Psychic Detective Yakumo / Shinrei Tantei Yakumo

File 02 - Witch

1

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After parking the car, Ishii took deep breaths.

He was near the Tamo River at one corner of the residential street, in front of the <Kinoshita Surgery: Maternity and Gynaecology Department >.

A flat-roofed three-storey building with white walls - it stood uncannily in the darkness.

The first time Ishii came here was about half a year ago, during his first case with Gotou. During that case, the owner of this hospital was arrested, so it was now empty.

All the windows were covered by curtains, and weeds grew at the entrance. The sign with the name of the hospital was written in dirty undistinguishable letters.

It was completely abandoned.

Ishii thought Nanase Miyuki was hiding in this building.

'Why do you think she's here?' asked Miyagawa.

'There are materials she could use here to treat herself without being spotted. Those are the requirements.'

'But there are other abandoned hospitals.'

Just as Miyagawa said, there were other abandoned hospitals too, if those were the only requirements. However, if they became too old, the materials couldn't be used for treatment. Furthermore -

'The man with two red eyes was involved in the case with Doctor Kinoshita. Though she didn't appear in the foreground, Nanase Miyuki was probably involved as well... so she must know about this place.'

That was why Ishii thought that Nanase Miyuki would use <Kinoshita Surgery: Maternity and Gynaecology Department> as her hideout.

'Why do you think she'd choose a place she knows?'

'I used geographic profiling.'

'Profiling, eh? How complicated.'

Miyagawa smiled wryly.

'That isn't the case. Profiling is just thinking from the standpoint of the criminal.'

'Though people look as if they are behaving erratically, they unconsciously limit their actions.'

'Limit?'

Miyagawa cocked his head.

'Yes. Concealment means hiding yourself. People unconsciously choose some place they think is safer.'

'So places you don't know are unsafe.'

'There are exceptions, but this is not an escape but concealment. Furthermore, she is injured. There is a high risk to hiding in a place you don't know.'

'Well, instead of thinking about it, we'll find out if we go in.'

As Miyagawa said that, he got off the car.

Ishii took the torch and got off the car.

- Nanase Miyuki might be here.

Now, fear welled within him and his feet froze. However, he had suggested this himself. He couldn't run now.

'Let's go.'

Unlike Ishii, Miyagawa spoke as lightly as if they were heading out for a stroll and walked briskly. Ishii gulped and started walking as well.

They stood in front of the glass entrance.

'All right.'

Then, Miyagawa smashed the glass, put his hand in and unlocked the door.