When did it get so late?
Maybe if I leave the precinct right now and really floor it, I can still make it in time?
Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm a detective, after all.
Oh, who's that coming this way?
It's the Chief of the Special Investigation Unit!
"Looks like you're all ready to go."
"H-Hey, Chief...! What's up?"
"What do you mean, 'What's up?' Don't tell me you forgot."
Drat!
That's exactly what's happened.
I was promoted to detective recently -- just this past autumn, in fact.
And instead of some stuffy speech to mark the occasion, I said we should go for dinner sometime... I think.
"I'm so sorry! I... kinda have somewhere to be."
"Now? And where exactly are you going at this time of night, eh?"
"Umm, uh..."
Look, I'm not some bad guy who can lie convincingly on the spot.
I'm a detective, after all!
"Th-The junkyard on the outskirts of town."
"The junkyard? You going there to throw something out?"
"Not... exactly."
"Then you're going there to pick something up?"
"........."
Help. I don't know how to respond to that.
Because that's technically what I'm planning to do... sorta.
The Chief's face clouded over in annoyance.
"I don't believe this. Are you saying garbage is more important than me?"
"No, that's not it at all..."
"Besides, you're the one who picked tonight in the first place."
Ah, I did, didn't I?
...Oh, well.
Guess I don't have a choice. I'll just have to go eat with the Chief.
And when I do...
I'll have to find the right moment to knock him completely unconscious.
Or would that be going too far?
Definitely not. The Chief would understand.
This is an emergency. No one would ever blame me...
Or is that only wishful thinking?
"...You're right."
"Thank you."
"Give me a second, though."
...To find the weapon that will hurt the least.
Just then...
"Ah, darn it!"
"Chief?"
"Sorry, but I'm going to have to reschedule."
"Huh?"
Well, that was unexpected.
...As if this whole conversation we're having isn't already that.
"I just remembered my wife asked me to take out the trash."
"I-I see..."
"Before she gets home, I mean."
"U-Understood, Chief! Loud and clear!"
I give him a salute as he leaves.
After all of that...
I guess trash turned out to be more important than dinner for both of us.
At least, that's what I'm gonna tell myself.
In any case, I'm glad that's settled.
Because I absolutely, positively have to be at the Zone D Waste Center tonight.
[Zone D Waste Center]
I'm running out of time, and the bad feeling I have is only getting worse.
If I don't hurry...
To be continued...