Conan: Science Cartoonist Kudo Yuji

"Well, let's re-identify the suspects in this case. First, Ms. Murakami, who has worked part-time in the Usagi store for nearly two years. From the information, I see that you were a student at Haido High School. After graduation, you worked part-time at a Chinese restaurant before coming here to work."

Takagi Shigeru looked at her again: "The Metropolitan Police Department found in a case three months ago that a burglar would come to your place every month for a drink, bring you some gifts, and then ask you to go home with him for a bowl of hot milk."

The meaning of this sentence was very clear. Perhaps it was because of the presence of children at the scene, but everyone understood the meaning. They looked at Murakami with surprise, and the manager over there started shouting angrily.

In the bunny beauty shop, they are strictly forbidden to go to the customer's home after work, because most of the women working here are interested in bunny girls and are unwilling to use their bodies to make money. Once one is found, it will be difficult for the shop to remain clean and it will only become an ordinary custom shop or close down.

Ignoring the manager, the senior girl seemed to be recalling who the person Takagi Shigeru was talking about was, and after a moment she finally reacted.

"Ah, you mean the guy on the bridge, right? I was wondering why he hadn't been here for so long, and now it seems you guys have caught him."

Murakami spread his hands and said, "The home robbery has nothing to do with me. You can't blame me."

"Of course, but the prisoner mentioned during his statement that when you were drunk you would curse at Miss Tomoda, which was very unpleasant to hear."

Takagi Shigeru felt Inspector Megure secretly tapping his shoulder. He stopped asking questions and looked at the fat officer curiously.

"Was there such a robbery? I don't seem to remember it."

"Ah, because I was on duty after receiving the call, and the other party did not resist, so I didn't report it at the time."

Officer Megure nodded doubtfully, but still asked, "Then when we get back to the Metropolitan Police Department, give me the case transcript and detailed information."

"Hey, then I'll continue." Takagi Wataru turned around and motioned for Murakami to explain why she hated Miss Tomoda so much.

"Tsk, that woman, she didn't accept any gifts herself, so the manager didn't allow the rest of us to accept any. I lost a lot of money." Murakami rolled his eyes in disgust. "She always pretends to be innocent, but who knows that she actually went home with several guests behind their backs."

"The autopsy showed that Ms. Tomoda was living a healthy life. Ms. Murakami, please tell me something that is not just your own wild guesses."

"Then I said, the person who anonymously reported Shangqiao must be this woman." Murakami snorted, "I was drunk and said something out of turn once, and she heard me. Then the next day, Shangqiao was arrested." "I have to correct this point, too. Shangqiao was arrested because he was seen by a few elementary school students passing by after he robbed someone. They secretly followed him and reported him."

Inspector Megure frowned and guessed who had made this non-existent report. He planned to go back home in the evening and call the parents of those children to praise them and ask them to "encourage" their own children.

"What did you do?"

Conan pulled at Kudo Shinichi's pants, but found that he was also wondering, and couldn't remember when he had run into this robbery.

"Then next is Mr. Mochizuki. The information shows that your original name was Nagano, but you changed your name to Mochizuki because you married into the Mochizuki family. Your wife, Mrs. Mochizuki, passed away a year ago, so the entire Mochizuki family was left to you. Is that correct?"

Mr. Mochizuki nodded stiffly, but immediately added: "Because my wife's parents died young, but the management rights of the Mochizuki family's business not only belong to me, but also to Mr. Shinjo, the butler, in half."

"Hi, Mr. Shinjo is your wife's old housekeeper, right? When we sent people to the Mochizuki family to consult the servants, many people said that you had said something unpleasant about your late wife after getting drunk. Would you like to talk to us?"

[Hey, what's going on? Takagi is really awesome today. He's totally unlike his usual self.]

Inspector Megure looked at Takagi Wataru who was at full speed, as well as Matsuda Jinpei and Sato Miwako who had just come in from the door, and raised his hand to signal them to wait a moment and let Takagi finish asking questions about the situation.

"This..." Mr. Mochizuki felt that everyone was looking at him and was very reluctant, but after being pulled aside by Kudo Shinichi and chattered for a while, he had to speak for his own personal safety.

[I think Mr. Mochizuki was completely blocked by Ms. Tomoda. If you don’t catch that guy quickly, you might be the next one.]
Obviously everyone heard this threat, but no one refuted it.

"Actually, this is all because..."

Mr. Mochizuki hesitated for a while, then hesitantly told the shocking truth: "My wife and I are only husband and wife in name only."

(End of this chapter)