‘I thought the letter was just a prank in very bad taste, though I didn’t really get the meaning of it,’ Morisu said as he compared the two letters placed next to each other on the table.
‘But it did say “all of you,” so I had a suspicion I wasn’t the only one who got one.’
‘Yours appears to be a copy. I think the one that came to my place is the original.’
Kawaminami took up his own letter.
‘A similar letter was delivered to Higashi’s house. I’ve already checked that on the phone. And while the message was worded slightly differently, another letter signed by Nakamura Seiji was delivered to Nakamura Kōjirō.’
‘Nakamura Kōjirō?’
Morisu frowned.
‘You mean Nakamura Seiji’s younger brother?’
‘Yes. His letter said “Chiori was murdered.” I went to Beppu today to visit him. That was where I met Mr. Shimada.’
Morisu made another small bow to the man he had just become acquainted with. Kawaminami and Shimada had been drinking before they came and the latter’s thin, swarthy face had turned quite red. Kawaminami also seemed to have drunk a lot, as his breathing was uneven and his eyes were quite red.
‘Explain everything to me from the beginning,’ said Morisu. Kawaminami leaned forward and quickly recounted what had happened that day. His breath reeked of alcohol.
‘As always, you’re like curiosity on wheels.’
After listening to the story, Morisu stared in amazement at Kawaminami.
‘So you haven’t slept at all since yesterday?’
‘Now you mention it, no. Anyway, it’s mysterious, right? Who wrote all these letters and for what purpose? Any ideas?’
Morisu put a hand to his forehead and closed his eyes.
‘An accusation, a threat and a call to reconsider the Tsunojima case. Yes, I think you’re onto something. Especially the message telling us to investigate the Tsunojima case. It feels a bit forced, but it certainly is interesting. I also think there’s something more to be discovered there. Ex—excuse me, Mr. Shimada.’
Shimada had been dozing off, his body leaning against the wall. Woken by Morisu, he stood up and rubbed his face like a cat.
‘Mr. Shimada, there’s one thing I want to ask you.’
‘Ah, yes. Pray ask.’
‘Where was Nakamura Kōjirō when the incident happened on Tsunojima?’
‘You’re asking for his alibi?’ A grin appeared on Shimada’s sleepy face. ‘Straight to the point, I see. Who would benefit most by the death of Seiji and his wife Kazue? Kō, of course.’
‘Yes. I’m sorry to have to say this, but I think that this Mr. Kōjirō is the first person we should suspect.’
‘But my dear Morisu, the police aren’t stupid. It goes without saying that Kō’s alibi was checked. But sadly for them, he was able to provide a perfect alibi.’
‘Namely?’
‘From the night of September 19th until the following morning, Kō was in the company of yours truly. He had called and invited me for drinks, which was quite unusual for him. We drank through the night in Beppu and I stayed at his home. I was also there in the morning when he received the news about what had happened.’
‘A perfect alibi, as you say.’
Shimada nodded.
‘I would like to hear more of your ideas, Morisu.’
‘Okay. This is not an idea I got just now, but it is something I’ve thought ever since I first read about the case in the newspapers.’
‘Yes?’
‘I can’t explain why, it’s just something I felt instinctively.’
Having warned the two in advance, Morisu continued:
‘I think that the most important issue in this case is the left hand of Mrs. Kazue, which went missing from the crime scene. I have the feeling we’ll have solved everything when we find that hand.’
‘The hand, indeed.’
Both Morisu and Shimada looked at their hands and kept silent.
‘By the way, Morisu, did you know that many of the Mystery Club members have gone to Tsunojima?’ asked Kawaminami.
‘Yes.’ Morisu smiled dryly. ‘I was also invited, but I said no. I’m not interested in such a gruesome place.’
‘When will they be back?’
‘They said one week from today.’
‘A whole week. In tents?’
‘They pulled a few strings. They’re staying in the Decagon House.’
‘Mr. Kōjirō did say he had got rid of the island. But something doesn’t feel right about all this: them heading for an island of the dead, just as a letter from the dead arrives.’
‘It would be a very bizarre coincidence.’
‘Do you believe it’s a coincidence?’
‘Probably not.’ Morisu closed his eyes once more. ‘But if we want to investigate this, we’ll first need to check if, besides Higashi, the other people who were at the after-after-party have also received a letter.’
‘You’re right.’
‘Are you going to do that?’
‘Will do. It’s spring holiday, so I have nothing to do anyway. Can’t do worse than pretending to be detective.’
‘That’s just like you. What if you take a look into the Tsunojima case, too, while you’re at it?’
‘A look into what precisely?’
‘For example, what about paying a visit to the family of Yoshikawa, the gardener who disappeared?’
‘But.…’
‘Conan,’ Shimada chimed in, ‘that’s actually a good idea. I told you Yoshikawa Sei’ichi lived in Ajimu, right? I believe his wife still lives there and she used to work for the Nakamura family on Tsunojima. So she’s the only living person who knows about the private lives of the Nakamuras. It’s worth a try.’
‘Do you know her address?’
‘It won’t take me long to find it.’
Shimada laughed joyfully as he patted his shallow cheeks.
‘What about this, Conan? Tomorrow morning you check who else got the letters, and then we’ll go to Ajimu in my car in the afternoon.’
‘All right. And you Morisu, are you coming along too?’
‘I’d like to, but I’ve got work to do. I told you I was doing this painting, didn’t I?’
Morisu indicated the canvas on the easel.
‘The Buddha statues of Kunisaki? You did tell me you liked them. Are you going to compete in an art contest?’
‘No, nothing like that. I just wanted to paint that sight before the flowers bloom. I’ve been going up there the last few days now.’
‘Wow.’
‘And I’ve never been the active type like you. I don’t even like talking to people I don’t know. But won’t you come back tomorrow night? It doesn’t matter how late you come. I’m interested in how the case turns out as well.’
Morisu leaned wearily against his bed and lit a cigarette he knew he wouldn’t enjoy.
‘For now, you’ll have to allow me to take on the role of armchair detective.’