accident? "I'm sorry, at this moment of grief for my wife's unfortunate death, I would like to ask a few more questions." Yamauchi Police Department said, taking out a notepad. "Ah, please tell me." "Mr. Mizuno, do you know nothing about the relationship between your wife and Watanabe?" "Of course!" Mizuno's tone was very sharp, "Where have you seen a husband who acquiesced to his wife stealing a husband?" "That's true. But the relationship between a man and a woman can be judged by common sense. I used to handle a case like this. The husband indulged too much in his youth and couldn't bear children. There was no artificial insemination method at that time. In order for the wife to have a child, The husband allowed her to have sex with other men. Unexpectedly, the wife fell in love with the young 'surrogate'... As a result, the husband killed his wife." "What does that mean? You mean I'm sterile?" "No, that's not what it means. Just an example." "Even if it's an example, it's too rude, right? To even imply that I killed my wife..." "Oh?" The Yamauchi Police Department showed a shocked expression, as if they didn't understand what Mizuno was talking about.However, his eyes were sparkling, as if he had discovered something. Mizuno was flustered immediately: No way!I can't lose my word! "I didn't say that Mr. Mizuno killed someone. I don't know why you misunderstood my question..." Yamauchi Police Department pretended to be puzzled and said. Mizuno thought: Am I being fooled?He decided not to mention the lily-of-the-valley in any case. "Okay, I'll continue to ask questions." The Yamauchi Police Department quickly and easily changed the subject, "I'm sorry, this is probably a private life. When Madam was with you, did you also ask to strangle her neck?" Mizuno remained silent.He didn't know how to answer it well.According to Watanabe's self-report relayed by the Yamauchi Police Department, Kumiko made various demands on Watanabe in bed.But Mizuno didn't know that Kumiko still had such a request.In terms of her age, Kumiko is indeed a middle-aged woman.However, as far as Mizuno knows, her language in love, strength of desire, and skills in bed are far from those of middle-aged women.The husband and wife seldom have intercourse, and her attitude is always "resigned" to comply with Mizuno's request.Perhaps it is because of the masculinization of physiological functions due to the focus on career.Thinking about it this way, Mizuno didn't expect anything.Because of this, Mizuno was greatly puzzled by the "example" given by the police department just now.How to answer?Mizuno was at a loss.Answering the truth would be tantamount to admitting that he could not satisfy Kumiko and hurt his self-esteem as a man.He was in a mess. However, the Yamauchi Police Department did not seem to notice Mizuno's psychological contradictions.He made an expression of being inconvenienced, and urged Mizuno to answer. In order to delay time, Mizuno asked back: "Do I have to tell you this kind of personal privacy?" "No, no, of course you don't have to. I don't want to delve into your private life. However, I would be very grateful if you would speak up. Mr. Mizuno, maybe the prosecutor will ask you to testify in court, and then you can't refuse... ..." "Really? Now that I've said this, let me tell you. It's my wife's eccentricity." Mizuno thought while talking.A man's vanity drives him to tell a lie. "Oh, yes! Has it been like this since marriage?" "No, her ex-husband is very weak... I'm really embarrassed to say that she seems to have developed this eccentricity for her..." Mizuno said, scratching his scalp, thinking that the performance was very wonderful. "Is that so... It turned out to be a habit I developed with Mr. Mizuno. But once a woman has a habit, it seems that she can't get rid of it... Also, she usually sleeps naked?" "Ah, yes!" This is also a lie.Kumiko never takes off her clothes when she has sex with Mizuno. "Really? I basically understand." The Yamauchi Police Department said, closing the notepad.But he remembered another thing, "Ah, right! Madame's heart is not good, right?" "Yes, she is fat, and her heart is naturally bad. What's the matter?" "Ah, I should have told you earlier. Madam's cause of death was pathologically caused by cardiac paralysis." "Oh? Didn't he suffocate to death?" "Not yet dissected, so can't say for sure. Cardiac paralysis can also occur when the neck is strangled and breathing is difficult. That's what the coroner says." "So, Watanabe didn't kill him?" "No, a heart attack would not have occurred if the neck hadn't been pinched, so... that's out of the question..." For some reason, the Yamauchi Police Department was vague and ended the questioning. The next day, the police sent Katsuji Watanabe to the District Prosecutor's Office in the name of a "murder suspect".However, the person in charge of this procedure, the Yamauchi Police Department, is not sure whether Watanabe's behavior constituted a "homicide". The crime of homicide can only be constituted when there is a motive to kill another person.Even when killing another person on the spur of the moment, the law also considers that the murderer had the intention to kill in an instant, so most cases are also criminalized as homicide.However, in this case of Watanabe, it is impossible to determine whether he has murderous intentions towards Kumiko.So there is still a problem at this point. Sure enough, the next day, Maejima Prosecutor from the District Prosecutor's Office called the Yamauchi Police Department.He wanted to find out about the situation before interrogating Watanabe. Prosecutor Maejima seems to be about ten years younger than the Yamauchi Police Department.Perhaps it was for this reason that he was always soft-spoken when speaking to the Yamauchi Police Department.It's not like a prosecutor talking to a police officer, but rather like a junior talking to a senior among colleagues. Maeshima asked questions around the confession record. "Is there enough evidence for Watanabe's confession?" "Only based on our investigation and the client's confession, we found no loopholes. But I don't think it is reasonable to prosecute him as a murder suspect..." Yamauchi Police Department frankly admitted that he had no confidence. "It seems so. At this state, it can only be regarded as negligent death at best. In this case, the maximum penalty is a fine of 50,000 yen." "50,000 yuan..." If it is homicide, it should be sentenced to death or life imprisonment, and at least three years or more in fixed-term imprisonment.This is a world of difference from a fine of less than 50,000 yen. "Well, if this case is really manslaughter, there's no need to force a manslaughter charge. It's not our intention to punish the defendant severely, just to punish the perpetrator appropriately... However, if in fact it was planned murder throughout , and pretending to be negligent death, the problem is serious!" "Oh? Please tell me." "Various scenarios can be envisaged. First, suppose Watanabe herself had some motive for killing Kumiko Mizuno..." "Ah, I've considered this too. But after checking, Watanabe really has no motive!" "Could it be that Watanabe is tired of the victim and wants to end their relationship, but can't get rid of the murderous intention?" "I thought of this first, but I couldn't find any evidence. We also searched Watanabe's house and checked his social relations, but found no clues. In addition, I also suspect that Watanabe made some kind of request, because After being rejected by the victim, he attempted to kill. But this is also within the limits of imagination." "I see. Another point, Watanabe said that the victim had a quirk and asked the other party to strangle her neck during sex. What do you think of this?" "The victim's husband also confirmed this. He also confirmed that the victim usually sleeps naked on the bed. I don't think there is a problem." "Really?" Maejima was lost in thought.He took out a cigarette and kept tapping on the table.After a while, he said softly, "It seems that Watanabe has no motive for killing..." "Yes, as long as the victim's death does not bring him any benefit, the motive is very difficult to establish." "But someone will benefit, right?" "Yes. First of all, the victim's husband, Toshio Mizuno. Because the victim has no other relatives. The real estate, shares, etc. under the wife's name are all owned by him. The company's capital is not small! And no one is in the way , he is free to dispose of the property." "Indeed, is there any article in it? Has this clue been checked?" Prosecutor Maejima's eyes lit up immediately.The so-called "articles" in the judiciary refers to the "smell" of crime.Obviously, he wondered if Toshio Mizuno bribed Watanabe to kill Kumiko. "This is not true." The Yamauchi Police Department said, "There is no evidence, and Watanabe also firmly denied it. To be honest, I once said to him at the risk of inducing a confession: 'If you tell the truth, you will be lessened.' But He smiled, disdain to care about me." "Well, it still doesn't work..." "Furthermore, employees in the company and colleagues in the secretarial department all said that Watanabe is relying on the chairman, and he and the managing director are not close to each other." "Okay. So it seems to be negligent death. Besides, Mr. Yamauchi, Watanabe called the police before the case was discovered. This is voluntary surrender, and the fine should be lighter. Don't you think this is too coincidental ?" "Yes, I feel the same way. Maybe it's true, though. We're paranoid..." "Yes. Well, here we go." Maejima questioned Watanabe thoroughly again.He made full use of the 20-day detention period allowed by law and launched a fierce interrogation offensive.During the period, he also asked Toshio Mizuno several times to be present as a reference person and asked him about the situation.However, he ultimately did not overturn the police confession record. Although the case is being treated as "wrongful death", he is not at ease.This is a professional sensitivity of a prosecutor.He wants to sue for homicide.But he has no evidence to prove the motive of the murder. Then, he considered prosecuting for "atrocity causing death".However, that act was consensual, and the forensic medical examination report confirmed that there was no trauma other than the choked finger marks on the neck, so it was unreasonable. As a result, the Prosecutor's Office charged Watanabe Katsuji only with "negligent death".And soon Watanabe was released on bail. Two years have passed. Toshio Mizuno became the chairman of Mizuno Pharmaceutical Company as a matter of course and married a new wife.Just after the anniversary of Kumiko's death, he couldn't wait to get married.The bride is Yuko Saneda who has been serving as his secretary.She resigned immediately after the marriage. Peace and tranquility in your new home.Yuko is still the same as when she was a secretary, caring for him and sharing his worries.This is a way of being a wife that the dead Kumiko did not have, so she won Mizuno's favor.Mizuno is content with the marriage. On the other hand, when he took office as chairman, he began to implement modern management methods.This kind of reform was also accompanied by personnel transfers. Although it was opposed by the trade unions, it was still implemented.The achievements of modernization are gradually appearing, so his chairman's throne is now as secure as Mount Tai. Everything was running smoothly for him.The annoyance caused by Kumiko's death has been driven to a small corner of his memory.Sometimes he couldn't help touching the past, but every now and then Mizuno let another flood of consciousness wash it away.He decided in his heart that it was useless to think. But one Sunday, a phone call came from his home, forcing him to rethink the unbearable past two years ago. Yuko answered the phone.After listening to the other party's words, she frowned, and then summoned Mizuno.She covered the microphone with her right hand and called "Come here", then lowered her voice and asked, "It's Watanabe. Would you answer?" "Watanabe?" Mizuno couldn't think of this person for a moment. "Oh, that's the time..." "Ah, it's him? What is he looking for me now?" "That's right! I asked him what's the matter, and he said he wanted to talk to you directly." Mizuno hesitated for a moment but made up his mind. "Okay, I'll tell him." He took the phone. "Hi, I'm Mizuno..." "Ah, is that you? Long time no see!" "You're welcome...what do you want from me?" "It's a long story. Originally, after the trial is over, I should come to thank you..." The black hole in Mizuno's heart expanded: What is the plan of this man who speaks obliquely?He tried to be calm.Yuko was watching the situation worriedly. "Ah, what are you talking about? It's been two years! It's been so long, do you still remember?" "Yes. Because I got sick on the way..." "Sick? What kind of disease?" "I don't know. I always feel weak. Maybe it's because of the fatigue of prison life. I can't do anything except eat and sleep these few months." "This is a crime! Hey, how is it? How was the sentence later?" "Oh, do you mean a judgment? A fine of 30,000 yen." "Really? 30,000 yuan? Have you already paid it?" As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he thought: It's better not to say such unnecessary words. "I haven't handed it in yet. I just wanted to discuss this matter with you..." "This thing? What does it mean?" "This—including my future life, etc., I would like to ask you to take care of it..." "Your future life? You are not talking nonsense!" "Really?" "Of course! Do you think there is such a good man who would take care of a man who committed adultery and killed his wife!" Mizuno's tone was tough, half of it was for Yuko who was beside him. "Don't pretend to be a hero! Please remember it. Don't you remember the password of the lily of the valley?" Mizuno's expression changed.He was momentarily speechless. "Ah, hello!" Watanabe yelled on the other end of the phone, "Anyway, come to the N Riverbank at 8 o'clock tonight. There are not many people in that area. It's always okay to talk about it. Eight o'clock! If you If you don’t come, I’ll visit tomorrow, Mrs. Xiang Zun..." Watanabe's tone was aggressive.Mizuno quickly replied: "Okay, I'll go! I'll go!" The phone is disconnected. "What's the matter with you? You're sweating!" Yuko said, wiping the sweat off Mizuno's forehead with a handkerchief. "Ah?" Mizuno felt incredible, "It seems that the same thing happened..." But Mizuno couldn't remember when it was. "Well, it's no big deal. Watanabe wants to see me tonight." "Oh, it's that man! It's too dreadful to have him in the house! I don't agree!" "Well, I thought of this, so I made an appointment to meet outside." "Is something going to happen?" "Where... don't worry! He can't do anything to me..." "That's good. But I..." Yuko said still worried. Mizuno walked into the study.He was worried that Yuko would come in after him, but it seemed that she still had some housework to do, so she went on with her work. Mizuno sat down on the canvas chair and lit a cigarette.He wanted to clear his mind.He knew very well that if he didn't understand Watanabe's thoughts and his request, it would be very dangerous to meet him hastily. First of all, he had to recall the situation two years ago. That strange phone call was the beginning of everything.In that phone call, I expressed my wish for Kumiko's death.In a sense this is true.There is a problem here: the person who made the call was probably Watanabe, but how did he know his secret wish? The day after that phone call, Kumiko died unexpectedly.At the time, Mizuno hadn't thought about linking that phone call to Kumiko's death, but now it seems that there must be a connection between the two.According to what Watanabe revealed on the phone today, Watanabe mistook the lily of the valley planted by Yuko for himself on that day as a secret signal to agree to kill his wife, so he proceeded to murder.But why did Watanabe kill Kumiko?Also, is the relationship between Kumiko and Watanabe simply a combination of the sexes?Is there any secret background here? Regardless of these, the person who benefited the most from Kumiko's death is himself.He became the chairman of the board, inherited the property, and married a young step-wife.It seems like everything is working for itself.At that time, the police seemed to have doubted themselves and asked themselves the same old questions several times.But, of course, he wouldn't say anything about the Lily of the Valley.The white flowers of the lily of the valley were not inserted by himself, and it was hard to imagine that Watanabe had any relationship with the lily of the valley.What's more, I don't want to make an unnecessary move and ask for trouble. Mizuno thought about it while smoking a cigarette, but he couldn't figure it out.He cannot make definite reasoning. "Now is the time to end it." He lost the interest in reasoning and came to this conclusion. "Watanabe just wants a sum of money? Well, give him one hundred thousand and two hundred thousand." Whether Watanabe's killing of Kumiko was a definite negligence as stated in the court judgment, or whether it was a deliberate murder out of some motive is still unclear.However, it is true that Mizuno received favors because of Kumiko's death.That being the case, might as well give him a little "tip".That's Mizuno's idea. At this time, there was a knock on the door, and Yuko brought black tea.Seeing Mizuno staring blankly at the ceiling in a daze, she said angrily, "Oh, so you're idle?" "Well, I was thinking about something." "What? Is it Mr. Watanabe's business?" 在这些地方，优子总是敏感过人。这是她从当秘书时就有的。她经常把水野的一举一动看在眼里，连水野的心理活动也能察知一二。 久美子生前，优子还是秘书的时候，水野见她对自己如此体贴，便误解为这是她对自己的爱情表示。 基于这种误解，有一次水野在赴宴归来的途中便向优子调情，结果遭到拒绝。 “怎么样？你喜欢我吧？” 优子听了这话，冷冷答道：“嗯，我尊敬你，可这和喜欢不同。” "But……" “何况，就算我喜欢董事，还有夫人在吧？我可不想自找苦头！”优子一边说，一边斜眼打量水野的表情。 “是吗？那我跟妻子离婚怎么样？” 也许是酒精在起作用吧，水野纠缠不休。 “董事别无理取闹了吧。” 优子笑了，她这一笑风情毕露。对这个可爱的优子，水野也有了恋慕之情。然而他没有勇气进一步追求。因为他毕竟害怕久美子。 “不，我才不想渡边的事情……我想好了，给他一笔钱算了！暂且给我准备10万元吧。” “啊！给钱？为什么？” “没有特别的理由，只是我觉得他挺困难。” “可你这么做，反而会坏事的。” “坏事？” “对呀！这一来，就好像当初是你委托他杀人的了，不是吗？” 水野不由得紧盯着优子的面孔。 “什么？你有这种想法？这可不是好玩的！我……” “哎呀！生气了？好吧，就当我没说。我只是担心嘛。” “担心也好玩笑也好，都过分了！” 水野说着，把茶杯举到嘴边。可是，连他自己也难相信，他动摇了。他想：我究竟为什么会觉得心中有愧呢？好像久美子真是自己买凶杀害的。他被人点中了痛处，竟然狼狈不堪。这究竟是什么缘故呢？ “可我还是担心嘛！渡边先生会不会动武？” “他敢！他凭什么动武？” “那我就放心了。啊，没准还是给钱的好。舍不得几个钱，到头来惹祸上身得不偿失呢！我这就去准备。”优子突然改变了主张，说罢离开了书房。 当天傍晚，水野在7点半钟出了家门。步行只用了20分钟就来到了N河堤。他登上河堤，环顾四周寻找渡边。 没想到，就在他的身后有个人说话了：“喂，我在这儿呢！刚才我一直跟着董事——不，跟着董事长走来的。” “那你干吗跟踪？” “跟踪？别说得那么难听。我只是担心你不来……” 渡边穿着工作服样的衣裤。他在公司时，员工当中就数他最爱修饰打扮，可如今这身打扮却不大相同了。水野对眼前的这个男人上上下下直打量。 “哎呀，你是看不惯我这身服装？没有职业，每天打工，所以……” “是吗？你受苦了？” “不，这没什么！何况这种生活即将结束……” “嗬！说说看，找到了什么好差事？” 水野这么一问，渡边撇了撇嘴，表情有些怪怪的。水野以为他是装模做样。 “你说什么？”渡边提高了嗓音，“董事长先生，别装蒜好不好？我这一生不是得让董事长关照吗？” “你尽说怪话。莫名其妙！我不记得许过这种诺言。” “不用说诺言吧，只要有过类似的事也就够了。” 水野懂得这话的含义。正因如此，他才获得了相当的地位和金钱。不过，终生关照又另当别论。 “别瞎扯啦！你这是白日做梦，不过也许是有什么误会吧？还有，久美子在世时你和她干下了好事。现在你倒有脸来见我！” “你说那件事！怪了！我的话你真的相信了？” "Huh? What do you mean?" “哎呀，就是我跟前任董事长相好的事儿嘛！那都是胡编的。” 渡边的话犹如晴天霹雳。 “胡编的？” “对，你想想吧，你自己也并不爱那位夫人吧？她根本没有女人味嘛。” “可你那一天跟她睡觉总是事实吧？尸体检验的结果，验出了你的精液。” “这倒没错。可那种场合只好这么做了。你还不明白吗？” “啊！我真的不明白！” “是吗？要不要我说明当时的情况？”渡边接着说道，“你还记得吧？当时在秘书科我是前任董事长的随员。由于职务关系，我几次到过府上，那时候我就想好了一些计划。我发现，董事长的休息日里家里没有女佣，家里又是那么宽敞，就是在屋里叫喊几声，外边也听不到任何声音。于是，那一天我刚到府上，立刻把董事长抱在怀里，董事长大吃一惊。这也难怪，平时我总像绵羊一般柔顺，是个唯唯诺诺的小职员，她根本没料到我会有这般无礼的举动。” 当时，久美子给了渡边两记耳光，一边说：“干什么？你疯了？”可是渡边毫不怯阵。他早已料到多少会有抵抗。他从身后抱住肥胖的久美子，用右臂扼住她的脖子。不一会儿，久美子的身体瘫软了。这只是一时昏厥，她并没有死。 渡边把四肢无力的久美子搬进卧室，接着给她脱光衣服。他必须做得不露痕迹，使别人看了以为是久美子自愿脱衣的。他小心翼翼地避免弄破衣服，又把脱下的服装仔细地折叠起来。 一切准备停当，渡边正在脱自己的衣服时，久美子恢复意识了。她惊叫一声，做出了反抗的姿势，并想掩藏自己一丝不挂的躯体。这引起了渡边的兴奋…… 渡边对水野说道：“说实话，我最担心的就是和你夫人同床时能不能发生性行为。我的计划是伪装成性行为过失致死的假象，所以尸体上必须留下性交的痕迹。可是在水野夫人跟前，我对她的信心不足。我平时就没把她当做女人，只是尊奉为董事长。偏巧董事长叫了一声，又企图掩饰裸体，虽然我以前没有从她的身上感到过女性魅力，可她那个动作毕竟是带女人气的。这一来，我最担心的事情居然进行得十分顺手。” 渡边就是这样强奸了久美子。在这个过程中，他用右手扼住久美子的脖颈，使劲掐了下去。久美子死了。 “此后的事情你想必也很清楚了。警方的调查，也不出我的预料。虽然判决拖延了一些时间，但好歹以罚款3万元了结了。” N河堤是东京著名的男女幽会场所之一，但水野和渡边所在的这一带位于N河堤一端的僻静处，交通不便，所以几乎看不见人影。 他们两人一边走一边交谈着。 “原来如此……”听完渡边的说明，水野轻轻叹息一声，“听了你刚才的解释才明白了你是怎样杀死久美子的。可你为什么要做这种事呢？为了这个，警方追究你的罪责，法院又罚款3万元，这划得来吗？” “你说什么？”渡边突然提高了声调，“不是你托我干的吗？” “你在做梦吧？别无理纠缠好不好？我怎么会委托你干这种事呢？” 水野知道最终免不了出几个钱打发渡边，但他想尽可能地杀价。而且，如果一开始就百依百顺，往后说不定还得一次又一次让步。 “不见得吧？哼，你想想那束铃兰草的事情吧！” “这件事首先就是个误会。我根本不知道你在说些什么！” “别开玩笑！两年前的那一天我给你打过电话。我说，如果你想要我杀死夫人，就插上束白花。第二天，你果然插上了铃兰草！” “怎么回事呀？我毫无印象。” “哈哈，水野先生，你这人好厉害！你叫部下去杀人，自己坐享其成，却把那部下扔掉不管！” 水野在交谈时心中暗想：还得抵挡一阵！打过电话是事实，铃兰草出现在办公桌上也不假。那虽不是我下令，但渡边把它误认为杀人指令恐怕也是实情。然而了解内情的，只有自己和渡边而已。此事没有任何证据。如果抵赖到底，渡边也无可奈何。“渡边君，你还要血口喷人我可要生气了！我根本没想杀害久美子。” “是吗？可你至少巴不得她快点儿死吧？” “开玩笑要有分寸，得分清什么能说什么不能说！你说这些话，有什么证据？”“那件事发生以前不久，有过一个宴会，是为了庆贺与美国H公司缔结合作关系。赴宴返回时，董事——不，现任董事长水野先生在汽车里曾挑逗过秘书三枝小姐，也就是现在的董事长夫人。司机把当时的情况都告诉我了！三枝小姐说：'有夫人在，我可不干！'是吗？可是水野先生听了这句话默然不语。当时你一定在想：'啊，要是久美子死了多好！'三枝小姐的魅力是能叫男人失魂落魄的。啊，失礼了！是呀是呀，如今万事大吉，二位结成了夫妻。怎么样？你和心爱的女人同享幸福，没想到应该感谢我吗？” 水野认为做交易的时机到了。应该适当地施以怀柔之策。 也许渡边制订的计划是缜密周全的。他从司机口中得知水野迷恋优子，而优子表示除非久美子死去便不能接受水野的求爱，便对此加以利用。渡边杀死久美子，并无动机可寻，警方不会判定为预谋犯罪。而另一方面，他又打了那个电话给水野以暗示，造成奉水野之命杀人的印象。判决确定以后，便向水野索钱。渡边所受的制裁几乎等于零，所以如果能每月得到水野支付的大笔款子，即使杀人犯罪也就十分合算了。想到这里，水野从衣袋里摸出了烟，点着火吸了一口，慢慢说道：“我当时就起了疑心，不相信久美子是过失死亡。不过，如果说是预谋杀人又不知动机是什么。可听你这么一说我终于明白了。这样看来，处境不妙的究竟是你还是我呢？我明天就上检察厅去，把今天听你说的话复述一遍怎么样？” “这没用。我的判决已经确定了。根据'一事不二理'的原则，判决已定的案子，除对被告有利的情况以外，不会重新审理的。你还不知道吗？” 水野听了这话，心里一阵急躁。对手确实比他高明。他好像完全听任渡边摆布了。水野想道：再做一次最后的挣扎吧。 “可是，对我来说也是一样吧？你去警察署谎称那件事是受我之托干的也没用了吧。案子已经结了。按照你的过失致死罪作了处理，又能把我怎么样呢？也许你是想敲诈我，可我没有给你留下把柄。” “是吗？你的卑鄙无耻现在暴露无遗了！可我还有一个办法。如果我使出这一招，你怎么也逃不出我的手心！”渡边说罢转身就要走。 水野认为也许是渡边在虚张声势。但他又的确感到心虚，连忙喊道：“喂，渡边君！话还没讲完呢！你说说，你有什么办法？” “哼！这是我被警察拘留期间想出来的。我要用某种手段杀死水野先生的新妻。这一次，可不是那种拙劣的干法，不会得出过失致死的结论。我要做得堂堂正正，而又绝对不会蒙受嫌疑。很遗憾，此时我还不能奉告！否则你会采取预防措施，那我就真的无路可走了。反正尊夫人会死在我手中。这样一来，警方自然会怀疑水野先生喽。同一个人的两位夫人都死于不测，这还不可疑吗？” 水野不相信有这么便利的杀人方法。不过既然上次杀害久美子干得那么漂亮，看来渡边也未必是光说大话而已。 渡边叼起一支烟，划燃火柴举到下巴附近。他脸上浮现出嘲弄的微笑，眼珠上翻，观察水野的反应。火柴的火光照亮了他的面孔。他那副表情完全是在蔑视水野，好像可以随意摆布水野，而现在他要把手中的玩偶置于绝境。那得意的表情布满了渡边整个脸庞。 水野心里一阵冲动。他怎么也克制不住自己。 水野冷不防提起右脚朝渡边的下腹部踢去。渡边大叫一声，闪身避开了。接着两个人扭作一团。 不一会儿，两人中就有一个人倒在河堤上。另一个身影把倒下的人往堤下的河里掀去。 不久，一名行人发现了浮在N河上的尸体。据警方调查身份的结果，死者是水野制药公司董事长水野敏雄。警方当即与他家里取得联系，夫人优子出面确认了死者的身份。 优子一眼就认出了丈夫的尸体，但同时就失去了知觉。所以，警方的讯问只好推延到第二天进行。 优子对负责此案的警官回答如下： 她认为丈夫没有仇人；发案之日丈夫接到一个人的电话后便外出了。打电话的人是谁，她当时也问了一句，但看见丈夫的尸体时，由于惊吓忘记了。不过，以后或许还能记起。 由于被害者系著名公司的董事长，尸体的衣袋内又留有10万元钞票未被劫走，死者的夫人曾记得嫌疑犯的姓名又已经忘却，所以新闻界十分重视，大肆宣传。 然而凶手经数月仍未缉拿归案，警察署所设的搜查总部已经撤销。 优子记忆的恢复是破案的关键。于是各家报社和周刊杂志社纷纷派记者对其进行了采访。 某周刊杂志以一问一答的形式将采访的情况登载如下： 问：那个姓名无论如何想不起来吗？ 答：是啊。有时候觉得是个很常见的姓名，可有时候恰恰相反，又觉得是个很少见的姓名。 问：关于那个人和您丈夫的关系，您有什么记忆吗？ 答：有的，可我忘掉的不光是这件事，还有很多事情……不过有时候也会忽然记起一两件，所以过不久也许会想起来的。 问：还有一个问题。您今后打算怎么办？水野制药公司也曾有过女人任董事长的历史，我们也听说您可能出任董事长…… 答：可我根本千不了这种事情。特别是记忆力已经这么糟了……我打算把丈夫留下的财产妥善处理以后，先回故乡北海道去。 优子果然没有食言。过了丈夫的周年忌日，她便把股份和不动产作了适当安排，然后乘飞机前往札幌。 在千岁机场，一个三十多岁的男子来迎接她。那男子领她乘出租汽车，一同前往札幌市区。 汽车在路上疾驰。两人沉默了一会儿后那名男子说道：“够难受的吧