Minamoto Tamako was the first to lead the applause and also the first to stop clapping.
She feared Doctor Arima would leave, so she hurried forward and continued to ask: Is Matsuboto Miyaku’s mental instability caused by someone? If so, what is the purpose?
Arima Toshio did not want to waste time on a pauper. He had already explained for so long without consultation fees, so he waved impatiently: "How would I know? This is your job as police..."
"It’s every citizen’s duty to cooperate with police investigations!"
Minamoto Tamako made a quick move, blocking the conference room door.
Seeing this, Arima Toshio turned to ask the others: "Is she always ?"
Fushimi Roku and Watanabe Shun silently nodded, while Abe Rokuro dared not speak, shifting his gaze aside.
Minamoto Tamako pouted, with a determined look. Even if Arima Toshio said she was controlling, she accepted it. To uncover the truth behind the murder and explain to the younger patrol police, being talked about was nothing.
Japanese criminal police were infamous and notorious. Arima Toshio didn’t want trouble, and just considered himself unlucky. He patiently explained: "It’s highly likely to be caused by someone."
"How was it done? Was it also using instant hypnosis? Can Mr. Arima make someone think they’re a dog?" Minamoto Tamako took out a notebook, repeatedly asking.
"It’s rather complicated. Hypnosis isn’t omnipotent, and the suggestions can’t go against one’s personal will... Simply put, I can’t make someone do something they don’t want to do."
Arima Toshio paused, changed the topic, and diverted Tamako’s attention: "You can go and interview people, find out his preferences. Maybe you’ll find a breakthrough."
Before Minamoto Tamako could respond, he took out a business card from his pocket and handed it over: "This is my contact information. If you find any clues that need consultation from a professional later, you can call me."
Minamoto Tamako was successfully distracted; she took the business card with both hands and bowed in gratitude. She assumed Arima Toshio was promising to help for free later, but in reality, he was just being politely commercial.
Seeing Tamako let go of the conference room door, Arima Toshio glanced back and made a gesture to his assistant, then hurriedly left.
Miyazaki Shizuka was very polite; before leaving, she looked around at everyone, smiled, bowed to each one, and waved goodbye.
When she bowed, her large chest pressed against the shirt, making the outline of her strapless bra clear. Watanabe Shun stared fixedly, Abe Rokuro turned his head away with a red face, while Fushimi Roku secretly looked at the top of her head.
"All right! Now we have a new breakthrough!"
Minamoto Tamako was invigorated. She carefully put the business card in her pocket, gathered all the members of the reasoning team and temporary external members, and set off to investigate Matsuboto Miyaku’s personal circle.
Abe Rokuro was the first to respond to the call, asking Senior Tamako where to start the investigation;
Meanwhile, Watanabe Shun made an excuse that he had to go to work at the narcotics department and slipped away;
Unusually, Fushimi Roku didn’t find an excuse and actually prepared to join the investigation.
As Arima Toshio had mentioned, he was highly wary of outsiders; Miyazaki Shizuka had left a bad impression on him in the consultation room, and combining that with the tape incident and random injury incident, he was a bit worried about what strange things Miyazaki Shizuka might have been doing to him at that time.
He must get to the bottom of it, or he won’t be at ease.
Minamoto Tamako was very pleased; it was rare for Fujimura-kun to voluntarily investigate, sparing her the effort of urging him like she was driving cattle, reducing her burden significantly.
Now that she had two formidable allies under her command, they were sure to solve this case with ease!
Minamoto Tamako immediately assigned tasks to everyone, starting with Abe-kun, considering he was a newbie, she didn’t assign him overly difficult work, instead, she sent him to Matsuboto Miyaku’s workplace to ask former colleagues about the suspect’s usual reputation;
As for Fujimura-kun, he needed to follow her to the suspect’s home for a thorough search. If the scene remained intact, maybe she could even profile it a bit.
As for why two people needed to visit, it was because regulations concerning criminal police enforcement clearly state that searching a residence requires at least two police officers to be present, otherwise the collected evidence is considered invalid, a rule mainly to prevent criminal police from fabricating evidence.
With the tasks clear, the three set off on their individual missions.
Abe Rokuro energetically headed to the bar where the suspect used to work, while Fushimi Roku and Minamoto Tamako took a cab to the suspect’s home.
Matsuboto Miyaku lived in a single apartment in the second district of Ikebukuro. The apartment manager was an elderly uncle, wearing a white tank top with a receding hairline, who would break into a sweat after saying a few words, resembling the male protagonist in a certain type of comic book. Latest content published on novel{f}ire.net
"Matsuboto-kun... When will he be back? Recently, quite a few neighbors have complained about a foul smell coming from his room..."
In Japan in 1991, apartment managers had relatively significant authority. Residents’ personal situations were generally not hidden from their eyes, and any residential problems would have to be addressed by seeking the manager’s help.
So, when Minamoto Tamako inquired about Matsuboto Miyaku’s personal situation, the apartment manager uncle immediately remembered. This guy had recently gone crazy and urinated on the street, even making it to the newspapers. Lately, everyone’s been talking about him!
The manager uncle was leading Minamoto Tamako and Fushimi Roku upstairs, complaining non-stop, claiming that Matsuboto-kun owed unpaid utilities and it seemed unlikely he would be coming back.