Subtitle: The Corpse that Vanished(消えた死体)
This is Eiichi Wakasugi(若杉 栄一)'s first appearance in the series. Eiichi is a loan collector for Osamu Tajimi(多治見 治)'s loan shark operation. Ken Abe(阿部 健), a man who borrowed money from Osamu, calls Eiichi and asks Eiichi to meet him so that he can return that money. When Eiichi gets there, he finds that Ken is dead, holding a letter accusing Eiichi of driving him to commit suicide. Dumbfounded by what he just read, Eiichi flees from the room and tears up the letter.
Eiichi calls Osamu to report what happened, but Osamu doesn't believe him. Osamu orders Eiichi to bring him evidence that Abe is dead. Eiichi goes back to the meeting place with a camera but discovers that Abe's body has disappeared. What happened to Abe's body?
Other characters appearing/mentioned in the story
Eiichi Wakasugi(若杉 栄一) - He works for Osamu's loan shark operation as a loan collector. He was in charge of collecting loans from Abe and was forced to use dirty tactics to collect that money. Several years ago, Sergeant Kaoru had helped Eiichi after Eiichi got into a fight with a fellow loan collector for using those dirty tactics. Sergeant Kaoru was the only person to attend Eiichi and Mako's wedding.
Yukiko Abe(阿部 由紀子) - The owner of Abe Funeral Home(阿部葬祭).
Ken Abe(阿部 健) - Yukiko's husband.
Osamu Tajimi(多治見 治) - President of his loan shark operation. He bonds with Inspector Ukyō while they both listen to Edward Elgar's Salut d'Amour at a classical music cafe.
Mako Wakasugi(若杉 真子) - Eiichi's wife who is frustrated with Eiichi's recent lapse back into the world of black market money lending operations. She confesses to Sergeant Kaoru that she is thinking about getting a divorce.
Atsuko Yagi(八木 厚子) - Widow who recently carried out her husband's funeral using the services of Abe Funeral Home.
Yūji Yagi(八木 勇司) - Atsuko's recently deceased husband.
