[Short Mystery Novel] The Funeral of the Flowering Peach ④

Chapter 4

Did you really check properly?

Shoko tried to question Detective Akitsu, but for some reason, she had a strange conviction that there could be no mistake in his investigation.
Shoko asked.
Is there anyone in the Tsuji family who is about the same age as Mr. Okano?
Thirty-one years ago, a boy named Takanao Tsuji was born. He is the same age as Mr. Okano, but he is unrelated, right?
Takanao, is it? What characters are used for that?

Shoko added the name Takanao Tsuji to the list of people involved in the investigation file.
Seeing it lined up next to the current name of the neighbor, Mrs. Okano, Kikue Okano, Shoko was startled.
Akitsu, go to that Tsuji family and ask about Takanao. What kind of person he was...
The thing is, the Tsuji family itself no longer exists. Takanao is missing, and the Tsuji couple, his parents, have already passed away.
Shoko's flash of inspiration took the form of a suspicion and grew even larger.
Then, anyone will do. Find someone who knew Takanao. Especially, ask about how he was raised by his parents.

As soon as the instructions to Detective Akitsu were finished, the sound of a car engine could be heard.
But it was not Mrs. Okano's car; it was a delivery truck.
The delivery person who got out mistook Shoko for a resident and called out, "Delivery service."
Shoko showed her police badge, explained the situation, and asked what had been delivered.
Uh... it's this. Is it okay to leave it at the door?
The delivery person took a large box out of the truck and carried it to the entrance.
Shoko checked the contents of the package on the label and her shoulders slumped.

It was likely the worst-case scenario.
She had to time it with Mrs. Okano's return and neutralize her movements.

Shoko hid in the hedge of a house on a corner a little way from the Okano residence and waited for the lady's return.
While waiting, an email arrived from Detective Akitsu with information about Takanao Tsuji.
I knew it...
The answer she was looking for was not explicitly written, but she had grasped enough clues to lead to it.

Before long, the lady's car returned, and as it entered the garden, Shoko began to move.
Just as the lady, carrying the package, opened the front door to go inside, Shoko called out to her.
Takanao.
Mrs. Okano, who had gasped and turned around, had her eyes widened in surprise.

I understand everything about the situation. Please let me see Emi-chan.

Mrs. Okano looked distraught and disappeared into the house quickly without even closing the door.
Mrs. Okano!

Sensing danger, Shoko followed the lady through the entrance and went straight to the living room.
If her deduction was correct, Emi should be there too.

When she burst into the living room, sure enough, Mrs. Okano was standing in front of the Hina dolls, facing her.

With the tip of the kitchen knife she held pointed toward Shoko.

To be continued