Hand Collector Killer Case

* Anime
* Manga

The **Hand Collector Killer Case** is a serial murder case that happened in the Aichi Prefecture.

It is the fourth main case in the *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* series.

## Overview

In the Aichi Prefecture, three people—two men and a woman—were killed with a single stab in the chest. Afterward, their hands were cut off. Because of their killer's unusual method, he was dubbed the "Hand Collector."

After a similar victim was found in a truck that transported sculptures from Aichi to the Tokyo Central Art Museum, Omito Kawasemi and Yamane from the Aichi Prefectural Police travelled to Tokyo for a joint investigation with the Metropolitan Police Department. Amamiya chose Totomaru Isshiki to help them in this case. Kamomi Tekemono, a puppeteer and consultant for hand-related cases, joins them as well.

The latest victim, a man, had been wrapped in a cloth and his hands had been cut off. He only wears a T-shirt despite the cold weather. He also has a tattoo under his left wrist; Yamane, having seen it when he handcuffed the man last night, identifies it as a bird.

The night before, Kawasemi stopped a suspicious man by a crime scene. He searched his bag and found weapons inside; this identified the man as the Hand Collector. The man ran into an abandoned factory, and Kawasemi and Yamane chased after him, covering each of the factory's entrances. Yamane found the Hand Collector first and could handcuff him. He was still able to escape though; he even slipped past Kawasemi. Curiously the man from then is the man in the truck. Thus, it seems as if the Hand Collector is someone else.

## History

At the Metropolitan Police Department's headquarters, Amamiya informs Totomaru that Omito Kawasemi and Yamane will come to Tokyo for a collaborative investigation between the Metro Police and the Aichi Prefectural Police.

Right afterward, Kawasemi arrives and points out and corrects everyone's mistakes in the department: loose buttons, too-long nails, smudged glasses, usage of the wrong kanji, etc. While they watch him, Amamiya tells Totomaru that Kawasemi never misses anything with his "tweezer discipline" and never gets in trouble for his actions, likely because he even corrects his superiors. She also shares with Totomaru that she and Kawasemi were at the same police box as novices.

When Kawasemi steps to Toto and Amamiya, he labels Toto as having "zero talent" and states that he is unsuited to be a detective. He also tries to pick some dust off Amamiya's jacket, but she stops him by grabbing a pen and threatening to slit his throat if he were to touch her. After Amamiya tells Kawasemi that he will work with Toto, he and Yamane leave for the crime scene, leaving Toto behind.

Totomaru heads to the Tokyo Central Art Museum on his own. There, he quickly finds Kawasemi and Yamane and hears Yamane say that a truck driver unknowingly brought the corpse with some sculptures here from the Aichi Prefecture. Yamane takes off the cover that has been wrapped around the body and reveals that the culprit cut off the man's hands. Kawasemi and Yamane ignore Toto.

Toto wonders what he can do to help anyway when Ron calls to tell him to look to his right: Disguised as "Kamomi Tekemono," Ron has come to help Toto because he knew he is struggling with a case. Ron introduces himself to Kawasemi. Kawasemi is not pleased to have a "half-assed" civilian at the crime scene, even if Ron says he is a consultant. He tests Ron's platypus handpuppet, believing it to be hard like a bird's beak, and is stunned to find out that its beak is accurately made of rubber. Kawasemi reluctantly allows him to stay; Ron has to stay out of his way though.

Ron gets Yamane to brief them about the case's details, and Yamane informs them that the killer murders their victims with a single blow through the heart and then cuts off their hands; for this reason, he was dubbed the "Hand Collector."

Furthermore, Yamane admits that he and Kawasemi let the culprit escape last night. Kawasemi joins them and adds that the murderer found a chance to slip away and force his way past him when he got close. Because of that, he wants to be the one who solves this case. Ron replies that Toto is going to solve it which baffles Kawasemi. Toto remarks that, if Kawasemi and Yamane know how the killer looks like, they should be able to find him soon. Kawasemi then reveals that the killer's latest victim, the man in the truck, is, in fact, the man he and Yamane chased the night before.

Ron then examines the corpse in the truck. Afterward, he feigns that he cannot take off one of his handpuppets. Toto helps him, and while he pulls, Ron lets go of the puppet, throwing Toto back and toward Kawasemi who effortlessly dodges him. Then, Ron announces that everything went as "Toto" deduced: Kawasemi is lying, and he can prove it: Because Kawasemi was able to effortlessly dodge Toto, he could not have possibly been tackled by the killer, especially considering that he was handcuffed.

Kawasemi confesses that he has indeed been lying: He was not present when Yamane let the culprit get away and was instead looking for the killer in another room of the factory. He lied to shift the blame away from Yamane as he noticed that the case unsettled Yamane; his sleeve was even missing a button.

Yamane cannot believe that Kawasemi lied for him and apologizes. Meanwhile, Ron plays with his handpuppets and then points out to Yamane that he is again missing a button. This greatly distresses Yamane and he frantically searches for the button before Ron reveals that he found the button and made it his handpuppet's eye. Yamane is very relieved to see that "it's here this time." Hearing Yamane's words, Ron solves the case. Shortly afterward, Spitz Feier calls: He says that the corpse in the truck belongs to Minoru Mushanokoji and that he found the hands of the Hand Collector's victims in Mushanokiji's fridge.

After Ron tells Toto his deduction, Toto reveals what happened: Mushanokoji is the Hand Collector; the three sets of hands in his room confirmed this. He had committed suicide in the factory, and when Yamane found him already dead, he cut off Mushanokoji's hands to make it appear as if there was another Hand Collector and to cover up the fact that he lost his handcuffs. He also removed Mushanokoji's shirt because the blood splatters would have revealed that his death was a suicide, not a homicide.

Yamane confesses and breaks down in front of Kawasemi and asks for his forgiveness for staining his perfect career. Kawasemi forgives him and apologizes for putting so much pressure on him, especially considering that he has always known that Yamane does not handle stress well; he has simply grown too accustomed to him and taken him for granted. What Yamane has done is still a crime though and he may not be able to work as an officer again.

Then, Kawasemi tells Ron and Toto that he has seen through their relationship but will not pry into it. He also sees Totomaru in a new light now: Only because of Toto, Ron can fully display his abilities. He adds that, while they were helpful this time, he will solve their next case himself.

Kawasemi also tells Amamiya in his mind that she has a great subordinate; this causes her to sneeze and drop her food.

## References

1. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 5, page 21
2. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 5, pages 11-12
3. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 5, pages 2-3
4. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 5, page 16
5. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 5, page 13
6. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 5, page 27
7. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 5, pages 22-26
8. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 5, pages 2-31
9. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 6, pages 2-27