Summary

In Chapter 65, Mikami was hiding in a stall in a bathroom in Station G. He was listening to hear the sounds that Matsuoka makes when he washes his hands: “he would always snap the water from his hands…the gesture made an audible swish” (439). Several officers used the facilities while Mikami listened, but he had yet to hear Matsuoka’s “swish.” In the meantime, Mikami meditated on the current situation unfolding within Prefecture D. He thought perhaps if the kidnapping were fake, that this cover-up might be discovered by detectives, who are “expert at detecting lies.” This could lead to the collapse of Criminal Investigations as a department, despite everyone’s being “against the NPA” (441). News of an internal cover-up would overpower this united distrust for Tokyo.

A couple hours into his stakeout, Mikami heard footsteps that sounded vaguely familiar; he just knew...