Mrs., You Don't Want Anyone to Know Either...

August 26, Saturday, morning.

Shiraishi drove Ayako to Nishitokyo Musashino City, to Kameya, a century-old shop selling traditional pastries.

Little Ai had not come today. Not only was she uninterested in the case, but although they were ostensibly here to eat sweets, there was actually a murder involved this time, so Ayako had not wanted to bring Little Ai out as she usually did.

Before coming to Kameya, Shiraishi had first picked Misumi up downstairs from her building. Misumi had interacted with the victim's family before, and having her there would make contacting them easier.

Ayako sat in the passenger seat, while Misumi sat in the back.

Before long, Shiraishi arrived at Kameya----

One look at the sign was enough to tell that it really was an old shop. The sweet, fresh aroma of pastries drifted out even before they reached the entrance.

"Welcome----er----come."

The elderly proprietress seemed to freeze for a moment when she saw Shiraishi.

"Hello. May I ask----is Mrs. Mika Kuwashima here?" Seeing this, Misumi took the initiative to greet the old woman.

At that, Shiraishi glanced at the proprietress. She was probably the boss's mother.

As for the boss----the deceased----his wife, Mika Kuwashima, was more familiar with Misumi. Misumi had previously persuaded Mika Kuwashima to agree to an autopsy.

"She is----out delivering an order to a customer."

The old woman wore a kimono and looked stern and solemn, as though she had many rules. She fit the stereotypical image of a wicked mother-in-law perfectly.

"I see----" Misumi looked somewhat awkward now, clearly not good at dealing with the old woman.

"You're the forensic examiner Misumi, aren't you? Yuji----did you discover anything?" the old woman asked.

Misumi became even more embarrassed and could only apologize. "I'm sorry."

The autopsy results were entirely consistent with poisoning from a