Case Closed: The Fourteenth Target (1998) Plot Summary & Timeline

Rachel experiences a vivid nightmare in which her mother, Eva, is shot, prompting her to call Eva to discuss her unsettling dreams. After their phone conversation, Eva begins to secretly question whether her daughter is starting to recall a traumatic event that left a scar on her upper thigh. Meanwhile, across town, Hirotaka Suzuoki as Minoru Nishina, known as J.T. Morono in the story, has been released from prison and plans to visit Richard, indicating that past actions may resurface in unexpected ways.

At the same time, Dr. Agasa takes the Junior Detective League to a local museum, where they spot Emilio Cantour, a renowned photographer, actively taking pictures. The children quiz each other with Mitch asking questions, but it’s Minami Takayama as Conan Edogawa who correctly guesses the answers, showcasing his keen detective skills. Later, at the Moore agency, Morono leaves without being acknowledged, hinting at unresolved tensions.

Rachel and Serena attend a book signing for the essayist Mason Norfolk. Afterwards, they enjoy coffee together, during which Rachel confesses to Serena about her parents’ fight that resulted in their separation, revealing the emotional scars she carries. Back at the agency, Richard prepares for dinner with Eva, while Conan notices a TV interview featuring Christopher Aston, the wealthy owner of AquaCrystal, a luxurious entertainment complex built in the bay—the kind of place that often symbolizes elegance and mystery in the story.

When Richard and Eva meet at a restaurant, Richard unexpectedly encounters two familiar faces: Kenichi Ogata as Hiroshi Agasa and others, including old friends Henry Tish, a professional golfer currently ranked 10th in the world and training for the US Open, and Kevin Simms, a sophisticated sommelier. The evening seems flawless until Richard notices Peter Ford, a charismatic newscaster played by Andy Holyfield, flirting with his friend Tammy Diez. Jealous and uneasy, Richard’s mood shifts, prompting Eva to leave the table abruptly.

About a week later, a series of mysterious attacks begin. Inspector Megure, Eva, and Dr. Agasa are each targeted, with the assailant leaving behind symbolic objects: a western-style cardboard sword, a flower, and an ornament at their crime scenes. Conan quickly deduces that these items are references to playing cards—specifically the King, Queen, and Jack of the spade suit, which is traditionally associated with death. The pattern hints that the attacker appears to be targeting individuals linked through a sequence of cards and shared connections with Richard, raising suspicions about J.T. Morono, the shady card dealer Richard once arrested ten years earlier.

During a car ride, Conan uncovers the tragic backstory of the incident involving Morono, Eva, and Richard. Morono, after questioning, overpowered his escort, snatched his gun, and tried to escape. Eva, who was holding young Rachel and Richard, was taken hostage. Richard, then a police officer, drew his weapon in a tense stand-off, which ended with him shooting Eva in the thigh. Morono was shot in the left shoulder, and Richard, overwhelmed by guilt, resigned from the police to avoid investigation and shame. This revelation leaves Rachel devastated and distant from Richard.

As they revisit their case, Conan notes that Henry Tish, ranked 10th in the world, is a potential target. During a helicopter flight meant for Henry, Conan detects that Henry’s eyes have been chemically manipulated. Reacting swiftly, Conan crash-lands the helicopter on the playground of Teitan Elementary, narrowly escaping an explosion, which leaves a playing card with the number 10 on the scene. Henry is forced to withdraw from the US Open due to the incident.

The team then investigates Kevin Simms at his home. Kevin, identified as Number 8 on the list of targets, explains that he plans to meet Christopher Aston at the AquaCrystal resort for business. Later, at the resort, the team encounters people including Nina Oliver, Emilio Cantour, and Peter Ford, though Christopher himself is missing. Their investigation takes them onto a monorail and inside the resort’s elegant facilities, where they learn that Santos, the younger of three siblings, has his birthday three years apart from his brothers, adding more layers of family secrets.

At a dining event, Mason Norfolk and Nina Oliver get into a heated argument, leading to a challenge for a blind taste test. Mason is embarrassingly wrong, while Kevin correctly identifies a wine, exposing his true expertise. This hints that Kevin, despite being suspected, might not be the culprit. Later, they explore Christopher Aston’s wine cellar, where Kevin accidentally triggers a trap with a crossbow, with a card featuring the number 8 found nearby. As they decide to leave, they discover Christopher’s body in the fish tank—strangely attached to a card labeled with the number 9, deepening the mystery.

Soon after, Nina is murdered in a terrifying attack. She had earlier nearly hit someone on a motorcycle but sped away, an act that looks suspicious now. With emergency exits blocked with cement, the murderer, using a glow-in-the-dark nail, stabs Nina to death. Her body is recovered along with the 7 of spades and the joker card, solidifying the deadly pattern.

Conan’s investigation reveals that Nina’s nail was broken, and the wine cork she painted earlier is missing from her belongings. A palm print left on her back shows that the killer is right-handed, which rules out Morono, who is left-handed. Moreover, Conan finds a bloodstained pair of slacks and suspects the murderer is someone close and familiar because of the evidence.

Suddenly, more bombs explode, causing AquaCrystal to sink into the sea. The team manages to swim ashore, but Rachel is trapped inside the collapsing structure. Conan and Richard save her just in time. Mason Norfolk is left unconscious, and Kevin volunteers to perform CPR, but Conan, speaking through Richard, insists Santos do it—highlighting the seriousness of the situation. As chaos unfolds, Conan pieces together that the murderer had a prior connection with Morono, exploiting past events. The evidence suggests the killer is right-handed; therefore, J.T. Morono cannot be the culprit, as he is left-handed.

The true killer is finally revealed: Kevin Simms, who was secretly the 8th victim but had orchestrated the entire series. His victims, including Christopher Aston, Mason Norfolk, Nina Oliver, and Henry Tish, were pawns in his elaborate plan driven by his ageusia—a rare taste disorder—caused by trauma or stress. Kevin’s expertise as a sommelier enabled him to identify wines without tasting, which led him to successfully bluff during the blind taste test. The missing wine cork was planted in Nina’s pocket, having been slipped there during her attempt to confront him.

Kevin confesses to his motives: Nina’s accident had robbed him of his ability to taste, and Christopher’s careless storage of expensive wines enraged him. His grudge against Mason Norfolk mainly stemmed from Mason’s ignorance about fine wines. Additionally, Kevin’s plan was fueled by a desire for revenge against Henry Tish, who had publicly mocked him after inviting him to a party. Kevin’s vendetta escalated after meeting Morono, who wanted to apologize for a past incident that Kevin believed had wronged him. Kevin previously murdered Morono, and his ultimate goal was to drown Mason in a sunken restaurant setting.

The killer then detonates bombs within AquaCrystal, causing it to sink into the sea, while taking Rachel hostage at the top of the complex. The investigation team pursues him, and Conan, along with Richard, confront Kevin on the rooftop as the building begins to collapse. Kevin demands Conan hand over a weapon, but Conan realizes the truth behind Richard’s past shooting incident involving Eva. Conan manages to shoot Kevin, grazing Rachel in the process but stopping him from escaping with her. Richard then swiftly throws Kevin to the ground with a powerful judo move, but Kevin slips over the ledge, attempting to die in the sea.

Richard heroically saves him, ensuring Kevin faces justice in federal custody for his heinous crimes. They rescue Rachel, who finally understands Richard’s actions during her mother’s hostage situation—that the bullet was intended for Eva, and Richard’s quick thinking ultimately saved her. As AquaCrystal disintegrates into the ocean, the others are rescued by the coast guard. Kevin is arrested and taken into custody.

In a reflective moment after the credits, Eva reveals the real reason she left Richard: after her hostage ordeal, she prepared dinner to thank him, but Richard insulted her cooking, which deeply hurt her and led to their separation. This moment underscores the emotional stakes and the tragic history behind their separation. Conan and Rachel agree that Eva’s cooking wasn’t the best, bringing a bittersweet ending to the story.