Chapter 40
Warning
"That is unfair, Mitsuhiko!" Genta, who had grown much fatter during the Spring break, was stamping his feet along the sidewalks. It was a sunny afternoon. Clear blue skies, warm spring winds, and drifting cirro-form clouds made for a pleasant day. Wearing a light blue jacket and khaki shorts, Shinichi leaned against the metal railings, sucking on a lollipop Kobayashi-sensei had given him earlier. The teacher had gushed over the assortment of sweets she received for white day from Shiratori-san —only to fall flat when Shiho asked about their wedding dates. The children escalated the situation by sniggering before launching into a teasing tirade that would put a clown to shame.
They were now gathered in front of the gacha machines neatly arranged outside the family mart they frequently visited after school. A popsicle in hand, Genta argued with the freckle-faced boy over their loot. Ayumi, standing between the two, attempted to intervene.
"You have to earn it fair and square, Genta-kun," Ayumi chided the chubby boy, who was having none of it. For nearly an hour, Genta had sat in front of the slot machine spinning for the rare prize—a caricature of Tokyo Tree Tower. The slot machine features cartoon representations of famous buildings around the world. The prize in the machine is a timed limited edition event. And as childish as it might seem, Shinichi, too, had been eying the tiny plastic figure of a brick building located at 221B Baker Street. It was tempting, and his fingers were itching to turn the wheel—but the cheeky, almost diabolical smirk on his partner's lips quelled any desire he had.
"What? "he murmured as she stood, observing the quarrels between the children in front.
"What?" she answered back, traces of her teasing gaze hidden under her reticent expression.
"If you have anything to say, just—" He paused when she raised her hand, finding a keychain dangling from her index finger. "How did you get that!" he scowled as she spun the plastic figure around her finger. The building— the home of Sherlock Holmes, his hero.
"I have my sources."
Mischief tinged her gaze, and Shinichi glared at Mitsuhiko. That little brat! The freckled-faced boy who had arrived at school this morning was raving about the machine, showing off the loot he had acquired the previous day. This was the reason they were all here. Taking note of Sherlock's residence in Mistuhiko's collection, Shinichi even bribed him with sweets and money. But the boy refused to budge from it. Stating that it was precious and that— "It won't be fun if you don't spin the wheel yourself!"
It was an excuse. Shiho had asked for it—and he had given it. A cunning, shrewd, auburn-haired scientist had tactfully taken the keychain from under his nose. Twirling it around her finger again, she watched him with a sly smile. Purposely goading him. Shinichi cursed. His pride and desire tether on a weighing scale.
It collapses, and he bows down with his hand extended. "May I have that?" he asked. Cursing his inability to resist anything that had to do with his beloved Holmes. Even if she asked him to strip naked, he would do anything to get it. Shinichi expected a task of such nature from her, but she instead handed the item to him.
Astonished by the developments, he takes the keychain from her fingers.
"That easy?" he asked. Noting that she was holding onto her smartphone. A light breeze flowed through her auburn bangs, and he caught sight of the remnants of a cheeky smirk. "No blackmail? No begging? Nothing else you have in mind?"
"I'm not that bad, Edogawa-kun."
"I mean, a few months ago, you would have made me dance to a pop song or something," he chuckled at her indignant expression.
"I can be nice if I want to," she huffed as he held the keychain in his fingers, inspecting the miniature figure of Sherlock Holmes' home with a wide grin on his face.
"Well," Shinichi replied, nudging her softly, "Thanks, Shi—" he wavered when she displayed the image on her smartphone. It was a photo she had taken moments earlier. The way he was bowing down and holding out his hands looked like he was begging. A closer look reveals that she had already sent it in a private message.
On cue, his phone buzzed, and he pulled it out immediately. Hattori Heiji's message was obvious— "Man, Kudou, never thought I'll see the day you admit defeat to my greatness."
He slapped his phone shut, glaring daggers at the auburn-haired scientist.
"Let me take that back," he drawled icily as Shiho shrugged.
"I mean, it could have been worse."
A photo on her phone displayed a Shinichi dressed in an unglamorous pink frilly apron preparing breakfast in the professor's kitchen.
Gawking at the sight, he tried to wrestle her phone away from her.
"Why, you little-" he grunted as they struggled. Shinichi grabbed her wrist while she pushed against his cheeks.
"Stop it," she demanded, and he pressed forward.
"Erase that!"
"Come any closer, and I might just accidentally send it."
"Why do you have that anyway!"
"Ara, will it threaten your masculinity?"
"What do you think!"
"No worries," she teased, "you can't lose what you lack."
"Haibara!"
A sharp bang reverberated through the air. It resembled a gunshot. In alarm, Shinichi immediately pulled Shiho close to him. The sudden commotion startled the surrounding pedestrians and passers-by. For a horrifying second, he expected to see a one-eyed beast racing toward them with an insidious smirk.
"What is going on?"
Genta and Mistuhiko crowded around them protectively, with Ayumi standing in front. They turned to the source.
"Look where you're going, you jerk!" The motorcyclist shouted at the passing vehicle. Just a few meters ahead was a van that had swerved hard and hit the metal railings of a sidewalk. The motorcyclist he had avoided was now shouting expletives at the driver. Nothing serious had happened, and pedestrians sighed in relief as they continued their daily commutes.
"An accident?" Ayumi observes the still quarreling men.
"The traffic police will arrive soon," Shinichi stifles his anxiety before looking at Shiho. Despite her calm demeanor, she had paled noticeably. She was not speaking, and he could feel her heart pounding painfully fast.
"Why are you hugging each other?"
The children eyed them suspiciously as Shinichi and Shiho pulled apart.
"You guys?" Mitsuhiko pestered.
"Well, Edogawa-kun here got scared," the auburn-haired scientist mocked, and he protested as the children laughed. Shiho's grin vanished as soon as they turned their attention away from her, replaced with a faint crooked grimace.
Rum. The entity had escaped. The incident occurred during a transfer from a high-security prison, according to Akai. Despite his ailing health and missing arm, Rum somehow managed to overpower two special agents in the armored vehicle. With the assistance of an accomplice, he was able to crash the vehicle by the side of the road. The CCTV cameras had captured an old man—still healing from substantial injuries limping from the fiery vehicle. Black beady eyes stare into the cameras as a cruel smirk flirts with the screen. As the blaze from the accident churns in the background, Rum then climbs into another unmarked vehicle before driving off into the darkness.
In the aftermath, three officers were killed in action. The PSB and Japanese Police were immediately tasked with searching for the man, who, although dangerous, was made weaker by the operation. Rum now missing an arm. They had been tracking him, and a full-on assault was planned, but the FBI intervened. Eventually, the search was halted. And after some maneuvers by the powerful agency, a new mission was launched—one that focused on Rum himself.
They were still trying to figure out the accomplice who helped him, and an internal investigation was conducted. But if Shiho's suspicions regarding the identity of this mysterious accomplice were correct, then Vodka must be responsible. While Renya's death had decimated some of the major business triads and companies, others were still operating behind the scenes, led by Rum—a man shrouded in lies. The partnership between the two was not as straightforward as it seemed. Clearly, the black organization had not played all of its cards yet, and they still had numerous benefactors despite the defeat of the Karasuma group.
Akai had told them not to worry about it and to continue living their daily lives. It was, though, hard to ignore. Regardless of the fail-safes in place, Shinichi could not avoid the sinking feeling he had whenever he thought of the capabilities of such a monster. His fear takes the shape of a guillotine as it hangs over their heads, ready to fall at any moment.
"Earth to Conan-kun!" Ayumi brought him back to reality. The children surveyed him with concern.
"Yes?"
"Are you listening?" Genta chided, "We asked if you wanted to get some snacks?"
"Now? We just had lunch."
"There is always room for snacks, Conan-kun!" Ayumi huffed, and Mitsuhiko nodded vigorously. In response, he looked at the auburn-haired scientist.
"You aren't going to stop them?"
She shrugged, raising her hand in defeat.
"Really? With all that talk about weight and such?"
"It's fruitless to argue with 10-year-olds," she said simply when the children charged forward, rushing towards their usual shop. Shinichi simply fell in step with Shiho as they followed behind. After all that had happened, the normalcy of the passing days was still surreal. As a few pedestrians wearing black suits walked by, he tensed, alerted by their presence.
"There is no need to worry," Shiho observes the crowd walking through in a distant daze. "Right?"
He could not help but grimace. It was precisely why Shinichi wanted to keep the news from her. The recent revelation did not aid with her recovery, and she was plagued by returning nightmares throughout the night. The girl spent more time in the basement, working on the antidote—feverishly so. Those months of peace permeating their world were gone the moment Rum's escape was made known. But—
"Yes," Shinichi edged closer. "The dominoes are in place. The set pieces ready to tumble," he slips a hand into hers, "As you said, a house built on sand would tumble away in a flood, won't it?"
She hesitated, furrowing her brows and tightening her lips. It was apparent that she didn't quite believe it. Shinichi was an optimist, and she— a pessimist. The glass was always half full. Her upbringing influenced her outlook. As a realist, she was always alert, never allowing herself to dream of such possibilities. However, when she tightened her grip against his hold and smiled weakly at him, Shinichi paused, surprised by the change. "I can't believe I'm saying this," she confessed softly, "but I guess… you're right."
"Hey," he jest, "didn't you say that hell would freeze over if I ever got it wrong?"
Her smile vanished and was replaced with disdain, "You're going to trigger my gag reflex."
"Gag reflex," Shinichi squinted, "Can't you humor me for a moment?"
"I'm not planning to grow a hot air balloon," she quipped, and he huffed before continuing forward, only to stumble into the children who had stopped.
"Why are you guys..." Shinichi trailed off.
The children's attention was now focused on a situation unfolding before them.
His childhood friend, wearing a short pink skirt and fluffy white sweater, no doubt chosen by Sonoko, was standing in front of a building surrounded by three guys. They were the rowdy type, wearing not only ear studs but also sporting lime green dyed hair. Shinichi suspects that they belong to a gang. Almost stereotypical in nature, they looked like the sort that was about to get beaten.
"What are they doing?" Mitsuhiko asked.
"Hey girl," they crooned. The men in their all-too-short pants and oversized sweaters crowd around Ran like she was some trophy on the pedestal. Shinichi could see veins protruding from Ran's forehead. She was annoyed, perhaps even furious. There might be trouble ahead for the three men. It need not be pointed out to Shinichi that Ran was a black belt in Karate.
It was Shiho who surprisingly made the first move. The shrunken scientist calls out to the raven-haired beauty as she moves beside her.
"Okaa-san," Shiho replied in a high-pitched voice reserved for acting like a child.
"EHHHH!" the children exclaimed, bugged-eyed. Shinichi slaps a hand over his forehead.
"You're… you're married?! "The men asked, looking first at Shiho and then at Ran, who was gaping at the "girl" in shock.
"Okaa-san, I brought my friends along," Shiho continued the childish swill. "Who are these people?"
"S...strangers," Ran recognized Shiho's act and collected herself. "They are strangers. Shall we go?" His childhood friend is about to grab Shiho and leave with the opportunity the shrunken scientist provided when one of the thick-headed men stopped them, and they were again surrounded.
These guys… were up to no good.
"Strangers, don't be so mean," crooned one of them.
"Yeah, do you think we're stupid enough to fall for such an act?" another asked as he approached Ran, who was readying her fist.
"Come on, just play with us for a bit."
"Get away from her!" Genta bounds forward.
"Yeah, or we'll call the police!" Mitsuhiko warned, at least using his brain.
"Yeah!" Ayumi shouted.
Realizing their presence, the men turned to face them. The children run up to Ran and Shiho to stand in front of them. Trying to prevent the men from continuing, Genta stretched his arms in a protective gesture. The men paused before laughing among themselves.
"What is this? Playing house?" a man wearing a rather purple coat asked Ran. He waved them at the children like he was swatting a fly. "Get lost. It's none of your business. Can't you tell we're having an adult conversation?"
"Adult conversation?" Shiho sneered, her voice losing all childlike properties, staring at them with a killer's gaze. A little stunned by her deep, commanding tone, they hesitated. "They may be children, but at least they are matured enough to distinguish between baboons and decent human beings."
"What?"
Shinichi sighed.
"Who are you calling—"
Shiho raised a hand, pointing a finger in their direction, "As I said," she quipped. "Baboons."
Shinichi was about to kick a soccer ball between the escalating situation when a clumsy boy stumbled into view. His hair was a mess, his shirt was riding up his midriff, and his spectacles were almost falling out. Eisuke-kun was panting, clutching his side, and shoving past the three men.
Though the scrawny-looking boy was not a match for the three baboons, he shielded Ran and the children.
"There...there you are," he grins widely at Ran. "I was searching everywhere for you."
He continued in a rather cliche way.
"Shall we bring our children to the cafe we promised?" The direction he took was so out there it left them all speechless.
"EHHH!" the children shouted again.
"Ran-nee-chan! Are you and Eisuke-nii-chan dating!?"
To say Shinichi was surprised was an understatement. This was the first time he had ever seen the raven-haired beauty in such a way. Even though she possessed some maiden-like qualities, it was difficult to ignore the fact. After all, he had spent most of his time watching karate practice on television with the tomboyish girl. Like Eisuke, Ran had turned red, flushed like a tomato. Flustered, the two teenagers averted their gaze.
Lost in their own world, they hadn't noticed that the three baboons were becoming angrier by the minute.
"What is this?" one of them said.
"Hey! Who do you think you are? We saw her first!" another one demanded.
They reached over, about to touch Eisuke, when—
Ran reacted first. She grabbed one of their wrists and held it there. Astonishment flooded his features as he struggled. "What! What is with this chick!"
His childhood friend swept him off his feet, yanking his arm so far back that he started wailing in pain. "Now," she intoned with a menacing smile. "Would you mind leaving?"
As soon as she released her victim, the men backed away, spitting expletives as they fled.
Watching them leave, the children immediately gathered around Eisuke and Ran. The teenagers were unable to push back the pesky children.
"So? "Shinichi began, slightly amused by the escalating situation, "Is this a date?"
"What?" Eisuke stuttered, "I mean…y…" again; he turned a deep red and began fumbling through his words.
"Shin—Conan-kun!" Ran started, equally flustered but regaining her senses, "This is none of your business!? Anyway, what are you guys doing here!"
"We're going to get some cake!" Genta remarked, looking at their hands. An impish grin spread across his face. "Right, Okaa-san," he teased, staring at Ran, "Otou-san," he confirmed, grinning cheekily at Eisuke.
Seeing Ran and Eisuke turn an even brighter shade of red, the children burst with excited glee.
"So, are you guys dating?" Ran put her hands on her hips as Shinichi continued.
"What if we are!" she huffed.
Clearly surprised by Ran's statement, Shinichi glared at Eisuke, who was looking at Ran with starry eyes. "Ran-san…" he stuttered, "Does that mean…"
A strange feeling welled up in Shinichi's chest. A mixture of happiness and annoyance at the same time. The feeling wasn't jealousy—no, it was something else. Similar to the feeling he felt when he saw another elementary school boy giving chocolates to Ayumi-chan a few weeks ago.
"Hmm..." he hummed, observing Eisuke, who seemed to shrink back from his gaze.
"Ah yes, the classic, I won't hand my daughter over to you trope," Shiho reads Shinichi perfectly. "Though, I would have to agree," she eyed Eisuke, who gulped, "If anything happens to Ran-nee-chan, you would not only have to deal with a corpse magnet but also...a resourceful scientist."
She smiled like a Cheshire cat, and Shinichi noticed the horrified look that passed through Eisuke's features. Feeling sorry for the young man, he doubled down and took Shiho by the shoulder. "That...may be a bit much," he said.
"Says the man-child ready to test the poor sod," Shiho retorted, and he scowled.
"What are you two talking about?" Mitsuhiko, who had been watching the whole fiasco, asked. He regarded them with confusion. "Corpse magnet? Resourceful Scientist?"
"I disagree. It should be mad—" Shinichi cuts in, but Shiho stamps on his feet, and he yowled.
"Mo, will you two give it a rest already!" Ran protested.
"So? "Shinichi asked later after they had bought their snacks, munching them as they walked, "What are you guys doing here anyway?"
"Conan-kun, they said it was a date," Ayumi chided.
Rubbing the back of his hair, Eisuke gave a nervous laugh.
"Is it really?"
"I needed assistance with a small errand, and Eisuke volunteered," Ran sighed, giving in to Shinichi's pestering.
"So this isn't a date?" Shiho added fuel to the fire and Ran stumbled.
"Well, maybe not," the auburn-haired scientist beams humorously at the children and Shinichi.
"What is your errand?" Mitsuhiko asked, and Ran pointed to the building ahead.
"I need to pass some oranges to Okaa-san from some relatives," she explained. Having clarified the situation, Shinichi relaxed.
Well, he did like Eisuke. And, the boy had stepped up when needed. There was nothing wrong with the blossoming romance between the two, but the thought of his childhood friend flirting in front of him was too disturbing for him to think about.
"I was also promised some confections from Okaa-san, so—"
Upon hearing the mention of sweets, the children perked up, and Ran gave a defeated smile as they crowded around her and Eisuke.
"Did you say, sweets?"
"We love sweets!"
"Can we have some?"
"What! No guys," Shinichi snapped.
"Aw Conan-kun, come on," Genta pleaded with them.
"Why not?" Shiho said. Shinichi narrowed his gaze.
"Isn't this the part where you help me stop them?"
"Ara, why?"
"Are you serious," he was slightly exasperated, and he looked at Ran and Eisuke. There was no doubt that this was a date, regardless of what story they spun, and he was not in any way willing to disrupt their time together. Especially not after Ran had exhibited an interest in Eisuke. It would be a different story if she didn't.
"Why are you so invested in this?" he snapped, and the sly grin he dreaded flirted to her lips.
"And you aren't? Otou-san?"
"Otou-san?"
"Ara, you aren't?" she taunted, "An overbearing father?"
"I am not—" he paused, folding his arms when he caught Eisuke glancing at Ran.
"Careful now," Shiho followed behind, whispering into his ears, "Or you might develop a receding hairline."
"Oi."
It was comical, to say the least. She knew of his intense protectiveness—especially of those he cared about. Having experienced it firsthand when she had to stop him, Mitsuhiko, and Genta from kicking a ball at a boy trying to hand flowers to Ayumi a few weeks ago. The same disgruntled attitude was now aimed at Eisuke, who Ran was unconsciously flirting with.
With her fingers twirling through her long hair, her voice rising in pitch, and the flush on her cheeks, Ran was excited. The cause—a bespectacled teenage boy whom Shiho had always assumed to be clumsy. Her impression of him, though, changed when he was asked to assist with the operation. And during the difficult situation, the boy maintained his cool, relayed instructions perfectly, and was, most importantly, kind to others. Although the pair seemed unlikely, Eisuke's flustered expression confirmed that he was smitten by the raven-haired beauty.
It was only a matter of time and Shinichi—
"Jealous?" she asked as they walked behind the couple.
"And why should I be?"
"But she used to belong to my harem," Shiho imitated his tone, and he gave her a stink eye.
"To begin with," he emphasized, "I do not have a harem. Secondly," he snorts at her, "Ran is free to date whomever she chooses."
As she chuckled at his statement, she noticed a tiny glint in his eye. A cunning smirk adorned his lips. "And thirdly," shuffling closer to her, "I'm pretty sure I've made my feelings exceedingly clear."
A pair of azure eyes stared back at her, and she froze. Having gone too far with her teases, she may have gotten a taste of her own medicine. "Don't keep him waiting, Kiddo." Anne's statement comes back to bite her.
Her sentiments were the same, so why was it so difficult to admit it?
"Sherry, you're mine," his voice rises from the recesses and curls around her wrists and ankles—heavy, weighted chains. And the stinging ache emerges, throbbing as it spreads through her body. The memories—a curse…a seal.
Once again, the words were stuck in a complicated mess, and she turns away.
"Perhaps," Shiho muttered a while later, unable to face him.
The smirk on his lips mellowed out, and he placed his hands leisurely behind his head. "Besides, if I did anything else, I'd leave here with broken bones."
Changing the topic, he was purposely making light of it. And the tension dissipates. Shiho, though, spots the faint hint of hurt across his features, but it disappears as soon as he gives her a wry grin.
"I guess so," Shiho pushed away the guilt, "shame, it would have made for an interesting scenario."
"Like those soap operas you so enjoy watching?"
She scoffed at the playful glint in his blue eyes. "Is there a problem?"
"No," he hummed, "Quite a middle-aged activity isn't it?"
"Ara, who is stereotyping the elderly now?"
A chuckle escaped his lips, and they continued their light banter. A few moments later, they found themselves in front of a two-story office building. Despite its age, it was quite charming. A display of pink cosmos bloomed from rectangular baskets that hung from the windows. Vines were growing down the cracked yellowish-white paint. There was a convenience store on the first floor, managed by an elderly woman who greeted Ran enthusiastically upon seeing her.
"Ran-chan, are you here to visit your mother?"
"Taniguchi-san," Ran welcomed with a smile. Introductions were made, and greetings were exchanged. The old woman not missing the chance to question Ran about the bespectacled boy beside her. And the children chimed in.
"They are on a date!" Ayumi started.
Genta and Mistuhiko began mock-hugging each other and making kissing sounds. The old woman laughed loudly when Ran and Eisuke tried to control the children.
"Mo, you guys," Ran quipped later as they climbed the stairs toward Eri Kisaki's office. "Give it a rest already."
"I…I agree," Eisuke concurred, "It…it… isn't nice to keep making fun of adults."
"We aren't making fun!"Mitsuhiko folded his arms.
"We're really happy for you!" Genta chimed in, though the impish grin on his lips told otherwise.
"Yeah, Ayumi really wants to attend your wedding!"
The final blow had been delivered. Eisuke tripped over the stairs but Ran caught him. Despite her petite frame, the girl was strong, and she carried him in a princess-like manner, earning the children's oohs and aahs. "R…Ran," Eisuke stammered.
"Guess the wedding isn't too far away," Shiho quipped, and Shinichi sighed.
"Let's finish this," he said, "I need a good eye-wash."
"What ails you, Edogawa-kun?"
"Would you have liked to see your sister flirting with Akai-san?"
The image conjured was not a pretty one, and a scowl settled on her lips.
"And?"
"Point taken," she muttered.
Kisaki Private Law Practice, Shiho, caught sight of the company nameplate. The sign was written in Kanji and embossed on a steel plate. Located next to a lacquered oak door with a golden handle, it looked like it was worth a lot of money and—
"Haibara!" Shinichi snaps roughly. Immediately, she noticed it. The door was ajar. A cracked window by its side. On the golden door knob was a faint, unmistakable smear of crimson red. Raising her arm, she prevented Ran, Eisuke, and the children from moving forward. As the fear churned, the cold settled deep into her bones.
Was it them?
"Rum," she whispered. The man who escaped, who still threatened the fabric of their peace—who was still out there.
"Ai-chan, what's wrong?" Ran noticed their stiff body language. Her features were punctuated with concern, and Shiho glanced at the children. It wasn't safe—they needed to get out of here.
"Is something the matter?" Eisuke asked.
Shinichi turns around, flashing them a reassuring smile. His sudden sunny disposition caught them off-guard. "Ran-nee-chan," he chimed. "The children would like some cake."
"Cake?"
"Yeah, weren't you talking about strawberry shortcake a few days ago?" Shiho added.
"Wait, wait, why cake?"
"Cake!" the children exclaimed. In response to Shinichi's mention of the desert, the three children gathered around Ran. "I want some brownies!" Genta said, "And chocolate cake!"
"We're talking about the newly opened anime cafe down the street, right?" Mitsuhiko piped in. The excuse had worked, and soon the children were pushing Eisuke and Ran down the stairs away from the office.
"You both aren't coming?" Genta asked.
"We'll catch up later," Shinichi excused, and Ran eyed them with a sharp glare enough to rival that of an organization member.
"You guys better come soon," she made the threat, "I want an explanation."
"Sure," Shinichi replied, and the children practically dragged them away. Shiho approached Shinichi, who faced the open door.
"Looks like broken bones are in your future," Shiho murmured as Shinichi prepped the tranquilizer watch.
"At least it worked, besides..."
Once again, they examined the bloody door knob. "It would be best if the children were not involved."
"Should we inform Akai?" Shiho muttered, and Shinichi kicked the door gently with his feet.
"Not yet, not when we aren't sure." Though he spoke calmly, the bead of sweat running down his forehead and the tightly pursed lips indicated otherwise. Shiho's anxiety returned with a vengeance, and she gripped his shoulder tightly. It cannot be. Eri Kisaki was logically as far removed from the operations as Mouri Kogoro was. They did not know who they were and were, in fact, just as clueless as the average joe.
Nevertheless, the fact remained—
Rum was not to be underestimated.
They entered the office. A rancid smell filled Shiho's senses. Blood. With the windows closed and no fresh air circulating, it became more pungent.
"The switch," Shinichi instructed. When she flipped it on, bright light illuminated the dim office. Aside from overturned furniture, strewn papers, and files across the floor, they noticed crudely drawn red words scrawled across the white walls. There were symbols mixed in with them that seem to hold no meaning.
"W...what," Shinichi murmured. They walked past the spurting water cooler that soaked through the numerous files scattered across the marble floor. An overturned plant was flung across the room, the money plant already wilting. Several cabinets were flipped over, and an expensive purple sofa was upside down.
Violence had been rife in the room. The words on the wall weren't any better.
"Stay away if you know what's best for you!"
It was written randomly, and at the end, there were some "S" shaped symbols that Shiho hadn't seen before.
"A threat?" Shiho muttered. Shinichi carefully studied the writings before returning to the scene.
"Well, it's safe to say—" voicing her thoughts.
"It's not them," she relaxed slightly as Shinichi lowered his watch.
"Now, the problem is…"
A moan startled them. There was movement beneath one of the sofa's overturned cushions next to the wooden office table that had been moved to one side. "Kisaki-san!" Shinichi exclaimed as they rushed towards the source. He tossed the cushions aside and was greeted by the sight of a woman in her late 20s. A pretty face was framed by shoulder-length curly black hair. There were smudges on her makeup and blood running down her left temple. A purplish bruise formed around the wound.
The woman, dressed in green office attire, moaned once more. Although Shiho didn't recognize her, Shinichi did.
"Kuriyama-san!" he reached over to help the woman buried underneath the files and cushions. She was in bad shape. The blood running down was turning into a never-ending stream. There was a slight flutter in her eyes, and she seemed to be going in and out of consciousness. She was also muttering incoherently.
Immediately grabbing her phone, Shiho dials for an ambulance and the police.
"Kuriyama-san, stay awake and don't close your eyes," Shinichi comforts the woman. And Shiho approached them.
"Prop her up," Shiho instructed Shinichi, recognizing the signs of concussion. A few specks of blood were leaking slowly from her ears. With a handkerchief in hand, she pressed it against the wounded temple of the woman, then turned to face Shinichi. "We need to apply a cold compress until the paramedics arrive."
"I got it," Shinichi replied, and he immediately ran down the stairs. Shiho turned back to the woman who was now leaning heavily against her. Blood seeped into her jacket, staining it. And Shiho pressed harder against the woman's wound as the metallic stench assaulted her senses.
By the time Shinichi arrived with a bag of ice and the assistance of Taniguchi-san, who was manning the store downstairs, Shiho's lips were white. Her mind was filled with fragmented images of an operation that occurred several months ago. Scarlet seeped into the cracks of cement, a body slumped to its knees, Anne's blue eyes staring blankly at her. As Taniguchi-san took charge, Shinichi grabbed her and pulled her away. The old woman applied the cold compress to Kuriyama-san's temple.
"Have you called the ambulance?" Taniguchi-san asked, and Shinichi nodded before nudging Shiho.
"Hey?" he prodded her again. "You ok?"
"Huh?" she muttered before clenching her trembling hands. "I'm fine," she collects herself.
"What do you make of this?" Pointing at the symbols on the wall, she changed the topic.
With skepticism in his eyes, he frowned. "Right..." he muttered. His attention shifted to the bleeding woman to the mess in the office.
"Tuesday is barely over, Shinichi," Shiho remarked, and he sighed, holding up his hand to stop her from making the usual joke.
"Yes, I'm well aware of my bloodline."
"Fancy entering the Guinness World records?"
"As honored as I am, I am afraid I will have to decline," he snorts, "I would rather remain anonymous than be paraded around like a circus animal."
"And you aren't?"
"Thank you."
"So...a loan shark," Shiho speculates, and Shinichi shakes his head.
"It seems excessive, and as far as I know," Shinichi gestures to the office, "Kisaki-san never takes loans."
"Perhaps for a case she is working on?"
"Maybe," Shinichi replied. "Speaking of which…"
A sharp gasp interrupts him, and the shrunken teenager turns to find the source. Standing by the doorway was a middle-aged beauty. With brown chestnut hair neatly tied in a bun, Eri Kisaki drops her bag, hands reaching for her mouth. "What…what happened!?"
"Wait," Satou-san announced as soon as she saw Shinichi standing inside Kisaki's office. "A burglary, no wait, a dead body…or even worse—"
"A break-in, to be exact," Shinichi corrected her, and the woman snapped her fingers with a groan before turning to Inspector Megure, who accepted a 1000 yen note from her.
"Were you betting on me?" Shinichi folded his arms in disdain as the inspectors chuckled sheepishly. Inspector Megure approached him.
"Mah, mah, it was just a friendly joke," he replied.
"Well, we knew you'd be here since Ai-chan made the call, but the cases always differ, don't they?" Satou-san elaborated.
"I'm hoping this is a one-off occurrence," Shinichi sneered, praying to god that Shiho did not catch wind of this. He could only imagine the endless teasing he would have received from the auburn-haired scientist.
"So, a break-in?" Satou-san turns back to the scene at hand. It had been an hour since Midori Kuriyama was taken to the hospital. Eri Kisaki's 29-year-old law assistant was thankfully in stable condition. The ice pack held in place by Taniguchi-san had worked wonders. Now, all that remained was a disorganized office and a distressed Eri Kisaki. She was seated in a corner, interviewed by two police officers who had arrived at the scene earlier. Ran, standing beside her mother. Her feet tapping furiously, righteous fury evident in her eyes.
Someone had planned to hurt her family, and Mouri Ran wasn't one to let it slide.
"Why is Conan-kun allowed in, then!" He heard the children protest as Eisuke and Shiho held them back. The children were barred from crossing the yellow police tape. Genta was already pointing accusing fingers in his direction.
"He's a witness," Shiho explained strictly. With fear in his eyes, the chubby boy shrank back considerably. Genta, still not forgetting the slap he received from her a year ago.
"It's unfair," Mitsuhiko grumbled as Shinichi hid behind the inspectors. The children's glare makes him groan. Explanations would need to be provided later. If anything, he felt that he wouldn't be dealing only with children.
Ran was also glaring at him.
"How is it my fault," he muttered before studying the walls.
"Nothing was taken," Shinichi elaborated to the inspectors who were picking the debris off the ground. While Satou-san lifted a particularly wet report, Megure shifted through the blood-stained sofa cushions.
"So what is the purpose of this then?" Satou-san asked, "It can't be just a prank."
"Yes," Shinichi replied. "It looks like a threat has been issued."
"I guess some of Eri Kisaki's clients aren't happy with what she's doing," Satou-san deduced from the symbols written on the wall. Stay away, or this will happen again. The message was clear enough, but something wasn't right. He felt it swirling in his gut. A ringing, almost spine-tingling sensation.
He had missed something, and everything was not as it seemed. Seeing the crudely written message again, he focused on the symbols painted at the end. Samples of the writing were being scraped into a small bag by a forensics officer. Mostly to determine what was used for writing the message.
Regardless, Shinichi flinched; the ink used didn't appear to be just red paint.
The metallic odor is a reminder of a rain-soaked operation that could have gone disastrously wrong.
"Blood?" Megure holding a handkerchief to his nose, apparently detesting the stench. "Human blood?"
"Can't say for sure," Shinichi remarked. "Although it appears that quite a large amount has been used considering the number of words written."
"And if it was human," Satou-san shines a torch over the message. "A dead body is likely to be found."
It was frightening to think about, but she was right. Symbols written at the end—sinister in nature.
Blood smeared across the pink floral patterned wallpaper created a jagged circular border. It contained an "S"-shaped mark. In this case, the "S" was not upright but turned 90 degrees to the right. To be precise, it looked like a lying down "S". The top half was larger, tapering to a thin end. Along the spine of the "S" were several smaller unreadable symbols. Shinichi was unable to read it. He didn't understand the language.
To be honest, it looked like a—
"Snake," Shiho breathes into his ear. She appeared like a ninja, scaring both him and the inspectors.
"Shiho! "he chided as she glanced at them smugly.
"What did I do?" she asked innocently. With his hand over his heart, Inspector Megure glares at her with disapproval.
"If you do that again, I'll be leaving here in a body bag," he quipped, and Shiho shrugged.
"A diet is in order then," she told him, "Doctor's orders, not mine."
Satou-san laughed slightly as Megure-san gawked at her. "She's not wrong, Megure-san. You do need to exercise."
"I call this fat shaming," he growled before walking to Eri at the opposite end of the room.
"I call that running away from reality," Shiho muttered, and Shinichi shook his head at her bluntness.
"What are you doing here anyway? What about babysitting the children?"
The answer came in the form of three positively delighted shrieks. As the children break through Eisuke-san's barrier, they entered the scene. Playing around and picking up items like it was a playground causing chaos throughout the crime scene.
"Technically, I am still a child," she commented, "And secondly, you can't expect me to keep track of three hyperactive goblins. I already have to deal with a corpse magnet."
"I must have severely overestimated your capabilities," he gripes, and she eyed him with devilish intent.
"It simply goes against the laws of the universe, Edogawa-kun."
"Sure, sure," he mumbled and paused when Shiho placed a finger on his cheeks, pushing it lightly so that he faced the ceiling. "Besides, someone had to tell you about—"
"Of course," Satou-san spots the ceiling-mounted CCTV camera. "Why hadn't we considered it before?"
"Perhaps we can resolve this before the day ends," Shiho said. Shinichi shook his head.
"It's not that simple."
Yes, something was still missing. It seemed like a simple break-in. A threat against Eri Kisaki to stop investigating a case—one that was still a mystery. Yet, it didn't seem like one either. Rather than a threat, it felt like a—
There was a crash, and police officers shouted. Eisuke ran over to Genta, who was groaning on the ground. "Genta-kun, that's why I told you not to run!" Ayumi nagged at the boy who was holding onto his bleeding nose.
"That hurts," he whined as Mitsuhiko and Eisuke helped him.
"This is what happens when you don't listen to instructions, Kojima-kun," Shiho joined Ayumi in chastising the boy, and Shinichi shook his head at his antics before stopping. Genta's fall had dislodged a cupboard, and a couple of case files lay on the damp marble floor beneath it. They were stamped with Eri Kisaki's signature chop and appeared rather important. While squatting, he sorts through them and picks them apart.
Families with high-profile reputations, such as the Takizaki family who were being sued for illegal dumping. Another involves land disputes with the Kita's cooperation, and another a divorce settlement with the Sakamoto's. Last but not least—
The brown file was different from the rest. Drawn in the middle was the same "S" shaped symbol that marked the wall. Flipping it open, he was greeted with a slew of legal terms, but within, a disturbing picture emerged.
"Child abuse?" he presents the file to Eri Kisaki.
"Yes, the Matsumoto family," Eri elaborated. Taking a stance beside Shinichi, she gazed at the title of the case file, her glasses gleaming in the lights. "They live in Hakone," she continued, "and one of the residents wanted me to do a check on them."
A loud booming voice cut her off. He burst through the doorway, red in the face and clutching his side. With his tie in a tangled mess and his hair flying everywhere, Mouri Kogoro entered the office panting heavily, staring straight at Inspector Megure. He marched straight to the man, who stumbled back. His fierce gaze was intimidating, and he spewed out his demands.
"Eri! Where is Eri!"
Having overcome his initial outburst, Mouri Kogoro sat cross-legged on the overturned sofa, mumbling disgruntledly. His fingers were tapping impatiently along his knees as Eri nagged at him. There were lipstick marks on the collar of his blue suit, and his tie was untidy. Additionally, the overpowering scent of perfume was strong enough to mask the metallic odor of blood. The red flush on his face and the stench of alcohol on his breath indicated that he had just consumed beer.
"I was investigating a case at the cabaret club!" he insisted. However, Eri Kisaki didn't buy it for a second and regarded him as if he were chewed bubblegum scraped from the bottom of a shoe. "And you expect any sane being to believe that. Honestly, you've got to do better than that Mustache old man!"
"Mustache old man!" he exclaimed in protest. "And to think I rushed here, you old woman!"
She snorted at him as Ran intervened.
"Will the two of you cut it out? Look, Otou-san, Okaa-san is fine. Also, Okaa-san, please be nice. Otou-san is worried about you."
"Worried?" The woman sneered, flushing slightly at the sight of the man before exhaling in annoyance. "By this slob?"
"Do you have a problem, huh!" Kogoro stood up, facing the woman who glared at him.
"Oh my god, stop!" Ran turns to Eisuke, standing awkwardly with the laughing children. "Help me!"
"Huh?!" Eisuke bounded forward as they tried to separate the two adults.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you," Shinichi tapped her, and Shiho glanced lazily at him with a slight smirk. "Why not? It holds all the ingredients for ripe drama," she states, and he eyed her pointedly.
"Figures," he grunted before fiddling with the laptop Inspector Satou-san had produced earlier. Inspectors and a shrunken detective were adjusting the video quality, apparently unaware of how to fix the resolution. Shiho waited, amused at their struggles and the drama behind her—before taking the laptop away from Satou-san.
"Observe," she typed in a few codes and clicked on the settings. The resolution fixed itself instantly, and the cameras' positions were adjusted.
"Couldn't you do that earlier?"
"I enjoyed the free show," she offered as he huffed.
On the screen, a figure appears. Infiltrating Kisaki's Law Agency stealthily and striking Midori Kuriyama on the head. The woman who was preparing coffee did not anticipate the attack. Dressed in black, the ski-masked intruder tore apart the sofa, cabinets, tables, and water coolers. They eventually stopped, turning to the pink flower-patterned wallpaper, and produced what appeared to be a zip-lock bag containing a scarlet-colored liquid.
"Blood?" Satou-san muttered.
"Forensics will confirm it, but most likely," Megure-san observed the scene intently as the figure splashed the "blood" across the walls, using their gloved hands to write on them. The drawing of symbols was done haphazardly, almost feverishly. After a while, the figure stopped, walked over to one of the cabinets, pulled it open, and sorted through some files before marking one and dumping it all over the marble floor.
"Pause," Shinichi ordered.
As they did, Shiho noticed the perpetrator intently staring at the CCTV camera.
"That's weird," she uttered, and Shinichi agreed.
"How so? "Megure-san scratched his head in confusion, and Shinichi pointed to the woman on the screen.
"If it was just a threat and a warning," he continued, "why leave a trail of clues and subtle hints about the case?"
Satou-san regards his statement. "It's like…whoever the culprit was…"
"Wants us to chase after them."
"An astute observation," Eri interrupts, apparently having had enough of the childish squabble—had joined them, looking at the screen with fire in her eyes. "Again, color me impressed, Conan-kun," she praised.
Kogoro snorted. "He probably guessed."
Eri ignored her ex-husband, instead pats Shinichi, "Guess or not, there is no doubt that Conan-kun's statement makes logical sense—in fact, one could say that he might even be the sleeping Kogoro himself," she mocked in a sweet tone.
"Hey!" the drunkard shouted.
Well, she was right on her money. However, there was no way she would know that. Her statement was met with nervous laughter from both inspectors.
"So," Shiho interrupted, "how does the child abuse case relate to the situation now?"
"Yes, I would like to know that too, Eri-Obasan," Shinichi said sweetly, shocking the inspectors with his change in demur. His childlike tone is a few octaves higher. Shiho noted Satou-san's shiver and Megure-san's repulsed look. As Shinichi danced around Eri-san with his innocent act, Shiho chuckled at their reactions.
"Well, it is quite an unusual case. An individual from the orphanage filed a complaint. Apparently, the Matsumoto's, who operates an orphanage in that area, have been abusing their wards. Though, in my initial inquiries, nobody found it peculiar. And when I contacted the police in the area, they dismissed the claims made as fictitious slander."
"Let me guess. The Matsumoto's were coined good samaritans by the town folk?" Shiho continued, and Eri nodded.
"Well, I'm beginning to suspect there's more to this than meets the eye. The person who filed the lawsuit was an Itsuki Endo. Three months ago, he came to me, claiming to be a child who grew up in that place."
"Itsuki Endo?"
"Yes, I was supposed to meet up with him this week, but in light of the situation," Eri's gaze hardened, fixed on the screen. The footage of the culprit hitting Midori-san was disturbing, and Eri's rage deepened as the incident replayed.
"I would like to have an earlier meeting with this Itsuki Endo."
"In Hakone?" Kogoro snapped, "Alone?"
"Wouldn't that be dangerous, Okaa-san?" Ran asked.
"Yes, but there is no other way," Eri continued.
"Absolutely not," her ex-husband remarked, slamming his hand against the sofa, "Are you crazy?!"
As expected, the arguments began again, and Ran was once again caught between them. Shiho glanced at Shinichi, who was clutching the case files tightly. A smug grin appeared on his lips again, and Shiho could practically see the scheme formulating in his head.
"So…" the inspectors asked.
"No," was Shiho's immediate response when he faced her. For a moment, his smirk falters, but it holds.
"I haven't asked."
"It's dangerous, Shinichi. Rum is still about. We can't be wandering—"
He raised the file he was clutching. Although it was different in nature, the name caught her attention. A link, a break that may be useful in another mission.
"You know what this means," he said, "If we can solve whatever this is—"
"We can find out more about..." she muttered, and he squeezed her shoulder.
"So, to Hakone?"
"It's still dangerous, though."
"Hey," he smiled, "Don't fret. I have an idea."
She hesitates before sighing.
"To Hakone, it is."
And I present to you another case. :D There are clues of the main case speckled throughout the arc. Let's see if we can spot it :D. Again, I thank you all for your reviews and feedback. I hope you've enjoyed this chapter.