"I don't know what you're talking about." Fushimi Roku's face was calm.
"I'm different from other criminal police; I'm not good at finding evidence, I'm only good at faking evidence."
He removed his glasses, and his single eye was as sharp as a hawk's: "So, my case-solving rate has always stayed at one hundred percent... Do you understand what that means?"
He leaned forward, looking down at Fushimi Roku, extending a finger to poke at Fushimi Roku's chest: "Either I arrest you and you take the fall, bearing two lives on your conscience and get a heavy sentence, or you confess and only bear one life, with a reduced sentence at the court's discretion."
This is Kazama Tatsuya's usual trick; after surveying the crime scene, he would lock onto one or two primary suspects and threaten them one-on-one into confessing.
There's something quite peculiar about Japanese criminal law; a suspect's confession can be presented in court as conclusive evidence. Even if the key evidence is missing, as long as the suspect confesses, the prosecutor will turn a blind eye.
This trick never fails for Kazama Tatsuya; with his keen intuition and precise judgment, he can lock onto the suspect immediately — so far, he's rarely mistaken.
The criminal, having just committed a crime, bears a heavy psychological burden, most people will confess within ten minutes; even if they grit their teeth and resist, their expression will betray them.
Kazama Tatsuya started a mental countdown, observing Fushimi Roku, estimating how long the latter could hold out.
A moment later, Fushimi Roku extended his hands, wrists facing up.
"Go ahead." He smiled.
The room fell into silence, the only sound was the drip of the IV.
"Are you planning to confess?" Kazama Tatsuya asked.
"Why should I admit to something I didn't do?" Fushimi Roku countered.
Kazama Tatsuya was silent for a moment, sitting up straight: "Where were you when the incident happened?"
"At the hall." Fushimi Roku replied.
"What happened then?" Kazama Tatsuya asked.
"I don't remember."
"You don't remember?"
"Hmm, I don't remember." Fushimi Roku casually repeated.
"Are you planning to find some lame excuse, like claiming temporary amnesia from a concussion?" Kazama Tatsuya's tone turned aggressive.
"Who knows, maybe." Fushimi Roku's expression unchanged: "By the way, I want to call a lawyer."
"What, finally showing a guilty conscience?" Kazama Tatsuya raised an eyebrow.
"I'm calling a lawyer not to defend myself, but to sue you."
Fushimi Roku interlaced his fingers, placing them in front of his chest: "As a police officer, threatening a suspect in person violates Article 319 of Japan's Criminal Procedure Code and your claim to forge evidence to imprison me violates the Coercion to Confess crime and Abuse of Power in the Japanese Penal Code."
He extended his hand and poked Kazama Tatsuya's chest: "If I win, you might face imprisonment ranging from one to three years."
Kazama Tatsuya showed a look of disgust.
His silence lasted longer this time, his single eye seemed to pierce through Fushimi Roku's eyes, digging into Fushimi Roku's brain for the truth.
"You remind me of a very annoying guy." Kazama Tatsuya said.
"Is he as handsome as I am?" Fushimi Roku asked.
"Just as narcissistic."
Kazama Tatsuya stood up and had him leave his fingerprints on the card, then said: "Enjoy your sick leave, for the next twenty days, you won't have the chance to talk to me leisurely like this."
Fushimi Roku knew what he meant by that.
The police, in order to conduct an investigation, could detain a suspect for up to 20 days. Within that period, the police must decide whether to prosecute or release the person.
In order to make the paper data look good, some Japanese criminal police use coercion. Once you're in, the suspect has no ability to resist. There are many ways to coerce without leaving marks, such as strong light exposure, sleep deprivation, starvation and dehydration... Kazama Tatsuya has already decided that Fushimi Roku is the culprit and he will find a way to make him speak.
Indeed, the methods of Japanese criminal police in the 1990s were this brutal.
After Kazama Tatsuya left, he instructed his subordinates to keep a strict watch, not allowing anyone to visit, while also preventing the suspect from harming himself or escaping.
Minamoto Tamako followed behind him, constantly asking questions. Kazama Tatsuya did not answer, instead saying: "Go back and change your clothes first."
"But..."
"Meet me at one in the morning," Kazama Tatsuya glanced at his watch: "I'll pick you up at the school gate, consider it a practical investigation."
Minamoto Tamako was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.
Although this uncle seemed very scary, he was actually a kind-hearted man deep down!
Watanabe Shun stood behind Kazama Tatsuya, watching Minamoto Tamako run away, her figure disappearing around the corridor corner, only then did he whisper: "Boss, turns out you like this type, no wonder you never go to any gatherings..."
"I have a daughter." Kazama Tatsuya interrupted.
"Eh?! Really, the first time I've heard you say that!" Watanabe Shun was very surprised.
"Her personality is very much like my daughter's, I don't want her to go down a crooked path," Kazama Tatsuya put on his sunglasses, said from the side, "Moreover, she is the child of that lady... If others hear you gossiping in front of me, you won't keep your job."
"Which lady?" Watanabe Shun scratched his head again.
"Police Chief, Genji's, our superior's superior." Kazama Tatsuya reminded him.
"Why not just say her name directly?" Watanabe Shun asked.
Because Kazama Tatsuya also forgot what her name was, he just had a vague impression. When he went to report for duty, he had seen a mother-daughter photo on her desk, so he recognized Minamoto Tamako.
"Don't ask, knowing too much does you no good." Kazama Tatsuya said.
Watanabe Shun instantly felt a sense of awe, thinking no wonder he's the boss, always meticulous in words and actions!
The two returned to the police station, Kazama Tatsuya submitted Fushimi Roku's fingerprints. Half an hour later, the identification officer reported on-site. Kazama Tatsuya poured himself a cup of coffee, sipping while reviewing.
A moment later, his finger stiffened, he called the identification officer, pointed to a page of the report and asked: "Is this correct?"
The identification officer adjusted his glasses and said: "Definitely correct, fingerprint extraction is fundamental!"
"I know, but what does unmatched mean?" Kazama Tatsuya tapped the paper with his finger: "Neither the fingerprints of the two deceased nor the suspect's match?"
"Correct." The identification officer nodded.
"Are you sure they weren't faked?" Kazama Tatsuya asked.
"No, fake fingerprints would leave gel marks."
"Then whose fingerprints are on the gun?" Kazama Tatsuya asked again.
"How would I know?" the identification officer retorted: "Isn't finding the suspect your job?"
Kazama Tatsuya was astonished, thinking could it be that I misjudged?
No, that's impossible.
After committing the crime, the suspect used the deceased's phone to call various newspapers, which is why reporters arrived on the scene before he did;
At the same time, the scene was left with the blood-written "Heavenly Punishment," indicating the suspect had a strong psychological disposition, with some antisocial tendencies, just like that guy lying in the hospital… This kind of person is not like vegetables in a market, two lunatics in a single case couldn't possibly appear together, right?
However, the fourth set of fingerprints found on the gun is an undeniable ironclad proof.
What exactly is going on?
Kazama Tatsuya pinched his brow, falling into deep thought.