The sky had darkened.
Outside the estate, Inspector Megure was practically bowing. "Brother Hoshino! Don't worry about a thing. I'll handle the paperwork. Sato, see them home?"
"Understood." Sato Miwako nodded.
"Brother Hoshino, I'll take my leave then!" With a final, almost wistful wave, Megure got into his car and led the convoy away.
Hoshino let out a long breath and stretched his stiff back.
Sato Miwako smiled as she started her red Mazda RX-7. "You know, Hoshino, at this rate, you'll steal Kudo Shinichi's 'Police Savior' title soon. It's an insult from the press, but… if it means catching killers faster, I'll take it."
"Let's go." Hoshino didn't want to dwell on it. He got in the back with Ran and Conan.
Sato sighed as she pulled onto the road.
"Something wrong, Officer Miwako?" Ran asked.
"Just some work trouble. A case."
"A case?" Conan instantly perked up. "An unsolved one?"
"Yes." Sato glanced at Hoshino in the rearview mirror. "Three days ago, we got a report from Tsukikage Island. Three dead. By the time my team got there, the killer was gone. Vanished. No trace since."
Tsukikage Island? Hoshino recognized the name immediately. So that case happened without us.
He was surprised. In the original timeline, Asano Minami—the man disguised as a woman seeking revenge—had invited Kogoro Mouri. Did our recent cases make Kogoro less famous? Or was I too visible, shifting the attention?
A missed opportunity for Source Points. But cases were plentiful. One more or less didn't matter.
"Officer Sato," Conan pressed, "How did the killer vanish?"
"We're not even sure about the killer. Just a letter left behind. From a female doctor named Asagi Minami… well, a male doctor, actually." Sato rubbed her temples, recalling the file. "Dr. Asagi was a man. Disguised himself as a woman to carry out his revenge."
She recounted the rest—almost identical to the original story. Before fleeing, Asagi Minami detailed his father's murder twelve years ago for refusing a drug deal, and the subsequent deaths of his mother and sister.
Hearing this, Sato's voice grew heavy with pity and disgust for the dead drug dealers.
"I see." Conan's interest waned. The killer had confessed and fled. The police just needed to issue a warrant. No mystery to solve.
Heh. Hoshino chuckled inwardly, noting Conan's disappointed expression. In the original anime, Tsukikage Island was one of your great regrets. But not this time.
"They're finally here," Ran said, spotting her father emerging from the estate.
"Sorry to keep you, Officer Sato!" Kogoro plopped into the passenger seat, unable to suppress a grin.
"Seatbelt, Mr. Mouri." Sato reminded him.
"Right, right."
"You seem pleased, Uncle," Hoshino remarked. "Get the fee?"
"Ahem. Yes." Kogoro pulled a check from his pocket, waving it proudly. "Not 3 million. 5 million. Mrs. Maru Inako added a 2 million bonus."
"A bonus?" Ran wasn't thrilled—she was worried. "Dad, why extra? Is this money… clean?"
Conan and Sato listened intently.
"Don't worry, it's fine." Kogoro puffed his chest. "It's hush money. To keep her lover's identity secret. Could ruin his career otherwise."
"It's Mr. Tawano Kikuya, isn't it?" Hoshino said calmly.
The car fell silent. Kogoro spun around, staring. "You brat! How did you know? Were you tailing me?!"
Hoshino smiled, recalling Conan's original deduction. "I smelled perfume on Mr. Tawano in the meeting room. The same one Mrs. Maru wore. Given his 'weekly visits,' I put it together."
"I see." Kogoro nodded, impressed. "My method was more direct. When I went to see Mrs. Maru, Tawano was still there, whispering with her. The more I looked, the more familiar he seemed. Then it clicked."
"Dad, but the two maids were there too…" Ran remembered.
Kogoro yawned, watching the city lights blur past. "Not our business. Mrs. Maru will handle it. I'm exhausted after days of surveillance. Just glad to go home and sleep."
Sato chuckled. "For 5 million yen, a little fatigue is acceptable."
"Exactly!" Kogoro agreed wholeheartedly. Money was money. No room for hesitation.
"By the way, Officer Sato, it's late. Join us for dinner?"
"Thank you, Mr. Mouri, but I need to report to headquarters."
"Of course. Duty first."
The car hummed through the Tokyo night, carrying a tired detective, a thoughtful girl, a brooding boy in glasses, and a young man already looking toward the next case, the next point, the next step in an endless grind.