Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Vol. 131, No. 5. Whole No. 801, May 2008

To Ioka, who approached with a stiff expression, Kaise whispered, “The IDs are on the grounds of U Station.”

“What?”

“I want to ask you to search for them. In the hedges. The parking lot. The garage. Make a full search.”

Out of the corner of his eyes Ioka glanced toward Section Chief Kosuga. Kosuga was looking in Kaise’s direction. Kaise pulled Ioka toward him.

“No matter what happens, I’ll be leaving in the spring. It’s my last request. Please do as I ask.”

“But, but, Superintendent...” Ioka’s face was distorted. He was not a bad human being. He was just timid.

“Will you do it for me?”

“I understand. I’ll go.” Ioka flew out of the section room.

Twelve-fifteen... Thirty... Forty-five.

Nothing from Ioka yet...!

Department Head Kamoike walked into the section room. The press announcement was to be in fifteen minutes.

It won’t be in time! Kaise grabbed the telephone receiver roughly.

He called U Station’s internal line. — Owada’s desk...

Yamazaki Tomoyo’s bright voice came on the line. She said — Owada had gone to lunch.

“Crap!”

Kamoike glared at Kaise as he slammed the receiver down.

“I’m off to wipe up after your mess.”

It’s no good.

Kamoike turned his back on Kaise. It was then that the telephone rang. He snatched the phone. It was Ioka’s voice.

“I found them! Behind the garage!”

Kaise stood up and shouted toward the section-room door. “Wait on the announcement! The IDs have been found!”

The section room broke out in an uproar. Kamoike and Kosuga stood, shocked looks on their faces.

Kaise yelled into the receiver, “Ioka, how many IDs are there?”

“I’m counting them. Let’s see, twenty-six, twenty-seven, twenty-eight... There are twenty-eight!”

Twenty-eight?

“Count them again.”

“There’s no mistake. Twenty-eight. There are two missing.”

“Whose are missing?”

“Um, Police Affairs Section Police Sergeant — Owada’s... and Police Affairs Section Police Officer Kamiya’s IDs.”

Kamiya’s ID...? Kaise’s strength drained from him. He dropped into his seat and leaned back. Why...?

The section room was in turmoil. The press conference on the theft of the IDs was hastily replaced with an announcement of new police jackets. The young section staffer and female officer who were just now chosen to be models pulled on the prototype jackets and rushed out the door.

It was after the commotion was over that Kaise at last arrived at a conclusion. He wondered if it was what had actually transpired. He still couldn’t believe it.

So that was it.

It had been officer Kamiya who had lost his ID. Receiving this report, — Owada had committed the theft to hide this fact. He had covered up for the younger man. The penalty for losing one’s police ID was heavy. It would affect Kamiya in the future. It might even block his promotions...

He had covered for his subordinate.

That wasn’t all, though. — Owada wouldn’t stain his hands with a crime for such a simplistic motive. Most likely, — Owada’s inner feelings complicated the situation.

— Owada had said, “Your father was a fine man, but you’ve become a fine police officer just like him.”

His own three sons had chosen other paths in life. — Owada must have wanted them to follow in his footsteps. Hadn’t he wished for sons who would take their father’s way of life as their model and follow him?

He had placed his unfulfilled dream on Kamiya, who had just begun his way in the police force. On that fresh, young police officer.

“Season of the devil”... that was the only explanation.

Kaise still had a hard time believing it.

But the fact that it was twenty-eight IDs that were returned told Kaise it was — Owada’s crime after all. If it was only Kamiya’s ID that wasn’t returned, he would be the one under scrutiny. That was why — Owada got rid of his own ID as well. With the discovery of hatred toward the “Army Sergeant,” Internal Investigations wouldn’t be able to see through to the core of the case.

It would remain an unsolved case. Along with — Owada’s retirement...

Telling Kosuga that he was going to the hospital, Kaise left the Headquarters building.

He drove toward the highway. Just as he was about to leave the city, he felt his mobile phone vibrating in his chest pocket. Kaise slid his car into the gasoline stand at the corner.

“Dear, he seems fine. He had a bit of anemia.” The tone of Aiko’s voice was like a song. He had forgotten what her true voice was like.

“Really?”

“He’s sleeping in his bed now. He was awake when I came. When he saw me, he said, ‘Yah.’”

“Oh, that, it means he’s happy.”

“You knew that?”

“You knew that, too?”

“Of course, from a long time ago.”

“Really...”

“I’ll come from now on. I’ve become friendly with the nurse.”

He thought of Yagi Akane’s bright, smiling face.