Hey everybody! I'm in a particularly good mood right now ^_^ so I'm going to write, write, write! I am SOOO happy that I got so many reviews for Chapter 3! *dances around happily* Thank you guys! (Review responses at the bottom.)
By the way, I am so totally excited about the 8th movie, Magician of the Silver Sky, coming out! (Isn't everybody?) I'll put a brief description of it (from Shonen Sunday...I don't have it; I got it from a website) at the end of the chapter, okay?
Maintenant, continuons avec l'histoire!
Disclaimer: Who says I don't own Detective Conan? Of course I do! *stampede of lawyers* Okay...maybe I don't...*keels over*
Chapter 4 ~ Only One Truth
"The murder is...you!" Shinichi shouted, pointing at Tanaka.
"W-what?" Tanaka laughed weakly. "What are you talking about, Kudou-san? How would I commit murder?"
"I know what I'm talking about, Tanaka-san," Shinichi said, full of confidence. "So, if you will listen to my deductions..."
Everyone stood up straight to listen. Satou and Takagi actually stepped closer to hear better, even though it probably wouldn't have made a difference; the room was so silent that one could hear a pin drop.
"When the four of you were called to the control tower, you probably slipped a note to Mr. Carson, telling him to meet you on the second floor—and to make sure that no one sees him. When everyone noticed that he was missing, you specifically searched the room that he was hiding in—in fact, you probably searched the entire second floor. Am I right, Mrs. Carson, Miss Marina?"
They nodded. "Yes. He was telling us to search the first and third floors, and that he would take care of second floor." Tanaka's eyes widened in anger and shock.
"So, you came to us in the waiting room, asking us to find him. It was then that something unexpected happened—and this threw me off greatly—Yuki asked us to split up and find him.
"I was utterly confused by that. I thought that Yuki was the murderer for a while—after all, only the murderer would suggest such a thing! She also had a rope—the broken necklace. But no, she was no murderer. She only suggested that because she wanted to find her husband quickly. But you were shouting with happiness inside, weren't you? This way, you can throw the suspicion off of yourself.
"I made this mistake, then. I followed Yuki instead of you when we were searching for Mr. Carson. But after a few turns, I lost her—and after a few moments, she found the victim. Wasn't that perfect timing, then, for her to commit the crime? But you've already killed him, haven't you? As soon as we split up, you drove one of the airport carts that you've prepared to the control tower.
"When you got there, Mr. Carson's back was facing you. So, you strangled him until he fell unconscious. Then, with a knife that you've probably already stashed in the room, you stabbed him to his death." Shinichi took a deep breath and looked at Tanaka in the eye. "Am I right, Tanaka-san?" he asked in Japanese.
Tanaka looked shocked at this string of deduction, but he recovered quickly. "Oh, come on, Mr. Kudou!" he laughed weakly. "I wouldn't do that! Mr. Carson is one of my good friends! We've been hanging out ever since we've started working together. Besides, where is that rope that was used to strangle Carson with, anyway? And why would I kill him?"
"The strangling weapon, you say?" Shinichi grinned triumphantly. "Why don't we look inside that pocket of your pilot's notebook?"
Tanaka's eyes widened. He never would have guessed that this detective would be so intelligent.
"Yes…inside that pocket is a thin, long plastic rope. You see, I knew that it wasn't Mrs. Carson when the forensics team told us that the material under the victim's fingernails—which got there as a result of his struggling, mind you—was plastic. And on top it all, it was plastic. So, I began to examine the items. I was surprised, Tanaka-san, that your notebook is so tattered when Mr. Carson's binder was still brand-new. Then, I noticed that it was only the edges of your binder that was so frayed. Hence, I deducted that you had torn off the edges of the binder cover and—strangled him. That was your weapon. If you look in the pocket, Mr. Etou, you should find the edge of the binder that was peeled off."
Etou quickly moved over to the table where all the suspects' belongings were. He looked inside the binder pocket and indeed found a thin, long plastic string.
"So THIS was your weapon, eh?" Etou said.
"W-wait!" Tanaka protested. "That's just because my binder is tattered. You have no—"
"It's too late, Tanaka-san," Shinichi said sadly. "The type of material that makes your binder matches exactly, fiber to fiber, with the material found under the victim's fingernails. I'm sorry, Tanaka-san, but your plan to kill him did not work. You are the murderer. Just admit it."
Tanaka's knees gave away and he fell to the ground, a hopeless, faithless smile on his face. "I...I guess I lost, after all..." he said weakly. Then, he began his story.
"The first day that Carson, his sister, and her friend came to work for this company, I've been in love with Yuki. Her beauty, her kindness, her smile...everything about her was everything to me.
"Carson knew that! We were such close friends that I told him everything. I told him about how much I love her, how much I wanted to marry her. He was ever so supportive about our relationship, too...I really thought that I had a chance with her...
"But then..." Tanaka's voice filled with rage. "Then, that man stabbed me in the back and stole her from me! It was the day that I was to confess my love. I told him excitedly that it was going to be my day. That afternoon, when I asked her to be my girlfriend..."
*FLASHBACK*
"Oh, hello, Tanaka-san," Yuki said, her face glowing with happiness.
"Um...Yuki-chan...w-will you...be my...girlfriend?" Tanaka stammered, his cheeks turning red.
"Oh..." Yuki blushed as well. "Well, Bertie just asked me out this morning, and I already agreed...I'm sorry, Tanaka-san...we can still be friends, right?"
Tanaka's entire body was in shock. His reply, "yes", was so automatic. He felt numb...
Then, anger.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
"I had to take my revenge on that savage!" Tanaka shouted. "He stole the thing I loved the most...he betrayed me, so I stabbed him in the back!" He suddenly stood up and grabbed Yuki. "Did you know that, Yuki-chan? Did you? Do you still love that...that beast?"
Yuki stepped back and slapped him on the cheek. "I can't believe you!" she said quietly. "If you truly love me, why can't you let me be happy?" she asked. "Why...?" Her eyes filled with tears. "Why are you leaving me all by myself in this world...why did you take him away from me?" she cried. "Why...?"
Tanaka's eyes widened, as if he just realized what he did to the girl he loved. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Tears of anger and frustration and sadness. "I'm...so sorry, Yuki-chan," he whispered, reaching out to embrace her one last time. "I only wish...that I could have given you two my blessings instead of my hatred."
Instead of stepping back like everyone expected, Yuki let him hug her. "Tanaka-san...I can never speak to or even look at you again. I want you to know that." Her voice was soft but determined.
"But...I also want you to know...that I forgive you for what you did...because...it's the only thing that I can do for you. I cannot let hatred grow in my heart, like it grew in yours."
Tanaka nodded, smiled, and whispered, "Thank you." Then, he let the police take him away. Just before he exited the room, he turned around and asked,
"Kudou-san?"
"Yes?"
"How did you suspect that it was me?"
"Well, first of all, you asked me if I found and decoded the messages when I haven't told you about them," Shinichi said. "Also, you immediately knew that Carson was dead when we found him. You shouted that it was too late...how else would you know, aside from that you were the murderer?"
Tanaka nodded. "I guess I just wasn't careful enough, huh?"
Shinichi shook his head. "No...it's just because...there is always only one truth."
There! How's that for a conclusion of the crime? If you liked it, please review! If you didn't...well, just don't flame TOO badly, okay? I've found out that I'm quite sensitive... ^_^
Oh yeah, about the 8th movie...
From Shonen Sunday 11 (newest issue) (ah, no, I don't have
it):
Some 8th movie
story/plot details:
Popular Japanese
actress named Maki Juri visits Kogoro. She asks Korogo to protect her jewelry
called, "Star Sapphire" (Jewl of Destiny) from Kaitou Kid. She tells him
that she got an announcement from Kaitou Kid.
Next day, Conan,
Ran, Kogoro and Shonentantei-dan visit the theatre place. Kogoro suspects
that Kid will come on the last day of her theatre show to steal it.
Conan doesn't think so. Anyway, with his own reasoning, Conan waits for
Kid to show up... but it isn't Kid who shows up, it's... Shinichi!!
Of course, Conan
knows he is not the real Shinichi. But then Conan would have to reveal his
secret to let others (Ran etc...) how he knows it's really Kid. And
Kid knows that... He asks Ran to spend private time with him...
Anyway, the show
starring that actress begins. How can Conan protect her jewelry from Kid who
is disguised to Shinichi?
Somehow this
gets to that plane hyjacking...
Aiuchi Rina is
doing the film's song.
That's all I've got...sorry. I'll post as SOON as there are more updates!
Review Responses:
bepinette: Thank you for liking my story! I was hoping that I could create a suspenseful effect with my writing! I hope that you'll keep reading, and thanks for the review!
Eulene: Heehee...I'm personally very fond of cliffhangers ^_^ Thank you for reviewing!
chalicity: Thanks! I was just sitting in Algebra very bored, and BAM I thought up a mystery! Thanks for the review!
choco-flavour: You will know what happens to Shinichi and Ran in the epilogue, which should be up...as soon as my finals are over *tear* why must there be such cruel things such as finals??? Thank you for reviewing!
Applejack: Yeah...that was pretty much my reaction when I found out *dreaded music plays* the news...
Ke: Thanks! Did you figure out who the murderer is???
I am Sango: Congrats on getting the Internet! Thanks for reviewing!!! ^_^
Thalia-wong: Nope, the murderer is not Yuki! Good guess though~~that was almost Shinichi's guess!
hi: Yup, I guess you just found out who it is!
PLEASE~
REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!
And there will be an epilogue up...soon!!!
~Meitantei Lili, signing out~
