Mihua Police Station, First-Floor Office
As Yukiko Fujimine disinfected Shuichi Hayashi's wound, she prodded about the recent incident.
"Hey, how did you figure out they weren't real paramedics?" she asked curiously.
"Remember when I asked if the left elevator had more space?" Shuichi said. "I was checking for a stretcher elevator sign. The doctor pushed the stretcher straight to the left elevator without thinking. Odd, right?"
Yukiko frowned. "Maybe the right elevator was on a higher floor?"
"The right elevator was on the third floor," Shuichi replied, leaning back. "It takes ten seconds to reach the first floor. The left one took a minute, meaning it was higher up."
"So, the doctor knew the building," Yukiko realized. "He chose the left elevator, even though the right one was faster and could fit a stretcher."
"Exactly," Shuichi said. "Either he'd been here before, or someone told him the layout."
"That doesn't prove they're thieves," Yukiko said, puzzled.
"One clue doesn't," Shuichi chuckled. "But they slipped up more."
"More?" Yukiko blinked, recalling the tenth-floor encounter. "Like what?"
"The security guard at Apartment 1009's door, facing outward," Shuichi said. "If a patient's being treated, where's your focus?"
"On the patient…" Yukiko paused. "He was keeping watch?"
Shuichi's look said, Finally, you get it. Yukiko, annoyed, pressed the cotton swab harder.
"Ow!" Shuichi winced, then continued. "When you went to change, the guard entered 1009. Later, only the doctor and assistant left. The guard vanished. Third clue."
"I know!" Yukiko jumped in. "Mrs. Nishikawa was on the stretcher. A guard should leave to avoid suspicion of theft."
Shuichi patted her head. "Good job, kid."
Yukiko grinned, then frowned. "Wait, 'kid'? And that pat? What's with that?"
"Don't blame me," Shuichi said innocently. "You looked like Wangcai waiting for a treat."
"Wangcai?!" Yukiko shoved his arm, fuming. "I'm not a dog!"
Nearby officers smirked, misreading the scene.
"You even bite your lip like one," Shuichi muttered. Seeing her glare, he added, "Fourth clue: the guard on the stretcher, pretending to be Mrs. Nishikawa. He curled up to hide his height, but his feet stuck out."
"Feet?" Yukiko glanced at her tiny, nail-polished toes.
"A tall guy's feet are big," Shuichi explained. "Mrs. Nishikawa's barely over five feet. Her feet are small."
"That's why you asked about her height!" Yukiko said. "Those clues made you suspicious."
"Yep," Shuichi shrugged. "I checked 1009, and you know the rest."
"How'd you open the door with a card?" Yukiko asked.
"It's the lock's structure. Want to learn?" Shuichi offered.
"Yes!" Yukiko nodded. "But not lock-picking. I'm not becoming a thief. Teach me to drive!"
(End of Chapter)