THE PARTY REVENGE MURDER PART 2

Meanwhile the condition of the house had become very bad. Haruo's family was crying. Even the neighbors had come to see what was going on. Suddenly Conan's eyes fell on Kazumi who was consoling Ran. Tears also flooded her eyes but those tears and that sorrowful face seemed artificial to Conan. Instead a mad gleam was dancing in her eyes. " But what would Kazumi have to do with it", Conan thought "As I knew she was a good friend of Haruo. And the cake, candles and the table was all decorated by Kenji…but why, I think that Kazumi is involved in this murder…"

In the meantime, the police had arrived. The police inspector, Megure was questioning the people present there and the other policemen were inspecting every cobblestone in the room.

" So, you are one of the friends of the victim", Conan heard Mr. Megure questioning Ran. " Ah..yes", Ran replied." The explosion took place in this room and only Mr. Yoshikawa was affected. Can you tell me the time around which the explosion took place?", Megure questioned. "umm….. I don't remember exactly but I think it was around 6: 30 pm", Ran replied.

Then something struck Conan's mind." The time..yes. If there was any bomb around the table or fitted inside the cake, it would have exploded at any time. If any time, then Kenji could be victimized. Not only Kenji, anyone of us could be killed. This means the knife or the cake reacted so that only Haruo got the full blast of the explosion. And I think, I know who planned it."

Conan went near Hiroshi who was weeping bitterly and asked him, "Hullo! Do you know who brought the cake, the knife and the candles?" Hiroshi looked up at him and said," Yeah, I think I know. Kazumi was willing to pay for all the party items. She and Haruo were good friends at school. They both had entered the competition in which Haruo won. After that, I heard that some heated argument broke among the two. Kazumi also threatened Haruo that he won't be able to continue this happiness for long. But after some days they again became friends and so Haruo invited her to this party." After saying this. Hiroshi again started crying." Now, my suspects have become crystal clear. This horrible person knowingly killed Haruo", Conan thought.

Then he cleared his throat. Everyone turned to look at him. Then he stepped forward and said,''I think I know who the murderer is." Then he pointed his finger at Kazumi," it is you, miss." Everyone stared at Kazumi with disbelief." Hey, hey! What are you saying? Do I look like a murderer? You're simply suspecting me.", Kazumi said with an awkward smile on her face." "I not only suspect you but I'm fully confident in my deduction.", Conan replied. " And can you tell us how?", inspector Megure butted in." Firstly, you insisted in bringing the cake and the other party things so that you could add some explosive ingredients in it. And the candles. You bought some special candles so that when Haruo blew off the candles the smoke would engulf the whole room so that no one notices what happened. And when Haruo lowered the knife to cut the cake the chemicals on the cake and on the knife reacted with one another and it blasted off to kill Haruo " And does in that way every suspicion goes to me?" Kazumi said with anger on her face." Kenji brought the cake to the table. He too may have fooled with the cake on the way" " Kenji won't do it", Conan said, " And ,ah" Conan smiled," weren't you the one who said "'He's dead. Call the police."' That means you already knew that he was dead. Otherwise you would have called for an ambulance. It is because you knew from the start…..coz you plotted this murder."

Everyone was staring at Kazumi with disbelief. Ran went near Kazumi and held her hand, "Kazumi….. why did you do all these?" Kazumi let off Ran's hand, stood up and banged her fist on the table." Yes! It was me. I killed him. I am his murderer. And I am happy that I finished him off, I'm satisfied…" Then she fell to her knees and tears began to roll down her cheeks. " I murdered him because I could never forgive him. The scholarship which he won actually belonged to me. I had actually won the prize. But he…..he tipped off the president of the organization because he is rich, and well…famous. And he insulted me because I couldn't be the owner of the prize…..he insulted me because I come from a poor family and so I threatened the bloody cheater that he won't be able to continue this happiness for long. But that foolish man invited me to the party and I took the opportunity to murder him" Kazumi said ," And I'm not sorry…..I'm not sorry at all" . Then the policemen came, handcuffed her and escorted her to the police van. All the people, including Ran and Conan stood there, astonished. The police van took off and the figure of Kazumi slowly vanished from sight. Conan sighed "Life is not a bed of roses…..really."

THE END….