Learning from Tsuneo that Keiji Aso left a message before his death, Conan dragged the Mouris to chat with the island's only police officer.
"Weren't we going to the community center? Why the police station now?" Kogoro Mouri grumbled, smoking outside while Ran and Conan talked to the old officer inside.
"Mr. Nagashima, do you remember the name Keiji Aso?" Conan asked, holding the strange letter after some small talk.
"Of course. He was a famous pianist," the white-bearded officer said, adjusting his glasses. His memory was sharp. Taking the letter, he continued, "This can't be from Mr. Aso. The bones and dental records from the fire confirmed it was his family. It's probably a prank."
Ran chimed in, "Conan, didn't Tsuneo-nii say Aso left a musical score before he died?"
Conan nodded, both turning to the officer.
"A score…" Nagashima slapped his forehead. "Right! There was a safe in the house with a score inside!"
"Where is it now?" Conan pressed, certain the score held a clue if Tsuneo mentioned it.
He had to solve this before Tsuneo acted.
In his mind, Conan pictured Tsuneo shaking hands with a faceless figure in black.
Tsuneo wouldn't kill, but with his ruthlessness, the "vanishing shadows" in the letter wouldn't fare well.
Aso's death was suspicious—someone else likely killed his wife and daughter, and Tsuneo and the letter's sender were probably targeting the culprit.
The officer rummaged, finally finding the community center warehouse key, and led the trio there at a leisurely pace, chatting with locals along the way.
Conan, anxious but unable to rush him, wondered how far Tsuneo, the so-called repairman, would go.
"Conan, you look pale. You okay?" Ran asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," Conan replied, flashing an innocent smile and waving.
"What worries could a kid have?" Kogoro scoffed.
"Heh, heh," Conan forced a laugh, stuck with the clueless detective.
…
The community center was hosting a memorial for former chief Isamu Kameyama, who died three years ago.
By afternoon, villagers were helping prepare, though some protested the current chief outside.
"The score's in here," Nagashima said, unlocking the warehouse door.
The warehouse wasn't an evidence room—just a giant storage for unclaimed items or village supplies.
"This'll take forever…" Ran sighed, eyeing the cluttered boxes.
"It's been over a decade. I don't recall where it is," Nagashima said kindly, closing the door quietly and helping them search.
"Mr. Nagashima, did Aso really set the fire and kill his family?" Conan asked, rifling through boxes.
"Yes. Four witnesses saw it: former chief Kameyama, Chief Kuroiwa, Mr. Nishimoto, and Mr. Kawashima," Nagashima confirmed.
"Any connection between them?"
"They and Aso grew up together—childhood friends."
Childhood friends? Could the letter's sender be one of them?
Conan pondered, then asked, "Did Aso have other living relatives or friends?"
"There are some on the island, but he was often abroad performing, so ties were distant," Nagashima said, shaking his head. He couldn't fathom who'd spend a million yen after twelve years to hire Tokyo investigators for a pianist.
Killing his wife and daughter with a knife… The absurd testimony quickened Nagashima's search.
…
"Mr. Tsuneo, what's next?" In the clinic, the beautiful Dr. Narumi Asai spoke in her natural, boyish voice.
"Chop them up and toss them in the sea," Tsuneo said casually, eyeing the medicine cabinet.
"What?" Narumi tilted her head, stunned.
You exposed my true identity and got Nishimoto's address just for that?
"If you're serious, please leave," Narumi said, shaking her head. She'd hired detectives to uncover the truth and stop her own actions—how could she let someone else become a killer?
"Just kidding. With that kid around, it's not practical," Tsuneo said, patting her shoulder with a grin.
Those prosthetic curves were impressive.
Noticing his curious gaze, Narumi tightened her coat. "Where's Nishimoto now?"
"Tied up, gagged, and stashed in his backyard shed. Probably memorizing the score," Tsuneo said.
"Memorizing the score?" Narumi blinked, confused.
"I told him if he doesn't memorize Moonlight Sonata perfectly, I'll break a toe every hour," Tsuneo nodded.
"You… promised him?" Narumi was lost.
"Yeah. I said half an hour, but he cried and begged for an hour. Business is business—bargaining's normal, so I agreed."
Narumi was speechless. "Mr. Tsuneo is… truly remarkable."
(End of Chapter)
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