Cause of Death Unknown

Shiraishi nodded. Yamada was still a little dazed. "Wait, if she wasn't the killer, then who was?"

"I think it was probably the woman you saw upstairs. For some reason, she exchanged clothes with Mrs. Machiya, which was why that husband said he remembered Mrs. Machiya not wearing a white dress before she left." Shiraishi followed that line of reasoning.

Amaki thought for a moment before speaking. "In other words, the culprit may be among the people who knew both Mrs. Sofue and Mrs. Machiya."

"Then that person also killed Mrs. Machiya?" Yamada said in realization.

"We'll have to determine Mrs. Machiya's cause of death before we can judge that." After saying so, Shiraishi turned to Inspector Mori. "How is UDI doing?"

"We've contacted Mrs. Machiya's husband, and he has signed his consent for a formal autopsy," Inspector Mori said.

Although criminal cases allowed for compulsory autopsies, it was still preferable to have the family's consent for a formal autopsy involving dissection.

Otherwise, if they opened the body up and discovered it had been a sudden natural death, things would become troublesome.

This victim's family had no such concerns. On one hand, he was equally eager to know his wife's cause of death. On the other, with his wife about to be suspected of murder, he wanted even more to prove that she had not done it.

"Mm... I'll head over there afterward and take a look as well. Amaki, Yamada, follow Inspector Mori's command. Kobe will remain at the Investigation Headquarters and handle communications." After speaking, Shiraishi looked at Inspector Mori.

"Not at all. We'll need the input of two experienced detectives," Inspector Mori said modestly after hearing that.

After arranging the investigation work, Shiraishi took his leave of Chief Musashi and personally headed to the UDI laboratory.

Director