Exploded House

Chitanda

The police officers let us in the crime scene. We were told that a two-story house exploded. When I stepped closer, my eyes widened at the sight of a burned house. I find it odd that the debris are not scattered and there are no nearby houses affected. Mayaka came to me with a notepad ready on her hand.

"I asked a police officer. He said that the time of the explosion is estimated to be 8:43 am according to the witnesses. The owner of the house is Shoichi Kurosawa, an official of the Privy Council. Apparently there was a dead body found in the remains but it is still being identified. The wife, who came from the market, is here and she said that Kurosawa is should be inside the house at the time of the explosion. Kurosawa-san told her last night that he will be coming home from work in the morning, so she went out to buy ingredients as she wanted to cook something for her husband. I also asked the police and they said that there are no other casualties or injuries."

That is Mayaka for you. She is always efficient in these things. I, on the other hand, am not good in gathering information. I am more of a meticulous observant.

"Thank you for the information, Mayaka," I told her. Then I proceed to thinking the conclusion behind this crime. First of all, the dead victim here is most likely Kurosawa, a government employee. They confirmed that the house exploded and not burned. But why there is no scattered debris around? It is like the explosion was done cleanly. Moreover, the nearby houses, even the passerby, are unharmed.

I'm curious!

"Mayaka, did they found the bomb pieces?" I asked. Her forehead creased. "Yes. They found wire pieces and coatings of dynamites around the house." This means that several explosives were used. Again, why is everything else clean excluding the house?

I told her my thoughts. She agreed to this peculiarity. "We should ask a witness to explain what happened," she proposed.

We approached a police officer to let us talk to a witness of the incident. He led us to a woman who is in her late 30s. "Hi, I'm Eru Chitanda and this is Mayaka Ibara, we are the detectives assigned on this case," I introduced.

The woman's eyes widened. "You're the famous detectives!" she exclaimed. My cheeks flushed from embarrassment. It is still new for me to be given such praise by the public.

"Uhhmmm… Can you please tell us what exactly happened?" I started asking.

"Yes. I am on my way home when suddenly I heard an explosion coming from this house. I immediately run away knowing that it will be dangerous when I noticed that the house only collapsed without giving damage to the neighboring homes and nearby people."

"Collapsed? As in the house went down into rubble?" Mayaka asked to clarify. The woman nodded in reply when her mouth formed a round shape.

"What is it?" I cried.

Her eyebrows furrowed, deep in thought. "I forgot to mention this to the police because I was still in shock earlier. When I left my house by 7 in the morning, I saw a suspicious looking man entering Kurosawa-san's house. I ignored it thinking that maybe he is his visitor. Then after the explosion, another man arrived and immediately left with his car after seeing the condition of the house. The man was familiar but I couldn't point exactly who he is," she stated.

'This is weird,' I thought. There are too many possibilities on how this crime unfolded but I have a good guess of the persons who pulled this.

"Chii-chan, do you think that this is their doing?" Mayaka asked. I nodded although there is a bit of uncertainty on my face. "But…" I trailed off.

"They don't take someone's life, right?" she finished. I nodded again. Her face etched into worry. She held my shoulders for comfort. "We should wait for the result of the autopsy. Until then, we will believe that they didn't kill someone," she said.

I looked at her. Somehow I felt better after hearing that, so I managed a small smile. "Okay," was all I can answer.

Takeshi

I wanted to enter the crime scene but the police would not let me. Even Miss Ibara told me not to get any closer for I am not authorized. I can only nod in compliance. Deep inside, I am feeling disappointed for missing this opportunity.

I started to take down notes of what I can see as of this moment. Later on, I saw the two detectives talking with a middle-aged woman. After they left, I approached the woman.

"Excuse me, miss."

She looked up at me with scrutinizing eyes. "And who could you be?" she asked. I gave her a small bow as courtesy. "I'm Takeshi Iesada, a writer and the detectives' new assistant," I introduced. Of course the last part was a small lie. I can't risk this chance of getting involved in this thrilling case just because I am being too virtuous.

Her face softened, biting the bait. "Could you be a witness of this incident?" I calmly asked. "Yes," she replied. 'I knew it,' I thought. Judging from her stance, she already recovered from shock earlier. This will make things easier for me.

"Then may I ask your testimony of what happened earlier? Miss Ibara asked me to record everything down as they forgot to do it when they talked to you."

After telling me everything, I thanked her and left with a victorious smirk on my face. I searched the crowd for the two detectives when I found them waiting on the automobile. Miss Ibara has her hands on her hips and her forehead creased in annoyance.

"What took you so long?!" she yelled. I flinched and avoided her glaring eyes. "I got caught up in the scene that is why I didn't notice that you're already done," I bluffed. She let out a 'hmmph' and got inside the vehicle to start the engine. I got in the backseat, letting out a deep sigh.

I tried to ask them about the case and I'm lucky that they gave all the answers. I wrote down everything until I asked, "Then who do you think is the culprit?"

The atmosphere suddenly changed. The two detectives kept quiet, which made me more curious. A few moments after, Chitanda broke the silence. "If we were to base it from how the crime has been carried out and the victim, it is most likely that the culprits are…"

'Are?' Does that mean that they are more than one?

"Oreki-san and Satoshi-san."

I was taken aback when she mentioned the names of the infamous masterminds. "Can I ask what makes you think that?" If this has to do with them, then the more I should get myself involved. After all, this is the focal plot of my future novel.

"For these past six months, these two have been committing crimes that involved damaging property of those belonging to the government officials. But in these crimes, nobody was harmed even the targeted government official," she explained.

It has been six months now huh. I remember that time when I heard the news of two gentlemen stealing a governor's three automobiles. It was their first act. Afterwards, the governor stepped down from his position and the two masterminds proceeded to their next target.

I was shocked to hear that one of them is a friend of mine in the past – a co-worker that I find myself comfortable with when I was still working as a civil official – that is until he resigned from the job.

"Then do you know why they are targeting these government officials?" I inquired. It is something that I have been wondering for quite some time. What is up with him targeting the people of the state? Is he somewhat against them? If that is the case, what is the reason?

"It seems like you have a lot of questions, Takeshi-san, but I'm afraid we don't have all the answers to them including for that question," Miss Chitanda replied with disdain in her voice.

I asked more questions on our way back to the police department, wasting no time. They are mostly about their pursuit of the two masterminds. Their answers frustrated me. I thought that I will be able to have substantial progress in my work after today but I can see that will not be the case for there is still a lot for them to know about the depth of these masterminds' actions …. especially of his.

Chitanda

I feel so tired after answering all of Takeshi-san's questions. I feel disappointed of myself after discovering that I only know little about Oreki-kun and Satoshi-kun. We have been chasing after them for six months since their first crime yet we cannot figure out why they are targeting civil officials.

Is it that difficult to figure out or am I just lacking skills?

To be honest, I am not confident of my abilities as a detective. I am lacking in so many areas that it would be complicated if I start to explain each and every one of them.

We made our way inside the police department. We hope to get the results of the autopsy already in order to identify the dead body found in the remains of the exploded house.

"Chief Isao, uhhm… are the results out yet?" I asked upon finding him talking with an officer. He excused himself from the officer and turned to us. "You mean the autopsy?" he blinked. I nodded in reply and realized that my question was somehow too direct and without clarity.

"Yes and it was actually odd. The body belonged to a man named Nobu Watanabe," he answered. We are all shocked at how this case made its twist. We presumed that the body will belong to Kurosawa-san who is testified to be in his home at the time of explosion. If he is still alive, then, where is he now? Why is he not home as opposed to what Mrs. Kurosawa told us?

"I'm curious!" I exclaimed. Chief Isao smiled as if finding this funny. "I now leave this to your hands, detectives. The police department has their faith on you," he said.

I looked around and saw most of the officers' attention on us. I suddenly felt a huge amount of pressure on my shoulders. This is going to be a tough one. No, that is not right. I am a detective. Yes, I will definitely solve this case!

"Thank you for everything, Chief Isao," I bowed. He raised his hands sheepishly. "I should be the one thanking you. You have helped us solve our cases."

"I wonder if that was Kurosawa who arrived at the scene after the explosion and left with his vehicle," Takeshi-san muttered. "You think so too?" I cried as I leaned closer to him.

Uneasy, he took a step back. I felt embarrassed and put a distance between us with my cheeks feeling warm. Then Mayaka butted in with her hands on her hips. "Wait a minute. How did you know that? You were not with us when we talked to the witness!" Takeshi-san avoided our gazes.

"I might have happened to ask her after seeing you two talk to her," he uttered nervously. Mayaka puffed her cheeks. "W-Wait, I'm sorry. I was really curious about it and I thought that maybe this has something to do with the masterminds!" he quickly added.

She let out a breath and crossed her arms. But she still looked at him suspiciously. "Don't call them 'masterminds'," she pointed.

"Huh? Then what do you call them?"

This time, I interrupted. My chest suddenly felt heavy. "We call them tricksters."

Mayaka and I decided to let Takeshi-san come with us in our cases. We agreed that he might be of help in catching the tricksters especially when he knew one of them in the past.

Takeshi-san thanked us and parted with us. We promised to give him a call when something new comes up with this case. Mayaka and I went back to our apartment. Mayaka went straight to her typewriter and started recording the case. On the other hand, I went to the kitchen to make us lunch.

I let myself go deep in thought as I cook. I begin to piece all the clues together to form a conclusion. My trail of thoughts was cut-off when I heard a noise coming from my room. I have sharp sense of smell and hearing, allowing me to hear and smell things that others cannot.

I took off my apron and went to my room to check the cause of that noise. I looked around the room but I found nothing odd here. I turned around when I saw a man on the door, locking it.

His eyes lacking any emotion – the color also reminded me of a vegetable, asparagus – bore into mine making my heart pick up its pace. "Oreki-san," I uttered.

He stepped closer to me and took off his hat revealing his short unruly taupe-brown hair. He looked down on me – this tells that he is fairly tall – when I noticed his lips curving into a smirk. "Long time no see, princess." My cheeks flushed at his endearment. I looked away when I remember that this man in front of me is a wanted criminal.

I shoved him away from me and ran towards the door. However, he quickly grabbed my arm and pushed me. My back landed on top of my bed. Now his figure is looming over me. I felt afraid. I should be calling Mayaka or the police right now but my voice can't find to escape from my lips to scream for help. I felt stuck in front of this man, this criminal, that even though he is labeled to be dangerous, I feel otherwise.

He extended his arm to me and I flinched. I noticed the hurt flash across his eyes. Then I realized what he is trying to do, so I accepted his hand and he pulled me up to a sitting position.

"Oreki-san, did you kill that man?" I asked. His eyebrows rose. "That is why I'm here." He sat down beside me and I felt myself blushing when our arms touched.

"We didn't kill him. We don't even know that someone is there at that time," he said. He closed his eyes and stood up. "I'll take my leave." My eyes widened. I instinctively grabbed is sleeve. "I-Is that all?!" I cried.

He looked surprised. Then his face went back to being indifferent and bored. "What else do you want me to say?" he asked. My eyebrows furrowed. "You know exactly what I want you to say!" Without noticing, I raised my voice. I can't let him go yet. I still have a lot of questions. I still need him here with me.

He smiled as he put his hat on. Although it was a small smile, it made my heart skip a beat. "You're a detective. I know you can figure it all out. Besides, you have someone in your team that will be helping you a lot from now on."

Is he talking about Takeshi-san?

"Why - "

"I'm sorry, but I have to go. Don't worry, we will also look through Nobu Watanabe and when we find something, we will inform you." Before I can say anything, he jumped off from the window. I ran to it and peered over the sill when he is nowhere to be seen.