Conan's other self

"The criminal escaped down the stairs!"

Conan's voice then came from the badge, "Go and see if there are any people near the stairs who come downstairs in a panic!"

"Um!"

"Fengyuan, Haiyuan, you are still on the first floor, right?"

"Yes, I'm going to go take a look at the stairwell." Fengyuan replied, and then looked at Haiyuan Ai, "Haiyuan, why don't you go tell the mall staff? Let them stop the customers who are escaping the mall in a hurry. .”

"Okay." Haiyuan Ai responded, and then walked directly towards the door.

"That's it!" Conan continued, "Others only need to see the criminal and remember the appearance, clothing and characteristics! The other person is a guy who kills people with a knife! If he realizes that he has been discovered, who knows what he will do If something happens! Don't fight him at all."

The "other people" in Conan's words obviously did not include Feng Yuan, but Feng Yuan did not directly bump into that person. The person may have left the stairwell and took the escalator instead on the second floor or higher.

However, when looking back at the entrance and exit of the stairwell, Fengyuan noticed more than one person running towards the door in a hurry.

Thinking that Haiyuan should still be at the door and might run into the prisoner and be in some danger, Fengyuan did not stay outside the stairwell, but turned around and returned to the main entrance of the mall.

At the entrance of the mall, after listening to Haihara Ai's account of the emergency, the staff successfully stopped several people who wanted to leave the mall in a hurry.

Soon, the injured was taken to the hospital by ambulance, and the Megure Police Department and Officer Takagi also rushed to the scene.

"Then what? The customers who were trying to leave the mall in a panic," Memu Police Department looked at the suspicious people who were stopped in time, "Are they these three people? All three of them are sweating profusely..."

"I-I'm looking for the toilet!"

The first person to reply was a young man named Kamaya Takashi. His right finger seemed to be injured and was wrapped in a bandage. “There were no vacancies in the toilets on each floor. I had no choice but to use the toilet at a nearby convenience store. , just as I was about to leave the mall, I was stopped..."

"I'm looking for my wallet!" The second explanation was from a middle-aged woman named Mitsuko Shikama. She was wearing a mask and coughed from time to time, as if she had a cold. "It probably fell somewhere. I just ran and searched all the counters I passed today!”

"Then did you find the wallet?" Police Department Megure asked.

"Yes, yes," Mrs. Shikama coughed twice more, "After searching carefully, I found that it was in my bag..."

"What about you?" Megure Police Department looked at the third person, a very tall chef named Yu Miyadai.

"I ate Thai food at a restaurant here. Because I am a chef, I studied the seasoning. The stir-fried water spinach I just ate there was very spicy. It made me sweat, so I wanted to go back quickly. Take a bath at home…”

"At least these three people have their own reasons..."

"Next," the Megure Police Department looked at Genta and others who were preparing to attack, "we will rely on the testimonies of the children who saw the criminals!"

"no problem!"

“Although we didn’t see the criminal’s face, we all remember his features!”

"See clearly!"

The primary school students are full of confidence.

Fengyuan had only just heard Conan talk about what he heard when he and the doctor stayed in the hotel. Like everyone else, he didn't know what the elementary school students had seen, so he listened carefully.

"That man is very small," Yuantai said first. "There is a number 2 on his clothes, and the color of his clothes is gray!"

After saying that, Yuantai looked at Feng Yuan and Hai Yuan Ai again, "It happens to be the same color as the clothes Feng Yuan and Hai Yuan are wearing!"

Hearing Genta's words, Fengyuan turned to look at the three people. The one wearing almost gray clothes was Mr. Kamaya, but——

"That's wrong!" Mitsuhiko objected, "That's a big man, wearing dark gray clothes, and his running posture looks like a man!"

Hey, hey, you guys are not even sure of your gender...

Feng Yuan couldn't help complaining in his heart, and then heard Genta and Mitsuhiko arguing:

"He's a little man! Because you are short yourself, Mitsuhiko, so you think he is tall, right?"

"I saw that right! It's a big man!"

"I think it's a woman!" Ayumi also joined the battlefield, "Wearing light gray clothes that are close to white, she is of medium height and looks a little taller than the doctor!"

Conan was also a little speechless.

But the one who was most speechless was Officer Takagi, because he was not only listening carefully, but also taking notes carefully.

Halfway through listening, he felt something was not right, but he still responsibly wrote it all down, and then confirmed it with three primary school students in a summary manner.

"But," after listening to Officer Takagi's summary, the Megure Police Department looked at the three people with a headache, "the clothes of the three people who were stopped because they left the mall in a hurry were all gray..."

"Yes, only the shade of the color is different..." Officer Takagi agreed, then looked at Mr. Kamaya, "According to what Genta said, it's Mr. Kamaya, right?"

"Are you kidding!" Mr. Kamaya argued, "I was really looking for the toilet, so I ran out in a panic!"

"Huh? Are the fingers on your right hand injured?" Police Department Megure asked.

"I just accidentally poked it and hit the toilet door..." Mr. Kamaya looked at Mitsuhiko and Ayumi again, "Also! Didn't the other two brats say dark gray and light gray? This little fat guy also said The criminal has the number 2 on his clothes..."

He turned around and showed the back of his clothes to everyone. On it was printed the word rice flower in an artistic style, "Look! There are only Chinese characters!"

"really."

"Then according to Ayumi, the one wearing light gray is..." Officer Takagi then focused on Mrs. Shikama.

"Hey! Wait a minute!" Mrs. Shikama immediately noticed the suspicious look in Officer Takagi's eyes, "Didn't I tell you? I'm looking for my wallet! That's why I searched all the counters I visited today..."

"But wasn't that wallet in your own bag? Why did you leave the mall in a panic?"

"I suddenly remembered that the TV series I missed before would be re-broadcast tonight, so I hurried back! Ahem, ahem..."

"Are you sick?"

"Yeah, I was almost healed, but I lost all my sweat from running just now, and the cold seems to be getting worse again..."

"Well... there is no number 2 on your clothes," Police Inspector Megure looked at the brooch on Mrs. Shikama's chest, "But this brooch looks a bit like a number, but it is 6..."

"Yes, yes..."

"The only one left is Mr. Miyadai in dark gray clothes as mentioned in Mitsuhiko's testimony..."

"Hey!" Mr. Miyadai replied, "What I just said is true! I heard that the soup in the Thai restaurant here tastes very similar to the one in my store..."

"Are you here to complain?"

"Well, that's right...but I didn't feel that much after drinking it, so I went back without saying anything..."

"There seems to be some pattern on the back of your clothes..."

"It's not a number." Mr. Gongdai also turned around and showed the icon on the back of the clothes to everyone.

That's the Tokyo Spirits team logo.

"Then Ayumi, the reason why you think the criminal is a woman is..."

Memu Police Department then looked at Ayumi.

"Well, I don't know why..." Bu Meimei pointed to his chin and thought for a moment, "I always think that is a woman!"

"No, I don't know why..."

The Mumu Police Department and others were speechless and didn't know what to say. Haiyuan Ai looked at Fengyuan and found that he did not show a speechless expression. He seemed to be thinking about something, and...

Following Fengyuan's line of sight, Haibara Ai confirmed that he was looking at the person named Kamaya.

Kudo obviously already has a suspect.

Haihara Ai observed the man again with some curiosity, and thought about it based on the testimony of Ayumi and others, but she couldn't think of any results for a while, and then she was interrupted by another voice.

"Megure Police Department!" Officer Chiba ran towards here, "We have found the connection between these three people and the victim, Mr. Hosoetsu!"

"What?"

"Mr. Kamaya worked at the restaurant where the victim was the head chef two years ago and was fired because of his poor work attitude. Ms. Shikama and the victim were neighbors in the same apartment building. It is said that they often complained about Ms. Shikama's dog. The shouting was too loud and an argument broke out. Then, three years ago, Mr. Miyadai made a loud noise in the victim’s restaurant, saying that the victim had plagiarized his food, and was kicked out by the police..."

"I see..." Memu Police Department nodded and looked at the three people, "It seems that there is a need for further investigation on the three of you..."

"Well, before investigating, let's ask those three people if they have gloves!" Conan interjected.

"Gloves?" Memu Police Department was stunned for a moment.

"The criminal's fingerprints were not found on the knife that was the murder weapon. Then the criminal must have been wearing gloves to commit the crime. If the blood had splattered on the gloves, if it were me, I would definitely throw them away!"

"Then, do you have any?" Officer Takagi quickly turned around and asked the three people.

But all three of them took out their gloves, and there was no blood on them.

"According to the forensic officer, the victim's bleeding was due to him pulling out the knife himself." Police Officer Chiba explained, "So it is very likely that there was no blood spattered on the criminal..."

"Oh. How is the condition of the victim?"

"The operation has been completed, but consciousness has not yet returned..."

"Anyway," the Memu Police Department looked at the three people again, "you guys follow me to another room to be questioned!"

"Then let's go too!" Yuantai and others said in unison.

"No, no, no!" Officer Takagi quickly waved his hand, "The next step is our police work!"

"ah?"

"But," Maplehara said, "you haven't heard Conan and I's testimony yet."

"Huh?" Officer Takagi was stunned for a moment.

"Huh?" Conan said the same.

The Megure Police Department, who was about to leave, also quickly stopped.

"Hey, Feng Yuan, what did I say? I have been at the scene of the crime and didn't see the prisoner escape..." Conan muttered to Feng Yuan.

"But Conan, didn't you hear that another chef went to talk to the victim about the phone call, right? The victim also asked the chef to meet him at the stairs next to the store in thirty minutes. Judging from the time, , that should be the phone call from the prisoner, right?"

"The police department already knows about this..."

"Yes," Officer Takagi agreed, "We have already asked the chef who answered the phone at the time, but there was no valid information on the phone, and the criminal also changed his voice..."

"Can't you even tell the difference between men and women?"

"Yes, yes..."

"Did you tell me why the sound on the phone was strange?" Fengyuan asked, "For example, is it a mechanical sound or something else..."

"He said the voice on the phone sounded high-pitched..."

"Then it's most likely that the voice was changed with helium gas." Fengyuan said, "And if the prisoner had a premeditated plan and wanted to invite the victim out, he was probably nearby when he made the call, right?"

"ah?"

"Also, the victim directly set the agreed meeting time for thirty minutes later. The prisoner not only agreed but also arrived in time. This also shows that he was probably nearby when he made the call..."

"W-what's going on?"

"It's a phone booth."

Conan thought for a moment and took over what Feng Yuan said, "He changed his voice specifically, indicating that he was consciously hiding his identity. In this case, he probably wouldn't have used his phone or cell phone to make that call, and would probably have chosen telephone booth…"

"I-I see..."

"So I thought," Maplehara continued, "Maybe I can find something if I go to the nearby phone booths and investigate! It's near Christmas at this time, and there are a lot of people everywhere. It's possible that they went to the more remote phone booths nearby. …”

"Chiba," the Megure Police Department quickly ordered, "hurry up and take someone to investigate!"

"Yes!" Officer Chiba responded and left quickly.

"But," Officer Takagi said, "there are no fingerprints on the knife used as the murder weapon. Even if you find something like a helium tank, you probably can't expect to find fingerprints."

"If you use helium to change the sound, you need to inhale it. Maybe you can detect saliva or something from the inhalation port!"

"Yes, yes! As long as the DNA in the saliva is detected, you can know who it is..." Officer Takagi said excitedly, but then he felt a little embarrassed, "But I don't know if I can find anything yet... Haha..."

"Ah, by the way, Mr. Kamaya," Maplehara looked at Mr. Kamaya again. He was watching his reaction while talking just now, "Do you want to go to the toilet again?"

Everyone looked over subconsciously, and found that Mr. Kamaya, who was calm before, now looked restless.

"If you want to go to the toilet, just say so," Police Chief Megure said, "Takagi, please accompany him-"

"No need." Mr. Kamaya said suddenly.

"Um?"

"It's hard to say..."

"Yes, the helium tank should be found in the grass next to the phone booth nearby."

Mr. Kamaya is obviously about to confess.

"I can't help it. If I don't change my voice, it will be heard," Mr. Kamaya lowered his head and continued, "It's been two years since I quit my job, and the head chef still remembers my appearance..."

"Then you stabbed him with a knife because you were fired from the store?" Police Department Megure asked.

"I won't kill someone over something as trivial as being fired!"

Mr. Kamaya raised his voice and retorted, then his voice became lower again, "That time I took my girlfriend to that restaurant for dinner. Of course I hid the fact that I worked there two years ago.

I told my girlfriend that I was a gourmet because I had seen the recipe for that pickled vegetable dish when I was working. I shaved myself and dyed my hair black. I thought it was foolproof, so I called the chef and said that I could taste it. The secret ingredient of pickles is honey…”

"It turned out that what he put was actually jam, and he had used honey before to neutralize the sour taste..." He continued, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes, "He recognized me again and told me - I always felt that it was me before. It's too harsh, and I'm a little worried. After all, you asked me to resign in tears - it's all his fault. My girlfriend was disillusioned, so she dumped me. That was the girl I finally got back. My friend, it’s because of the chef… because of that man…”

"Let me tell you," Hui Yuarai said dissatisfied, "Isn't it because you pretended to understand in front of your girlfriend?"

…

This is how the case came to an end.

Although the prisoner had confessed and was taken away, the primary school students still stayed where they were, looking a little depressed.

"Really! In the end, our testimony was completely useless!"

"exactly!"

"There is nothing we can do. Who makes the witnesses' testimonies so unreliable..." Haiyuan Ai said, crossing his arms.

"It's not unreliable! I also told you, it's the same gray color as your and Feng Yuan's clothes..."

"I also said he is a man!" This is Mitsuhiko.

"Ayumi was right when she said the prisoner was slightly taller than the doctor!"

"Okay, okay!" Conan said quickly, "The case is over..."

"And your testimony is also very useful." Feng Yuan said.

"Yeah?"

"Really?"

"Yes. It was because of your testimony that I noticed that Mr. Kamaya looked very strange!"

"But, our testimonies say different things..."

"But to compromise your testimony, it's Mr. Kamaya. Whether it's height or color, they are easily affected by things around them," Maplehara continued, "For example, the doctor is a big man around us, but In fact, a doctorate is not very high, right?"

"Yes, yes..."

"But the three of you have different opinions. If it is said that the judgment is affected by the influence of things nearby, then the real characteristics of the prisoner are likely to be the compromised one..."

"So the prisoner is a little taller than the doctor as Ayumi said, not the big guy, and the color of his clothes is middle gray, not lighter or darker..."

"But Ayumi thinks the prisoner is a woman..."

"Then do you still remember the scene at that time?" Fengyuan asked, "For example, what special actions did the other party make?"

"Ah!" Ayumi recalled, "He seemed to have taken off something stuck to the sole of his left shoe..."

"So that's it!" Conan looked astonished, "If something sticks to the sole of his left shoe, men usually lift the sole in front of themselves and clean it with their right hand..."

"But the prisoner's right hand is injured..." Haihara Ai said.

"Yes. So he had to tilt his left foot back and reluctantly use his left hand to clean it. Because of the difference in the thigh joints between men and women, it is difficult to bend in this direction. Ayumi, you must have seen this action of his to do it. Do you intuitively think he is a woman?"

"Yes!"

"In terms of height," Fengyuan looked at Genta again, "Genta, do you think he is a small man? Maybe it's because there were many tall people next to him at that time?"

Feng Yuan remembered that he met a group of people from the basketball team when he came up, and Genta was also on the floor selling sporting goods.

"Yeah! That's right! There are many big brothers who play basketball!" Yuantai replied, "They are all wearing team uniforms!"

"Then I think the prisoner is a big man because there are many models used as child models there?" Mitsuhiko suddenly understood.

"What about the numbers?" Haiyuan Ai then asked, "None of those three people have the number 2 on them, right?"

"Yantai, is that really the number 2 you see?"

"Yes! I've already said it!"

"I'm talking," Maplehara asked, "are you seeing the complete number 2?"

"Ah! I only saw a small part on the right!" Yuantai was a little embarrassed, "But I think that should be the number 2..."

"Really, Yuanta..."

"I see," Haihara Ai immediately thought of it, "it's the right half of the rice flower flower. Because it's printed in an artistic style, if you cover that half, it will look like the right half of the number 2..."

Then she looked at Ayumi and others, "In other words, all of your testimonies are actually correct..."

"Very good!"

"But it's completely useless..."

"And Uncle Takagi and the others still don't believe us..."

"It's okay. I just asked Officer Takagi to come back after he takes the prisoner down!" Maplehara said. In his sight, Officer Takagi ran back towards them again, "Let's go to the scene where you saw the prisoner. Can you tell Officer Takagi what you just said again? This is also key evidence!"

Officer Takagi arrived with the news that the helium tank was found in the grass near the phone booth, and there were traces of saliva on it. The schoolchildren then drag him to the scene to explain their testimony in order to restore the reputation of the Junior Detective Corps.

This was also valid evidence, so Officer Takagi followed them patiently and listened to the elementary school students' explanations.

Falling behind, Huiyuan Ai looked at Fengyuan.

"So, do you really doubt that Kamaya because of their testimony?"

"No." Fengyuan said. He just said that to make the elementary school students feel better. "It's because he said he wanted to leave the mall because he was in a hurry to go to the toilet."

"What happened?" Haiyuan Ai asked curiously, "He did go to the toilet accompanied by the staff later, right?"

"Because he said that he had looked at every floor and there were no seats. It would take a lot of time... but he claimed that he wanted to go to the toilet but it was already the second reaction..."