- Doing OK? - Yes.
Tell me! Who's behind this?!
Here, how's this?
Looks good.
It's perfect.
It was so nice of you to help.
You actually made most of it...
- I'm glad I could help. - You did.
Oh, my friend is coming later today to see Sherlock for advice.
- Would you tell her? - Sure.
Thanks again!
Here comes breakfast!
Nope.
Just make me a coffee.
I made this breakfast as thanks for letting me stay here.
I don't want it.
I cooked the rice in a pot.
I even went to the fish market at 5 am,
yet you still don't want it?
- Read this. - What is it?
Rules for living here.
"Don't make breakfast."
"Make coffee with water heated to 82 degrees Celsius."
Hey, hey! There are too many rules!
You're free to leave.
Sherlock, my friend is early. May she see you now?
Oops. I forgot.
Someone's coming.
Um...you're still eating?
It's two portions.
Excuse me.
What an unusual room.
- You must be Sherlock. - Correct.
I wasn't expecting you to be so cute.
- Her personality sucks. - Have a seat.
Are you familiar with Saneatsu Kishida?
An early 1900s Western-style painter.
Correct.
A later painting of his.
"Sachiko"
It was a Silver Anniversary gift from my husband from 20 years ago.
Mr. Maibara was an antiques dealer.
He found it while cleaning out a client's warehouse.
What a wonderful anniversary gift!
Far from it.
It was the first and final present he ever gave me.
Because it was so unlike him, he died soon after.
Still, I've treasured it for the last 20 years.
I've turned down all requests to borrow it.
Then the Gables Museum of Arts director came.
He begged to borrow it for a special exhibition.
You agreed for the first time?
Yes.
But then...
Two days ago...
A man went right before closing time.
Somebody, help!
Stop!
Stop now!
Whoa! Are you OK?
Call an ambulance!
Hey, stay with me! Hey!
Did he die?
He's at the hospital, unconscious...
Who is this culprit?
I don't even know his name.
No driver's license, wallet, or cell phone.
Why did he deface the painting?
The police have no idea.
But you might be able to find out.
One thing's for sure.
He was just following orders from the real culprit.
What?
The Mystery of Sachiko's Mustache
Picasso, Delacroix, Mark Rothko--there's cases of these historic paintings being vandalized also.
Usually by frustrated would-be artists.
Hoping to gain notoriety in the art world by vandalizing with their own signature or message.
But our guy didn't have any form of identification.
So his identity wouldn't be revealed even when caught.
He wanted to remain anonymous.
So, the true culprit is still out there.
I see.
Mrs. Maibara, please accept my apologies.
You'll be compensated...
Just stop.
The real issue is the lack of security.
If you had more guards this wouldn't have happened.
What else can I say...
This way.
Follow me.
Thoughts?
Impressive mustache.
Notice anything strange recently?
I don't know if it's strange.
A man came to see me three days ago.
He wanted to buy the painting.
Gallery Gelder. Keisuke Yanagisawa.
I'll pay any price you name.
Please consider my offer.
I beg you!
He'd pay the asking price?!
Then what happened?
I turned him down, of course.
This painting belongs with me.
So it was defaced with a mustache the next day.
May I come in?
Mrs. Maibara, this is Mr. Kuwabata, the art restorer.
It means a lot to me.
Please restore it.
I assure you he'll do an excellent job.
- I'll do my absolute best. Let's go. - OK.
His condition remains unchanged.
I wonder why he did it.
Did he target "Sachiko" or was it just bad luck?
No personal belongings. Any accessories?
Accessories? Not that I'm aware of.
"5-3"?
It was faint, but 5-3 was on the back of his hand.
I didn't notice a thing.
Of course not. You look but don't observe.
It's probably not relevant.
5-3 is the painting's location.
"Room 5"
"Kishida"
He wrote a memo to be sure.
He was ordered to deface "Sachiko"
by the real culprit.
It was targeted!
Let's meet the gallery owner.
He might know something.
Sorry, I have to go to counseling.
The medical corps recommends it to volunteers.
What a waste of time.
That can't fix your problems.
Hey, hey, hey!
That's mine! There's so much here, eat your own!
How many did you even order? No! I wanted that!
Here you are.
I've been waiting.
I heard about that.
So the owner was drowning in debt.
I don't know the details.
Something about the drop in the art market's value.
Everyone was talking about it.
Inspector Reimon, the owner committed suicide over his debt.
Let's head back for now.
OK.
Thank you.
Why are you here?
That's my line.
Did something happen?
The owner was found dead last night.
Keisuke Yanagisawa?
How come you know?
The body was found there. I'll send you photos.
Shibata, fill her in.
A man who was on the phone in front of this entrance witnessed the body falling to the ground.
That was last night at 10:32 pm.
The witness stayed here at this entrance until police arrived.
He didn't see anyone leave.
They searched the area, parking lot to roof.
Nothing suspicious.
Got it.
Are you even listening?
The door was locked. Keys were on the desk.
The window was open.
Traces of sleeping pills were in his system.
A staff member said Yanagisawa had a huge debt.
Couldn't sleep without pills due to nerves.
He committed suicide by jumping out the window.
This isn't a case for our homicide division.
Let's go back to the station.
The keys to the room.
How can you be sure?
Anyone can tell. The other key is for his BMW.
The room has a PR cylinder lock.
This key fits a U9.
Similar, but different.
Try it.
What?!
Wrong key.
Someone left a dummy key here and locked the room from outside.
Yanagisawa may have been forced to take the pills.
Stradivarius
Watch out!
Yanagisawa's office is right below us.
A straight fall down to where he landed.
Yes.
He could have been pushed over from here.
Find something?
Hm...?
Why go to the trouble of taking him up to the roof?
Plus, there was no one up on the roof at the time.
Inspector, I need to ask you a favor.
Yes?
Have you heard about the defaced painting?
The culprit's in the hospital.
He had a pierced ear.
But there was no earring.
It's possible it fell off at the crime scene, I want you to find it.
Ridiculous! Why should he...
I'm certain the two cases are connected.
I see. Shibata, go check out the scene.
Me?
I'll call in for support.
What will you do?
I'm going for a physical.
A physical?
Health is important for work.
You be sure to go for a checkup, too.
Yes, sir.
Anything else?
Find out what Yanagisawa was working on recently.
Right. Shibata, I'll leave that to you.
Are you sleeping well?
I had trouble sleeping after returning.
I'd wake up in the night, but I'm OK now.
That's normal. Many people suffer from insomnia.
Especially after returning from conflict zones.
You're probably finding it easier to relax now.
Actually, my everyday life is pretty stressful.
We all suffer from stress.
For example, when I see the age spots on my face.
Concealer isn't enough.
Can't see a thing!
Is sharing your problems embarrassing?
As if you're revealing your innermost thoughts?
That's right.
Your thoughts are safe with me.
Any topic is fine.
For example, what you did yesterday.
Or what's on your mind.
Don't take counseling too seriously.
Feel free to say whatever you want.
Okay.
He's dead?
Yup. Murder disguised as suicide.
Murder...
He had no interest in the art world or artwork.
He was more of a broker who just resold art for the highest prices possible.
He'd do anything to get what he wanted. So?
What?
He made a lot of enemies.
Obvious, right?
Takakura Resort Development.
Locals were complaining about it.
The president hired Yanagisawa to buy "Sachiko" from Mrs. Maibara.
I heard about Yanagisawa from the police.
Suicide. I can't believe it.
Why did you want to buy "Sachiko"?
What do you mean?
For an investment?
I don't play the money game with art.
It's all about whether the art speaks to me or not.
When I saw it for the first time,
I started shaking.
That's why you hired Yanagisawa?
Yes, he immediately found out Mrs. Maibara was the owner.
But she refused to sell it.
You're well informed.
There was nothing I could do.
I'm surprised.
As a prominent art collector in Japan, why give up so easily?
Art should be owned by someone who appreciates it.
Mrs. Maibara loves the painting more than I do.
How charming!
You must love it very much.
Thank you.
It's from the 18th century. Made over 300 years ago.
300 years ago?!
How much was it?
That's a secret.
Where were you the night Yanagisawa died?
I was attending my company's anniversary party.
The 200 employees present will vouch for me.
I see...
I'm reading a biography about Saneatsu Kishida.
I know why Mr. Maibara gave "Sachiko" to his wife.
That painting was Saneatsu's last work before he died.
He couldn't sell his paintings and was poor.
But his wife, Sachiko, still supported him.
She inspired the painting.
Isn't it a great story?
You're here?
Saneatsu poured love for his wife into the painting.
Mr. Maibara must have known that!
Naive. I knew it when I met you.
Huh?
Maybe he had an affair and gave it out of guilt.
Or he was telling his wife to be more devoted.
You're so cynical.
Haven't you ever been in love?
Emotions get in the way of logical thinking.
How about you?
Me? Pretty much.
Speak.
You rarely check messages.
You hardly ever make an effort to dress up.
You wear little or no makeup.
This means...
Stop! Don't look!
Stop it! Don't!
Stop! Stop!
Looks like you're becoming friends.
Far from it.
Not one bit.
Mrs. Maibara sent this. Want to try it?
Yes!
Here you are.
Investigation going well?
Pretty much.
Mrs. Maibara hardly ever goes out ever since losing her husband, you know.
Her feet's bad and she's cooped up in a room all day watching TV.
I wish she had more of a social life.
Well, excuse me.
- Good night! - Good night.
I knew it.
This is the key. Manila copal.
What's that?
Fossilized plant resin.
Only one other use beside holding dinosaur DNA.
There's no trace of it left.
It was coated with varnish.
That helped stop the ink.
These paintings are yours?
Yes, all my works.
This place is my studio.
Prepping for a show?
How did you know?
They're from different times, but signed together.
That means only one thing: a one-man exhibit.
I was in talks, but the plan fell through.
You like to work in pastel colors.
Seems they're popular right now.
So you follow trends you don't like.
I have to sell my paintings. I have no choice.
The Gables museum director says you called him right after the incident occurred.
I regularly contact museums.
Manila copal.
It can be melted and used as varnish.
Impressive.
I have some, too. Got it recently.
On the roof of Yanagisawa's office building.
Very well spotted.
Do you know Yanagisawa?
Of course. Everyone did.
Ever visit him?
Several times on business.
Where were you the night he died?
I was here all night.
I went to the store once which security cameras can verify.
I'll find the damn thing.
Get outta here!
Ah, sorry for yelling.
Just, uh, play over there.
OK? Here take this.
Sorry, don't tell your moms, OK?
It was a waste of time.
Both Takakura and Kuwabata have alibis.
Their alibis mean nothing in Yanagisawa's case.
He was killed using a timing device.
Timing device?
Whoever did it visited his office before he fell.
The killer spikes a drink and gets him to drink it.
And then...
Drags Yanagisawa up to the roof.
And puts him on the ledge.
The sleeping pills wear off and he wakes up.
He's in a daze and falls as he tries to stand up.
That happened at 10:32 pm.
Look.
He landed face down, but there's paint on his back.
Because he was lying on his back on the ledge.
I see!
What's that?
It's one of our original designs.
Do you know the man who bought this earring?
It's custom-made, so I'm sure there's a photo.
Can I look?
His name's Kijima.
What does he do?
No steady work. Just odd jobs.
Anything related to art?
He did a stint transporting artwork.
When?
About a year ago, for an art gallery in Ginza.
Ginza! It's connected!
Let's see if I've got this straight.
Kijima worked at Yanagisawa's gallery and
as part of the job he told him to deface "Sachiko."
He got paid to draw the mustache on the painting.
Then, Kuwabata calls the museum.
Part-timer Kijima.
Gallery owner Yanagisawa.
Art restorer Kuwabata. The 3 were in it together.
But why was Yanagisawa killed?
To know why, we must solve the Stradivarius mystery.
Stradivarius?
An Antonio Stradivari book was on Yanagisawa's desk.
He was a famous Italian instrument producer.
He was the world's best cello and violin player.
So Yanagisawa dealt in instruments, too?
Trading instruments is limited to a few specialists.
It's not easy to get into.
He liked classical music?
He's not interested in music based on his room.
Put it here, please.
Not another delivery!
You're going to eat all this?
Of course not.
I couldn't decide so I ordered everything.
Wrong.
Sherlock!
Long time no see!
How are you?
A friend of yours?
She's not my friend.
Definitely not!
He was in the area, so...
How do you know each other?
A Matisse was stolen from a museum 4 years ago.
Sherlock asked me to examine the display painting.
If you hadn't discovered the fake nobody would know?
Fakes are quite common.
One man made over 2,000 fake paintings in London.
But only 30 have been discovered.
Really?
A good forger is highly skilled.
The man arrested was actually an art restorer.
A restorer?
I may have just solved the case!
Hello? Yes.
Yes.
No problem.
It's just like the original.
Yes.
I'm so grateful. You've done a splendid job.
I'm glad it came off.
My regards to Mrs. Maibara.
Of course.
Wait!
Wait a second!
That painting isn't an original Saneatsu.
It's a fake that he forged!
You forged it so you could return the fake to Mrs. Maibara.
And you planned to sell the restored original.
You were offered a good price.
I examined it before. I'm sure you're mistaken...
We asked an appraiser to come with us.
All right. Please remove the painting.
Feel free to examine it.
Please.
Excuse me.
Well?
The painting is real.
Real?
It's an original Saneatsu Kishida.
I've appraised three of his paintings in the past.
There's no way...
This is enough trouble for one day.
I'm sorry, please repack the painting.
Wait!
Let me take a look.
I see.
I should have spotted this sooner.
Please return it to Mrs. Maibara.
It's my fault. Sorry.
I feel so ashamed.
What did you notice?
The size.
"Sachiko" and Takakura's office painting of the dancer
are both exactly the same size.
What's the connection?
It's how it all started.
I don't get it.
Eliminate the impossible,
and you're left with the unlikely truth.
Unlikely?
Well, hello. What brings you two here?
Your late husband dealt in antiques?
Yes.
Please show us his ledgers.
I'm fine. Here.
Mr. Maibara bought "Sachiko" 20 years ago.
We need to see earlier records.
Sothestie's Auction...
Ah, there you are!
Sorry to keep you waiting.
At long last.
What are you doing?
First things first.
You promise you'll support me as an artist?
I'm a man of my word.
Not irresponsible like Yanagisawa.
I believe you.
Now...
That package!
Give it to me.
How dare you barge in like this!
If you refuse, I'll have to force the issue.
It wasn't the painting you switched.
It was the frame.
This is what you really wanted.
Mrs. Maibara's husband bought this 20 years ago.
It was made in Italy back in the 18th century.
And it was crafted by...Antonio Stradivari.
1721 Antonio Stradivari
Stradivari's violins are worth an absolute fortune.
I wonder how much a frame would fetch?
I have no interest in the price of a frame.
Give it to me.
Right! You just wanted the dancer in her original frame.
Stradivari originally made this frame especially
to show the love of the dancer dancing to the violin.
But over 300 years, they were separated.
They had different destinies.
They passed through many hands.
The frame ended up with Mrs. Maibara.
The painting ended up with you.
It was stunning, seeing this frame at the museum.
I never thought I'd see it in Tokyo.
But...
Because she wouldn't sell, you switched frames.
He used your skills to get the frame for Takakura.
Why did you decide to go along with his scheme?
An art dealer is what a struggling artist needs.
A one-man exhibition. Irresistible!
I'd always dreamed of holding my own exhibition.
He found out, and he led me on.
But it was all lies.
He never intended to put on an exhibition for me.
I don't recall saying anything about that.
Cut it out!
What!?
Who do you think you're talking to?
If you had any talent, you'd be famous by now.
But you? You're a nobody!
Why put on a show for you? No one would come!
How dare you...
How...
dare...
you...
And so you killed him.
I punished him.
I'll let you in on a secret.
Takakura won't support you either.
Of course not.
Obviously.
You need to be a better judge of character.
So it was a murder.
I'm glad I didn't rush.
Not a bad call, I guess.
Delighted to help.
Would you return this to Mrs. Maibara, please?
The Stradivari looks like any other frame to me.
Art value is shaped by the values of the viewer.
You like it, it's treasure.
If not, it's trash.
Oh, where's Wato?
Counseling.
I see.
I received a call from Mrs. Maibara earlier.
She wanted to thank you for everything.
Happy to get her painting back.
But she's loaned it out to a museum again!
Again?
Why?
She says she now sees that art should be shared.
And the painting deserves to be given that chance.
I hope it won't be vandalized again.
There's no chance of that.
It's carefully guarded.
Too close.
Really?
Yes! You can see how much she loves the painting.
Don't you think so?
Maybe.
Hello.
Just dropping by for a chat, as you suggested.
I'm so glad you came.
Talk about whatever you like.
Anything I like...
OK. The mystery of Sachiko's mustache.
Mustache?
What?
An intriguing mystery that occurred just recently.
About a mustache.
Sherlock Yuko Takeuchi
Wato Tachibana (Wato-san) Shihori Kanjiya