E. Stepmother+G

"Jack!"

The sailor-clad girl hugged me as soon as I got to the police station.

"You'll be fine. Trust me, Anna."

I patted her shoulder lightly.

"But, I'll be staying the night here. I'm scared, Jack."

She whined, just like her mother used to. It's so exact that I feel like I'm talking to the Chibi (small) version of Kelly every time I talk to Anna.

However, right now I am helpless. She's a suspect though I'm sure she wasn't the culprit. Although there is the blood of a cruel man like James in Anna's veins, there is Kelly's blood too. And the descendants of Kelly are very unlikely to commit crimes.

In fact, I know that even though Nana a.k.a Anna grew up in the Langford family, the girl who has been turned into a woman by my son, doesn't know anything about the Langford family's other business. She only knew that her family had a herbal medicine business. Isn't that ridiculous?

"I'm scared, Jack." Anna was still whining, it made me feel uncomfortable.

"Just last night, you don't have to be afraid. I'll investigate to get you out. Got it? Be a good boy. Yes? I'll treat you to ice cream later, how about it?"

I coaxed her while giving her a smile.

I saw her smile and nod.

"Smart kids."

I rubbed her head.

***

I returned to Anna's apartment. Precisely the scene of the murder tragedy took place. She's the top roof of the apartment.

This is indeed a murder case, but somehow the perpetrator made the victim fall off the roof, making it look like he was committing suicide.

However, because Anna is there, the culprit changes his plans, making Anna the killer. I know the reason why the perpetrator did that, it's because he knows sooner or later, the police will find evidence that this case is not suicide, but murder.

Bolt.

The guardrail that fell was not because it was weathered. Judging from the paint that didn't peel off then there were a few missing bolts, in other words the bolts were intentionally removed so that with just a light touch they fell right off.

I think the real culprit was the one who first shouted at Anna as the perpetrator. Because when people focus on Anna, I see him taking something from the crime scene.

But,that's just a guess, I'll investigate further. Isn't this very similar to the case I wrote in my online novel at that time. Ah, this makes it easier for me.

Alright, looks like duty is calling me.

***

Ah so that's it huh?

This trick...?

The tricks used by the perpetrators are really interesting. Thank you, Mom. Even though Mom doesn't look pretty with glasses, but because Mom wears them, I know the tricks that the perpetrators use.

Correct!

With this trick, without pushing the victim's body, the victim will subconsciously lean her body against the guardrail. The perpetrator does not need to be near the victim to bring the victim down. And if my guess is right, the evidence is in the bodies of the corpses.

Isn't it like I've come across this case before?

But, oh shit! I already know who the perpetrators of Tamara's murder are, but the available evidence can't prove that that person is the culprit. Besides, I don't know the motive for this murder yet.

***

The only way, I have to meet those three people. And the first is the least likely. The one who called the ambulance.

"Good morning, Mr. Mitsuki." I greeted the man in his forties.

"Good morning. Please come in, Mr. Ludwig."

I smiled faintly. Not only is there Mitsuki Nakamura, it turns out that one teenage girl is also there.

"She...?"

"She's my daughter, her name is Mitsuki Rin."

Not that. I was about to say, he was the one at the scene besides them.

"I just want honesty. What is Tamara's relationship with Takumi?"

Seeing the school uniforms that Tamara, Takumi, and Rin were wearing, which were also Anna's school uniforms made me suspect that there was actually a special relationship between them.

To Anna, she was indeed their senior.

"Anna, who killed my best friend, why is it my lover that you accuse?"

Oh so that's it? I understand now. I glanced at the finger of her left hand, there was a bandage.

"Knife wound, eh?" I asked Rin.

"H-how... yes, it got hit by a knife."

Alright, now I know the motives and tricks of the perpetrators. If yesterday I thanked mother, now maybe I will thank Anna.

Sometimes female gossip helps too.

***

I came out of Mr. Mitsuki's apartment. Then slowly walked down the hall of the apartment. My destination is Takumi's room.

My detective instincts were telling me again, it was the teenage boy who did it. I once overheard Tamara and Anna's conversation. Tamara complains to Anna that Takumi always 'annoys' him even though he has Rin.

If my guess is correct, then he is the real culprit.

***

"So, why did you call me here, Mr. Ludwig?"

The question left Takumi's mouth. The curly teenage boy looked at me expressionlessly standing right in front of the guardrail.

I took a deep breath, putting on a serious face.

"So, you accuse me of being the culprit?" asked Takumi flatly.

Bingo! I haven't accused him yet, but he already knows I'm going to say he did it.

Stupid! Or was it on purpose? Who knows.

I nodded.

"You are the culprit, Kobayashi Takumi."

He looked at me defiantly. Slowly, both hands lifted up to fold in front of the chest.

"How could I drop Tamara? I wasn't on the roof when Tamara fell. After all, isn't it Anna, your niece, who knocked down Tamara?"

I winced. There seemed to be something wrong with what he just said. Niece, he said? Do we both really look like Uncle and niece? Oh, it's okay. It's not bad either, the important thing is that they don't think Anna is my daughter.

"Isn't that right? Tamara fell because of Anna?" he said again.

"No." I argued. "Tamara fell off the roof by herself ... Oh no, I was wrong. She fell because of an invisible hand that knocked her off the roof with your trick." I glared at him.

"What do you mean?"

I smiled happily, "Glasses are the main point of this trick. I'm right, right?"

Takumi chose to remain silent.

"In Tamara's room, there is a letter written in Anna's name telling her to go to the roof. It's likely that Tamara is interested in going there, because the perpetrator who sent it uses Anna's name."

He's still silent. He confronts the official detective. Moreover, he brought Anna. Really stupid, right? I checked everything. I already knew, and there was no reason he could deny it. He thought I wouldn't go all the way to the root? Very stupid!

"Coincidentally, ah no! According to your plan, Anna went up on the roof, because you know it's a habit when I come to visit on Thursday, then Anna will go to the roof to pick up my coat which she dried at night.

"Okay, going back to Tamara, naturally she must be looking for Anna, who hasn't come yet. She must have been around looking for Anna. And when Tamara was in front of the guardrail, Tamara saw someone waving at her. Because of her blind eyes far away, Tamara doesn't even know who is waving at her, whether it's Anna or who. That's why the girl wears glasses to see the person waving at her."

"Then what's weird?" cut Takumi quickly.

I saw his face changed slightly made me smile.

"That's the main point. Look, what if we change the lenses of Tamara's glasses that don't match her vision? Tamara will lose her balance because her blurry vision makes her head spin."

"Then, to balance her body so she doesn't fall, she grabs hold of the railing - which is in front of her - without realizing that the fence will immediately fall off when touched. And that made her lose her balance and end up falling too."

I continued to analyze while looking at Takumi who was looking down. It seemed he had given up. I continue my analysis again.

"You and Tamara are 'good friends', aren't you? You often visit Tamara's place. So, it won't be difficult for you to change Tamara's glasses."

"The proof?" asked Takumi. "What's the proof? You just explained a trick that anyone can do, which was right where Tamara could see it at the time. That means, apart from me, there are other suspects, Rin, her father and you too, right?"

"Maybe you're right. Anyone at the crime scene could be the perpetrator who killed Tamara. The perpetrator must be in the vicinity of the crime scene, because in addition to lure the victim to touch the guardrail, the perpetrator must exchange the victim's glasses," I said walking closer.

I, walked until my body was now right in front of him and looked at him sharply and coldly.

"While on the roof, I saw you hiding something you took from the crime scene, when everyone's attention was on Anna."

I looked at Takumi's bandaged fingers.

"Your right finger was cut by the shard of the lens glass, right?"

Takumi touched his finger,

"I cut my finger when I learned to cook," Takumi said quietly.

"You're lying. If you cut your finger with a knife, it should be the finger on your left hand, not your right hand, unless you're a left-handed person. However, in fact you're not right-handed. The wound on the finger was obtained when you rushed to pick up shards of glass. While everyone's attention is on Anna. You can't make excuses anymore, Takumi, give up!!"

silence.

He was just silent.

I pulled his curls.

"Confess or you will suffer the same fate as Tamara!!" Threatening me.