[ Old ] Crossroad 『Detective Conan』

Chapter 34 - Guilty of past『1/5』

Jinpei got back into the car after a long time away. Yoko was busy passing the time by taking pictures.
- You took a long time. She said with a slightly mocking tone, a smile on her lips.
The girl fastened the seat belt as the car started.
-I told you that I took the time I wanted. He replied simply.
- We're just gonna be late for the deposition.
-I could always take care of it.
It wasn't wrong. But the former high school girl preferred to be with her classmates. Thus, less chance of forgetting details.

The car stopped towards the sidewalk where Sato was, accompanied by Genta, Ayumi, Mitsuhiko, Conan and Ai. Yoko quickly got out of the car and greeted everyone.
- You took a long time! grumbled the largest of the group. We're done here!
-Sorry, but Matsuda-keiji had something to do before that took a little time. Retorted the brunette with long hair.
- In any case, you won't have to do anything. Said the freckled boy with a smile as he approached his classmate who had just arrived.
The concerned did not know if she should be delighted or not. She felt like she had moved for nothing. Or at least, from the cemetery to here.

The group began to walk away from where they were, talking quietly. They quickly passed Takagi chatting with someone else. Another policeman by the name of Shiratori.
-Sato-san! The reconstruction is finished? Takagi asked.
-Yes. replied the policewoman. And you, on your side?
- We looked in the store but...
-It seems to be a false lead. Finished Shiratori.

Jinpei raised his eyebrows slightly. Something had happened that they weren't aware of.
-What happened ? he asked as he lit a cigarette.
There was a moment of silence before Shiratori started walking towards the car parked on the side of the road.
-I'll let you explain. He said.
Sato and Takagi looked at each other hesitantly. Or at least the woman looked at her hesitant colleague. The latter did not seem to understand everything well so that it was he who explained the situation.
- We received a call for a bomb threat. We preferred to check since it is November 7th...

The man who had started smoking quickly turned his head towards his colleague's car. His expression, hidden by his glasses, was serious.
-Get out of there ! He yelled hoping to be heard by Shiratori.
At the same time, the car exploded. Everyone turned, eyes wide.
- Shiratori-kun! Sato shouted as he approached the car.
She was followed by the other two policemen.

The policewoman turned to the car while Jinpei looked a little further. Shiratori lay on the ground.
-How are you ? Asked the man, moving the door of the car that was on top of the injured man.
The latter was bleeding from the head, but he was conscious.
-I'm fine... I didn't do as well as Takagi-kun...He replied.
-Takagi-kun! Call an ambulance and block the perimeter! ordered the woman.
-Yes !
The man moved away a bit while Sato crouched down towards Shiratori.
-If you can talk, is that the injury should not be that serious. She says.
-Nope ! Said Jinpei and Conan at the same time, the latter having just arrived.
-He's bleeding from the right side of his skull and his left arm and leg are paralyzed... Which means... The boy continued.
-... That he may be having a cerebral hemorrhage. Finished Ai. If he is not transported to the hospital quickly, he risks staying there.

The man looked at Conan who was examining the policeman on the ground, then Ai who had just arrived. They were right. And on the one hand, it wasn't surprising, especially after what Yoko had told her.
But he didn't have time to think about that. There was more pressing, including moving Shiratori.

Yoko stared at her trembling hands. Once again, the explosion had affected her mentally.
-Yoko-san? Called Mitsuhiko
-Oe! Yoko! Said Genta in turn.
-... Eh ?!
The girl calmed down and looked at the boys. She took the time to calm down completely. Everyone was busy, or almost, and she had remained there, standing, once again not reacting to anything. After what she said to Jinpei, she felt ridiculous.

-We should get away from the car... Said the freckled boy softly.
-Yeah... Yeah...
With a quick step, the girl with the glasses moved as far away as possible from the burning vehicle. She had to stay calm.

Firefighters extinguished the burning car. Sato was still with Shiratori. He handed her a sheet.
-I wanted to show it to you right away... Matsuda-kun will want to arrest it again... so...
The concerned turned his head towards his colleagues and approached the woman to whom he took a leaf. This year he had a new chance to arrest the criminal, and thus avenge his best friend.
-Matsuda-kun... Called Sato softly, worried.
He didn't listen to her and read the sheet, Conan having passed behind him to be able to see it. Above was written:

"I throw balls fast and beautiful, I'm a Major Leaguer. Well, overtime can start...
The kick off will be given by a signal and the end will be whistled at three o'clock. There will be no point in preparing a good "stopper"...
Because in the end, I will win against...
If you want to interrupt the game, come to me. I wait in the steel box for his drummers.
That you, policeman, climb on the mound of blood..."

In view of how the sentences were formulated, it looked like the culprit of the two previous cases. No doubt. But, this time, finding the location of the first bomb was not going to be easy to find. There were several possibilities as to where the bomb was.

Sato took the letter to read it before walking away to warn Megure. Jinpei went back to his car. The sooner he finds it, the better was.
Yoko looked at the policeman leaving. Not having followed everything, she did not understand immediately, but quickly made the link with the explosion and especially the famous case of three years ago.
-Matsuda-keiji! Wait ! She called as she followed him.
-Stay with the other kids. You will stay at Agasa's for tonight.
The girl looked at him for a moment. She didn't want to leave him. She wanted to help him.
-I am coming with you !
- What do you think you can do given how scared you are? It will be less risky if you are with others.

He walked away. He wasn't wrong, but she couldn't leave him.
Not knowing what to do, she looked at the ground, clenching her fists.