Chapter 358: Case Resurgence
Today is still the weekend, but in order to celebrate Valentine's Day, Senichi and others exchanged shifts with their single colleagues who didn't need to celebrate.
So, on this weekend, while many people were blissfully sleeping, Senichi and the others were busy dealing with the piled-up files.
Most of these were follow-up documents after solving cases, such as written reports on the case process or procedures related to coordination with the prosecutor's office.
Although it is not difficult, the cases came in too frequently. Sometimes, just as they finished one case, another one came in. So, when the quantity piled up to a certain extent, it became quite a headache.
Therefore, when there were no cases, people would enjoy tea and snacks during leisure time, and they would also handle some long-pending paperworks.
Huh? Why not put more effort into clearing these piled-up paperworks?
Just take a look at that stack of files, and you'll automatically give up on that idea. The people here have long been accustomed to this. There's even a bit of a desire to be lazy.
After all, it's impossible to finish the paperwork, and new cases keep coming in rapidly. So, they only handle a few urgent paperworks, have some afternoon tea, and eat some snacks.
During busy times, time always passes quickly. Unconsciously, a "peak" of the small mountain of files was "shaved off," and noon quietly arrived.
As lunchtime approached, after organizing the files at hand, Senichi stood up and went to the file cabinet behind Superintendent Kiyonaga Matsumoto's desk to store the documents. Habitually, he checked the investigation files of Kogoro Mouri, only to find that the files had disappeared.
After a moment of astonishment, Senichi wasn't too surprised. After all, he knew who did it. This was something he had anticipated long ago, and he had been considering how to deal with this investigation for quite some time.
For this reason, when they encountered cases together, he deliberately let Kogoro Mouri out of the limelight several times. The purpose was to avoid the other party discovering any clues during this investigation.
However, a reminder was still necessary. Thinking of this, Senichi took out his phone and sent a text message to Conan, informing him of the situation.
On the other side, Officer Takagi, who had finished organizing the files in his hands, stood up and stretched lazily. "Ah, it's been a long time since I organized files. The morning passed so quickly. It's already lunchtime. Let's go eat together."
"Yeah, this busy and fulfilling feeling is quite nice."
Inspector Megure also stood up and stretched his body. Agreeing, he nodded, "And being able to sit in the office is already a kind of happiness."
After all, them sitting here indicates that no lives have been lost. For them, this is just a peaceful daily routine.
"Alright, let's go quickly; we might miss out on the good meal deals if we're late."
Senichi, who had just sent the text message, heard the two's enthusiastic voices raising a flag and couldn't help but roll his eyes. He quickly changed the subject and called the two to go to the cafeteria.
What's the joke? Can't we have a moment of peace? What are you talking about?!
In this world of Detective Conan, if you dare to say things have been peaceful recently, a case will immediately pop up and slap you in the face.
Feeling a bit uneasy about flag, Senichi felt a bit mentally exhausted. Even though more cases meant more rewards, the rapid frequency of new cases was seriously damaging to his physical and mental health.
The mental fatigue is overwhelming! It's best to balance work and rest.
But this is, after all, the cafeteria of the Criminal Investigation Department, and the "spy" Haibara hasn't conveyed any information to him. Everything seems fine.
After comfortably finishing a plate of curry pork cutlet rice, Senichi and the other two returned to the office, had a cup of black tea, and began post-lunch chatting.
Winter's snowy days always bring people closer because those who don't feel like going home in the afternoon stay in the office to chat.
Having another cup of tea, watching the snowfall outside while in the warmth of the room – the feeling is just delightful.
The time for rest always passes quickly, and soon everyone is back in action.
As the afternoon approached five o'clock, just when Senichi thought the day would pass peacefully,
A sudden ring of the phone disrupted the busy yet calm office.
And when the phone rang, even if it wasn't answered, Senichi and the others knew—there had been a murder.
The wailing police siren once again appeared in the skies above the streets of Tokyo.
When Senichi and the others arrived at the crime scene, as expected, they saw some familiar figures—Professor Agasa and the Detective Boys.
Thinking about this, Senichi couldn't help but feel a bit mentally exhausted.
Since Haibara was present but didn't timely inform him, it meant it wasn't the fault of the Detective Boys. Instead, the case had actively sought them out.
Wearing white gloves, Senichi and the others clasped their hands together in mourning for the deceased before starting to examine the body.
Combining the testimony of everyone, the general situation of the case had become clear.
The deceased's name was Eiko Idetsuki, 46 years old this year.
She appeared to be an ordinary middle-aged, plump woman. The cause of death was straightforward, almost evident—a fatal blow to the head from a vase filled with flowers and water.
However, although the deceased was a resident of this apartment building, the room where she died wasn't hers; it belonged to a man named Hideo Morita.
As for why the deceased was in his apartment, it was because Hideo Morita had borrowed some money from Eiko Idetsuki, and today she had come to collect the debt.
Eiko Idetsuki was a movie enthusiast, and Hideo Morita happened to also like movies and had collected quite a few rare videotapes.
So, after Hideo Morita repaid part of the money, to thank her and postpone his repayment deadline, he lent her the videotape of the movie "Sanjuro Sakura" that he had found.
[ TN: It is called "Sanjuro Sakura", but is "Play It Again" in everything but name. "Play it again" is a short story by Gosho Aoyama(Author of Detective Conan) which was published in May 1988.]
After getting the movie she wanted to watch, Eiko Idetsuki was impatient and decided to enjoy the film directly in Hideo Morita's audio room.
As for why Professor Agasa and Conan, the little ones, were here, that story goes back to an earlier time.
When they were at Suito Sanso Lodge, Ran and Sonoko specially made chocolates with the faces of each child.
Today, Ran invited several children and Professor Agasa to her home, presenting them with these chocolates.
While the children were enjoying the chocolates, Hideo Morita came to the Mouri Detective Agency, hoping that Kogoro Mouri could help find the wristwatch that his wife had lost before she passed away.
However, when it was clarified that the watch was lost in the other person's home, Kogoro Mouri became furious, feeling as if he had been played with, and flatly refused.
Afterward, Conan took the initiative with the little ones, stating that they would help find the watch.
For some reason, Hideo Morita brought Professor Agasa and the little ones to his home.
Unfortunately, just as they found the watch, they heard the sound of footsteps running outside and something breaking.
When Conan and the others rushed to the audio room, they discovered Eiko Idetsuki, covered in blood and dead inside.
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