Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner
Chapter 76: Losing the Gun

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Losing the Gun

Yamaguchi Takashi received the order with a sullen face.

But since the chief wants it investigated, they have to look into it, even if it’s not a homicide. At least the case report needs to be presentable. Yamaguchi Takashi called for the clerk to adjust the records, had his subordinates fill out forms, and started slowly writing the "Criminal Case Filing Report," which would later require the chief’s signature for approval.

Minamoto Tamako sat to one side, urging him to go on the scene first and complete the report later.

The criminal police in Japan have the authority to conduct emergency investigations without formally filing a case, such as temporary investigations under reasonable suspicion, post-arrest investigations of flagrant offenders, and supplementary investigations following emergency arrests... The apartment case belonged to the first category, so her request was reasonable and not against the rules.

But Yamaguchi Takashi was determined to slack off. He chastised Minamoto Tamako to know her place and lectured, "You are here to assist in the investigation. Do you understand what collaborative investigation means? There is only one head in the investigation department, I am the chief investigator, and I decide how the case is handled!"

Minamoto Tamako was at a loss, watching helplessly as Yamaguchi Takashi delayed until the chief got off work and went home, only then submitting the case filing report to the chief’s assistant.

To appear diligent, Yamaguchi Takashi volunteered to work overtime in the investigation department, letting the other members go home first. In reality, he wanted to sleep behind closed doors, earning double overtime pay while gaining some points for hard work in the eyes of the leadership.

Even so, Minamoto Tamako had no intention of going back. She sat in the corridor outside the investigation department all night, just to set out immediately in the morning. Moriyama Yasurou advised her to go back to the dormitory to rest, to conserve energy for tomorrow’s case work.

"I have a bad feeling."

Minamoto Tamako hugged her knees, resting her chin in her arms: "That child is still missing, and if we don’t act quickly..."

Moriyama Yasurou thought about how much time had passed, knowing that in cases of malignant kidnapping, once the golden 24 hours have elapsed, the chance of the victim surviving is almost zero. Just a few days ago, there was a case of a young girl’s corpse being found; who knows if it was that child...

She wanted to comfort Minamoto Tamako, saying that maybe the hostage was already dead? But she found the words too cruel. Recalling her first kidnapping case investigation, she spent night after night unable to sleep. The victim was suffering, and she, as a police officer, couldn’t do anything about it. It was a terrible feeling.

"I’ll wait with you."

Moriyama Yasurou sat beside her, silent for a while, then couldn’t help but move closer: "If you feel cold at night, you can sleep in my arms."

"Ah? This, this... would that be alright? Won’t it trouble you?"

"No problem." Moriyama Yasurou succinctly maintained the dignity of a superior in front of her subordinate.

"I’d better not... thank you, chief..."

"Hmm."

Moriyama Yasurou fell silent again.

The two sat shoulder to shoulder in the corridor for the entire night.

Early the next morning, as soon as the chief stepped into the police station, the two presented the case filing report for his signature. Out of respect for the Police Chief, the chief didn’t waste words, swiftly signing and stamping it.

This left Yamaguchi Takashi with no excuse to delay. He yawned, first reporting last night’s overtime progress to the leadership; then he criticized his subordinates for being lazy, urging them to follow his example of diligent work, all while taking a sandwich breakfast from a subordinate’s desk; finally, he got down to business, leading his team on the scene.

After getting into the police car, Yamaguchi Takashi tore open the sandwich wrapping and took a bite. He was about to light up when his assistant in the passenger seat said, "Um, boss, aren’t you bringing your gun?"

Yamaguchi Takashi wondered what nonsense this guy was talking about. He had been pulling all-nighters the past few days, with no time to return his police gun at night. Each time he entered the equipment room, he’d have to register, which was terribly annoying. So, he always kept his police gun in the vehicle’s gun cabinet... He looked down, and his heart sank as he almost crushed the sandwich in his hand.

The gun cabinet was open, and it was empty.

Yamaguchi Takashi was about to ask where the gun was, but seeing the assistant looking at him expectantly, he swallowed his words along with the sandwich.

"Wait here."

Yamaguchi Takashi tossed the sandwich aside and ran back to the police station. He checked the registration sheet in the equipment room, confirming he hadn’t returned the police gun, and his heart went cold.

It must have been stolen!

With a grim expression, Yamaguchi Takashi kicked a trash can in frustration. He went to the restroom to wash his face, forcing himself to calm down temporarily. He knew everyone in this area; only a naïve newbie would steal a police gun. As long as no trouble was caused, there was still a chance to find the gun.

After considering this, he put on a nonchalant face in the mirror and slowly walked back to the police car.

The assistant glanced at his gun holster, hesitating to speak. Yamaguchi Takashi explained, "Just went to the restroom. For small cases like this, there’s no need for a gun."

"Oh."

The assistant subconsciously thought of rectal animals, the kinds that eat and defecate simultaneously, like birds or worms.

Yamaguchi Takashi turned the car key, started the engine, and pressed the accelerator. Two police cars left the parking lot, with the trailing car using the radio to contact Yamaguchi Takashi, reporting that a resident had lodged a complaint about a serious incident at Sugamo Apartment. Yamaguchi Takashi was preoccupied with the missing gun, not taking it seriously: "We’re heading there anyway; we’ll deal with it then."

A dozen minutes later, they arrived at the mouth of the alley.

Even before getting out of the car, they saw a crowd gathered below the apartment building. Office workers were looking with their briefcases in hand, punk men were shouting something, and from time to time there were exclamations from the third floor.

Seeing the commotion, Yamaguchi Takashi knew something big had happened. He didn’t have time to slack off, instructing his assistant to call for the closest patrol police to help disperse the crowd. The assistant made several calls, only to find that the Sugamo Station front Patrol House was empty.

Chief Moriyama Yasurou and Minamoto Tamako were in the police car behind, and were now out, proactively pulling up the cordon; Watanabe Shun was currently detained, and Kazama Tatsuya was negotiating with the Prosecutor on his behalf; the only remaining patrol officer, Fushimi Roku, was currently suspended... Who knows what he’s up to.

"Then call patrol police from other stations!"

Yamaguchi Takashi roared in anger. Just as he pushed open the car door, a thug threw a can of coffee at him from a distance. He dodged to the side as the coffee splattered on the seat, and the thug shouted, "The idiot is here! The idiot is here!"

The Sugamo District erupted into a frenzy, with punk men shouting wildly as if they were high, a crowd of Bosozoku and Yakuza approaching from the end of the street.

Yamaguchi Takashi had a hunch that this would be the biggest case of his life. It might even turn into a district riot. He hurried, exhorting residents to disperse, calling for reinforcements via radio, and then led his subordinates into the apartment building.

The corridor reeked of blood, with bloody footprints everywhere. Yamaguchi Takashi instinctively wanted to draw his gun but found an empty holster, forcing himself to press on upstairs to the crime scene.

The lights flickered, and camera shutters clicked. Turning the corner, Yamaguchi Takashi saw a dozen corpses lying in the corridor, with blood pooled around. Two Yakuza in suits were taking photographs of a wall. Glancing at the wall, he saw two large characters painted in blood.

—— "Heavenly Punishment."

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