There was nothing quiet or subtle about Ms Mochizuki's arrival. But then there didn't seem to be anything small or quiet about the woman, from her long nails, like red lacquered claws to her expensive necklace that bordered on gaudy. First she demanded to know why the police were there, when she was told that they were investigating her husband's death she wanted to know if they had caught his murderer yet, then things got messy.

"I assure you we have the best detective in Tokyo on this case!" Inspector Megure's voice echoed down the hall.

"If that's true Inspector why haven't you found anything yet?"

"I said we are still investigating at this time and I'm not at liberty to discuss the evidence we have!"

"Is that because you haven't found anything or because you don't know what to do with what you have found?" She burst into the room and glared at the four teens standing in the room. "What are these children doing in here?"

"That is Kudo Shinichi who is aiding us in the investigation."

"Unbelievable! You need help from a teenager? I didn't think you were that incompetent!" She sneered down at the shorter inspector.

"Madam, I understand that you have not heard of Kudo even though the press has been calling him "The real life Sherlock Holmes" for several years now…"

"I don't care if he's the reincarnation of Miss Marple or the son of that 'Sleeping' detective! I want real detectives here, not some spoiled brats."

Ran and Kaito almost choked trying not to laugh as Inspector Megure and Ms Mochizuki continued to argue.

"Kudo, Kuroba, Mouri, and Nakamori are here at my discretion as civilian consultants and if you don't calm down and stop interfering with the investigation I will have you escorted to the station."

"Are you threatening me!"?

"No, I am promising to put you in protective custody if it becomes necessary. Please take a seat! "

Ms Mochizuki opened her mouth as if to say something but no sound came out, then she closed it, made a sound of disgust and stalked over to a chair to wait.

Because she was so irritated at the thought of Shinichi and Kaito assisting with the investigation Inspector Megure interviewed her himself while the four teens listened. Although Ms Mochizuki answered all of the inspector's questions she wasn't exactly cooperative.

"Of course my husband had enemies! And you should be after them instead of wasting your time here! You can't possibly think I was involved!"

"You were overheard arguing with him shortly before his death using language that could be construed as threats and all evidence points to his murderer being someone close to him, someone he trusted. And your attempts to interfere with the investigation look very suspicious."

"But! I…"

"Now tell me exactly what happened starting with your arrival here."

"I came to talk to my husband and we got in an argument. I… I think he has been having an affair again."

"Again?"

"Yes, again, he has had at least three affairs that I know about. After I left I went down the street to see a friend, by the time I came back here to get my car the police were here."

"So between the time you left after your argument and when you arrived here a few minuets ago you were with your friend?"

"Yes."

"We will need your friend's name to verify your alibi. As you left did you see anything suspicious?"

"No."

"Did you see anything at all?"

"Just that tramp of a secretary getting off the elevator holding a paper bag and some bum of a reporter hanging around the front door smoking."

The interview was interrupted by a call for the Inspector.

"Sir! We have something you should take a look at!"

"What? Where?"

"The north end of the parking lot."

"On my way."

Shinichi and Kaito followed Megure out to the parking lot; Ran and Aoko followed the boys. Once there they found several officers clustered around a car. The trunk was not quite closed and a small smear of blood, a partial handprint, stood out clearly on the pearl-white car.

>
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Tigger says, "Sorry it took so long, between work and sleep it's hard to find time to work on the story. I love the reviews that y'all give us. They are great!"

Manzanita says, "I see Tigger is being excessively Texan today. (rolls eyes) Oh well, at least it's not the southern California surfer imitation. The next chapter should be out soon I hope."

P.S. Thank you Fyliwion,

Juliechan,

the amazing spell checker (Glad to hear from you again, we'll try to fix ch 21 by the end of this week.)

Snickerer,

Vash,

Psycho King, (Who does and doesn't get shrunk has already been planned out and cannot be changed with out making this a completely different story but this is just the first of several fics. They won't be sequels and different characters will 'join the ranks of the vertically challenged.)

Data-Dog, (You're the first one to mention the Calvin and Hobbes reference!)

Xeno,

Jay Kamiya,

Joeshen, (Thank you, we put a lot of effort into keeping everyone in character and it's nice to know it's working.)