File 2 – Sudden Murder

"Y-you are Ang?" Shinichi stuttered, dumbfounded.

"Of course, what did you think?" Ang replied, smoothing her hair that barely touched her shoulders. "It's not like a girl can't be the master of cipher. The name's Chirudo Ang. Excuse me." She disappeared through a door, and came out just as quickly in a sparkling dress. "I have a show to put on." She winked as she took out a remote control and pressed the button.

Fireworks burst in the high ceiling of the restaurant, startling everyone. Ran and Sonoko were awed. Kogoro and Nakamori-keibu looked up in surprise. Aoko squealed as Kaito frowned.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN..." A girl stepped out from behind the stage, her hands in the air and a smile on her face. She walked up to Suzuki-san and bowed to the audience. "Thank you for coming. I am Chirudo Ang---or what you call, the Master of Ciphers."

Murmurs and applauses erupted among the audience. Ran and Sonoko were especially surprised. "He is a girl?!" Sonoko exclaimed, sounding a little disappointed.

"Well, it seems more interesting, doesn't it?" Ran said as she clapped her hands as well.

"Yep, it is."

Ran turned to see Shinichi coming up to them. "Shinichi! Where did you go? You missed all the action!"

"Oh, I didn't miss them," Shinichi said coolly. "I was right where the action was." He grinned up at the stage as Ran gave him a confused look.

---

"So, she's the master of ciphers?" Kaito muttered as he sipped his juice, staring intently at Ang, who was at the other side talking to Sonoko's father. "Doesn't look that great to me."

"Nonsense, she looks amazing!" Aoko exclaimed excitedly. "She looks pretty young too, around twenty or even---"

"Yeah, yeah," Kaito said, waving them off. "I'm going to get something to eat." Aoko pouted as he walked towards the buffet table. He started examining the food there.

"Hello." He turned to see Shinichi walking up with a smile on his face. The detective had decided to make his move and find out who the boy who could be his twin was. Kaito straightened up, feeling a little uncomfortable. "I don't think we've met before," Shinichi said, extending his hand. "I'm Kudo Shinichi. Kuroba Kaito, right?"

"Umm, yes." Kaito had hesitated for a moment before shaking Shinichi's hand. "You are the high school detective, aren't you?"

Shinichi nodded. Gosh, it's like talking to a mirror! "Are you sure we haven't met?" he asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.

I really, really don't like this, Kaito thought queasily. "Um, I'm pretty sure," he replied with an awkward laugh. "Do I look familiar to you?" Duh, I look like him.

"In fact, yes," Shinichi said, leaning forward a little. "Like someone I've met various times in the past...but always seem to miss..." Kaito gulped, backing away a little. It was never safe when the detective was around, just like been around Hakuba Saguru---only this Hakuba Saguru was smarter.

"What are you talking about?" Shinichi and Kaito looked up and saw Ang walking to them, a friendly smile on her face. She paused for a moment, and smiled wider as she peered at Shinichi. "Kudo Shinichi...right?"

Shinichi's jaw dropped. "How do you know our names?" he demanded.

"From a close friend of mine," Ang replied, still smiling. She turned to Kaito. "Let's see...Kuroba Kaito. I heard Nakamori-keibu saying your name."

A close friend? What does she mean? Shinichi wondered. "Why are you here?" he asked, shaking the thought out of his head.

"I just like to speak to both of you," Ang replied.

"About...what?" Kaito asked.

"Anything. Ask me a question. I know you want to, especially why I'm here."

"Okay...so, tell us," Shinichi urged. "The master of ciphers doesn't go anywhere without a reason."

Ang nodded. "Ever heard of the 'White Murderer'?" she asked as she walked to the table and picked up a paper cup.

Shinichi creased his brows. "It sounds familiar, but I can't quite place it."

"I know it does for you, Kudo." Ang poured some punch into her cup and sipped it. "The White Murderer is known worldwide as the phantom that kills with no reason. Recently, he's known to steal things too---just like Kaitou Kid." Kaito raised an eyebrow. "No one has ever met him face-to-face---if anyone did, they were probably killed."

Shinichi's eyes widened. "You mean the murderer from the U.S.? That murderer who wears all white and is also known as---"

"A," she finished for him. "Exactly. He's the reason why I'm here."

"Why?" Kaito asked.

"A man asked for my help to solve a cipher by A. I did. It said he would be coming to Tokyo to steal a valuable crystalline."

"You solved the cipher, but that doesn't answer the question as to why you came," Shinichi pointed out.

Ang hesitated. Then she took a slow sip of punch before replying, "I have my reasons." She put down the empty cup on the table. "I'm warning you---be careful. You don't know what A is capable of. Keep that in mind."

A murderer who wears all white? Kaito thought with a frown. Why does that sound familiar?

Then Ang shrugged as if it did not matter anymore. "So, enjoy the dinner!" She smiled, and turned to go.

"Hey, I have a question!" Shinichi called after her. She stopped and turned around. "How old are you exactly?"

Ang smiled. "Two dry trees in the desert---figure that out." She sauntered off, leaving Shinichi and Kaito in confusion.

"She's weird," Kaito murmured.

"Yeah," Shinichi agreed, pondering with his hand on his chin. Two dry trees in the desert...He smiled to himself. He loved a challenge, and the harder it was, the more thrilled he felt.

On the other side of the table, a man was trying to make up his mind as he glanced at the different variety of food in front of him. "They all look so good," he murmured, licking his lips. "I wonder..."

A new plate suddenly appeared in front of him, containing a delicious looking slice of fruit cake. The man looked up in surprise as the chef walked off. "Mmm, fruit cake!" the man said, rubbing his hands with glee. He picked it up and took a bite.

"UGH!"

Shinichi turned around very fast as soon as he heard the sound. He saw a man keeling over the table, clutching his throat. His face had turned very pale and was not in a good state. As everyone around him gasped, Shinichi leaped across the table and landed just beside the man. But by then, he had fell onto the floor---dead.