The note too was a forgery intended to mislead and focus attention on Azoth. Taeko was motivated to her elaborate revenge by the extremely poor treatment she received at the hands of her stepmother, stepsisters, and cousins and particularly by the treatment her mother (Heikichi's first wife, Tae) had received: divorced by Heikichi and impoverished, she had to waste her life selling cigarettes on the street. After Mitarai explains everything, the police take credit and news soon arrives that Taeko has committed suicide, after sending a letter to Mitarai detailing her exact role in the story.
The note was fabricated to mislead and focus attention on Azoth; Taeko's revenge stemmed from poor treatment by her stepmother, stepsisters, and cousins, particularly at the hands of her mother (Heikichi's first wife, Tae), who was divorced and impoverished—forced into selling cigarettes. After Mitarai explained everything, the police took credit, and news arrived that Taeko had committed suicide, detailing her role in the story.