The next day, Rumiko contacted the landlord and returned the old apartment. While she was packing, the doorbell suddenly rang. When she opened the door, she was surprised to see Police Officer Maeda Ryutaro, who hadn't visited in a while.
"Hello, Mr. Maeda," Rumiko greeted, surprised.
"Hello, Miss Rumiko. I'm here to help with the move. Are you ready?" Maeda smiled.
"How did you know we were moving?"
Just as Maeda was about to respond, Masashi came out, glanced at him, and said, "Oh, you're here? Thanks for helping out today."
"No problem. I'll start with the heavy items," Maeda replied, rolling up his sleeves.
"Most of the furniture belongs to the apartment, so it's just clothes and kitchenware. However, Kazumi has a lot of books, which might be a bit heavy."
Rumiko watched the conversation between the two men in confusion. When they finished, she quickly pulled Masashi aside.
"Did you ask Mr. Maeda to help us?"
"Yes."
"How could you impose on him like that? We barely know him," Rumiko said, a bit annoyed.
"Oh, come on. He's been calling you often, hasn't he?" Masashi gave her a knowing smile.
"H-how did you know that?" Rumiko blushed.
"I also know he went to Nagoya to see you. He probably said it was a business trip, right?"
"There's nothing between us, really. Don't—" Rumiko's voice trailed off.
"Mom, Officer Maeda's a good person. You should consider him seriously."
"But…"
"Don't pressure yourself, but don't hold back, either. Try spending some time with him. If you find him suitable, I'll talk to Kazumi. I'm sure she'll understand," Masashi said, looking at her sincerely.
"I-I understand." Rumiko's face reddened even more, embarrassed to be discussing this with her son.
After moving everything into the new house, Maeda even stayed to help clean, which made Rumiko feel a bit embarrassed. By the time they finished dinner, it was already 7 p.m. Rumiko went to the kitchen to cut some fruit, while Kazumi leaned against Masashi, watching TV and listening to the conversation between him and Maeda.
"Has work been busy lately?" Masashi noticed that Maeda looked even thinner than before.
"A little," Maeda replied, not one to complain.
"Because of the recent serial 'Ripper' case?"
"Oh, you know about that?" Maeda gave a wry smile.
"Although the police have managed to keep it from the media, it's all over the internet."
"Brother, what's the 'Ripper' case?" Kazumi asked, confused.
"I think it's better if you don't know."
"Why?"
"It's rather unpleasant."
"I still don't get it."
"Ask Maeda."
Kazumi looked at Maeda.
After hesitating for a moment, Maeda explained, "In 19th-century London, England, there was a case that shocked the world, involving a man known as 'Jack the Ripper.' He used extremely brutal methods to cut open nearly ten victims' abdomens. The recent case has a similar modus operandi, so it's been dubbed the 'Ripper Case.' We've already identified five victims."
Halfway through his explanation, Maeda noticed Kazumi's face turning pale, so he decided not to continue.
"I told you it was unpleasant. Are you okay?"
Kazumi nodded. "I wish I hadn't asked. You two go on. I'll see if Mom needs any help."
After Kazumi left, Masashi asked Maeda, "Have you found any leads?"
"None. Typically, serial killers have specific patterns, but while this killer's methods and timing are similar to Jack's, the victims don't share any common traits, nor are they connected. It seems the killer is murdering at random, so we suspect he may be an intermittent mental patient. We're contacting mental hospitals across Japan to see if there are any leads."
"A mental patient, huh? Did you notice anything unusual at the crime scenes?"
"There is one odd detail. Although the victims' internal organs were removed, they were undamaged, almost as if they had been carefully dissected by a professional. This precision has led us to suspect that the killer may have or had a background in the medical field. Also, chloroform residue was found in the victims' nasal cavities, and there were no signs of struggle, suggesting that they were sedated before being killed. Therefore, we have ruled out revenge as a motive."
"Removed organs…" Masashi fell into deep thought.
"Could you send me the detailed profiles of all the victims?"
"Sorry, I can't do that. The victims' information is confidential, and I have to stick to my principles." Maeda regretted bringing up the case with Masashi.
Masashi silently cursed, though he respected Maeda's integrity.
Masashi had no choice but to flip through a calendar on the wall.
After a while, he looked up at Maeda and said, "If the next victim is killed on March 20, come and find me."
"Why?"
"Just some guesses."
Maeda wanted to press for more details, but he stopped when he saw Rumiko and Kazumi coming out with the fruits.