Chapter2 5.Saturday March 2, 2019
Maruta thought I had made it all up at once. To take a break, he sipped coffee, which was now completely the same temperature as the room. Then he looked at the timid man in front of him with a pensive glance.
Kira seemed to be ruminating in his own way about the information he had acquired so far, his arms crossed and his gaze drifting off into the air. While Maruta pondered for a moment whether he should go a little further, Kira unexpectedly made the first move this time.
"Maruta-san, earlier, you asked me if a locked room could be 'established' in a boarded-up house. I am beginning to wonder if a locked room would be viable if the house burns down."
Surprisingly, this man is perceptive. Hearing this statement, Maruta thought.
"I think that is also quite important. So what you mean, only five people from Tokyo Spread who were with the victim at the time testified that the murder was committed behind the closed door. Even if Silva's room was locked before he was murdered, if the door or wall was smashed in and the house was set on fire after the murder, the result would be the same as in this case. That may have actually been the case, though. Besides, it is conceivable that I say now. It's not some mystery novels, but there is an error in the objective perception of the timeline. In other words, it could be the case that the murder was committed after the house burned down. In any case, a 'reliable witness' is necessary for a locked room to be established. Suppose we have someone who has a clear view of the process from the time the victim entered the locked room to the time the house went up in flames, and who is not directly involved in the case. It would be nice to hear from someone like that."
"Is there anyone like that in this case?"
Maruta straightened his posture in his chair.
"I don't think there was such a person, but there should be 'it'. According to reports, indeed, only the victim, Silva-san, and five people from Tokyo Spread were at the scene on the day of the incident. I am sure there was no other person who would have been a convenient kind of observer to judge that 'The incident happened behind closed doors.' The murder scene is deep in the mountains. However, they were visiting the location to shoot the video, and this is also a well-known fact. Kira-san, do you have the data of the video that shows the scene on the day of the incident?"
Kira's head snapped up as soon as he was asked, and he let out a groan that sounded somewhat exaggerated, saying, "I knew you would say that."
In the context of the story so far, Maruta thought, he would not say "Yes, Maruta-san, I have it here. Please enjoy the show until my smartphone battery runs out!"
And that boring prediction seemed to be correct.
"Sorry, Kira-san. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
After all, it is probably sensitive for Kira to be touched by the core of the case. If I step in tactlessly, I will be the same as 'people who try to dig up the root of the incident.'
Maruta said calmly, choosing his words carefully so as not to sound sarcastic. "I'm not forcing myself to ask about the case either."
