Out of all members of the Organization that Shinichi hated, Kirsch was probably the least, but some days it was hard to remember that. Because Kirsch was his age, had a very clear understanding of right and wrong, knew that taking a life was inexcusable, and yet he still killed.
Unlike the rest of the Black Org, Kirsch left him little calling cards to let Shinichi know he was the one who killed. That Kirsch was the killer.
The rose cocktail taunted Shinichi from across the room, right next to the overly decadent Black Forest chocolate cake the victim had eaten, the cherries and chocolate and the slightly bitter cocktail masking the cyanide the man would have eaten. It wasn't the most common way Kirsch killed, but it was always the way he went about things when he wanted Shinichi to know he was close by and wanted to set up a meeting.
Shinichi looked away from the body to Mouri, where the man was still standing with Megure. No one still in the building was the murderer, but it was very clearly poison and both men were frustrated that once again they'd have no lead.
Shinichi knew there wasn't anything else they could do here, but it was so frustrating to be in the position where he knew exactly who and how, but he would never understand why.
"There's no point, Megure-keibu." Mouri sighed, waving a hand at the room around them. "You know they're already long gone."
"I know," Megure agreed, casting one last look at the room and nodding. "You're all free to leave."
Shinichi hopped to his feet immediately, dodging Ran's hands and running out of the door as soon as possible.
"Conan! It's not safe!"
It wasn't safe for likely anyone else, but Shinichi wasn't likely to be Kirsch's next victim.
In fact, Kirsch was waiting for him, only two cafes down, eating a piece of Black Forest cake.
"Why?" he asked, shoulders shaking a little with his anger.
"Because he was corrupt. Because he had a wife and children that he abused. Because he had a mistress and her children that he abused. Because he was petty and small and because I could." Kirsch smiled at him, licking icing off his fork and placing it down on his plate. It wasn't his real face, the face that mimicked Shinichi's, but Shinichi wasn't fooled. "Aren't you being awfully judgmental?"
"That's bullshit!" Shinichi kept his voice as quiet as he could; he didn't need to invite more trouble.
"And I should have left him for justice to be served, I guess? For the men he bought off to let him take nothing but a smack on the wrist and continue on his way. Justice serves the rich, you understand that as well as I do."
"Only if we keep letting it! We can change things. There was no reason to kill a man. No one comes back from that and no one learns anything but pain."
"Then let it be his pain. His families certainly won't miss him. If anything, I bet they'll cry tears of relief." Kirsch paused, taking a sip of tea. "His youngest is eight."
"If you're not even going to pretend to be sorry, why bother calling me out here?"
Kirsch waved a hand at the opposite chair and Shinichi waited a pointedly long time before he took it.
"I needed to pass something along to you." Kirsch slid a hand across the table, lifting it once to show it was empty. "Can you guess from who?"
"Vermouth." Shinichi kept his eyes on Kirsch, not bothering to watch the hand.
Kirsch frowned, lifting his hand with a twirl and revealing a thumb drive.
"I don't understand why she bothers. You never appreciate the help."
"Maybe if you hadn't just killed someone every time we've met, things wouldn't be so tense."
"I'm a killer. You know this. Why try to hide what you see through?" Kirsch shrugged, rest his elbow on the table and then his chin in his palm. "I don't get why you're always so ready to judge me."
Because you're like me. Because you could be more. Because you're what happens when you twist someone so good with so many tragedies. Because you're what happens if I decide to hate them.
"Because I'm morally obligated to."
"I'll let you in on a secret, tantei-kun, since you're morally obligated to the righteous path." Kirsch leaned forward. "I left something on there, too. If you could bring me justice, maybe I will let you make me toothless, too."
Shinichi locked down his expression, not wanting to show surprise or disgust.
"I'm going to stop your whole organization. Every single one of you will get your justice."
"Good." Kirsch hid a smile behind his teacup.
