Chapter 2: Ruined morning.

Kudo'estate, 9:09 am

Shinichi was in the library of his house, intent on choosing a novel to read.

Let's see a little ... What could I choose?

He wondered.

After a few minutes of reflection he opted for A Study in Scarlet, the first novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on the adventures of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, his absolute idol.

Tell about the first meeting between Sherlock and Watson.

He thought, smiling.

He opened it and started to read, but a cell phone ring stopped him at the most beautiful.

You're going to see that's Ran's bum!

He put his hand to the phone, pressed the green button and answered:

"Shinichi."

"Good morning, Shinichi."

"Good morning to you, Inspector."

"Sorry to bother you, but I need your help to solve a murder case."

"Alright, I'll join her right away. Where is he right now? "

"At Takagi Estate."

"Give me the address." As the detective said, he took a pen and paper.

"105-7403 Tōkyō-to Nerima-ku Kasumi-Tokonosu 3 10 43."

"All right, I'm coming."

The communication closed.

Shinichi snorted. The neighborhood of Nerima was located east of the Beika neighborhood (the one where he lives, NDA) and it would take a long time to walk. But he could ask for a ride to Dr. Agasa, his close and great friend of his father Yusaku.

Surely you will not deny me a favor.


In his laboratory, Agasa, busy working on his inventions, sneezed. He wiped his nose, thinking:

Or I'm cool or there's someone who thinks of me.

He resumed work, but suddenly he heard someone knocking on his door.

"Moment!" He said, then went to open.

"Good morning, Dr. Agasa."

"Oh, hello Shinichi! What do you owe your visit to? "

"I need a ride."

"For where?"

" Takagi Estate, in the neighborhood of Nerima. There was a murder there and Inspector Megure asked for my help in the investigation. "

"Ah, I see ... Well, I'll take you there willingly. Never deny a favor to a great detective like you! "The senior scientist said.

"Thank you."

"Of nothing ... Come on, let's go to the car."


Poirot Cafè, 9:18 am

Ran and Sonoko were sitting at one of the tables and chatting amicably.

"How are things with Makoto?" Asked the karateka.

"Magnificently ... Tonight, he and I will go to the Tropical Land, to let off steam!" Answered the brunette, dreamily.

"When we say coincidence ..."

"Do you mean that you and Shinichi will go there tonight?"

"No, we were there about a year ago ... Since then we have not set foot."

"Ah understood."

"Today we will go to the cinema instead, to see the latest film by Chris Vineyard: Boudicca."

"Bou-what?"

"Boudicca."

"Would be?"

"She was a queen of the Icens tribe, who lived in today's Norfolk area (eastern England). She led the largest anti-Roman revolt of the island's tribes. The film tells about her life and death. "

"Ah, I see ... European history has never attracted me."

"I see ..." Ran said.

"Does your father agree?"

"My father does not count ... I'm 17 and I can go out whenever I want, with whom I want."

"Right ... I guess you're going to sow the usual mess in the apartment, right?"

"Now that place is a pigsty ... Throw on the floor cans of beer and cigarettes and obviously it's my turn to pick them up."

"Does the private detective still do?"

"Yes, but his business is getting worse ... No one turns to him to solve cases, they all go to Shinichi or Saguru or other detectives."

"Why do not he change his work?"

"And what job could you do, in your opinion?"

"He's a judo expert, is not he? He could open a gym of his own. "

"I will propose it as soon as it is sober ..."

"And your mother?"

"I went to visit her yesterday in her law firm."

"How was she?"

"In excellent shape."

"I'm happy."

"Do you want something?" Azusa, the maid, asked them.

"A coffee please."

"Me too."

"Ok, they come in a moment."

As the girl pulled away Ran's cell phone began to ring. The student took it and pressed the green button.

"Ran."

"It's me."

"Shinichi ... Where are you?"

"On Dr. Agasa's car ... I'm going to Takagi Estate, where a crime took place."

"We have an appointment tonight, did you forget it?"

"Not at all, but duty comes first. And still there are still 9 hours to the appointment. "

"I know this very well."

"Then do not worry, I'll be punctual."

"Alright ... A tonight."

"See you tonight."

The karateka snorted.

Damn him ... I hope he keeps his word. When he is engaged in solving, he forgets everything else, even the most important things.

She thought, worried.

"Let me guess…. He has to solve a case, right? "

"Yes, Sonoko-chan."

"Stupid snotty detective ... Why do not you let the police think about it?"

"Because he's a detective ... A detective famous all over Japan. It simply does its duty. "

"You're too good, Ran ... If my fiance neglects me for his training I would not hesitate to betray him with the first one that happens."

"But you already betray him."

"What would you suggest?" Asked Sonoko, irritated.

"Nothing, nothing ..." The high school student answered quickly, raising her hands.

Better not to insist ...

She told himself, intimidated.


Takagi Estate, 9:56 am

As soon as he got down from Dr. Agasa's beetle Shinichi he saw the entrance gates of the estate, in front of which some police cars stopped.

"Wait for me here, Doctor."

"Gladly, Shinichi. And good luck for the case. "

"Thank you."

The detective walked and, once in the courtyard of the building, he saw Inspector Megure who was interrogating two men.

"Inspector!" He called him.

"Ah, Shinichi! I was waiting for you!"

"Where is the victim's body? I have to examine it. "

"In her bedroom, I'll show you now. We have not yet touched him for fear of altering the evidence. By the way, I introduce you Matsudo, the mechanic of the estate ... "

"Nice to meet you, young man!" Said a middle-aged man with short brown hair and brown eyes.

"And Mr. Yoshioka, party partner of Soichiro Takagi, leader of an ultra-nationalist group."

"You are Shinichi Kudo, are not you? The famous high school detective. "

"Exactly, Mr. Yoshioka."

"Your reputation as an infallible investigator has spread throughout Japan. I am sure that you will be able to shed light on the dynamics of this horrible crime. "

"I will do my best, I assure you."

"Now follow me, I'll make your way. You two can go, but keep yourself at the disposal of the police. "

"Of course." The two answered in unison and then took leave.

Shinichi and Megure also started.

"Can you give me some information on the case?"

"The victim was named Yuriko Takagi, stockbroker ... She was murdered last night, around 9:30 pm. The murderer stabbed her with a katana, ripping her belly."

"Do you already have any suspicions about the murder?"

"Yes ... A certain Takashi Komuro, 17, a student at Fujimi high school. We took him to the central station to interrogate him. "

"Do you have any evidence against him?"

"Some servants surprised him in the victim's room, near the corpse. He was holding the murder weapon. He escaped by throwing himself out of a window, he climbed over the gates of the villa and disappeared. We arrested him shortly after the crime, near the bank Teito. "

"Read with his hands in the bag."

"You can say so ... Few doubts about whether he is the killer."

"He confessed?"

"He did not open his mouth."

"I see ... I'll have to visit him later."

"Gladly ... Maybe you can get it to talk."

Arriving at destination Shinichi was faced with a macabre scenario: the victim (a woman with long purple hair, eyes of the same color and lipstick on her lips wearing a red evening dress) lay in a pool of blood, had a torn belly and a expression of pure terror impressed on the face.

It's beautiful ... Who could have done such a cruel deed?

He wondered, sad.

Wearing a pair of gloves, he knelt down and examined the body carefully, without finding any important clues.

"Did you say that the murder weapon is a katana?"

"Yup."

"Strange that a high school student has a similar weapon."

"In truth he belonged to Soichiro, the victim's husband."

"A real samurai ... Where is he now?"

"He ... He's comforting his daughter."

"Daughter?"

"Saya Takagi, 17, attends Fujimi high school and was a suspect's girlfriend."

"I see. Now could I talk to the servants who witnessed the crime? "

"Of course ... I'll call them right away."

The inspector left the room, returning shortly afterwards in the company of a maid and a butler.

"Meet the Lords Kaede Kozuki and Ryo Sayama."

"Did you witness the murder?" The detective asked them.

"Yes." The two replied in unison.

"Tell me the details."

"Last night, about 9:25 pm, Mrs. Takagi asked me to make a cup of chamomile tea. But when I went to her room to bring it to him I found myself faced with this mess. "

"Are you sure Takashi really wielded the katana?"

"Yes ... He frequented this villa often, since he was engaged to Miss Saya. I've seen it several times. "

"I see. And you, Mr. Sayama? "

"I was walking down the corridor when I heard the present Miss Kozuki shouting; I rushed and found Mrs. Takagi's body. Then I alerted his relatives and then call the police. "

The detective nodded.

"Inspector, could I talk to the victim's husband and daughter?"

"I do not know if they can help you now ... Both are destroyed by the pain of the serious loss they suffered. However, trying does not harm."


After a short walk Juzo led Shinichi into Saya's bedroom; here the detective saw a girl with pink hair tied in two tails and her orange eyes red from crying and wearing a pair of glasses and a white and green school uniform; judging by his appearance he must have cried all night. Sitting next to her was a man with short black hair and eyes like his daughter's; he had an impassive expression on his face.

"Do I have the pleasure of talking to Soichiro and Saya Takagi?"

"Who are you?" Asked the student, in a hoarse voice.

"My name is Shinichi Kudo, I'm a detective. I would like to ask you some questions. "

"The famous high school detective ... All right, what do you want to know?"

"To begin with you should tell me where you were last night."

Soichiro: "I was in my studio; I was on the phone with Yōichi Masuzoe, the governor of Tokyo. Suddenly Ryo, my butler, entered the room, exclaiming: your wife was murdered! This, of course, shocked me ... I dropped the receiver, then I stood up and ran into the bedroom, where I found my wife lying in a pool of blood. I waited for the police to arrive and told them what I had seen. Then I spent all night near Saya, who was saddened by her mother's death. "

Saya: "I-I ... I was in my room. I was studying to get prepared for tomorrow's exam. Suddenly I heard someone shouting ... I looked out into the corridor and asked what was happening ... He told me that my mother had been killed by Takashi ... At that moment the world collapsed on me ... I reached my room my parents ... And she ... She was there! "She said, covering her face with her hands.

"Tell me about Takashi ... What was your relationship with him?"

Soichiro: "I do not have much to say ... It seemed like a good boy, so I saw your engagement with my daughter. I've known him for years, and I considered him one of the family. "

Saya: "Takashi and I got together about a year ago. He was a charming boy, sweet, brave and friendly ... Anyone would like to have him as a boyfriend. Together we had wonderful moments, and thanks to its qualities, everyone had gained the trust of everyone here at the estate. "

"Did you have any other girls before you?"

"Rei Miyamoto, our common childhood friend. I never understood why they left off, or why Komuro wanted to get right with me ... In our high school, pretty girls abound. "

"So are you."

"Thanks for the compliment, even if I'm not in the mood to receive it."

"In your opinion, what could have made him kill her?"

"I do not know ... She considered him like a son, there were no reasons for resentment between the two of them, in fact they went out of love and agreement. But are you sure the killer is him? "

"I have to wait until the fingerprints are analyzed by the scientist to be sure, however there are two witnesses who have caught him in the act."

"Oh, kami ..."

Saya lowered her head, starting to cry again.

"Yuriko had enemies?"

Soichiro thought about it then answered:

"A few weeks ago a woman verbally assaulted her on the street."

"Who?"

"A certain Keiko Shino ... lives a short distance from here."

"The causes of the quarrel?"

"I think they are political ... That woman is registered with the JCP."

JCP, Japanese Communist Party (Nihon Kyōsan-tō). A minority political party of Japan founded on July 15, 1922. Its members were critical of capitalism and hostile to far-right movements, in particular to the Japanese National Socialist Workers' Party (Kokka Shakaishugi Nippon Rōdōsha-Tō).

"What exactly did he tell you?"

"She called her a bitch, a yakuza ... Yuriko then lost her patience and slapped her."

"And Keiko how did he react?"

"She turned around and left, threatening to report her to the police for injuries."

"I see…"

I'll have to have a chat with her.

"No one else besides Keiko?"

"My wife was a wise and lovable woman ... Her character was enough to avoid friction with anyone."

"Can you describe Keiko's house?"

"It's a yellow house with a red roof, and the flag of the JCP waves from the terrace. He can not go wrong. "

"Well ... Thank you, your information is very useful to me. I will let you know as soon as I have any news. "

He bowed with a bow.


"So, Shinichi? What do you think? "Megure asked him.

"Apparently all the evidence leads to that boy, Takashi. However I want to beat other tracks too, before declaring the case closed. "

"How do you think you act?"

"First of all I will question that woman, Keiko ... Then I also want to talk to Takashi."

"Well ... Do you want me to accompany you?"

"No thanks. But if I find out something, I'll report it to you. "

"I'm counting on it."

The two shook hands, then Shinichi headed for the house of suspected number 2.