While a capable subordinate was helping expand her organization's operations.
Not far from her, the case continued.
The silence lasted for a long time. Under everyone's differing gazes, Doctor Sawaki looked at Jiang Xia and said calmly:
"What you've said sounds a bit more reasonable than that female high school student's earlier speculation, but forgive me for saying so, there's still no evidence.
"I did drive into the construction site, but that was because I got distracted while heading home and took a wrong turn.
"As for the two similar rooms, that's simply because my taste is very consistent. Besides, decorating them this way lets me feel at home at any time, even while I'm at work.
"Perhaps my alibi isn't entirely complete under these circumstances, but that doesn't mean you can conclude that I'm the murderer who killed President Nakamoto."
Officer Takagi felt a headache coming on: the most troublesome situation had appeared! The suspect was riddled with holes and practically screamed guilty, yet there was no sufficiently clear evidence. At this rate, the case would probably drag on again...
"There is evidence, actually." Jiang Xia's voice interrupted his wandering thoughts.
Officer Takagi's eyes lit up.
Doctor Sawaki froze, then thought back carefully. "If you mean the child's fingerprints and hair left on the sofa..."
"Just now, you successfully returned to your own apartment as an ordinary passerby," Jiang Xia said. "You should have erased the traces Ayumi left on the sofa."
Doctor Sawaki said, "Then you..."
Jiang Xia continued, "The evidence I'm referring to isn't that. It's something else—did you place a deck of playing cards on the coffee table in both your room and your clinic?"
"?!" Doctor Sawaki's pupils contracted slightly, and her heart rose into her throat. She didn't know what had happened to that