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Beika Town, Mouri Detective Agency
The evidence was right there on the table. Conan and the others had no choice but to believe it, even if it sounded insane that Steven, alone and armed with a single weapon, had wiped out more than thirty well-trained bodyguards.
"Since we already know who the killer is," Kogoro Mouri asked, rubbing his chin, "why haven't the police or the FBI issued a wanted notice?"
From escaping detention to orchestrating the massacre at the villa, Steven had committed one serious crime after another. Kogoro couldn't understand why the Japanese police had suddenly withdrawn the warrant.
"Steven's status is… complicated," someone explained. "He's a major criminal wanted by the U.S. FBI. Even if we caught him, it'd be difficult to put him on trial here."
"And one of the villa's victims, Jo Murakami, the one who was decapitated, had already agreed to enter the FBI's witness protection program to help investigate the Black Organization."
"For Steven to kill Jo Murakami at this point, it's either revenge… or he's a member of the Black Organization himself."
Yusaku Kudo turned his gaze toward Conan.
No matter Steven's motive, there was a high chance he'd end up on an assassination list.
After all, that wrongful rape-murder case had largely been engineered by Conan himself.
"Revenge?" Conan snapped. "He's just a criminal. What right does he have to take revenge on anyone?"
His words were tough, but a flicker of fear rose in his heart.
The Black Organization was already his nightmare. Now there was Steven too, someone who appeared and vanished without a trace. Dealing with all of it at once felt almost impossible.
"Kid," Yusaku said calmly, "there's no such thing as an unforgivable criminal. There are only interests. Some people are more valuable living under an assumed name than rotting in prison."
His expression darkened as worry crept in for Conan's safety.
If someone even the Japanese police and the FBI couldn't handle decided to launch a campaign of revenge, it could spell disaster for the entire country.
"Mr. Kudo," Kogoro said, frowning, "it sounds like you're not exactly in favor of arresting Steven."
A former cop, Kogoro had always seen the world in black and white.
Criminals deserved to be judged in court.
The FBI's witness protection program might help solve cases, but it also let some criminals walk free under government protection. In his eyes, it was a warped policy that never should have existed.
"The fact that Steven escaped from a heavily guarded detention center and kept committing major crimes without being caught proves he's exceptional," Yusaku said.
"If we let him fall in with the Black Organization, it'll bring catastrophe to Japan. But if we can persuade him to switch sides and help Public Security deal with them, he'd be deadlier than the so-called Silver Bullet."
Yusaku's rush to Tokyo and his visit to Kogoro were mostly a smokescreen.
What he really wanted was to warn Conan to be careful, and to try convincing Steven to enter witness protection. Whether he worked with Japanese Public Security or the FBI didn't matter.
As long as Steven became "one of their own," he wouldn't be a threat to Conan.
"Have Japanese Public Security and the FBI agreed to this plan?" Kogoro asked.
He couldn't help wondering just how dangerous the Black Organization was, if it forced both sides to consider using a heinous criminal as an undercover agent.
"Not yet," Yusaku admitted. "To be precise, I haven't discussed it with either of them."
"I want to test Steven's attitude first. Once I explain things to Public Security and the FBI, I believe they'll agree after weighing the pros and cons."
As one of the greatest minds in this world, and the most popular mystery novelist on the planet, Yusaku had that confidence.
"Do you know where Steven is hiding?" Yukiko asked curiously.
If they couldn't even find him, the plan was nothing but wishful thinking.
"I don't. Neither do the police or the FBI. But there's someone who should."
"Have you forgotten who took Steven to Okinawa in the first place?"
Yusaku deliberately left it hanging.
As for Steven's whereabouts, he was only guessing.
But once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how unbelievable, must be the truth.
Yusaku trusted his judgment. That person definitely knew where Steven was.
"You mean Chris?" Yukiko blurted out. "That's impossible. She didn't know who Steven really was."
She firmly rejected the idea, convinced Chris had simply been deceived.
"You once mentioned that Vineyard taught all her disguise techniques to Chris," Yusaku said. "Yet Steven appeared in Okinawa without attracting police attention. There had to be something fishy."
"Besides, Chris is a big star. She values her safety and privacy. If someone applied to be her assistant, she'd definitely investigate their background before keeping them close."
"You're a star yourself, and a master of disguise. Don't you think none of this adds up?"
From what Yukiko had told him about Vermouth being tricked into hiring Steven as an assistant, Yusaku had already pieced together most of the truth.
Out of respect for their friendship, he hadn't said it outright.
"So you're saying Chris has been helping Steven hide his identity all along? That they're accomplices?"
Boom.
As the words left Yukiko's mouth, it felt like a dull thunderclap went off in Ran Mouri's head.
So everything that day… had been an act?
"Chris might not be Steven's accomplice," Yusaku said quickly, softening his tone. "It's also possible she was being coerced."
He made up a reasonable explanation on the spot, partly to spare his wife's feelings.
Yukiko and Vineyard were from the same school. By seniority, Chris was technically her junior disciple, though in daily life they were more like close girlfriends.
No matter which it was, the truth would hit Yukiko hard.
To be honest, Yusaku still lacked concrete evidence that Chris was part of the Black Organization or Steven's partner. But his instincts had never failed him.
"Chris is all the way in America," Kogoro said after a sip of coffee, leaning back with his hands behind his head. "Can't help you there. If you were asking about Miss Yoko Okino, I'd gladly do whatever I can."
"Actually, Chris is in Tokyo," Yusaku replied. "Mr. Mouri, I was hoping your daughter could come with us to pay her a visit. What do you think?"
Before coming, Yusaku had already asked the police to track down where Chris was staying.
For Vermouth, that identity was just a cover. There was no need to hide it from the authorities.
"Me?" Ran asked, pointing at her own nose before her father could speak.
Just hearing Chris's name made her remember that painful experience.
"Chris saved your life in Okinawa," Yusaku said gently. "Now that she's in Tokyo for a short stay, wouldn't it be polite to visit her?"
He worried that going in unannounced might put Chris on guard.
"…That's true," Ran said quietly. "I should go and thank her."
Not knowing how to refuse, she agreed despite herself.
"I'm coming too!" Conan blurted out.
"Kid, you stay here with Mr. Mouri and watch the office," Yusaku said. "You never know when a client might show up."
He clearly didn't want Conan tagging along, and turned to Yukiko.
"Honey, make a call and set up a time with Chris. See when she's free."
"....."