Chapter 56: The Brain Has Grown

Kogoro and his party followed Kimie Kimizuka back to her home. After triggering the "world knows your name" startle-the-enemy effect, Kimie prepared to introduce everyone to her husband, Isao Kimizuka.

Arriving at the bedroom door, they found it locked.

They had no choice but to use a key to open it.

Stepping inside, they found Isao completely unresponsive, while the room's stereo blared with loud opera music.

As the group looked around in confusion:

"Darling!"

Kimie let out a shrill scream, for the diplomat Isao Kimizuka had already collapsed onto the floor.

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"Is she still refusing to say anything?" Jiyi asked, watching Sato emerge from the interrogation room.

Rika Yajima guarded her secret fiercely, stubbornly refusing to utter a word.

"What is the point of her doing this? Even if she says nothing, we will still end up revealing her lover's information to Shingo Katase in the course of our investigation. That way, she won't be able to hide anything," Sato said, unable to understand. "She will still lose everything."

For a woman like Rika Yajima—venal, driven entirely by desire, and willing to submit to a dying old man for money—what could possibly motivate her to guard her lover's secret with her life?

Surely she couldn't still be harboring some grand true love?

"Only inexperienced young men think women are pure and noble. But in reality? The woman you treat as a precious treasure is nothing more than a stray dog to people with power and influence," Takagi spoke up. "I think Ms. Yajima was speaking from deep personal experience."

"What are you talking about?" Sato looked puzzled.

"These were the last words Ms. Yajima said when the Inspector and I first questioned her," Takagi said thoughtfully. "I was wondering, is it possible that Ms. Yajima isn't as heartless as she appears? What if she has been through something, and has forced herself to adopt this persona just to protect herself?"

"You mean her current lover is the man she truly loves, and her submission to Shingo Katase was actually forced?" Sato mused.

"Doesn't Inspector Sato feel a faint sense of tragedy about Ms. Yajima?" Takagi hesitated before offering his own judgment. "Although there's no solid evidence, I just have this feeling..."

He glanced at Jiyi, looking somewhat nervous.

Why are you looking at me? It's not like I eat people.

Jiyi naturally knew what Takagi was thinking—wasn't he just afraid of being chewed out for making a wrong guess?

Wake up. In this Metropolitan Police Department, independent thinking capability was an endangered species.

Jiyi was almost moved to tears. Dammit, after all this time, someone in the police department was finally showing signs of growing a brain.

"Since you have this thought, follow it and investigate."

Jiyi didn't think Takagi's idea was unreasonable. Sometimes, instincts during an investigation held merit. "Empathizing" with witnesses or even suspects could often provide valuable directions.

The angle of the lover had to be investigated anyway, and since Takagi had proposed this hypothesis, Jiyi was naturally going to encourage it.

Moreover, Takagi's execution skills were beyond question; even Conan approved.

He was reliable.

Takagi was thrilled.

His deduction had been validated by the Inspector, and right in front of Sato, no less...

Takagi Wataru entered a state of greatly enhanced work passion.

Shiratori watched Takagi's departing back from the side, his expression dark.

Sato didn't quite understand why Takagi had suddenly "ignited," but she didn't dwell on it. Instead, she asked, "What should we do now?"

"Naturally, we go visit the Katase family and chat with that father and son," Jiyi said. "Don't forget, Keita Katase also has ample motive to kill on account of the inheritance. On the other hand, what if Rika Yajima refuses to reveal her lover simply out of fear for Shingo Katase's controlling nature? Rumor has it that the once-formidable head of the Katase family is no softhearted man. Perhaps before his death, he finally resolved to deal with a rebellious daughter who brought shame to the family name?"

"Hmm..." Sato nodded thoughtfully.

"Inspector, a Ms. Reiko Akiba says she has something to report regarding the fatal fall case," a police officer approached just as Jiyi was about to set out with Sato and Shiratori.

Shiratori and Sato looked over.

Jiyi frowned. He had originally all but ruled out any connection between Reiko Akiba and the case, so why, shortly after her questioning had concluded, was she suddenly remembering something?

Regardless, any lead offered by anyone deserved attention.

That was the attitude the police should hold toward handling a case.

So, he led Sato away once more.

During work, Jiyi would do everything in his power to avoid single-handed contact with female subjects of investigation. Whenever possible, he brought Sato along.

He couldn't leave room for any potential vulnerabilities.

Reiko Akiba sat in a chair, wearing a peaked cap.

"Ms. Akiba," Jiyi walked over and greeted her.

Reiko stood up, glancing at Jiyi and then at Sato beside him.

"Inspector," she replied minimally.

"You mentioned you have a clue regarding the case?" Jiyi asked, gesturing for her to sit at the table.

Reiko watched as Sato opened a notebook and began to record.

"Last night around 10 PM, I felt stuffy, so I went downstairs for a walk," Reiko said.

You're certainly brave, walking alone outside at night in Beika Town.

"I didn't go far, just stood by the lobby entrance for a breath of fresh air," Reiko continued. "However, I noticed someone standing not far away, watching the building the whole time."

"Someone was watching all along?" Jiyi frowned.

"Yes," Reiko replied. "At first, I didn't think much of it. The apartment has a security guard, and I figured it might be a homeless person or someone like that, so I went back upstairs."

"Do you think this person might be connected to the death of Ms. Sayo Katase?" Sato asked.

"I don't know," Reiko looked at Sato. "Isn't determining this person's connection to the murder the police's job?"

Sato: "..."

Why did this soprano singer feel a bit difficult to get along with?

Yet, what she said made sense...

And she had indeed provided a valuable lead...

Still, being spoken to like that was quite irritating, so she retorted, "Why didn't you mention this during the previous questioning?"

"Because I didn't remember, probably because I didn't think it had anything to do with the case," Reiko answered. "However, after thinking about it later, I felt the Inspector was right—for police investigations, every detail is fundamental, and no subtle point should be overlooked. So I decided I should come and tell you."

"..." Sato figured this person must have zero friends in daily life; if she treated police questioning like this, normal casual conversations with her would surely hit a dead end immediately.

"Thank you very much for your help, Ms. Akiba," Jiyi intervened promptly. "If you saw a photograph, would you be able to recognize the person you saw last night?"

"No," Reiko answered decisively. "It was dark at night, and he was wearing a hood, plus he wasn't standing very close. I didn't see his face, but I think it was probably a man."

She paused to think, then added, "I remember seeing him use a lighter to spark a cigarette."

"Thank you," Jiyi nodded, then instructed Sato, "Sato, take the forensics team and Ms. Akiba to the apartment. Check the spot where that man stood last night and see if you can find any evidence like a cigarette butt."

Sato nodded.

Though interacting with Reiko Akiba felt thoroughly awkward, this was work.

With matters here handled, Jiyi prepared to take Shiratori to visit the Katase residence.

Before they could set out, however, he saw Inspector Megure rushing toward the exit with a team of officers in tow.

"Another homicide?" Jiyi was stunned.

"Yes," Megure acknowledged without elaborating as he hastily led his men out on a case.

"..." Jiyi fell silent.

Nothing could be done; he couldn't split himself into two.

He just hoped Megure's "Magnet for Murders" trait hadn't malfunctioned due to his own arrival...