FPDDW - Chapter 251: Sleeping Kogoro's Appears ~ (Part 1) (Patreon)

"Inspector Yokomizo, what are you suddenly saying?"

Facing Sango Yokomizo's accusation, Kogoro Mouri smiled awkwardly and tried to defuse the situation, "Right now, there's no evidence to prove that Ms. Ikenami is the culprit, is there?

Moreover, Ms. Ikenami voluntarily came to us and accompanied us to Shizuoka. If she's the criminal, why would she bring us back to the scene?"

"Many criminals do return to the crime scene, Mr. Mouri, as I'm sure you're aware. And Ms. Ikenami does have reasons for coming back."

Sango Yokomizo looked at Kogoro Mouri and his expression turned serious, "You also heard what Mr. Yoshikawa and Mrs. Shibata said. Ms. Ikenami had a phone conversation with Mr. Shibata, which means they had contact!

So, Mr. Mouri, you said that Ms. Ikenami entrusted you to find Mr. Shibata, but that's contradictory!"

At this point, Sango Yokomizo turned to Shizuka Ikenami and said in a cold tone, "Ms. Ikenami, in order to confirm the location of that photo from your younger days, you visited Mr. Shibata's house in the morning, didn't you?

However, your conversation in the entrance corridor didn't go smoothly. You two had a conflict, and in the process, you picked up a wooden sword from the shoe cabinet and struck his head.

Mr. Shibata immediately lost consciousness, but in your panic, you mistakenly believed you had killed him and fled.

On the other hand, after Mr. Shibata regained consciousness, he desperately tried to crawl to the bedroom for help but lost strength midway.

And in his final moments, he remembered the book pile with your photo that he had placed during your conversation on the phone, so he overturned the stack of books and held your photo in his hand."

"But... merely with a photo, nothing can be proven, right?" In a state of being influenced by her charm, Kogoro Mouri, upon hearing this well-reasoned deduction, struggled to counter.

"I'm afraid this photo holds secrets unknown to you and me," speculated Sango Yokomizo, "Otherwise, she wouldn't have entrusted you and come here together just to retrieve a photo."

Under this compelling reasoning, Kogoro Mouri found himself somewhat speechless.

Sango Yokomizo looked at Shizuka Ikenami with a serious expression, "Ms. Ikenami, please accompany us."

"I'm sorry, but I cannot comply..." Shizuka Ikenami remained calm and composed. She smiled faintly and said, "If you want to take me to the police station for questioning, please follow proper procedure and obtain a warrant for arrest from the court!

Otherwise, I choose to refuse."

"Huh?" The response from the other side left Sango Yokomizo momentarily stunned.

If an officer asks someone to go to the police station in Japan, one way is to follow the proper procedure and have the court issue an arrest warrant, while the other is a discretionary search.

Of course, this "discretionary" doesn't mean recklessness, but voluntary cooperation with the investigation.

Of course, the suspect also has the right to refuse, but that would increase the police's suspicions, so most people choose to cooperate. Even many who have never encountered such a situation before wouldn't have the concept of police officer demands to go to the police station. If the police say to go, they would obediently go.

But today, they encountered a tough opponent!

Seeing Sango Yokomizo's stunned expression after being refused, Shizuka Ikenami smiled slightly and said, "Based on the current situation, the evidence you have isn't enough to support a judge in issuing an arrest warrant for you!

So, I don't think you can force me to go to the police station."

These well-reasoned words left Sango Yokomizo speechless, and Kogoro Mouri, Ran, and the others exchanged puzzled looks, stunned by Shizuka Ikenami's words.

"Of course, there is a way to take me to the police station." Shizuka Ikenami smiled at Shibata Kyoko and said calmly, "If Mrs. Shibata were to accuse us of illegal entry into her residence, then I would have no choice but to go with you."

"But, Ms. Ikenami, Mr. Shibata had your photo in his hand right before his death!"

Faced with this logical lady, Sango Yokomizo's momentum weakened slightly, "At least give a basic explanation of your relationship and why the photo would be in Mr. Shibata's possession."

"I've already told Detective Mouri about these things." Shizuka Ikenami replied calmly.

"We would like you to come with us, explain the situation in detail at the police station..." Faced with Shizuka Ikenami's indifferent demeanor, Sango Yokomizo's words faltered.

"Or how about this." Shizuka Ikenami smiled faintly and looked at Kogoro Mouri, "Should I undergo the investigation and go to the police station with you, let Detective Mouri make the decision."

"Huh?" Hearing Shizuka Ikenami suddenly entrusted the decision to him, Kogoro Mouri showed a surprised and unprepared expression.

"If Detective Mouri believes I am truly a suspect and should undergo investigation, then I will accompany you to the police station."

"Mr. Mouri! What do you think?" Sango Yokomizo stepped forward and loudly asked Kogoro Mouri.

"Well... um... in my opinion, it's probably best to undergo the investigation..."

But then Kogoro Mouri caught Shizuka Ikenami's gaze, his forehead covered in sweat, and he quickly changed his tune, "Ah... I think it's probably not necessary..."

"Mr. Mouri!"

"Mr. Mouri!"

Amidst the shouts of the two, Kogoro Mouri found himself caught in another kind of dilemma.

Seeing Kogoro Mouri's predicament, Senichi quickly signaled Conan, urging him to take action.

Understanding Conan's signal, he found a concealed spot and, with Senichi's cover, swiftly stunned Kogoro Mouri.

As Kogoro Mouri swayed and sat on the stool Senichi had brought, after many days, the sleeping Kogoro finally made his reappearance~

"Mr. Mouri?" Shizuka Ikenami, witnessing Kogoro Mouri's odd behavior, asked in concern, "Are you alright?"

"Thanks for your concern, I'm fine," replied Conan, holding a voice changer. "Ms. Ikenami, under the current circumstances, I believe it would be more appropriate for you to go with officer Yokomizo..."

"I knew you'd make this decision, Mouri-san!"

Seeing his idol support him, Sango Yokomizo's spirits lifted, but before he could react, Kogoro Mouri's tone shifted, "However, not as a suspect, but as a witness to provide assistance."

"What?" Sango Yokomizo was taken aback by the change in Mouri's words. He then turned to Shizuka Ikenami, disbelieving.

"That's right, Ms. Ikenami is indeed not the culprit."

Kogoro Mouri explained, "If Ms. Ikenami were the killer, she would have known that the front door was unlocked when she killed Mr. Shibata and escaped.

If her goal was to retrieve the photo, when I rang the doorbell and received no response, she should have pretended to enter the room, rather than preparing to leave with us."