"By the way, didn't the Sumiyoshi-kai people say that there was a companion beside the Phantom Lady that night?" Officer Teraoka brought up the gossip with a smile. "I heard the people from the Third Division have already named him 'Phantom Gentleman'. They're just waiting for this guy to commit another crime before announcing it to the public."
Phantom Gentleman, Phantom Lady... why does it sound like they are a couple? Hayashi Shuichi's expression turned peculiar.
Tomizawa Chikage obviously had the same thought. Their gazes met inadvertently, then quickly darted away.
"Public safety really is getting worse and worse lately," Inspector Samezaki sighed heavily, his face full of fatigue and helplessness. "From the First Division to the Fourth Division, everyone is getting busier and busier."
"Tell me about it," Officer Teraoka nodded in deep agreement. "In the past, even if we were busy, there was at least time for compensatory leave. Lately, there hasn't even been any comp time; we have to work overtime every day."
Just as Inspector Samezaki was about to speak, Officer Morimura, whom they hadn't seen for a while, suddenly lifted the noren curtain of the izakaya and ran in, panting heavily. "Inspector, an armed robbery has occurred at a hotel in Sanchome."
"What?" Inspector Samezaki shot up from his seat. "Are there casualties?"
Officer Morimura gasped for air. "The killer shot and killed two people, a man and a woman. Both were guests at the hotel."
"Another major case for the First Division," Officer Teraoka muttered under his breath.
Japan was a country with incomplete gun bans, but its control over firearms was extremely strict, so cases involving the use of firearms were rare.
Every shooting case was a major incident for the First Division.
This was why Officer Morimura had rushed over to report to Inspector Samezaki immediately after receiving the news.
"Shooting..." Hayashi Shuichi thought for a moment. "Are there any witnesses?"
"There shouldn't be," Officer Morimura shook his head, picking up the water glass in front of Inspector Samezaki and taking a big gulp. "According to the caller, there were only two bodies, a man and a woman, and a discarded handgun at the scene."
"Hayashi-kun, do you have time to go?" Inspector Samezaki asked.
Hayashi Shuichi glanced at the wall clock. In about ten minutes, it would be closing time anyway.
He briskly took off his chef's uniform. "Let's go."
Tomizawa Chikage took small sips of her beer, her gaze following Hayashi Shuichi's retreating figure. Watching him leave hurriedly with the two officers, she couldn't help but click her tongue softly.
This guy really does quite well in the Metropolitan Police Department. Luckily he's not in the Third Investigation Division; otherwise, wouldn't I be walking right into a trap?
On the streets of Sanchome, the police car drove past the same spot once again. Inspector Samezaki couldn't hold it back anymore, his face dark with anger. "Morimura, can you not even remember the address of the crime scene?"
"The address should be right here," Officer Morimura was anxious, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. "But why can't we find it?"
"Find a nearby resident and ask," Hayashi Shuichi suggested.
The police car stopped by the roadside, and Officer Morimura got out to stop a passing resident to ask for directions.
A moment later, he returned hurriedly. "The hotel is right nearby. We've passed it several times already."
"Then why didn't I see it just now?" Inspector Samezaki looked out the car window in confusion.
"It's a very small hotel. The main entrance and sign aren't on the street, but in a small alley," Officer Morimura explained as he parked the police car at the entrance of an alley. "We'll have to walk to get there."
Hayashi Shuichi and Inspector Samezaki followed behind him, stepping on uneven stone paths and walking deep into the narrow alley.
A damp smell permeated the alley. After seven turns and eight bends, they finally saw the inconspicuous little hotel.
The neon sign at the entrance flickered, looking as if it were about to fall.
The nearby Koban (police box) had already sealed off the hotel with caution tape.
Just as the three were about to enter, they saw a blond-haired young man in a worn-out denim jacket walking out of the hotel's main door.
Upon seeing Hayashi Shuichi and the other two, he was visibly stunned. He paused mid-step, then hurriedly turned around to head back inside.
"Block both the front and back doors of the hotel. No one leaves without permission," Inspector Samezaki's gaze sharpened, and he immediately issued orders to the officers from the Koban.
Then, he led Hayashi Shuichi and Officer Morimura into the small hotel.
At the front desk on the first floor, the hotel owner, a middle-aged woman in her forties, stood with her hands on her hips, complaining to the Koban officer with a face full of dissatisfaction. "With you guys making such a fuss, how am I supposed to do business!"
Hayashi Shuichi and the others ignored her and followed the officer to the second floor. The air was filled with the pungent smell of blood.
In Room 205, where the shooting took place, the door was wide open. Above the door plate, there was a clear bullet hole.
Hayashi Shuichi reached out and measured it; the position of this bullet hole was about four or five centimeters higher than him.
The male guest's corpse lay behind the door, eyes wide open, dying with grievances unresolved.
Hayashi Shuichi squatted down to examine him carefully. He had been shot in the forehead, killed instantly with one shot. Aside from the bullet hole in his forehead, there were no other injuries on his body.
The female corpse had fallen near the coat rack, her clothes soaked in blood.
Her death was much more gruesome than the man at the door. She was covered in blood from head to toe. Judging by the bullet holes, she had been shot at least five or six times, and her face still wore an expression of terror.
"Have the identities of the two victims been investigated?" Officer Morimura asked the Koban officer.
"The male deceased is named Sakamoto Masashi, forty-one years old, the president of a small company," the officer opened his notebook. "The female deceased is named Ishikawa Kyoko, unemployed, a full-time housewife."
"What was the relationship between the two?" Inspector Samezaki frowned and pressed.
"Not sure," the officer hesitated, his tone uncertain. "Probably lovers or friends."
"Nine out of ten, they were lovers, and in an illicit affair at that," Hayashi Shuichi stood up, looking at the mottled walls and worn-out furniture in the room, stating with certainty.
"The environment and hygiene of this hotel are very poor. Its only advantage is being remote and hard to find."
Saying this, he pointed to the deceased's clothing.
"The deceased was a small company president. Looking at his attire, he wasn't shabby at all; clearly a wealthy man. If he were just on a date with a lover, he could have gone to a much better hotel, perhaps one with more atmosphere."
"To come to a place like this, nine out of ten chances are they were having an affair. Moreover, if the relationship were exposed, it would bring significant trouble to both parties."
"Do you mean, Hayashi-kun, that it might be a vendetta?" Officer Morimura looked thoughtful. "The killer is the woman's husband, or the man's wife?"
Just as Hayashi Shuichi was about to speak, a short man nearby hurriedly interjected, "This is absolutely not a vendetta. The killer is just a robber!"
"How do you know it must be robbery?" Inspector Samezaki asked in surprise.
"I..." The short man opened his mouth, his eyes darting around. He wanted to say something but quickly swallowed it back.
"He's the one who called the police," the hotel owner walked over. "I was watching TV at the counter just now. When I heard gunshots, I thought someone was watching a movie with their door open, so I didn't take it seriously."
"It wasn't until he ran to the counter in a panic looking for a phone to call the police, saying that someone on the second floor was committing armed robbery and had killed two people, that I realized something had happened."
"Is he also a guest at the hotel?" Officer Morimura asked.
"Yes," the owner nodded. "He and the two dead people entered the hotel one after another. Just after the two dead people checked in, he arrived and actively requested to stay in room 305, which is exactly above 205. I remember his name should be Okada Hirosuke."
Inspector Samezaki stared intently at the short man. "Did you witness the crime? Otherwise, how can you be so certain it was a robbery?"
"N-no, I was in my room at that time," Okada Hirosuke subconsciously took a step back, his voice trembling slightly.
"If you were in your room, how did you know the killer was robbing them?" Officer Morimura questioned sternly, his tone full of suspicion.
"I..." Okada Hirosuke rubbed his hands together in panic. "Right, their valuables are missing, so it must be a robbery."
"You went through their things?" Hayashi Shuichi frowned deeply.
"No! Absolutely not!" Okada Hirosuke waved his hands hurriedly.
"Then how do you know their valuables are missing?" Hayashi Shuichi pursued relentlessly.
"Well... isn't the man's wallet and the woman's ring and necklace gone? You can tell at a glance," Okada Hirosuke's voice grew smaller and smaller, and he lowered his head.
Officer Morimura squatted down and carefully examined the two bodies one by one. "He's right. Both their wallets and personal valuables are indeed missing."
"The owner just said you were panicking when you went to call the police," Inspector Samezaki said with a cold face, stepping closer to Okada Hirosuke. "But I see you're actually not panicked at all. With two corpses lying in front of you, you still have the mood to examine their personal belongings?"
"Also, how did you know the woman was wearing a ring and necklace? The owner said you entered the shop right after them and specifically stayed upstairs. Could it be that you are actually the robber?"
"First you robbed and killed them, then you pretended to be a witness and called the police to clear yourself of suspicion!"
"Inspector, you are right. This person is indeed very suspicious," the owner recalled. "When he entered the shop just now, he was wearing a mask and stared at the backs of the two dead people for a while."
"I am not a robber! I'm really not!" Okada Hirosuke waved his hands repeatedly, beads of sweat the size of beans appearing on his forehead. "The killer should clearly be the hotel's maintenance worker!"
"Bullshit!" Hearing this, the owner instantly became anxious. "How could Binya be the killer!"
"When I went upstairs just now, I saw the hotel's maintenance worker arguing with those two," Okada Hirosuke said urgently. "The maintenance worker even said something at the time: 'Watch out or I'll kill you!'"
"You're lying..."
The owner's face flushed red, and she was about to pounce on Okada Hirosuke in an emotional outburst. Fortunately, the Koban officer was quick-eyed and deft-handed, hurriedly pulling the two apart.
"Morimura, go bring the hotel's maintenance worker here," Inspector Samezaki ordered, then turned to look at the hotel owner. "He said your shop's maintenance worker is the killer; why are you so agitated?"
"Inspector," the Koban officer who knew the situation explained, "this shop's maintenance worker, Takeda Binya, is the son of the owner, Mrs. Takeda. He was imprisoned for robbery three years ago and was just released a month ago."
"Officer, Binya really isn't the killer," tears swirled in the owner's eyes, and her voice choked up. "Although that child made mistakes before, he has turned over a new leaf since getting out of prison. He would never kill anyone!"
"It's useless for you to say that," Inspector Samezaki kept a straight face, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "We will investigate thoroughly."
Soon, the maintenance worker Takeda Binya was brought over. He was the blond youth they had seen earlier at the hotel entrance, who had turned back upon seeing Hayashi Shuichi and the others.
"Speak," Inspector Samezaki asked, looking directly at him. "Where were you when the crime happened? Can anyone verify your alibi?"
"I was using the toilet in room 208 on the second floor at the time," Takeda Binya kept his head down, his voice muffled. "When I heard the gunshots, I thought someone was smashing things. It wasn't until I finished using the toilet and came out, preparing to return to the first floor, that I passed by 205 and realized something had happened."
"When we came in just now, why did you look panicked and turn back upon seeing us?" Hayashi Shuichi stepped forward to ask. "Since the case has nothing to do with you, there's absolutely no need to be afraid of the police."
"...I'm used to it," Takeda Binya gave a dry laugh that looked uglier than crying. "Seeing the police, I subconsciously want to avoid them."
"You're lying!" Okada Hirosuke jumped out, pointing at Takeda Binya and shouting loudly. "Earlier, you clearly said you wanted to kill Sakamoto and his lover. The killer must be you!"
"That was just angry talk in the heat of the moment," Takeda Binya hurriedly defended himself. "I was passing by those two with my maintenance tools and accidentally bumped into the man. He swore at me, and I couldn't hold back for a moment, so I said some harsh words."
"After seeing us just now, you walked back into the hotel," Hayashi Shuichi continued to press. "Where were you during that time?"
"I went back..." Takeda Binya stopped halfway, as if suddenly remembering something. His face instantly turned pale, and he hurriedly shut his mouth.
"Where does your son live?" Hayashi Shuichi looked at the hotel owner.
"...On the first floor," the owner's voice trembled, her eyes full of worry. "The room next to the counter without a number."
"Morimura, take some men and search that room," Inspector Samezaki ordered decisively.
Officer Morimura took the officers downstairs. Not long after, he returned with a face full of excitement. "Inspector, I found this in the room!"
He handed over an evidence bag containing a bloodstained wallet.
"I checked it. Inside are the deceased Sakamoto Masashi's ID and some banknotes."
"I was right, wasn't I?" Okada Hirosuke laughed triumphantly. "This guy is the killer!"
Inspector Samezaki looked at Takeda Binya and questioned sternly, "What do you have to say now!"
"I-I really didn't kill anyone!"
Takeda Binya waved his hands in panic, his voice carrying a sob.
"I picked up this wallet just now at the back door. I saw there was money inside, so I secretly took it back to my room, but I really am not the killer!"
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