Teruo pressed his lips in a thin line. That was how he tricked Yamato into straying from the main path.
“Yamato was excited,” Taniguchi continued. “But I told him his brother doesn’t want to see him or forgive him.” Taniguchi’s mouth curled into a devious grin. “Should’ve seen his face. So sad,” he mocked.
“How did you manage to approach the rest of them?”
“I stalked them all, learned their habits, figured out when I’d find them alone to strike. The rest didn’t recognize me either.” He suddenly sprung forward, tugging uselessly at the handcuffs. “Ozawa, the sadistic one. Such a pleasure to wrap the wire around her pretty throat. Ishida, Miura, and the rest, all cowards who did Yamato’s bidding—”
“Ishida had changed.” Teruo’s fingers shook and he wrapped them into a fist. “He was a good officer.” One that Teruo had failed to protect. The guilt ate at him. Maybe if he’d done things differently, Ishida would still be alive.
Taniguchi smirked. “Ishida and I became fast friends these past months. He even helped get into the medical center. Told me there was an open spot and I got it. Made it easier for me to keep an eye on things.”
Teruo’s blood boiled. “You threatened him.”
“Not at all. I guess he must’ve felt responsible. I was grateful for his help, so I took my time explaining everything and then I killed him.”
Bile came up Teruo’s throat. The rope. Taniguchi had tied down Ishida and made him listen to his sick plan.
“Why all the trouble with the syringe and the wire?” Shinji inquired. “You could’ve just used yourreiryokuand be done fast. Even a knife to the throat would’ve been faster.”
Taniguchi leaned back in his seat, looking up at the ceiling, as if pleased with himself. “It wouldn’t have been the same. But the collar? That sends a message. It was worth the trouble.” His gaze fell back to them. “It was perfect, wasn’t it?” He made a circle with his fingers. “Symmetrical. Just how Ozawa liked to wrap it around my throat years ago.”
Silence settled and Teruo could hear the ragged breath blowing through his nose. He held his breath, willing himself to calm down. They got Taniguchi. It was over.
“You’re twenty-seven,” Shinji said. “I realize what they did to you was unforgivable, but was it really worth losing your life? These are four pre-meditated murders.” When Taniguchi didn’t answer, Shinji glanced at Teruo. “Guess we’re done here.”
Teruo gave a nod and closed the folder. “We are.”
They both stood and headed toward the door.
“I’ve seen the others,” Taniguchi said suddenly, his shoulders squaring. “Why are they here?”
“Why do you think?” Shinji asked. “You won’t go through a regular trial. You’ll be taken to a detention center where they’ll extract—”
“No. No, no, no!” Taniguchi shook his head fervently.
“You gave them no choice,” Shinji said. “You know how they are. You shouldn’t have kept the ghosts hostage or attacked me.”
Teruo stared at Taniguchi. His eyes were wide with fear and he tugged at the handcuffs as if hoping they’d break and he could escape.
“I didn’t want to keep them hostage!” Taniguchi yelled. “It’s your fucking fault. If you hadn’t started questioning Yamato’s ghost, I’d have let him be. All of them. You forced me to do it! Because of you, they’ll take my powers away!”
“No one forced you into anything.” Teruo intervened. “These are the consequences of your own actions. What did you think was going to happen after murdering four people?”
Taniguchi didn’t seem to register Teruo’s words and continued screaming at Shinji. “It’s your fault! Couldn’t mind your fucking business! Have you ever seen them extract the energy? You can’t let them do that to me!”
Teruo placed a hand over Shinji’s shoulder. “Let’s go,” he spoke over Taniguchi’s shouts.
Shinji exited the interrogation room, looking unfazed by all the screaming and accusations. When they were out, the superintendent exited as well.
“Is he really not going to face a normal trial?” Teruo asked.
The superintendent shook his head. “It’s different for us. With the level of energy he used, he’s been deemed too dangerous. He’ll pay severely for what he did. Good job, both of you.”
“Will they know I was in the interrogation room?” Teruo asked. “Taniguchi said stuff that—”
“Don’t worry. This is off the records,” the superintendent said, then entered the interrogation room where Taniguchi was still not done cursing and shouting.
Once the door closed behind the superintendent, the two of them walked back to the office.