Conan slipped in behind Tsuneo and sneaked back into the crime scene.
"No other wounds visible, just the single gunshot to the forehead," Inspector Yokomizo said to the coroner.
Sunaoka Kazuyoshi was fully dressed, exactly as he had been while drinking outside. He clearly hadn't showered or gone to bed after returning to his room.
"Correct. That's the fatal wound. No burn marks or bullet fragments around it, so the shot came from a distance," the coroner confirmed.
Uncle Maori walked to the French window and examined the bullet hole. "This hole lines up roughly with Mr. Sunaoka's height when standing."
"So he was shot from across the valley while standing at the window?" Yokomizo opened the window, stepped onto the balcony, and peered at the forest opposite.
"We all heard the gunshot at the time; it came from the other side of the valley," Uncle Maori said, pointing across.
Tsuneo tapped the glass, frowning.
"Look at this." Conan tugged at the repairman's pants.
On the floor, besides glass shards, there were a few dry, stiff plant fibers.
"These don't look like something from the hunting grounds." Tsuneo touched them.
They were too dry and hard to have been picked up during the daytime hunt.
"Hey! Watch him—don't let him touch anything!" Uncle Maori barked when he saw Conan squatting beside Tsuneo.
How did that brat get in here again?!
Conan shot him a deadpan glance.
I haven't touched a thing. The repairman next to me is the one poking and pinching those fibers…
"Anyway, let's head to the opposite side of the valley first!" Yokomizo said, seeing Uncle Maori yank Conan up by the collar.
The priority was getting people over there to search.
…
"The only way to the other cliff is this suspension bridge near the villa," the owner said, flashlight in hand, leading the way.
"Everyone be careful. Cross in groups." Yokomizo turned to warn them.
"Want me to carry you across…?" Tsuneo glanced at Uncle Maori.
The man was terrified of heights.
"No need." Uncle Maori shook his head.
It was pitch black anyway; a little swaying wouldn't be too bad.
If only the rushing water below wasn't so loud…
"It's pretty far from the villa," Uncle Maori sighed in relief once they crossed.
"Yes. Walk along the cliff another ten minutes and you'll be directly opposite," the owner explained, pointing ahead.
After another ten-plus minutes, they finally reached the spot facing the villa.
A shot from here could definitely hit the target.
"Just getting here one way took twenty to thirty minutes," Uncle Maori frowned.
Suddenly, the bushes rustled.
"Who's there!"
Flashlights swung over.
"Sorry!" A "unicorn" stood up and apologized.
"R-Ran!"
"What are you doing here?!" Uncle Maori nearly had a heart attack.
Weren't you just back at the villa?!
Why are you squatting in the bushes?!
"I saw Conan run out and got worried, so I followed," Ran explained.
"Where's that brat now?!" Uncle Maori swept his flashlight around and spotted him behind some trees, right at the cliff edge.
"The gun's right here!"
Conan turned and grinned at everyone.
"You little—!" Uncle Maori grabbed him again and tossed him into Ran's arms.
"Tie him up tight this time!"
Ran hugged Conan and looked curiously at Tsuneo. "Brother Tsuneo, aren't you going to check the scene?"
"No need. Whatever trick the culprit used, since they deliberately left the rifle here, there's nothing worth seeing," Tsuneo shook his head.
The repairman strongly suspected this spot was staged.
It did face the villa directly, and with good aim, a headshot was possible.
But with the raging river far below both cliffs, would a normal killer really leave the murder weapon behind for the police?
"When we climbed up, we didn't see any footprints, right?" Conan asked Ran.
"Yep, none," Ran confirmed.
It had rained hard that afternoon. If the culprit fired from here and fled downhill, footprints would be obvious.
Tsuneo swept his flashlight around the woods.
"Now this is interesting."
Forget the path Conan and Ran took—there were no footprints anywhere.
The police overheard their conversation, but Yokomizo soon made another discovery.
"Mr. Maori, look at this!"
A thick rope was tied to a tree; the other end dangled into the river below.
"I think the culprit came downstream on a rubber raft or something, climbed up this rope, aimed at the villa, waited for the right moment, fired when Mr. Sunaoka approached the window, then descended the rope and escaped by raft."
Yokomizo had already formed his theory from the evidence.
"Then why leave the gun? Wouldn't taking the murder weapon make it harder to trace?" Tsuneo asked, peering down the cliff.
Climbing up and down that rope would be insanely difficult.
"Also, didn't you say the ground under the rifle was dry?"
Tsuneo stomped on the slightly muddy earth.
That afternoon rain had been sudden and heavy.
An exposed cliff edge should be soaked—yet only the spot under the gun was dry. That made no sense.
Conan rested his chin on his fingers, thinking the exact same thing.
"Mr. Tsuneo, are you saying…?" Yokomizo paused just as he was about to order a downstream search.
"The rifle was probably placed here before the rain even started," Tsuneo said with a smile toward Conan.
The little detective nodded.
Exactly!
"I got it!" Uncle Maori clapped his hands, looking like he'd cracked the case.
(End of Chapter)
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