"Eh? A computer?"
Upon hearing Senichi's words, Takagi rubbed his chin, approached the desk, and said, "Indeed, it looks like it can accommodate a computer here, but it's also possible that she didn't buy one, right?"
"No, she bought one."
Senichi pointed to the digital camera placed on the shelf nearby with a smile, "A person who uses a digital camera but doesn't have a computer at home, isn't that a bit strange?"
"Indeed... if there's no computer, the digital camera is basically useless," Takagi nodded in agreement.
"If that alone isn't enough to confirm, then take a look at this." Senichi picked up the phone and flipped it backward, "Sure enough, very clean. You see, although the phone line for connecting to the computer is gone, the LAN port is still clean. It's obviously just been unplugged. If there's no computer for the internet at home, there should be some dust here."
"Uh, that's true..." Takagi turned to look at the empty desk, "So, does that mean the culprit took the computer because there might be some evidence inside that's unfavorable to them? Like evidence related to the case a year ago?"
"Yes, there's a high possibility of that." Senichi nodded.
"Um, Senichi-kun, there's something I want to ask you."
Without continuing the discussion about the computer, Takagi, instead, looked at Senichi after he finished speaking and asked, "You mentioned yesterday that Miss Terazumi said something that bothered you, and when I asked you at that time, you said it wasn't the right time, right?"
"Yes, that's right." Senichi nodded. "What's the matter?"
"I'm thinking..." Takagi hesitated a bit and said, "Is it because of Detective Haruka? That's why you said it wasn't the right time?"
"Oh? You noticed." Senichi raised an eyebrow, nodding in acknowledgment. "Yes, that's right. I didn't bring it up at that time because Detective Haruka was present."
"So, what did Miss Terazumi say yesterday?" Takagi's expression gradually became serious. "Could it be... you started suspecting Detective Haruka because of that statement?"
"Detective Takagi, you've really made significant progress." Senichi exclaimed. "You even noticed this, huh?"
"After all, I've been your partner for the longest time." Takagi smiled and said, "I should make some progress too, right?"
"Yes, I did refrain from saying it because Detective Haruka was present."
Senichi nodded and then proceeded to tell Takagi the detailed circumstances of his meeting with the deceased, Yoshiko Terazumi, yesterday.
The statement that bothered Senichi was something Yoshiko Terazumi unintentionally let slip during their meeting.
"——She's definitely just upset about having her husband taken away."
"Wait a minute... I remember from the case a year ago, Miss Terazumi was released not only because Detective Haruka strongly advocated for it. Another significant reason was that Yoshiko Terazumi continuously denied it at the time, and there was no motive found for her to kill the victim..."
At this point, Takagi's expression suddenly became heavy. "But Yoshiko Terazumi unintentionally let slip about their extramarital affair. If there was a romantic entanglement, having a motive wouldn't be surprising... In other words, Yoshiko Terazumi could really be the culprit!?"
As Takagi said this, he suddenly realized an even more horrifying fact and turned to look at Senichi. "Senichi-kun! I remember that yesterday, the only one present besides you who heard that statement was Detective Haruka, right!?"
At this point, Takagi suddenly understood why Senichi had remained silent at that time, and cold sweat instantly broke out.
After all, Haruka was the one who strongly supported Yoshiko Terazumi's innocence back then, even more than anyone else. Yesterday's statement, Senichi noticed it, and Haruka naturally noticed it too.
Moreover, compared to Senichi, Haruka probably found this fact even more unacceptable because she had been deeply deceived by Yoshiko Terazumi, believing in her innocence.
The real culprit was Yoshiko Terazumi, and here she was earnestly trying to defend her.
If it was due to such a psychological state, Haruka, feeling betrayed in her trust, might also have murderous intentions.
Even Takagi could imagine what might have happened between them after Miss Terazumi left yesterday.
As someone who had once staunchly supported Yoshiko Terazumi's innocence, Haruka naturally had a decent relationship with her and possessed Yoshiko Terazumi's contact information.
After Yoshiko Terazumi, in a panic, revealed the truth and left, Haruka probably called her, arranging to meet and discuss the matter. Later, Yoshiko Terazumi went to the agreed meeting place, where she was killed and made to appear as if she had accidentally fallen to her death.
"Could it be that Detective Senichi, you noticed this a long time ago?" After Takagi grasped the overall situation, he couldn't accept it and asked, "Could it be that Detective Haruka is really the culprit?"
"I never said that. In the end, it's just a possibility," Senichi smiled slightly. "But don't forget, preconceptions are a big taboo in investigations."
However, just as the two finished their conversation and were about to search Yoshiko Terazumi's apartment again to see if they could find anything, the door of the apartment suddenly opened.
This sudden movement naturally caught the attention of Senichi and Takagi. As they turned to look at the door, the familiar figure that came into view surprised them both.
"Detective Haruka!?"
Seeing the charming figure standing in front of the door, Takagi's words were full of astonishment, "How come you're here!?"
Clearly, Detective Senichi had explicitly instructed her not to get involved in the case, so why was she now in the deceased's room?
Did she act on her own? Was she unwilling to be dissuaded by Senichi and wanted to investigate on her own?
Or... did she come to Yoshiko Terazumi's room to find something?
In summary, with Yoshiko Terazumi being a possible suspect in the case from a year ago, she had a clear motive to kill the victim. And now, in spite of Senichi's advice, she had come to the deceased's apartment on her own, and alone, which was a big taboo!
Even Senichi and others, unless there were special circumstances, generally needed to operate in pairs!
"How come you're here?" Haruka asked upon seeing the two inside.
"I think that's my line," Senichi looked at Haruka with a cold expression. "I've already warned you not to casually get involved in this case."
"Sorry... it's just that on the way back, I heard the local police say they were going to bring Miyako Miura and others back for interrogation..."
Haruka looked down at the ground. "I thought this approach was dangerous... focusing solely on those two as suspects. So, I came to see if there were any clues...
I acted on my own... I'm sorry."
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