The orphan left behind

When Shiraishi heard the Special Investigation Department offer terms that were technically "illegal," only for Kiriyama to remain silent, his heart sank.

They had already offered to bargain over a murder case, and Kiriyama still refused to talk!

Clearly, the soft approach was useless. As for playing hardball, Beika Police Station could hardly play harder than the Special Investigation Department.

By then, Shiraishi had more or less given up on getting any leads out of Kiriyama.

At six that evening, the Special Investigation Department investigators emerged from the conference room, defeated.

Having already received Shiraishi's warning, Munakata knew that taking turns wearing Kiriyama down would be a waste of effort. He simply decided not to continue the interrogation.

Seeing that the Special Investigation Department had no intention of staying late, Shiraishi prepared to head home too.

But as soon as he got home, he encountered another party who had come "about the concert murder."

"Hm? Gina's here?" Shiraishi knew as soon as he saw the shoes by the door.

Now that someone was home, Gina did not even need to pick the lock anymore—Mayoi would simply open the door and let the intruder in.

At the same time, Shiraishi noticed an unfamiliar pair of children's shoes beside Gina's.

When he reached the living room, Shiraishi saw that, besides Gina cooking in the kitchen, there was a dejected little girl in the house. Of course, it was not Little Ai, who was sitting nearby, operating her computer with an utterly merciless expression. Who knew what she was looking at? Mayoi was the only one comforting the little girl.

"This is...?" Shiraishi searched his memory and was certain she was not a girl from Teitan Elementary School.

Hearing Shiraishi's voice, the little girl hurried to her feet. She looked visibly frightened