The strangled school idol (2)

Kintaro immediately ran down to the base of the school building as a forensics team member followed. Reiju stared at the tiny white powder in the bag.

"That doesn't look like a lot. How can you tell its drugs and not something else?" Reiju asked.

"Experience. I'm glad there was enough left stuck in her finger nails, if not the culprit might have gotten away," Kaemi explained.

"So you're saying there's enough in her nails to suggest murder?"

"We'll know as soon as those two reach the ground."

Kintaro and the forensics team member reached the base 5 minutes later. They frantically kneeled on the ground and began searching.

"Good thing there was another office standing guard, otherwise our culprit might have sabotaged the scene," Kaemi stated.

"FOUND SOME!" Kintaro shouted.

"And I'm leaning toward murder. We'll need to take her to the lab to make sure, but I think this confirms it's a murder," Kaemi smiled.

"Wait, you're saying you found some cocaine on the ground?" Reiju asked.

"Yeah, considering it was only found in her right fingernails, I'm assuming she managed to slash a bag or stab her hand into one with her nails. However, the culprit couldn't mess with her hand as it could risk exposing the murder, so they let it be and dropped her out the window after strangling her. The cocaine would fall to the ground and they could easily make it disappear by mixing it in with the dirt. More nefarious was the fact that they could have used us to unknowingly erase the evidence. Well now that we know that, better lock down the school. Our culprit is likely still here."

                                                                              ...

Reiju was escorted back to the school building by a forensics team member.

"Hold on, have the forensics guy check everyone's shoes," Shiruka whispered.

"Do you know WHICH shoes?" Reiju whispered back.

"The shoes that have the cocaine in them."

"Huh?"

"Just tell him to check everyone's shoe locker."

"HEY! Um, do you think you could check everyone's shoes? There's a chance there might be traces of cocaine on them," Reiju shouted at the forensics officer.

"Hmm, not a bad thought, though I'm not sure. Did you notice anyone directly walking under where the body was hanging?

Reiju thought back to what happened.

"My class was the first group to arrive. None of us walked directly under the body. As more and more students came, the teachers and disciplinary committee members began pushing us back. I don't think the detectives or the officers that arrived first ever walked directly under the body."

"Still not enough to go off of. Like Miyanishi-san said, it's possible someone accidentally spread to cocaine amongst the dirt."

"Just narrow it down to the teachers and disciplinary committee members. I saw three teachers and 4 members of the committee at the front."

"*Sigh* I'll tell Miyanashi-san and see what she thinks."

As Reiju headed back, she bumped into the female detective Nakayama.

"And what were you doing out in the halls young lady?" Nakayama glared.

"Public service. Heck, you should be thanking me for helping you guys out," Reiju smirked as she tried to get past Nakayama.

"I've heard the details. Regrettably this looks to be a murder case with narcotics involved. Though I will not thank you. We now have more work thanks to you. I also think you are the most suspicious amongst the students."

"And why would I help you out so much if I did it? Besides, me, my classmates, and teacher were all in the classroom when she was murdered. Don't let your grudge allow the murderer to get away."

"Reiju Ginkawa. You hail from the wealthy Ginkawa family and have a history of delinquent behavior."

"But no criminal record. Besides I'm an honors student."

"Yet you act like a degenerate instead of making yourself a productive woman. Not every woman was gifted your academic intellect."

"Don't care about your life story. Now move bitch, I gotta get to class like a good girl."

"I'm sure you know that due to the actions of the scum assigned to be my partner, you will not be permitted to leave until the investigation concludes. Also do NOT give me attitude. Women like you that foolishly waste their talents are what I despise the most."

"And if I solve the case, then you'd be the foolish woman?"

"You think we'd allow a student and potential suspect to taint our investigation?"

"Already have," Reiju smirked as she flipped off Nakayama and walked away.

                                                                                     ...

In class, Shiruka passed a new note to Reiju.

"I was able to see a clearer version of the original vision.. Apparently, the murderer was retrieving a stash of drugs and was caught by Miyabi. They strangled her with some nearby rope, but failed to prevent her from stabbing her hand into an open bag of cocaine. She then died, and the culprit quickly tried to make the scene look like a suicide. They ran down out of the building, carefully waited until everyone was focused on the body, then joined in the crowd of students."

"So you're saying it could be anyone then? Plus there's no way I can tell this to the police. It'd sound like I'm the culprit!" Reiju whispered to Shiruka.

"Hoh? You WANT to solve the case?" Shiruka smirked.

"Ugh, It's sunk cost fallacy!"

"Alright, then allow me to use my perks as a ghost to investigate. I'll check everyone's shoes without anyone noticing."

"That sounds so wrong. Ugh, just don't give me anymore trouble you foot fetish ghost."

Shiruka floated down to the shoe locker.

"Doesn't look like anyone's looked around. Huh!?"

Shiruka stared in shock and adjusted his glasses as he stared at the figure before him. They looked just like culprits were depicted in mystery novels when the author didn't want you to know who they were.

"Why can't I see who the culprit is!? Ugh, is this one of the downsides to my visions?"

"Yes, you are unable to see who the culprit is until you solve the mystery, though you'll be able to see more of the crime visions as you find more clues," I said telepathically to Shiruka.

"Muramasa Jouzu? You're still here?"

"I'm Omnipotent. Now watch the culprit. Just cause you can't tell who they are doesn't mean you can't see what they do or make use of your tools to catch them in the act. You can't interact with them directly though, but should you make use of something in your pocket, you could send it to Reiju to use as evidence once the culprit is unmasked."

"In my pocket? _!? Well, I guess I'll see if this works."