Doctors In the Isolated Room: Chapters 5-8

By MORI Hiroshi

As the investigation into the mysterious locked-room murders at the Polar Environment Research Center's experimental facility progressed, the third body was discovered in a secret room that had been hidden away, further deepening the mystery.

Sohei Saikawa, an associate professor at N University, and his student Moe Nishinosono, a sophomore, were present at the scene of the discovery of the PERC serial murders when they visited Associate Professor Kita, a close friend of Saikawa, and became involved in the case. While Kita and Moe offered their respective reasonings, Saikawa, for some reason, refused to give his own opinion.

With information obtained from her uncle, prefectural police chief Shosuke Nishinosono, Moe quickly got close to the truth of the case, but the clutches of the culprit who did not like it are closing in on her ...

In order to save Moe, his cherished apprentice and is in a tight spot, the always calm Saikawa runs wild on the night road in his beloved Civic, which is one of the most famous scenes in the "S&M (Saikawa & Moe)" series.

This book is the second volume of a three-volume English edition of "Doctors In the Isolated Room," which strengthens the bond between the master-disciple detective duo most favored by readers in the history of Japanese mystery!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781304957764

Book preview

Chapter 5: Drowsiness and White Bones

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The detective with a beard once again suggested Moe return home. But she brushed it off, saying she would not leave alone. Afterward, the detective frequently watched Moe from a distance, but she intentionally avoided making eye contact with him. The detective finally came to inform Associate Professor Saikawa that he could return home a little after 6 in the morning. It’s possible that Moe’s insistence on not going home alone may have had some effect. The bearded detective released Saikawa in order to send Moe home. There were some things that I didn’t quite like about it, but in the end, it has turned out to be for the best, Moe thought.

Saikawa continued to talk with Kita for a while but decided to leave first. PERC instructors, including Kita, were still not allowed to go home. On the contrary, the office clerk Yokogishi and Technical Officer Hachikawa were summoned early in the morning and arrived at this facility. Also, there were several individuals who appeared to be affiliated with the university. When Moe and Saikawa left the front entrance, more than ten people gathered in the main office.

However, compared to before, there seemed to be slightly fewer police officers. When Moe shared her impression, Saikawa offered his opinion that it was probably because the investigation had expanded to external parties.

Moe was a little sleepy, but she was still more than a little excited. As far as she knew, last night’s murders were simply inexplicable. She was very curious about what the police were investigating and what they had found.

Using a car was also allowed by that time, so Moe declined the offer from the bearded detective to be driven in a patrol car. Moe’s uncle, who was the chief of the prefectural police, must have expressed his concerns excessively and emphasized them over the phone to his subordinates about his niece. While Moe respected her uncle as a person of integrity, she didn’t appreciate how he treated her like a child.

Moe and Saikawa walked to the parking lot and got into her sports car.

The intense sunshine, which seemed to be getting hotter today, hit them from the east. She put the sunglasses that had been left on the dashboard into the pocket behind the seat. Moe started the car’s engine and lowered both side windows to change the air.

Moe loved driving the car. She had confidence in her driving skills. She enjoyed manual gears that could be double-clutched, and above all, she loved the sound and vibrations of the engine. Her car had no radio or stereo. While driving, she couldn’t stand not hearing the engine’s sound. She had never analyzed it herself, but she simply loved all engine and motor sounds.

Aren’t you sleepy? Saikawa sank deep into the passenger seat, clasping his hands above his head, and asked her.

Yes, just a little, Moe replied.

Moe started the car quietly. The pleasant breeze tousled her hair.

After that experiment, I planned to ask Sensei a few questions, Moe said, glancing briefly at Saikawa.

Questions about what?

What were they doing? What were those machines for? Why were they conducting such experiments? What purpose will the results serve ...? Moe spoke rapidly. But ..., everything got blown away by that murder case.

Blown away? Saikawa laughed. That’s an unusual choice of words for you ... Not very refined. Blown away ... Umm, I admit it did get blown away.

Sensei, do you have an idea?

About what?

I mean, about that locked room ...

Locked room? What do you mean by locked room?

That place was a locked room ..., right? Moe stopped her car at a traffic light. You know, that shutter was broken, wasn’t it? The emergency exit was locked from the inside, and the only doorway was in full view of where everyone was. No one could enter or exit that room. How did the victim and the murderer both get into that room?

Well ... I don’t have definite boundary conditions, Saikawa said drowsily. We should leave the investigation to the police ...

To that bearded detective? Moe asked back as she started the car. He was a nasty character, wasn’t he?

The police are reluctant to enter university campuses. Especially, they tend to avoid entering national universities.

Since it was early Saturday morning, the roads were empty. The sports car, driven by Moe, echoed its pleasant engine sound through the quiet town.

Ah, Sensei, should you go back to the university? Moe asked.

No, I’m going home. It’s closer ... Saikawa replied.

Moe knew the location of Saikawa’s rented apartment. However, she had never been inside it.

They wouldn’t be able to use that laboratory for a while, Saikawa said, looking out the window. Unfortunately, their research will be delayed. For doctoral students, it’s a matter of life and death.

I have been wanting to ask you this question for a long time ... Moe came up with a question. Despite all the advancements in technology, is there still a need for experimentation?

Saikawa chuckled. Advancements in technology? Who said so?"

Err, no one in particular said so ... but ... doesn’t everyone say so?

Right, I know there are people who think so. Saikawa nodded to himself. They’re happy.

But researchers all over the world have been studying for hundreds of years, haven’t they?

Galileo did that ... about 400 years ago, if I remember right. Saikawa looked at Moe. He calculated the motion of planets and satellites and observed them through a telescope he had made. However, he didn’t know how much his own desk was warped. The internal stress distribution he left in writing was significantly mistaken from the fundamental understanding. When subjected to external forces, any material deforms and transmits force. This fact had not yet been recognized at that time. Galileo’s mistake was corrected more than 200 years later. It’s only very recently that we’ve been able to calculate deformations accurately. Well, even now, we can’t say it’s truly accurate. We still don’t understand infinitely many things, even in everyday phenomena.

Sensei, don’t you conduct any experiments? Come to think of it, as far as Moe knew, the people in Saikawa’s office always just did computer calculations.

You know, I specialize in history ... Experiments in that field are already finished.

Moe thought about what Saikawa had said but couldn’t fully grasp it.

They arrived at Saikawa’s rented apartment soon after.

Thank you. Saikawa got out of the car and closed the door.

Oh, Sensei ... I want to see your room, Moe said from the driver’s seat. Can I?

You can’t. You should go home and get some rest today, Saikawa replied immediately. I’ll take a short nap and, you know, probably return to my office around noon. I have a pile of work that I need to take care of.

Moe was a bit disappointed. Is there anything I can help with? Saikawa had never asked her for work assistance, and the chance of that happening was close to zero.

None, Saikawa responded immediately. He stepped back slightly in the direction of the apartment entrance.

Sensei, I err ... Moe stretched her body toward the passenger seat and looked at Saikawa’s face.

What? Saikawa was expressionless but a little grumpy.

Umm, it’s okay. Nothing ...

You started saying, so finish it.

I have a favor to ask ... Moe closed an eye in a seductive manner. Not allowed?

First, state the request. Saikawa said. Then, I’ll decide whether to say yes or no.

It’s a lifelong request, Moe raised one hand vertically in front of her nose.

You shouldn’t easily gamble with your life, Nishinosono-kun. I’m just listening ... So?

I have a dynamics report that needs to be submitted by Monday.

Ah ... Saikawa looked upwards and sighed. Still, he didn’t change his expression. Why do you have a report to submit during summer vacation?

You know ... Professor Mikami demanded ... Moe studied Saikawa’s complexion.

Professor Mikami was the strictest instructor in the architecture department. Every year, nearly half of the students couldn’t earn credits for his dynamics class. Demon Mikami was a nickname often whispered among the students. Professor Mikami was stubborn, but he was the type of researcher Moe liked, and in fact, he was one of the few professors worthy of respect. However, for some reason, Moe couldn’t develop a liking for dynamics. It wasn’t a matter of not understanding it. Rather, it just wasn’t interesting to her. As Saikawa had mentioned, the report to be submitted during this period was something she would submit for the third time. She wrote it as she liked and submitted it without consulting anyone, but Professor Mikami seemed displeased with it. She disliked discussing it with her friends, and researching books was also a hassle. Moe had intended to confer with Saikawa about it after observing the experiment yesterday.