Chapter 23
Barren Trees
"Shuu," Jodie chided the man while he sat with his arms crossed. The recording repeated itself. It had been playing for several hours. Ash accumulated on the wooden table from smoking cigars. Alongside, he poured diluted bourbon into a crystal glass.
"You're been listening to it? How many times must I tell you that it contains no substantial information."
Sighing, he runs his fingers through his oily black hair. It had been days since he last took a shower, and he knew Jodie did not appreciate his unkempt appearance. As the woman marched over to the table he was seated at, she slammed down the cup of hot coffee. Akai felt slightly nauseated at its smell. She then turned to the curtains and pulled them open. Bright rays of the morning sun blazed in, and he winced from the sharp light. "What time is it?" he murmured, his tired brain failing to keep pace.
"It's ten in the morning. I suggest taking a bath."
Looking down at his shirt, he grimaced. It did stink, and he could only lean back in his seat. As he sipped from the cup Jodie offered, he reached for the recording again, pressing the play button while it started. A woman's haggard voice echoed through the study of the Kudou mansion— his base of operations for months.
"A meeting in Shinjuku, I'm not sure of the targets, but-" the woman whispered into the phone as she spoke to the FBI agent on the other end. She spoke in hurried, almost fearful haste.
A static noise was heard again, the woman clearly hiding her phone in her pockets. The woman wasn't the only one in the room. He could hear men talking in the background of the recording. Their voices were muffled, but he could make out several words.
"This has gone on long enough. Rum—"
It was the only sentence he heard. Again, he paused the tape, taking in the implication of the words. "Karasuma," Jodie interrupts, "Renya Karasuma, the elusive figure of the Karasuma group."
"The leader of the Black Organization," Akai said, reaching for the button again and rewinding it. The voice replayed.
"This has gone on long enough. Rum—"
They were conversing in what Akai could only guess was a private office. One, in which Rena Mizunashi—Hidemi Hondou, Kir, managed to gain access too. She was clearly hiding. Her silent bated breaths and the slight shuffling sounds as she adjusted herself to remain inconspicuous were indistinct.
Jodie's lips formed a grim line. The woman's fate remained unknown. However, in the reports written on the thumb drive, the name Kir...had clearly been scratched out, redacted, and buried within the deep files of the Karasuma group, a woman who was killed soon after the FBI serial murder case that happened months ago. It was a case in which they were pitted against Gin and the other members. There were close calls, and Camel almost died. Kir's last words to him were a telling reminder of her position within the organization. Of orders, she could not disobey—if she were to keep the farce up. A double agent spy who unfortunately went too far.
"They speak of fire. A sunset manor. I can't say much, but—"
Then there was a long pause, followed by a scuffle. Akai stiffened when Kir screamed. Something like a gunshot sounded from a shotgun. Her phone fell to the ground, making a few thumping noises as it landed.
"Kir," Akai recognized the voice anywhere. He had worked with the man before. A cold-hearted, almost inhuman entity who presented himself as a gentleman. Hidden within omnipresent darkness, he presented an amicable persona.
"Rum," he muttered.
"Kindly tell me what it is you're doing here?" Rum's voice sounded through the recording as the woman breathed heavily, panting from what Akai could only speculate was a bullet wound.
"Who were you talking to?"
The woman remained silent. Jodie appeared behind him, clutching onto his shoulder as Kir uttered what appeared to be her final words.
"It's a feint! A puppet!"
The recording ended with a noise sounding like an explosion. The transmission was interrupted as the agent on the other end tried in vain to contact Hidemi Hondou again. The recording had only been delivered to him a week earlier. Akai scolds the agent, who took three months to give it to him. They dismissed it as irrelevant until the thumb drive retrieved contained information about Kir's supposed death.
Her death was reported in a news report leaked to the media by an agent who had since been fired.
Akai stops the recording. "Rum. Renya Karasuma," he whispered, turning back to the notes he had scrawled while listening to the tape.
"And a sunset manor," Jodie continued, reading from his notes.
"She lost her life trying to tell us something," she whispered, and he nodded in agreement. Stubbing the cigar onto a pan, he stood up, lifting his black coat from the chair.
"She would not die in vain," he said as he picked up the tape. "If anything," he turns to Jodie, who groaned.
"More research?" she asked.
"Thanks, Jodie," he replied. In exasperation, the woman rubbed the back of her head before sighing heavily.
"A trip to Italy would be in order after this," she said. Akai smirked at her disdain before looking out the windows onto the street. Watching over a white manor belonging to a professor.
He spots them, a bespectacled boy dragging a somewhat disgruntled scientist. The auburn-haired girl protested under his grip. It was somewhat heartening to see the girl, who had been lying in a hospital bed, at least moving forward.
"Please, Dai-chan."
And she lingers, her touch gentle against his cheeks. Taking a whiff of the cigar, he swallows the bitter smoke circling around and burning his throat.
"I'm going out," he told Jodie, who sighed.
"Speak to her already," she nags. Akai waved her away as he exited the house.
He would.
It was just—difficult.
For him, August 18th had little significance. After all, it was just another day, and it would have been if the date hadn't shown up on the thumb drive. It was a coincidence. He hadn't meant to pry—knew she wouldn't have appreciated the invasion of privacy.
Nevertheless, as he read reports of restricted experiments, test results, and photos hidden in confidential files, a flood of questions erupted, and he became excessively curious. Elena and Atsushi Miyano, creators of a drug—a curse that they passed to their daughter. A cruel, almost horrible lineage to give to a child.
Haibara had been right. The reports painted a disturbing picture. Their deaths were morbid, almost sinister. As he continued, though, what he found wasn't the nature of their death but rather...her name buried deep within. Shiho Miyano, 18 years old, date of birth—
It was discovered later by the children. Ran, putting the plans into action. The professor was ecstatic. The old man loved anything that involved entertainment and, most of all…food.
"A surprise birthday party," Ran joins the children, giddy with excitement.
As the date approached, he was dragged along to various shops. Materials were scoured through, and presents were purchased. Shinichi finds a rather intricate piece in an antique shop to the north. It seemed to fit her somehow, and he could only imagine her reaction to it. After the presents were purchased and the materials gathered, they were assigned roles. Ran to work on food instead of Shinichi, who would have poisoned it. Or the professor, as he would have eaten it. The two "man-children" used by Ran after she had heard Haibara using it— were assigned different duties.
According to them, he would be playing a pivotal role. A distraction of sorts to get Haibara out of the house while preparations are being made.
Shinichi found her in the basement working. Under her eyes were heavy bags. Haibara appeared haggard and looked like she had not eaten properly for several days. Although he insisted, she was stubborn, working feverishly on the drug as if it were a way of atoning for a sin she was adamant about.
"What exactly are you looking for," she asked when he inquired about her parents. Extracted from the thumb drive are the Miyano research files. He printed them out, laying them on the floor.
Despite knowing about the experiments, he was unaware of the scale. About the hundreds lost, about the innocent lives taken. About the last experiment gone so horribly wrong, it was redacted, and the information was almost erased. And about the deaths of the Miyano couple that were deemed accidental. A mystery that Shinichi desperately hoped to solve. The answer, always teetering on the edge, slipped away as he reached for it.
"Why were they killed, Haibara?"
"Perhaps it was revenge," she shrugged, "they had many enemies. I told you that, didn't I—"
A mocking smile formed on her lips. "They weren't exactly good."
The incident happened days ago, and she had buried herself in work. It was an excuse to keep busy. There was little he could do to stop her. Shinichi too, became busy with his own plans. Involved in covert operations by the FBI, worked on behind-the-scenes planning. Information gathered from the thumb drive formed a complex web. A world of deception and betrayal, of rats hidden within the Organization.
The days passed—August 18th arrived, and he found himself pulling a half-disgruntled, very annoyed shrunken scientist from the basement.
"Where are you taking me, Kudou!"
Haibara slapped him lightly on the back of his head, arms crossed, as soon as he released her. Her lab coat was still on, and she was holding a test tube.
He had forced her out of the basement while she was working on the bait drug. The specimen was still bubbling. "You'd better have a good explanation for this," she remarks as he laughs at her appearance.
"Don't worry. Everyone will think you're a seven-year-old playing doctor," he said as she stuffed the test tube down the back of his pants.
He shrieked, and she smirked. "It'll only itch for a bit."
"Haibara!"
Shinichi eventually led her to Beika Park. It had been Ran's suggestion. There was a fair that was set up, a mini amusement park. Along with the Ferris wheel, there were various other rides. Carnival games and food stalls dotted the area. The event organized by a well-known company in Japan. Shinichi hearing of them before.
"No," was her first response when he insisted on riding what he termed "The wheel of fun."
"Why not?" he pointed to the Ferris wheel. Although it was built on a relatively small piece of land, it offered impressive river views.
"You called it a wheel of fun," she replied. "But all I see is a spiral of boredom."
Though the screams of the children in front informed him of the truth—of why she wasn't keen.
"It's got its own charm, Haibara," he affirmed, "and you can see the whole city from there."
"So what? What do such events accomplish?"
"It's that isn't it?"
She regards him sourly.
"You're afraid of heights, aren't you?"
She snorted at his insinuation. "I don't care what you think," she deadpans, "I'm just saying it's a waste of money, electricity, and time. There are so many other things to do; why spend an hour on something that just spins?"
"Fun for fun's sake, Haibara."
"Well then, you could ride it. I'll head back."
He grabs her, dragging her forward.
"See, it's not so bad," he said a few minutes later. They were on the Ferris wheel. Haibara sits in the cabin seats opposite him, with arms folded and lips pressed together.
"It would be," she quipped.
"How so?"
"Knowing you, something will happen to keep us here, maybe a murder mystery or two."
"We're trapped in a tiny cabin, and all you can think about is murder."
"It's hard not to think about it," her eyes stared out at the lake, the amusement park, and the tall buildings beyond. The waters below shimmered with the golden hues of the afternoon sun. "When you are sitting next to a modern-day grim reaper."
"Sure, sure," he waved her statement away as the ride continued.
"A crane," Haibara spotted the white bird flying across the waters.
"No, that's a gray heron," he corrected.
"Its neck is curved in an S shape, whereas cranes usually have long straight necks," he recalled the information he read in one of his books.
"Why do you need the internet when you could just have a Kudou Shinichi?" she snarked.
Shinichi snorted at her statement. "If you think I'm impressive, just admit it, Haibara."
"No, that would just make your head bigger, and it's big enough as it is."
"It's inherited," he snapped.
"Hmm... " Haibara mused as she leaned against the wall of their tiny cabin, a forlorn expression on her face. He noticed it as she turns away, attempting to hide it as she stared out the window.
"What is it?" he asked.
"What?"
"Tell me what's wrong, don't hide it from me."
"It's nothing, Kudou, so stop fussing."
He groaned as he stood up, causing the cabin to shake. She glanced at him with irritation as he sat beside her.
"It's hot enough as it is..."
"You've been working hard," he continued, "I thought giving you space would be for the best, but enough is enough."
She fell silent when he slipped a hand into hers, giving her a tentative smile. "Haibara, I'm here to help," he leaned closer.
"I can never keep anything from you, can I?"
"No, call me a pesky housefly or whatever. I'm not leaving you alone."
Haibara surveyed him for a moment.
"Be careful what you wish for Kudou," she cautioned, "it may become your new name."
He scowled. "Haibara-" about to nag when she stops him, placing a finger on his lips.
"About my parents," she began slowly. "What did you make of them?"
"Why?"
Haibara hesitated and then relented, looking to the ground as she spoke almost inaudibly.
"I would just like an honest opinion," she muttered, "one that is perhaps unbiased."
"Unbiased?"
"They were hated by the organization's members, who were jealous of their accomplishments. And I knew them only by their nicknames and reputations. The research notes left behind seemed to confirm the theories of my parents being cold-hearted beasts."
The weather was hot. The sweat rolling down Shinichi's neck was a sign of the humid weather, but Haibara was cold. While she spoke, her fingers were icy, and her lips trembled slightly. Revealing feelings she would not have shared months ago. A private person by nature, she sometimes needed time to process her emotions at her own pace. Still, it was progress.
"My sister had very good things to say about them. But it was to be expected. They were our parents."
"So," Haibara continued, as forest green eyes gazed into his, "What are your thoughts about them?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Shinichi understood her dilemma. About parents, whom she had never met, told to her through stories. He had observed her longing and the sadness that came whenever she spoke of her family. The girl wanted an opinion that was not based on preconceived notions but rather on something observed. She wanted facts, which she believed he could provide.
The files were not pretty. They did indeed hold damming evidence. The Miyanos were not innocent. Reports described monsters who experimented without remorse. Of scientists who went too far, unable to turn back.
However, held within was a contradiction. Something painstakingly obvious to him but not to her.
In the confines of a forgotten bathroom given to her by a deceased sister. Recorded by a woman, she would never meet. A gentle voice from the past—that he had heard once before.
"Your mother's tapes," Shinichi started. "Haibara, no matter what I've read about them, that was all that really mattered."
"What do you mean?"
"Are you familiar with Rosalia Lombardo?"
She scoffs lightly and looks at him with skeptical eyes.
"Seriously?"
He grinned, "She was only two when she died of the Spanish flu. As he grieved for her, Mario Lombardo enlisted an embalmer to preserve her body. A hundred years have passed, but she's as good as new, one of the best-preserved bodies in the world."
"What are you getting at?"
"It's not the first time anyone has attempted to preserve the dead. People, whether in Ancient Egypt, China, or Mesopotamian cities, have always kept the dead close. Objects, figurines, anything, and everything that bears a reminder of their loved ones. To cherish them as they endure the test of time. The living moves on, Haibara. We carry— memories of the dead."
Through long auburn bangs, she peered at him thoughtfully.
"She recorded those tapes for you," He continued, "You asked for an opinion, and all I see is a woman trying hard to be a mother." Brushing his hands through his hair, lips curling into an ironical grin, "That should suffice, shouldn't it?"
She was still, and then she leaned against him.
"I would never have anticipated," she whispered, "that such a profound analogy could come from a corpse."
"Hey," Shinichi glanced at her with amusement, "It worked, didn't it?"
"Only because," Haibara muttered as he chuckled softly. "You're a corpse magnet."
The ride ended, and they exited the cabin, taking a stroll through the park. Shinichi glanced at his watch. He suggested going on the other rides with still a few hours to spare. Haibara regarded him with suspicion, and he shrugged.
"It's a date," he remarked as she scoffed.
"What next, a swim in the kiddie pool?"
He frowned, pulling her forward. It was getting crowded. Obnoxious music playing loudly in the background.
"Come on, it's not so bad," Shinichi grins, gesturing to the Merry go round they had passed earlier, "I know you've been wanting to ride that. You like horses, don't you?"
"If you call those horses, Kudou," the girl gave the ride a withering glance, pursing her lips at its almost grotesque and macabre colors. Some of the figures are Barbie pink, and others—lime green.
"You know," Shinichi mused, flinching at the shrieking children and the bright colors of the ride.
"Maybe the mini-roller coaster seems better?" he suggested.
"What made you change your mind?" Haibara quipped. They exchanged looks and sniggered, Shinichi about to lead her away when a scream pierced the air. As the sound of an explosion filled the air, Haibara pushed him back. Alarmed at the scene before them. The Merry go round, once lit up, stopped suddenly, lights going out as parents rushed forward towards the children who were crying. Sparks flew as gray smoke billowed from an electrical box just a few meters away. There was panic throughout the crowds of patrons, some running, others standing in shock.
"What!"
Shinichi was astonished by what just happened. There was a sharp grunt. He turned to find Satou-san colliding with a figure standing just a few meters behind them.
"You're under arrest!" Satou-san shouted.
Shinichi and Haibara ran toward the commotion.
"Conan-kun!" Takagi exclaimed, panting as he tried to keep up with the woman. Shinichi glanced at the figure that Satou-san had pinned down.
"Akai-san!?"
"Do you know this guy, Conan-kun?" Inspector Takagi surveyed the black-haired man lying on the ground. Light green eyes stared back at them with a certain calmness only acquired after years of training. After all, being restrained and accused of a crime, you didn't do would make most people panic.
"Yes, I know him," Shinichi said.
"What are you doing here?" Shiho studies the man. She hadn't noticed him.
"What is the reason for arresting him?" Shinichi asked Satou-san, who hesitated. The woman lets the man go slowly before sharing a look with Takagi.
"Is it related to the explosion?" Shinichi asked as Shiho sighed.
"He is the culprit," she pointed at the man she recognized as Moroboshi Dai. "So let's get the case over with and head home."
And the man stared at her in disbelief. His calm demeanor lapsed for a brief moment.
"Haibara!" Shinichi snapped as the inspectors again took a fighting stance to face the man in front.
"He is Akai Shuichi," Shinichi steps in front of the inspectors. "An FBI agent," he blurted out in a hurry. The man, whose real identity had just been revealed to her, stood up from the ground, smacking down his clothing, before pulling out a badge from his jacket.
They turned to Shiho, who shrugged.
"My mistake," she said and half regretted it when Shinichi and the inspectors chided her for it.
They were seated in Satou-san's car moments later. The red Mazada was parked in a nearby car park adjacent to the makeshift amusement center.
"A bomber?" Shinichi examines the live video feed which Inspector Satou was displaying. Despite Takagi's disagreements, the woman once again divulged confidential information. A nine-year-old boy is apparently more trustworthy than the entire police force.
"Well, what do you think, Conan-kun?" she moved closer to him.
"I'll have to ask Kogoro Ojisan," Shinichi chuckled nervously.
"Hmm..." the woman turned to Akai. Still unnerved by his presence, Shiho took to hiding behind Shinichi. He had only ever appeared to her when he was disguised as Subaru Okiya...and even then, the aura surrounding him was thick.
"So what are your thoughts on this, Akai-san?" she asked. Before bowing her head in apology, she stated, "I apologize for the man-handling. You were wearing an earpiece and seemed to be talking to someone else; we assumed you were working with the culprit."
The man nods and looks at the video. "How long has the feed been going on?"
"About two hours," Takagi scooted closer to Akai, a little too excited. Shiho suspected that the Inspector was thrilled to meet an FBI agent. He looked like a little boy who had just received an early Christmas present. "We got the feed around 12 p.m.," he elaborated, pulling out his notes. "It appeared on several high-profile video streaming sites. Although we have attempted to hack it, the culprit is using some sort of jammer."
"What exactly is the motive?" Shiho glanced at the screen. At the man bound to a chair. Wearing a blue business suit with a red polka-dot tie, he was in a mess, with blood running down his face. His collar was torn. Part of his neatly gelled brown hair was frazzled, and his spectacles were cracked. The man moans, his hands tied behind him. Ever so often, the flickering bulb above him swings, revealing for a second his bruised face. No details of the dark room he was held in could be seen. The culprit had made sure to hide any trace evidence that could reveal his location.
"A timer?" Shinichi pointed to the right of the screen. The timer had begun counting from thirty minutes, reaching the last ten seconds.
A figure appeared wearing a black ski mask. His voice distorts as he speaks. A video filter obscured the background. "This is not a drill, nor a farce," he said in a melodious mocking way. "There would be more explosions, and there will be nothing you can do about it!" Various comments appeared on the side of the live feed, some praising the madman's actions, others insulting him and telling him to stop.
While reading the comments, the figure simply laughed, answering as if it was a game.
"We are at the mercy of the police force's incompetence," the figure, initially playful, was now malignant. "I warned them, sent them several texts, e-mails, even phone calls about my plans and threats, but nothing was done."
"E-mails? Messages?" Shinichi asked.
"Yes, we did, but it was dismissed by the task force as mere pranks," Satou-san muttered.
"It has been four months, but nothing has happened," Takagi defended.
"Well, we now have a madman running the streets, playing god with people's lives," Shiho scoffed as the inspectors groaned and returned their attention to the screen.
"Incompetent, as usual. Despite what's presented, they remain blind while innocents suffer the consequences!"
"He's furious," Shinichi muttered. The eyes behind the figure's mask were now visible, showing an almost indescribable rage that seemed to simmer through the screen.
"And I'll fix their mistakes. So if you're watching~" he returned to his playful tone. "Let's see if you can stop me. Dimwitted sloths of the police department."
The timer, once again, dipped to zero, and the man seated by the chair reappeared. This time he was wide awake, seemingly struggling in the restains. Sobs filled the air as he screamed in terror. A voice echoed in the room he was in. He recognized it as the same sing-songy sound the culprit had used.
"There is no use~" the voice sang, "There is no escape."
The figure taunted the man as he screamed.
"Is it just me, or is his voice echoing?" Satou folded her arms.
"Underground, the hostage is in an underground bunker," Akai muttered.
"How can you tell?" Takagi-san asked.
"The darkness and unusual static, along with the acoustics of the video," Akai pointed out.
Takagi immediately recited Akai's deduction to the police radio, ordering his men to search for basements around the area.
"It's too personal," Shinichi noted as the voice continued to taunt the man on live video. Many of the comments were cruel, with some laughing and others asking if this was a joke—or if it was part of a new film.
"Every scream, little hare," sang the culprit, "every explosion, closer and closer, until~."
"Kaboom."
The hostage, with tears running down his face, screamed again. The scene was familiar, and Shiho was forced to turn away, closing her eyes to block out her memories of screaming men and women. While a silver-haired man killed them ruthlessly without mercy or remorse. When a hand was placed over her shoulder, she pushed it away, alarmed. Glaring at the FBI agent, who held back.
They regarded each other. He looked almost sheepish.
"Is there anything wrong?" Satou-san gave them a curious glance.
"Haibara?"
Disregarding the pale green eyes still observing her, she turned her attention back to the screen. "That mark," she points out, keeping her voice in check. "By the edge of the screen."
"Satou-san," Shinichi instructed the woman, who nodded. When they zoomed in on the laptop, they could make out a faint watermark of a corpse lying beneath an apple tree. It was familiar, something she had happened to chance upon. It made her heart race.
"That's rather morbid," Satou-san grimaced. "A symbolism of some kind?"
"Revenge."
Akai recognizes the symbol.
"Revenge?" Shinichi asked. Shiho hesitated, not sure what to say. But Akai apparently did.
"Vermouth had it inked, here," The man points to his inner left arm.
"What?" Shinichi gasps. The revelation was startling as Satou frowned at their statements.
"Vermouth? Tattoo? What are you guys talking about? " she asked, looking at Shinichi and then at them.
"A poison tree," Shiho whispered, "William Blake's poem about anger and vengeance. A personal—vendetta."
Haibara was adamant, almost furious. However, it was the only logical move, and while she reluctantly agreed, she wasn't happy about it. "We need all the information Haibara," he said, "And I can't be in two places at once."
"I can fix it with a drug," she muttered darkly. Shinichi folded his arms, looking at her with a sour expression.
She relented, though not without grumbling—stomping through the park with Akai following behind. Shinichi directed an encouraging gesture to Akai as he stared warily at her. The usually sullen man took a deep breath, almost as if preparing himself for a talk that had been long overdue. Both of them making their way to the nearby public library.
"Where are they headed?" Takagi returns after giving the orders. "What did I miss?"
Shinichi gave his sweetest, most innocent smile. "Ne, Takagi-san, Satou-san, mind if we take a walk through the park?"
While the Inspectors were about to answer him, he was interrupted by the vibrating phone in his pocket.
Satou and Takagi stared questioningly at Shinichi as he looked uncertainly at his phone.
Cursing, he picked it up, only to be met with the irate voices of the detective boys.
"Conan-kun, where are you!" Ayumi demanded.
"Why aren't you helping us with the preparations!" Genta continued.
"Have you forgotten the time!" Mitsuhiko quipped.
Flabbergasted, Shinichi looked at his watch and sighed. It was nearly four, and he had almost forgotten about Haibara's surprise party.
"Erm…I'm a little busy at the moment-"
"Conan-kun! Where are you!" Ran chided, and he had to scoot away for a moment from the prying ears of the inspectors listening quite intently.
"Ran. Look, I'm…"
With a gasp of indignation, her voice lowered into a whisper. "Don't tell me! I explicitly told you not to go too far!"
"Yeah. I didn't. I brought her to Beika Park, and well..." He continued, describing the explosion—about getting involved in a case.
"Shinichi, are you serious," she muttered, almost concerned.
"Well, yes."
"I'm coming over," she said without giving him a chance.
"Hey Ran, wait, there's no need for you to—" he couldn't finish. The girl slammed the phone shut, and he winced, groaning at her rash behavior.
Placing his phone in his pocket. He joined the inspectors who were waiting for him.
They explored the rides around the place. Despite the recent explosion, a few people still walked around the park. The police did not have the manpower or political power to shut down the fair.
"It appears that Baihatsu's president refused our order to empty the park, stating that he would sue if we were to even suggest such a plan," Takagi informed Shinichi. He was aware of Baihatsu Co-operations. It was owned by a man named Genkei Baihatsu, a blue blood who inherited wealth from the Meiji period. They were shrewd businessmen who owned many ports around the area. Their improvised amusement parks were almost legendary. They built them quite frequently—not only to entice potential customers but also to serve as a stage for politicians during the elections.
"Weren't they involved in a scandal of some kind?" Shinichi asked. He got puzzled looks from the Inspectors.
"That old man? Genkei? I'm not sure," Satou replied.
Swan boats floated in Beika Lake, next to the Ferris Wheel they had ridden before. And beside it was the pirate ship ride that was still swinging. Shinichi and the Inspectors walked towards the mini-roller coaster, which was still drawing crowds. Before making a stop at the recently exploded electricity box. The only area that was cordoned off by the police. Damage irreversible. Yellow tape circled the charred box.
"Ballistics reports haven't come in yet, but our experts predict it to be—"
"A remotely activated homemade pipe bomb," Shinichi muttered, cutting Takagi off. The man gawked at him as he ignored their warnings. Passing through the yellow tape, he squats in front of the burnt grass patch to examine the frayed wires and metal torn from its sides. Locating the plastic fuse that had started the bomb in the first place.
But why the merry-go-round?
Why the electrical box?
If the suspect wanted to cause as much collateral damage as possible to the police, wouldn't he want to blow up the ride itself?
Shinichi looked over to a nearby merry-go-round— that had since stopped functioning. Closed for the day, as the electrical box powering it was destroyed. Shinichi walked back to the inspectors, who were nagging him about his dangerous behavior, but he ignored them. Instead, he watched the live feed on the laptop Satou-san had brought.
The suspect wearing the ski mask was sitting there now, humming softly and swaying back and forth. On the screen, the timer still stood counting down from 30 minutes. Twenty minutes had passed since the last session, and the hostage had not appeared.
The faint outline of the watermark is still located by the top right hand of the screen. It was a strange scenario that Shinichi couldn't quite grasp yet.
"We got a call three hours ago," Satou-san revealed as they sat on a bench beside the pirate ship ride overlooking Beika lake, observing as patrons screamed as the ride swayed.
Shinichi not understanding the stupidity of some people. Still loitering in a park with supposed bombs.
"The culprit told us he would hold a park hostage, but the operators labeled it a joke," Takagi continued.
"Until an explosion happened outside the police headquarters, which took out the sign, and then the live feed started, followed by the explosion of the electrical box. The suspect led us to the park as if..."
"Testing you guys," Shinichi concluded.
"That bastard," Satou murmured.
There was something else strange about Takagi's previous statement. "Does this," Shinichi placed his hand on his chin, slipping into deep thought, "feel like a hostage situation to you?"
Yes.
Despite the suspect threatening to blow up the park, he seems to be mostly concerned with the police and the man shown in the video.
"Now that you mentioned it," Takagi contemplated his question.
Shinichi reviewed the live feed. The hostage and the suspect appeared to be in the same place. However, he couldn't seem to get rid of the nagging feeling that followed. If they were in the same place? What was the point of background filters?
"Scandals, a slew of them," Haibara began, her voice coming from the detective badge.
"Scandals?"
"The usual," Haibara elaborated, "Corruption, bribery, murder, and conspiracy theories. They may as well be another organization at this point."
Shinichi winced at her statement. "Baihatsu co-operation?"
"Yes, what's written about them is mostly buried under articles about their recent charitable events. A cover. One would think environmentalists would think twice before accepting funds from a co-operation that spews pollution into rivers."
"It's money, Haibara. Anything goes," Shinichi mused as she scoffed. "Are there any recent cases? Any incidents that seem personal?"
"Edogawa-kun, if I were to list every name with a personal agenda against the Baihatsu Family, I wouldn't have a list. I would have an infinity scroll."
"Hey, it's worth a shot."
"Well, you're not the one deciphering this mess," she replied. He heard her typing once more.
"Well, they were fined once. Made to compensate a farmer whose fields were ruined by the construction work done nearby. The pollution illegally dumped into his farm destroyed his ancestral land. He could be a suspect."
"How old is he?"
"Ninety-six."
"It isn't him."
"Ara, are you discriminating against the elderly?"
"Is he even familiar with the internet?"
"Are you, Mr. Luddite?" she teased.
"Logic, Haibara," he snapped as she chuckled softly.
"There are too many," Shinichi could almost hear her frustration in the way she was clicking the mouse in rapid succession. Slamming on the keys as she scoured the internet that wasn't giving her the information he wanted.
"Maybe something involving deaths. You said there were cases."
"Yes, but they were mostly accidents," Haibara muttered, "and workplace safety violations. Suicide lawsuits as well."
"That might be it."
"No, too vague. They've all accepted compensation," Haibara paused. It was quiet on her end; she was not typing anymore.
"Haibara?"
"Acquitted," Haibara stated almost solemnly.
"What?"
"Three years ago, Hideo Baihatsu was acquitted for the murder of a Ryo Sakamoto. A 63-year-old food seller who was stabbed in an alleyway near his store," Haibara finding the information he sought.
"Acquitted for murder? Hideo Baihatsu, isn't he the son of…" he trailed off, the puzzle seemingly coming together.
"Haibara, about the poem you mentioned," he continued.
"And into my garden stone, when the night had veiled the pole; In the morning glad I see; my foe outstretched beneath the tree," she recited.
"It's the last stanza of the poem 'Poison Tree' by William Blake and published in 1795 under the title Songs of Experience. The symbol that our suspect used is a famous drawing on a plate printed on a Rossetti manuscript—of a corpse under a barren tree. But in the case of our suspect, instead of a barren tree, he used an apple tree instead."
"An allegory of sin. Eve's temptation to evil," Shinichi concluded.
"Ara, as expected from the corpse magnet," Haibara quipped.
Shinichi ignored the teasing in her tone.
"In any event, it would seem that our suspect is seeking revenge of some kind."
"And the motive lies somewhere with the Baihatsu cooperation," she continued.
"Well, that is just speculation, Haibara, the hostage he holds. Have you figured out who he is?"
"Undoubtedly, Edogawa-kun, there seem to be millions that fit his descriptions. Surely, I can find him, like in an instant."
"I was just asking," Shinichi pursed his lips in response to her sarcasm.
"And I answered."
Shinichi mused, looking at the screen once more.
"Do you think you could—"
He didn't even have to finish.
"Ytube, N-Live, CentralPMedia— the suspect is broadcasting on several live streaming websites."
"Does he have an account, or does he use-"
"Proxies," Haibara replied. Shinichi regarding her statements. "So we have a wannabe terrorist streaming his debacle on a live streaming service with close to a million views."
"An excellent way to start a career on the internet if you ask me."
"There are other ways, Haibara," Shinichi chuckled.
"Oh, like what?"
"Something more innocent like food channels, hobby appreciation, travel blogs or—"
"Showing your private—" she interjected.
"Haibara, let's focus on the task at hand," he interrupts before she could finish.
He heard typing on the other end before she continued. "Parts."
"Haibara!" he scolded.
"In my defense, it is the quickest way. According to statistics anyway."
"What in heaven's name have you been reading," he grumbled, looking at the screen again. Something flickered at the side of the ground next to the culprit. Though the background was covered with a greenish digital filter, the ground was changing color.
"Probably not at the same place where his hostage is," Shinichi whispered, momentarily stunned. "Haibara."
"Shadows?" Haibara suggested, "I might be wrong, but I think the suspect is moving."
"Moving? But he isn't. At least, not in the video?"
"Maybe he's in some kind of vehicle."
Realization hits him, and he claps his hands together in triumph. "Haibara, you geniu—" he couldn't complete his sentence, looking up at two wide-eyed inspectors who were listening to his conversation with Haibara in stunned silence.
"What?" he asked wearily.
"Conan-kun, I want you to be honest with me," Satou-san squats before him. The pixie-haired woman stared at him intently with brown eyes. "Was Mouri-san ever involved?"
Shinichi gulped, slightly taken aback by the Inspector's sharpness.
"I've also been meaning to ask," Takagi squats beside her, taking him by the shoulder. "What exactly are you?"
"Mouri-san," Haibara's voice emerges from the badge, "He is Mouri Kogoro-san."
"What-"
"She's joking!" Shinichi slapped the badge shut and made a mental note to kill her later. The girl would be the death of him.
"What does she mean?"
"'Kogoro Ojisan has been giving me tips," he laughs nervously, "you know how he likes independence and doesn't like to give me answers. So he just tells me bits and pieces as I solve it. Haibara is being assisted by Akai-san, so it is not as if we are solving the case entirely alone."
"That seems like an excuse," Satou-san folded her arms in disbelief.
"It's true, anyway. Kogoro-Ojisan just called me so—"
As he walked away, he ignored the Inspectors who asked him to return. Shinichi turned on the badge once again, cursing into it.
"Thanks, Haibara," he snapped, and he could almost imagine the teasing smirk on the other end.
"Don't worry, you'll pull through," she countered.
"Easy for you to say!"
"Ara, aren't you Edogawa-kun, great detective extraordinaire, the modern-day Heisei Holmes?"
"So?"
"And you can't handle two police inspectors?"
"You are impossible," Shinichi snapped.
"Take it as payback for making me spend time with…" Haibara trailed off, "You know who."
"You know who?" Shinichi asked, "Haibara, he has a name."
She remained silent, not answering. And he could feel the pressure mounting. He decided to change the topic and focus on the current issue.
"About the acquittal case."
Lifting the badge, he was about to speak again when there was a loud rumble. Within seconds, Satou-san and Takagi were above him. Shielding him from a blast that hit nearby. Various patrons shrieked and screamed as debris fell to the ground. Shinichi gasped in horror as a heat wave swept by.
They barely had time to gather themselves when the culprit laughed. The voice gargled, filled with static but carrying subtle anger that was boiling over. And, in the live feed, a faint blurred image of Satou and Takagi stood before them, gazing at the carnage before them.
A sign has been blown up. One carrying the symbol of Baihatsu Co-operation. Sponsors of the amusement park. It now lay smoking and burning while smog filled the air.
"Time is ticking," the culprit sang, "and these idiots still haven't figured out the clues I have given them? Do you really trust these incompetent pricks with your lives? Your safety?"
"Look at them, pathetic, doing nothing when danger strikes. Always too late!" The culprit was almost screaming now, his voice distorted by the voice changer. In the video, Satou-san and Takagi are standing in front of the smoking sign. Their faces are obscured by smoke.
"Haibara, are you getting this," Shinichi whispered.
"Yes," she muttered. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," he said, looking at the video, realizing something.
"Get the fire extinguishers now!" Satou-san spoke into the walkie-talkie as Takagi ran to keep the gawking crowds away from the danger.
"Satou-san, Takagi-san!" Shinichi cried, "Look around. The culprit is filming. We might be able to track him down!"
The inspectors and police officers around the scene recognized the implications. Observing the crowds screaming and separating, Shinichi watches the mayhem. The situation was chaotic, and Shinichi had difficulty focusing.
"Trust is a funny thing, isn't it?" the culprit continued, his voice playing from the distorted video amidst the turmoil, "A fragile, almost fickle existence."
The video shifts back to a figure in the black ski mask, blank eyes peering into the screen, holding nothing but the fiery gaze of hate.
"A testament to human nature itself."
Trust. Revenge. Baihatsu cooperation. Ryo Sakamoto. Acquittal. A timer. The puzzle fits into place, almost reaching a conclusion. A smirk appears on his lips.
A heavy sigh ensues.
"Haibara?"
"Stop smirking; I can almost hear it from here," she replied. Shinichi narrows his eyes in response.
"That is technically impossible, Haibara," he replied, but his smirk grew wider, and she sighed again.
"So what is it this time, you corpse neodymium."
"...Neodymium? The strongest magnet in existence?"
"Ara, I think you deserve an upgrade."
"Ok, firstly, this case doesn't involve dead bodies, and secondly, that's pretty rude, isn't it!"
"There can only be one truth, was it not?"
"Oi."
William's Blake A poison tree is used in this chapter :D I hope you enjoyed the story and I'll see you in the next :) Thanks for all the reviews, I greatly appreciate it.