"In addition to Yukako and Yamamoto who drowned at Conch Beach, Ryuji Haga and another yacht club member, Aki, were also found drowned at home."
After listening to the police officer's report, Chief Shimazaki of Obama City Police Station's eyelids twitched.
The police officers below also had grim expressions on their faces. Four people drowned inexplicably within one day, which was by no means a small matter.
Moreover, it happened during the Mermaid Festival. If the news gets out, it will be a devastating blow to Obama City’s tourism industry!
"Ryuji Haga drowned in the bathtub in the bathroom, and the other person drowned in the sink in the toilet. There are obvious signs of homicide, and the possibility of accident has been basically ruled out."
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's population statistics show that in 30, 5398 people drowned in bathtubs.
Because there is a large temperature difference between the room temperature and the hot water in the bathtub, it is easy to cause drastic changes in blood pressure, which can lead to the so-called heat shock reaction such as myocardial infarction, resulting in falling into the bathtub and drowning when bathing or getting up.
Unlike those who drowned accidentally with their entire body soaked in the bathtub, Haga Takaharu's death was caused by him lying on the edge of the bathtub with only his head immersed in the water, and there were obvious signs of struggle on his hands and feet.
"Let's not talk about the other woman who drowned in the sink. It's not easy to drown a man in his prime like Haga Ryuji in a bathtub. There were no signs of tying Haga Ryuji, and no residue was found between his fingernails. According to our judgment, it should be a crime committed by two or three adult men."
"Any other findings?" Director Shimazaki asked with a gloomy face.
"There were signs that Haga Ryuji struggled desperately for a long time outside the bathtub before his death, which shows that he was conscious. Of course, this is only a preliminary judgment, and the specific results have to wait for the autopsy."
Of course, there is no forensic doctor in the police station in a small city like Obama City, so if you want a forensic autopsy, you have to send it to the Fukui Prefectural Police Headquarters.
The reporting police officer introduced the circumstances of the case at a rapid pace, explaining that these people were survivors of the yacht disaster that year, and also announced the final piece of information.
"The judgment of the mermaid will soon come!"
When they heard the word "mermaid", several older police officers, including Chief Shimazaki, all changed their expressions.
The young police officer turned a blind eye to this and reported passionately:
"There is no doubt that this is a serial murder case! It is related to the yacht accident five years ago. Someone is using the name of the mermaid's revenge to create a terrifying atmosphere and massacre the survivors of that year."
"Officer Shimazaki, who belonged to the same yacht club as the four drowned people, is undoubtedly the next target!"
All the police officers present at the meeting couldn't help but look at Chief Shimazaki with strange expressions.
Everyone knows that Shimazaki Daiki is the director's son.
Director Shimazaki's eyes flickered and his expression changed from gloomy to bright.
"The serial killer may be related to Suzuki Kimie who died in an accident five years ago. The motive for the murder may be to vent his anger on other survivors of the yacht club. We can investigate from this direction." The young police officer said excitedly.
"As for the mermaid's trial and the like, it's just a smokescreen released by the murderer to confuse the police's investigation. Don't take it too seriously." The young police officer was very confident.
Based on his experience of watching thousands of episodes of Conan and Kindaichi, this so-called mermaid is nothing but someone playing tricks behind the scenes.
This bizarre and strange serial murder case fascinated a mystery enthusiast like him.
If he can solve the case, he will surely become famous and maybe even be touted as a famous detective of the Reiwa era!
"Ahem, what Officer Yamashiro said is right. We should start from Suzuki's network of connections." Someone recalled: "Suzuki, I remember her parents seem to have passed away. She only has one brother or sister? It seems that they have moved away too."
"It's my sister, her name is Suzuki Maika, she returned to Obama City yesterday."
Director Shimazaki frowned. If it was really someone who committed the crime, it would be fine, but he was afraid that it was something like the one that was found on the bottom of Wakasa Bay...
But at this point, he could only try his best. After all, Shimazaki Daiki was his only son, and as a father, he would have to take the responsibility for any big mess he made.
"Suzuki's sister is now staying at the 'Hai Lan House' fishermen's guesthouse. Yamashiro, take a few people with you to invite her over to cooperate with the investigation." Chief Shimazaki let out a long sigh and said.
"Yes!"
Although he didn't know how the chief knew such detailed information, the young police officer still puffed out his chest and saluted.
Several veteran police officers who had experienced the shipwreck five years ago had a thoughtful look on their faces.
The director actually knew the whereabouts of Suzuki's sister. Does this mean that the rumors back then were not groundless? Did Shimazaki Daiki really...
But they were all experienced people and wisely hid their doubts deep in their hearts.
"The trial of the mermaid is really interesting. Can I listen to it too?"
When Chief Shimazaki was assigning tasks to the police officers, the door of the conference room was pushed open and a blonde, blue-eyed foreign woman in a black slim suit walked in.
The blonde woman was over meters tall, with a delicate face. Although there was a smile in her tone, her blue eyes were sharp and bright, and she exuded unquestionable courage.
"Who are you? How did you get into the police station?"
Before he finished speaking, a group of stern-faced men in black suits rushed in from behind the blonde, with bulging waists and exuding a tough temperament that was completely different from that of the police officers.
Director Shimazaki's face changed, and he recalled several mysterious people who came from Tokyo five years ago. They also had a familiar aura about them.
"mayor?"
A greasy man in a tie squeezed in from the door and gave Director Shimazaki an order without any courtesy:
"Shimazaki, all investigations are now fully entrusted to this special commissioner from the Public Security Bureau of the Metropolitan Police Department! Do you understand?"
"Hey!"
"Investigator Grace, do you think this is okay?" The mayor of Obama City rubbed his hands and nodded to the blonde girl.
The blonde nodded calmly.
Half an hour later, Sakaki Namiryu, who was "invited" to Obama City Police Station, was losing her temper with the police officers.
"You said Maika is now the prime suspect in the murder case? How is that possible? She has been with me since yesterday."
"Ms. Sakaki, you reek of alcohol, and the Sabar clerk's testimony said you were so drunk that you had to be helped home. I'm afraid that doesn't provide an alibi for Ms. Suzuki."
"Uh……"
Sakaki Namie was choked with speech.
"Anyway, please stay at the police station for the time being, Ms. Sakaki, and cooperate with the investigation."
Sakaki Namie said unconvincedly: "How long will it take? We are here to visit the Mermaid Festival. We don't have that much time to waste in the police station."
"I don't know about that." The police officer said with a wry smile.
"Your Obama City Police Department is so unreasonable and bullies outsiders. My brother-in-law will not ignore it." Sakaki Namiya said angrily: "My brother-in-law Uchiha is an elite of the Metropolitan Police Department!"
"Who are you?"
The blonde foreign woman who was listening in raised her chin slightly, raised her fiery red lips and asked with a hint of hostility:
"What is your relationship with the Uchiha Inspector?"
Chapter 226 Chapter 227 Childhood sweethearts cannot defeat the heavenly descendant
"Ms. Suzuki, you bought this single-edged kitchen knife from the convenience store. What's your purpose?"
In the interrogation room of Obama City Police Station, Suzuki Maika's bag was opened by a female police officer. Various small items such as lipstick, dressing mirror, driver's license, etc. were placed on the table. The most conspicuous one was an inch-long white kitchen knife with a sheath.
When the kitchen knife was found, Suzuki Maika blinked, revealing a hint of unknown panic, but quickly calmed down.
She pursed her lips and smiled:
"Officer, it's not illegal to buy a kitchen knife. When I was returning to my B&B last night, a drunk whistled at me. I felt a little uneasy, so I wanted to buy a knife for self-defense. After all, I'm a delicate girl."
"Really? Where did you meet him? What did he look like?"
Suzuki Maika opened her mouth and said that she met foreign tourists on a certain beach.
Anyway, there are so many tourists visiting the Mermaid Festival, and there is no surveillance at that place, so there is no evidence, and the Obama City Police Station has no way to disprove it.
In the morning, Suzuki Maika, Sakaki Namiryu and Uchiha Ming had just come out of the fishermen's inn when they were summoned to the police station.
Suzuki Maika was horrified, thinking that the fact that she had drowned Yukako last night had been exposed, and she almost wanted to run away.
But in the end, he calmed down, followed the police back to the police station, and responded accordingly.
Fortunately, Okubo's diary had been hidden in Sakaki Namiryu's backpack in advance, otherwise it would have been troublesome if the police found it.
The male police officer who was interrogating asked a few more questions indirectly, but Suzuki Maika answered them all without any mistakes.
"Officer, why did you summon me here? I must know what I have done wrong. I am completely confused now." Suzuki Maika said with a wry smile, a look of weakness appeared on her face.
The police officer with middle-parted hair looked a little unnatural and exchanged glances with the female police officer sitting next to Suzuki Maika.
"Yukako, Ryuji Yoshiga, Tokuo Yamamoto, Aki..."
The police officer with middle-parted hair had a sharp gaze and called out the names one by one in a heavy voice. The atmosphere gradually became solemn.
"You and your sister Suzuki Kimie were members of the yacht club. The survivors of the storm and shipwreck all met with accidents yesterday. Now only Shimazaki Daiki is left. Miss Suzuki, now you understand why we asked you to come here. After all, human life is at stake. I hope Miss Suzuki can understand."
Only one of those enemies is left? !
Suzuki Maika was stunned, with an unconcealable look of astonishment on her face.
"How did they die?"
"Yukako and Yamamoto drowned themselves at Conch Beach... It could have been suicide or an accident, but the other two were undoubtedly murdered and drowned in their homes."
Suzuki Maika's pupils shrank.
Impossible, Yukako was clearly drowned by me, and her body was hidden in the Haiya Cave!
Even if they were washed out by the sea, how could a dead person commit suicide for love with someone else?
"Ms. Suzuki, do you have any clues? For example, the man who was close to your sister back then." The police officer with middle-parted hair said patiently.
"Why are you asking these questions? What do you mean? Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you!"
Suzuki Maika's face looked like she was neither crying nor laughing. Big tears unconsciously fell from the corners of her eyes, and she sobbed uncontrollably:
"I don't care whether those people live or die. It's best if they die. It's best if they die!"
Suzuki Maika's original plan was to fight to the death with Shimazaki Daiki and find an opportunity to stab him to death.
Regardless of success or failure, Suzuki Maika will inevitably be arrested by the Obama City police. Although she will not be sentenced to death, she will be imprisoned for the rest of her life.
At first, Suzuki Maika didn't really believe the nonsense in Okubo's diary about her sister turning into a mermaid or a ghost. However, the enemies who killed her sister died one after another overnight, and the way they died was the same as her sister, drowning. What else could be possible except retribution?
My sister is really in heaven and she protected her again!
As for the remaining Shimazaki, Suzuki Maika believes that her sister will definitely bring disaster to him.
"Oh, sister..."
Suzuki Maika buried her head on the table, her thick black hair obscuring her face, and burst into tears.
Seeing that Suzuki Maika was so emotional, the questioning had to be temporarily suspended. The male police officer with a middle-parted hair was a little at a loss and asked the female police officer to comfort her, while he went outside to light a cigarette.
"Senior, is that it?"
"What else can we do? The surveillance camera at the door of the B&B captured Suzuki Maika returning home before 10 ., and Yukako and Yamamoto committed suicide at 10:05. She has an alibi." The police officer with a middle-parted hair exhaled a large cloud of smoke from his mouth and rolled his eyes.
"As for the other two people, it is unlikely that Suzuki did it. Considering the distance, time and method of crime, it is not something a single woman could do."
This mermaid trial serial murder case is full of weirdness and absurdity. It reminds us of the well-known legend of Yaobikuni in Wakasa Bay. When we examine the details, it is even more chilling.
"Anyway, this case is no longer under our jurisdiction. I want to see what this foreign woman from the Metropolitan Police Department is capable of!"
The police officer with a middle-parted hair pressed the cigarette butt hard on the smoking port, and thought of the blue eyes and flaming red lips of the blonde foreign girl, and his heart couldn't help but feel warm.
That foreign woman is really pretty!
At the same time, in the duty room of Obama City Police Station, Sakaki Nami glared at Grace angrily.
"You are the son of Superintendent Uchiha? You look exactly like your father!"
Grace smoothed the blonde hair around her ears, looked at Uchiha Ming with enthusiasm and a hint of curiosity and said, "I am your father's colleague in the Metropolitan Police Department, and also his junior in college."
"My father is grateful for your care." Uchiha Ming used diplomatic speech indifferently.
"No, it's because of the care of Inspector Uchiha. When I was in college, or now." Grace's blue eyes sparkled, as if she recalled something.
"Since he is the child of the Uchiha Inspector, he is not an outsider."
Grace glanced at Sakaki Namie and said calmly, "Also, the country relatives of Inspector Uchiha, you all..."
"What country relative? I'm my brother-in-law's sister-in-law, Ming's aunt!"
Sakaki Namiryu yelled loudly, with dissatisfaction in her tone.
"Compared to me, you, a foreign woman, are an outsider. Besides, my brother-in-law is a police officer of the Japanese Metropolitan Police Department. How could he have foreign colleagues?"
"Oh, then do you know what kind of job Inspector Uchiha is doing?" Grace asked with interest.
"My brother-in-law is in the Criminal Department's Fourth Investigation Section. What else can he do? Isn't it just fighting crime?" Sakaki Namiryu replied as a matter of course.
"Oh I got it."
Grace raised her chin slightly arrogantly, with a sense of superiority in her eyes and contempt in her tone evident.
