Chapter 6 sinful flowers

After being arrested on the platform of Takasaki Station at 5:40 in the afternoon, Numata returned to Tokyo three and a half hours later, that is, at 9:12 that night.Of course, this was not my wish, but was brought back by the police. He was handcuffed expressionlessly, and under the escort of two police officers, he obediently obeyed the order and walked forward with his head bowed. Even so, he still hasn't figured out which police station he will be sent to for interrogation, and he doesn't know why he was caught at Takasaki Station. police car, not even knowing which police station the officer who handcuffed himself came from.Within a few minutes after getting on the police car, he was sent to the Takasaki Police Station, and Dang even was sent to an interrogation room for interrogation.Only then did he know that one of the police officers interrogating him was actually from Maebashi, where the local prefectural police headquarters is located.During the interrogation, he was first asked about his basic situation in the same way, and then he was asked about his itinerary and activities in the past few days, and then he was asked about why he got off at Takasaki Station and other questions, but he still remained silent.The police had no choice but to die, and handed him over to the Kenzaki police department after sighing.There were four police officers who came from Tokyo together with Kenzaki. In addition, there were also police officers from Nagano who were arranged separately on the platform.Since these policemen all had a strong local accent, he immediately judged that they were all policemen from Xinzhou.

He was then sent back to Takasaki Station and boarded the Shinkansen train back to Tokyo.A private room was specially prepared for them on the train. He shared a room with a young police officer from Tokyo, but the police officer only said "Go to Tokyo now" on the way, and never said anything else if. Of course, his own reticent character is also one of the reasons for the silence. He didn't even think about asking where he would be taken and what kind of punishment he might face in the future. Ever since he saw the news on TV until he got off the train at Takasaki Station, he had imagined the possibility of various intentions of Shuihui, but since the moment he was arrested, nothing in his mind I would like to think about it again.

"Why did Tetsuji Numata appear at Takasaki Station?" This has almost become the only question he wants to know at this time, but since he turned around on the platform, he has never seen this person again, and he knows , Inquiries about the case should not be expected to be answered by the police officer at all. That Kenzaki police officer occasionally showed up in the private room and asked him kindly, "Are you hungry?", "Are you cold?" At this time, he just said "No" in a low voice as Reply. Tokyo was still shrouded in thick white snow. As a suspect, he returned here only four days later, and everything felt very strange to him, as if he had never been to this city before.

After arriving at Tokyo Station, he was sent to a police car again. This time, no one was willing to tell him where he would be escorted, making him feel lost since he was arrested on the platform of Takasaki Station, as if he had been sent to the police car. It's the same wherever you go. The colorful neon lights on the street are still shining, and the ground covered with thick snow seems to be a battlefield where it is impossible to move an inch.In short, he had never been here before, so now it seemed more like a completely strange street. Since the Kenzaki police station was sitting next to him, he took it for granted that he would be sent to the Koganei police station in the jurisdiction, but the police car turned into the underground parking lot of a building less than ten minutes after driving...there stopped There are many police patrol cars.

He had already realized that he might be sent to the Metropolitan Police Department, and this judgment was confirmed immediately after the car entered the parking lot through the back door.It seems that the rare blizzard in Tokyo today has seriously affected the traffic. Maybe it was because he was worried that the road to Koganei would be impassable, so he sent himself to the Metropolitan Police Department? Although I knew this was the Metropolitan Police Department, I didn't expect the passages in the building to be as complicated as a maze. He was escorted into the elevator in a daze, and was taken into a small interrogation room without even seeing the building clearly.There was nothing in the room except a table and a few chairs.After he was assigned to sit on a chair, the handcuffs were removed.At this time, Kenzaki, who was always by his side, said to him:

"The person who presided over the interrogation tonight is the bridge field police department you met at Ogawa's house. He will be there soon. If you feel tired, you can ask him to postpone the interrogation." After finishing speaking, Jianshi Police Department turned around and left the room. When he walked to the door, he turned around and asked with concern: "I think you also know that this person in the Police Department is straightforward and likes to answer every question. If you Be willing to cooperate and try to speak out what he wants to ask honestly and without reservation, I think he will never make it difficult for you."

Maybe the Kenzaki Police Department has known for a long time that he has been silent and silent in the Takasaki Police Station except for answering questions about his identity and name?Although he nodded to express his acceptance of the other party's advice, he actually didn't intend to tell the facts he knew.Ever since he first met the woman who called herself "Shui Hui" last May, he has obeyed her arrangements almost obediently...but now that he is in the hands of the police, he can only obey the police's arrangements involuntarily. However, the only thing he is willing to obey the police arrangement is his own action, and it is still Shui Hui who really controls his thoughts.

Soon, the bridgeyard police officer with an expression like the gray walls in the room appeared in front of him with a livid face.I saw Hashiba just nodded with a half-smile, and said to him: "We actually met again in this kind of place, you and I didn't expect it?" He nodded silently in answer.He had already made up his mind in his heart, intending to take all the blame on himself as Shui Hui expected. "Do you feel too tired physically? If you are really tired, our conversation can be changed to tomorrow." With a smile on his face, the Hashiba Police Department asked in his usual calm tone.However, in his opinion, this kind of smile is too fake, and it can't cover up the cold and sharp eyes at all.

He silently shook his head. "In that case, let me ask you a few questions first. I think you remember my name, don't you?" Still without saying a word, he nodded slightly. "When I was at Ogawa's house, the kidnapper who called knew that I was standing next to the phone, and asked, "Has the bridge police station from the Metropolitan Police Department arrived?" Did you notify the other party?" Still refusing to answer, he nodded.The Qiaochang Police Department showed displeasure, but still said kindly: "Please try to answer as much as you can, okay? Even if you just say 'yes' or 'no'... When the questioning is over, you should let me Leave a few words on the record?"

Only then did he notice that a police officer next to him was taking notes on a small table. "Yes." He answered loudly honestly. "The kidnapper actually knows my habit of strictly adhering to time. This is what you told him in private, right?" The police department looked at his watch while asking. "no." "Then, how did the kidnapper know me so well?" "..." "If you really don't know, you can tell me 'don't know' truthfully, or can you open your mouth to answer, do you hear me?" "Well, I didn't tell him. They had investigated the famous experts in the Metropolitan Police Department in advance. This time they had already expected that you would go out in person, because it was said that the two famous kidnapping cases were handled by you. All beautiful."

"..." The police department smiled but did not answer, eyes still fixed on him.After a while he said: "Ah, I'm sorry, just now I insisted on asking you to speak, but it was my turn to keep silent. The reason why I was speechless just now was because I didn't expect you to be so cooperative and willing to tell me the truth about the situation. It's really unexpected. I heard just now that you have been refusing to speak at the Takasaki Police Station, and they have nothing to do with you." "..." "So, even if my questioning skills are much better than theirs? I want to ask you, who ordered you to do this?" "..." "I think it would be better to speak out?" The police department still said with a smile on its face.But why this kind of smile makes people feel terrible, he has long known. The smile on the face of the police department seems to be put on specially, which always makes people feel strange, and even if he smiles, the look in those cold eyes makes people feel even more chilling.Therefore, it is not surprising that he may change his face at any time... This kind of anxiety is not only now, but he has already experienced it when he was at Ogawa's house. "If you didn't tell me this kind of thing, I would have known it a long time ago. It was you who told the kidnappers all the details of Ogawa's family at that time. In addition, it was you who led the woman disguised as Kanako to the kindergarten to pick up Keita... Of course, it’s not as simple as picking it up, in fact, this is participating in the kidnapping. I want to know, who ordered you to do this?” It seemed that it was not good to be questioned tremblingly, he thought, it would be better to fight back and take the initiative instead.So he argued: "The reason why I refuse to answer is because I don't know where to start." "Then why?" "Because you are asking some weird questions, which make people feel that there is no way to answer them. You say, can't I, a big living person, not be able to make my own decisions, and who else should I obey to order to do things? Let me tell you the truth, all of this It was all my own idea." "So you're the mastermind in this case, right?" The police department nodded several times as they spoke, implying that, "Actually, I know everything without telling you." "..." "Can't you just open your mouth and answer my question?" "Okay, just ask." "You mean to say that you planned this kidnapping case from the beginning to the end alone, and ordered a few of your subordinates to carry it out, right?" "yes." "However, this is strange. You work in this small printing factory all year round, and you are usually not good at communication. How can you have any friends at your beck and call... Could it be that with your little ability, you can still call Several subordinates, lure them to participate in crimes?" "What's so strange? It's just because the workers in the factory can't do anything big, so I didn't try to recruit them. The people I recruited were all found in the place where horse tickets were sold outside the Dome Stadium in Korakuen , what's the difficulty in trying to recruit people?" "I really can't see that you have this ability! It seems that compared with usual, you have a completely different face in private." "Yeah, why didn't even you see it long ago? You're surprised to find out, right? Instead of this, Mr. Police Department, you might as well think about it. With me, a person who is not good at communication, I actually What's the point of making Keita and his mother feel trustworthy and take the initiative to approach me? Why didn't you suspect me earlier?" "That makes sense. So, you made a kidnapping plan in advance, and then created the conditions to get close to Keita-kun, right?" "Of course it is." "Well, please tell me. How did you guys come up with such a stupid and absurd kidnapping case... Since you are the mastermind, you must know all this clearly in your heart and explain it most accurately. Right?" He silently met the gaze of the police department and looked back for a long time, and after a long delay, he asked back: "Do you know Keita's life experience?" At this time, he had already made up his mind to take what he heard from Shui Hui as what he had learned, and tell the police department everything. "Of course we know all of this. Even who his biological mother is... we don't know anything about these things outside." "Who did you hear it from?" "From Kanako Ogawa." "You haven't met Keita's biological mother yet, have you?" "Of course I have. Because we thought it was his biological mother who carried out the kidnapping in order to get the child back... However, it seems that she has evidence that she has not participated in this matter." "What evidence?" Hashiba pouted his lips slightly without answering, and said after a while: "Why did you ask me the other way around? You should be a policeman asking questions... Then let me ask you, why do you ask these questions?" ? Knowing the evidence in her hand, what do you want to do?" "..." "I think, whether she was involved in this matter, you, as the kidnapper, should know better than our police?" "No, I think you are all deceived. Believe it or not, but I have to tell you that her so-called alibi is not reliable at all. The real kidnapper is afraid that you will suspect him, so he made it up. Those so-called evidences came out." "You don't have to worry about that. After our understanding, she really has nothing to do with the case... Her alibi is also impeccable." After hearing these words, he reconsidered quickly in his mind, still undecided in his heart, wondering whether the biological mother of Kyuta mentioned by the police department was the "water painting" he knew. He knew very well that it was the woman who called herself "Shuihui" who went to the kindergarten with him to pick up Keita on the day of the incident.If she can prove that she was not at the scene that day, that is to say, she is not a real water painting... In just a few seconds, he came to the conclusion that the woman was not actually Mizue, and she was not Keita's biological mother, and these words were just used to deceive him.Based on this premise, he intends to make up some lies in an attempt to justify himself. However, just as he was about to speak, the Bridge Field Police Department randomly took two photos from the black folder on the table and threw them in front of him.The police department seemed to have seen through what was going on in his mind, and said: "This is the picture of Keita-kun's real mother." He quickly picked up the photos and looked at them, one of which was a close-up shot of a woman wearing sunglasses.Even the style of that pair of sunglasses is very familiar to him. Judging from the photo, this woman is undoubtedly Shui Hui.The other photo is of her in a coffee shop. In the photo, she shows her upper body from the side, holds a cup in her hand, and Masahiko Yamaji sits in front of her. The two of them are facing the camera and smiling shyly. .Although the shooting distance is a bit far away, it is obvious that the face and figure resemble the "water painting", and he still remembers the water-red dress and hairstyle... He pretended not to be interested at all, and after a few glances, he turned over the photo and threw it back on the table, pushed it to the side of the police department and returned it to him. Although his expression still pretended to be very calm, his mind went back and forth, and the more he thought about it, the more confused he became.Could it be that the woman who took the initiative to approach me is really Mizue... However, the police department asked at this time: "Then tell me, how did you know that Kyuta-kun's biological mother is the woman in the photo?" At this time, he had completely made up his mind.Then he replied calmly: "Last May, this woman suddenly approached me with an excuse. She told me all the ins and outs, and then asked me to help her meet Keita, even if I could take him to play for a day... because during that time I often go to the kindergarten to pick up the children to school. She cried and begged me, hoping to help her, and spend a day with Keita without being known by Kanako, no, even if it is only half a day... She also said : "Just half a day is fine, and after half a day, I will never bother him again." Seeing her begging, I couldn't bear to refuse her, and felt a little sympathetic, so I was willing to find a way to help her... But, After much deliberation, I couldn't find any good idea. I even said to Kanako cruelly: "May I take Keita back to Shinshu's hometown for fun?" Unexpectedly, Kanako replied: "Okay, then I want to follow too. Go...' As a result, I couldn't find any good opportunities after procrastinating for a long time. Just at that time, I just read a novel about kidnapping cases, and I thought: "Yes, there is another way of kidnapping." So Then I began to plan how to carry out the kidnapping... Of course, this idea was strongly opposed by the woman, and I have been unwilling to agree to this approach since then, but I am obsessed with it... I have been thinking about many ways, and I still find it so interesting I have never experienced anything like this before, so I made up my mind, and regardless of her objections, I forcibly pulled her into the seat of the car going to the kindergarten." After telling these lies, even he himself was surprised, he didn't expect the nonsense to be said in such an orderly manner. The police department just crossed their arms and listened in silence, looking like they were about to doze off.After listening to what he said, the police department just slightly opened his left eye to look at him, and asked, "That's all? Why don't you continue?" It seems that the police officer who is known as the most intelligent police officer in the Metropolitan Police Department has already heard the flaws in his words, and is waiting to see his jokes. "According to what you just said, it means that you only met Keita's biological mother in May last year, and then, after making a kidnapping plan, you began to try to get close to Ogawa Kanako and Keita. The order should be like this? But in fact we I have already heard from them that you started to get close to the two of them with excuses a long time ago..." "..." "Well, even if we ignore this contradiction first, you say, since the purpose of kidnapping Keita is only to allow his mother to meet, why make the case so complicated and create such a sensational farce? Do that It’s almost like deliberately trying to make the media hype it up... In fact, what I want to know most is the reason.” "The reason is very simple. I want to force Kanako into a situation where I can't help it, and finally tell the fact that Keita was not born by me... Let her admit that the child was taken from his own mother. The method is a bit vicious. It's no less than kidnapping. Didn't the police just say that Kanako has told you the truth?... In short, my purpose is not just to let Keita meet his biological mother, but to let Kanako tell you the truth. Let me tell you about the child's life experience..." Having said this, his words suddenly stopped.It turned out that it was the bridge field police department who suddenly parted the crossed arms and reached out to stop him. "I think you can forget it. Instead of talking nonsense here, it's better not to answer like you did just now, and the lies you fabricated are full of loopholes and nonsense, which makes it hard for people to listen. You know, even if you put false The words are swearing and hype, and lies are lies after all, and there are bound to be flaws. The so-called truth, in fact, people will naturally feel that they can justify themselves after hearing it. Tell you all the truth about this kidnapper, right?" "..." "The kidnapping case you mentioned was nothing more than a cover-up after all. Its real purpose was to carry out a bigger extortion case in the dark in order to extort hundreds of millions of ransom. Are you right... what you did All of this is nothing more than a smokescreen to distract the police." It seems that everything is in vain, and the truth has long been grasped by the police department.He couldn't help feeling secretly frustrated, but silently stared at the menacing gaze cast by the police department.The eyes are empty and flustered, the dull eyes are like the holes in the two clay pots... He can only use the words that others often describe his eyes, moving back and forth on the face of the police department. "So you know all of this! It seems that you can't hide anything from you. No, I thought of it when I saw the order on TV this evening. Even I pretended to be a patient and went to Keita's father's hospital to find out the truth. You have also investigated the matter clearly, so what else can you hide from you? At that time, I felt that you must have known about the real case that was carried out behind the scenes..." Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by an angry "Shut up!" "Didn't I already advise you, instead of talking nonsense in front of me, why don't you just shut up?" It seems that the police department is really angry this time. It can be seen from the way the police department is panting. table, shouting, "Enough!" In this small room, the atmosphere suddenly became tense. "I see that you are talking nonsense to me in order to protect that woman!! It's just because the interrogation came too suddenly, and you didn't have enough time. Although you tried your best, you still couldn't make up the lie more completely. See Come on, you still can't cover up the crime for her." When these words were said, the police department had completely recovered their composure, and there were a few smiles on the corners of their eyes and lips, looking at him coldly.It seems that this smile is completely different from the mockery of his immaturity and youth just now...it's just a self-deprecating smile. The police department continued to say: "Don't stare at me like this, I think you should have known that I am the most intelligent policeman in the Metropolitan Police Department, and seeing through the kidnapper's lies is always a piece of cake. Disc, it's not a problem at all." "..." Hashiba shook his head lightly, and said, "To be honest, I didn't see through your lies, but I knew you were going to make up this lie before you even said it. Listen to what she said." "Who the hell are you talking about?" He withdrew his gaze abruptly, only looked down at the police department timidly and asked coldly.It was as if standing in front of him was an unknown creature that could only be frightened. "It refers to Keita's biological mother...to be precise, the woman you also think is Keita's mother." "It's water painting..." "Yes, you always thought she was the woman from Shuihui." As he said that, the police department reached out and turned over the two photos on the table facing down. "Has she been caught too?" He couldn't help asking anxiously. "No, I haven't caught it yet. Although I told you just now that I heard from her, I actually got a letter from her this morning, and I learned from her letter." "..." "She told me in her letter that last May, she approached you with an excuse, and she also brought you to help her kidnap Keita Ogawa... The typewritten letter also specifically mentioned that all the results were as she expected in advance Even after you are arrested by the police, you will take the initiative to take all the blame on yourself in order to cover her, and she fully expected it. There is only one thing that I didn't expect..." He shook his head feebly, as if the only thing left to move was his head. "What does this mean...why did she send you such a letter..." "Obviously, she did it for your own good, don't you even know that?" As if he didn't understand this sentence at all, he just tilted his head strangely and looked at the police station with a confused look.Two words can be clearly read on this person's face-a sense of justice and ambition, which can be felt every time you see this police officer.However, it seems that people who regard these two words as their greatest goals in life are not very good at joking. But why did the police department make such a silly joke on themselves?He couldn't help thinking that there must be something inside... After a long silence, he laughed out loud.However, the smile squeezed out from between the lips stopped after a single sound, just like a firework that could not be ignited due to moisture, it was over with a puff. "She secretly betrayed me like this, sent me into the trap you set up with her own hands, and dare to say that it is for my own good? What a big joke... This time it is my turn to advise you, police department, Rather than talking nonsense here, it would be better not to say a word." He couldn't help being furious, and he said such mean and ugly words to this young big man in the Metropolitan Police Department.But the other party was unmoved, just patiently listened to his words with a confident smile. "Everything I said is the truth. Anyway, I am still a policeman in the Metropolitan Police Department. If I talk nonsense to the suspect, the consequences will be serious. Besides, let me tell you, you My father was listening to our conversation in the next room. Speaking of which, your father Tetsuji Numata was a man of his word in the Nagano prefectural assembly. He was still listening, so I dare not make fun of you, or Nonsense? Are you right?" Hearing this, he couldn't help but glanced at the top of the wall. When he first entered this room, he noticed that there were three inconspicuous holes cut on the empty wall near the ceiling.Perhaps these holes were dug out for the installation of cameras, which have filmed the situation in the house and broadcast it in other rooms... However, his vicious gaze still did not move away from the face of the police department.Is Tetsuji Numata here?What is that?Who is afraid of him? "I heard that your father is a big man who is the speaker of the county assembly, right? Numata Mikun?" Although the police department promised verbally not to make fun of him, the words from his mouth always seemed so mean and bitter, giving people a feeling of teasing.But he ignored it at all. "Well, let me ask you, she is also the one who reported to you the news that I escaped to Echigo Yuzawa and that I was going to get off at Takasaki Station, right?" He couldn't help being angry, because all these things were done according to her order... "Indeed, she told us all of this. In the letter she received this morning, she wrote this sentence at the end: 'I will tell you where he is hiding this evening.' Since you have participated in her Of course we have to arrest you. The police arrested people not only to arrest the kidnappers, but also for other purposes. As for her..." Having said that, he suddenly interrupted the police department and shouted angrily: "Just tell me who she is... Is the woman in the photo really Keita's real mother?" After speaking, he shook his head helplessly. "Shanlu——no, I still have a photo of Mizue Asai here." While talking, the police department took out another photo from the folder, then turned it over like a hole card and put it on the table, pinched it with three fingers and pushed it in front of him.But he didn't stretch out his hand immediately, just like a hungry dog ​​that has already grabbed the food under his paws, he just gasped heavily and stared at it closely. After a while, as if he had made up his mind, he took the photo in his hand with all his strength. It can be seen at a glance that the woman in this photo has exactly the same hairstyle as the woman in the previous one. It seems that the two photos were taken at the same time.It's just that she has taken off her sunglasses in this photo... But, even so, at first glance, he felt that this woman was the "water painting" he was familiar with, because they were so similar... It's just—the eyes shape is slightly different.Although both of them have big eyes, and the corners of their eyes are a little raised, but if you look closely, you can still see that the eyes of the woman in the photo are not exactly the same as the "water painting" he knows.This is not due to the effect of makeup. Although they all have double eyelids, the eyes of the woman in the photo are slightly puffy and have fewer wrinkles. Although they look very similar at first glance, they are not the same person after all.However, since the woman in the photo is the real Shuihui, then who is the "Shuihui" I know... "Just tell me, who is that woman?" He blurted out and asked, a surge of anger inevitably surged in his heart, it was too much, he dared to get close to me with an excuse, dragged me into a criminal gang, carried out this shocking crime, and then framed me as the main culprit, Let the police send me to the cell, who is this bold female thief... "Actually, we still don't know who she is. It's just that the letter to me was signed with 'Lan', which is the word 'Lan' for orchid..." With that said, the Bridge Field Police Department took out another letter from the folder, turned the envelope over and let him see it.There is indeed only one word "Lan" written in the column of the return address and name on the back. orchid. This word is written with a pen, but it is written in a flying and flying manner, with extraordinary skills, like a beautiful orchid in full bloom. Although I have seen her handwriting so far, and I think the handwriting is very beautiful, but I didn't expect her to be able to write such beautiful handwriting.He took the letter and put it on the table in front of him.He couldn't help turning it over, and glanced at the name column of the recipient's address, and finally he could clearly see the words "Metropolitan Police Department" and "Bridge Field" written on it.Judging from the handwriting, it was undoubtedly written by the woman I knew. "Can you provide some clues about her?" He listened and shook his head. "By the way, she always lied to you, and I felt sorry for myself. One time, I really wanted to introduce you to who I am. Do you remember, didn't she say to you, 'Introduce you to someone who looks very similar to me? like a woman', the phrase?" He still shook his head, but at this moment he suddenly remembered the incident when the two of them went to the vicinity of Ikebukuro together in the summer.The quiet little park in the alley, the swinging swing, the summer sun, and the window in the building... "Lan is just a pseudonym she used when picking up customers in the store..." The voice of the police department seemed to come from a distance, and gradually became blurred. There is not a single window in this suffocating room, and the outside world is almost completely cut off. However, the metal-like cold walls make people feel as if they are in the blizzard outside, feeling the coldness of severe winter... In the haze, he seemed to have returned to that scorching summer day.That day, the blazing sun shone mercilessly on the park in the alley in Ikebukuro and on the low and dilapidated buildings next to the park. Contrary to the lively scene on Ikebukuro Street not far away, the remote alleys were still full of people. So quiet and serene.Could it be that the woman's figure is hidden in some window in this inconspicuous alley? Could it be that she ordered herself to go into the store to call the woman who looked like her to accompany her, took out the money and stuffed it into his pocket, then pretended to get in the car and left, and then went around the back of the building and returned to the store, waiting for him Is this guest coming? "It seems that you have remembered it?" the police department asked. He shook his head, but the police department ignored him completely and picked up the letter again. "She wrote in her letter that she wasn't sure whether you would go to the store to find her that day, but it was just a gamble. If you really went to find her, then her identity must be exposed. Can tell you all the truth, and then beg you to help her realize her criminal plan." "That's a complete lie!" "If you really think so, you can see for yourself!" With that said, the police department handed the letter to him, but he still shook his head and refused.So the police department took out the letterhead from the envelope, and said as if to himself: "I don't think the things written on it are any kind of lies." "Didn't you keep saying that it was the truth? You also said that if I really went into the store at that time, she would tell me all the truth... Then let me ask you, what is the so-called truth?" "That is to say, under the cover of the kidnapping of Mr. Keita, they secretly planned to carry out another case, and quietly obtained a huge sum of money without the police and the world knowing. The real purpose she was trying to achieve... Although there was little movement, the amount of ransom she got in the case secretly planned was many times higher than that of the kidnapping case on the surface, which is almost unbelievable." "I heard these words from her personally... Although I didn't go to the store to find her at the time, she still said these words to me." He stopped halfway through his speech, as if he was overwhelmed by the slightly mocking eyes of the police department. "Oops!" He whispered secretly in his heart, and realized that he had missed his words, because what he said just now was tantamount to admitting that the mastermind of the case was this woman. "So, all your actions are under her orders, right? Under her coercion, you have no choice but to join her gang and participate in the crime..." He shook his head frantically, I don't know how many times he shook his head... "You're saying you're not being coerced by her, are you?" "Yes, she never threatened me...all my actions come from my own will." Although he answered in the affirmative, he stopped here because he found that no matter what he said, he might have fallen into the other party's trap and couldn't extricate himself. "So you participated in her crime of your own volition, didn't you?" Seeing that he refused to say more, the police department took the initiative to finish the sentence for him: "However, she clearly wrote in the letter: 'Under my repeated threats, I forcibly drew him into our criminal gang.' Once you were almost killed by her because of this. Is there such a thing?" "No, nothing like this has ever happened..." He shook his head firmly in denial.警部又说：“那好，让你亲眼看看吧。”然后便扭头向直挺挺地站在门边的年轻警察打了个手势，那位警察马上走出门去，很快便取回了一个便携式录音机，放在桥场警部面前的桌上。 桥场默默地按下了按钮。磁带便开始慢慢转动了起来。突然，录音机里传出一阵刺耳的爆炸声，由于房间太窄，声音显得特别响，震得人不由得心惊肉跳，像是发生了什么事故似的。既像列车脱轨的瞬间发出的撞击声，又像汽车油门踩到最大时发出的震颤……是的，这是汽车引擎的转速提高到最大时出现的凄厉的爆裂声…… “快停下！你想干什么？”传来一个男子低沉的嗓音在叫嚷。 “我要迎头撞上这辆跑车给你看，以此证明我豁出命去干的决心。万一要是我们俩……”女子冷静的声音回答。 “快停车！这么开非把人撞死不可！” 接下来听到的是一对男女互相撕扯打斗的声音，男子几次近乎哀求的苦苦叫唤：“快停下！”但女子始终没有回答…… 他不禁重重叹了口气。接下来车里发生了什么，他早已经稔熟于心。这位极力阻止女子开飞车的男子不是别人，正是半年前的自己。至今他还牢牢地记得夏日里的那一天，女子正开车走在高速公路上时，突遇一辆跑车从身边掠过，便不顾一切地加大油门追了上去，还扬言要和那辆跑车同归于尽……然而女子这么做只是为了让人相信自己。 听罢这段录音，他又向警部重重摇了摇头，说道： “其实她只是想豁出命来证明自己，根本就没想过要杀死我，这并不算什么胁迫吧？” “我看你还真糊涂。”警部笑着回答，“其实，那天你坐的是副驾驶的位置吧？你和她的两条命本来就拴在一起。如果她一头撞死在车上，你还能活得成？既然她肯说豁出性命，那不是和威胁要杀了你没什么不同？况且方向盘还抓在她的手里，论起来发生事故时你丢了性命的危险更大些。她的车技既然相当高超，发生车祸时只把你撞死应该也不算什么难事。我想，就连你当时也已经觉察到了危险，才会不顾死活地阻止她撞上去的吧？” 警部一边说着话，两眼一边紧紧地盯住他。 “她第一次接近你时也是一样，在你前方的信号灯变绿，刚启动车子的一刹那，她的车从侧边猛蹿了出来，这么做不仅自己的生命有危险，两车相撞时你和圭太君的生命也完全没有保障，这么做无异于是对你的胁迫。只是你没有意识到罢了。自去年五月以来，她已经数次威胁到你的生命。别忘了，车和手枪、刀子一样，也可以很容易地成为杀人的凶器。” 他听了后虽然还在摇头，但内心已经波澜起伏。 “是啊，这么说那名女子一直在胁迫我。”他在心底暗暗地对自己说道。 其实，他对警部所说的事情并未感觉那么危险，他总觉得两次相撞的目的并不是真正想要自己的命……然而，那名女子的存在倒是对自己实实在在的威胁。 无论是她的容貌还是身体的线条——从脖子直到胸部、腰间、双腿的一条条曲线，无不像一把把锋利的尖刀悬挂在他眼前，随时可以刺穿他年轻的心脏。 她的身体仿佛天生具有诱惑男人的谜一般的魅力。而她自己心里也很清楚这一点，时常以此作为诱饵来吸引人上钩，而这份诱饵又仅仅是让人可望而不可即，并不会真正落入鱼儿的口中，这才是最为可怕的凶器，也正因为如此，才会让他感到恐惧，并为此惴惴不安，感觉受到了威胁。 不，曾经有过一次，她真的向自己抛撒过这份诱饵，那就是刚才警部所提到的池袋附近小巷子里的那家店——名叫“银河”的那家店，但他当时并未意识到这份真正的诱饵是抛撒向自己的，只是闻了闻便摆了摆尾巴游向了一边，也因此而永远丧失了吞食这份诱饵的机会。 He shook his head again. 就在去年夏日里的那天，她曾经在小巷中的那家猥琐的小店里，把自己无数神秘的线条完全摊开在面前，等候着他的到来……可是对于他来说，这么做对他的伤害仿佛比把自己出卖给警方来得更大些。 “请问，她又为什么要把这段情节录下音来呢？” 他突然抬起头，冒昧地问了一句。 “她这么做无外乎两个目的。”警部像是正等待着他的发问似的，毫不犹豫地回答，“首先，她这么做完全是为了保护你。以此来证明你是受了她的胁迫而不得不加入她们的团伙，因此她才把这段录音随信寄给了警方……不仅是这段录音，从最开始和你说话时起，她就一直把你们的谈话录了下来。并且把其中能减轻你的罪责的部分摘录了出来，作为证据寄到了警方手里。” “可是，她还是让我遭到了警方的逮捕，说是为了我好，这又从何说起？” 他摇着头，一连说了几个“真不明白”。 “那么，先假定你未遭到警方的逮捕，继续你的逃亡之路。你的真实身份警方已经掌握，由于小川家人和工厂同事们的描述，我们已经绘制了几乎与照片无异的你的模拟画像，你已经完全无路可逃了。与其惶惶不可终日地东躲西藏，倒不如早日落入警方手中，然后再向警方提供证据，以证明你参与犯罪并非出自本意，而是在恐吓威逼之下不得已而为之。那么一来，也许能早日得到释放……她就是这么想的。” "..." “实际上你很快便会得到保释。我想，即使检方把你起诉到法庭，最终法院也很可能判定你无罪，或者顶多判个缓刑吧。你的父亲也会为你聘请最好的律师来为你辩护的吧。” He shook his head again.这既是对那名女子突然摇身一变，成了挽救自己的恩人的否定，也是对事隔多年后突然出现在自己面前，想帮助自己的父亲的否定。 “因此，我劝你还是尽早承认自己的一切行为是在被她胁迫的情况下做出的吧，这样也许对你更有利些。” 他依然摇了摇头。 桥场警部深深叹了口气。从他嘶哑的叹息声中可以听出，警部已经身心俱疲，几乎无法再坚持下去了。 “难道你还想继续包庇她吗？告诉你，这么做完全是徒劳。” “为什么……”他的声音顿时也嘶哑了许多。 “目前看来这名女子还很难抓到。自去年八月起，她便辞去了那家叫'银河'的妓馆的工作，至今下落不明……也就是想让你到店里点名要她陪同，而你并没有听从命令的那天后不久。其后便音信全无、杳无踪影了，就连这封信从哪儿寄来的，我们也摸不清……她现在身在何处，藏匿在哪儿更是无人得知。你曾经用手机和她通过话，多少能知道她的下落吧？” 他既无法点头，又无法摇头。虽然警方还未掌握，但自己明明知道数小时之前那名女子还曾经出现在高崎车站的列车上，距离自己和警方人员仅仅数步之遥……可是，她乘上那趟新干线列车后到底去往何方却根本无人能知。究竟是继续混杂在东京庞大的一千万人口之间，还是逃往了哪个不知名的小镇躲藏了起来…… 另外，为什么当时她竟然出现在自己的身边？难道就是为了亲眼看看自己是不是顺利地落入了警方的法网…… 直到这时，他才终于想到自己该说些什么。 “照你这么说，我只要承认自己的所作所为都是受到了别人的胁迫，才被逼无奈参与了他们的犯罪计划，就可以免于遭受刑罚吗？这实在让人难以相信，日本的警察根本就不可能轻易放过一个罪犯。就连你刚才说的，那名女子已经逃跑得无影无踪，实在无法下手，也让人感觉过于丧气，像是骗人的假话……既然我逃到那么远的天涯海角都能被你们毫不费力地抓回来，抓住她又有什么难办到的？难道这仅仅是一个圈套？一个警方与那位女子联手布下的圈套吗？” “不，我认为要是没有那名女子的告密，我们想抓住你也并非那么容易。但至今为止我们对那名女子的真实姓名依然一无所知，连她的基本情况和相貌也无从掌握……就连那家店里的服务生和女伴们也没有见过她未化妆过的面容。不知你是否见过她的真实相貌？” “……”他只能默不作答。 “既然你不想回答，那就算了。我们已经知道，她素来善于化妆，明明化上一层厚厚的妆，可是粗略一看，却好像没有化过妆一样，让人很难看出她的真面目。就连店里的其他女孩对她的这一手也佩服有加，更别说我们男性，很难辨认得出来。加之，为了这桩案子她早就开始进行精心的准备，始终把自己的面容隐藏得很深，根本不让人看清自己的相貌……就连你和其他的同谋也是如此。也许她已经恢复了自己本来的容貌，正在哪儿开始了自由自在的生活？看来，既然已经把期盼已久的那笔巨款弄到了手，她已经把你和圭太，还有这个叫'兰'的化名以及原来的化妆，所有这些已经对她毫无用处的东西全部抛弃到九霄云外去了，正以另一个人的形象生活在这个世上了吧？” "..." “至于她手下的原名绑匪可就没那么容易逃脱了。目前已经查明的绑匪除了你之外还有三名，其中两男一女。这位女的就是她本人的可能性尚不能排除，这么一来，见过那两名男性绑匪的也只有你和圭太两人了。” 听到这里，他心里突然“咯噔”一下，“啊”地小声叫了出来。 小川社长的面容隐隐地浮现在眼前，难道老社长真是她的从犯吗？ 其实她根本就不是“水绘”，也不是圭太的亲生母亲。如此说来，她亲口说过的“小川社长也对我表示了同情，愿意协助我们的绑架计划”这句话就根本靠不住了。老社长得知女儿香奈子夺走了水绘的孩子，愿意打抱不平，甘愿成为那位女子的帮凶，这件事看来也一定是假话。 其实，他当时只看见小川社长在赌马场里挤在人群中看赛马，并没有见过社长和她说话，也从未听社长亲口说过自己参与了这个计划。 也许她只不过知道小川社长经常热衷于到后乐园的马场参与赌马，便故意拉他到后乐园去让两人碰到，再胡编出社长也是同谋的谎话来欺骗他吧……因为对方知道，他一旦听说社长也是同绑匪之一的话，便会放心地答应下来，加入她的犯罪团伙吧。 或者，如果她编了一套谎话来欺骗社长，让小川社长也相信她才是圭太真正的母亲，以至相信她就是真正的水绘吧。甚至可能社长早就看穿了她的把戏，只不过为了钱而装聋作哑，这才向警方装出一副上了当的样子，企图蒙混过关呢？ However…… “呃……最重要的问题我们还没说到呢……刚才没说过吧？”警部又开口说道。 想不到一贯以说话干脆利落自居的警部居然也会如此吞吞吐吐地说话。这反而让正接受审讯的他感到莫名的不安。 “最重要的问题？” “我指的不是在社会上闹得众人皆知的那桩绑架案，而是指在不为我们警方所知的情况下暗地里策划的那起不起眼的案子……虽然案子并不起眼，可涉及的赎金金额却相当大，已经算得上是重罪大案。明天各家媒体一定又会把这起大案炒得沸沸扬扬……既然你承认自己就是主谋，那么你应该比任何人都清楚吧？起码要比我们，以及被害人，此外还有那位伪装成'浅井水绘'的女子更清楚。” "..." “那好，我先问你，暗地里你从被害人手中诈取到的赎金一共有多少？请把准确的数额告诉我。” 他目不转睛地死死对视到警部的双眼，但心里翻江倒海无法平静。看来对方已经认准了自己的软肋，正在发动狠狠一击……其实他心里比谁都清楚，那名女子根本就从未把暗地里的计划告诉过自己。 “总之，是上亿日元的赎金吧？这总该可以了吧？具体金额你完全可以去问被害人，何必又来问我……” “不，如果不由主谋亲自认定，我们无法把握准确的数额。” 这句话不禁使他十分伤脑筋，不知道警部这么说意图何在。 “具体的赎金金额我们警方当然十分清楚，因为被害人已经完全按照绑匪提出的要求，全额支付了赎金……只不过，这桩绑架案中的绑匪的行为十分乖张，做出的举劝也让人大惑不解……他们约定在涉谷十字路口收受的赎金分文未取，而且途中被窃取的金额也大大少于他们所提出的数额，只不过区区一千万。可是就连这一千万现金他们也整整齐齐地装进圭太君的背包里返还给了我们，也就是说，事实上他们索要的赎金为零。就连暗地里发生的这桩敲诈案的金额，也许今后绑匪也打算还回来吧……或者他们留下一部分，甚至全额返还回来，他们一分钱也不留下的可能性都有……我们警方和被害人都希望这种可能性出现。” "..." “因此我才想问问你，问问你这位主谋，你打算把收受到的两亿五千万赎金的多大一部分返还给我们？就像上回在涉谷十字路口发生过的案件那样？” "..." 他当然无法回答，只能默默地回视着警部的眼睛。只是在心里暗暗叹息着叨念了一句：“两亿五千万！”事先他完全没听说过准确的数额，难怪为了这些钱，那名女子会不顾一切地铤而走险……这笔数额中又包含了多少出卖了我而换取到的钱？ 他在心底暗暗地叨念着，连自己也不知道所叨念的话是什么意思。只不过，他现在最想知道的是，在这起案件中本来有多大的份额应该作为支付给自己的酬劳被那名女子所私吞……也就是说，自己在那名女子心中的分量本来该值多大的百分比？ “是不想回答，还是根本就回答不上来？” “当然是不想回答。两亿五千万不就是两亿五千万吗？难道还能有别的意思……正因为如此，我不想再回答什么。” 警部脸上顿时露出讥讽的笑容，说道： “看来你还和当年那位青春期逆反性格的少年没什么两样啊！只要一说假话，马上就颠三倒四，言语偏激……那好，再接着编。” “什么叫再接着编？我编什么了？” 他假装镇定，慢条斯理地反问道。 “说啊！说你把钱藏哪儿了？” 他原本紧闭的嘴唇中迸出两声干声，答道： “你是在认真问我吗？你真觉得我连这也会轻易告诉你？实在对不起了，这问题我可不想回答，费尽千辛万苦，好容易才拿到手的钱……就算你们能找到我，但钱是绝对找不到了。” “是吗？这可太让人遗憾了。不过你的话说得也是，这钱可来得太不容易啊。” “那还用说？足足两亿五千万呢！拿我这条命换，也已经值了。” “是吗……这我倒没想到，原以为那么轻轻松松，膀不动身不摇就能弄到的钱，你并不会把它看得太重，看来还真想错了。” "..." 不过他也确实无法回答。easy?到底最后是用什么办法把钱弄到手的，他根本一无所知…一看警部眼里幸灾乐祸的目光，就知道他正为用话难住对方而暗暗得意。 “我来替你说吧，让人把两亿五千万现金装进两个大纸箱里，再请快递公司的人直接送到所指定的那处空房子去……绑匪，也就是你，不就是这样交代被害人的吗？” "..." “快件送抵地址是中野区那处公寓的七零二室，当送快递的年轻人把东西扛到房门前时，发现门上贴着一张纸条，上面写着：'推开门后，把东西随便放在地上就行。'收件人的署名只有'兰'一个字。上面还写着：'请把字条带走，充抵收件人签名就行了。'送快递的年轻人就照办了。后来他说，当时把纸箱放进屋里，他还担心弄丢了呢……无论怎么说，这种办法总是太冒险些吧？” “这你就不知道了……正是因为看似冒险，其实才最安全。一间空房子里放进两个破纸箱，谁会觉得箱子里装着巨款呢？” “是吗……说得倒也有道理。刚才我总拿你当成傻瓜，看来脑筋还真够聪明的啊。” 警部故意装出夸奖的样子，接着他又说道： “而且，案发当天，圭太被你们拐走后看来就被关在那间公寓里。当时你们费了不少工夫，故意把房间布置得像旅馆似的，好让圭太误以为自己当时住进的是一家旅馆，对吧？” "..." “当然，作为案件的组织者，这些事情你应该知道得比我更详细些。这些话我替你说简直多余了。” 满脸带笑地说完这些话后，警部突然把脸一板，厉声说道： “讯问已经持续很长时间了，我看就到这里为止吧。我看你也别装了，其实这起绑架案的真相，你根本一点儿也不知道……” 警部冰冷的眼神就像一台冷却装置，瞬间，房间里的空气仿佛凝结了一般紧张了起来。他只觉得嘴唇僵硬、张口结舌，一句回答的话也想不起来…… 他的整个头脑像是麻木了似的。既然这些真相我全不知道，那也就意味着，以前那名女子告诉过我的案件计划全都是假的…… “其实，这起案件是由两起绑架案相互重叠而构成的，其中之一就是众所周知的小川香奈子的儿子圭太被绑架后勒索赎金的案件，这起案件完全吸引了警方和公众的眼光，表面上弄得轰轰烈烈，热闹非凡，像是打算狠狠敲一笔钱财似的，然而实际上却一分钱也没拿走。不，应该说从一开始绑匪就不打算从这桩案子上获取赎金，只是做给人看的。从这个意义上说，这起案子中绑匪的罪行并不大，顶多算是在捣乱……而第二起案子才真正算得上是重大的犯罪案件，绑匪事先打探到被拐儿童的父亲藏匿有巨额的违法所得，而且害怕让警方知道，于是便乘警方的注意力完全集中在第一起案子上的良机，狠狠敲诈了被害人一大笔钱……事实上，他们看似冒险的犯罪手法已经获得成功，被害人昨天用快递的方式送去的两亿五千万现金已经落入了绑匪手里。” "..." “可是，这样一来理所当然地出现了一个疑问。说实话，到今天为止我对暗地里发生的第二个绑架案完全一无所知……直到今天早上收到那名化名'兰'的女子寄来的信件时我才知道这一切。而第二个绑架案才是绑匪的真正目的，直到我看完信后才知道巨额赎金已经落入了绑匪手里。由此才产生了这个疑问。” “什么疑问？”他心里真想问问，可是没说出来，只是愣愣地张着口，满脸焦急地紧紧盯着警部。可是警部并不理会，紧接着说道： “我的疑问是，绑匪为什么要策划出第一起绑架案？” "..." “那位叫'兰'的女子告诉你，说是想好好和亲生儿子圭太一起过一天，可是现在已经查明，她实际上并不是浅井水绘，也不是圭太的亲生母亲，她想见见孩子的动机根本就不存在。而绑匪瞄准的又是一笔见不得人的赃款，根本用不着担心被害人敢向警方报案……这样一来，他们何必要策划出第一起轰轰烈烈的绑架案，不如省点儿事，直接实施勒索不就行了，为什么要多此一举呢？” 警部的目光落在他身上，一直注视着他不肯离开，两片薄薄的嘴唇像是有规律地上下蠕动着，继续说道： “不过，为了获取山路将彦的非法财产而去绑架圭太，这种做法也算不上高明。圭太一旦被人绑架走，小川香奈子必然慌了手脚，是一定会和警方联系的……既然绑匪的目的是要恐吓将彦，这么一来，没吓到将彦倒先吓到香奈子身上了。如果绑匪们不想惊动警方，那又何必去绑架圭太呢？倒不如集中力量把将彦的老母亲给绑架走，这样效果岂不是更好？案发后我也曾见过那位老太婆一面，她虽然性格强硬不好说话，但毕竟上了年纪，体力不济，要想绑架她岂不更简单？就算让一个女人出面，不费吹灰之力也能把老太婆弄到哪间公寓里关起来。如果先把老太婆弄到手后当做人质，再去威胁将彦，让他把赃款吐出来，我想对方只能乖乖就范，绝对没有胆量去报警。而且据我所知，这位将彦又是个大孝子，知道母亲被绑，势必什么条件都肯答应。这么看来，绑架老太婆的效果不是比绑架圭太更好得多吗……此外，这位老太婆常常独居一处，想绑架她的机会可比圭太要多得多。而且拐走圭太的话其实相当麻烦……因为是个孩子，很少有旁边没人的机会，就像你们实施过的那样，拐走孩子其实要冒极大的风险才能办到。此外，为了达到这个目的，绑匪还要先处心积虑地认识你……同时，明明知道你特别疼爱圭太，那么要把你拉进团伙共同作案，按理说几乎就不可能。” "..." “对了，我还忘了提到，虽然你的姓名和履历全是假的，但是把你拉进团伙实在不算是个高明的主意。尽管如此，他们还是甘冒如此大的风险，一反常态地策划出绑架圭太的案子……加之还搞得热热闹闹，唯恐别人不知道似的，这么做的好处到底又在哪里呢？” “根本就不可能知道！”他在心里暗暗说着。你根本就想不到。其实我早就听出这里有些不大对劲，可是我宁肯被骗也照着办…… 可是，依然无人回答，只有警部一个人的声音在房间里回响。 警部又紧接着说道： “既然我们无法知道原因，那么最好的做法就是从结果出发倒着往前推测了，我们就来看看，那桩表面上弄得轰轰烈烈的绑架案能造成什么结果呢……首先是让圭太身世的秘密尽人皆知。只要媒体大加宣扬，各种流言蜚语就会在社会上大肆传播，秘密肯定是守不住了……另外一个结果，我想你总该知道吧？” 他