Woohoo! Another chapter! Only eight more left! :'D
Chapter Two
A stunned silence filled the lounge. The guests stared at each other in shock, unsure of what to say.
THUD.
Mrs. Ibuka had collapsed in the hall. Dr. Tsukuda rushed to her aid and called, "Moto! Help me get her onto the couch." Moto stayed rooted to the spot, so Kogorou stepped out and helped the doctor lift the maid onto the couch. Dr. Tsukuda checked her pulse and sighed with relief. "She's all right. Only fainted."
"Wh-what the hell was that all about?" Ran finally stammered. Conan looked up at her, worry clearly in his eyes. She trembled and said softly, "I-I didn't… he's not…" She fell to her knees and screamed, "I DIDN'T KILL SHINICHI!" Kogorou rushed to Ran's side, comforting the terrified girl.
"I don't know what this bastard is playing at, but nobody upsets my daughter and gets away with it!" Kogorou growled.
They think I'm dead? Well I guess that would make sense… there hasn't been any news about me for ages. But I'm not dead and Ran certainly didn't kill me. How dare they accuse her of something so horrible! Conan thought furiously. About that time, Mrs. Ibuka had come to, so Conan walked up to her and asked, "Who told you to put that record on?" He was having difficulty keeping a steady voice.
"Th-the master l-left it with our instructions," Mrs. Ibuka stuttered, "H-he said to specifically play it at this hour in the lounge." The guests had finally regained some sense and were muttering curiously amongst themselves.
"Was that record telling the truth?"
"How could our host possibly have known that…?"
Kogorou stood and said firmly, "All right, everyone, let's not panic. Someone is obviously playing some kind of cruel joke on us. Nobody's killed anyone." Everyone looked around doubtfully.
"I…I did." Ten pairs of eyes focused on Dr. Tsukuda. He wiped his brow and continued softly, "That girl… Mao Watanabe… she was on the operating table late at night. I-I'd been drinking and I didn't think I'd have to preform surgery… oh, God, it still haunts me!" He buried his face in his hands for a moment. The doctor looked back up at the other guests and said, "B-but I served my time! I went to prison, I-I was bailed out, and I had my license revoked!"
"My conviction of the death of Katashi Hashimoto is no lie, either," Judge Wakahisa said, "He'd been accused of committing a murder himself, but with his charisma and an excellent lawyer, he had managed to convince the jury that he was innocent. I saw through his petty lies and gave him the ultimate punishment. He was put to the chair the next day."
Mrs. Ibuka sat up and Mr. Ibuka sat down next to her, putting an arm around her shoulders. He said, "Mr. Sampson was a very old, sick, and rich man. He was to leave us his fortune after passing, but the court 'lost' that page of his will and what's worse, they accused us of his death! We loved and cared for that man more than anyone could! We did not kill him."
"Jiro Sugase was indeed my wife's lover, but I did not send him to his death," the General said promptly, leaving no room for debate. He hobbled over to the window and stared out at the storm raging outside.
"And what about you, Tojo?" Kogorou asked, eyeing the old woman suspiciously when she said:
"I refuse to answer."
"Fine. And you Himura?" Kogorou faced Himura. The brunette snorted.
"So what if I did? They were idiots, marching to their deaths like cows to the slaughterhouse. I was merely the shepherd." He smirked to himself.
"How can you say that?!" Ran suddenly burst out, standing abruptly and glaring at Himura through her tears. "They were human beings, not livestock!"
"Girlie, when you've been in as many battles as I have, human lives don't mean crap. And you should know, girl; you've killed too."
"I would never hurt Shinichi," Ran stressed every word, holding her glare. Himura snorted again.
"Then what about you, Kogorou Mouri? I've definitely heard of you… the Sleeping Detective? Sleeping Kogorou? Didja kill that woman… Horikoshi or whatever her name was?" Himura asked.
Kogorou grabbed Himura's shirt collar and slammed him against the bar. Glasses and bottles rattled violently. "Two things, bud," Kogorou hissed, "Never upset my daughter and never, ever mention Horikoshi again." Dr. Tsukuda and Moto separated the two men before things got any worse.
"Calm down, old man, ya might spill the drinks!" Moto snapped at Kogorou, quickly pouring himself a glass of whiskey.
Conan, who had been mulling over everyone's stories, asked, "What about you, Moto? The recording said you killed two people last year."
"Yeah. I was driving in a small town when two moronic kids thought it'd be fun to jump in front of my car. But who gives a damn! If they'd been smarter, they wouldn't have gotten mowed down. Natural selection, y'know?"
"And no one reported this?"
"Nah, some old geezer did, but with a little help from my bank account, I got off scot free!" He raised his glass and laughed, "Here's to the power of money! Let it live forever!" He downed the glass.
Conan nodded slowly and left Moto to his snobbery. He walked up to Ran and asked softly, "Are you all right?"
"Hmm? Oh, Conan… well, no, I don't think so," she replied hoarsely, kneeling next to the little detective. "I was just accused of murdering the boy I… well, you know. I can't help but wonder… May 4th, 1995… that was during those bombings at the mall*. I was trapped with a bomb, but Shinichi helped me diffuse it. Was he… was he hurt badly trying to get to me?" Tears reappeared in her eyes.
No, Ran, I'm fine! I'm fine! Dammit, I wish I could tell you that Conan and I are one and the same! Conan balled his fists.
Suddenly, Moto made a choking, gargled noise. There was a great smash of glass and everyone gasped as Hiroshi Moto collapsed on the ground, dead.
*see 'The Time-Bombed Skyscraper'!
