Chapter 1042 - 1042: One Step Ahead

Tachibana studies Ryoma's expression in silence, carefully searching his face for any sign that he is making this up. He takes his time, seemingly weighing the sincerity behind every word before finally speaking.

"How much of that night can you remember now?"

"Everything," Ryoma answers. "That's why I'm willing to make this confession now. I know for certain that I didn't kill Muneyaki."

Tachibana gives a faint, skeptical scoff. "You're not thinking this statement alone is enough to clear you of suspicion, are you?"

"I'm not that naive, Detective," Ryoma says. "If anything, this confession makes things more difficult for me. To be honest, I did intend to beat up Muneyaki that night. I believed someone had hired him to hurt me, and I wanted to force him to reveal who was behind it. That's all."

Tachibana smiles. "Now you're giving me a motive that you did intend to do something to him."

"But before I could reach his apartment, I ran into Iuliano on the stairs," Ryoma says. "I immediately gave chase, but eventually stopped."

"Why?"

"Considering my condition, it would have been too dangerous. But I became even more convinced that Muneyaki was connected to the mafia, so I hurried back to his apartment. When I reached the door, I found him hanging lifeless inside."

"And then you just left?" Tachibana asks, looking skeptical. "Like a murderer would?"

"Then what did you expect me to do?" Ryoma replies. "Call the police and become the prime suspect? When I clearly had a motive? When I was alone at the scene? Who would have defended me if I'd reported it?"

Tachibana lets out a short chuckle. "So what's different now?"

"Now, I have no doubts about what happened," Ryoma says. "I clearly remember that I never entered that apartment at all. So even if I remain a suspect, I believe you still won't be able to prove me guilty. But at the very least, I want you to look into the other suspects. I hope you can catch the real killer and clear my name in the process."

Tachibana smiles. "So you're trying to divert my attention with nothing more than a sketch of a man whose very existence I can't even verify?"

Hayakawa cuts in. "Actually, I saw that man in London."

He pulls the binder a little closer and examines the sketch more carefully.

"Yes, he was there during the purse bid."

"I can tell you who he works for," Ryoma adds. "Dmitri Sergeyevich Erzhanov. As for the motive, it's not that different from the Hugo Ramirez case. Whether you choose to pursue this lead is up to you. But if you'd rather keep your eyes on me, go ahead. You'll only be wasting your time. You still won't be able to prove that I killed Muneyaki."

Tachibana studies Ryoma with a measured expression, while Shibata glances down at the sketch in the open binder. Neither man appears ready to accept Ryoma's account at face value, but neither dismisses it outright.

"Is there anything else?" Tachibana finally asks.

"No. That's all I came here to tell you," Ryoma replies. "I'm still concerned that someone is trying to kill me. I want this case resolved before they get another chance."

Tachibana leans back in his chair. "I understand your concern, but you should know that this won't be nearly as simple as you seem to think."

He then gestures toward the binder. "We have a murder with limited evidence, a suspect who may have ties to organized crime, and a lead that takes us beyond Japan's borders. Even if I accept your account, that doesn't mean I can immediately start chasing someone in another country based on a sketch and your suspicions."

"I'm not asking you to take my word for everything," Ryoma replies.

"Good. Because I can't afford to." Tachibana's tone remains matter-of-fact. "Your information gives me something to consider, but I have no guarantee that this Iuliano is connected to Muneyaki's murder, let alone that Erzhanov had anything to do with it. Establishing those connections will take evidence we don't currently have."

He pauses, then adds bluntly, "So I'm not going to promise that I'll pursue this lead the way you want me to. There are too many uncertainties, and I have to consider where the evidence actually takes us."

Ryoma gives a small nod. "That's your decision, Detective. I've told you what I know. What you do with it is up to you."

The meeting soon comes to an end. Tachibana and Shibata escort Ryoma and Hayakawa only as far as the office door, then watch the two men walk away down the corridor. Neither speaks until the pair has moved some distance away, their figures gradually disappearing around the corner.

"Do you think he was telling the truth, or was he just making the whole thing up?" Shibata asks.

Tachibana exhales and shrugs. "I don't know. He's far too good at manipulating people. We've both seen how he helped us interrogate those two criminals. He knows exactly what to say and how to say it. As for how much of what he told us today was the truth, I'm not sure I can judge that either."

Shibata gives him a sideways glance. "That's the first time I've heard you sound so defeated when talking about someone."

Tachibana shoots him an unimpressed look. "I'm being realistic."

"Sure, sure." Shibata grins. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Detective."

Meanwhile, Ryoma and Hayakawa make their way toward the elevator. Neither says much along the way, having kept their thoughts to themselves since leaving Tachibana's office.

Once they're inside the elevator and the doors slide shut, Hayakawa glances at Ryoma with a weary sigh.

"You certainly gave Tachibana a lot to think about," he remarks.

Ryoma glances at him. "I gave him information he didn't have before. What he does with it is up to him."

"That's not what I'm talking about." Hayakawa turns to face him. "You practically told him he could investigate you all he wanted and still get nowhere."

"Because I know I didn't kill Muneyaki."

"And you're absolutely certain of that now?"

"I already told you. I remember what happened."

"I'm not asking what you told Tachibana." Hayakawa's voice remains calm. "I'm asking you."

"Yes. I'm certain."

Hayakawa doesn't press him further, but neither does he look entirely convinced.

The elevator doors slide open at the lobby, and Ryoma and Hayakawa step out before heading toward the parking lot.

As they approach their car, Ryoma catches sight of Reika's Lexus passing through another section.

Ryoma stops beside his own car but makes no move to get in. Instead, he waits outside, keeping an eye on the direction the Lexus went.

Hayakawa notices as well but says nothing, simply waiting for Ryoma beside the car door.

A moment later, Reika gets out of her Lexus and walks away from it. As she happens to head in Ryoma's direction, her gaze falls on him.

She freezes the moment their eyes meet. For an instant, she can only stare at him.

"Ryoma... What are you doing here?"

Ryoma gives her a faint smile. "That's an interesting question, coming from you. What brings you to the police station, Reika?"

Her expression twists with contempt as she strides past him in a hurry.

"Obviously, I'm here to report you," she says.

"Good luck with that," Ryoma replies.

***

Not long after Ryoma leaves, Tachibana and Shibata are surprised to see Reika arrive at the office.

"Detective-san, I'm here to report Ryoma Takeda," she declares. "He's the one who killed Hayashida Muneyaki."

Both officers pause. After spending the past several minutes listening to Ryoma explain his connection to Muneyaki's murder, they now have someone else showing up to accuse him of the very same crime.

Tachibana studies her for a moment before gesturing for her to sit.

"Did you witness the murder?"

Reika hesitates. "No, but…"

"Did Ryoma ever confess to you that he killed Muneyaki?"

"No, but I know…"

"Were you at the apartment that night?"

"I drove him to the block where it happened."

"And did you see him enter the apartment?"

"No, but I know what kind of person he is!" Reika insists. "He's dangerous, a deranged psychopath capable of killing someone. You can't possibly trust anything he says!"

Tachibana remains unmoved. "Then what exactly are you reporting to us? Something you witnessed, or your own suspicions about him?"

Reika's expression stiffens. She has no evidence, no firsthand knowledge of what happened inside the apartment, and nothing to offer beyond her conviction that Ryoma is guilty.

"Look," Tachibana says flatly, "regarding his presence at the scene, his motive, and the circumstances surrounding that night are already known to us. Ryoma has told us about them himself. He also understands that his actions make him a potential suspect."

He pauses, his gaze steady. "If you have any new information about the murder, I'm willing to hear it. But I won't treat your personal judgment of him as evidence."

Reika falls silent, her anger barely contained. She came here expecting to expose Ryoma, only to discover that the information she intended to use against him has already been brought to the police by Ryoma himself.