Maori Kogoro began to understand everything

Hearing Mao Li's question, Takayama Takayoshi was stunned at first, then explained: "Well, twenty years ago, my father divorced my mother and married this woman. It seems that she was also married and had a child, but her husband died."

"That's it..."

Maori was thoughtful.

……

To be honest, dozens of police officers from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division 1, Assault Division 3, headed by Officer Megure, have a love-hate relationship with Mori, who is now known as a famous detective - they "love" him because he can help them solve cases every time and they just need to follow him to pick up the results; but they hate him because he can bring them cases almost every week, greatly increasing the busyness of their work.

For example, today, the weather was cold and it was getting late (even close to the end of the get off work day). Many police officers who had been slacking off all day were thinking about going back to the heater to have a good rest, but Mao Li's phone call to report the crime started ringing like the death knell...

"Diplomat", "death", "investigation commission"... What can Inspector Megure do when faced with these words? They can only choose to go out on duty with the mentality of "work hard and bring down the Metropolitan Police Department".

……

Dacun's home.

"Please introduce the basic situation of the scene, Brother Maori."

Tired Inspector Megure said this while looking at Mori with eyes full of resentment, while Detective Takagi at the side resigned himself to taking out the police manual and pen for taking notes.

"Ahem, here's the situation, officer..."

After learning the general situation from Maori and asking the forensic personnel on duty to take photos, Inspector Megure gathered everyone in a room nearby.

"Is this a murder, Maori brother?"

Inspector Megure asked Maori the most critical question at the moment, and also expressed his own opinion, "I don't see any obvious external injuries on the body, maybe..."

"Poison."

Before Mao Li could respond, Hattori, who came over to take advantage of the commission, said this in a very firm tone.

Hearing this sudden voice, everyone turned their eyes to Hattori.

Hattori was calm and even seemed to be enjoying it. "The deceased was poisoned to death by someone. The evidence is that there is a small red dot on the edge of his hair roots and a needle next to his body. His lips and the tips of his hands and feet have begun to turn purple, and there are spots of blood on his conjunctiva. These are all symptoms of death from suffocation. However, there are no signs of strangulation or drowning at the scene or on his body. Therefore, it can be inferred that the deceased was killed by someone stabbing him in the neck with a highly toxic needle. Moreover, this poison should be a highly toxic one that can kill him instantly."

(Instantly lethal poison?)

Conan subconsciously recalled the red and white capsules that he had been forced to drink. According to the two men in black, it was a poison that could kill people without leaving any evidence and could kill them instantly. But a strange reaction occurred to him...

Maori noticed that Conan's eyes were distracted and instantly guessed what he might be thinking. So he rubbed Conan's hair to make him focus again, and analyzed:

"The needle that fell beside the body should be the murder weapon, but we need to test it to know for sure. But if it is the murder weapon, the murderer should have disposed of it instead of just leaving it next to the dead body... It's just a needle. It would be difficult for us to find it if we just put it in a random book... So, the murderer left the needle here for some purpose or use..."

Inspector Megure nodded in approval of Maori's analysis. He then held up his fat chin with his right index finger and thumb and thought:

"By the way, all the windows in the study are locked from the inside, so it's impossible to get in and out from the outside..."

After a brief pause, Inspector Megure paced back and forth and continued, "So, the only entrance and exit is that door, so the person most likely to have committed the murder is the person in your house who holds the key to this room."

After saying that, Officer Megure walked up to Tamura Koie and said, "Madam, there should be several spare keys for this room, right?"

"No," Dacun Gongjiang opened his handbag, took out a key and said, "There are only two keys here, one is in my hand, and the other is with my husband."

"On your husband?"

"Yes, he usually puts it in his trouser pocket."

"Well, let me see..."

Inspector Megure half-knelt beside the deceased, looked at the bulging belt of the deceased, reached in with his gloved hand, and took out a key, which was the key to this study.

"How, how is this possible?!"

Inspector Megure screamed.

Conan and Hattori also looked shocked, while Maori frowned:

"When we came in, the door of the study was clearly locked, which means that the murderer locked the door before leaving after committing the crime. The key to this room was always in the possession of the lady who entered the study with us, and the other key was in the double pocket of the deceased's pants. This makes it an impossible crime... Yes, a murder in a closed room, which is an impossible crime!"

Chapter 45: The shocked Osaka Black Chicken and Maori's idea of ​​solving the case

"Murder in a secret room?!"

After hearing Mao Li's reasoning, everyone present couldn't help but feel nervous.

Inspector Megure was no exception, but as the highest person in charge at the scene, he quickly adjusted his mindset and focused his attention on Hattori, who he had never seen before and seemed to have nothing to do with the case:

"By the way, who are you, little brother? Are you Xiaolan's classmate?"

"His name is Hattori Heiji, he's from Kansai, and he's a young detective like that kid Kudo Shinichi."

Maori was introducing Hattori.

"Hattori Heiji? From Kansai?"

Hearing the name, Officer Megure thought for a moment and couldn't help but exclaimed: "It's you? Are you the son of Hattori Heizo, the current chief of the Osaka Police Station, who is currently attending high school?!"

Hattori nodded slightly with an expressionless face, confirming what Officer Megure said - although his father was one of the most important figures in the Japanese police, he did not like to add his father's name when others introduced him. On the one hand, it was out of pride for himself and he did not want to carry the halo given by his father; on the other hand, it was also out of respect for his father and he did not want to work outside under his father's name.

Inspector Megure didn't think too much about it. He just put his arm around Maori's shoulders and whispered in his ear: "Hey, don't lose to him, Maori brother! Do you want to let this outsider and young boy show off? I put all my hopes on you, great detective!"

After saying that, Inspector Megure patted Maori's shoulder vigorously.

Seeing the two middle-aged uncles who were in charge of the matter still muttering, Hattori couldn't help but shout in dissatisfaction:

"What are you still doing? Judging from the body temperature of the deceased, and the fact that there is no sign of rigor mortis or death spots on his body, he must have died within thirty minutes before we entered the study. Therefore, the crime must have occurred between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m. Now it is most important to find an alibi for the person who may have committed the crime during this period as soon as possible!"

"That's right! Then..."

Whether it was a famous detective or a high school student detective, a great detective or a junior detective, Inspector Megure, who was used to being a tool without a mind of his own in front of these people, subconsciously acted according to Hattori's instructions. However, at this moment, Maori suddenly grabbed him:

"Inspector Megure, we're just solving a case. There's no need for all these fancy preparations."

"what?!"

Before Inspector Megure could react, Hattori's reaction was very intense:

"Are you really a detective, uncle? Confirming the alibi is the key to identifying the murderer in any case! You actually said that this is a fancy preparation? I didn't really say that you are a confused detective, and the reason why you suddenly became a famous detective is completely because..."

"You're the one who's confused, detective boy!"

Mao Li said sternly, "Do you think that a criminal with such high IQ who can commit such a murder in a closed room would not consider such a basic thing as an alibi? Would he not be prepared to deal with the police's inquiries? It's true that you, a high school detective, are smart, but the murderer is not a fool!"

"..."

Maori's sensible remarks confused Hattori, whose expression froze for a moment. After a few seconds, he turned red (his face looked even darker because it was dark to begin with) and loudly retorted:

"Even if it's what you said, uncle... asking for alibis can help narrow down the suspects! It's not some fancy preparation at all!"

Maori did not respond directly to Hattori. Instead, he put on gloves and carefully took the needle coated with poison from the forensic personnel and displayed it in front of everyone:

"Let me ask you, detective boy, if you were the criminal, how would you use it to kill the victim?"

"…How do you kill the victim?"

Hattori was stunned, "Of course, I would stab it directly into the victim's body..."

"Yes, just stick it into the victim's body, it's that simple. It's coated with a highly toxic substance that takes effect immediately, so a single stab will instantly stop the victim's heart. The whole process doesn't even take five seconds."

Mao Li said so, then paused slightly and continued, "So, what happens after killing the victim? If you were the criminal, detective boy, what would you do?"

"...What would they do? Of course, they would dispose of the tools used in the crime and leave the scene..."

"Yes, disposing of the murder weapon is the most normal thinking logic of a murderer. But why didn't this murderer do that?"

Mao Li's eyes sparkled. "It's just a tiny poison needle. Even if we wrap it up in paper and put it in our pocket and flush it down the toilet, it won't take long, right? Even if we add the five seconds it takes to kill someone, it's still a short time, right?"

"Could it be that..."

Hattori suddenly realized something, and Conan next to Mori's pupils also trembled instantly.

Mao Li continued to speak slowly according to his own thoughts: "That's right, the murderer didn't even have such a short time to recover the poison needle. This is the biggest doubt and key point of this case..."

"And if everyone present here were to put themselves in the shoes of a criminal suspect, it seems that they all have the possibility of killing the victim, and they all have plenty of time...with one exception!"

As soon as Mao Li finished speaking, everyone turned their eyes to the hostess, Tatsumura Kimie - based on the condition of the body, between 3:30 and 4:00 in the afternoon, this lady was the only one among all the people present who had contact with the victim for not even a minute!

……

To be honest, when Hattori saw that the police had found the key evidence from Tatsumura Kimie, that is, the keychain with a special design that could hold poison needles, he was in a state of doubt about his life - he never expected that Mori would be able to solve the case so easily with such an idea; he also never expected that Mori, who he thought was a fake detective and even looked down upon by him, would be the first to grasp the key to solving the case before he could even fully open his mind.

In addition, after Tatsumura Kimie admitted that he was the murderer, Mori seemed to say it unintentionally, interrupting the former's speech about his motive for committing the crime, which also confused Hattori.

He couldn't understand why the detective Maori didn't let Tatsumura Koie explain his motive for committing the crime, and the latter actually bowed to Maori in gratitude as if he realized something belatedly...

Of course, except for Tatsumura Kimie, everyone else present was as confused as Hattori. Only Conan, the fake elementary school student, was looking at the inconspicuous photo of Tatsumura Kimie and her husband when they were young on the bookshelf with a thoughtful look.

Chapter 46 Tokyo is peaceful, only the skyscrapers are blown up

Of course, Maori did not interrupt the explanation of Tatsumura Kimie's criminal motive out of bad taste or for no reason. In fact, the reason lies in the photo of Tatsumura Kimie when he was young that Conan noticed.

If you look closely at the young Tatsumura Kimie in the photo, she is even 70% similar to her future daughter-in-law, Katsuragi Sachiko - and combined with her attitude towards Katsuragi Sachiko and the fact that she attacked her second husband, Mori easily deduced the truth of everything.

Katsuragi Sachiko was the daughter that Tatsumura Kimie had with her ex-husband many years ago, and the diplomat she killed was most likely the murderer who killed her ex-husband...

If Tatsumura Kimie had been so rash as to announce this ridiculous situation in front of everyone, then Katsuragi Sachiko and Tatsumura Takayoshi would have become half-siblings, and the love story that was originally worth looking forward to for the two young people might have come to an end.

As someone who has experienced marriage and love, Mao Li knows how difficult it is for two people in love to be together in the end, so he does not want to let this criminal motive that has no value and necessity to be stated ruin the future of the two young people... In his opinion, there is no need for this pair of half-siblings to bear the consequences of the stupid things done by the previous generation of Damura Gongjiang.

Of course, Maori's action was not wishful thinking - the grateful expression and deep bow of Tatsumura Gongjiang before she was taken away clearly showed the wishes of her as a mother and a sinner.

……

Three days later, in the Mori Detective Agency, just as Mori finished watching the limited edition concert videotape that Yoko Okino gave him, a phone call came in.

"Hello, Maori Detective Agency."

Mao Li turned off the TV and picked up the phone.

"Detective Mori, huh? I'm Hattori Heizo, the father of the high school student Hattori Heiji you met a few days ago."

A calm male voice sounded on the other end of the phone, polite but with a hint of authority, "Thank you for dampening my son's enthusiasm in the last case of diplomat Dacun being poisoned, and for giving him some advice! A young man like him should listen more to the teachings of a famous detective like you!"

"No, no, you're too polite, Minister Hattori!"

Although he was surprised that the person who called was Hattori's father, Hattori Heizo, Maori quickly adjusted his mindset and entered the social state of an adult. "In the last case, no matter from which angle you judge it, your son's performance was excellent. Even if there were some minor flaws, they were just some minor problems that young detectives have, not worth mentioning... Well, at least in my opinion, the high school detective Kudo Shinichi who is as famous as Heiji is far inferior to him!"

God Amaterasu, what Mori said was sincere, without any exaggeration - Hattori Heiji is indeed a leader among Japan's young detectives, and is indeed more recognized by Mori than Kudo Shinichi, that pig who wants to take advantage of his own cabbage.

But at this moment, Hattori Heizo obviously regarded his words as a polite compliment -

"You flatter him too much, Detective Mori. Heiji has a lot of problems. He is still far from being good in every aspect! If you have the opportunity to come to Osaka in the future, please contact me and let me play the role of a good host. Let Heiji learn from you, the famous detective..."

"If I have the chance to come to Osaka, I will definitely visit you, Minister Hattori..."

Maori answered, then paused for a moment, "But speaking of Osaka, isn't there a bizarre serial murder case in Osaka recently? I heard that the murderer's modus operandi is exactly the same, strangling the victim with a rope first, and then piercing the wallet in the coat pocket with a knife directly into the heart..."

……

At the same time that Mori was talking on the phone with Hattori Heizo, Conan was lying on the sofa in distress at the home of Dr. Agasa, who was in Beika-cho at the same time as Mori Detective Agency.

Tomorrow is his birthday. Xiaolan had made an appointment with him to watch a midnight movie together at Mihua Cinema at 10 o'clock in the evening and to help him celebrate his birthday, but in his current condition, it is impossible for him to keep the appointment.

"We have to meet at ten o'clock tonight. It's really a headache."

"Then why didn't you reject her before?"

Dr. Agasa looked at Conan who was sighing and said.

"What can I do? When I see Xiaolan counting the calendars every day, I can't refuse her. And if uncle knew that Xiaolan not only asked me to go to the midnight movie, but I also rejected her, I would be doomed!"

Conan's tone was filled with despair. He then looked at Dr. Agasa and begged, "So, Dr., as a genius inventor, why don't you make me a delicate robot? It can meet Xiaolan on my behalf, and it can also bear the uncle's temper on my behalf..."

"You are asking too much. No matter how talented I am, I can't do it..."

Dr. Agasa stroked his beard, looking helpless.

Seeing this, Conan could only sigh resignedly and turned his attention to the TV news report.

"According to reliable information, a large amount of explosives containing ammonium nitrate were stolen from the Japanese gunpowder depot the day before yesterday by unknown persons. Currently, the police have dispatched hundreds of people to conduct relevant searches..."

"Explosives containing ammonium nitrate?"

Conan said seriously, "With a little processing, they can be used to make a lot of plastic bombs. It will be bad if the criminal messes up."

"yes,"

Dr. Agasa looked worried. "There have been too many incidents recently. There were several arson incidents in the past few days..."