Suspects (because names can be confusing):
Kimura Takahashi - 25-year-old graduate student
Watanabe Taro- 25-year-old graduate student
Hiroshi Wataru - 25-year-old graduate student
Victim:
Kenta Tanaka - 25-year-old graduate student
Chapter 5
Partners
"I'm assuming this was a suicide?" Juzo Megure, a plump detective with his trademark brown hat and neatly trimmed mustache, looked skeptically at the three college students before him. They were visibly shocked and did not have a coherent explanation for Kenta Tanaka's apparent suicide.
"Kenta was fine," Kimura explained. "He wanted to rest because he was dizzy from the car ride, and we obliged. But he was gone when I went into the tent with the kids and professor."
"We formed a search party, thinking nothing of it," Hiroshi continued later, his voice quivering.
"Where were you?" Megure asked Watanabe Taro, who was silent, his expression grim. A white towel was draped over his shoulder, and his hair was still wet. "I was at the showers."
"Do you have an alibi?" Megure asked him.
Taro raised an eyebrow in response. "Am I a suspect?"
"No, but we need it for a report," the older man said, and Taro calmed down. "I was bathing. The boys could probably tell you."
"Is that true?"
"Aye, he came in with us," Genta vouched for him.
The boy gave the tall man a thumbs up, and Shinichi watched, perplexed, as the man let out a quiet sigh of relief. There was something strange about the situation. Everything seemed too convenient, and he had a nagging feeling. The same feeling he always had when something wasn't right.
"All right, let's go over the story again," Megure replied. "Kenta Tanaka slept in the tent until eight at night. Can anyone confirm this story?"
"We saw him," Ayumi continues, "right, Ai-chan."
Shinichi looked at Haibara, who shrugged. "He was sleeping inside the tent, wearing that pink snow hat." She pointed to the soggy article they had just recovered from the river. The police were still searching the area, but nothing significant had been found. Shinichi studied the hat before turning his attention to the dead man. Something clicked, and a smirk appeared on his lips.
"Ok, he was sleeping, but when Takahashi-kun returned, Kenta Tanaka wasn't there?" Megure asked, and the man nodded. "So you and Wataru-san went looking for him while Watanabe-san was taking a shower."
"Yes," they answered at the same time.
"And then, Takahashi-san found Kenta by the edge of the cliff, and he was distressed?"
The college student with a beard stared down at his hands. "Y...yes..." he stammered, still rattled by the memory.
"When you tried to stop him, he jumped. That's when you, Wataru-san, leaped into the river in an attempt to save him?"
The bespectacled man, still wet from his swim, nodded with a grim look on his face. He was unusually silent, his hands tightly clasped together.
"While this was happening, Watanabe-san, you were in the showers and only knew about it when Mouri-san called you?"
The taller man attested, his gaze lingering on the body of his friend just a few feet away.
"Hmm..." Megure muttered, "Then, it might have just been a simple suicide."
Shinichi could only sigh at the man's conclusion. He did not blame the detective, though. It had been a long day for him, and the evidence seemed to tie up nicely. The three college students had witnesses, but there was always something else, and Shinichi had the knack of discovering hidden secrets.
"Just spit it out already, Kudou," Haibara looks at him intently, "It's a murder, isn't it?"
"How can you tell?" he asked, and she gave an exasperated sigh. Taking her aside, he pointed to the pink snow hat on the ground before pointing to the victim's head. "Notice something amiss?" Shinichi blurted out, barely keeping his excitement in check as she folded her arms.
"I really can't be bothered," Haibara retorted, but she was examining the evidence intently. It didn't take long, and her eyes widened in realization.
"It's a murder," she concluded.
"Yes, and now, all we need to do is figure out who the perpetrator is."
"We?" she mocks.
"And?" he asked with narrowed eyes.
"Such a pain," Haibara strolls towards the scene. His jaw dropped as she squatted next to the body behind a police tape. The officers patrolling the scene didn't notice her fast enough.
They caught her before she touched the body. "Stop! What are you doing?"
After pulling her away, the officer put her outside the tape and gave her a stern warning. Shinichi glanced at Haibara as she apologized, pretending she was a little girl, her voice a few octaves higher. "I'm sorry!" she sang innocently, the police officer huffing and turning away.
"I thought you said—that was a bother," Shinichi said.
Haibara produced her phone, and he found a close-up picture of Kenta Tanaka's wounded, bloodied head.
"A traumatic brain injury," Haibara explained, "caused the death. Judging by the size of the wound and the evidence of a skull fracture, I could suggest that there may have been an extradural hemorrhage, but without physical x-ray evidence, I cannot be certain."
"That eliminates drowning as a possible cause," he muttered, and she agreed.
"There are four oscillating points at the victim's scalp, not caused by hitting river rocks," she said, "and even if it did, it would have to be at least…"
Her fingers formed a rectangle as she lifted her hands. "This big and well," she smirked, "…this shape."
Shinichi pondered on the consequences of her findings.
"Besides, I'm pretty sure the coroner would have figured it out soon enough."
"What?"
"Wait, you didn't notice?"
"No, what are you talking about?"
"I thought the great detective knew everything," she teased as he scowled.
"Anything medical-related is within your expertise," Shinichi reminded her.
"The body has been moved. He has been dead for quite some time," she shrugged.
"How is that possible?"
"Well, to start with," she said. Haibara pulled him a little until they could see the body behind the police tapes. Kenta Tanaka's corpse lay face down, and the wound on his head was visible. Haibara gestured to the victim's lower arms, and Shinichi noticed a deep purplish hue that spread from the victim's lower arms to his back. "This wouldn't have happened."
"Blood doesn't lie," Haibara elaborated mechanically. "A human body is like a water bottle," she grinned, "And blood is a liquid that corregulates. Leave it to sit in a position for hours, and it would solidify."
"Rigor Mortis," Haibara continued, "for blood to pool and turn that shade of purple, Kenta Tanaka would have been dead for at least eight hours. Of course, clinical lab tests would be required to confirm this."
Again, her medical knowledge astounded him. And Shinichi had to remind himself that she was indeed a scientist and had the training and education to be a doctor. Whatever the case, it did create several different scenarios that would assist in resolving the case.
"There is something else," she continues.
"Here, I thought I would have to do this alone," he smirked, and she gave him a warning glance.
"So what is it, great scientist," he teased, but she ignored him, looking straight ahead to the cliff. It was hardly impressive, and if Shinichi had a say, it was a rather unassuming rock face, relatively short in height. Even so, it could be deadly given the right circumstances.
"Considering that Kenta Tanaka fell from that place..." he watched as she eyed the side of the cliff.
"And?"
"I'm not sure, but perhaps we could..."
"Test it out?" Shinichi asked.
He had his suspicions about the case. The coincidences were too—if he had to guess, planned. Shinichi glanced at the three college students seated and being questioned by Juzo Megure. Well, he had theories, but he needed evidence first.
"So, to the cliff?"
"Yes, and maybe I can finally push you off."
"Oi."
After sneaking past the vigilant eyes of the police officers, they made their way along the inclined path. And towards the cliff where the victim was believed to have fallen. It had been an interesting hike up, to say the least. Across the muddy path, he found three sets of footprints. Their depth and mess indicated that those who came here hadn't taken their time or been calm for the matter. Haibara had taken photos of the prints in accordance to his instructions, and they were now lingering at the crime scene.
After avoiding a few police officers, the pair wiggled through the yellow police tape and approached the cliffs. Since the area was devoid of trees, Shinichi ruled out the idea that the killer hid in the thicket of the woods. After all, it would be impossible to commit the act in an open area and hide simultaneously. Kimura Takahashi had been standing just a few feet away, and Kenta Tanaka had jumped. Deep in thought, his hand rests on his chin when Haibara nudges him.
"Too short," Haibara folded her arms. "So, our suspicions were correct," Shinichi muttered as she eyed him.
"You mean my suspicions," Haibara said, and he raised his hands in defeat.
"Ok, your suspicions," he sighed, not wanting to argue with her when they were so close to the cliff's edge.
"What is the height needed to kill yourself?" Shinichi asked, relying on her medical knowledge as he peered at the cliff's edge to the waters below. "It is not the height that usually kills," Haibara states, "but the force of impact."
"Even a small tennis ball thrown with enough force can kill you," she continued, "Velocity is usually the culprit."
"Ok, but—" he looked down.
"The water would have neutralized the impact," she nodded. "Had the cliff been a few feet higher, I wouldn't have ruled out the possibility of suicide. But according to research and studies, at least 40 meters of elevation is required for water to be fatal. The water would not have been able to cushion your fall, and you would have been flattened. First, your leg bones would be smashed to smithereens, then your spine, and if you're fortunate, your skull, but if not—drowning takes over, as the pain from broken bones makes you lose the function of your limbs, which terminates your ability to swim."
The revelation unnerved him, but he wasn't surprised. Shinichi had seen the twisted bodies of victims who leaped into the water to escape police. The victims' bodies would be found later, their legs twisted in strange angles, their faces contorted in agony as they drowned in the watery depths.
"This cliff is at most ten meters high."
"Eight," Shinichi corrected her, and her eyes narrowed. "There was a signboard before the hike up, don't say you didn't see it."
"Ok, Hawkeyes, what else did you find?" He sighed as he walked closer to the edge and peered down. Haibara joins him.
"Not going to push me, aren't you?"
"Want to take a chance?" she retorted, and he chuckled. The waters below looked shallow, but they were deep. Shinichi heard one of the police divers say that the water was about five meters deep. As deep as an Olympic pool. He remembered the previous incident—Kenta had jumped, and Hiroshi had dived in to save him. A frown crossed his face. But if that were the case, his thoughts were interrupted by the beeping of his badge.
"Where are you guys?!" the irate voices of the children came through the devices.
"Geh, Genta-kun," Shinichi muttered.
"Where are you?!" the boy asked, and before he could explain, he heard Ayumi's voice.
"Conan-kun, what are you doing by the cliffs?"
As he looked down, he saw the three children staring up in disbelief.
"CONAN-KUN!" they shouted, their voices echoing in the forest.
Not wanting to attract the attention of the police, who were still wandering around, he ducked. Turning around, he saw Haibara squatting beside him.
"You fools, shut up. They'll find us," he told them.
The children complained, and he sighed.
"Ok, look, I have a very important task for you guys."
"Oh, it's a case. It's a case, isn't it!" Mitsuhiko-kun exclaimed excitedly.
"Yes," Shinichi replied, "can you head to the garbage disposal near the campgrounds? It should be near the mixed showers."
"Oh? What are we searching for?" Genta asked, and Shinichi smirked. "I'll tell you, but you must promise to keep it a secret."
"Ok!" the children exclaimed. While explaining the plan, Haibara nudged him.
"What-" Before he could say anything, he heard police voices nearby.
Shit. This was bad. If they found them now, they wouldn't be able to solve this case. Shinichi was on his way to hide when Haibara grabbed and dragged him back.
"I've always wanted to do this," she smirked, and before he knew it, they were hurtling down the cliffs together. Cold icy water hit him, forcing him to sink under the surface. After struggling, he arose later, soaked and coughing. When the strawberry blonde didn't emerge, he panicked and dove under. Shinichi expected to see her unconscious but instead found her standing still, watching something in the river's murky depths.
Turning on the flashlight, Hakase had provided him on the watch he was wearing, he swam towards her, and the deduction he had been making in his head was confirmed. He smirked before grabbing Haibara and pulling her upwards. After emerging from the surface, they gasped for air and crawled to the banks, where they lay for a moment.
"Haibara," Shinichi muttered between breaths, exhausted for a moment, "what the hell."
The girl panting behind him gave him an impassive stare before noticing the mischievous gleam in her forest-green eyes. "How's the midnight swim, Great Detective?"
He was about to give her a piece of his mind when he felt a great disturbance in the air behind him, and when he turned, he winced. Standing before him was Ran with her hands on her hips. If looks could kill—he would be dead.
"Conan-kun," she exclaimed, and he gulped. "What are you doing!?"
After many excuses and apologies, Ran finally dragged him to the toilets for a change of clothes. She did not spare Haibara either, as she scolded her harshly for trying to take a midnight dip in the river. It was a miracle that they believed his story and that none of the police officers saw them jump off the cliff.
"What were you thinking?! There's a murder scene, Conan-kun. You should know better!" she reprimanded Haibara and then turned back to Conan-kun. "Ai-chan, why did you join him?"
It was the first time Shinichi saw Haibara wincing. She was not used to being nagged at, and he could almost laugh at the situation they found themselves in.
"Ensure that you bathe properly!" Ran shouted and ushered them both into the mixed-gender showers.
"I shouldn't have bothered," Haibara sighed, taking hold of the dry clothes and walking into the room.
"Hey, I'm not the one who decided to jump off the cliff!"
"And how else are you going to solve the case? From the back of the police van?"
"And I thought you weren't interested?" he smirk, catching her bluff.
Her brows furrowed into an irritated expression, and she began walking away from him.
"Come on, you're enjoying it too," he teased and yelled when she stomped on his foot rather childishly.
"Unless you plan to take a bath with me, I suggest you find another stall, Pervert."
He spluttered and was pushed back when she slammed the doors to her stall shut. "So not cute," he grumbled and found himself in the showers Watanabe Taro mentioned just now. The floors were unusually wet, as if water had been splashed about haphazardly. He frowned. Even though the campsite is only cleaned in the morning, the shower's public side has already been cleaned. He did not smell the typical floor detergent used by most cleaners and concluded that the floor had just been sprayed down with water. Taking care not to slip on the slippery floor, he entered the stall at the end of the shower.
Shinichi pauses, finding two red maple leaves and a few branches near the stall drain. At first, he thought nothing of it and switched on the showers, but then something clicked, and he gasped. He had been wrong about everything. Initially, he had thought—
Shinichi bounded out of the shower stall, scurrying quickly towards the detective badge that was leaning on the bench next to his dry clothes.
"Mitsuhiko! Genta!" he called to the children. It took a while, but their answers came true.
"Ah, Conan-kun, sorry we're still searching."
"No, that's ok," he interrupted, "but which shower stall was Watanabe-san bathing in?"
"Erm…I can't remember," Genta intoned, and Shinichi clicked his tongue in frustration.
"At the last stall," Mituhiko replied, "he took a while, but once Ran-nee-chan called, he bounded out."
The scenario fell into place, and Shinichi could have hugged the boy.
"Thank you!"
"Ah, wait-"
Shinichi turns off the badge and waltzes into the stall, taking pictures with his phone before switching on the shower. He hummed a little to himself, satisfied with his deduction. When he emerged later, wearing nothing but a towel and singing a little song off-tune. He gasped as he found Haibara watching him, a glint in her eyes, her phone out, a red light blinking next to her camera telling him what she was intent on doing.
"Don't send that recording to anyone!" he warned.
"Ara, what are you talking about?"
"Haibara!"
"So, why is Mr. Tone death-kun humming?" she asked, and he gave her a seething look.
"You already know the answer, don't you," he retorted, and Haibara raised her hand, throwing his pants at him.
"Yeah, let's get out of here, Mr. Naked Detective."
Damm, that evil-eyed yawny girl.
They met with the detective boys later. Shinichi was filled with pride as the children pulled out the object he had asked them to find. The feeling was similar to a dad whose child won first place in a running race. The children were pleased with themselves when Shinichi thanked them.
"Figures they'll be good at this," Haibara told him minutes later. The children were trudging before them, talking animatedly about the case, and Shinichi gave her a questioning look.
"Every time they're out, they're involved in a case. It's a wonder why they don't develop mental disorders."
"I can't help my disposition," Shinichi quipped as she poked him.
"I would like to know if you release certain hormones that attract death," Haibara joked as he pushed her hands away, blushing slightly at how close she was. He could smell her shampoo. The scent was pleasant, like jasmine, and he made a faint note of it.
"I don't need to be part of your experiments. I'm already embroiled in one," he stated matter of factly and paused when he observed the look of hurt on her face, but it vanished just as quickly, hidden beneath the veil of stoicism.
"Erm," he started, and she held a finger to his lips.
"You're right," she replied without revealing anything. "But aren't you glad you've shrunk and aren't dead like the lab rats back home?" She smirked, and he was once more speechless. He couldn't tell if she was joking or if she was actually being serious. She waved him away when he tried to grab her by the shoulders.
"Haibara," he began as she thrust the voice-changing ribbon into his chest.
"Don't you have a case to solve?"
As usual, she avoided the subject.
He looked at the ribbon before him and then at her.
"And you still say you can't be bothered?" Shinichi teased, and she shrugged. Haibara was always like this, never being honest with herself, never showing him how she truly felt. He squeezed the ribbon in his hands and grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around so that she faced him.
"Thanks," giving her a giant grin, "partner."