harleyscars Page 97
Page 97
The second suspect is Mizutani Keine, 32 years old, who should be considered a student of Yasuda Akiya.
When Mizutani Keine entered the room, her face showed obvious tension and sadness, her eyes were red and swollen, and her voice was nasal.
She appeared shocked and saddened by Akiya Yasuda's death.
“Ms. Mizutani, please accept our condolences. We need to understand some things so that we can find the culprit as soon as possible.” Sato Miwako’s tone was relatively gentle.
"I...I know."
“Teacher… how could this happen…” Mizutani Keine sobbed. “After the group discussion this afternoon, I had a brief conversation with the teacher, around 4:30 at the hotel.”
"He seemed... a little preoccupied, but didn't say what it was. He just told me to send him the latest set of experimental data for review that evening."
"Did he mention anything unusual at the time? Or who did he meet?" Yuki Takada asked.
“No one was specifically mentioned. However…” Mizutani Keine hesitated for a moment, “The professor has been under a lot of pressure lately. The Carson catalyst project is not progressing well.”
"And... I think I overheard him arguing with someone on the phone a few days ago. He seemed to be talking about things like transactions and risks, and his tone was very unpleasant."
Who is the person being argued with?
"I don't know, the teacher lowered her voice when she saw me approach. But she didn't seem like someone from academia, her tone was more...江湖气 (jianghu qì, a kind of rough and tumble manner)." Mizutani Keine tried hard to recall.
Yuki Takada and Miwako Sato exchanged a glance, wondering if this was a suspicion that Akira Yasuda was involved with some unknown force.
Of course, it's also possible that she is the murderer in this case and fabricated this story to clear her name.
Yuuki Takada asked, "Ms. Keine Mizutani, what were you doing during the time of the incident tonight, which was around six or seven o'clock?"
"I was organizing the data in my room, and then around 6:40, I sent the data to the teacher's email."
"After that, I rested in my room and read some documents. I didn't go out. The hotel's network should have a record of that," Mizutani Keine replied.
Are you familiar with ether? And does Professor Yasuda's research involve it?
"Ether? It's commonly used in the lab, but the professor doesn't need it directly for this project."
“However…” Mizutani Keine suddenly remembered something and said, “Sometimes the teacher uses it to… clean some special laboratory equipment, saying that it works quite well. Our lab has a small amount stored.”
"Do you know a sticky note with a chemical formula written on it? Or does it have some special meaning?" Yuuki Takada showed her a picture of the sticky note.
Mizutani Keine examined it carefully and shook her head: "I've never seen this equation before, and it's not one of the steps in our currently publicly researched formulas. As for what you're talking about, I have no idea either."
Mizutani Keine's emotions seem very genuine, and the information she provides about Yasuda Akiya is also very valuable.
Her alibi requires technical verification.
“Ms. Mizutani, thank you very much for cooperating with our routine police questioning. Please wait outside. Could you please call Mr. Ishikawa for me?” Yuki Takada said.
The third suspect is Kentaro Ishikawa, 38, a representative of Novartis, a multinational chemical materials company, and one of the sponsors of this seminar.
Kentaro Ishikawa was dressed in a suit and tie, his expression serious and restrained, exuding the shrewdness of a businessman.
The business card he showed indicated that he was the manager of the technology acquisition department at Nova Chemicals.
"Mr. Ishikawa, are you acquainted with Professor Yasuda?" Yuki Takada asked casually after taking the business card.
“We’ve had business dealings,” Kentaro Ishikawa replied formally. “Professor Yasuda’s research is very promising, and our company is very interested in the simplified synthesis process he developed using the ‘Carson catalyst’.”
"We are currently in the initial contact and evaluation phase."
Yuuki Takada casually asked, "So, to what extent have you been exposed to it?"
"It was just an informal exchange to understand his research progress and intentions for collaboration. After all, the commercialization of academic achievements requires caution," Kentaro Ishikawa said succinctly.
Where will you be between 6 and 7 pm tonight?
"I attended a reception hosted by our company for the seminar in the banquet hall on the second floor of the hotel. Many attendees were there."
“Of course, officer, if you don’t believe me, I can provide plenty of witnesses.” Kentaro Ishikawa’s answer was almost impeccable; a large party was the perfect alibi.
"Are you aware that Professor Yasuda has also been in contact with other companies?"
"Business competition is normal, officer. I can't disclose which companies are involved, and I'm not entirely sure either," Kentaro Ishikawa evaded the question.
Yuki Takada suddenly changed the subject: "Mr. Ishikawa, are you familiar with the hotel's maintenance department? Or do you know a maintenance worker named Yosuke Hayakawa?"
A barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed across Ishikawa's face, but he quickly regained his composure: "Completely unfamiliar. Besides, a hotel maintenance worker? How would I know him?"
His denial was swift, but the momentary surprise did not escape Takada Yuki's eyes.
"And what about ether? As a chemical, your company should be familiar with it, right?"
“Of course, it’s a common solvent. But our company strictly adheres to safety regulations.” Kentaro Ishikawa’s response was as perfect as ever.
After questioning the three key figures, Yuki Takada and Miwako Sato returned to their hotel room.
"Inspector Takada, what do you think?" Sato Miwako asked.
After pondering for a moment, Yuki Takada took out a notebook from his pocket and wrote down the names of the three people and key points:
Hiroichi Nishimura (colleague and competitor): His motives are obvious (academic disagreements, conflicts), his attitude towards Akiya Yasuda's contact with commercial companies is subtle, he mentions the risks of research, but his absence seems reliable (being alone, needing verification), he chooses to avoid the topic of ether, and he does have the opportunity to contact it.
Keine Mizutani (student): She is emotionally distressed, provides clues about Professor Yasuda's death and the mysterious phone call, her alibi (inside the room) requires technical verification, she has easy access to ether, but we cannot rule out whether she has a motive she didn't tell us.
Kentaro Ishikawa (representative of a business company): His motives may be related to technology acquisition (with huge profits), and he has a seemingly solid alibi (the cocktail party), but his reaction to the name "repairman" is unusual, and his business background may involve more complex methods.
“In short, all three of them are suspicious and have seemingly reasonable explanations and alibis,” Sato Miwako analyzed. “Nishimura Hiroichi and Ishikawa Kentaro’s motives are more direct, but Kobayashi’s clues may point to a fourth force.”
Yuuki Takada pointed to the names on the notebook in front of him: "The key is that repairman, Yosuke Hayakawa, and those names on the sticky notes. Is there any progress from the technical department?"
Just then, a technical officer knocked on the door and came in: "Inspector, the coordinates on the note have been analyzed!"
"The location is an abandoned industrial dock warehouse area about five kilometers from the hotel. We have dispatched nearby patrol cars to conduct a preliminary inspection."
"The dock warehouse..." Takada Yuuki's eyes sharpened. "Immediately organize a team to search it! It's very likely related to Professor Yasuda's secret research!"
"In addition," the technical officer added, "there's been progress in cracking the victim's laptop. An encrypted folder has been found, and we're working hard to crack it."
"Furthermore, the initial assessment of the path by which the hotel server was compromised suggests that it was done by an insider who exploited a vulnerability on the hotel server with skillful technique."
“Internal personnel…” Yuuki Takada repeated the word, his gaze sweeping over the three names on the whiteboard again, as well as the missing repairman, Yosuke Hayakawa.
“Miwako, I’m leaving this to you to continue questioning them for more details, especially to verify their alibis.”
"Hiroichi Nishimura and Kentaro Ishikawa should focus on getting specific details from them regarding the potential risks and business connections of the Yasuda Research Institute. Ms. Mizutani, you should also keep an eye on things; try calming them down a bit more to see if they can recall more details about that mysterious phone call."
"Are you going to the dock?" Sato Miwako asked.
"Yes. That coordinate is likely the key."
"The murderer meticulously planned the locked-room murder and left behind obscure symbols. It was definitely not a random act. I'm counting on you for this."
Yuki Takada quickly put on his coat, gathered several capable officers, and prepared to set off.
Just as they were about to leave the hotel, Yuki Takada's phone rang again; it was the preliminary autopsy report from the forensic department.
"Inspector Takada, here are a few additional findings: First, trace amounts of ether were indeed detected in the deceased's body, consistent with inhalation anesthesia, but the dose was insufficient to be fatal; it may have only caused confusion or slowed movement."
"Secondly, the fatal stab wound was extremely precise, piercing straight into the heart, suggesting that the killer likely had anatomical knowledge or had received relevant training."
"Third, trace amounts of a special synthetic fiber, different from carpet fibers, were found under the deceased's fingernails. The specific composition is still being analyzed."
“Synthetic fibers…” Takada Yuki noted this down. “Thank you for your hard work. Let me know as soon as you have any results.”
After hanging up the phone, Yuuki Takada felt even heavier.
The use of ether was confirmed, the perpetrator possessed professional knowledge, and the victim may have had a brief but feeble struggle...
The outline of the case seems to be clearer, but the shadow of the murderer is even more blurred and complicated.
Of the three suspects, who best fits these characteristics?
As a professor, Hirokazu Nishimura possessed knowledge of chemistry and anatomy.
The company represented by Kentaro Ishikawa may hire professionals.
As Professor Yasuda's student, Mizutani Keine has a solid foundation in chemistry. Judging from the current situation, her mental fortitude is indeed much higher than the other two.
Amidst a cloud of doubt, Yuki Takada's convoy drove toward the abandoned dock shrouded in night.
Yuki Takada had a bad feeling that the truth hidden there was far more than he had imagined.
Inside the hotel, Sato Miwako continued to follow Takada Yuuki's orders, dealing with the three suspects, each with their own agendas, and searching for clues in their words.
Chapter 117 The alibi is fake.
Night fell, shrouding the dark moon, and police cars flashing red and blue lights tore through the silence leading to the abandoned dock.
Yuki Takada sat in the passenger seat, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the edge of the car window, his mind replaying the information provided by the three suspects.
Nishimura Hiroichi has a clear motive, and although Mizutani Keine is the deceased's student, it cannot be ruled out that there is some conflict between them. Ishikawa Kentaro's shrewdness and that elusive sense of surprise.
The abandoned dock was the only clue left behind by the deceased Professor Yasuda.
The vehicle bumped and jolted as it entered the abandoned industrial area, where a desolate scene came into view.
The rusty warehouse looked like it had been abandoned for many years, lying in the darkness, with the monotonous sound of waves crashing against the shore in the distance adding to the eeriness.
The patrol officers who arrived first used flashlights to guide them to one of the warehouses that appeared to be relatively intact.
"Inspector Takada, this is the place."
"The coordinates are very precise; it's this warehouse number 3."
"We conducted a preliminary inspection of the perimeter and found no obvious signs of recent activity, but the door lock showed fresh signs of being damaged."
Yuki Takada nodded, drew his pistol, and signaled his team members to spread out and maintain vigilance.
"Stay vigilant; there may be unknown risks."
"Group one, follow me in; Group two, block the perimeter and keep watch for any movement."
The warehouse door creaked as it was slowly pushed open.
The beam of the powerful flashlight pierced the darkness, illuminating the spacious interior.
The air was thick with a mixture of rust, dust, and the smell of the sea.
The ground was littered with discarded timber and damaged containers.
They ventured in cautiously, the light sweeping across every corner.
Suddenly, a faint, unusual odor, different from the surrounding environment, wafted into Yuuki Takada's nostrils.
It has a faint, unpleasant sweetness mixed with an unpleasant odor; it's very subtle, but it's definitely there.