Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 457, Remotely Controlling the Madam to Solve the Case

After being reminded by Meisa Kashiwagi, Jin Kashiwagi finally realized the problem.

There's a fourth shoe print at the scene?!

According to the on-site investigation, the fourth shoe print was fresh and left the apartment from the other side. This person did not leave through the main entrance, but entered through the garbage room passage of Okada Apartment, climbed over the garbage room wall, and calmly left through the alley on the other side!

Those who frequently commit crimes in Japan know that there are very few trash cans on the streets of Japan. This is because Japan has adopted an extremely strict garbage sorting and disposal system. Different types of garbage have different disposal times and requirements. Some special types of garbage even require you to find a place to incinerate them yourself. Some particularly large items of garbage cannot be disposed of directly and require you to buy a special large item disposal sticker before someone will handle it. The price ranges from 400 yen to 1000 yen.

1000 yen is not a small amount of money for an average Japanese person; it's equivalent to the minimum wage for an hour. Therefore, many secondhand stores in Japan often sell old or slightly faulty appliances that have been used for 20 or 30 years for 1 yen.

This isn't about getting a bargain; it's about trying to save on waste disposal fees.

Okada's apartment isn't a high-end one. Unlike the tower where Uesugi Muneyuki lives, where all the trash is thrown in and the property management handles the sorting, this apartment requires residents to sort and classify their trash themselves and put it in the garbage room at different times. Then, a community street garbage truck will come to collect it.

After being reminded by Meisa Kashiwagi, Jin Kashiwagi reluctantly changed his investigative approach and, sure enough, made a new discovery!
Forensic pathologist Higashiyama Takeshi from the forensic department came over with the forensic data and said, "Inspector Kashiwagi, please look here."

He pointed to several inconspicuous corners near the back door (connecting to the garbage room) in the apartment entrance. Forensic personnel shone a special light source on them, revealing several clear and very fresh shoe prints on the ground.

"These are shoe prints left by large boots. Based on the size, the internal shoe size is approximately size 43 (28.5cm)," Takeshi Higashiyama said very cautiously.

"According to personnel records, Inspector Okada Masayoshi's shoe size is 41 (26.5cm). The difference between the two is significant."

“More importantly,” Higashiyama Takeshi pointed to the edge shape and force distribution of the shoe print, “the deep forefoot strike and slight heel drag marks are consistent with the characteristics of an adult male who is over 185cm tall, has a large stride, and moves nimbly. This is completely inconsistent with Okada Masayoshi’s height of slightly over 175cm and his limited mobility after a severe back injury (no fresh blood was found at the scene from his wound reopening due to violent movements).

"Therefore, our conclusion is that there is a very likely unknown entity at the scene that is over 185cm tall and wearing size 43 boots. Masayoshi Okada does not fit this description."

"An unknown entity?" Kashiwagi Jin gasped sharply, looking at his wife in disbelief.

Mingsha, when did you become so amazing?

As expected of my wife, Kashiwagi!

However, when Kashiwagi Jin looked at his wife with affirmation in his eyes, he could see a hint of absurd sympathy and distracted hesitation in Kashiwagi Meisa's expression. This made Kashiwagi Jin feel uncomfortable, so he could only nod affirmatively and signal Higashiyama Takeshi to continue.

"Also, we've made a discovery regarding the garbage room. Kashiwagi-san, please come with us."

The forensic team signaled to Kashiwagi Jin to follow, and Kashiwagi Meisa hesitated for a moment, gritted her teeth, and followed after him, her beautiful legs swaying in her high heels. Because she was still wearing her office uniform, it was obviously not a field police officer, and it was strange that she would appear at a crime scene.

However, as for the former face of the Metropolitan Police Department, a few years ago before Minami joined the department, all the promotional videos, posters, and headshots for the Metropolitan Police Department were filmed by Meisa Kashiwagi, and everyone knew her. Moreover, this incident also involved a police inspector's wife who was a victim, so her presence at the scene was somewhat understandable.

Kashiwa led a group of police officers toward the back door of the apartment building, which led to the garbage disposal room and a secluded fire emergency exit.

The secluded emergency exit was Okada Masayoshi's escape route, and several forensic personnel were already on standby in the garbage disposal room.

“Kashiwagi-san, look here. There are extremely subtle, non-violent signs of technical opening on the back door lock, indicating that someone recently used their lock-picking skills to directly enter the garbage room. This does not fit Okada Masayoshi’s behavior of using a key to open the door normally when he comes home.”

"And here, at the narrow window leading from the garbage room to the alley outside, there are obvious, fresh footprints and hand marks on the inside of the window sill."

Higashiyama Takeshi marveled at Kashiwagi Jin's high intelligence, thinking to himself that he truly deserved to be the Metropolitan Police Department's star inspector!

Are all the top detectives in the Metropolitan Police Department now monsters?
Why is Chief Investigator Uesugi always investigating cases like this? He always makes inferences first and then designates a place to find evidence, and every piece of evidence is perfect. Now even Kashiwagi-san is doing this?

If Kashiwagi Jinto hadn't been there, Higashiyama Takeshi would have almost thought it was Uesugi Muneyuki leading the investigation!
Yes, very similar!

Very impressive! (Referring to the detective's abilities)

This manipulation! (Referring to the techniques used to find physical evidence at the scene)
This made Higashiyama Takeshi a little smitten with Kashiwagi Jin, but unfortunately Kashiwagi Jin was a handsome Korean guy, not a cute little bear.

“We measured the height of the marks.” Takeshi Higashiyama pointed to the foothold about 1.2 meters below the windowsill: “To reach this height and easily climb over the window, the perpetrator would need to be at least 185cm tall, with exceptional arm length and core strength. Inspector Okada, at 175cm tall, with a severe back injury that had not yet healed, would have found it almost impossible to climb over so nimbly without leaving any trace of struggle or blood (the marks on the windowsill were clean, with no bloodstains or signs of extensive fabric friction).”

“The alley outside the window is a blind spot for surveillance cameras and connects to a complex old neighborhood. Therefore, the conclusion is that this fourth person at the scene, wearing size 43 shoes, carefully chose an escape route that avoids surveillance, requires specific physical conditions (height 185cm+), and professional lock-picking skills. This is completely inconsistent with Inspector Masayoshi Okada’s identity, physical condition, and normal route home.”

"So, Mr. Kashiwagi, your judgment was correct. Besides Inspector Okada, Ryosuke Koizumi, and Miki Okada, there was indeed a fourth person at the scene!" Really?!

Upon hearing Higashiyama Takeshi's explanation, Kashiwagi Jin stood still, his face turning from cold and stern to ashen, and then from ashen to somewhat pale.

Higashiyama Takeshi's clear, logical, and evidence-based analysis struck like heavy blows against his proud "perfect reasoning." Details he had selectively ignored or forcibly explained (time difference, Okada's physical injury, etc.) were now amplified and confirmed by cold scientific evidence.

Bai Muren struggled to say something, a wave of fear suddenly washing over him.

The cunning frog kept touching your belly, that's what he said!
I am absolutely certain that Masayoshi Okada is the murderer, and that's what he said!
Even though he clearly sensed some minor issues with the time difference on-site, he still forced explanations and tried to fit them!
He almost insisted on reporting that Okada was the murderer.

As an alumnus of the University of Tokyo, he had witnessed Okada Masayoshi's professional competence, moral character, and consistent diligence. If he had inadvertently wronged Okada, he himself would not have been able to forgive himself!

Mingsha! You are truly my angel!
But if Okada isn't the murderer, then who is the real murderer?
If the real murderer is the fourth person at the scene, but he didn't leave any trace of himself, only shoe prints and his height, then the case would be impossible to solve, and the suspect would be impossible to find!
However, this case cannot be delayed. The Special Investigation Headquarters is almost fully established, with the First Investigation Division and police from various departments gathering here. If the case cannot be solved as soon as possible...

Kashiwagi Jin felt overwhelmed and couldn't find any logic in his thoughts, so he subconsciously looked at Kashiwagi Meisa.

His wife had disappeared.

Strange, where did Mingsha go?

"Yes, yes."

Just as Kashiwagi Jin ordered Higashiyama Takeshi and others to conduct a thorough investigation and personally surveyed the nearby alleys, questioning passersby to examine shoe prints and search for other clues, Kashiwagi Meisa had already arrived at a secluded corner nearby and secretly raised her phone.

"Yes, Uesugi, Jin has already found out. What should we do next? You...you weren't even at the scene, how do you know so much? Could it be that you are the real murderer?" Kashiwagi Meisa was completely in awe of Uesugi Muneyuki's cunning and even a little afraid.

Strategizing within the command tent, solving cases a thousand miles away.

This is practically Zhuge Liang!
“Hehe, now is not the time to explain this to you. If I’m not mistaken, although you gave us these hints, which debunked Kashiwagi and the others’ conclusion that Okada was the murderer, the current evidence is not enough to prove that the so-called fourth person at the scene was the murderer.” Uesugi Muneyuki said calmly on the phone, “So, let’s change our approach next.”

“Go and examine the evidence at the scene. If I’m not mistaken, besides Koizumi’s skin flakes and hair, there should also be extremely tiny fiber fragments in Okada Miki’s fingernails.”

"You had Kashiwagi Jin have the forensic department and the forensic research institute conduct microscopic and spectral analysis. Those fiber fragments should belong to cheap work clothes, hooded jackets or work uniforms, which are completely inconsistent with the materials of Inspector Okada Masayoshi's clothes that day (and all his clothes at home) (mostly cotton, wool or high-grade synthetic blends)."

“Okada wouldn’t wear those kinds of clothes, so we can further rule out his suspicion.”

"Then, by analyzing the fibers with fluorescence to determine the color of the clothing, we came up with a picture of the murderer: a person over 185cm tall, strong, with some counter-surveillance skills, wearing a dark blue polyester jacket, and very likely acquainted with Mrs. Miki. Investigate in this direction! Investigate interpersonal relationships, investigate surveillance footage!"

"Go and remind Kashiwagi Jin right now!" Uesugi Muneyuki said, then immediately hung up the phone without saying anything more.

Meisa Kashiwagi was deeply shaken.

It sounds reasonable, but... how did Uesugi know that?
Could he really be an incarnation of a god?
Yes, Japan has eight million gods and Buddhas, so it seems reasonable that there are a few incarnations of deities!
So, just as Kashiwagi Jin was painfully searching for new clues, Kashiwagi Meisa suddenly reappeared.

"Mingsha, where have you been?" Bai Muren was surprised to find that his wife had finally returned.

"Ah, it's nothing, I'm going to check the evidence bag." Meisa Kashiwagi said, a little nervously, "Oh my gosh~ Jin, look at this!"

She took out her phone and showed it to Kashiwagi Jin: "Look, Jin, besides the hair and dandruff, there are some fibers under Mrs. Miki's fingernails, right? Do you think... it might have been left by the real culprit? You can't just stab someone to death with a fruit knife, can you?"

Bai Muren's eyes lit up.

That's right! A fruit knife isn't a samurai sword. Even if it pierces the chest, the victim will still struggle and resist.

Any resistance will leave a mark. The fiber fragments inside the fingernails may not necessarily be from Koizumi's or Okada's clothes; they could also be left by that fourth person!

Mingsha! You've found another blind spot!

(End of this chapter)