Hidden Nexus (21 page)

29
- In which Gas Explosion Investigative reports are read and the case widens its reach

Monday 3rd January 12:00 midday

Inspector Saito and Sergeant Mori returned to Headquarters and while Saito left Mori to make contact with, collect and brief
Junsa
Saito he busied himself scanning over the workload of the department over the past three months that the Chief Super had insisted that he review – or file as he had more properly stated. He wasted little time. Having taken care of that irritating interlude he turned his attentions back to the real set of problems at hand.

He decided to follow his nose to find out anything which might cast suspicion on the death of the Chief Executive of YBP. If there
was
anything suspicious then he hoped there may be enough doubt to suggest that Eri Yamada’s murder was more motivated by events within the murky world of under-the-table business dealings than anything to do with a jealous husband.

Saito was keen to get hold of the investigation report into the gas explosion and despite knowing that the report would only be in its infancy he was desperate to get as many details as he could. Pleasingly he was able to identify quite quickly who the initial investigation officer from the police force was and had an informative, but brief chat over the telephone. He nodded as the other man spoke, disappointed at first as to what he was hearing but then surprised by the sting in the tail. He then requested that whatever written information he had, to be e-mailed over to him. The draft report arrived two minutes later.

It made clear and precise reading and Saito was surprised at the clarity of the picture garnered over the past few days.

Background (draft)

At approximately 21.26 on
Wednesday 29th
December
an explosion and subsequent fire destroyed 1-5 Daiichi Keihin,
Koyasu, Yokohama – head office of Yokohama Black Panther (YBP) Logistics company
. Two people suffered major injuries and several others suffered minor injuries. One person later died from their major injuries early in the morning of
Thursday 30th December.
A number of properties in the area were also significantly damaged and the Daiichi-Keihin trunk road was partially closed causing disruption for local residents and businesses.

1-5 Daiichi-Keihin was a six storey, part commercial retail, part office premises. At the time of the explosion the ground floor and parts of the first floor were being converted for use as a restaurant.

Initial investigations were carried out by the Koyasu Police in concert with the Japan Health and Safety Executive (JHSE). The investigation focussed upon identifying possible fuel and likely ignition sources within the building and the local area.

Key Investigation Findings (draft)

The JHSE investigation (supported by the Japan Health and Safety Laboratory) revealed:-

•
      
That based upon debris analysis, the building damage was consistent with a gas explosion

•
      
There had been no reports of the smell of gas either inside or outside of 1-5 Daiichi-Keihin in the days or hours leading up to the explosion.

•
      
There was no evidence of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or solid fuel sources within the debris of the building or incident area.

•
      
There was no mains gas supply running into the premises as this had been locked off due to the renovations being carried out on the ground and first floors.

•
      
A low pressure cast iron gas main was located in the footway in front of 1-5 Daiichi-Keihin.

•
      
The gas main was severed at a point approximately 1.5 metres from 1-5 Daiichi-Keihin.

•
      
A pathway that would have allowed gas leaking from the main to flow into 1-5 Daiichi-Keihin.

•
      
A number of potential ignition sources within 1-5 Daiichi-Keihin including one which was suspicious in nature and which was subsequently badly damaged in the explosion

Key Investigation Conclusions (draft)

•
      
Mains gas leaked from a severed low pressure cast iron gas main located in the footway immediately in front of 1-5 Daiichi-Keihin.

•
      
The particular ground conditions, including the corrosive nature of the soil and the stresses imposed by structures near to the main may have contributed to the unpredicted failure of the main.

or

•
      
The main was deliberately tampered with leading to the severing of the line

•
      
There is no evidence of failures by the pipeline operator or any other company to warrant prosecution.

•
      
The gas accumulated within 1-5 Daiichi-Keihin.

•
      
The gas was ignited by a devise within the building leading to the explosion.

•
      
There is evidence to suggest that this explosion may have been caused deliberately

Inspector Saito put down the report and placed his hands behind his head. Already, it appeared, the scope of the investigation had widened. Immediately he was back on the phone to the investigating officer.

‘How certain are you that the explosion was deliberate?’

‘Fifty-one percent - It’s one possibility but probably the main one in my mind just now.’

‘But you’re nowhere near a hundred percent sure?’

‘I’ll stick with fifty-one. Until I receive further analysis of the ignition devise I can’t really say any more. We need to be absolutely certain that it was
exactly
that – an ignition devise. There may be a possible innocent explanation for its existence.’

‘But you suspect foul play?’ pushed Inspector Saito

‘Like I said, I can’t be sure until after further analysis of the possible ignition devise.’

It was apparent that the investigation officer was not to be moved despite Saito’s pressing.

‘Do you have any suspects – if it was a deliberate act?’

‘No one individual but-’

‘But-’

‘About four years ago there was a similar explosion at a Pachinko parlour, again in Koyasu. Not necessarily identical to what happened this week but very similar. Now the interesting thing was that this particular Pachinko parlour was operated by the Kobayashi Yakuza and back then, you may remember, they were involved in a turf war with the Yoshihara group. There were a lot of tit-for-tat attacks, some quite minor, some quite serious and the whole dispute seemed to come to a head with this attack on the Pachinko parlour. Of course we couldn’t pin it on anybody, any more than you will be able to do with this latest attack. But if I was looking for anyone to focus on I wouldn’t be looking any further than the Yoshihara.’

‘Are you sure about this – this similarity with this previous event?’

‘Look – there was no conclusive evidence, but I’m as sure as I can be. Sometimes you have to back your own hunches and I’m pretty sure on this one. But tell me, I’m curious. Why do you want to know?’

‘It may be nothing – it may be something, but Yokohama Black Panther were engaged in merger talks with a company called Niigata Kyubin. These talks failed and suddenly two of the individuals who were apparently central to those talks are dead – the Chief Executive of Yokohama Black Panther and an Office Lady from Niigata Kyubin.’

‘An Office Lady?’

‘Well, yes, I know. I’ve not got down to the bottom of it but she seemed to have the ear of the Chief Exec of Niigata Kyubin. It still maybe a complete co-incidence and it doesn’t necessarily lead me any closer to her murderer but what it does do is to cast doubt on the suspect that we are currently holding.’

‘Well, I hope my information can help. When I get any updates I’ll be sure to contact you.’

‘I’d appreciate that. Thank you for your help.’

They concluded their conversation and Saito once again sat back in his chair with his hands behind his head.

The scope of the investigation had definitely widened.

Before he settled down to find out what more he could about YBP, the Yoshihara and Kobayashi Yakuza groups Inspector Saito left HQ, this time remembering his gloves, and walked round the corner to his favourite
bento
– lunch box store. The sky was grey and the air was still freezing as he shuffled along, keen to complete his shopping as quickly as possible. Once more he felt relieved to be treading familiar ground and to be slipping back into familiar routines - and slipping out to the
bento
store
was
definitely one of those routines. He selected a
bento
with fried chicken and macaroni salad and then returned to the office and was half way through it, and his research, when Sergeant Mori retuned with
Junsa
Saito in tow. In terms of his study the Inspector hadn’t found much that he already didn’t know and what was new to him was relatively useless, however he felt he was in a good enough position to update Mori and
Junsa
Saito on his thinking by the time they arrived back.

They quickly completed their introductions, or re-introductions, bowing to each other. Saito was keen to get going and wasted little time in chit-chat or catching up in reminiscing.

‘It’s time we started moving, though,’ he said rising from his seat and pushing the remains of his bento-box into the bin. ‘We can’t really afford to waste any more time, but before we charge off, what do you think of this - particularly the conclusions?’ He tossed the Inspection report over to Mori who read it through quickly and who then, in turn, passed it to
Junsa
Saito.

‘Interesting?’

‘Interesting!’ Mori scratched his stubble and looked to
Junsa
Saito.

‘I don’t understand,’ said
Junsa
Saito flicking through the pages. ‘This all looks very suspicious but what’s this got to do with Eri Yamada?’

Mori explained what he could.

‘It’s a complete punt,’ added Saito in a tone that suggested there was little hope. ‘But for the moment it’s all we have as an alternative to charging Hideki Yamada.’