No. 352009.7.29

Dark Plot of Future Lab

One day late at night, a murder case occurred at the Future Lab in Shinagawa. The victim was Tetsuo Takahashi (age unknown). He was hit strongly in the head and found face down at his desk the next morning.
Experienced detective "Takenaka," passionate detective "Nagamatsu," and rookie detective "Yamamoto" dashed off from the 1st Investigation Division.



Nagamatsu:
"Boss, this..."

Takenaka:
"Look at that, Judo. That's a dying message. It looks like a name."

Nagamatsu:
"MA...E...... PA?"

Yamamoto:
"MAEPA, ...is it?"

Takenaka:
"That's right, it says 'MAEPA.'The murder must've been done by this 'MAEPA,'I bet."

Yamamoto:
"But I've never heard of 'MAEPA'as a name...Maybe something is wrong...?

Nagamatsu:
"Hey, Yama, don't you even doubt what our boss is speculating!"

Yamamoto:
"Oh!? No, no, I'm sorry. I'll go and check 'MAEPA'then!"

Takenaka:
"Wait, Yama. You said check, but are you thinking to check that out with some computer stuff, I mean 'internets'or something? You are a my-com-generation kid, huh."

Yamamoto:
"My-com?...it's...not acceptable?"

Takenaka:
"Yama. Listen Yama. If you are a man, I mean, 'a geeky man,'legwork-investigation is a must, isn't it?"

Nagamatsu:
"Hai-yaa! Boss!! I'll go and make some inquiries!!" Slam. Clump clump...

Yamamoto:
"Wait, where are you going, senior!? Oh! Boss! Tetsuo's holding something in his hand!"



Takenaka:
"Uh? It must be some memo like a phone number or something, umm, leave that out and go and make some inquiries, now."

Yamamoto:
"What!?? Bbbut, it says 'Confidential'here..."

Takenaka:
"You fool. A company puts 'Confidential'on anything to look cool. You don't know anything coz you're still young. Anyway, you go ahead and make some inquiries."

An employee just arrived at the office:
"Hi, it's MAEDA. Uh!"

Takenaka:
"Ah, hello. How are you doing? Are you the boss of this person?"

MAEDA:
"No. I don't know this person."

Takenaka:
"Well then, are you familiar with a person whose name is 'MAEPA'?"

MAEDA:
"No, I'm not. Hey this paper is for Atenza...I mean, umm, this is a paper that's been missing. Can I take it home with me?"

Takenaka:
"Oh, sure, his bloody stuff is on it though. Hey, Yama. Get going! Quick!"

Yamamoto:
"What!?? Umm, yes! I'm leaving now!" Clump clump...

MAEDA:
<Chuckle...>















Takenaka:
"Hmm...'MAEPA'...huh. Who is it..."




Leaving a big puzzle and a little sense of suspicion held by 'Yamamoto,'the story continues in the next issue...?
This case is wrapped in mystery...A smart master detective who figures out the criminal should send his/her name to "Opinion Box"!
* This is fiction...just for your information.