Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 49: Discussion on Closing the Building

Inspector Higurashi, 42 years old this year, is the chief of the 13th Section of the First Investigation Division of the Criminal Department of the Metropolitan Police Department, a non-professional group. His full name is Souta Higurashi. He was born in Chiba Prefecture and was admitted to the Tokyo Metropolitan Local Police Station at the age of 22. He started as a patrolman and worked his way up the ladder step by step to enter the First Investigation Division. This shows how capable he is.

In his early years, Inspector Higurashi was a workaholic, brave and resourceful. He met the current Superintendent Watanabe Eiji when he was still the chief of the First Investigation Division because of an overpass murder case. Watanabe Eiji admired the police officers of this branch very much, and used his connections to transfer him to the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters and into the First Investigation Division.

There are very few slackers among the non-professional criminal police officers who can be promoted from local police stations to the Metropolitan Police Department. Inspector Higurashi is certainly not a slacker from the local police station. After a moment of thought, a horrifying answer emerged in his mind.

Of these three possibilities, two can actually be ruled out first.

Japan's garbage recycling and classification system is very advanced. Although the Odaiba Building does not directly classify garbage, it is almost impossible to stuff an adult woman into a garbage bag and take it out of the building. First, the building's property will check the garbage bags and classify them. Secondly, when they are sent to the landfill for incineration, the landfill handling personnel will check them again.

It has been almost four days now. If it had been discovered, it would have exploded at that time.

Then they were stuffed into a large suitcase and taken out of the building.

This is not to say that it is completely impossible, but if you think about it carefully, it is extremely difficult to operate, unless Ms. Hironaka Mariko is divided into several pieces... This is even more impossible. There is no suitable place and tools at all. The Odaiba Building is not a sawmill or a slaughterhouse!

So the answer is obvious. The female anchor Mariko Hironaka did not leave the Odaiba building at all. Instead, she stayed in a corner of the Odaiba building for four full days without being captured by any surveillance.

Inspector Higurashi, who has been handling cases for twenty years, is now sweating profusely.

The situation is not good, very bad!
"Kazama!" Inspector Higurashi immediately ordered, "Take your men to the garbage dump immediately and search for all the garbage discarded from the Odaiba building from Friday to today!"

"Hey!"

"Xiaosuge!"

"To!"

"You must immediately collect all the entry and exit registers of the Odaiba building from Friday to now, and see if there are any suspicious people entering or leaving, especially those with huge boxes."

"clear."

"Notify Ms. Hironaka Mariko's family immediately!" Inspector Higurashi made a calm and serious judgment: "Also, please notify President Kameyama!"

"The Metropolitan Police Department requests that the entire Odaiba building be closed from now on!"

"What?" The head of Fuji TV's security department turned pale when he heard the request: "Inspector, can you reconsider this? Closing the building is a big deal!"

"I'm not asking for your opinion!" Inspector Higurashi gritted his teeth, "I'm informing you to ask President Kameyama to come over immediately. We want to seal off the building! Please, now. I'm watching you make the call, now!"

"The rest of you, guard all entrances and exits of the TV station and notify headquarters immediately. We need reinforcements." Inspector Higurashi gave the order calmly with his hands behind his back.

"Yes!" The surrounding suits responded loudly. One of the criminals hesitated for a few seconds and asked, "Do we need to notify the local police station?"

"Hmm..." Inspector Higurashi frowned and glanced at the time on the monitor. It was already past six in the evening and the guys from the local branch must have gone off work. If they were asked to gather at this time, they would definitely be full of complaints and resentment.

"We need to ask for assistance from the local branch!" After a moment's thought, Inspector Higurashi made the decision.

We can't just think about ourselves at this time. Our Investigation Division 1 is the last line of defense for the entire Tokyo city. If we don't do it, who else will do it?
This is the responsibility of our Investigation Division and the honor of our Metropolitan Police Department!
Inspector Higurashi adjusted the Metropolitan Police Department pin on his collar and said, "Let's start now!"

The head of the security department had no choice but to call the director of Fuji TV, President Kameyama.

After a while, President Kameyama of Fuji TV came to the security department in person. The president looked to be in his fifties, with fairly thick hair. He wore a pair of frog-shaped glasses and had some gray hair at the temples. He looked a bit like a frog.

President Kameyama came up with a very tough attitude: "Who asked for the building to be closed?"

"It's me." Inspector Higurashi felt the pressure immediately when facing the president of one of the top two private TV stations and the senior executives following behind him.

He is just a small police chief, there are at least 800 of them in the whole Tokyo, and standing opposite him are the top executives of the entire TV station, six production directors, two Fuji TV directors, one general manager and the TV station's representative director, President Kameyama.

"Absolutely impossible!" President Kameyama's answer was expected: "Are you kidding me? You want to close the entire Odaiba building just because one person is missing?"

"Which department of the Metropolitan Police Department are you from? What's your name and your police number?" The executive behind President Kameyama stepped forward.

"You guys at the Metropolitan Police Department must know what the impact of closing the building will be on our station, right? Who will compensate us for our losses?" A director of the production department also shouted, "Search, search! Are you planning to shut down the entire Odaiba because of the search?"

"That's right, give me a bit more of a search."

"Are you trying to ruin Kanto Broadcasting? Kora!"

Fuji TV shouted.

"Everyone from the Metropolitan Police Department, we are deeply sorry for the disappearance of Ms. Hironaka. I have also notified the Security Division and will try our best to cooperate with your search, but I'm sorry that we cannot agree to the request to seal off the building." President Kameyama shook his head repeatedly: "This will make the entire TV station a laughing stock in Tokyo. Since when can the police interfere with the internal operations of a TV station?"

Inspector Higurashi looked serious. He first reported his name and police number, then said in a deep voice, "President Kameyama, the Metropolitan Police Department has always respected your station. We have also cooperated on many TV dramas. Several directors should have experience in filming at Sakuradamon. Our intention to close the building is not to target your station."

After Inspector Higurashi said this, the faces of the senior executives at Fuji TV looked a little better.

"I just want to ask, if your station does not choose to close the building, then can you answer a question for this department?" Inspector Higurashi said slowly: "Where is Ms. Hironaka Mariko?"

"…………" President Kameyama's facial muscles twitched. He sniffed and said hesitantly, "Maybe she went somewhere else? Or maybe... because she's afraid of marriage? After all, tomorrow is her wedding day."

"President Kameyama, Ms. Hironaka's mother, Mrs. Hironaka, reported the case on Friday. This office also recognizes the strictness of the access control of your building." Inspector Higurashi saw President Kameyama's hesitation and continued to add: "If your company does nothing now, then this office can only think that this matter may be related to your entire company. The disappearance of a full-time employee will not only make all your employees feel insecure, but will also cause a major blow to your brand image!"

"Besides..." Inspector Higurashi thought to himself, it's just right. I met with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office this morning with my brother Uesugi. "This matter may cause the District Public Prosecutors Office to intervene because of business issues."

Every word from Inspector Higurashi hit the hearts of the senior executives of Fuji TV. Several directors, directors, and executives looked at each other in confusion. Executive Director Takamatsu whispered in President Kameyama's ear, "Kameyama, is it you?"

“How is that possible?!” President Kameyama was so angry that he pushed Managing Director Takamatsu away.

He did like Hironaka Mariko very much and often took her to social events, but he had no reason to kill her!
He is innocent!
But will these directors and bureau chiefs believe it? Will the Metropolitan Police Department believe it? Will the District Public Prosecutors Office believe it? Will the whole of Tokyo believe it?

President Kameyama began to feel the pressure.

The top executives of Fuji TV were already in a meeting to discuss this matter just now, and they really didn't know where Hironaka Mariko had gone.

The two sides confronted each other for a while, and suddenly a security guard ran in and whispered: "President, Ms. Hironaka's fiancé Shimakawa Ren and her mother Mrs. Hironaka have arrived, and the section chief is receiving them... There are some troubles." President Kameyama's face immediately wrinkled into a chrysanthemum.

Shimagawa Ren, executive director of Tokyo Ota Real Estate Company and Hironaka Mariko's fiancé, got engaged last year and the wedding date is tomorrow.

Things are becoming more and more troublesome. If he cannot clear his suspicion as soon as possible and create some urban legend of "Fuji TV Curse", it is not known whether Fuji TV will be destroyed or not, but Kameyama will definitely be destroyed!
But closing the building is an absolute big deal. Even if the Odaiba Building is closed in the late night, it will still attract the attention of the entire Kanto Broadcasting Region!

But if this isn't over soon...

"We need to convene an extraordinary board meeting to discuss this matter." President Kameyama discussed with several directors and directors and gave an uncertain answer.

"Please do it as soon as possible." Inspector Higurashi breathed a sigh of relief when he knew that Fuji TV's attitude had softened.

"Also, you are not qualified to talk to me." President Kameyama said softly and then hard, raising his chin: "Go report to the Metropolitan Police Department and ask the Metropolitan Police Department to call me!"

"Of course." Compared with President Kameyama, Inspector Higurashi's status is naturally nothing.

After stabilizing the situation at the Metropolitan Police Department a little, the top executives of Fuji TV sat together again in a hurry to discuss what to do.

The senior executives checked again and confirmed that no one knew where Hironaka Mariko had gone, especially President Kameyama. Faced with the distrustful looks of the directors and subordinates, Kameyama's head was about to explode.

He really didn't know, but no one believed it!
Fuji TV really doesn’t know either, but the Metropolitan Police Department, the District Public Prosecutors Office, the family members, and even the entire Tokyo city won’t believe it!

President Kameyama had a ferocious look on his face. He stamped his feet hard and looked at everyone around him in confusion.

Finding it is a bad thing, and not finding it is also a bad thing.

Can the world ever be better? Is there nothing good in it?

"President, why don't you turn yourself in?" a director whispered.

"It has nothing to do with me! It really has nothing to do with me, you idiots!" President Kameyama was so angry that he lost his composure: "I don't know, I really don't know!"

"But you..." The senior executives all looked at President Kameyama with suspicion.

The director who made the suggestion said, "We can't really let the Metropolitan Police Department come in to investigate, right? What if they really find out something?"

"No, we can't seal off the building!" Another director of the production bureau also shook his head: "Besides other things, there are many private invoices in the warehouses of the major production bureaus. If we attract the local inspection, it will not be worth it."

"But how can we prove our innocence if we don't seal the building?" An older director disagreed: "So, where did Hongzhong go? If we don't investigate it thoroughly, the Odaiba building will become a haunted building! Are you planning to destroy our Fujitai?"

"This incident has a very bad impact. If our station refuses the Metropolitan Police Department's investigation again, it would be tantamount to admitting that we have a problem! What if we offend the local prosecutors?"

The top executives held different opinions and the debate was inconclusive.

"President." At this moment, a production director of the station suddenly had an idea. His name was Abiru Kazuhiko, one of the top executives of the station, and he had always been close to Kameyama: "Let's start live broadcasting."

"What?" President Kameyama didn't understand for a moment.

"It seems that things have come to this point. Whether the building is closed or not, our station will definitely be affected." Director Abiru said to the senior executives present: "The most important thing now is to prove our innocence in this matter. Hongzhong's disappearance has nothing to do with our station. Otherwise, this will be the most fatal blow to our image and reputation!"

Everyone present couldn't help but nod.

"So, you think we should close the building?" President Kameyama frowned.

"That's right, we should seal off the building and agree to the Metropolitan Police Department's request." Chief Abiru continued, "But... we request that our station broadcast live while the building is sealed off!"

Health broadcast? !

Without waiting for anyone to respond, Chief Abiru motioned for everyone to listen to him first. "The situation of sealing off the building is extremely bad. Everyone, I am sure that if we choose to seal off the building, other commercial broadcasters and NHK news vehicles will immediately stop at Odaiba Park to start live broadcasts. Reporters from dozens of newspapers in Tokyo will all rush here upon hearing the news. In addition, the Metropolitan Police Department has already filed a case, and the family members have also rushed here. We will not be able to hide it no matter what!"

The top executives of Fuji TV were all very nervous, but they all nodded.

"So, sealing off the building is bad, and not sealing off the building is also bad. We might as well agree to seal off the building as a condition and ask the Metropolitan Police Department to allow our station to broadcast this incident live!"

"Other TV stations are outside the building and can't get in. All viewers and reporters want to know what happened and want to know the first-hand news. Now is a great time to start live broadcasting! President, we can broadcast live directly inside the station. Moreover, Hironaka Mariko is also the female anchor of our station. Her background file, family and fiancé are all inside the station."

Director Abiru became more and more excited as he spoke: "We at Fuji TV will broadcast footage that other stations cannot broadcast, and we at Fuji TV will provide first-hand information that other reporters cannot get in our live broadcasts. This will become one of the live broadcasts with the highest ratings this year, and even in the history of Fuji TV!"

"Moreover, most importantly, the live broadcast of the entire process can prove our station's innocence! Prove that our station really knew nothing about this matter! We can also follow the Metropolitan Police Department's investigation throughout the process to avoid involving more things and prevent the Metropolitan Police Department from secretly using other detective methods."

"Yes!" President Kameyama also reacted.

The situation is irreversible and the only choice is between bad and worse.

The head of the security department had already reminded Kameyama that given the strict surveillance at the entrances and exits of Odaiba buildings, Ms. Hironaka might be in danger.

Seal off the building, seal off the building! Don't you see where this place is? We are the top two TV stations among the five major private TV stations. Even if the Odaiba building is closed in the middle of the night, it is a huge event that can make national headlines and cause a local sensation.

You just lost a relative, but we at Fuji TV lost the reputation of the entire company!
What we need to do most now is to recycle waste, squeeze out all the residual value of the building closure incident and Ms. Hironaka, and prove that Fuji TV is indeed not involved in the case, which can be said to kill two birds with one stone!
“That’s it!” President Kameyama slammed the table and said, “Takamatsu, you go contact the Metropolitan Police Department. Abiru, you go prepare for the live broadcast. I’ll notify Dentsu and Hakuhodo. Also, make sure to notify the insurance company!”

"Yes!"

After half an hour of urgent discussion, the top management of Fuji TV finally made a decision.

Agree with the Metropolitan Police Department's request to seal off the Odaiba building.

At the same time, Fuji TV's request was also conveyed to Sakuradamon.

They demanded that the entire search process be broadcast live!
Fuji TV, the Metropolitan Police Department, Dentsu, Hakuhodo, and representatives from Nippon Life Insurance Company who received the short notice will hold an emergency meeting on what happened today.

　Fuji TV's dramas have been terrible in recent years

　　
　
(End of this chapter)