Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094088809262/episodes/16818622171184896692
At 6:00 a.m., my day begins with a rumbling alarm.
I crawl out of bed in my cramped apartment, make myself a cup of coffee, and go over last night’s investigative notes in my head.
“Oww…” I suppress my aching back.
Although there are no high-profile cases that have caused a sensation in the public, the desk is filled with papers on a stack of small cases.
“Now…which one to start with…?”
I light up a cigarette and, in the midst of the smoky air… one by one, I turn my attention to the cases.
[The Case of Missing Ito Gonzo.]
[The Nishimachi Robbery.]
[The Higashihama fraud case.]
[The Chuo Street assault.]
And the Shizuka Minamino robbery-homicide.
This is not my job, but I have a hunch that the president is involved in these cases.
This is just a hunch I’ve had for years, and I have no proof.
I looked at the clock, showered a little hurriedly, put on my tired suit, and headed for the police station.
At 7:30 a.m., I arrive at the police station.
At the morning meeting, I was told to take a young detective, Yamada, with me to the scene of the crime.
Yamada is still in his early twenties, enthusiastic but inexperienced, and is like half a student to Shindo.
“Shindo san, I look forward to working with you again today.” Yamada says with a smile, but I reply curtly, “Yeah.”
But secretly, I look forward to watching Yamada’s growth.
At 9:00 a.m., the two of us drive to a residential area on the outskirts of the city in a police car.
They have just received a report of a burglary, and they are going to conduct another on-site inspection at the victim’s house.
When we arrive at the scene, he observes the surroundings with a familiar hand, checking for fingerprints and footprints.
“Yamada, look closely at the window edges. This is sloppy work.” I gave instructions while beginning to question the neighbors.
It is a moment when my lean movements and keen insight, cultivated during my single life in my fifties, shine through.
Near noon, I return to the station and begin writing my report while sipping coffee at my desk.
Yamada asks, “Shindo san, what would you like to have for lunch?” but I dismissed him, saying, “Just get something from a convenience store.”
“Oh…crap…I forgot my wallet.”
I laugh at him and say, “You’re a real pain in the ass, aren’t you?”
I’m single and living a carefree life, but I surprisingly don’t mind these small exchanges.
At 2:00 p.m., a witness hearing for another case.
Shindo asks a series of questions without hesitation and sees through their lies.
He then smells the evidence as if he has it, too.
He has good instincts based on years of experience and is good at spotting minor inconsistencies that younger people might miss.
Yamada, taking notes beside him, asked, “Shindo san, how do you know so easily?” Yamada was impressed.
He laughs lightly and says, “You’ll figure it out in another 20 years” but his eyes are serious.
At 5:00 p.m., they reported on the status of the investigation in the station’s conference room.
Shindo explains the progress in a calm tone of voice and accurately answers questions from his superiors.
Although he is in his early fifties, he is not as physically strong as he was when he was younger.
By the end of the meeting, his shoulders are stiff and he returns to his seat with a sigh.
Yamada asks, “Are you tired, Shindo san?” but he brushes it off “None of your business.”
At 8:00 p.m., he finally leaves work.
On the way home, he buys a boxed lunch and a can of beer at a convenience store and returns to his apartment.
Unable to turn on the TV, I sit on the sofa with a beer and reflect on the day’s events.
Yamada’s growth, the feel of the field, and the outstanding cases.
Single life is quiet, but my mind is constantly buzzing with work.
At 11 p.m., I take a shower and fall into bed.
“Will it be early again tomorrow?” I muttered, closing my eyes.
A day in the life of Detective Shindo is not flashy, but it is filled with steady work and casual concern for the younger members of the force.
◇Daily life of young detective Yamada
Leaving the station at 7:00 a.m., he heads for a certain place.
It was a bar in the basement of a building.
There were people who were obviously doing illegal drugs and a rich-looking man surrounded by several underage girls.
I showed my membership card to the waiter who said, “Welcome.”
He led me to a VIP room in the back.
The man at the end of the room was Yamamoto san, the president of the company.
“Oh. You’re late.”
“…I wish you’d stop calling me to these shady places all the time. It’d be bad if he saw me in here.”
“But you can’t talk like this in a normal restaurant, can you?”
“No, that’s right. I can’t make excuses if he sees me in there,” I said with a wry smile.
Well…I was a mole in the police.
“…So? How’s it going?”
“Well, I guess he must think that Ito’s case is definitely the president’s or Yamasaka’s work.”
“I see. Do you think you can get some kind of weakness from him?”
“Weaknesses…? He’s single and estranged from his family. It may be difficult, but his best chance would be to dig up a false accusation. Sell information to a weekly magazine and get him fired. I think the chances of it being hushed up are higher.”
“…..I see.”
I suggested as I took a drag on my cigarette.
“It’s fine if you want to kidnap someone whenever you want. That said, it would be bad if you had a way to deal with that kind of situation.”
“…No, for now, just keep gathering information. Contact me immediately if there is any movement.”
“Got it.”
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