After showing her ancestral sapphire ring to her three close friends, Rina Nagatani placed it back in the talisman-sealed wooden box and returned it to her bedroom.
Just now, when she went to retrieve something from her room, she noticed the box had been moved, and the talisman was misaligned.
She opened it and found the ring gone.
Less than an hour had passed since she showed the ring to her friends. No one else had entered the apartment during that time.
The thief was clearly one of Rina's three close friends.
Rina first suspected Saki Imagawa, the brown-haired woman.
After graduating university, Saki married a wealthy businessman and often flaunted her affluent lifestyle. But recently, her husband's failed investment left him not only broke but also heavily in debt.
Though Saki tried to hide it to maintain her wealthy image, news of her husband's bankruptcy had spread.
Rina suspected Saki stole the ring to sell it and cover her husband's debts.
Their argument escalated into a physical fight, breaking a balcony window. Saki then pushed Rina over the railing, nearly causing her death.
The second suspect was Keiko Kawamura, who reeked of alcohol.
Keiko's husband, a company financial director, had been embezzling funds for stock trading, planning to repay them after profiting.
Last month, the stock market crashed, wiping out his savings and the embezzled funds.
If the company discovered the shortfall, Keiko's husband faced jail, and their house could be seized.
Desperate, Keiko confided in Rina, hoping to borrow money, but Rina refused.
Though Keiko shared this only with Rina, she was shocked to learn Rina had told others.
Saki, knowing this, argued Keiko was the most likely to steal the ring due to her financial desperation.
Keiko and Rina also had a prior feud. Rina's divorce stemmed from her husband's infidelity, which she hid, claiming a mutual split. But Keiko learned the truth and spread it, humiliating Rina among their friends.
This fueled Rina's refusal to lend Keiko money and her decision to expose Keiko's husband's embezzlement.
The third suspect was Mika Hirata, the short-haired woman who saved Rina's life.
Mika had an average appearance, an ordinary family, and a husband who was a typical company employee. Her uneventful life made her the least suspicious.
"After you put the ring back, did you all stay together, or did anyone leave?" Inspector Samezaki asked.
"We sat in the living room, chatting about our university days," Rina said. "All three went to the restroom at some point."
"In what order?" Officer Matsumoto pressed.
"First Keiko, then me, then Mika," Saki replied.
"Did any of them touch the ring or the box when you showed it?" Detective Morimura asked.
"No," Rina said, recalling the moment. "I opened the box and set it on the coffee table for them to see. Because of the curse, I didn't let them touch it."
"Your hands…" Hayashi Shuichi interjected. "Why are they all injured?"
"Rina scratched me during our fight," Saki said, glancing at the scratches on her hands. "But I got her back—I pulled out clumps of her hair."
Keiko, with a cut on her palm, explained, "I drank a lot before coming here and fell on the way. That's how I got this."
"And you?" Shuichi asked Mika Hirata, barely noticeable in the group. A long scratch on the back of her right hand oozed blood.
Mika thought for a moment. "That's probably from when I grabbed Rina. Her fingernail must've scratched me."
Rina raised her hands, spotting blood on her right fingernail.
"I was terrified and scratched you by accident," she said, apologetic. "I have iodine at home. I'll get it."
Grateful to her savior, Rina found iodine to disinfect Mika's wound and applied a bandage.
"Hey, Saki and I are injured too," Keiko said, noticing Rina was about to put the iodine away.
Still resentful, Rina tossed the iodine and bandages onto the coffee table, letting them fend for themselves.
While the women treated their injuries, Shuichi wandered the apartment.
Rina was clearly wealthy. The apartment, over 50 square meters, was spacious—roughly 150 square meters in total. It included a living room, dining room, kitchen, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms.
One bathroom was in Rina's bedroom, the other across from it.
A corner corridor led from the living room to Rina's bedroom, out of sight from those in the living room.
This layout allowed the thief to steal the ring unnoticed.
Shuichi entered Rina's bedroom, hoping to find evidence. Inspector Samezaki, with the same idea, joined him.
Despite their thorough search, they found nothing useful.
As Shuichi exited the bedroom, pondering if he'd missed something, Kogoro Mouri suddenly laughed and shouted, "I know who the thief is!"
His outburst drew everyone's attention.
"Kogoro, this isn't a game," Eri cautioned. "You need evidence."
"I don't have evidence yet," Kogoro said with a triumphant grin, "but I know how to find the culprit."