The black Mercedes sped down the road. Yukiko's face was still pale, her heart still racing from the fear.
"Yukiko, have you made an enemy of anyone?"
Yukiko shook her head weakly.
"Then what about Yusaku?"
"Yusaku?" A hint of confusion crossed her eyes. "He's a world-class mystery novelist. He's well known and has a lot of social engagements, but given his personality, it's unlikely anyone would hate him."
"Then there's only one explanation." Heiji's expression sharpened.
"Heiji… you mean the person trying to kill me holds a grudge against Shinichi?" Yukiko asked, shocked.
Heiji nodded. "Otherwise it doesn't explain why they ambushed you. They acted decisively and cleanly. It obviously wasn't a mistake."
Normally, Yukiko would have played it up a little. But she didn't have the energy now. She lowered her head and thought in silence.
Heiji frowned. Uekusa, Oguchi, and now Yukiko—were these three incidents connected, or was there some hidden link between them?
Suddenly, Heiji's phone rang. In the quiet car, it sounded unusually loud and made Yukiko flinch.
"It's just a call. Don't worry," Heiji said, trying to calm her, and answered. "Hello, Sakata. Did you find something?"
"Heiji, following your suggestion, we finally found a camera that recorded the person who sniped at you."
Heiji's eyes widened. "Can we catch them?"
"No. We only got a side profile. And they were wearing sunglasses and black clothes, and their face was disguised, so facial scanning won't work. So…"
"Oh—right, Heiji. About Oguchi and Uekusa, we finally got a lead. Earlier I was rushing and didn't have time to tell you," Sakata added.
"Oguchi?" Heiji blinked.
"That's the tavern owner. He used to live in Tokyo. Because of a debt dispute, he nearly went to prison, so he hid in Osaka and even changed his name."
"He came from Tokyo?" Heiji's thoughts snapped into place. "Was Uekusa also from Tokyo?"
"Heiji, how did you know? Before Uekusa went abroad, he studied at Teitan Elementary in Tokyo. He only left Japan after starting high school," Sakata said, surprised.
"So it is." Heiji's tone hardened. He finally had a direction.
"Sakata, since both of them used to be in Tokyo, notify Superintendent Toyama and have him contact Inspector Megure in Tokyo so they can coordinate a joint investigation."
"Superintendent Toyama? Got it."
After hanging up, Heiji looked at Yukiko. "Yukiko, do you know Oguchi or Uekusa?"
"Oguchi? Uekusa?" Yukiko looked confused. "Who are they?"
"You don't know them?"
Yukiko shook her head. Heiji's brow tightened. A regional serial murder case?
First Uekusa was killed, then Oguchi, and after that, Yukiko was attacked… If he hadn't been there, Yukiko would have died from those two bullets.
Two bullets… He clearly heard two shots in a row. One would have been enough. Firing twice increases the risk of being noticed. Someone experienced wouldn't make that kind of mistake—unless they had a reason.
Just then, Yukiko's phone rang, cutting into his thoughts. She immediately hit ignore.
"Hmph, that Shinichi! Now he decides to call? Does he have any idea he almost lost his most lovely, most beautiful, best mom? I'm not listening to his excuses."
Heiji stared at her. "Yukiko, did you tell him you were shot?"
"No," Yukiko said, shaking her head.
"Then how would he know you were shot?"
Yukiko froze. "Oh… I completely forgot."
This time, Heiji's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and held it out. "It's Shinichi."
"No, I can't answer. If he asks why I didn't pick up earlier, what am I supposed to say?" Yukiko refused.
The ringing continued.
Heiji gave up and answered. "Hey, Shinichi. Yukiko can't take your call right now. I'm hanging up."
Hearing the busy tone, Conan just sat there, stunned. What in the world are Heiji and Mom doing…?
"Oh, Heiji, saying it like that is going to make people misunderstand," Yukiko said, teasing.
Heiji ignored her, pressed the accelerator, and the car surged forward.
"Wow… is this house yours, Heiji?" Yukiko said as she walked into the villa.
Heiji set the large bag down and handed her the keys. "This villa belongs to Chris. Since she isn't in Japan anyway, you can stay here for now."
"Chris?" Yukiko sat on the sofa, crossed her legs, and narrowed her eyes. "Heiji… Chris is Sharon, isn't she?"
Heiji felt a jolt but kept his face neutral.
Yukiko's smile turned sharp. "Heiji, Sharon was also forced to take that kind of medicine like Shinichi, wasn't she? That's why she can keep looking so young."
Heiji smiled lightly. "Yukiko, who's been telling you this? Some things aren't meant to be said casually."
"Hmph. Don't try to fool me. I'll ask Sharon myself and get the truth." Yukiko stood and headed toward the room.
"Think carefully. Sometimes what looks harmless isn't. Getting too close can be dangerous."
Yukiko stopped at the closed door. Shinichi and Heiji are hiding a lot from me. Fine. I'll uncover it one by one.
Heiji thought to himself: So Yukiko already knows Vermouth's identity. Did she figure it out because they were too close?
Heiji shook his head. Not my problem.
Kazuha's voice came from downstairs. After greeting Shizuka, she ran up the stairs.
"Heiji, I'm back!"
The moment she entered, she threw herself at him and clung to him. Heiji caught her carefully.
"Go take a shower. Mom should be almost done with dinner."
Kazuha rose onto her toes, kissed him, then went to get her clothes. Heiji lay back on the bed, thinking. This serial murder case still felt covered in fog. There were too few clues.