Read Online Nocturne of Remembrance by Shichiri Nakayama - Free Book Online
Authors: Shichiri Nakayama
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imagine what he was thinking. But Mikoshiba was the total opposite. Whatever his facial expression, she couldn’t get even a glimpse into his true feelings.
Mikoshiba had told her to speak the truth just to him. Was he kidding? There was no way she could bare her soul to such a murky character. Anyhow, he could only defend part of the case. No one could expose and defend all of it.
She didn’t mind being convicted of a killing. Spending some time behind bars was a foregone conclusion. Yet she didn’t want to stay there for too long. Her two daughters were impatiently awaiting her return, so she had to get the sentence reduced if only by a day.
Somehow or other, she had to act like she’d put all her faith in Mikoshiba. She would give him the minimal amount of information needed to get her sentence shortened. But she would have to hide the rest. She couldn’t even let him know that she was hiding something. Aknife that cut very well was a convenient thing to have, but also dangerous. Mikoshiba appeared to be that kind of a person.
Once you gave his sort an opening, you were done for. He’d chase her persistently to the end. Relentless and calculating, like a cat tormenting a mouse, he’d enjoy frightening his quarry.
She couldn’t let him catch on.
She couldn’t even let him suspect anything.
He’d maintained that he was Akiko’s only ally in the world until she left the detention center. That was for sure. But there were secrets that only an ally could pry out of her. In that regard, taking Mikoshiba’s words at face value was dangerous.
A warning began to ring through Akiko’s head. Reiji Mikoshiba was her only ally while she was in the detention center, she agreed. At the same time, he was the only enemy to be feared.
She had to be vigilant.
Vigilant
.
— 4 —
The court records were delivered to Mikoshiba’s office the day after he had met with Akiko. The timing was good. That guy Horai might have been a bit of a rogue, but in his business dealings he certainly kept his promises.
“If there are any calls for me, tell them all that I’ll call back.”
“How about visitors?”
“Unless it’s someone very unusual, tell them that I’m not in.”
Fortunately, he wasn’t scheduled to appear in court, nor did he expect any visitors. Mikoshiba piled the court records in the corner of his desk.
He’d resolved that his strategy would be to gather factors that would make the court sympathize with her. In such cases, it was customary to start with a thorough interview of the defendant, but this time, he intended to comb through the court records in advance.
That was because of the accused Akiko Tsuda’s character. He still couldn’t figure out if she was that way on purpose, but her speech and conduct meant gaining the jurors’ sympathy was a tall order. He balked at relying on whatever came to her mind, or out of her mouth, in court. In that case, digging something out from the material prepared by the prosecutor’s office would be more helpful.
Type A-2 Document
MAY 6, 2011
Autopsy report prepared by the Tokyo University of Medicine
Even though this was very clearly a murder, the doctor in charge had attributed the death to “11 - other or external unknown.” He or she must have proceeded cautiously because an insurance issue could arise depending on the cause of death. That part had to be taken in tandem with the autopsy finding above it.
The “3 stab wounds in right jugular area” had each been deep, and lethal. The lack of hesitation wounds was a piece of supporting evidence ruling out a suicide.
Deposition
Permanent residence: X-XX Ohashi, South Ward, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
Current residence: X-X-X Taishido, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo
Occupation: housewife; part-timer at accounting office, tel. 03-3418-XXXX
Name: Akiko Tsuda; DOB March 10, 1976 (35 years old)
Upon investigating at the station, on May 21, 2011, the murder charge against the above, who was advised beforehand
Mikoshiba had told her to speak the truth just to him. Was he kidding? There was no way she could bare her soul to such a murky character. Anyhow, he could only defend part of the case. No one could expose and defend all of it.
She didn’t mind being convicted of a killing. Spending some time behind bars was a foregone conclusion. Yet she didn’t want to stay there for too long. Her two daughters were impatiently awaiting her return, so she had to get the sentence reduced if only by a day.
Somehow or other, she had to act like she’d put all her faith in Mikoshiba. She would give him the minimal amount of information needed to get her sentence shortened. But she would have to hide the rest. She couldn’t even let him know that she was hiding something. Aknife that cut very well was a convenient thing to have, but also dangerous. Mikoshiba appeared to be that kind of a person.
Once you gave his sort an opening, you were done for. He’d chase her persistently to the end. Relentless and calculating, like a cat tormenting a mouse, he’d enjoy frightening his quarry.
She couldn’t let him catch on.
She couldn’t even let him suspect anything.
He’d maintained that he was Akiko’s only ally in the world until she left the detention center. That was for sure. But there were secrets that only an ally could pry out of her. In that regard, taking Mikoshiba’s words at face value was dangerous.
A warning began to ring through Akiko’s head. Reiji Mikoshiba was her only ally while she was in the detention center, she agreed. At the same time, he was the only enemy to be feared.
She had to be vigilant.
Vigilant
.
— 4 —
The court records were delivered to Mikoshiba’s office the day after he had met with Akiko. The timing was good. That guy Horai might have been a bit of a rogue, but in his business dealings he certainly kept his promises.
“If there are any calls for me, tell them all that I’ll call back.”
“How about visitors?”
“Unless it’s someone very unusual, tell them that I’m not in.”
Fortunately, he wasn’t scheduled to appear in court, nor did he expect any visitors. Mikoshiba piled the court records in the corner of his desk.
He’d resolved that his strategy would be to gather factors that would make the court sympathize with her. In such cases, it was customary to start with a thorough interview of the defendant, but this time, he intended to comb through the court records in advance.
That was because of the accused Akiko Tsuda’s character. He still couldn’t figure out if she was that way on purpose, but her speech and conduct meant gaining the jurors’ sympathy was a tall order. He balked at relying on whatever came to her mind, or out of her mouth, in court. In that case, digging something out from the material prepared by the prosecutor’s office would be more helpful.
Type A-2 Document
MAY 6, 2011
Autopsy report prepared by the Tokyo University of Medicine
Even though this was very clearly a murder, the doctor in charge had attributed the death to “11 - other or external unknown.” He or she must have proceeded cautiously because an insurance issue could arise depending on the cause of death. That part had to be taken in tandem with the autopsy finding above it.
The “3 stab wounds in right jugular area” had each been deep, and lethal. The lack of hesitation wounds was a piece of supporting evidence ruling out a suicide.
Deposition
Permanent residence: X-XX Ohashi, South Ward, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
Current residence: X-X-X Taishido, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo
Occupation: housewife; part-timer at accounting office, tel. 03-3418-XXXX
Name: Akiko Tsuda; DOB March 10, 1976 (35 years old)
Upon investigating at the station, on May 21, 2011, the murder charge against the above, who was advised beforehand
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