Chapter three
o-oOo-o
Wednesday, 16:29 pm
Unfortunately that wasn't the case.
No fraud, no missing money, no nothing.
The last two days, there had been absolutely nothing new and the investigation didn't make any progress. They all were tense - waiting for the other shoe to drop since they were sure that hadn't been the end of it.
They had called Arisawa Sanyu to the Department, because she was the only suspect so far and had convinced her to tell them her clients names. The prospect of a night or two in jail had been enough, but both men had backed up her statement.
When the report came in that there was another victim, they finally had a new lead, even though they wished it would have been different.
It was the first time all three of them were together at a crime scene of this case and they all could have done without it.
Saitama Chuuya, 28 and a successful psychiatrist, lay motionless and with empty eyes in his own blood, a gaping cut across his jugular.
The computer screen and the walls were red and the stinging smell of copper hung in the air.
Carpet-knife, paint-brush – all the same.
"Dang it!" Heiji shoved his fists into the pockets of his jacket to avoid punching anything in frustration.
Saitama had absolutely nothing in common with the other victims. Not even a receipt for the hardware-shop was found. They called the shop nonetheless, but no one had seen Saitama there in the last few days.
Back at the department, Hakuba went to add the new information to his data and Heiji slumped at his desk.
Shinichi looked at him in worry. His friend hadn't slept well the last few nights. He knew that because his room was next to Heiji's office in the house and he had heard him pacing until Kazuha eventually had called him back to bed.
He looked drawn and though Shinichi felt the strain as well, the pressure was much higher for Heiji. This case was his chance to prove himself. Shinichi just hoped he wouldn't end up doing anything reckless to get results. It wouldn't look good if he lost his composure and/or prudence.
Heiji's mobile phone rang.
"Yes, hello, Hattori speaking."
"Um, hello, my name is Koda Arata, I'm working at the hardware-shop. You've talked to Miyamura-san about a person who bought some specific items and I just got back from Hokkaido this morning. I'm so sorry..."
The caller was really upset and Heiji needed a moment to follow the man's rapidly spoken words until he understood what he was telling him. Instantly he was on alert.
"Ya've seen someone buy tha stuff? When? Who?"
"It was yesterday. I- I got a call at work from my family in Hokkaido because my father died. It was very sudden and I was so shaken, I didn't think clearly. I-, Miyamura-san told me about the dead guy you've found. I think it was him."
Saitama Chuuya. Someone really had seen him and it was just hard luck that they hadn't heard about it sooner.
Heiji's fist hit his desk after he had ended the call. "Damn! Maybe we could have saved him! Maybe-"
"And maybe not, Hattori," Shinichi cut in. It was useless to fret over something that was already in the past. "Even if we had known that he had been there, we still wouldn't have had his name or contacts. Who knows if we would have found him in time. Don't beat yourself up about it. Do something so it won't happen again."
Heiji dragged his hands over his face in a tired manner. "Ya're right, I know. Just one moment."
He called two of his officers and instructed them to observe the hardware-shop in turns and to report immediately if they saw something suspicious. He should have done that from the start. This case wasn't looking good. If things didn't change in their favor soon, they likely would have a fourth victim.
He would prevent that! He had to!
"Okay – what do we have about Saitama?"
Shinichi opened the file in his lap, skipped over the photos from the crime-scene and stopped at Saitama's résumé.
"Before he worked as a psychiatrist, he studied psychology here in Tokyo at the Toudai. Impressive grades and several recommendations from his former professors. No wonder his business flourished. He is backed up by some important names in the branch."
He took out the day planner they had found in the drawer of Saitama's desk and looked at the last entries.
"The last meetings before his death were with a Kimura Ren and someone called Endo Isamu." He browsed through the pages before. "On some days there are small markings, look-"
Shinichi turned the planner around and pointed at a small marking in the corner of the day's page.
Heiji squinted. "They look like little flowers, I think."
Shinichi took the planner back. "Think so too, but there is no explanation as to what they mean. Also, they stop around three weeks before today."
Heiji searched through the box with things they took from the crime-scene and fished out a plastic bag containing Saitama's mobile phone with a list attached to it. Forensics and IT already had a look at it and because it had still been powered when they found it, they had been able to extract the contacts fairly quick.
His eyes flew over the lines of names until he finally found what he was searching for.
"Seems like we're lucky. We've got a phone number for both names. Let's call them and find out what their connection ta our victim was."
First, they called Kimura Ren, who turned out to be one of Saitama's professors from Tokyo University.
"Saitama Chuuya, you say?" Kimura's voice sounded over the speaker system so Shinichi could hear him as well. "Yes, I met with him last week about an article he intended to publish. He wanted my opinion on it, but why is the police interested in him? Is he in trouble?"
Heiji hated this part of his work. Telling someone that a person they had known, in the worst case even loved was dead, was an unrewarding task.
"I'm really sorry, but I have ta tell ya that Saitama-san is dead. We are currently investigatin' his murder."
A shocked intake of air, then silence for a moment. "He is dead? Murdered? But - why? Who would do that?"
"That's exactly what we're tryin' ta find out. Can ya think of anyone who had somethin' against him?"
"Hmm... well, no. I don't think he had any enemies. He was a bright student with many friends. Never missed a class, always had the assignments done. We were all expecting a lot from him for the future. The work for his article was amazing - I'm sure it would have made him even more successful."
A model student. Heiji sighed. Why would someone kill a guy like him? Maybe work related? "Did he have any rivals among his colleagues? Any discords?"
Again, Kimura thought about the question for a moment, before he told them that he couldn't think about anyone who held a grudge against him. He promised he would call them if he would remember something else and they ended the call.
Knowing not much more than before, they hoped the second call would bring them a lead.
After introductions and explanations as to why they called were said and done, Endo Isamu, who was a friend from college and had studied with him, became rather talkative.
"No way! He's dead? That's- that's... I can't believe it! We've just talked on the phone some days ago and everything was well. He was a great pal and now you're telling me he's dead? He even gave me advice for my love life. Without him I still would be a virgin."
A bit overwhelmed from the sudden flood of words and a lot more private information than he would have cared for, Heiji looked to Shinichi who just seemed as at a loss as Heiji himself.
"Yeah... right... So ya two were close?"
"Best friends since college, man - best friends. I mean - who else would help you getting laid and even shares the woman with you?"
"Sh- shares?" Heiji's and Shinichi's eyes grew wide. They were best friends in every way one could think of, but that was taking it too far by miles.
"Yeah - even though he told me in our last phone call that I should go find another one, because this chick had some screws loose. No wonder if you ask me. They say they're professionals, but who in their right mind would actually do a job like this willingly?"
"Wait, wait, wait - professionals?"
"Escorts! I'm talking about ladies who spend the evening with you and sometimes they even do more if you... uh..." he suddenly stuttered, seemingly remembering to whom he was talking to. "Err... I don't think I should have said that, should I?"
Suddenly all ears, Heiji assured him. "No, no - it's alright. Tell me about this escort, Saitama-san didn't want ya ta go ta again."
Endo still hesitated. "Really? Won't I get in trouble if I admit that I... well you know..."
Heiji rolled his eyes. He honestly didn't care about that right now, even though he made a mental note to take care of that matter later. He wanted answers. "It's okay, please tell me about her."
"If you say so... Her name is Haruki Sakura and Chuuya introduced me to her a while ago. She is really pretty and I went out with her a few times."
"Haruki Sakura," Heiji repeated and Shinichi wrote the name down. Haru – spring and Sakura - cherry blossoms. That were the small flowers in the planner. The days he had met with Haruki.
"Clearly a pseudonym," Shinichi whispered, "Or her parents really loved springtime."
"What happened then," Heiji wanted to know. "Why did Saitama-san tell you not to meet her again?"
"It was a bit strange. He always was very fond of her, otherwise he wouldn't have recommended her, but suddenly he didn't want to see her anymore. He said she was nuts and that she was head over heels for him, even talked about marriage. Chuuya said that she showed signs of a mental disorder and that he advised her to search help. Needless to say that she wasn't thrilled and threw a cup at him. Crazy chick."
Shinichi and Heiji exchanged another glance. That sounded as if Haruki had a motive to harm Saitama and that she was violent to some extent.
"Please, give us her address."
o-oOo-o
Two hours later, Heiji, Shinichi and Hakuba sat on an elegant couch in an equally elegant room in Haruki Sakura's living room. Very different from Arisawa's place, it was rather spacious.
"Thanks for lettin' us in unannounced, Haruki-san," Heiji began. "As I've already told ya, we're investigatin' tha death of three men."
Haruki sat in an armchair opposite from them. With an unconscious gesture, she stroke back a few strands of her rose-gold colored hair that had escaped from her loose updo. It was obviously dyed to match her name and it complimented her pale green eyes. She was pretty in a fragile, fairly-like way.
She reached for one of the four delicate, flower painted china bone tea cups on the low table she had set out for all of them. Heiji briefly wondered if she threw one of those at Saitama.
"I'm glad to help you out in any way I can," she assured them. Her voice was quiet but melodic and fit her overall appearance.
Heiji nodded his thanks and reached her a picture of Himeragi. "Do ya know this man?"
Haruki inhaled and stiffened a bit. "Yes, I do." She put the cup back on the table and smoothed out some wrinkles in her dress. "He came here a few weeks ago and wanted to hire me. Sorry, but I can't remember his name."
"Not a problem, we know his name already. Himeragi Toya," Shinichi told her. "So, he wasn't a regular client?"
"Ah, no – he came to me for the first time, but I refused him. He was quite mad when he left."
Shinichi looked at her questioningly. "Why did you refuse him?"
Haruki looked uncomfortable. "He said that he normally went to another escort who didn't have time for him, so he came to me. We have an agreement among each other not to steal away clients. We will first obtain the agreement from the former escort - this business is hard enough as it is. He didn't want to tell me her name or to call her and ran out."
"Alright, then what about this man?"
She looked at the photo of Tatsuda Aki and shook her head. "No, sorry. I don't know this one."
Heiji placed the last photo, that of Saitama Chuuya, on the table. "And him?"
She stared at the picture. Her already fair skin took on an ashen tone.
Her eyes went wide over her hand that now covered her mouth and she took in a shuddering breath.
"No-...Chuuya."
Hakuba watched her intently. Her surprise and allover reaction seemed genuine, but if what Endo had told them was true and she was mentally instable, it still could be faked.
"Chuuya!"
All three men were startled by her sudden outburst, as she slid down the couch and fell on her knees - weeping. "No! Why him? Why my Chuuya?"
A bit helpless in this situation, they gave her time to come to terms with the news. There wasn't much they could do for her now, they still needed to question her.
Her crying changed into small hiccups and sobs. "Who?... I mean... why?"
Hakuba leaned a bit forward and shook his head. "We still don't know. That's why we have to ask you some questions. Do you think you can manage?"
Her lips trembled and a tear ran down her cheek, but she wiped it away and fought to calm herself down. "Yes,... I think... okay."
"Alright, we'll try to make this as short as possible." In silent agreement, Hakuba had taken the lead. He knew the most about psychology and how to handle instable persons. And to be honest - Heiji wasn't known for his subtle interrogation techniques.
"So, what was your relationship to Saitama-san?"
"He was a client, I saw him quite often. We- I-... He soon was more for me." She looked to the side and absentmindedly rubbed her left arm.
"Did he feel the same way about you?"
Her hand stilled and gripped her upper arm harder, almost bruising herself. "No- he didn't."
"But he still came here to see you?"
"He stopped coming after I told him about my feelings. He said they weren't genuine and that I just imagined to love him, that I was delusional." She got angrier with every second until she spat out the last words. "He left me! Just like that! I hated him!"
The sudden change in personality was worrying. Maybe Saitama had been right. The question now was if she was capable to kill someone and what her motive for the other two could have been. Maybe Saitama hadn't been the first client she fell in love with and who rejected her.
Hakuba proceeded to ask her about her alibi, when Heiji's phone rang. He looked at the caller-ID and recognized it as one of the officers, he had stationed at the hardware-shop.
He took the call after going to a corner of the room where he wouldn't disturb the questioning.
"Keiji, Officer Makino speaking. We have a customer here, Endo Isamu, who bought a carpet-knife and a paint-brush, just as you said. What shall we do with him?"
Adrenalin rushed through Heiji's veins. 'Endo Isamu...'
"Keep him there! Don't leave him alone - not even for a second! We'll be right there!"
He forcefully shoved his phone back into his jacket and turned to the others who had stopped talking when they heard his commands, Hakuba and Shinichi already at their feet.
"We got a lead," he informed them. "Hakuba - stay here and have an eye on Haruki-san. Kudou - we'll drive ta tha hardware-shop, Endo Isamu showed up there."
They were almost at the car when again, Heiji's phone rang.
"Hattori," he answered brusquely. One hand on the passenger door, he threw his keys to Shinichi, so he could drive while Heiji talked on the phone.
"Ah, hello, Keiji. Good that I've reached you. Here is Professor Kimura."
Right - the professor from Saitama's college.
"What is it, Kimura-sensei? I'm sorry - I'm kind of busy right now."
What Kimura said next made him stop dead in his tracks. Hastily, he put the phone away and leaned into the car.
"Kudou - drive alone, I'll catch up with ya."
"Hattori, what-" Before Shinichi could even finish the sentence, Heiji already had shut the door and sprinted over the street to a man who was about to start his motorbike.
He brandished his badge to the bewildered driver. "Police, I need to lend your bike!"
o-oOo-o
Shinichi was still confused as he drove to the hardware-shop alone. He only knew that the one Heiji had talked to had been Kimura-sensei, but what had he told him that he took off like that?
"Dammit, Hattori! Take the time to tell me what's going on at least!"
Frustrated, he hit the brakes a bit more forcefully than was necessary and came to a sudden stop in front of the shop.
He locked the car and went inside. It was already late and the last customers were about to leave. When he entered the brightly lit selling space, Miyamura waved him over to the office he knew already from their first visit here.
"Kudou-san, I'm glad you came so fast." He looked past Shinichi with a searching glance. "Where is Hattori-keiji?"
"He'll be here a bit later, don't worry. Where is Endo-san?"
"Yes, right - this way please," he gestured into his office. "Officer Makino stayed with him the whole time, just as Hattori-keiji ordered. And that was a good thing. He seems to be really nervous - wants to go home very badly."
Well, Shinichi could understand that most people weren't too pleased when they were held back by the police, but under the current circumstances, Endo should be grateful for the protection and not trying to get away, right? What was going on?
When they entered the room, Endo was indeed trying to persuade Makino to let him go.
"Please, officer! I really have to go now. I didn't do anything wrong, so you can't keep me here!"
Makino held up his hands in a placating manner. "That's true, Endo-san, but did you understand what I told you? You are probably being targeted by a killer - we can't let you go home just like that."
"Aargh!" Endo grabbed his hair and bent forward. "You don't understand! I have to go!"
"Says who?" Shinichi asked calmly and both men turned to him.
Endo's eyes were wide and unsteady, almost haunted.
"The voice."
Shinichi frowned. Was Endo hearing things? They would need a shrink if that was the case. He took out his phone when he heard that a new message had arrived.
'Hopefully from Hattori, I really want to know what-'
He stared at the screen. The message was in fact from Heiji, but he hadn't expected what it said.
"Officer Makino - bring Endo-san to the department. Make sure he is never alone and get him some psychological help."
Without waiting for an answer, he was already out of the door and on the way to the car, calling Hakuba.
After just one ring, the other was on the line. "Kudou-san?"
"We got it wrong. It's not Haruki. It's Arisawa."
TBC
