"Sonoko, what's wrong!"
In the underground parking lot, the sound of that scream sent everyone's nerves into high tension.
"The culprit must have seen Sister Sonoko putting things in the car with the keys earlier. He thinks she's another girl driving herself while wearing platform shoes!"
Conan's expression shifted instantly as he blurted out his reasoning. Before going to the restroom, Sonoko had asked Mouri for the car keys to drop off her shopping bags; that guard must have seen her.
"Hey kid, haven't you noticed someone is missing?" Ikumi Kyoda asked with a slight smile.
"Missing... someone?" Conan froze, immediately looking around the circle.
"Come to think of it, Mr. Tsuneo has been gone for a while now," Officer Takagi added, having been somewhat concerned about it.
Detective Mouri hadn't fallen asleep yet, and the repairman had vanished...
"Could it be?" Conan glanced at the smiling Ms. Kyoda.
Had Tsuneo already seen through the truth and chased after them? But if so, what was with Sonoko's scream?
"Regardless, search the department store immediately!" Inspector Megure barked the order and led the charge into the building.
Upstairs, Sonoko's frantic escape seemed to have ended. Her panting voice came through the phone.
"Ran... I, I think I just ran into something creepy!"
The sound of footsteps in that pitch-black stairwell had been terrifying. There was no other noise, and they had just kept getting closer and closer.
"Whatever it was, I'm just glad you're okay." Ran breathed a sigh of relief, hearing the background noise of the tenth-floor restaurant street; there were plenty of people around her now.
Conan's logic had been sound—Sonoko was wearing platform shoes today—and it had scared Ran half to death.
"By the way, are there any weird legends about this mall?" Sonoko asked, stepping toward the elevators to head back down to the garage with other customers.
Like... a weirdo lurking in the stairwells...
"Sonoko, what were you running for?" A hand suddenly reached out and tapped her shoulder.
"Aaah!" Sonoko jumped again.
The customers surrounding the elevator quickly backed away when they saw a young man holding an unconscious individual wearing a black cloak by the collar.
"Oh, it's Brother Tsuneo! You scared the life out of me! I was just..." Sonoko relaxed the moment she saw his face. She was about to tell the repairman about the footsteps in the stairs when she noticed the man he was lugging along. Her curiosity piqued.
The man looked vaguely familiar. However, he looked like he'd been given a bit of a beating—his face was so swollen it was hard to tell.
"This guy? Forget it, you're better off not knowing." Tsuneo had carried Sadakane up several flights of stairs and was feeling the fatigue. Seeing the elevator doors open, he simply tossed the man inside.
Sonoko scratched her head, completely failing to grasp the situation.
"Tsuneo-kun! Is it settled?"
Just then, an orange-clad figure pushed through the stairwell doors, gasping for air. It was Inspector Megure.
And Sonoko looked perfectly fine! Megure had been holding his breath ever since Conan deduced that Sonoko might be the next target.
"It's over," Tsuneo said with a smile, patting Megure on the shoulder.
Sonoko: "..."
What exactly happened???
Once the dust had settled, the police took Yoshio Sadakane into custody.
"Every time I go out with you, I end up owing the station a police statement," Tsuneo said, looking at the pint-sized God of Death with an exasperated expression.
It was like some kind of new-age curse.
"Heh heh... who told you to go running around carrying a security guard..." Conan's lip twitched. He immediately shut his mouth when he saw Ikumi Kyoda approaching. This detective had been staring at him and asking questions all day; he had to be careful.
"It seems your deductive reasoning is no weaker than your combat skills," the mature and poised Ikumi Kyoda evaluated with a smile.
Unlike her and the sharp-witted little boy, Tsuneo had likely seen through the height discrepancy long ago and set his sights on the seemingly innocent guard.
"I'm flattered." Tsuneo took several shopping bags out of his pickup truck and handed them to her. Of course, he had kept the premium beef gift boxes for himself.
That was his payment for being her bag-carrier!
"Brother Tsuneo, Ms. Kyoda, let's all go grab dinner together!" Sonoko had finally learned the truth from Mouri and the others and was greatly relieved.
She definitely had to treat the repairman to something good, and bringing the beautiful detective along might lead to some interesting stories!
Conan looked up at the pair, then turned and walked away.
Yeah, I think I'll just ride in the car Uncle Mouri rented. If I find out those two are accomplices, they might try to silence me...
"Actually, I'm still quite curious about that one with the glasses."
Sitting in the car, Ikumi Kyoda looked thoughtful as she watched the vehicle in front of them.
A first-grade elementary student? No matter how you looked at it, it seemed impossible. Back at the Sunset Manor, he had shown wisdom far beyond his years, and today at the crime scene, he had repeatedly given the police vital hints.
"He's just the type that's very good at studying," Tsuneo said, giving her a look that suggested she just hadn't seen enough of the world.
You have to understand, there are geniuses everywhere in this world. Besides, they teach everything in Hawaii!
"I feel like you're pulling my leg," Kyoda said, looking unimpressed.
Does that kind of deductive mind really equate to just being "good at studying"?
"We're here. Get out." Tsuneo replied with his specialty—a sudden, sharp brake.
To thank the repairman, Sonoko had pulled some strings to get a last-minute reservation at a superb restaurant. It was a place Tsuneo, Conan, and Professor Agasa had visited before with the kids—the same place where Haibara had once solved a murder case involving a piece of jewelry.
"So, Ms. Kyoda, did you come to the department store today specifically to find Brother Tsuneo?" Sonoko asked the moment they sat down.
Quick, spill it! After solving that one case together, are you two...
"No, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. I just happened to be shopping," Ikumi Kyoda laughed, shaking her head. She really had just been browsing for a new DV camera.
Judging by her expression, Sonoko clearly didn't believe that answer.
"I'll have one of everything!" Tsuneo was busy ordering, his mind focused entirely on the food.
"And a beer for me!" Mouri didn't have many demands for the menu.
"But... does anyone know what was up with Inspector Megure today?" Ran asked, still a bit worried. Seeing the Inspector snap at Officer Sato like that was a first for her.
"About that... Superintendent Matsumoto mentioned a few things to me just now," Mouri said with a nod.
(End of Chapter)
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