Hidden Nexus (43 page)

'I only got hold of it myself, just moments before we were called to this meeting. I was on my way to see you,' explained Saito.

'Hmm... well, I think in the circumstances I have no option but to suspend you both.' stated the Chief Super coldly, looking once again at Sakamoto and Deguchi.

'But-' spluttered Sakamoto. 'It's nothing to do with me. It’s Deguchi!'

'In which case I'm suspending you for a lack of order and failing to control your staff. There'll be a full
investigation
into this... this... farce! All conduct and all evidence. Dismissed!'

A wretched Sakamoto and equally dejected Deguchi got slowly to their feet, collected their papers and walked to the door through a gauntlet of disapproval. Some colleagues remained embarrassed at their dismissal others retained a silent dignity. It was the most shocking set of circumstances they had ever encountered.

For a number of minutes after their departure the room remained in silence each individual attempting to process through what they had just heard with no one really, not even the Chief Super, being adequately able to come to terms with the recent events.

'Now then,’ he said eventually in a quiet voice. ‘What were the other lines of enquiry that you'd been following Inspector Saito?’

Saito slowly looked down to his own notes. He coughed and then looked around the rest of his colleagues. ‘About just now-'

'Save it for another time Saito.'

'I-'

'Saito!'

'Fine, sir. I'll save it for another time.'

'Thank you. Now let's progress with what we can, while we can before Tokyo come own here and close us down for good.'

'Yes, sir.' Saito looked at Mori and then at Junsa Saito. 'We’ve followed up on all the obvious leads – namely Ozawa Kenji, the boss of Niigata Kyubin who we know was with Yamada Eri at a meeting in Tokyo between six-thirty and seven-thirty on the night she was killed. This meeting took place with Watanabe Hiro faction leader within the LDP. We suspect that either one or the other raped her. They had the means and the motive to kill her, particularly Watanabe, but presently they also have alibis for the key time in question which-’

‘-which?’

‘Which leaves us looking at Fujiwara Kenta as the one remaining suspect.’

'Fujiwara? Who's he and how does he fit into all is?' replied the Chief Super feeling not for the first time that evening a little out of his depth.

'He's a Yoshihara henchman and who coincidentally was also found dead this morning - the suicide, remember!'

'Go on.'

'We know that Eri Yamada met up with Fujiwara on the 15th and suspect that what lies behind her murder is Yakuza involvement in some pretty ruthless and underhand business dealings. At this moment we are only guessing but we believe that at the behest of her boss Yamada Eri met up with Fujiwara probably to arrange the
sokaiya
activity that I witnessed first-hand and much to my own personal pain, and also perhaps to set in motion the attack on Yokohama Black Panther. This last statement is unproven but initial findings by the JHSE suggest that there may be suspicious circumstances surrounding the explosion bearing the hallmarks of Yoshihara practice. In addition Yamada Eri’s fingerprints were found all over the room in which Fujiwara was found dead, circumstantial I know, but evidence all the same - and too much of a coincidence to ignore. We do know that they definitely did meet according to a diary entry indicating that meetings, or more accurately at least one meeting took place between the two, as I said on the 15th December. Now, it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility that after all this work was completed that the leading parties wanted to cover their tracks. There’s plenty of motive there. All we need to do is to continue our investigations to see if Fujiwara had the opportunity to carry out the crimes at the times stated. Of course it's complicated that Fujiwara is now dead.
Junsa
Saito, here,’ he continued, again looking at all around the table, ‘has carried out some preliminary enquiries into Fujiwara's background and business but as to his actual movements this week we’ve not had time to delve into them yet, suffice to say that presently he has no apparent alibi for Thursday night.’

‘And what possible motive might the Yoshihara have to take out these two women?’ interrupted a frowning Chief Super.

‘You know as well as I do that the Yakuza need no motive – not in the conventional sense, anyway, but if they are tied in with Niigata Kyubin what they gain is a front company to hide their profits or to secure legitimate loans. The advantages to them are numerous and if this means taking a few people out then so be it. We all know how the Yakuza work but I'm not sure why I'm having to explain this to you. Surely you are all too aware of Yakuza modus operandi!'

'And you suspect Fujiwara as the trigger? And this is based on the fact that he met up with Yamada Eri?'

'Yes!'

'Okay, I can just about go along with your Yakuza theory as regards Yamada Eri, but how does the Sanyoshinko woman fit in?'

'Presently I don't know that, sir. Not at least until she can be identified.'

'Okay, and just so I've got this clear if Fujiwara is the trigger then you are saying that Ozawa is the finger. Is that right?'

'That's how I see it, sir.'

'So your accusations against Watanabe were not only totally unjustified but totally unnecessary!'

For the first time that evening Inspector Saito squirmed in his seat. 'It seems, perhaps so - although in my defence there were some pretty underhand things happening in his building - appointment diaries and surveillance tapes being tampered with and so on.'

'Hmm... Possibly just a politician trying to distance himself from any implication in a murder.'

'But you can see why it arises suspicion.'

'Well... Maybe. But you were foolish to go in so heavy handed. Be that as it may, thank you Inspector Saito. I’m pleased that at least some of the team have acted with propriety and diligence.’

Saito was as equally stunned to hear this contrition as he was at Sakamoto’s suspension and basked in a pleasing glow of satisfaction. ‘As ever it was… is a team effort, sir. Sergeant Mori and
Junsa
Saito have been instrumental in shaping our thinking. I have them to thank. He bowed to his colleagues who bowed back.

‘Now, there is still a lot of work to do,' said the Chief Super with an air of finality. 'The first thing I want you to do is to get down to pathology and see what else Takahashi has got for us and then we’ll start fresh in the morning. There is little time to waste.’

The other heads around the table bowed respectfully and then filed out of the room.

Wednesday 5
^th
January 8:10pm

Five minutes later Inspector and
Junsa
Saito made their way across the basement car park towards an empty patrol car. They were both deep in thought although neither, as it happened, were thinking particularly about the case.
Junsa
Saito for a strange reason was thinking about her underwear, or more precisely the need to wash it. Not that she was particularly soiled more that she was just running out of fresh. She hadn't noted a washing machine within the Inspector's apartment although was sure there must be one, but whatever the situation, she was determined to get some washing done that evening - hand-washing or otherwise. She didn't know it but she was doomed not to complete this self-appointed task. Inspector Saito was thinking of matters far from the mundane and was mulling over a classic probability conundrum for no other reason than the case reminded him of it.

In the conundrum in order to win the prize the subject needed to select the right box out of a choice of three. Two boxes were empty. One contained a bar of gold. The subject was asked to make a choice, after which one of the empty boxes was revealed. The subject was then asked whether or not they would like to stick to their original choice or switch. This was the nature of the conundrum. Given this set of circumstances was it better to stick or switch? Inspector Saito could recall the problem and the right answer, an answer that said it was better to switch, but as he walked towards the car he couldn't recall why - something to do with probability, he thought. He wasn't to realise how peculiarly apposite this conundrum was until later the next day.

Consequently when the attack came neither of them were prepared for it.

Out of the cold, darkness Sakamoto unexpectedly appeared, swiftly grabbing hold of Saito’s arm and thrusting it painfully up his back whilst simultaneously forcing him against the car.

‘You’re not looking so self-satisfied and comfortable now, are you Saito
san
!’ he hissed aggressively into his ear.

‘What the hell are you doing? Are you mad?’

‘I know your little games!’ Sakamoto wrenched Saito’s arm tighter up his back so that he gasped out in pain. ‘And any more little theories you might have about-’

He didn’t finish the sentence.

Despite the existing pain in his ribs Saito did his best to respond to the assault with an elbow to Sakamoto’s face. He succeeded, catching him on the jaw which momentarily forced Sakamoto to relinquish his grip on Saito’s arm. Saito then turned around as swiftly as he could wondering what lunacy had taken hold of Sakamoto whilst also trying to work out if he had any chance of winning this particular scrap.
Junsa
Saito looked on in shock, unable to move and unable to speak.

For a second time in as many nights Saito found himself squaring up to a man in front of him. Sakamoto lunged forward with a jab but Saito was equal to it and was able to step away. Sakamoto may have been the younger and fitter man but he was no boxer. Saito was injured but had trained enough in his youth. He suddenly felt a growing confidence that he was more than Sakamoto’s equal but he had no desire for this unseemly skirmish to continue.

‘
Baka
! Sakamoto, you’ll be completely finished after this!’ warned Inspector Saito. ‘
Junsa
! Are you watching?’

‘I’m already finished thanks to you - you smug bastard!’ Sakamoto lashed out again – missing for a second time. Again Saito stepped to the side, surprised by his own agility – and ability. It made Sakamoto all the more angry and he lunged again. This time Saito used Sakamoto’s own momentum against him as he managed to swivel around and force Sakamoto against the car. Sakamoto turned just in time to receive a smart upper cut to the chin. It sent him reeling.

‘
Junsa
, quick! Help me!’ He looked back to helpless looking
Junsa
Saito.
Saito landed two more punches which sent Sakamoto staggering back across the car park and into
Junsa
Saito's path. With his anger now intensified and inflamed by this additional humiliation, with blood buzzing around his head that clouded any remaining logic, he swivelled as he staggered and lunged this time at
Junsa
Saito. He grabbed her as she herself turned, wrapping his arms around her and attempting to wrestle her to the floor.

Junsa
Saito managed to thrust her own arms back, digging her elbows into Sakamoto. He gasped in pain and she turned quickly, chopped both her arms quickly and with genuine thrust against either side of Sakamoto's head in an attempt to damage his eardrums and disorientate him further. Sakamoto stumbled back, realizing in the haze that he'd bitten off more than he could chew, even with
Junsa
Saito, when he looked up and saw her leaping through the air landing a heavy drop kick to the centre of his chest. He dropped to the floor and smashed his skull on the hard concrete.

‘Should I call for extra support?’
Junsa
Saito shouted to Inspector Saito.

‘I've done it. Support is on its way. But I think we’ve got the beating of him, don’t you?’ Inspector Saito peered at Sakamoto who seemed to be completely out cold.

‘I didn’t know I had it in me,’ he said feeling his knuckles. 'And you! Wow! What was that? What an amazingly surprising package you are!'

Junsa
Saito looked modestly back.

'I’ll need you to file a report on this incident straight away, though, when you've recovered. Just in case Sakamoto attempts to twist reality and fabricates his own version of events.’

Two minutes later a posse of uniformed officers rushed into the car park just as Sakamoto came round. They dragged him to his feet, slapped handcuffs on him and dragged him away.

'I have friends, you know!' shouted Sakamoto wildly. 'This isn't finished Saito! They'll hunt you down. You and your little fuck-buddy! They'll find you when you least expect it. They’ll find an entertaining way to exact revenge. They're very good at extracting finger nails - very good indeed! Guaranteed to generate maximum pain!'

His voice trailed off into the distance still yelling obscenities and threats.

Junsa
Saito looked on in shock and disbelief.

'You file that report. I need you to do that. Do what you can and then meet me at the pathology lab. Okay?' instructed Inspector Saito.

She nodded and they went their separate ways.