Chapter 8 The Underwear Thief
Chapter 8 The Underwear Thief
"The day after tomorrow, I'm going on a blind date!"
In order to maintain a good figure, she has been eating only salads in recent days.
She was both nervous and excited, as this was her first time.
"So my dream now is to find a gentle boyfriend!"
Mirai Horikoshi smiled shyly.
"Oh right!" Horikoshi Mirai suddenly thought of something, "Speaking of which, my underwear was stolen again in the past few days. What a hateful thief! It seems that I have to consider whether to buy a dryer, but I think it is too troublesome. Luxury apartments usually have dryers, but the rent is too expensive."
She seemed to be in a dilemma and obviously wanted the two of them to make a decision for her.
Onoue Mana smiled and said, "Of course, we have to wait until tomorrow to discuss this matter. It won't be too late to make a decision then."
"Hasn't the thief who stole the underwear been caught yet?"
"Yeah," Horikoshi Mirai sighed, "It's not an important thing, but if it keeps happening, I feel a little scared. I'm even a little afraid that something strange will happen."
"Then you should go back early in the next few days. This is a special vacation for you. Your salary will still be calculated as usual."
The lady boss is very understanding.
She is a married mother, but she did not become a housewife after marriage because she always felt that staying at home would make her bored and decadent.
Her family also expressed their understanding, so they opened a bento restaurant according to her wishes, and the food tastes surprisingly good.
Of course, business is good, but it’s not packed.
Mana Onoue thought that this was a good idea, after all, her purpose was not just to make money.
"Thank you, boss lady!"
Although she said this, Horikoshi Mirai still left work at the agreed time, which made Onoue Mana shake her head, thinking that this kid was a little stubborn.
In fact, the closing time of the bento shop is not too late, from 9 to 6, so Horikoshi Mirai felt it was unnecessary.
the next day--
When Qing Hai Chuan Tang came to have breakfast as usual, he did not see Horikoshi Mirai. Just when he was a little confused, Onoue Mana explained: "Mirai has taken leave for the past two days. After all, she is on a date, which is understandable. However."
As she spoke, Onoue Mana took out a bag from the cabinet and placed it on the counter. Then she said, "This child forgot to bring his lunch box back. Could you please help deliver it to him?"
Qinghai Chuantang nodded.
"Thank you so much, Miss Tang."
Following the address given by the other party, Qing Hai Chuan Tang arrived near Horikoshi Mirai's house, but saw a cordon set up not far ahead. The location happened to be the building where Horikoshi Mirai lived.
Shouldn't it be.
"Really? Conan is always like this, always the first to rush forward. We are the Junior Detective Team, we should act together!"
Qinghai Chuantang didn't listen any more. He disguised himself with illusion and came to the door of Horikoshi Mirai's house.
There were several policemen standing inside, as well as an elementary school student wearing glasses.
She walked into the room and saw someone lying on the bed. Judging from her physical features, she was a woman.
The deceased's head was wrapped in bandages, in the direction from left to right.
On the table were photos of the deceased, each with a bright smile.
On the calendar, a small heart was specially drawn on tomorrow's date with a red pen, and in the blank space, the words "first blind date" were written with a cute smiley face at the end.
"Three years ago, a murderer used the same method to commit five crimes, and the suspect has not been brought to justice yet. This case is also known as the 'Tape Serial Murder Case'. It seems that the murderer has appeared again."
"Inspector Megure, do you have any photos of the tape serial murder case? Maybe we can find some clues from them."
Megure Jusan looked at Conan and said seriously: "This time, it's not a game for you kids to play house."
"The murderer's methods are very perverted. If you are not careful, you may become the next target. Leave this matter to our police. We will definitely successfully capture the murderer and bring him to justice."
Her clothes were intact, and her body showed signs of resistance. Her wrists were bruised, probably from swelling. Strangely, her body seemed to have been cleaned.
Recalling what Megure Jusan said before, Qinghai Chuantang finally understood that in the previous tape serial murders, the murderer used the same method: wrapping the victim's head with tape and wiping her body.
At this time, Gao Mu walked in.
"Inspector Megure. The landlord who lives downstairs and the neighbor next door didn't hear any shouting last night."
With so many residents here, how could they not hear it? Could it be that the murderer was someone the deceased knew, so he took the initiative to open the door?
"How strange!"
Conan pretended to be curious, pointed at the clothes in the closet, and said, "These clothes are folded very neatly and squarely, as if they were often done this, or had some professional training."
indeed so.
But it is difficult to say whether it was folded by the victim himself or by the murderer.
Qinghai Chuantang retreated to the outside of the door and found no signs of prying the lock or breaking the door.
It seems that the murderer is indeed likely someone Horikoshi Mirai knew.
"Come to think of it, someone reported a case of stolen underwear around here. And it wasn't just this one. There were more than 20 reports of this kind."
"So, the murderer is most likely the one who stole the underwear?"
It is possible, but not certain.
Megure Jusan pondered for a moment, "It seems that we must find the thief who stole the underwear first."
Seeing that there was no more useful information, Qinghai Chuantang went back downstairs and mingled with the crowd.
People came and went, the crowd gradually dispersed, and in the end only a few people were left.
At this moment, a woman came towards this side, her steps slow and heavy.
Perhaps, she is Horikoshi's future mother.
Megure Jusan and others also happened to walk downstairs.
"Is there anything wrong with my future?"
Her voice was trembling a little, and she repeated the sentence twice after she finished speaking.
"She died last night. We are still investigating the circumstances and causes."
"No"
The woman staggered and almost fell, but fortunately Gao Muxu caught her.
She shook her head and kept repeating, unable to bear such a great blow, as if she had become demented, her eyes were somewhat dull, or perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that she had lost her soul.
Finally, I couldn't hold back my emotions anymore and let the tears flow from the corners of my eyes down my cheeks.
Megure Jusan felt a little reluctant, but there was nothing he could do.
"The dead cannot be resurrected, please accept my condolences."
Qinghai Chuantang sighed.
I wanted to take out my phone to type, but after searching for it, I couldn't find it. Could it be that I accidentally forgot to bring it with me?
But fortunately, she still has the habit of carrying paper and pen with her.
After writing the reason clearly on it, Qinghai Chuantang handed the lunch box to the woman. Without saying anything more, he chose to leave the scene and return home.
When he was almost at the door of his house, Qinghai Chuantang met his neighbor, who lived not far ahead, only one house away from him.
He always seems to get off work very early.
Qinghai Chuantang still remembers that he had a gentle wife and a lovely daughter.
Maybe he didn't go to work because he happened to have a day off today.
When his wife and daughter came back from shopping, he happily went to greet them.
He held his daughter in his arms and naturally took the bag from his wife's hand with his other hand, which contained some vegetables and fruits.
They look very harmonious and happy.
After returning home, Qinghai Chuantang found a map of Beika Town.
Without the corresponding intelligence, she could not do geographic profiling.
Qinghai Chuantang scratched his hair, feeling a little worried.
But on second thought, since Conan has encountered the incident, there is no reason to give up halfway.
In addition, the kids from the Junior Detective League are also there, and they are likely to be involved in this "underwear theft case".
Well, with their presence, I only need to ambush at one of the locations.
If they spot the suspect, they will definitely contact him using the detective badge, and then you can just follow him quietly.
Qinghai Chuantang stroked his chin and thought, this method is indeed feasible. Then, it depends on tonight.
The news has not been officially broadcast yet because of the serial murder case, the police do not want to alert the suspect.
There are no street lights and no surveillance cameras, it's a perfect road.
The place where she was lying in ambush was where Conan was. After receiving his message, the other children came one after another.
Finally, the lights from the mobile phones' flashlights all shone on one person.
He was caught in the act.
He was wearing a hat and holding it in his hand, looking like he was well prepared.
A black vehicle was parked in front of us. If we didn't look carefully, we might think that the vehicle had blended into the darkness.
The trunk was open as he was about to put the stolen underwear in it.
"What a perverted uncle!"
"Hey, how could you do such a thing? It's not good, you know? Even a child like me understands this, but you, an adult, don't."
For some reason, Qinghai Chuantang saw contempt on the faces of these children.
"I-I just stole some underwear."
The man was very nervous.
"A few?"
Huiyuan Ai opened a suitcase inside and immediately closed it. It was so full that it could be used to open a boutique underwear store.
Qinghai Chuantang just felt that he looked very familiar. In order to confirm whether this was true, she shone a flashlight on him.
"It's you?"
They also greeted each other several times.
"Eh? When did this big sister appear?"
"Do you know him?"
Qinghai Chuantang nodded, "He is my neighbor. But he is not a murderer."
"Why are you so sure?" Huiyuan Ai pulled over a cardboard box that looked like a comprehensive gift package, "String, knife, and tape."
The victim was tied up with string, threatened with a knife to keep her quiet, and finally her head was tied with duct tape.
Just then, a vehicle from the Metropolitan Police Department arrived and Megure Juzo, Takagi and others got out of the car.
"You are now being arrested for burglary and home invasion. You may exercise your right to remain silent or refuse to make a statement against yourself."
"Moreover, you have the right to hire a lawyer to defend you. But now, please come back to the Metropolitan Police Department with us."
Nishiguchi Tsuyoshi was handcuffed by Takagi.
"Wait, wait, I just stole some underwear, I didn't kill anyone!"
"Did I tell you that you killed someone? It seems that the previous case of Miss Future was committed by you?"
"It's not me! It's this kid. She, she said I was a murderer before!"
Nishiguchi Tsuyoshi pointed at Haibara Ai with a look on his face that said "I've been wronged."
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(End of this chapter)