"Do we have a detailed autopsy report for the victim?" Shiraishi asked immediately after opening his eyes.
"No..." Akasaka said awkwardly, then added, "There's an examination report, and the basic circumstances are all..."
"Is the body still available?" Shiraishi cut him off directly.
Akasaka continued shaking his head awkwardly. "Because the cause of death was clear, it was returned to the family... and cremated."
Shiraishi: ...
Fine. The evidence most likely to reveal the truth was already gone!
If an autopsy had been possible, they could have determined whether the victim's wound had come from one stab or two. Even if the blade had been inserted along the existing wound, it would have been clear.
Still, although Shiraishi was disappointed, this outcome had not been entirely unexpected.
This was also one of Eastern Island Nation's chronic ailments...
The high-EQ way of putting it was that Eastern Island Nation's police had exceptionally capable "examination" procedures. Even ordinary patrol officers could conduct basic examinations of corpses, and they were highly experienced—after all, every death outside a hospital underwent examination.
The blunt way of putting it was that Eastern Island Nation had far too few autopsies and forensic examiners!
In Eastern Island Nation, with a population exceeding one hundred million, there were fewer than two hundred forensic examiners...
Local police stations basically had no forensic examiners. Only the Metropolitan Police Department and prefectural police headquarters had them.
And with so few forensic examiners, the autopsy rate for unnatural deaths was naturally appalling. Even homicide cases could not be guaranteed an autopsy one hundred percent of the time.
When Shiraishi saw that this case had been chiefly handled by the local station, that the cause of death was so obvious, and that the time of death could be estimated... he had already guessed that an autopsy had probably not been performed!
Thus...
Shiraishi walked straight into the Soundproof Room!
Gulp—
Upon seeing Shiraishi enter, Ms. Rin-da, who was being interrogated, immediately tensed up and swallowed with difficulty.
She did not know Shiraishi, but... he looked incredibly imposing!
In the already dim Soundproof Room, Shiraishi, like a Little Giant, "squeezed" inside. It even felt like some fantastical camera shot, like Gandalf ducking into a hobbit's dark little home—the Soundproof Room's door was one of the few that had not been enlarged. After all, its soundproof padded walls made renovations difficult, and... no one had previously imagined that the chief would personally enter the Soundproof Room!
When Gen saw that it was Shiraishi, he immediately stood up. "Chief."
"Mm. Sit over there for now. I need to ask this lady a few questions," Shiraishi said directly.
Gen then sat on a little stool to the side. When Shiraishi sat down in the chair, the chair in the Soundproof Room immediately let out a "groan."
Ms. Rin-da's posture visibly changed as she shifted backward in resistance.
Shiraishi did not deliberately project an intimidating aura. Instead, he offered a kind smile. "Ms. Rin-da, you previously said that the victim blackmailed you and used the excuse of having you cook him one final meal, right?"
"Y-Yes." Ms. Rin-da became even more frightened as she looked at that smile looming over her.
"What were you planning to make?" Shiraishi asked smoothly.
"Huh?" Ms. Rin-da froze.
"Tell me immediately what you had planned to cook that day," Shiraishi said in a deep voice.
"Ah... yes! Yes... Beef Bourguignon, Mashed Potatoes, bouillabaisse, Escargots..." Ms. Rin-da immediately listed them.
"Mm, all French cuisine? It seems... none of those ingredients would require a sushi knife. So did you really wash the sushi knife at the time?" Shiraishi asked instead.
"I... can't remember. I think I washed them all!" Ms. Rin-da's answer was vague.
However... from her expression, Shiraishi had already gotten what he wanted.
When Ms. Rin-da saw Shiraishi narrow his eyes at her, a cold sweat broke out all over her body!
But then Shiraishi said, "So, you said... you saw this person leaving through the alley, which was why you chose to enter through the front door, correct?" He even sounded deliberately troubled.
Gen was puzzled, unable to understand what the chief meant, but he did not show it.
"That's right! But... I'm not actually sure... Didn't my car capture it?" Ms. Rin-da said in a panic.
"It wasn't captured very clearly. We may need you to testify, including that when you returned, the victim was already dead in the room... That won't be a problem, will it?" Shiraishi suddenly asked.
"Huh? That..." Ms. Rin-da shrank back.
Seeing this, Shiraishi spoke understandingly. "You can refuse, of course. But then we can only handle the crimes you committed by the book... As for that Tsubokura, even if he escapes this time, he won't escape next time!"
Ms. Rin-da did not seem shaken when she heard "by the book," but when she heard "escapes this time," her expression clearly flickered.
"Wait! I... I understand. I'm willing to testify in court!" Ms. Rin-da said firmly.
"Mm, then... thank you for your courage. The witness stand actually has a nice view. There's nothing to be afraid of." Shiraishi smiled calmly, then got up and left the Soundproof Room.
Outside, Shirai and the others were equally at a loss.
"Chief, why was it necessary to insist that she testify?" Akasaka asked bluntly.
Shiraishi glanced at him, then said as though it were only natural, "If we need her to testify, then naturally... we need her to testify. What do you think?"
Upon hearing Shiraishi say that, Akasaka hurriedly replied, "Right! Exactly, it's very necessary..."
Only after seeing everyone nod in agreement did Shiraishi nod as well. "Then... submit the results of the current investigation to the prosecution. Remember to apply to the prosecution for a supplementary interrogation of Tsubokura."
"Um... Chief, as for the prosecution, I'm afraid..." Aoki sounded uncertain.
Based on his understanding of the prosecution's usual style, they would very likely refuse!
"Mm, it's enough that we apply. And make sure every application is documented. Once the prosecution chooses to accept the supplementary evidence, notify me of the result immediately," Shiraishi emphasized.
Shiraishi handed the report-writing and liaison work to the Criminal Affairs Division, then threw himself back into the grand undertaking of "stamping documents."
Not until the next day—Thursday, October 6...
At noon, Aoki came to report to Shiraishi. "Chief, the prosecution replied... They only accepted the portion of evidence concerning Tsubokura, and they also rejected our request for an interrogation. As you instructed, we documented the reports from before and after the submission."
"They accepted the new witness?" Shiraishi confirmed.
Aoki was slightly puzzled by Shiraishi's composure, but he promptly answered, "They did."
Shiraishi nodded. "I understand." He said nothing more.
That afternoon, Shiraishi had Gina track a location for him, greeted Ebihara, and then left work early for the rare occasion...
Before you continue