Koyama no Kousagi

The Hand that Feeds 1-09

Winnie takes the blood pressure monitor off of Vernon's arm and puts it away.

Vernon Green: "Winnie, there's no need to worry about me. My customers got food poisoning after eating at my restaurant. Hiring a detective won't change this fact. Come, tell me about school. When doest the next semester start?"

While reviewing the measurement history on the blood pressure monitor, Winnie's hand stops. She turns to Vernon, eyes slightly teary.

Winnie: "Grandpa Vernon... Are you trying to hide something?"

Vernon: "Hide something? Winnie, I don't understand what you mean."

Winnie: "Your heart rate and blood pressure just now was better than the past few days. Were you pretending to be ill downstairs so you could avoid their questions?"

Vernon: "Winnie, I..."

Winnie: "What are you hiding? This incident could very well drive the restaraunt out of business!"

Vernon is stunned for a moment but then lets out a long sigh.

Vernon: "I...I don't have a choice. It's a long story..."

~Downstairs~

Luke's preliminary test results show that something isn't adding up with the fingerprints and insecticide powder. Maybe Luke and Artem were right in suspecting that there is more to this food poisoning incident.

Luke: "Each piece of evidence by itself seems innocuous. However, putting them all together tells another story."

Y/n: "True, For instance, the insecticide that contaminated the spring water probably wasn't the BugOut that Mr. Green bought. BugOut is an insecticide that isn't toxic to humans. Let me guess: the crystals on the water dispenser are a match with Insecticide 330."

Luke: "Sure is. I cross-checked online, and the toxic chemicals detected in the crystals match those in Insecticide 330. I also took the dispenser apart and found a lot of chemical residue in the filter. This explains why there are crystals present — the chemical concentration is alarmingly high.

Y/n: "That means any water that went through the dispenser would get contaminated! This also means that it's nearly impossible by accident, so the act was intentional!"

Luke: "In that case, were the customers hospitalized because they consumed contaminated spring water?"

Y/n: "Let me think... Reviewing all the evidence we have should give us our answer." Are the customers' poisoning symptoms consistent with the poisoning symptoms of Insecticide 330? Contaminated Spring Water: Insecticide 330 was administered into the spring water that caused the incident. This toxic substance causes abdominal pain and diarrhea upon ingestion. Customers' Medical Reports: Six customers suffered various degrees of abdominal pain and diarrhea after consuming Seafood Tofu Soup, but their conditions were all stable. "We can. According to their medical reports, the patients experienced abdominal pain and diarrhea symptoms of Insecticide 330 poisoning."

Luke: "Then we can be sure that this isn't a simple food poisoning case."

Y/n: "Exactly. Insecticide 330 is a potent pesticide. If it were deliberately used in a restaurant... There's no way this is a case of food poisoning was caused by negligence! A hazardous chemical was used intentionally. It's a criminal act. Mr. Green didn't ask his employees to buy Insecticide 330, so who brought it and put it into the water? If the culprit was in the restaurant, they must've left fingerprints ot some other traces."

Luke: "I lifted some fingerprints from both the dispenser's surface and its internal filter. Four of them match info from the smart lock's database. The earliest is from ten years ago. It's likely whoever installed the lock, so Mr. Green himself."

Y/n: "The receipt for Insecticide 330!"

Luke: "That's right. This fingerprint also appears near the water dispenser's filter."

Y/n: "Now we know for sure that someone not employed by the restaurant was recently here. They must be the one who placed insecticide into the water dispenser! Since they could unlock the front door, they must be close to Mr. Green. Someone who's close to him but also has a conflict of intrest with the restaruant... We'll have to ask for Mr. Green for that answer."

Luke: "I don't think he'll talk with the evidence we currently have on hand."

Y/n: "You mean... Mr. Green is deliberately trying to shield the suspect?"

Luke: "That's right."

Y/n: "Why do you think that? Did you find some evidence?"

Luke: "Usually, water tanks are cleaned by the supplier after they retrieve an empty tank. However, the tanks of spring water in the restaurant from the day of the incident have been wiped clean. Not a drop or a print to be found. Additionally, the powder found along the wine cabinet tested to be the non-toxic BugOut, but it was also cleaned up."

Y/n: "The restaurant likely uses BugOut on a regular basis. Could the staff have cleaned it up by accident?"

Luke: "In a restaurant where food posioning occurred, the staff normally wouldn't dare to do so without explicit orders. My guess is that Mr. Green cleaned up the evidence after learning the suspect's identity.

Y/n: "If that's the case, then Mr. Green must have a long history with our culprit."

Why would Vernon want to protect someone who is clearly out to damage the restaurant? You and Luke can't wrap your heads around it. You hear footsteps suddenly coming down from upstairs. It's Winnie. Her eyes are swollen and red from crying. When your eyes meet, Winniestops in her tracks. She opens her mouth as if wanting to say something. Before she can speak, Vernon calls from upstairs.

Vernon: "Winnie, have you seen my medicine?"

Winnie: "Stay where you are Grandpa Vern. I'll get it for you."

Winnie glances at you again before going back upstairs.

Y/n: "What is Mr. Green trying to hide..."

Luke: "If he's unwilling to tell us the truth, then it's up to us to find ourselves."

Y/n: "We should start on the poisoner's identity. They've had access to the restaurant for 6 years, so we'll likely find clues to their identity somewhere here."

Luke: "Right. Also, the suspect has a conflict of interest with the restaurant, so maybe we can find something in the restaurant's operational records. Let's comb through the restaurant one more time. If we really can't find anything, we'll have to confront Mr.Green about it."

Y/n: "Oh speaking of conflict of interest, I just thought of..."

You and Luke lock eyes and he immediately knows what you're thinking, as if you two are of one mind.

Luke: "You don't mean... DeliCart!"