Chapter Fifteen: The Assassination of Uesugi

“Eh? Wasn’t the estimated time of death last night?” Kuwabara emerged from the room, his pockmarked face brightened significantly. Ever since receiving commendations from the Metropolitan Police Department for consecutive achievements, his spirits had lifted considerably—perhaps because he saw a glimmer of promotion ahead.

About 60% of police officers across Japan hold the rank of Police Inspector, and nearly half of the non-career officers spend their entire careers at this level. According to studies, the average age of first-class inspectors is only 25; second-class inspectors, being informal consolation positions, are disregarded; but the average age of third-class police inspectors climbs to 38.

In reality, most inspectors are promoted after five years of service (sometimes as quickly as two years). Those unable to advance after five to ten years are automatically promoted to inspector. The higher average age for inspectors stems from a large group of veteran inspectors in their 50s and 60s who have spent their entire careers at the grassroots level.

“Yes, the preliminary estimate is that the death occurred last night, but Tanaka-san told me that the milk box outside hasn’t been changed for three days,” Soshi Uesugi said, stroking his chin and furrowing his brows. “So, I considered another possibility.”

“What possibility?” Old Tanaka asked cooperatively.

Since Uesugi had joined, Old Tanaka had largely given up thinking for himself, content to watch Uesugi’s deductions.

“Wait a moment, I’ll call Professor Okochi,” Uesugi gestured for patience.

Stepping out of the apartment, Uesugi noticed Miss Kosaka, the female officer, standing at the door, examining Ms. Kurosawa Yoko’s collection, showing no intention of entering.

“Wow, look at this! Ms. Kurosawa had collected so many old items from the Showa and Taisho eras!” Kosaka exclaimed.

Without gloves, she reached in and handled some of the small items, playing with them in her hands. “Wow, this is a saisen box, and this is a gohei!”

“Hey! Kosaka! Don’t touch the evidence!” Old Tanaka shouted angrily. “Didn’t you learn that in class?”

“Japanese girls can say no! Ma-sama taught me this!” Kosaka replied indifferently. She reluctantly returned the gohei to its place, mumbling, “Alright, alright, I won’t touch anything. Can you be a bit nicer? It’s not like I wanted to do fieldwork! I was fine doing clerical work, it’s all the section chief’s fault!”

“Miss Kosaka?” Uesugi thought back to the Ishizaka couple case—this girl had just loitered outside the whole time, truly treating herself as an outsider.

“Oh? Uesugi-san, is it over? Can we go back now?” Kosaka asked excitedly, thinking the investigation was finished. “The sun outside is blazing, Tokyo is already heating up, why aren’t you done yet?”

Is she really considering herself a wage thief? Seeing this, Uesugi decided not to waste words. He dialed Professor Okochi.

“Professor, I have a question. If the victim drowned while bathing, the death would have occurred at least two days ago, but the autopsy…”

“Mm, I understand. Thank you, Professor!” Uesugi ended the call.

No doubt now—it’s a homicide.

Back inside the apartment, Uesugi called Old Tanaka and Kuwabara over.

“No problem now. Tanaka-san, Kuwabara-san, as you suspected, the victim Kurosawa Akiko died at least two days ago, and it wasn’t an accidental drowning. This is a murder case.”

“But why hasn’t the body decomposed?” Old Tanaka, no longer daring to question Uesugi, knelt beside the corpse, puzzled. “Uesugi, didn’t you say before that warm climate and moisture can cause rapid decay if either is present? If Ms. Kurosawa died two days ago, why is there no sign of decomposition?”

“Simple. The victim never bathed before death,” Uesugi said coldly. “She was knocked unconscious, then moved to the bathtub and drowned. Someone filled the tub with a large amount of ice—she drowned in a mixture of ice and tap water. Over time, the ice melted slowly. Because the body was immersed in ice water for so long, decomposition was greatly slowed, causing the estimated time of death to be off.”

“No doubt now, the victim was murdered!” Uesugi concluded. “And the perpetrator must be someone familiar.”

“Really? Uesugi?” Old Tanaka and Kuwabara exchanged glances. The assistant inspector crossed his arms thoughtfully. “Bathing in ice water in summer? Familiar perpetrator? Indeed, if your theory holds and there’s no sign of forced entry or disturbance, and the doors and windows were securely locked, then there’s only one conclusion.”

“Yes, the killer had a spare key to the victim’s home,” Uesugi affirmed calmly. “First, the killer was definitely someone close who possessed the spare key. Second, the killer knew exactly where Ms. Kurosawa kept her cash and valuables, so there are no signs of rummaging. Lastly, there are no obvious wounds on the victim’s body, indicating no violent struggle. The killer likely struck Ms. Kurosawa on the head to render her unconscious, then dragged her to the bathroom and drowned her in ice water to mimic a bathing accident, deliberately confusing the time of death and making it appear she died last night.”

“Tanaka-san, Kuwabara-san, investigate immediately which relatives nearby have spare keys and who visited within the last two or three days. Whoever fits this is the murderer!” Uesugi spoke rapidly, signaling the police to begin their inquiry.

Old Tanaka and Kuwabara sighed deeply, utterly in awe of Uesugi. Shocked speechless, they found no words.

Finally, Old Tanaka voiced the last question: “If that’s the case, why are there no visible injuries on the victim’s head?”

“Have you heard of applying ice packs?” Uesugi pointed to the water in the bathtub. “Icing a swollen, bruised area reduces inflammation quickly… Well, my part’s done. It’s your turn.”

“I see. Uesugi, you really are a genius!” Old Tanaka turned around briskly. “Everyone, start the investigation. Go door to door, ask which of Ms. Kurosawa’s relatives have visited in the last two to three days! Move out!”

“Yes, sir!” The officers outside responded in unison.

Only Uesugi stood with hands clasped behind his back, still harboring some doubts.

What kind of person would devise such a clever ruse to confuse forensic experts and police?

Your niece, Ms. Kurosawa, doesn’t seem capable of such cunning.

With solid evidence and a clear direction, two hours later the police had identified the suspect: Ms. Kurosawa’s niece, Yamada Aika, living three kilometers away.

“Aika Yamada, 28, unemployed, lives alone in a modest apartment, frequently visits the victim, possesses a spare key, and neighbors saw her entering the victim’s apartment three days ago,” Old Tanaka briefed Uesugi, Kuwabara, and Kosaka in the patrol car. “We’re heading there now.”

“Uesugi-san, you don’t need to come,” Kuwabara said casually. “We’re the police—we’ll handle the arrest. Don’t try to steal our thunder.”

“I’m just curious,” Uesugi replied firmly. He couldn’t say he had a spiritual pact with the late Ms. Kurosawa, that her restless soul needed him to see why her niece had killed her. Was it really about money?

“Curious?”

“Yes, it’s hard for a normal person to conceive such a sophisticated crime designed to mislead police and forensic experts,” Uesugi nodded. “So I want to see what kind of person the suspect is.”

At that moment, the patrol car stopped beneath an apartment building.

They knocked on Room 203’s door.

The door cracked open slightly, revealing a weary half-face inside. A petite, thin woman with shoulder-length ordinary hair and dark circles under her eyes peeked out cautiously, her sunken cheeks showing malnutrition. Lean shoulders braced the door as she eyed the strangers nervously.

“Hello, Ms. Aika Yamada. We’re police,” Old Tanaka showed his badge first. “We’re here to ask some questions about Ms. Kurosawa. May we come in?”

“I don’t know,” Yamada’s voice was faint and weak. “I’m saddened about my aunt’s situation…”

“Yes, but we found some suspicious details during the autopsy and would like to clarify a few points. May we disturb you for a few minutes?” Old Tanaka emphasized.

“Alright, alright.” The woman hesitated a few seconds, then opened the door.

A strong smell of food greeted them. The cramped room was filled with foul odors. Garbage bags were piled everywhere. The tatami table was covered with instant noodles and convenience foods, some eaten, some unopened. Under the ceiling hung various women’s undergarments on ropes.

The woman’s thin body was clad only in a simple T-shirt and shorts. Personal items were scattered about messily; she instinctively tried to tidy up.

Uesugi raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Just as described by Ms. Kurosawa.

“Kosaka.” Seeing the scene, Old Tanaka and Kuwabara’s expressions turned grim as they signaled the female officer to take action.

The female officer’s role was precisely for moments like this.

“Why me again?” Kosaka, as usual, tried to shirk the task and stand outside idly.

Old Tanaka and Kuwabara’s faces grew stern. They rarely assigned her duties and avoided calling her out unless necessary, reserving her mostly to slack off. But now was the moment to put her to use.

“Kosaka?”

“Fine, fine, I get it.” Reluctantly, Kosaka entered. The stench of rotting food made her gag. “Ugh, disgusting, disgusting, disgusting.”

Old Tanaka and Kuwabara stayed at the door. Uesugi stepped a few paces inside.

“Ms. Yamada, who instructed you to do this?”

“Huh? What?” Aika looked up, startled.

“Who told you to knock Ms. Kurosawa unconscious, hold her in the bathtub to drown her, and to add so much ice to confuse the autopsy results?” Uesugi glanced around. “I don’t think you understand forensic knowledge.”

“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the lone woman quickly looked down but couldn’t hide the surging fear. Uesugi’s words hit the deepest secret in her heart like a tsunami.

“Let me guess what happened,” Uesugi continued. “You’ve been unemployed a long time, occasionally begging Ms. Kurosawa for money. The night it happened was another time you came asking her.”

“Usually, she gave you some money because you’re her niece, but this time she refused and even reprimanded you as an elder. You were humiliated and angry, pushed Ms. Kurosawa, who unfortunately hit her head and passed out.”

“Seeing her unconscious, you feared you might have killed her. In panic, you staged this scene,” Uesugi said coldly. “But ice water and hot water affect the body differently. Tell me—who taught you to do this?!”

Radiant with the aura of Aizen Myoo, Uesugi’s presence surged like a tide.

“I... I don’t understand. I just, I just…” Aika’s eyes widened, pupils constricted. She couldn’t fathom how Uesugi reconstructed the scene. Impossible! He’s a forensic doctor, not a deity!

But when Uesugi pressed who had instructed her, her fragile grip on reason snapped.

No, no more questions! Not involving Tsubasa, absolutely not!

Suddenly, she surged up, twisting and lunging toward the kitchen counter.

Kosaka, caught off guard, screamed and dodged. “What are you doing?!”

Aika grabbed a sharp kitchen knife labeled “Sekiguchi Daiku,” gripping the handle tightly, the blade trembling. With a terrified scream from Kosaka, Aika lunged, knife aimed at Uesugi.

“Ah!” Kosaka’s heart nearly stopped seeing Aika stab with the knife. She screamed, covered her head, crouched in a corner shaking, “Nooo!”

What?!

Uesugi never expected Kosaka to clear the way. He instinctively stepped back but snagged his foot on a garbage bag, losing balance. The knife was now dangerously close!

Is this woman mad?!

No time to worry about exposure; before the gleaming blade could strike, Uesugi did the only thing he could.

Aizen Myoo!

A crimson glow enveloped Uesugi’s body, but it couldn’t stop the knife. At the crucial moment, a spectral figure, old and ghostly green, appeared between Uesugi and Aika.

It was the spirit of Ms. Kurosawa, the old lady’s last glance falling on her crazed niece, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

So you really want to kill me, Aika.

All for that little money?

“Don’t be afraid, child, I am here to help you!”

The spirit of Kurosawa Akiko infused Uesugi’s right hand, forging a resilient material with iron will on its surface. The long pointed kitchen knife pierced the back of his right hand, cutting skin and sparking, then bounced off.

It all happened in an instant. Uesugi felt pain and fell backward into a pile of garbage. As Aika prepared another strike, the two policemen at the door finally reacted.

Trouble!

“Aaah!” Aika, not a strong woman, missed, her blade bouncing off. She screamed and lost footing, almost harming herself, and collapsed against the wall.

Seeing Uesugi clutch his hand and fall, Old Tanaka and Kuwabara feared the worst. They rushed forward, Old Tanaka swung his baton, striking Aika’s forehead, making it red. Kuwabara kicked the knife from her hand and tackled her to the ground.

“Uesugi, are you okay?” Old Tanaka helped Uesugi up from the garbage.

“Uh...” Uesugi struggled to stand, bleeding from his right hand, groaning in pain, grimacing. “Should be... okay...”

Almost died here!

“Good, good, just a hand wound. I thought...” Old Tanaka had panicked seeing red light everywhere, fearing a heart wound. Relieved to see it was superficial, he helped him up and glared fiercely at Aika. “Handcuff her!”

“Understood!” Kuwabara fumbled a handcuff from his vest.

But Aika screamed, “Don’t touch me! You’re violating me! I’ll sue you! I’ll sue you!”

Struggling, her scant clothing nearly tore. Kuwabara hesitated, backing off, signaling Kosaka to assist.

“Kosaka?”

“Aaah!”

“Kosaka!” Called several times until Kosaka, dazed, finally moved to restrain Aika.

“Uesugi, are you okay?” Kuwabara hurried over. “Call an ambulance!”

“Kosaka, handcuff her first. We’ll take Uesugi to the hospital. Backup’s on the way!” The two officers supported Uesugi and radioed for reinforcements.

“Okay, okay...” Kosaka stood numbly, watching them go before fumbling for the handcuffs.

“Ah! It hurts!” Aika complained on the ground, her face contorted in pain.

“Sorry! Kuwabara was rough on you. I’ll be gentler...” Kosaka sympathized, loosening the cuffs. She found Aika’s sudden attack baffling.

Why would a frail, malnourished woman act this way? There must be a reason.

It’s all Uesugi’s fault! Acting like a genius in forensic medicine and making things up! How could he treat a poor lady this way?

Seeing Aika gasping on the floor, Kosaka felt sorry and reached for the handcuffs in her bag. But unfamiliar with fieldwork, she blindly fumbled without success and turned back.

At that moment, Aika, still breathing heavily, noticed a nearby clothes rack.

*Thud!*

Outside, after a few minutes, reinforcements arrived.

“Tanaka, Kuwabara, I’m not that badly hurt. At least my legs are fine. You don’t need to carry me!” Uesugi had recovered somewhat. Old Tanaka had bandaged his right hand and urged the arriving patrol officers to take him to the hospital.

Hands are a doctor’s lifeline!

“Sorry, Uesugi, little brother, this is all our fault!” Old Tanaka lamented, almost kneeling in apology. “You go to the hospital first. We’ll bring the suspect in immediately.”

“Damn that woman for assaulting an officer!” Kuwabara gritted his teeth, eyes red. “This isn’t over!”

Before he finished, a scream came from the second floor: “Help! Help! Somebody, please!”

They exchanged looks. Uesugi, ignoring his injured hand, along with Tanaka, Kuwabara, and the patrol officers, rushed back inside.

Upstairs, Room 203, the door burst open.

What they saw stunned them.

Kosaka’s one hand was handcuffed, the other cuffed to the window railing. The window was wide open, curtains hanging down from the second floor.

Tanaka and Kuwabara drew their pistols, aiming at the window.

By the time they reached it, the suspect Ms. Yamada was gone.

She escaped?!