The hum of voices, the shuffling of papers, the distant ringing of phone...all blended into a murmur that pressed against Hana's ears. Nathan stood in front of the evidence board, his gaze fixed on the tangled web of photos, notes, and strings that crossed over each other like the threads of a twisted fate.
Next to him, Detective Hana's eyes were sharp and cold. "Who is that person?" she said quietly, pointing at one picture. It was a photo taken of the members of the Renewal cult, given to them by Mr. Takahashi. Her finger rested on the man standing closest to the leader.
With a frown, Nathan answered, "That is Takeshi Nakamura. From the information we've gathered, he works as a farmer on the east side most of the time." Nathan paused for a second as he realized something, then sifted through the thick file on the desk. He pulled out a photograph and handed it to Hana. "Here. Tell me what you think of this boy."
Hana blinked, confused by Nathan's sudden rush, but looked at the photo. The boy had a bit of muscle for his age, and a tan was visible on his skin. His jaw was prominent and sharp, but his gaze was fixed on something off-camera with a gentle look, which caught her attention. On the right side of the photo, she noticed the edge of a flowing dress. She looked at Nathan and told him what she saw. At that, Nathan told her he needed to grab his jacket. Hana stopped him, asking if he was planning to meet the boy. He nodded, explaining that the boy was the farmer's son, and the floral dress belonged to Mime's mother. Hana gasped.....they finally found a significant lead.
A short time later, they reached the farmer's house. When they asked his wife, she replied that Takeshi was busy on the east side most of the time and was not home. Nathan nodded and asked if her son was there. She bit her lip nervously, asking why they wanted to know. Nathan told her, "Are you going to obstruct a police investigation?" That was when they heard something fall inside the house. Nathan pushed her aside and walked in, looking around, but it was too late...the boy had already run. Coming back to the wife, he cursed under his breath and said angrily, "You're coming with us."
Back at the station, they spoke to the housewife and found out she wasn't actually the boy's mother...the boy was a child born out of wedlock. They also discovered that the cult leader had been visiting them frequently since her husband left to work elsewhere. She didn't talk to him much; he only came to meet the boy. With this information, Hana and Nathan were able to connect all the missing leads.
Nathan requested a meeting in the presence of the chief of police. With all the officers gathered in the small office, Hana and Nathan began to explain.
"The son of one of the Renewal cult members, just a year older than Mime. But there's more to this. It's not just some crazed teenager."
Hana nodded, her mind piecing together the fragments. "The cult leader, Satoru Watanabe, is the key. He's been pulling the strings, manipulating his followers, twisting their fears and desires. The boy, Yuto Nakamura, is obsessed with Mime.....driven by something dark. But Satoru saw a chance to use it."
Nathan's eyes flickered to the board, settling on a grainy photograph of Satoru Watanabe standing with the boy outside an old building. "We found that abandoned warehouse on the cult's list of properties. That's where it started. Satoru was there with him two days before Mime disappeared."
Hana's gaze sharpened. "And the soil analysis from the boy's shoes....it matches the ground near that old shrine in the mountains, the one the cult uses for their rituals. He took her there, and Satoru knew."
Nathan's mouth twisted into a grim line. "The shrine is their sacred ground. They believe in purification through pain, through sacrifice. If Mime was brought there…" His voice trailed off, but the implication hung heavy in the air.
Suddenly, Officer Lee rushed in, a file clutched in his hand. "You need to see this," he said breathlessly, handing it to Nathan. "It's from the boy's shoes. The soil samples....they match the shrine exactly."
Nathan's eyes narrowed as he scanned the report, his jaw tightening. "This is it. This ties them both to the scene. Satoru and Yuto....they took her there and buried her alive."
Hana felt a chill run through her. "But why? Why would Satoru take that risk?"
Hana's voice grew lower, filled with dark certainty. "Control. To show his power over his followers. To prove he could take a life and get away with it. The boy was his pawn, and Mime was the price."
A couple of hours later, Satoru was brought into the interrogation room. He sat there with a cold smile on his lips, his eyes hooded and calm. Nathan stood before him, a quiet fury radiating from him like a heat wave. He leaned down, close enough for Satoru to feel his breath.
"We know what you did, Satoru," Nathan said softly. "We know you sent that boy to take Mime. We know you told him to bury her. When we visited you that day…"
Satoru's smile didn't waver. "You have no proof. No evidence. The Renewal is a family, Detective, bound by faith. You can't break that."
Nathan's eyes were dark, his smile thin and sharp. "I think I already have," he murmured. After a silent pause, Nathan continued, "The boy's been in holding for a week now. He's scared, asking for protection. He's ready to talk."
For the first time, Satoru's expression flickered, a shadow crossing his face. Hana watched from behind the glass, her breath catching at Nathan's smooth lie.