Officer Momoi's gaze fell first on Mizumachi Tomoaki, this old hand at the winery.
For no other reason than that the man was utterly flustered, his terrified look completely different from everyone else's—he looked exactly like a culprit who had just killed someone and then been caught by the police.
When Officer Momoi questioned him, Mizumachi Tomoaki came back to himself a few beats too late and stammered, "During that time, I was working in the warehouse on the south side."
"With whom?"
"...Just me."
Officer Momoi went, "Oh?" and said, "In other words, you did not have any alibi?"
"Wait!" Mizumachi Tomoaki understood his implication and hurriedly defended himself. "I know you might not believe me, but I really wasn't the culprit—it was actually Yurika!"
He pointed at the landlady beside him, who was covering her face and sobbing. "Yurika asked me to tie Kengo up in the warehouse so she could sign the contract successfully! I did tie him up, but I didn't kill him, and I definitely didn't put a rope around his neck! Yurika, Yurika, say something!"
The landlady granted his request at once and said, "That is complete nonsense. I never told you to do anything like that!"
Mizumachi Tomoaki froze. "You..."
"Hmm..." Officer Momoi shared the characteristic of most police officers: everyone looked suspicious to him. Although he still suspected Mizumachi Tomoaki more, since Mizumachi Tomoaki had dragged another person into it, he naturally had to ask.
So he turned to the winery's landlady, who was crying beautifully. "Mrs. Suwa, from one o'clock to two-thirty this afternoon, where were you, and what were you doing?"
"During that time, I was with her the whole time." Mrs. Suwa raised her hand and pointed at President Yamazaki. After speaking, she suddenly thought of something and pointed