Inspector Megure arrived with Takagi Wataru and the others about ten minutes later, accompanied by a large group of reporters who were there to interview Morizono. Mikio Morizono was there, but the reporters were, of course, kept outside.
Inspector Megure arrived at the crime scene with his team.
Aizen recounted the events to Megure from beginning to end, adding that it was a locked-room mystery.
After listening, Megure instructed Wataru Takagi to inquire what the servants in the villa were doing at the time of the incident, and then had the forensic team examine the scene.
After making the arrangements, Megure said to Mikio Morizono, "Mr. Morizono, I would like to ask where you were at the time of the incident, and I also need to conduct a body search on you. I hope you can cooperate."
"No problem,"
Mikio Morizono nodded in agreement. Since he had said so, the others naturally wouldn't object.Megure nodded and turned to Ran Mouri, saying, "Ran, I'll trouble the three of you to search these two ladies' bodies later."
"Okay!"
Ran nodded in response.
Megure then said to Mikio Morizono, "Mr. Morizono, I think we should start with you. Where were you at the time of the incident?"
Mikio replied, "Because I had arranged to meet Shigematsu in my room for dinner, I stayed there waiting for him."
Megure asked, "Is there anyone who can prove you stayed in your room the whole time?"
"No,"
Mikio shook his head. Megure nodded and looked at Yurie Morizono.
Yurie Morizono said, "I am Yurie Morizono. I was resting in my room at the time. I came out after hearing the scream, and no one can vouch for me."
Morizono Kikuhito, without waiting for Inspector Megure to look at him, volunteered, "I was alone in my room listening to music and reading, and no one can vouch for me either."
Yuji Sakurabau said, "Because the master asked me to find the cat, I've been looking for it, and no one can vouch for me."
Upon hearing this, Inspector Megure looked at the cat in Yurie Morizono's arms and asked, "Is this the cat?"
Yuji Sakurabau nodded and said, "Yes, but I don't know why this cat came here. No wonder I haven't been able to find it."
Katagiri Kaede then spoke up, "I was alone in my room at the time, waiting for my family to come and pick me up."
"So, none of you have an alibi."
Inspector Megure nodded, then said, "Alright everyone, I'm going to search your bodies now. I hope you'll cooperate."
Inspector Megure left with Morizono Mikio and the others. Ran Mouri, Sonoko Suzuki, and Kazuha Toyama followed. Only Aizen, Conan, Heiji Hattori, and two forensic investigators remained in the room. Heiji Hattori said to Aizen, "Aizen, do you have any ideas?"
Aizen smiled and said, "I've tentatively identified the culprit, but there are still some things I haven't figured out. We can have a competition to see who finds the culprit first."
"Okay, let's have a competition then."
Heiji Hattori nodded and looked at Conan, "How about it, Conan?"
"Who's afraid of who!"
Conan looked at the two of them and nodded in agreement. He didn't think he would lose.
Since a competition was to be held, the three naturally couldn't cooperate or share clues. Sharing clues would have to wait until all three were unable to solve the case.
About ten minutes later, Inspector Megure returned with Morizono Mikio and the others.
Aizen walked up to Ran, Sonoko, and Kazuha, saying, "Ran, Sonoko, and Kazuha, if you three feel uncomfortable staying here, go downstairs."
"Aizen, we'll go first then."
Sonoko Suzuki didn't want to stay here and didn't refuse.
Ran nodded and said to Conan, who was not far away, "Conan, we're going downstairs. You should come with us."
"No, Ran-neechan, I want to stay with Heiji-nii-san."
Conan refused. If he chose to leave, he would lose the competition.
"Alright, but you have to behave and not cause trouble for Aizen, Hattori, and the officers, understand?"
Ran Mouri didn't force him. After telling him not to cause trouble, she followed Sonoko Suzuki and Kazuha Toyama outside.
"Inspector!"
Wataru Takagi ran in at that moment.
Inspector Megure asked, "How is it?"
Wataru Takagi replied, "I've asked around. At the time of the incident, most of the servants in the villa were eating in the staff cafeteria on the first floor, discussing tomorrow's wedding. Those servants who weren't in the cafeteria all have clear alibis." Upon hearing this, Inspector Megure looked at the five people, including Mikio Morizono, and said, "So, there are only five of them without alibis at the time."
Kikuhito Morizono said, "I mean, you don't suspect us of being the murderers, do you?"
Inspector Megure said in a deep voice, "I can't rule out that possibility."
"Inspector, could you come here for a moment?" The forensic personnel working by the French windows suddenly spoke up.
"What is it?"
Inspector Megure walked over and asked.
The forensic expert said, "There are bloodstains on the lock of the door near the French windows."
Aizen, Conan, and Heiji Hattori went to examine it and indeed, there were bloodstains on it. If the lock were closed, they would be completely invisible.
Heiji Hattori said, "These stains look like they were made with a blood-stained glove. If I'm not mistaken, the perpetrator opened this window. But how did he do that? The lock was clearly locked from the inside."
Heiji Hattori pushed the window open and walked onto the balcony.Conan followed them out and looked at the broken glass on the ground. He immediately noticed a small hole in one of the shards and knelt down to pick it up with a handkerchief.
"I see, I understand!"
Aizen came to Conan's side, looked at the shard of glass in Conan's hand, and suddenly realized. His sudden realization was, of course, fake; he was just putting on an act. However, if he didn't put on an act and just made a so-called deduction out of thin air, it would be easy to arouse suspicion.