昭和31年。静岡県で印刷業を営む望月次郎は、定年間近の田島刑事から「刑事捜査資料」の印刷を頼まれる。その犯罪事例の中には、時効を過ぎた土木作業員殺害事件の記述があった。事件には、「修善寺の遊女」大塚ハナと、天城トンネル付近で目撃された14歳の少年が関わっていた。
資料を読み、望月の封印していた記憶がよみがえる。「少年」は31年前の自分だった。そして大塚ハナは、初恋の女性だ。当時、はだしのまま手に手をとって天城峠を越えた、数時間の恋。ハナの笑顔、美しい歌声、手のぬくもり――夢のような時間のあと、自分と別れたハナは土木作業員を殺し、逮捕されたのだった。警察署での田島の強引な取り調べに、殺害を自供したのはハナであった。だが、不自然な自供ではあった。まるで誰かをかばっているかのような……。
そして事件から31年後の今、田島刑事はなぜ望月を訪ねて来たのか?なぜかくも執念を持って望月を追い詰めるのか?
やがて、事件の“真相”は明かされ、望月は、ハナと運命の再会を果たす。
Aliases
Showa 31. Jiro Mochizuki, who runs a printing business in Shizuoka Prefecture, is asked by Detective Tajima—who is nearing retirement—to print some “criminal investigation files.” Among the case files is a description of a murder of a construction worker for which the statute of limitations has expired. The case involved Hana Otsuka, known as “the courtesan of Shuzenji,” and a 14-year-old boy who was spotted near the Amagi Tunnel. Reading the documents, memories Mochizuki had long buried resurfaced. The “boy” was himself, 31 years ago. And Hana Otsuka was the woman he had first fallen in love with. Back then, they had spent a few hours in love, crossing the Amagi Pass barefoot, hand in hand. Hana’s smile, her beautiful singing voice, the warmth of her hand—after that dreamlike time, Hana, who had parted ways with him, killed the construction worker and was arrested. Under Tajima’s aggressive interrogation at the police station, it was Hana who confessed to the murder. But her confession seemed unnatural—as if she were covering for someone else… And now, 31 years after the incident, why has Detective Tajima come to visit Mochizuki? Why is he so relentlessly hounding him? Eventually, the “truth” behind the case is revealed, and Mochizuki has a fateful reunion with Hana.
日本語
English