Chapter 24: Your Son is My Son**

**Chapter 24: Your Son is My Son**

Fujino remembered this case well; it was the monthly gift case from *Detective Conan*. If he recalled correctly, this case stemmed from a boy who died two years ago due to appendicitis.

The boy's father had been sending money and gifts since then, and today, he intended to take the life of Ogawa's son, Yuta...

"My son?!" Ogawa stood up, looking at Fujino with confusion. "Is that really the case?!"

"2.5 million yen is a considerable sum…" Fujino said, picking up a toy from the table and pointing at its packaging. "Haven't you noticed? These packages are very old… there are even some scratches on the toys."

"Fujino Detective, are you saying…"

"The person sending you these toys must be targeting your son."

Fujino then took out a game console and opened it to the character name screen. "Do you recognize the name Ogino Tomoya?"

"Ogino Tomoya…"

Ogawa frowned, then suddenly exclaimed, "I remember! He was a patient I handled three years ago when I first started working!"

"That boy died due to late-detected appendicitis. After his death, his father even beat me up, so I remember it very clearly!"

"That must be it."

Fujino nodded. "2.5 million yen is the insurance payout for a child's accidental death."

"Ogino Tomoya died during treatment, and his family, unable to cope with the grief, started sending you gifts and money from that point on. Now, it totals exactly 2.5 million yen…"

"As for those toys, I believe they are the deceased child's belongings."

Fujino stood up, contemplating. "Combining this with the content of that letter, I deduce that the sender intends to take your son's life today, making you experience the pain of losing a child!"

"I need to call my wife to get Yuta right away!"

Just as Ogawa was about to make the call, Fujino shouted, "No need to panic!"

"Then, what should I do now?"

Ogawa, now frantic, looked at Fujino.

"Cough, cough…"

Fujino cleared his throat. "First, use our house phone to call the kindergarten and confirm if Yuta has been picked up."

Ogawa quickly called the kindergarten, and after confirming his son hadn't been picked up yet, he sighed in relief and sat back down.

"So, Fujino Detective, what should I do now? Should I call the police?"

"Since your son is still safe, we have some time to prepare. No need to rush."

Fujino poured a cup of hot tea for Ogawa, explaining, "If we call the police now without concrete evidence of an abduction attempt, it won't do much good…"

"How can that be?"

Ogawa, dejected, pinched his thigh in frustration.

"But this situation isn't without a solution…"

"Fujino Detective, please, tell me!"

Ogawa looked at Fujino with hope, seeing him as his last chance.

Clearly, this detective was very reliable. He had deduced the sender's identity and intention with just a few scattered clues. If he couldn't solve this, no one could.

"There is a solution."

Fujino sipped his tea, then said, "However, the original investigation fee of 60,000 yen will now increase to 600,000 yen for protective services."

"What?"

Fujino was not surprised by this reaction and explained, "Technically, you're now consulting me on a different matter. Your initial request was to find out who was sending the gifts. Protecting your son is a separate task, with different fees. Basic investigations are 60,000 yen, but protection services are 600,000 yen."

"If someone is targeting your son's life, they might be carrying weapons… 60,000 yen isn't worth risking my life."

"I will pay the 600,000 yen!"

Ogawa grasped Fujino's hand tightly. "Please protect my son!"

"Since that's settled, your son is my son. I will ensure Yuta is unharmed!"

Fujino said solemnly.

Then he added, "By the way, the initial 60,000 yen will be considered a deposit. The remaining 540,000 yen should be transferred to my account upon completion."

"No problem!"

Ogawa nodded firmly.

...

An hour later, outside a kindergarten.

"Fujino Detective, are you sure that person will come to take Yuta?"

Ogawa, sitting in the passenger seat, asked Fujino, puzzled by the lack of activity.

"Based on my deductions, it won't be wrong."

Fujino glanced at Ogawa and explained, "Even if Yuta isn't in danger, your initial investigation fee already covers it, so you won't lose anything."

"I understand…"

Ogawa nodded, finding this reasonable.

After a while, he spotted a suspicious figure at the kindergarten gate.

"That's him!"

Ogawa's eyes widened as he excitedly pointed at the figure. "I won't forget; that's the man who beat me up three years ago!"

As he was about to get out and stop the man, Fujino held him back.

"Are you just going to let him take my son?!"

Ogawa shouted, overwhelmed with anger.

"Calm down!"

Fujino gripped his shoulder tightly. "Remember, he knows your face. If you alert him now, it's not just your son's life at risk; other children in the kindergarten might be in danger too!"

"How can this be…"

Ogawa pounded the glove compartment. "Why did this have to happen to me?"

"I understand how you feel."

Fujino nodded, assuring him. "Since I've taken your case, I won't let Yuta get hurt!"

Fujino glanced at the dented glove compartment, feeling a bit distressed, and added, "However, you'll need to cover the 50,000 yen repair fee for that."

"No problem."

Ogawa nodded, feeling guilty for his earlier outburst.

(End of Chapter)