Doi Fumio glanced at everyone, sighed, and began to recount his story.
"Seven years ago, I lost money investing in stocks and owed a lot of debt. Torakura Daisuke helped me pay it off—on the condition that I give him all the novels I had submitted to him. Because at that time, he could barely write vampire novels anymore. He started plagiarizing the plots of those who submitted their work. Two years later, I couldn't stand his plagiarism anymore, so I recommended Tadokoro, whom I had met through submissions. I thought his novels were good, but they weren't popular because he wasn't famous. So I thought I'd have Tadokoro write for him to reduce the number of times he plagiarized."
Kogorō opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
Conan felt that if Torakura hadn't been killed by Tadokoro, he might have died at someone else's hands someday. However, he thought of something and, ignoring the strange looks from others, asked directly, "Uncle Mouri, didn't Mr. Torakura ask you to investigate Mrs. Torakura's affair? Could it be Mr. Tadokoro?"
"I didn't." Tadokoro hurriedly shook his head. He had already admitted to murder—he wouldn't lie about something like that.
Torakura Etsuko remained silent.
Hamura Shuichi sighed. "It was me. Etsuko and I have been lovers since university. We've always loved each other."
Ran and Sonoko were somewhat numb. How could everyone have secrets? And why were they revealing them one after another?
Seeing Hamura speak, Torakura Etsuko didn't hide anything and recounted their story. It turned out that eight years ago, when Torakura Etsuko's father's company was struggling and on the verge of bankruptcy, Torakura Daisuke—a friend of her father—offered to help on the condition that she marry him. For the sake of her father's company and family, Torakura Etsuko ultimately agreed. Later, she learned that the reason her father's company was failing was all due to Torakura Daisuke's machinations behind the scenes. But by the time she found out, it was too late—her father's company had already fallen into Torakura's hands.
"That damned guy deserves to die!" Sonoko said unhappily.
Conan muttered, "Sonoko-neechan, killing is wrong."
Sonoko replied irritably, "I only said he 'deserves to die.' I didn't actually kill him. Can't I even curse him?"
"You can curse him." Conan shrank back, not daring to criticize such a thing.
Kogorō approached Tadokoro and said, "Mr. Tadokoro, I might have to tie you up with a rope until the police arrive."
Tadokoro didn't speak but nodded.
The next day. Morning.
In front of the window of the villa's living room, Kurosawa Hoshino and Ran stood admiring the snow outside.
Kurosawa stretched his back. "With this much snow, the police probably won't get here until the afternoon."
Sonoko shifted her position. "You mean the Metropolitan Police Department will send a helicopter to pick you up, right?"
Ran asked, puzzled, "Then why didn't they come last night?"
"It was snowing." A calm voice came from behind them.
The three turned around and saw Haibara Ai, her face expressionless. Ignoring their gazes, Haibara said to herself, "It was snowing all night. It's not safe to send a helicopter at night, so the police didn't come."
Kurosawa laughed, patting her head. "On the contrary, when I talked to Inspector Megure on the phone last night, he said it was fine and they could come. I felt it wasn't safe and didn't want to make too much of a fuss, so I had them send a police car today."
Conan, who was nearby, almost burst out laughing when he heard this.
Haibara's expression froze. Thinking about her earlier words and how arrogant she must have seemed in their eyes, she felt incredibly embarrassed. Two red blushes appeared on her cheeks.
Kurosawa, completely unaware that his words had made Haibara so embarrassed she was practically digging her toes out of a three-bedroom apartment, bent down and picked her up. He held her close as she looked out at the snowy scene in the yard.
Haibara sighed inwardly. She'd already been carried yesterday, so it wasn't a big deal. She continued to play the child.
Sonoko pouted. "What? You should have had them come by helicopter so we could go back sooner."
Kurosawa smiled. "Miss Sonoko, your family has a helicopter too. Why don't you make a call?"
"No. I want to spend more time with Ran." Sonoko immediately refused.
"Then I also want to spend more time with you. Is that reason enough?" Kurosawa countered.
Sonoko crossed her arms, deliberately shuddering to feign discomfort, though her face turned bright red when she looked away. "How disgusting."
"I think it's great." Ran laughed. "It sounds a bit like a confession."
Haibara, nestled in Kurosawa's arms, glanced at the two girls, then looked up at the smiling Kurosawa, lost in thought.
Noon.
The weather suddenly turned scorching—as if it were the hottest time of summer. The thick snow had vanished completely in less than an hour.
Inspector Megure finally led his team to the villa entrance, meeting up with Kurosawa and the others.
"Hey, Hoshino, Mouri." Inspector Megure wiped the sweat from his brow and greeted them with a smile, while glancing at Tadokoro Toshiya, whose hands were bound with rope. It was obvious he was the culprit.
"Inspector Megure, we're leaving the man to you. We have to go back," Kogorō said.
"I'll give you a ride."
"No need. I rented a car. I need to drive it back."
"Then let Hoshino ride in my car." Inspector Megure raised an eyebrow at Kurosawa.
"Okay." Sonoko answered for him. "We'll ride in Inspector Megure's car together. Conan can ride in Uncle Mouri's."
"I—" Conan was about to refuse when Sonoko gave him a fierce look. Helpless, he could only nod. "Okay, I understand."
"What? Are you uncomfortable riding in the same car as me?" Kogorō also looked at Conan.
At this moment, Conan really wanted to hit someone. He wondered if he had really turned into a first-grade elementary school student. They didn't care about children at all. They were either threatening with their eyes or their words. It was really too hateful.