I swear we'll rescue Misaki.
Don't ever try to interfere again.
Misaki really will be killed.
There was a bug in the router.
Suzuma and you and your wife.
What the heck is your relationship?
Are you...
the kidnapper?
I kidnapped her.
You must be kidding.
Todo, you'd never do anything like that.
I'm sorry.
It was me.
I...
kidnapped Tomoka
and Yuzuki.
Why?
Where is Misaki?
I don't know.
I didn't kidnap Misaki.
This is bullshit.
You and your partner have been taking the money, right?
Me and Aya... Suzuma...
We're just taking orders.
Orders?
I've had it. I'm turning him over to the cops.
How come?
We shouldn't listen to this douchebag!
Why did Todo end up doing this?
I want him to explain it himself.
She's okay.
It doesn't look like he's contacted anyone.
He also doesn't have a wire.
Is it true that your daughter was kidnapped?
-I bet you kidnapped her too, didn't you? -No, I didn't.
Then,
your daughter hasn't been returned
and your wife is still missing.
Is that the truth as well?
Yes.
Then why did you kidnap our daughters?
You surely must know just how horrifying it is.
I did it to get Koharu back.
Five years ago,
when I didn't know where Koharu went for her field trip...
CALL ENDED
...they figured out the police were involved.
So they ended the deal.
Since her alibi at the time of the kidnapping was vague,
eventually, my wife, Aki,
became suspected of faking the kidnapping.
Even I began to wonder if Aki was hiding something
and I questioned her about it.
Tell me what you're hiding!
I knew I was hurting her,
but even so...
Why won't you say anything?
...I needed to do something.
But I ended up pushing her over the edge.
I'm home.
Aki left me.
Ever since then, I haven't been able to contact her.
After Aki disappeared, the police suspected her even more.
But
if it became known that a detective's wife had faked a kidnapping,
it would disgrace the police department.
Gradually, the investigation team was shrunk,
and the case came to be treated as unsolvable.
That's why I decided to quit the police and search for her myself.
I believed that if Koharu returned, Aki would as well.
But
I couldn't find any leads at all.
If nothing was done,
since the case was under a gag order, not only would it be buried,
but I might not ever be able to see Koharu again.
I panicked.
When I thought about how
Koharu could be confined somewhere, suffering,
I nearly lost my mind.
I wanted to save Koharu by whatever means necessary.
That's when I came up with the idea
to commit a copycat kidnapping.
If a similar kidnapping occurred,
the police would start investigating in earnest again.
If the case were to resurface, new information might come out.
And that's why you went after Tomoka?
I was sure I could pretty much figure out what you and Michiru would do.
However, I hadn't seen you for a long time, Haruto.
So I had to find out how you lived now.
That's when you had Suzuma work for Harukana?
Aya is my wife Aki's younger sister.
Her real name is Aya Sumiyoshi.
She was already a programmer and had IT know-how.
COPYCAT KIDNAPPING
For my plan,
she was an absolute necessity.
Itsuki...
I'll do it.
Aki was Aya's only blood relative.
She had been like a mother to her and raised her.
To get back her niece and clear her sister's name,
she said that she would do absolutely anything.
Good afternoon.
-Afternoon. -Good afternoon.
Six months before the kidnapping,
Aya joined Harukana as a mid-career hire.
She followed my orders
and bugged the president's office.
That's how we found out that Haruto almost never went home
and that there were money problems in the company.
You actually think that'll convince the bank?
And what about that bug?
At the office,
Aya made a mold of your key then a spare key.
I'm the one who installed it.
That's how I knew
when Tomoka went to cram school and about her argument with Michiru,
and that she was going by herself.
Then, on that day,
I kidnapped Tomoka.
HELLO, TOMOKA.
Hello, Tomoka.
You don't need to be afraid. If you behave, you'll be safe.
If you need anything or if there are any problems,
tell it to this tablet.
HOWEVER, IF YOU TRY TO ESCAPE
However, if you try to escape, you will be killed.
I have kidnapped Tomoka.
What did you say?
Is Tomoka safe?
She is alive.
Is she injured?
Tomoka?
Let me talk to Tomoka!
If you report this to the police, I will kill Tomoka.
We promise we won't. So please, don't kill her!
I would do anything for Tomoka's sake.
-I would too. -So don't call the police!
Aren't we doing this for Tomoka?
Just as I predicted, Haruto called the police.
My daughter has been kidnapped and...
For the ransom handoff,
I had you rush around with barely enough time.
I was waiting for Michiru and Haruto to be separated.
It had to be the same situation as the kidnapping five years ago.
Then I had the handoff fail.
This transaction has ended.
Wait.
Please wait.
Please don't kill Tomoka.
Please!
Give back Tomoka! Please!
Please!
COMMUNICATION HAS ENDED
My initial goal was to make the handoff fail and drive off the police.
As I predicted, Haruto came to me for help, since I was an ex-cop.
I was lying then when I said there weren't any bugs.
So what are we going to do tomorrow?
The biggest issue is what the cops do.
Having you communicate with the kidnapper via the game chat function
and using it to determine Tomoka's location
were parts of the plan I'd already told Aya about.
I made some coffee. Have some.
-Oh, thank you. -It's hot.
On the day of the second handoff,
Aya remotely assisted with identifying the users who had passed nearby.
But at that time, she was near where Tomoka was being held.
By utilizing the game from there,
we were able to purposely give away Tomoka's location.
She also knew that Haruto and I had tricked the police.
Tomoka, can you hear me?
I know you're here!
I've left the money under the gate at the nearby shrine.
You can take the money
and disappear. I don't care!
But if anything happens to Tomoka...
I will kill you.
Aya took the money and left.
IT'S A DEAL
Daddy...
Tomoka!
If Haruto tried to go after Aya, I was going to stop him.
To prevent Aya from being stopped and questioned,
we rented a nearby storage unit where she stayed all night.
The next morning, she left the money there and went to work.
She was rescued safely.
-Thank goodness. -Thank goodness she was found.
Yes, that's great news.
We...
succeeded with the kidnapping.
You scumbag.
When you saw Tomoka in the hospital room, how did you feel?
How could you be so calm there?
Before we did it, I knew...
that it would be hell.
It's all over, Tomoka.
You don't have to think about it anymore.
That goddamn kidnapper really pisses me off.
Kidnapping is the most contemptible of crimes.
I felt so awful.
I wanted to die.
Then why did you do it?
Surely, you know why.
For a child's sake, a parent will do anything.
But doing that...
Was there any purpose to it?
Since the case was under investigation,
the police didn't reveal any details about it.
That's why...
I published that tell-all.
-Congratulations! -Thank you.
I set up the detective agency and made an appeal for info.
SEND ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE KIDNAPPING OF TOMOKA
I was hoping to receive new leads.
Don't tell me you kidnapped Yuzu because you didn't get any leads.
-No. -Then why'd you do it?
I was contacted by the person
who kidnapped Koharu.
0 NEW EMAILS
UNKNOWN CALLER
Like five years ago, the number was withheld.
Hello?
I read your tell-all. You copied me, didn't you?
It made me tremble.
I have waited forever for this moment.
Koharu is...
alive, isn't she?
She's alive.
However, do not tell anyone that I have contacted you.
If you don't keep this promise, I will kill Koharu.
I'll do whatever you want. I'll do anything.
Just please give me back Koharu.
Commit another kidnapping.
Another?
Kidnap Aoi Miwa's daughter
and have Haruto Narusawa be the go-between.
With those people,
you'll easily get the ransom without involving the police.
You want me to abduct another of my friend's children?
After you have collected another 500 million yen,
hand over the one billion you have and I'll give you Koharu.
I could not refuse.
I...
kidnapped Yuzuki.
I moved the location for the ransom handoff over and over
because I was sure that the kidnapper was watching.
That is all for today.
I was going to postpone the handoff
however long it took for the kidnapper to show themselves.
But Yuzuki had an asthma attack, and I had to change the plan.
What should I do?
She's really suffering!
See you later.
Satsuki said that Yuzuki can't handle dust.
She might be having an asthma attack.
I'll go buy medicine!
Don't!
You'll be caught on the shop's security camera.
We can't keep this up.
Let's give her back to her mother.
All right.
I'll give up on finding the kidnapper.
We'll do the handoff.
What's wrong?
The handoff's begun.
Why the sudden change?
The kidnapper called.
Yuzuki's asthma has gotten worse.
Then, we did the handoff.
Close the trunk and leave the area.
Wait! Where's Yuzuki?
I'll tell you after you all leave the golf course.
Tell me right now!
Please! Hurry up and give her this medicine!
Yamakita 3860, Yamakita, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Let's go!
I hadn't expected Michiru to tail her,
but thanks to you letting me go on my own, I was luckily able to stop her.
Todo!
I was following from farther back.
We now had one billion yen
and were waiting for the kidnapper to call.
Hello?
Have you obtained one billion yen?
Yes.
So give me Koharu for it. I won't contact the police.
Do what I tell you to do.
Leave 100 million yen at the Narusawas' back door
and make sure Haruto Narusawa gets it at 6 p.m.
What for?
I'm not taking any questions. If you refuse to do it, I'll kill Koharu.
Okay, fine. Fine.
But at least let me hear Koharu's voice.
I did like I'd been told.
THERE'S A DELIVERY AT YOUR BACK DOOR.
At that time,
I still didn't know that Misaki had been kidnapped.
So it's true
that you didn't kidnap Misaki?
Yes.
Then, who is Haruto dealing with?
The person who kidnapped Koharu.
After giving Haruto the 100 million yen,
the kidnapper called me.
UNKNOWN CALLER
Hello?
Leave your car at the west parking lot of Kamakura Daiichi Cemetery.
Hey, what's the meaning of this?
Aren't you going to give me Koharu for the money?
After this deal, I will give her to you for the money.
Deal?
I have kidnapped again.
From now on, Haruto Narusawa will bring 100 million yen every day
and put it in your car until there is one billion yen.
You will take it and keep it.
You want me to be the bag man?
Once you have all the money,
I will give you Koharu and the new hostage for the money.
If you refuse, I'll kill both of them.
Hey, before I do this--
You have 2 hours and 54 minutes.
It was at the location of the handoff that we realized
it was Akira Akutsu's daughter who had been kidnapped.
Was it you who attacked me?
I never thought you'd attach a GPS tracker to the suitcase.
I wasn't prepared.
I planted a GPS tracker inside the suitcase.
At that time, I was keeping watch to see if the kidnapper tailed her.
Why...
That's when I discovered the GPS tracker on the suitcase.
I was sure someone else would come.
We put all the money in the car and escaped.
If the kidnapper learned that a GPS tracker had been put with the money,
Misaki would be in danger.
That's why...
I continued with the handoffs without saying a thing.
Todo...
Do you think the kidnapper doesn't know Suzuma talked to me?
The kidnapper
thinks the deal is going forward without a hitch.
That's why Aya tried to stop you
by telling you not to try to interfere anymore.
Don't ever try to interfere again.
Misaki really will be killed.
For the kidnapper,
this is a completely risk-free kidnapping.
I've got to hand it to you, you ex-cop. That's a damn good excuse.
You think everything he said are lies?
Some of it may be true,
but I can't believe that someone else is behind this
and is pulling all the strings.
If your story is true, then whoever this puppet master is
kidnapped Misaki and is holding her themselves.
What's the point of that?
Just like with Yuzu, why didn't they leave everything to you and Suzuma?
Why did they have to kidnap Misaki themselves this time?
That's been bothering me too.
Yes. Right. The police will get it out of you later.
If the police arrest me now, who knows what'll happen to Misaki.
If you kidnapped her, then the police will rescue her.
This is the person who kidnapped Koharu!
We can't be sure that she'll be returned alive like with Tomoka and Yuzuki--
I've had enough of you!
It's your fault that Tomoka and Yuzu suffered.
I've had it. I'm going to the cops.
I can't be arrested yet!
Not until we get Misaki and Koharu back!
It's been five years.
Do you honestly believe that she's still alive?
Miwa!
Because you believe your daughter still lives,
you forced Yuzu to suffer like that?
I'm very sorry.
But...
all I could do was believe it.
If I stop believing,
even Koharu's birth would have been
meaningless.
That's why I,
at the very least,
have to continue to believe.
I want to believe it too.
Your kidnapping of Tomoka and Yuzuki...
I will never forgive you for that!
But...
I want to believe that you're telling us the truth.
I also want to believe that...
Koharu is alive.
Then let's make sure...
that he really is telling the truth.
Got it. Thank you.
What's wrong?
I used our cellphone company to try and get Aya Suzuma's phone location data.
But they couldn't get it.
I'm sorry for disturbing you so early in the morning.
Is something wrong?
I have something important to tell you.
Three days ago,
a missing person report was filed at Shichirigahama Police Station.
It was canceled, but we found out that
Misaki Akutsu has been absent from school since then.
There's almost no doubt that she's been kidnapped.
We must increase personnel in the investigation team
and place the Akutsus and Haruto Narusawa under 24-hour surveillance!
I've already told the top brass.
All we can do is wait for Detective-Sergeant Goto's decision.
The top brass don't want us anywhere near the Akutsus or Narusawas!
If nothing is done,
the ransom will be paid without the police ever getting involved.
We still can't be certain that there even is a kidnapping.
First, all you can do
is use the people you've got to confirm that there is a kidnapping.
Oh, thank goodness. I was so worried since I couldn't...
What's happened?
No bugs.
There's no communication going out.
I told them everything.
Haruto realized that I was the kidnapper.
I'm terribly sorry!
For now, just help us get Misaki back.
If what he's said is true, the kidnapper will be calling soon.
UNKNOWN CALLER
Hello? Where should I go today?
UNKNOWN CALLER
The deal is off.
What do you mean?
The police have taken action.
It's just some suspicious police. That's all.
If Mr. Akutsu hasn't called the police, then he's still keeping his promise.
I will determine that.
The deal is off and I will kill Misaki.
Wait!
Okay.
The deal with Mr. Akutsu is off.
But...
the deal between you and me is still good.
I'll give you all the money I've got.
Like you promised, give me the hostages for the money.
UNKNOWN CALLER
Okay. I will make an exchange for all the money you have now.
However, I will only return one of them, either Koharu or Misaki.
No way! Both of them!
Then the deal is off.
Wait, please!
Misaki is
okay, right?
Yes.
And Koharu is
also alive, right?
Yes.
For the money, give me back Misaki.
Bring the money to the warehouse at 6417 Hirasawa, Hadano in one hour.
Todo...
It's just like you said, Miwa.
There's no way...
Koharu has been held captive for five whole years...
Right now,
we must save the child who is alive!
I'll go with you.
They still don't know that we're with you.
It's our chance to surprise them.
Let's expose the kidnapper and get them back.
Both Misaki
and Koharu.
However,
when this is all over, I'm going to beat you up.
Suzuma, where's the money?
In here.
Miwa, let's put it in the car.
Todo.
Keep an eye out.
Miwa, can you hear me?
Yes, I can hear you.
When we get to the location,
I'll park the mini-wagon and wait for the kidnapper to contact me.
Haruto, you and the others keep an eye out.
Got it.
HARUTO NARUSAWA
Hello?
Mr. Akutsu, have the police contacted you?
No. But I think they're watching me.
They're watching you?
I used the NEX cellphone company to get Detective Katsuragi's phone location data.
He's near my house.
What'll we do?
It's almost time for the kidnapper to call.
Today, I'll deal with them alone.
What about the 100 million yen?
I'll figure something out.
At any rate, make sure Katsuragi stays away.
Oh, okay.
I'll check inside.
UNKNOWN CALLER
Hello?
You contacted the police. The deal is off.
I didn't contact them.
They noticed what's happening on their own.
I'll give you all the money. Just give back Misaki!
You must pay the price for breaking your promise.
Hello?
Did the kidnapper call you?
Yes.
The police were informed, so they called it off.
Mr. Akutsu,
you didn't call the police, did you?
This morning, Ms. Tatewaki came to my house.
She felt responsible for letting Ms. Suzuma escape.
She used the info on her company bank account to get her real address.
Then she went and investigated herself.
Excuse me.
That's when she learned that
Ms. Suzuma was Itsuki Todo's sister-in-law, so she came and told me.
Todo is Mr. Narusawa's close friend.
I immediately had the NEX cellphone company
look into the location data and call history of Mr. Todo.
He was
at your home, Mr. Narusawa.
I can't trust you anymore.
KANASAO 3541
AKIRA AKUTSU
It's Akutsu.
That's why I called
the police.
Mr. Narusawa...
Please!
Give back Misaki!
Haruto! Hurry up and come to the back of the building!
How did it end up this way?
Don't tell Tomoka about me.
She'll worry about me.
We'll rescue Misaki.
How the heck did things end up this way?
Umeki! Call an ambulance!
Right!
Ms. Akutsu! Misaki Akutsu! Can you hear me?
Misaki!
What happened?
Where's Misaki? Is Misaki all right?
-She's fine. -Misaki!
-Please calm down.
Can you hear me?
Ms. Akutsu!
You're coming with me to the station, Haruto Narusawa.
Translated by Brian Athey