"With acting skills like yours, it's a shame you didn't become an actress."
"And aren't you one to talk?" Akemi smiled. "You've improved a lot compared to before. At least you don't stutter when you say my name anymore."
Standing in the stairwell with a cigarette between his fingers, Ritsu shot her a deadpan look.
'I was complimenting you. Why are you taking the opportunity to tease me instead?'
"When are you planning to reveal yourself to her?" he asked.
"She already knows Augier is going to enter a fake marriage with you. She's probably driving herself crazy trying to figure out the connection between Onizawa of the Metropolitan Police and Augier, one of the Organization's most dangerous members."
Remembering the horrified expression on her younger sister's face, Akemi couldn't help laughing.
"When the time is right."
"By the way, that Conan really is the high school detective Kudo Shinichi, isn't he? To be honest, seeing the two of them with my own eyes finally made it sink in."
"The drug Shiho-chan created is really terrifying."
Ritsu crushed out his cigarette and dropped the butt into an evidence bag.
"The terrifying part isn't the drug. It's the Organization that wants to use it."
"Let's stop talking about that. I need to report to headquarters."
"See you tonight."
Akemi suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, right! I left something for you in the passenger seat. Don't forget to take it."
"Hm? ...Oh. Okay."
Walking down to the parking lot, Ritsu opened the passenger door. Resting on the seat was a cloth bag decorated with a shark pattern.
Curious, he opened it.
Inside were two neatly packed lunch boxes.
"...She made me lunch?"
He blinked.
'What time did she have to wake up for this...?'
The sight reminded him of his days as Macallan.
Back then, that FBI whiskey would often bring homemade lunches back to the apartment, deliberately taking them out to eat whenever both he and Rei hadn't had a chance to eat.
'Tch. Serves you right that you don't get any now.'
Rolling his eyes, Ritsu started the Bugatti and headed toward Metropolitan Police Headquarters.
'Hopefully today's one of those rare days without any cases. I've been so busy lately... I really just want a proper break.'
...
Carrying the lunch upstairs, he made a point of showing it off in front of one particular bachelor named Takagi.
Judging by the wistful look on Takagi's face, he was probably imagining Miwako making lunch for him someday.
Honestly, even if the two of them do end up together...
Given how hopelessly straightforward Miwako is, she's much more likely to buy him lunch from a convenience store than make one herself.
...
3:30 p.m.
The large office of Investigation Division One, Violent Crimes Unit Three, on the ninth floor was unusually peaceful.
No ringing phones meant no new cases. Which basically translated into spending the entire day slacking off.
If you rounded up, it was practically paid vacation. The only difference was that the vacation happened inside the office.
While browsing a food delivery app on his phone and debating whether to order afternoon tea, Ritsu suddenly heard the internal phone on Hayasaka's desk ring.
An ominous feeling instantly washed over him.
'Here it comes... The smell of a new case. There goes my slacking-off plan.'
"This is Hayasaka. ...Yes. ...Understood. I'll head over immediately with Inspector Onizawa."
Before Hayasaka could even stand up, she found Ritsu beside her, already wearing his trench coat and looking thoroughly resentful.
She couldn't help laughing.
"Inspector, I see you've already figured it out."
Giving her another half-lidded glare, Ritsu asked,
"Every time that phone rings, it's bad news. So what's today's case?"
"A missing persons case. The reporting party is a first-grade student from Class 1-A at Teitan Elementary named Toshiya Nakata. He says his older brother has been missing for a week."
"He disappeared without leaving any message."
Hearing that, Ritsu frowned.
"It took them a whole week before reporting him missing?"
Hayasaka nodded helplessly.
"You know how often children make prank reports. The initial report went to Beika Police Station."
Ritsu immediately understood.
In other words, Toshiya had originally reported the disappearance to the local station. The officers there had assumed it was nothing more than a child's prank and ignored it.
Only after Toshiya personally came to Metropolitan Police Headquarters had the case finally been accepted for investigation.
His face darkened as he was about to say something. Then the phone rang again.
"This is Hayasaka ...What? Another missing person? ...Understood. I'll head over right away."
Ritsu looked over.
"Another missing persons case?"
Hayasaka sighed.
"Yes. A Mikacho Library employee named Kazuo Tamada disappeared the day before yesterday. His wife is very worried."
Walking over to the dozing Takagi, Ritsu tapped on his desk.
Once Takagi jerked awake, he said,
"Takagi. Take a team and investigate the disappearance of Kazuo Tamada from Mikacho Library."
"Huh? I'm going by myself?"
"You're already a Police Sergeant. If you want another promotion, start taking investigations seriously."
"Hayasaka and I will handle the other missing persons case. If anything comes up, report to me immediately."
"Yes, Inspector!"
With their assignments made, the team split up.
Ritsu climbed into his Bugatti and sped toward their destination.
'Wonder what time I'll finally get off work today...'
...
The Nakata residence was located at 129, 6-Chome, Beika Town, inside an upscale residential neighborhood.
After getting out of the car, Ritsu first surveyed the surrounding area.
The residents here clearly valued privacy. There wasn't a single security camera along the street. The front door was opened by Toshiya.
He bowed politely.
"Hello. Please come in."
Hayasaka looked around the house. Not seeing anyone else, she asked,
"Toshiya, are you home alone?"
The boy nodded.
"My dad works overseas. My mom was so worried after my brother disappeared that she ended up in the hospital. I'm going to visit her later."
'What a thoughtful kid...'
Hayasaka gently patted his head.
"Don't worry. Inspector Onizawa will definitely find your brother."
"Mm! I know Uncle Onizawa is amazing! And you're amazing too, Big Sis!"
Ritsu frowned slightly upon hearing the title.
'Why is Hayasaka, who's older than me, a 'big sister' while I'm already an 'uncle'? Is it because of the white hair...?
Forget it. No point arguing with a child. I've got another case waiting.'
"Toshiya. Could you show me your brother's room? If he disappeared without any warning, there must've been a reason."
"We might find some clues there."
"Okay! Please follow me, Uncle!"
Toshiya's older brother was named Toshihiko Nakata. His bedroom was immaculate.
There were no signs of anyone breaking in. Which meant, he hadn't disappeared from home.
A pair of expensive cushioned athletic shoes still looked practically new. The bookshelf was filled mostly with novels. Nothing suggested a motive for disappearing.
There were no signs of a romantic relationship either.
That ruled out the possibility of him eloping.
"Toshiya..."
Hayasaka asked while pulling a stack of drawings out from beneath the bed.
"Did your brother really enjoy painting?"
"Yeah! He was in the art club in high school. He even participated in an art exhibition once."
Pointing toward a portrait of Natsume Sōseki, Toshiya smiled.
"That's my brother's favorite work. It was displayed at the exhibition but hardly anyone praised it."
"Because it was just a copy of the portrait from a book."
Ritsu's gaze settled on the portrait.
The moment he saw it, he immediately understood why Toshihiko had disappeared. Looking at Toshiya, he quickly asked,
"So no one complimented your brother's painting?"
"...Well... Now that you mention it... There was one strange woman. She was dressed completely in black. She wore a huge black hat too."
"I couldn't really see her face... but she really liked my brother's painting of Natsume Sōseki."
'Dressed entirely in black...? An Organization member?'
Ritsu quickly dismissed the idea.
Even low-ranking Organization members wouldn't waste time on something so inefficient. There were far easier ways to make money.
Besides, modern counterfeit detection machines were becoming increasingly advanced. One careless mistake and you'd end up enjoying the Metropolitan Police's signature pork cutlet lunch behind bars.
He suddenly felt someone poke him in the waist. Turning around, he saw Hayasaka lean closer and whisper,
"Onizawa... Do you think Toshiya's brother was kidnapped to paint portraits of Natsume Sōseki for counterfeit banknotes?"
"Yeah. That's probably exactly what happened."
Checking the time on his phone, Ritsu continued, "Next, all we need to do is review traffic camera footage to identify the kidnappers' vehicle."
"If that doesn't work, we'll investigate nearby mom-and-pop shops. They're about the only places left that don't have counterfeit detection machines."
"Then let's hurry."
Ritsu shook his head.
"Sorry, Hayasaka. I'll leave the rest to you. Coordinate with the Information Division. You should be able to locate the counterfeit operation fairly quickly."
"And bring plenty of officers. They're likely armed."
Hayasaka blinked.
"Then where are you going?"
"I'm checking on Takagi. He still hasn't called. I'm guessing he's made absolutely no progress."
"Understood. I'll handle things here. Go ahead."
----
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