Kurihara Takeshi. That's the name I was given. As the most renowned investigator of the TPD, my name has become somewhat of an icon all over Tokyo.
Some have asked me why I do what I do. But, if I'm being honest, I'm just a regular guy. I do my job for the same reason most in the Police Department do theirs. For justice. Too many criminals get away with too much.
The issue is that because I've become so popular, I'm only called for the biggest crimes. But I took great pride in solving the small, petty ones. Those guys are harder to find. I hate to admit it, but I love a good mystery.
But now, the biggest crime is also the most mysterious. It's being called spontaneous murder. That's crazy talk. In murder there is always a victim, and a killer. But no matter how crazy it is, the media has good reason to give it that title. The killers are basically invisible. There's no weapon in the world that can carry out these kinds of wounds. Invisible killers. Heh, might as well call 'em ghosts. What is this, some folk tale?
My most recent case dealt with two victims we found in a back alley over in the Shinjuku Ward. The first victim was male. We identified him to be Kudo Jun. A 27 year-old man who was unemployed. I asked around and it seemed like he was a hitman in the Underground. The second victim was Taniguchi Ayako. A 22 year-old woman who also happened to be a hitman in the Underground. I've deduced that they were working together. Underground scum. That's what they all are. And their leader, Abe Shinya, is the worst of them all. I've been searching for him for over five years now, and nothing. I haven't even seen the man. It's said that he holds more power than the governor.
I'm getting off track. Back to the case. The first victim, Kudo Jun, died from decapitation. I checked the wound, along with the forensics team. We decided that a blade did not do the deed. Here's the scary part; there was no head. It was completely obliterated as if it exploded. Well, it did explode. There was blood everywhere. But there were no traces of the chemicals that might make up an explosive. I could tell that they didn't take me serious, but I know the truth. Jun was killed by human force. Someone's bare hands crushed his skull. How is that possible, I don't know yet. But I plan on finding out.
Now. For our second victim, Taniguchi Ayako. She died of a gunshot wound. We're sure of it. She died running away from the killer and was shot through the center of her frontal bone. She likely died immediately. Whoever shot her is a good aim. The evidence was all there. The shape and size of the wound, the mark on the ground where the bullet landed, and everything else except one thing; there was no sign of the bullet. Anywhere. The murders happened in an alleyway for God's sake. We came immediately after gunshots were heard. It's driving me insane.
Now here's where things take a turn for the worst. First off. There is a gaping hole in the wall to what used to be a cafe. And I mean a hole that could be made by a wrecking ball. And then, there was an entire truck with the imprint of a fist that toppled it over on its side. After the impact, someone's fingers gripped the truck and ripped the back of it open.
Imagine that. A human being did it. There is a human person out there that is capable of knocking a moving truck over with a single fist. I can't believe it.
Putting all of that aside, this is just like the Iwasaki High incident. Only we have suspects for that case; Sato Kasumi, who we are currently on the lookout for, and Miyazaki Yumi, who I have in custody at the moment. Now I can't blame Miyazaki Yumi for the newest case as she is detained, but the girl, Sato Kasumi is still free. She is one of my suspects. But I have a second suspect. Murakami Kouta. His blood was not at the crime scene, but inside of what looked like an office building. He was there, I'm sure of it. The police knows nothing of it though, I did that inspection privately. But here's what happened; Murakami Kouta broke into the building. He kicked the front door down. The secretary inside testified to this. She was a witness. Next, Murakami ran inside, apparently looking for Kudo Jun. According to witness reports, Jun had Murakami Kouta at gunpoint. He was roughed up some before he was taken outside. Kouta's blood is in fact, stained into the carpet inside. I've told them to clean it before anyone else sees it. This is my case. I'm taking it alone. Now, from what I gathered solely from the witnesses, Murakami Kouta is a victim, and Kudo Jun is the bad guy here. But the fact remains that both Jun and his accomplice, Ayako, is dead. Kouta's body is not at the crime scene. Therefor, he is still alive. My judgement tells me that Kouta killed them both. But I have a feeling that this entire thing is much deeper than what I can see on the surface. But for now, Murakami Kouta has become my prime suspect.
Murakami Kouta, age seventeen, male. He is a student at Iwasaki High. What was he doing in the middle of Tokyo? Anyway, apparently this kid's parents were murdered a few years back. Brutally. And actually, I remember this case. I was the one investigating it with my old team. It was one of the very first cases of spontaneous murder. The boy was proven to have not killed his own family, but he told us that he saw the killer with his own two eyes. He called it a ghost. Now, at first, I considered him a victim of PTSD. His brain couldn't handle the trauma, so he linked the actual murderer with a fictional ghost, maybe like the Grim Reaper to signify death, just as a means to somehow dial down the reality of it all. And as I thought, that is what the therapist diagnosed him with. But after what I've seen after that night over the next few years, he might've been on to something. We still can't find this superhuman criminal, and there has never been evidence of actual weapons being used. But tying something paranormal into it would actually make a lot more sense. I'm starting to think that the little boy who cried wolf wasn't so delusional after all.
--
Takeshi stretched his arms. "Aghh...maybe I'm going crazy myself."
He looked at the time.
6:13 PM
"It's getting late. I should go do some work while I'm still here."
He got up and left his office.
He walked to the room where they interrogated the suspects.
Miyazaki Yumi sat there with her head down on the table.
Takeshi opened the door and walked inside, closing it behind him.
The room was completely dark, other than a single light hanging over the only table in the room.
He sat down opposite her.
"Hey, don't look so lifeless. You're just a suspect for right now."
Yumi lifted her head up. "I feel like a convict. I hate it here."
Yumi had dark circles under her eyes. She looked unbelievably tired. Possibly sick.
Takeshi nodded his head. "I know. It's not a good feeling is it? Being in this place. I have some questions I want you to answer."
Yumi sat back in her seat. "Sure, whatever. It's not like I have a choice."
Takeshi threw a newspaper on the table. It was a vague picture of someone flying in the sky at night. The picture was too zoomed out to see any details.
"Why are you showing me this?" Yumi asked bleakly.
Takeshi leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Well. Why don't you tell me."
Yumi squinted at the photo. "Looks like somebody flying."
Takeshi looked at the picture. "Yeah. It was taken some while ago. The media ate it up. Do you think this is real or a hoax?"
Yumi was still staring at the photo. "Real."
Takeshi's eyes darted to her face. "You sound confident."
Yumi looked back at him. "I just said what I thought."
Takeshi slid the newspaper to the side. He threw a photo on the table. "Can you tell me who this is?"
Yumi stared at the face blankly. Her eyes became glossy with tears. "Kouta..." she said without thinking. She quickly caught herself and looked at Takeshi, who smirked.
"So you do know who Murakami Kouta is. As I thought. All of this is connected."
Yumi became concerned. "Connected? What do you mean? Is he in trouble? What's going on outside?!"
Takeshi leaned back in his chair. "You've become much more animated than usual. Close friend of yours?"
Yumi quieted down. She slumped back in her seat.
Takeshi looked up at the dark ceiling, as if contemplating something. He looked at Yumi. "Let me ask you something. You've been here for three days now. I'm sure you have a lot on your mind, but I'm being completely serious now. Tell me. Do you believe in ghosts?"
Yumi's eyes widened at the question. Takeshi smiled. "Actually, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to. I've got my answer. Good talk." He got up and headed for the door.
Yumi called out. "When can I leave this place?!"
Takeshi looked back. "Whenever you're cleared of suspicion. And trust me. You just got a whole lot more of it." He closed the door.
Yumi put her head and arms on the table and cried in silence.