Inspector Megure Juzo sent police officers to investigate the security cameras in the film festival area. At the same time, other officers were dispatched to obtain Ohga Takao's phone number from the festival organizers.
In Japan, the police generally require a search warrant to conduct searches or access personal information.
However, given the urgency of the situation, they were allowed to proceed with certain investigations without a warrant, in accordance with relevant laws.
Yet...
After Megure Juzo called Ohga Takao several times without a response, he muttered with suspicion,
"As expected, this Ohga Takao is very suspicious."
He put his phone away and turned back to Sera Masumi.
"So, Sister Sera, what is the reasonable explanation you mentioned earlier? And why do you suspect Ohga Takao?"
"First, there's no doubt that the killer targeted the victim's arm to cover something up," Sera began.
"But as Inspector Megure said, even if the killer was close to the victim, it would be extremely difficult to shoot their arm first and then aim at their head without drawing attention."
"My initial thought was that the killer could have instructed the victim to extend their arm before suddenly drawing a weapon, attacking the arm, and then shooting them in the head."
"However, this method is challenging and requires professional training to execute."
Megure nodded, indicating his agreement with her reasoning.
"But if the victim had been injected with a sedative or anesthetic beforehand, as the child suggested, they wouldn't resist or scream, eliminating the risk of drawing attention."
"And the reason the killer targeted Sogabe Ryo's arm and Souma Miho's elbow could have been to conceal needle marks."
"If that's the case, why bother injecting sedatives in the first place? Wouldn't it be unnecessary if you could simply kill them with a single shot?" Megure asked, puzzled.
Sera Masumi replied,
"They might have been injected more than once."
"Injected more than once? What do you mean?!"
"For example, morphine, extracted from pure opium alkaloids, or heroin, refined from morphine, not only act as sedatives but also have highly addictive properties."
"It's likely that Sogabe Ryo and Souma Miho had been abusing opioids prior to this incident."
"When addiction reaches a certain level, conventional methods of consumption become too slow for the user, leading them to choose intravenous injections. While typical needle marks heal within one or two days, depending on metabolic rates, traces of the substances can be detected in the body for up to a week."
"Yesterday, when Tsunekazu Kosaka died unexpectedly, the Metropolitan Police Department took his body for autopsy."
"If Kosaka had been abusing drugs, the forensic analysis would certainly reveal traces during the blood tests."
"This would implicate not just Kosaka but also those close to him."
Megure was startled by Sera's bold theory.
If drugs were involved in this shooting case, the implications would be far more severe.
"So what does Kosaka Tsunekazu's drug abuse have to do with Sogabe Ryo and Souma Miho?"
"The three were close friends. If Kosaka was abusing drugs, it's highly likely the other two were as well," Sera hypothesized.
"After Kosaka was taken for an autopsy by the Metropolitan Police Department, traces of drugs in his body would inevitably be found."
"The killer likely murdered the other two to prevent their own involvement in the drug abuse from being exposed!"
Megure Juzo: "!!!"
The room fell silent as everyone digested Sera's reasoning. The detectives and officers present exchanged astonished looks.
Sera continued,
"Furthermore, if this theory holds, it explains all the peculiarities of this case."
"1. Kosaka Tsunekazu's sudden death.
Due to his apnea, Kosaka required a ventilator to sleep.
Opioids have a suppressive effect on the central respiratory system.
The combination of these factors posed a significant risk, likely leading to his sudden death."
"2. Why did the circumstances of Sogabe Ryo's and Souma Miho's deaths differ from Kosaka's?
Because the person responsible for killing Sogabe and Souma is not the same as the one indirectly causing Kosaka's death."
Megure and the other officers leaned forward, eager for Sera to elaborate further.
But instead of continuing, Sera turned to Megure and asked,
"Inspector, once Sogabe Ryo's and Souma Miho's bodies are returned to the Metropolitan Police Department, will blood tests be conducted during the autopsy?"
"Standard forensic autopsies will be performed, but since their cause of death is clearly gunshot wounds, toxicological tests likely won't be conducted," Megure replied.
"Why do you ask?"
As soon as the question left his lips, Megure's eyes widened in realization.
"Could it be…?!"
"It seems you've connected the dots too, Inspector," Sera said with a faint smile.
"Yes, if Sogabe and Souma were both killed by gunshot wounds, their bodies wouldn't be tested for drugs.
In other words, their drug abuse would go undetected."
The chilling implications of Sera's reasoning sent shivers through the room. Even the seasoned detectives couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"If my hypothesis is correct, the killer must have access to opioids.
And among those who knew Kosaka and fit this profile, the prime suspect is Ohga Takao, the plastic surgeon."
"Of course, this hinges on whether Kosaka was indeed abusing drugs, which is why the forensic blood test results are crucial.
But the fact that we can't reach Ohga Takao right now only increases my suspicions."
Megure Juzo, now grave, pulled out his phone and barked orders,
"This is Megure. Tell Kesoyan to prioritize the toxicology analysis for Tsunekazu Kosaka. I want those blood test results ASAP!"
Just as Megure hung up and prepared to discuss further with Sera, her own phone rang.
"Hello? Ran, what's the matter?"
"WHAT?! What did you say?!"
Sera's raised voice and shocked expression drew everyone's attention. Conan narrowed his eyes, watching her intently.
Then, she exclaimed,
"Ran just said that Akikawa accepted Ohga Takao's invitation and went alone to Hotta Yoshitoki's private exhibition room!"
(End of Chapter)