Chapter 52: The Motive for Murder
Upon hearing the name “Yomikawa Tsuko,” Matsushita Makoto’s eyes lit up. The possibility of Yomikawa, driven by her secret crush on Kagehara Tetsuya, acting as an accomplice, had been her initial suggestion.
Now, with Hasebe Koichi dead, and Yomikawa having contacted his parents just days prior, could this be mere coincidence?
The thought that her deduction might be correct sent a thrill through Matsushita. She excitedly retrieved a photograph of Yomikawa and asked, “Mr. Hasebe, could you confirm if this is the young woman?”
Mr. Hasebe nodded repeatedly, his gaze fixed on the picture. “Yes, yes, that’s her. She was the one who said Koichi would be saved. You seem to know her. Isn’t she an investigator?”
Kishida Masayoshi’s brow furrowed deeply. “I apologize, Mr. Hasebe, but we cannot disclose any information about this individual at this time. However, I can assure you, she is not an investigator.”
“Then… then… if she’s not an investigator, why would she deceive us? What could we possibly have that she would want?” Disappointment etched itself onto the old man’s face.
“Please leave the investigation to us,” Kishida reassured him before continuing, “Could you please try to recall the exact date you met Yomikawa Tsuko, and what she said to you?”
“I remember it clearly. The young woman came to see me on the evening of June 12th.”
“She introduced herself as a private investigator, hired by someone whose daughter had been murdered by Kagehara Tetsuya. She said this person believed Koichi was innocent and had commissioned her to investigate the matter.”
“She also mentioned that Koichi might be in danger, possibly being coerced by Kagehara. She said that in order to save him, she needed me to answer her questions.”
Mr. Hasebe recounted the process by which he was manipulated into trusting her.
Matsushita’s pen flew across her notepad, recording every detail. In her mind, Yomikawa was practically a confirmed accomplice of Kagehara.
Kishida mused that on June 12th, Yomikawa had first met with him and ĹŚshima Mana, then visited the osen inn. After parting ways with him, she had come here. This was unlikely to have been a spur-of-the-moment decision.
“Did she mention who her client was? Or the reason for the commission?”
“She said her client was Tanaka Erika’s father, who was investigating Kagehara because he believed Kagehara murdered his daughter.”
Kishida was taken aback. While Erika’s father still harbored suspicions about Kagehara, the Tanaka family was not wealthy enough to hire a private investigator. This was undoubtedly a fabrication.
However, someone unaware of the Tanaka family’s financial situation would likely believe the story.
“I was familiar with the case from a year ago, so I was inclined to believe her. After inviting her inside, she told me that the police couldn't be trusted, because Koichi had a criminal record, and the police would be happy to pin the blame on him.”
“At the time, her words made perfect sense, so I trusted her completely.”
Kishida was further shaken. He exchanged a glance with Matsushita. This girl Yomikawa, weren't her manipulative skills a bit too good?
She had begun by establishing a “shared enemy,” fabricating her identity and stance to gain trust.
Then, she emphasized the danger Koichi faced, creating a sense of urgency in Mr. Hasebe.
Finally, she appealed to human nature, suggesting that the police were untrustworthy, leaving only her as a reliable source of help.
It was a masterful display of deception.
Until now, Kishida had considered the possibility of Yomikawa being manipulated by Kagehara. But now, seeing how adept she was at manipulation herself, could she have possibly been the one being deceived?
Furthermore, was her statement to Mr. Hasebe—that Kagehara was Erika’s murderer—true?
Or was that also a fabrication?
He would have to confirm this with her directly.
With that thought, Kishida asked, “After gaining your trust, what questions did Yomikawa Tsuko ask?”
“She asked many questions. Fortunately, it hasn’t been too long, so I should be able to remember.”
As Mr. Hasebe recounted the events, the conversation and questions from that day were gradually pieced together.
Matsushita, visibly energized, meticulously recorded every detail. Kishida also had much to ponder, but now was not the time for analysis.
After they had gathered this information, Mr. Hasebe suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, that’s right! The young woman seemed very concerned about whether Koichi had sent any letters or notes home after his disappearance. She even asked me to notify her immediately if anything arrived.”
“After she said that, I checked the mailbox every morning, but Koichi hasn’t sent anything back.”
Was this Yomikawa’s motive? As Kishida considered this, he heard Matsushita ask, “Have you checked the mailbox today?”
“Not yet. You knocked on the door just after I woke up.” Mr. Hasebe realized he hadn’t checked it that day.
“Then… perhaps I should take a look?” Matsushita glanced at Kishida, inquiring tentatively.
“Yes, go ahead.” Watching Matsushita leave the room, Kishida picked up his notebook and began taking notes himself. He turned to the page with the list of questions he had prepared and crossed out many of them.
The reason was simple: Yomikawa had already “helped him” by asking them.
“Mr. Hasebe, the police suspect that Hasebe Koichi may have had a secret lover. Do you have any information about this?” This conclusion was based on information provided by the biker gang. Kishida felt strongly that this person existed and was likely directly connected to both cases.
This was not a mere guess. Koichi was not the type to suppress his desires.
Moreover, the police had yet to uncover the source of Koichi’s wealth. He had no tax records or transaction history, yet he lived lavishly.
Where did the money come from? The only plausible explanation was this secret lover.
Kishida even suspected that this secret relationship was not consensual.
If they were truly in love, why the secrecy? Mr. Hasebe had said that Koichi had suddenly become extravagant about four years ago, meaning this “secret affair” had lasted at least four years.
During this time, the woman had continued to support Koichi. She must have been deeply in love with him. If that were the case, why didn’t they reveal their relationship? If Koichi refused, wouldn’t the woman have tried to approach Koichi’s parents?
Therefore, it was highly probable that Koichi had been engaging in sexual and financial extortion against a certain woman.
If this conjecture was correct, then this woman, subjected to long-term extortion, became a prime suspect.
The experience of sexual and financial extortion became her motive for murder.
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