As Ranran play with Shinichi's theory in her head, tons of possibilities began to play about in her head.

"This changes everything," Ranran muttered at that thought, "If we want to talk about motive, we have Aurelia, Peggy's daughter. She didn't breakdown into tears when she spotted her Okaasan's corpse on the floor, not to mention, she still has some resentment over the fact that her mother caused her father to die because she refuse to pay alimony to save Aurelia's Tousan's failing toy business, that later lead to his suicide."

"And to top it off, according to Primrose, they'd been arguing about money. I wouldn't be surprised to learn if Aurelia is the one who intentionally left the gate unlocked to let him in before she went shopping." Shinichi frowns, "But then, we also have Primrose, the temp secretary/supermodel who works for Peggy, let alone....is your enemy in Edgewood Academy. Although she may not have a motive, aside from the rumours circulating that she might be seeing Felix, Peggy's son, it would make sense why her behaviour on wanting to move away Peggy's corpse was rather unsettling."

Shinichi crossed his arms, deep in thought. Then he proceeded to question his mentor, "Ranran, I know that you shared with me before what a horrible person Primrose is, but is she capable of murder based on your opinion?"

"Primrose..." Ranran furrowed her brows, contemplating the question. "Does putting a dead rat inside the desk of her love rival count? She was 17 at that time."

"Wait, she did that!?" Shinichi raised an eyebrow at Ranran's response. "A dead rat? That's certainly... extremely disturbing. But murder is on a whole different level. Are they anymore incidents besides this?"

"Hmph....." Ranran hummed, then suddenly remembered, "When her niece Millie poisoned my friend-no, I got it wrong," Ranran corrected herself, "When she mess with my client's drink, my client and Millie were around 6 at that time before she met me, but the damage was enough to harm her vocal cord, there was a point in her life that she may not be able to sing ever again. Cause the drink was that acidic, she had to be hospitalized. It got to a point she couldn't talk anymore. And yet, despite all the medical proof, Primrose brushed it off as a child tantrum, and instead blame the client."

Shinichi's expression turned serious as he listened to Ranran's account of Primrose's past actions. "Those incidents are certainly troubling, Ranran. Putting a dead rat in someone's desk and causing harm to a person through poisoning are not normal behaviours itself. It shows a pattern of malicious intent and a lack of empathy."

He paused for a moment, thinking deeply. "While these actions don't directly prove that Primrose is capable of murder, they do indicate a dark side to her character."

"And that was that time....she had a crush on someone back in Edgewood."

"Eh?"

"She knew he had feelings for that girl, the same one she put the rat in her desk. But she didn't care and staged an extravagant way to profess her feelings to him."

"And did he accept her?"

"No, of course not."

Shinichi's eyes widened as he processed the information. "She also disregarded her crush's feelings and went ahead with an extravagant gesture to confess her own feelings.....That's quite bold and manipulative. Just like Mamiko."

Ranran nodded solemnly.

.................................................................

Meanwhile, the three other children were heading their way to the pool.

To reach the said indoor pool, they had to cross the courtyard at the back of the house and then walk along an avenue of vines where a few over-ripe bunches of grapes were still hanging just out of reach.

As Ran, Junko, and Takuma walked through the courtyard, they couldn't help but notice the over-ripe grapes hanging tantalizingly close but just out of reach. "How is it possible to grow grapes around February in a winter?" Ran can't help but ponder.

"Perhaps the guest house has a climate-controlled greenhouse nearby. It could be maintaining the right conditions for the grapes to grow even during winter." Junko, always analytical, joined in the observation.

Takuma nodded in agreement. "That would make sense. If the guest house has a heated indoor pool, it's possible they have other facilities like a greenhouse to maintain a favourable environment for plants."

The trio then reached the end of the shaded avenue and there before them was an expanse of the terrace, edged on two sides with columns of thin, pointy cypress trees and dotted with potted cacti.

In the centre was a lovely circular pool.

"Ah finally! The pool!" Junko's heart lifted at the thought of them having it entirely to themselves but before they could step out of the shadows something bobbed across the water that made them sigh with irritation.

The late comedian's daughter, Aurelia whose blonde hair brushed up into a hideous pink cap, wearing movie star sunglasses and a glittering gold bikini. In one hand she held a large, purple cocktail and in the other was a glossy magazine. She was lying on the biggest inflatable the children has ever seen – long, bright green and resembling some sort of amphibious reptile.

"Huh, who knew Miss Aurelia the shopaholic would have a fun side in her," Takuma who still didn't forget that first impression of her dripped in luxury goods, "I mean, look at her floating in that dinosaur inflatable."

"It ain't a dinosaur, a crocodile." Junko corrected him.

"How do you know that?" Ran and Takuma turned to the eldest girl.

Junko smirked. "Well, it just so happens that I'm quite knowledgeable about different types of inflatables. I've done my fair share of research on various pool accessories."

Takuma raised an eyebrow at Junko's unexpected expertise. "Seriously? I know that you enjoy swimming, but I didn't think you would go as far as to have that sort of hobby."

"It ain't a hobby, I was just merely searching for affordable inflatables of that size." Junko shrugged.

Then the brown hair brunette sighed and exchanged glances with Junko and Takuma. "Looks like we're not the only ones with the idea to come for a swim. Aurelia seems to be enjoying herself."

"Abnormal behaviour, then again, not completely. But it would have been nice to have the pool to ourselves." Junko sighs in disappointment.

"Let's leave, girls," Takuma groaned, "There go our morning plans for a swim."

Dejectedly, the children left. As soon as the trio found a shaded seat with a view out over the grounds to the city beyond, they slumped into it gratefully.

The long brown-haired girl sighed and leaned back on the seat, feeling slightly disappointed that their plan for a peaceful swim was thwarted. "Well, it seems like we'll have to come up with another activity to kill time," she said, looking out over the grounds.

"You're right. We can't let this ruin our day. Let's think of something else fun to do." Junko nodded in agreement.

Takuma, always the practical one, suggested, "How about we go steal those grapes at the vine earlier?"

Before the girls could protest, they soon heard the heavy tread of Sergeant Genzo's feet and saw some streak of his grey hair on the path just below us. He was with another officer, but neither of them had spotted them. Without a word, the three slid further back into the trees so they could remain out of sight.

There was the crackle of a radio, and the rude officer who was in charge of the interrogation with the members of Tantei Association had a brief, angry conversation with the person on the other end. Then he turned to his colleague. "The pathologist's report has just come through," he said. "I hate to admit this, but that damn Kudo Ranran was right. It was no accident, but a murder."

He didn't sound pleased, but then one wouldn't expect a streetwise cop to relish being proved wrong by a mere kid.

As the children eavesdropped on the conversation between Sergeant Genzo and his colleague, their eyes widened in surprise and anticipation. The confirmation that Peggy's death was indeed a murder validated Ranran's intuition and raised the stakes of the situation.

"Then, did someone allegedly push her to her death? Down the steps?" asked Genzo.

"No." The officer's tone was troubled. "Or at least she didn't die from falling down the steps."

"But her neck was broken, was it not?"

The officer nodded. "Yeah. But she was already dead when that happened. Her real cause of death is through drowning."

The revelation sent a shiver down the children's spines. Ran, Junko, and Takuma exchanged bewildered glances, trying to process the new information. It seemed that Ranran's initial suspicions were correct—Peggy's death was not an accident, but a deliberate act of murder.

"Drowning?" The other policeman echoed. "But she was fully dressed! How? Where?"

"In her bathroom. The forensic team are up there now. It seems someone held her head underwater. That smell of bleach wasn't a hair dye, but the same kind one would use to clean the toilet."

"What!? Ew!" Ran and Junko mouthed in disgust, while Takuma felt like he was going to puke hearing the details.

"Who in the sick mind would drown someone through the toilet!? Seriously!?" Takuma hissed, his face was pale at that thought.

"Now I had heard of school violence cases involving the toilet, deaths as well, but to murder in this fashion....it's really is unusual." The officer was shaking his head.

The two men continued along the path, moving out of earshot.

"Call Ranran over the smartphone, now," Junko ordered.

With a nod, the 6-year-old boy immediately dialled the number on his smartphone. As the call connected, Ranran's voice came through the other end of the line. "Hello? Tak-san? Is something wrong?"

"Ranran, we overheard a conversation between Sergeant Genzo and another officer," Takuma explained, his voice filled with urgency. "They confirmed that Peggy's death was a murder, not an accident. She was drowned in a toilet bowl."

There was a brief pause on the line before another voice from Ranran's side responded, "Wait, what do you mean she was drowned in a toilet bowl!?"

Shinichi's voice sounded alarmed as he spoke, which led to confusion, "Eh? Shinichi!? You are with Ranran now!?" Ran can't help but be surprised to hear his voice.

"Ah yeah, I invited Ranran over to my bedroom, we didn't have a good sleep while thinking about how Peggy was murdered the whole night, so we were having a meeting early this morning." The boy explained, before probing, "Anyway, what do you mean she was drowned in a toilet bowl?!"

"Ah right," Junko then explained, "The bleach you smelled from her hair...it ain't hair dye, but the kind of bleach one would use to wash the toilet, which is what leads to that conclusion."     

"Ugh! Yuck!" Shinichi could be heard exclaiming in disgust. "What a sicko!"

"Wait a minute, when did you guys overhead the conversation?" Ranran can't help but press the trio.

The three children exchanged glances, and Takuma responded, "Just a few moments ago. We were heading to the pool but found Aurelia there occupying the pool, so we decided to take a seat and rest. That's when we heard the conversation between Sergeant Genzo and the other officer."

The line was quiet for a moment, as Ranran didn't answer. "Head in the toilet..." She muttered. "Thrown down the stairs..."  Some faint bell rang in a distant melody within her memory but try as she might, she couldn't quite catch what it was.

"Wait, you all headed to the pool!? Despite the murder having taken place not long ago!?" Shinichi confronted the three over the phone.

"In the first place, the murder took place at the main residence, not the guest house where we are now," Takuma spoke up.

"He is right!" Ran defended their action. "Also, we were really bored and had a hard time sleeping after witnessing her corpse on the floor."

"Also, swimming is my morning routine, they couldn't sleep anyway, so I figure why not invite them over," Junko claims.

"I can't believe I am hearing this, from the same girl who almost drowned during the events of 'Illegitimate Extra'," Shinichi let out a frustrated sigh, his voice filled with a mix of concern and exasperation. "There has been a murder not long ago, and you three were already out wanting to go for a swim!"

"Hey, in the first place, we have full permission from Primrose to use the pool, alright?!"Takuma feeling defensive, retorted, "We didn't expect to overhear the details of Peggy's murder! Let alone, get a speedy outcome that she was in fact murdered! How were we supposed to know that Peggy ended up getting drowned in a toilet? It's sickening!"

"Also, we can't be cooped up in our bedrooms all day,  cause the murder is the only thing that comes out of our mind!" Ran sided them.

"I understand that you guys are paranoid," Shinichi replied, his tone tinged with irritation. "But you guys had been in Tantei Association for about a month or so, so when Ranran says 'It is a definite murder' even before the cops or pathologist confirm it, you all should've known better than to take it lightly. It's not just a game or a mystery novel; it's a real-life situation with real dangers."

"Shinichi-"

But he cut Ran off, "Tell me, by doing this, are you guys any different than Mana Yoshida then? When he ousts our true identities to the serial killer? Did you all forget how all of you almost died thanks to him for not heeding our words!?"

There was a heavy silence on the other end of the line as the weight of Shinichi's words sank in. The children realized the gravity of their actions and the potential risks they had unknowingly exposed themselves to. And they definitely didn't forget what they had gone through back on that island thanks to Mana Yoshida.

Well, excluding Junko, since she wasn't there during the camping trip.

"Anyway, considering that we have a murder case on our hands," Shincihi said, rubbing his hands together, "Who's number one on our list of suspects?"

"Definitely the clown," Takuma considered. "Also the same intruder, I suppose," he said at last.

"The man whom we saw running away yesterday morning, right? He would seem to be the most obvious culprit." Junko brought this up.

"But what would his motive be?" Ran asked no one in particular.

"Also, earlier when we saw him, he looked like an Asian, right? Not a Caucasian," It dawned on Junko.

"Yeah, now that I think back," Shinichi recalled a blurred face, but the features were roughly clear that he ain't a Caucasian, "Does Miss Peggy, a British comedian, would know anyone here in Japan?"

"It wouldn't be impossible, you know?" Takuma said, "Cause if you think about it, she was raised here until she left for the U.K. when she was quite young."

"But does she have anyone she knows of that would earn enough hate against Peggy to kill her?" Takuma was in doubt, "From all of the interviews I had watched, although she spoke about her volatile childhood with her family, and having built her career from ground zero, she never mentions having any friends here in Japan."

"Then let's say if he is hired by someone who hates Peggy enough to kill her, it would do them favours, no?" Ranran who had been quiet the entire time suddenly spoke up, her voice tinged with suspicion.

"You mean a hired hitman?" Junko's eyes widened at the possibility and refuted, "But he was dressed so flashily, that would've been an idiot move."

"But when I saw him fleeing the mansion earlier, there were no cuts and leaves stuck to the clothes he was wearing. Let alone, it didn't look dishevelled." Shinichi argued back over Ranran's smartphone, "If he truly did climb over the super high wall surrounding 'Punchard Land' residence, he would have needed to heavily rely on those bushes to cushion his support. He is an elderly man, not physically capable of climbing that high. But from what I saw earlier, there was nothing. He didn't even limp his way out, he ran."

"Then, are you suggesting that someone from the mansion let him into the residence? To do the job?" Junko speculated, her analytical mind at work. "That would make sense actually."

"That sounds plausible," agreed Ran.

"But I wouldn't say he would be one qualified hitman," objected Takuma. "If there was an ongoing party with a clown theme taking place in Peggy's residence, it would've made sense for him to dress in flowers and buttonholes as camouflage, pretending to be one of the hired entertainers then execute her on the spot. But there isn't."

"True." Shinichi nodded. "Then gloss over to the next suspect, Primrose."

"Ah yes, Ranran's nemesis since Edgewood Academy, right?" Takuma remembered that information, "Also the temp secretary/supermodel, she would've had a motive to kill Peggy, no? I mean there had been rumours that she was seeing Felix, Peggy's eldest son and that her party girl way may lead Felix to relapse."

"That's right!" Ran suggests, "Maybe like those romantic dramas, Peggy disapproves of her seeing Felix, so she decides to remove her by secretly letting the hitman in!"

"But Ran-san, you are forgetting one thing," Junko interjected. "If Primrose wanted to kill Peggy for standing in the way of their relationship, why would she go through the trouble of hiring a hitman and risking exposure? They are westerners, they could've just simply eloped and no need her damn permission for that matter."

"Exactly," Takuma looked at the smartphone, frowning. "Also, Ranran said she came from a family of Earls. Even if she is no longer working as a secretary, and although she didn't achieve 'top tier' modelling, she has enough money to live comfortably. And she has that generous brother-in-law of hers to go back to, so she didn't really need to kill Peggy if that was the motive."

"But I wouldn't exclude her from being a suspect," Ranran adds, then reminded them, "Do you remember that incident that when all of us were in the van, and that Primrose suddenly pushed on the breaks when she claimed to have avoided hitting a deer while she was driving up the hills to Miss Peggy's residence? I saw her watching me through the rear mirror, including the rest of you as well."

"Eh!? She did!?" Junko and the others gasp, including Shinichi, who is stunned.

"You didn't mention any of this, aside from the fact that she was staring at you." Shinichi crossed his arms at his mentor.

"That's because, at the time, I wasn't sure what to make of it," Ranran admitted. "Initially I thought she was doing it out of petty revenge for what I did to her niece years ago. But considering that she also was staring at the others.....I feel a lot of things are off."

"Then we also have Aurelia to think about," Shinichi reconsidered. "Though she has reasons not to be exactly grief-stricken after what Peggy did to her father....let's say if Aurelia truly wanted her Okaasan to die, why didn't she didn't pretend to be upset to stir the suspicion away then?"

"That's a good point," Junko agreed. "If Aurelia wanted Peggy dead, she could have easily pretended to be grieving to divert suspicion away from herself. But instead, she was the same dismissive self as always towards her Okaasan when she finds her dead on the floor."

"Maybe being her 'dismissive self' is a way to divert suspicion," Takuma suddenly began to construct a theory. "I mean if you think about it, the entire world knows what she thinks of her mother Peggy. If she breaks down and cries, the whole world would think she is behind it, right? Cause it felt fake. Because she hates her Okaasan. And did you all forget that she smiled now that her Okaasan, the mother she despised is dead, she is going to be rich."

"Not really, she has her half-elder brother, the one named Felix," Ran challenged, "He too may have the motive to kill his mom for money."

"But he is in South America according to Primrose, so how do you think he is going to fly all the way here to Japan, take hours of ride to head to the mansion, then open and let the hitman enter the residence, kill Peggy, then flee and go back to South America on time?" Junko shook her head, "It is too time-consuming."

"Whatever it is, if we were to rank their motives, Aurelia's motive is the one who ranks the highest, as well as the means and opportunity." Shinichi commented, "She went out shopping and her mother was left all alone at home. She could've used this shopping spree to build her own alibi, then secretly somehow let him in and kill Peggy."

"Which is why, after much discussion between Shinichi and I, we have concluded that we should be observing Aurelia," Ranran announced over the smartphone.

"Eh?" asked Ran. "You mean we are to stalk her?"

"I mean since you are all there right now, it shouldn't be difficult to keep an eye on her, since she is all alone at the poolside." Ranran sighs.

"And if anything you find suspicious, notify the cops.

The poolside undercover sting seems like a practical approach given the circumstances of Ranran and Shinichi.

Cause while the trio were still sitting in the shade of the trees, there was a loud scream beneath them somewhere, followed by Primrose's voice yelling in basic Japanese, "Help! Somebody! Police! Help! Help!"

Startled by the scream, the trio quickly sprang into action by rushing towards the source of the commotion, their hearts pounding with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

As they reached the poolside, they saw a chaotic scene unfolding before them. Primrose was standing at the end of the avenue of vines. The drink in her hand had slopped down her legs and over her tightly-laced shoes.

The trio reached her just as Sergeant Genzo came puffing along the avenue towards them.

Only to discover Aurelia floating facedown in the water, motionless.

And judging Junko's experience in swimming, when a person faces down in a pool laying like that, they are confirmed dead.

"I saw him!" Primrose gabbled. "The guy in the striped jacket! He was right here! Aurelia earlier wanted a refill for a drink, so I left. When I returned...." Primrose's voice trembled as she tried to recount what had happened. "When I returned, I saw him standing by the pool, watching Aurelia. I screamed, and he ran when he saw me. I suppose he's got away."

Without a word, Sergeant Genzo pushed past the supermodel and headed for the pool. Ran, Junko and Takuma followed him, but we weren't prepared for what they found there.

Aurelia's corpse was floating face down beside the inflatable crocodile, its rubber mouth gaping in a horrible grin as it bobbed beside her. As they got closer, Takuma saw that a length of oddly lumpy rope had been pulled tightly around her neck.

Junko got a good look at it, and her stomach heaved with disgust. Beside her, Ran bent over and was so sick, she puked into a potted cactus.

Someone had strangled Judy with a string of plastic sausages.

The gruesome sight sent a shiver down their spines. The bizarre and macabre nature of the murder scene left them in shock and disbelief.

"Jesus!" Sergeant Genzo's face was folded into a multitude of lines. "That guy is delusional!"

Takuma, feeling a mix of horror and determination, took out his smartphone to notify Ranran and Shinichi, while Junko began documenting the scene, capturing every angle and piece of evidence that might be crucial later on. Meanwhile, Ran took a moment to compose herself, wiping away the remnants of her sickness, and joined the others in their investigation.

"Er...Ranran, are you there? Yeah, well...Aurelia is dead." Junko spoke over the phone.

There were two gasps over the phone, "Eh!? Dead? Aurelia? Are you sure?" Shinichi found himself pressing for more information.

"How did that happen!?"

"Honestly...I don't even know where to begin!" Junko replied, her voice filled with a mix of horror and disbelief. "Someone strangled her with a string of plastic sausages. It's... it's truly disturbing."

"Hah!? Not drown in the pool!?" Ranran was gobsmacked by the developments, "But strangled by plastic sausages!?"

The news of Aurelia's shocking death sent a wave of shock and confusion through Ranran and Shinichi. They couldn't comprehend the grotesque nature of the murder. "Yes, even I myself am finding it hard to believe. I believe Takuma will send you the photos soon through the group chat. Jesus...."Junko is still reeling from seeing all of this. "What happened was according to Primrose, Aurelia wanted a refill of her drink, so she left her alone at the pool. When she returned, however, she found her...floating face down in the pool on an inflatable crocodile."

"An inflatable crocodile!?" Ranran repeated her words.

"Yes, that's right," Junko confirmed. "It's as bizarre as it sounds. And to make it even more chilling, there was a length of plastic sausages tightly wrapped around Aurelia's neck. And Primrose allegedly saw the man we all saw yesterday, the same intruder, did this to Aurelia. Dressed in that clown costume."

Ranran and Shinichi exchanged bewildered glances, trying to process the shocking details. This murder was unlike anything they had encountered before. It seemed that the killer had a twisted and macabre sense of symbolism.

As soon as Junko hung up the phone, Shinichi can't help but be perplexed, "That's odd. For Peggy's murder, she was staged as if she fell down the steps. But Aurelia's murder....it was straightforward murder through strangling. If I were the killer, no way I would be that much of an idiot to leave a murder weapon behind, right? Just drown her in the pool."

He was right, Ranran thought. The obvious way – the easy way – to kill Aurelia would have been to drown her. So why had her killer chosen sausages as the murder weapon?

Ranran shook her head as she received the notification from their group chat.

Opening the group chat, Ranran saw the photos that Takuma had sent. The images were disturbing, showing Aurelia's lifeless body floating in the pool, the plastic sausages tightly wrapped around her neck, and the inflatable crocodile floating nearby. The scene was gruesome, but not as gruesome as those serial killers at least.

"Shinichi, look at these photos," Ranran urge him to come over. "It's even worse than I imagined. The plastic sausages... it's just so twisted."

Shinichi examined the photos on his end and his expression turned grim. "Why plastic sausages!? Why not just use a rope!?"

The two surveyed the ghastly scene through video recordings Ran had sent. "No clue, but I do feel like by this point onward, Peggy's murder and Aurelia's...they are all premeditated." Ranran thinks.

"And why do you think so?"

"Well, think about it," she began, her voice laced with uncertainty. "Aurelia's murder....most killers would normally use anything at their disposal, right? Like a rope, anything just to kill the person they hate. But this one specifically brought plastic sausages. It feels like the killer is trying to send a message or play some sick game." Something tickled at the back of Ranran's memory again, "And the way she and how Peggy was killed...felt familiar."

"Eh? Ranran, do you know of any similar case whereby....someone else was killed in an odd way as Peggy and Aurelia do?"

"No, but..." Ranran paused, trying to recall the memory that was nagging at her. "It's just a feeling I have. Like I've seen or heard something similar before, but I can't quite put my finger on it. It's like there's a connection between these murders, a pattern or motive that we're missing. Whatever it is...I don't think the murders are going to stop at Aurelia after that."

Shinichi furrowed his brow, deep in thought. "You might be onto something, Ranran. There's definitely a pattern emerging here, and it's unsettling. These murders seem to be orchestrated with a specific intention, and the choice of murder weapons suggests some sort of twisted message or motive behind them. First was drowning through a toilet bowl, then strangling using sausages....what is going through their damn mind?"

..................................................................

At 10 am, a convoy of police cars blared their sirens and raced down the driveway, their flashing lights illuminating the surroundings. Their mission: to apprehend the elusive man in the striped blazer. However, despite their determined efforts, he was nowhere to be found amidst the expanse of the hillside.

In the aftermath, a meticulous army of men clad in pristine white boiler suits descended upon the grounds. With unwavering focus, they combed through every inch of the terrain, meticulously scrutinizing each square millimetre in search of valuable clues. Simultaneously, another team embarked on a similar mission, meticulously scouring Peggy Punchard's house and meticulously examining every object within. Yet, despite their exhaustive efforts, their endeavours yielded no significant findings.

Once more, after giving her statement to the police, Primrose ordered a takeaway lunch. For Michio and Emiko however, it was brunch, since they were dead asleep, and was shocked to learn of the developments after Ranran and Shinichi shared with them everything.

While waiting for the takeaway to arrive, Primrose sat with Ohta Bunko at the kitchen table while they waited for it to be delivered. Ranran and Shinichi took up their positions by the open window, and hid themselves behind their smartphones, pretending to watch viral videos. As for the other members, they were too excited that they headed to wake Michio and Emiko up, then share what had happened not long ago.

In a hushed tone, Primrose leaned towards Ohta Bunko and inquired in English, presumably so that no one could understand their conversation, "Did you catch a glimpse of the killer? You were out on the grounds all morning, weren't you? Did you see anything?"

Bunko shook her head. "No, I'm not very observant. I didn't even notice the deer when you were driving the van, so I definitely didn't see anything suspicious."

There was a momentary pause before Primrose asked her next question, concern evident in her voice. "Did the police inform you about what happened to Miss Peggy?"

Bunko replied with a sombre tone, "No, they didn't share any details with me."

Primrose's distress grew evident as she wrung her hands. "It was absolutely terrible! Sergeant Genzo informed me that the killer allegedly drowned her... pushed her head down the toilet. Why would anyone do something so horrifying? And now this! Strangled with sausages! The image of that crocodile grinning next to her is etched in my mind. It was a truly horrifying sight!"

Once more, Ranran had the feeling of eyes pressing on her skin again. The 6-year-old child detective sneaked the tiniest of glances with her smartphone, and sure enough, caught Primrose's eyes just darted away from her face.

"The audacity, what in the hell is she hiding that she had to wake me up at the van!?" Ranran whispered to her partner-in-crime while hissing lowly.

"We are the only two members who understood English after all, so it ain't a surprise she is hoping we didn't hear what they are discussing," he replied.

And then a new thought suddenly occurred to Ranran. "Neh, Shinichi."

"Hmph?"

"Before Ran, Takuma and Junko were rushing over to the pool not long after hearing Primrose screaming, where was Primrose at by the time they arrived?"

Ranran's question triggered Shinichi's curiosity as he pondered the timeline of events. He recalled the chaotic scene at the poolside and tried to piece together Primrose's whereabouts.

"Come to think of it, they mention witnessing her standing at the side of the pool with a drink, since Primrose mentioned that she had to head back to the residence to refill the drink because Aurelia instructed her to, then when she returned, she saw the 'clown' standing there at the side of the pool," Shinichi responded, furrowing his brows. "Why?"

Strumming her fingers on the table, Ranran knew she had to ask, "Shinichi, if you were Primrose, you saw Aurelia, your employer's daughter bobbing around on the pool with her crocodile inflatable, with her face down, and saw the man in the clown costume, what would have been your natural response?"

As Ranran's question hung in the air, Shinichi's mind raced to imagine himself in Primrose's shoes, facing such a chilling sight.

"Well," he began, his voice filled with contemplation, "if I were Primrose and stumbled upon that horrifying scene by the pool, my immediate reaction would be a mixture of shock, fear, and urgency. I would feel compelled to raise the alarm and call for help right away. It would be a natural instinct to protect Aurelia and ensure her safety."

Then, things began to click in Shinichi's head, his mouth is agape. "Primrose knows who the man in the clown costume is, doesn't she?"He looked at Ranran. "If 'The Clown' is a stranger – someone she didn't know – one would simply make a huge fuss. She'd have screamed or something. And she simply could've thrown away the drink and jumped into the pool to protect Aurelia to protect her from the killer, and he wouldn't have been able to reach her without jumping in. So far....Ran, Junko and Takuma had no mention of hearing the splashing sound when they were not far from the pool! Which means she must have gone over to the side to talk to him. Right?!"

Ranran cast him a knowing look.

"So, supposedly that she knew who the man dressed as a clown is, that meant she is the one who let him into the mansion to kill Peggy, right?" Shinichi figures, "It would make sense now, considering she is also Peggy's temp secretary who work with her for several months, she knows the inside out of the mansion enough to orchestrate the murder."

But then he had a moment of confusion while constructing his theory, "But then the motive about not letting Peggy stand in the way of her love between herself and Felix...wouldn't really make sense. Cause if that is the motive, then Primrose would actually have no motive to kill Aurelia. Since Aurelia is Felix's half-sister. And she has no influence in stopping their budding romance."

"And the one question that still remains unanswered, how the heck was the man able to get into the mansion with police officers left and right?" Ranran groaned, "I feel like I am forgetting something, there is something connected to this case. The inflatable crocodile, the toilet bowl....what am I missing?"

The more Ranran tried to remember and put her finger on it, the more it slipped through my grasp. Angry and frustrated, Ranran pounded the table lightly, frustrated by the elusive missing piece of the puzzle. She knew there was a connection between the inflatable crocodile and the toilet bowl, but the exact link eluded her.

The apprentice observed her distress and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Take a deep breath, Ranran. We've come this far, and we won't give up now. Let's think about the crocodile and the toilet bowl separately. Perhaps that will help us see the bigger picture."

Ranran nodded silently.

.............................................................. 

Soon, the 7 members of Tantei Association gathered around the table while Primrose unwrapped paper packages of the takeaway food. "I ordered fish and chips, it's something I used to have back in the U.k," she explained.

As she unwrapped the paper packages, memories flooded back for Ranran, who knew all too well about Primrose's fondness for this particular dish.

In their school days at Edgewood Academy, before Primrose pursued a career in modelling, fish and chips had been a staple during recess. However, once Primrose entered the modelling world, she had to limit her consumption to avoid gaining weight, relegating the dish to a monthly indulgence.

"I found an English couple a few blocks away who make authentic fish and chips. It's comfort food," Primrose explained, placing the food onto plates. "I thought we could all use a taste of home."

"Indakakimasu," Ohta Bunko said with false cheeriness, sitting down to eat. 

And it seems like Primrose wasn't the only British to enjoy this fish and chips. The 6 other children witness Ranran's judgemental expectations, as she took her first bite of the fish and chips. Her face lit up with a mix of nostalgia and appreciation. "Yup, this is the real deal."

"How do you know that?" Takuma frowned, "I fish all the time in the morning, then cook them with some fries I would buy at the department store, then presto! Fish and Chips!"

"There's a certain charm to the way the English make their fish and chips," Ranran chuckled and took another bite, savouring the familiar taste. "When I was in the U.K., their fries are big and fat, unlike the skinny little type you all would eat in those fast food restaurants."

As Ranran relished the nostalgic flavours of the fish and chips, she couldn't help but reminisce about her time in the U.K. She remembered the bustling streets of London, the aroma of freshly fried fish wafting from quaint shops, and the satisfying crunch as she bit into the golden-brown batter.

"Exactly, proper big, fat chips! Not like those skinny little fries those Americans seem to prefer." In response in British English, Primrose picked one up and looked at it in admiration, before taking an appreciative bite. "Big, fat chips," she echoed. "You're right. That's the way to do it!"

Ranran's world came to a sudden halt. In shock, she dropped her utensils, which clattered to the floor. Primrose, concerned, asked, "Are you okay?"

"Say that again!" Ranran demanded, her voice trembling.

"Are you okay?" Primrose repeated in English, perplexing the others at the table.

"No, not that! What you said earlier... about the fries," Ranran pressed.

"Er... big fat chips?" Primrose ventured, unsure.

"No, the other thing! Before that," Ranran implored urgently.

"Mmm..." Primrose took another chip, thinking. "That's the way to do it?"

Ranran's hand slammed down on the table, causing salt and pepper shakers to jump in the air. She stared at Primrose, her eyes wide with realization.

Shinichi leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Ranran. "What is it?" he asked, sensing the weight of the moment. "What does it mean?"

As memories crashed over Ranran like a powerful wave, she paused, searching for the right words to convey her realization. The puzzle pieces were starting to fall into place, and a crucial connection had been made. The truth was within reach, and the Tantei Association was on the verge of uncovering a profound revelation.