Chapter 4 – Investigation (1)

Child Murder Case Investigation Headquarters of Aiide City. 

The flickering fluorescent lights illuminated a vertical paper that was prominently displayed in the corner of the Aiide Police Station entrance hall. While looking at the paper, Sakaguchi pulled out a cigarette box from the pocket of his jacket.

The body of a four-year-old boy was found near the river this morning in Aiide city. Along with the initial investigation, the Aiide Police Station decided to establish an investigation case. In the afternoon, they finally decided who was to be picked for the members of the investigation team. Upon hearing that the order to join the investigation team came to Sakaguchi. The man hastily came to Aiide Police Department to join it.

Aiide City had a 180,000 estimated populace, it was located in western Tokyo. It was a strategic place to live in. It only took forty minutes by train to go to the center of Tokyo, this made the city famous as a commuter town. Many pretty houses and shopping centers made it practical to live in, this goes for both young people and senior citizens. Compared to the center of Tokyo, the land prices were much lower in this city, this was how many homes had their own gardens. The city park was also quite spacious, many children could happily run around the park, even stray cats roamed freely without worry. When compared to other cities, this city was known to be peaceful and a relatively safe place because the crime rate here was notoriously low.

Of course, various crimes would still happen in the city; such as robbery, violence, murder, arson, rape, and etc. However, there had never been such a severe case of a kidnapping crime where a child was killed. When the body was found this morning, the whole city was immediately overwhelmed in a tense atmosphere.

It was almost eight o’clock at night. The investigation meeting would begin soon.

The man tapped on his cigarette box twice before taking out a cigarette.

“Smoking’s prohibited here,” someone was scolded him from behind.

When the man turned his head, he saw that the one who reprimanded him was a tall, slender girl wearing a black suit and pants.

“Hm, if I’m not mistaken, you’re …”

“I’m Tanizaki. Tanizaki Yukari. I’m in the same group as you, Group 4. “

“Oh, it’s you.”

If the information that he knew was right, Tanizaki worked as an investigator at Department 2 and handled fraud cases before being appointed for this investigation. The rumor about a young, beautiful, and smart girl who worked in Department 2 would be frequently heard in Department 1.  About a year ago, she was moved to Department 1. Even though they were in the same department, for Sakaguchi, who was almost fifty years old, they were from different generations. Moreover, they would never handle the same case, this was one of the reasons why Sakaguchi never talked with her.

Tanizaki once again pointed at Sakaguchi’s cigarette to warn him.

“I understand, I won’t light a fire. I just want to suck on the cigarette. “

“Then, do you want to eat gum?” While saying this, Tanizaki held out a stick of gum.

“It feels like I don’t have any freedom left because I’m prohibited from smoking everywhere,” while grumbling, Sakaguchi returned the cigarette to its respective box.

“You’re also being ordered to join the investigation team?”

“Yes, I just arrived.”

Sakaguchi took the gum from Tanizaki’s hand and peeled off the silver cover, he then threw the rubber candy in his mouth. The mint flavor quickly spread throughout his mouth.

“Menthol? If this was cigarette flavored, I might have already become impotent. “

“Did you know that it’s considered sexual harassment if you say that?” Tanizaki told Sakaguchi, the latter was currently grinning.

“Even conversations like these are forbidden now? The world feels too restricted recently. ”

“By the way, that thing you mentioned just now was a myth.”

“What do you mean?”

“That menthol cigarettes caused impotence. Erections occur because of sexual stimulation that causes the cerebrum to become excited. Then, this stimulation is delivered to the spinal cord and the erection center which finally reaches the penis. The myth says that menthol might affect the erection center and reduces its performance. However, there’s no medical study that shows that. That’s why it’s just a myth.” Tanizaki answered quite smoothly.

Sakaguchi was surprised upon hearing the long string of words suddenly come out of the young woman, he then burst out laughing.

“You’re interesting.”

“Although menthol doesn’t directly affect impotence, it’s still proved that smoking can affect it.”

“Oh, I see. So you mean to say that there are many disadvantages and nothing to gain from smoking?”

“That’s right. That’s especially for you, someone who smokes a few boxes of cigarettes every day.”

“You’re right.”

“So?”

“What do you mean?”

“So… you’re impotent, right? Haven’t you felt the effects of the cigarettes you’ve been smoking? I heard that your wife ran away from home because you were impotent.”

“Stupid! That’s what you meant?”

“Isn’t that the case? Sexual harassment is really annoying, right? Then, let’s just get ready for the meeting.” Tanizaki grinned as she said this.

While Sakaguchi looked at Tanizaki’s fleeting back, who was now entering the hall and leaving him. He couldn’t help but chuckle and scratch his head, after doing so, he then followed her into the building.