HA3 3.2 – Grudge
After his talk with Naoto, Shorimachi went straight to 2nd Investigation Division. Everything was calm as usual. Everyone was busy with their own work. With casual steps Shorimachi passed one desk after another. Until finally, he saw a young woman sat in one of cubicles in front of his desk with ramrod straight back.
Shorimachi had a hunch about the young woman’s identity. His partner retired a few days ago right after the two solved a fraud case, and Chief Kondo said his replacement would come this week.
As soon as he arrived before the young woman, Shorimachi confirmed his hunch, “Are you my new partner?”
“Yes, Senior Shorimachi.” The young woman replied while got up to her feet and gave Shorimachi a light bow. “My name is Takayuki Hayami. I graduated from detective academy two weeks ago.”
Shorimachi nodded as he sat in his desk. Then, he signaled Takayuki to sit in front of him while asked her, “Any specific reason why you choose Financial Fraud Team C?”
“Honestly, it’s not my decision,” Takayuki replied before sitting in front of Shorimachi.
“I see.”
Shorimachi then opened the binder file in his table. As he had guessed, the binder file contained Takayuki’s profile. It’s just that, the more he read it the bigger question mark in his mind grew.
Takayuki graduated from National Police Academy with second highest score in the history of the academy. This achievement was more than enough to give her a ticket to enter Nikko Federal Police, went through federal agent course and became junior field agent.
Yet, she chose to join Nichiko Metro Police and spent the first two years of her law enforcement carrier by patrolling the street, and she produced a good record but once again she didn’t use it to enter National Federal Police. She chose to attend detective academy and returned to Nichiko Metro Police.
Most of all, she didn’t file a protest when she was being assigned to 2nd Investigation Division even though she clearly applied for Violence Crime Team A in 1st Investigation Division. After reading Takayuki’s profile one more time Shorimachi turned his gaze to her.
“You have good chance to enter federal police, two times at least, but you chose to go to Nichiko Metro. It’s big metropolitan police for sure, but it’s still just prefectural police department,” Shorimachi calmly said. “Why?”
“I want to handle violence crime in metropolitan city. I can’t do that if I join NFP. They put their focus on bigger issue.”
Shorimachi nodded and asked another question, “Is that the reason why you chose street duty as your first assignment?”
“Yes, street duty will give me lot of understanding about public current and dynamics in metropolitan city, which tightly related to violence crime.”
“But now, they send you to 2nd Investigation Division. We handle only white collar crime here, far from street. I hope it don’t break your heart and turn you into a lazy bum.”
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“I won’t become a lazy bum, and will carry my duty to my utmost,” Takayuki said as determination flashed in her eyes.
“Why?”
“Because Senior Shorimachi also doesn’t turn into a lazy bum after being transferred to 2nd Investigation Division.”
“So, you have heard about my story.”
“Yes, Chief Kondo told me about it.”
“What else he told you?”
“If in two years I can absorb your knowledge and investigation craft, Commissioner Yamagishi will give me whatever slot I want in 1st Investigation Division.”
“I see.”
“Chief Kondo also said that right now you are carrying an important parallel investigation, and he asked me to sign a document that forbids me to leak any information about it.”
In an instant Shorimachi realized that someone in high position was grooming Takayuki. She was National Police Academy top graduate, hardworking, determined, and willing to build the foundation for her law enforcement carrier from grassroots. Bigwigs in NFP loved this kind of folk. It was impossible they would ignore her.
The parallel investigation would give her lot of valuable experience. At the same time, if it went wrong and caused a huge mess, a trouble maker like him would become perfect scapegoat.
‘What a nasty people,’ Shorimachi muttered before looking at Takayuki straight in the eyes and asked, “What is your parent job?”
“They run a small street stall. My older brother helps them.”
“Is someone from your family has high position in the administration or law enforcement field?”
“No, we are just ordinary family.”
“I see.” After pondering for a moment Shorimachi firmly decided. “You already know about the parallel investigation. I will carry it with you, and I will teach you every investigation craft I know.”
“I will do my best,” Takayuki firmly replied.
“Help me and follow my instruction as best as you can, and I will fully take the blame if it goes south.”
“Understood.”
“Good. Now, let’s check some crime scene.”
“Hai.” Takayuki replied before checking the empty cubicles in front of Shorimachi’s desk one by one. “What about the other member of the team?”
“We don’t have any.”
“Huh?”
“Financial Fraud Team C consists only of two detectives, me and my partner,” Shorimachi said as he got up. “And now, you take over my partner’s place.”
Takayuki nodded and replied, “I see.”
Wasting no time the two then went to motor pool and took a black Lan Evo 6.
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While Shorimachi drove the Lan Evo, Takayuki sat next to him and busy studied the investigation report from NFP, and the more she read it the bigger her curiosity grew.
“The incident in Lake Hibino’s water tunnel, the ambush of Toruma’s money collector, the assassination of Maeda the Fox, the night raid on Villa Tigera, the assassination of Takeshi Torumada, and the raid on Kamui’s office,” Takayuki said as she put down the tablet in her hand into her lap. “If all these incidents are truly a work from mafia family that tried to establish total domination, then the chance that bigger incident and even total war will occur is very high, and no one know how it will affect public order if it go out of control. No wonder it makes NFP so nervous.”
“Well, that’s the deduction from NFP analyst and pretty solid one,” Shorimachi casually said as he took the Lan Evo to enter Highway 11. “However, even if they are the best crime analyst in the country, it doesn’t mean they will always produce correct deduction.”
“The parallel investigation we do, is it to support their deduction?” Takayuki curiously asked.
“No, the Violence Crime Team A from 1st Division will carry their investigation based on NFP’s official deduction,” Shorimachi calmly said. “As for us, we will use the off the record version.”
“I see.”
“Now, based on your experience on the street, tell me what you know about Toruma Mafia.”
“Before the raid in Villa Tigera, they are the third strongest mafia in Nikko,” Takayuki calmly replied. “Now, after they lost their tactical asset, they are only the sixth strongest in the country and that’s why they try their best to lay low.”
“A single night raid has crippled Toruma’s strength to such extent. Not to mention, it was being carried out without firing a single bullet,” Shorimachi said as he took the Lan Evo to exit Highway 11 and entered the only road to Villa Tigera. “Can you imagine what kind of crew that capable such feat?”
“I can’t,” Takayuki replied in low voice.
“Agent Goto and Takuya, our contacts in NFP are contra-intelligence folk. They consider a possibility that Villa Tigera raid and the other incidents are part of black ops operation.” After a short pause Shorimachi added, “And the main objective of our investigation is to help them find out how high this possibility.”
“Senior Shorimachi,” Takayuki said in a drop dead serious tone. “Investigating a black ops unit is way above our pay grade.”
“I know, but we don’t under the burden to solve this case. We can carry our investigation one step at a time and see how far we can go,” Shorimachi said as he parked the Lan Evo in front of Villa Tigera’s remains. “Most of all, our investigation maybe will help me find a vital clue on how to destroy Toruma Mafia for good.”
“So, you agree to carry this investigation because of your grudge to Toruma Mafia.”
“I think my grudge to Toruma Mafia is the reason why the NFP dudes chose me,” Shorimachi calmly said. “I have the motive to dig as deep as I can.”
“I see.” As determination flashed in her eyes Takayuki said, “I will do my best to help you.”
“Thank you,” Shorimachi genuinely said.
A moment later, the two got out of the Lan Evo.
*****