Disclaimer: I don't own DCMK

Sky Colored Eyes

29: Searchlight

Shinichi looked up at the restaurant in some confusion. Was this really the right place? It looked so… Well, it just didn't look like a students' after school hangout. If anything, he was inclined to think it looked a bit shady, though he could be being biased by the fact that the place had no windows. But yes, the address Kaito had given him led here.

As if on cue, Kaito chose that moment to materialize out of nowhere and drape an arm over Shinichi's shoulders. "You're here!" he greeted with his usual broad grin. "I thought for a moment there that I might have to go pick you up."

"Er, yeah, sorry I'm a bit late. I haven't been to this part of Ekoda yet. I got a bit lost."

"No worries. Anyhow, onwards ho! Our chambers await us!"

"Uh…what?"

Confused was the least of it. Shinichi felt like he'd walked into someone else's life or maybe a different reality.

The impression was compounded when the doors opened and they stepped into a blaze of gold and crimson finery. Though not particularly large, the place definitely resembled some kind of palace entryway. Three arched doorways each glowed from beyond like magical portals: one blue, one pink, and one green. A doughnut-shaped desk sat in the center of the entrance hall. Seated in its heart was an elderly woman wearing a pair of wire spectacles. She smiled when she spotted them.

"Good afternoon," she said by way of greeting. "Table for two?"

"Actually we have a reservation," Kaito replied. "Kuroba Kaito."

"Ah, okay. Let me see, Kuroba… Here it is. One of the small conference rooms, right?"

"That's right."

"Just have a seat then. Someone will be here shortly to show you the way."

Kaito thanked the woman then steered Shinichi over to sit on one of the plush chairs by the door.

Shinichi let himself be pushed down onto a seat with some reluctance. "I thought we were supposed to be working on trying to meet those land owners," he said, tone just a little bit accusatory but mostly just confused. "Why did you make us restaurant reservations?"

"No reason we can't enjoy ourselves while we work," Kaito said lightly, dropping onto the seat beside him. "Just think of it as a base of operations. Besides, this restaurant is really cool. You'll like it. It'll also be a good pseudo office if we have to pretend to have one."

"Pseudo office? How many reservations did you make? You really shouldn't be spending so much money on this project," he added as an afterthought. "It's unnecessary."

"Don't worry about it. The owner of this place is an old friend of the family. He and his wife were some of Dad's biggest fans, and they still come visit now and then. I sometimes use them as trial audiences when I'm trying to work out a new trick. So I talked to them this morning about what we were doing and what we might need, and they offered us the use of one of their private rooms during their less busy hours. They have several upstairs that are often booked for conferences. We've been given the sunlight corner."

"What's the sunlight corner?"

"You'll see in a minute. It looks like our waitress is here." The magician rose and greeted the girl with a charming smile and a yellow rose.

"It's been a while. You're looking beautiful as always."

The girl laughed, taking the rose and tucking it into the clip on her clipboard. "It has been a while. We've added a lot of new light themes. I can give you a tour on the way to your room if you'd like."

"Yeah, let's take the scenic route. Shinichi, do you mind?"

"Uh, no, I'm fine."

The scenic route? The detective thought as he trailed after Kaito and their guide. What kind of scenic route could there be through a building? Especially a building that had no windows?

Quite an amazing one, as it turned out.

This restaurant was named the Luminous Lairs for each of its dining areas had been decked out with different types of lights and lamps themed according to the mood. The building had no windows so that no outside light would interfere with the décor. There was the soft, shifting blues of the deep sea room where pillars and walls of water lit by streams of phosphorescent bubbles cast their eerie light over wide, amebic tables and seashell chairs. There was a room where the ceiling soared upward and everywhere you turned there were lamps and lights and lanterns like the leaves and flowers of trees. The tables here were carved from stone—sweeping, elegant, and tranquil. The twittering songs of birds and the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind being played over the speakers completed the scene. Then there was the dawn sky room where everything looked like cotton-puff clouds or maybe oversized candy. It was fluff everywhere from poof chairs to little plastic tables and colorful paper lamps stacked in pyramids all around the room like the peaks of mountains breaking through the sea of clouds.

Shinichi was really starting to wonder what the room Kaito had gotten for them was going to be when they climbed a set of stairs and there it was.

Theirs was a small, corner chamber. As with all the other rooms, it had no windows, but it did have two large, glowing wall panels depicting a wash of sunset sky over a city skyline. It should have been the view out of a fifty story building, not here. But it was there nonetheless. A single, simple table stood in the center of the room accompanied by a pair of modern rolling chairs.

They placed their orders and the waitress left, humming a cheery tune to herself as she did so.

Once she was gone, there was a moment of awkward silence as Shinichi tried to sort out his thoughts and Kaito just observed his detective, cataloguing all the expressions that flickered across Shinichi's face. There was uncertainty at the setting, embarrassment for the same, curiosity about all the different decorations and room themes, annoyance at feeling out of place, and maybe a little nervousness because of the rather over the top display that was the restaurant's very heart.

"Um, so where did you want to start?" Shinichi asked finally. The previous day, when they had all been at his apartment, they had run searches on all the men who'd had internet presences. They'd filled out profiles for each man based on the information they'd gleaned and discussed possible ways of approaching them.

Today, they were supposed to be starting what Kaito had dubbed "Operation Feelers". Shinichi didn't like that name much, but it seemed his opinion on the matter didn't matter.

"I thought we'd start by calling the antique's dealer. You have his number, right?"

"Yes." Shinichi opened his notebook and set it on the table. "There."

"So how old do you think I should be if I want him to take me seriously?"

"Thirty eight?" Shinichi hazarded.

"Thirty eight it is then." The voice that emerged from Kaito's mouth was irrefutably that of a much older man. Shinichi started. It was always a bit of a shock to hear a voice emerge from a mouth that didn't match it. Kaito grinned. "Now, let's call."

X

"Excuse me, my name is Kaname Taoki. I'm looking to sell some old furniture that just came to me. You see, my grandfather passed away recently, and he left many of his old antique furniture pieces and artworks to me. They're amazing and all, but I just don't have the room for them. So I was hoping I'd be able to find someone who actually knows what they're doing to help me sell them. You do do that sort of thing, right Banji-san?"

"Indeed I do," the man on the other end of the telephone line agreed. He had a gravelly voice that was nevertheless cultured with a laid back drawl. "Tell me, what kind of pieces are these that you wish for me to sell for you?"

"Yeah, about that. Like I said, this was all Grandpa's. I don't know anything about any of it except that it's all old. It's mostly furniture. That's all I know. But if you'd like, you could always come and see them for yourself. That's gotta be better than any amateur description I could give you, right?"

"Unfortunately, my schedule is currently very full."

"Do you know when you'll have more time?"

"It won't be for a while."

"Oh. That's really too bad…" The single sound somehow managed to convey a sense of great disappointment. "Sorry for wasting your time. I just really wanted to know what I should do with all this stuff since I can't store it. It was all so important to Grandfather, I can't bear the thought of just throwing them away. And a garage sale just seems like it'd be demeaning to 'em, ya know? I thought that, well, if someone like you could just see them and tell me how I can do best by them…"

"It isn't ideal, but perhaps you could send me photographs of these pieces then. I may not be able to give you an accurate assessment from seeing a mere photograph, but it may still serve to be information that you can use. I may also be able to recommend another dealer if the pieces in question are suitable."

"Oh, well, actually that would be great. Thank you so much for your help. So where should I send the photos?"

"Email them to me. Do you have somewhere to write right now?"

"Oh yeah, just let me get a pen."

X

"Well that didn't go so well."

"O contraire, my dear detective. I didn't really expect him to agree to meet us right away. I was just setting up the stage. Next is the bait."

"Bait?"

"Yep. We're going to show him something he just has to see in person!"

"But we don't actually have any antiques."

"What? Who told you that?"

"Uh, no one…? You're not telling me you really have a grandfather who left you lots of antiques, are you?" By this point, Shinichi wouldn't put it past the magician, but that didn't mean it wouldn't be a shock.

Kaito only laughed again. "Of course not."

"So then what were you planning to use for bait?"

"You just leave the details to me. Now, who's next?"

X

Hi Higuzashi-san,

My name is Yamaguchi Kiba. My wife and I have recently started our own business, and we would like very much to learn more about how we might be able to use the internet to help us expand our prospects. I found your website while researching the subject, and I am very impressed by your work. If you are accepting new clients at this time, we would truly appreciate it if you would consider helping us build our online presence.

You can call me at any time or email me at this address.

Thank you for your time. I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Yamaguchi Kiba

X

"So what do you think?"

"Well, it sounds real enough," Shinichi said a bit dubiously. "But that's not your phone number. What's he going to think if he decides to call and doesn't reach you?"

"Oh, that's why I got this phone." Kaito snapped his fingers. There was a puff of smoke, and suddenly he was holding a simple, apple green cell. "For the next few months, this is going to be my Kiba phone. And this," he held up the phone he'd been using earlier—which Shinichi now realized wasn't his usual phone either. "This one's going to be my Taoki phone."

The detective could only nod numbly. "I see you certainly came prepared…"

"I always do."

"How did you manage to get all this set up in just one night?"

"Tsk, tsk. Remember, a magician never reveals his sources~. So shall I send it?"

"Wait." Shinichi turned the laptop towards himself again, rereading the text sitting in the email box waiting to be sent sailing over the world wide web. He wasn't surprised when he checked the sender's address that here too Kaito had thought ahead. The address was from one YamaguchiK . "You even got a domain for this?"

"Yep. Any more questions?"

"Er, well… Have you thought about what business you're going to be saying you're starting if he answers?"

"What business that we are going to be starting," Kaito corrected him with a smug grin. "And yes, I have a few ideas. But I thought I'd get your input before I finalized anything."

"…Wait, what? Why am I suddenly part of this? I thought I was just keeping everything documented, organized, and time stamped so we can use it as evidence later if we have to."

"Oh no, my dear detective, I would never dream of leaving you out like that! Like I said in the email, my lovely wife and I are starting our own business. That means I'm going to need a lovely wife to meet him with if he agrees to see us in person."

Shinichi stared at the grinning magician in incomprehension for several long seconds before it all suddenly clicked into place. His face flushed instantly bright red.

"You mean—you're saying I have to—"

"Here's your phone, my dear," the magician said by way of answering, handing Shinichi yet another new cell phone. This one was peach in color with faint floral patterns brushed across its polished sides. "This is going to be your Yamaguchi Akimiko phone. I built a voice modulator into it so you don't have to worry about pitching your voice or anything. Just talk natural, and the phone will do the rest."

"Why don't you just rewrite the email and say you're starting the business with a friend?"

Kaito put on a hurt look. "But I already got you this phone and everything. Are you just going to let all my hard work go to waste?"

"…"

Shinichi was left in a state of bemused resignation. He probably should have seen this coming. On the other hand, it was just an elaborate farce that they had to put on to crack the question of the mansion and its owners. While Kaito's methods weren't what he himself would have come up with, they did have promise, and he had already said he'd help.

"Fine," he gave in. "But we're selling books."

Kaito blinked. "Books? But hardly anyone reads books anymore."

Shinichi bristled, offended on behalf of all book kind. "Just because not everyone appreciates them doesn't mean they're not valuable."

"Whoa there, I never said they weren't valuable," Kaito objected, raising a placating hand. "I've read my share of great books. But if we want to come across as promising clients, we should be more unique."

Shinichi had to admit—albeit grudgingly—that Kaito had a point. "What do you suggest then?"

X

"This Kogane man seems strange to me."

Aoko looked up from where she had been reading about the man in question. "What did you find?"

She and Hakuba were currently at the Ekoda station. They were in a small office—Hakuba's office, as a matter of fact. The police department had decided without much debate that it was high time detective Hakuba Saguru got his own office at the station. It would put him in easy reach if any cases came up that required his expertise, and, well, he was the son of a high ranking official. A son likely to follow in his father's footsteps. Might as well get him started learning what the life would be shaped like. Or so Hakuba thought it seemed his colleagues were plotting.

"All his records that I've found have been clean," Aoko said. "His water and electric bills are a bit high, but he always pays them on time. He just goes to work, comes home, rinse and repeat."

"You're overlooking the minor fact that his home is currently part of a cult mansion," Saguru replied dryly. "Does that not seem strange?"

"Well, it's unusual, certainly," Aoko admitted. "But people renovate all the time. The house across from mine is having a second floor added this month. You can hear the construction going on there every morning and afternoon."

"I was just thinking that your average company employee does not make the kind of money he would need to buy a property like the one he supposedly acquired. The man himself doesn't even stay there. From what I've been able to dig up, he spends most of his nights in a cheap apartment next door to his work place."

"It could be that he stays there on work days to make it easier and goes home for real on the weekends," Aoko suggested.

The blond detective let out a disbelieving snort. "I just don't see a connection. How could this man have afforded a house on that property in addition to an apartment even if it is a cheap one? And if he did, then where did that money come from? It certainly wasn't from his job. This company has been stagnating for years. Then there is the fact that his house bills are so expensive. How can he run up such big bills when he doesn't even live there on a regular basis?"

"Is it possible that he doesn't know he owns the house?"

Hakuba turned to stare at the girl across the desk from him. "What?"

"I was just wondering if it would be possible for someone to have bought the property in his name."

"That would be fraud on an epic scale. It is hard to imagine the man remaining unaware of such an impersonation for so many years."

"well, what if he is aware of it, but just allowing it?"

"I…suppose if he complied then it could have been done, but what would the point be in such an endeavor? There is no benefit for either party."

"Maybe the real buyer had bad credit," Aoko suggested. "Or maybe he's just really, really secretive. He could also be famous and not want anyone to know where he lives."

"Perhaps…"

X

"Okay, so it's agreed then," Kaito declared. "We're going to be all about puzzles. That'll include mystery novels with truly well constructed puzzles, logic puzzles, word puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, riddles, and anything else we think of that might relate."

"I can compile a booklist when I get home." Shinichi scribbled down a few notes in his notebook, mind already filling with titles. "I also know a few good crossword and logic puzzle books. I know some bookstore owners who might be willing to give us a discount on them too if we need real stock."

"Great. Talk to them. I'll get a hold of some games and stuff."

Setting down his pen, Shinichi drained the last of the coffee from his mug. He spent a moment staring into its empty depths before raising his gaze to meet Kaito's. "Is all of this really necessary?"

The magician leaned back in his seat. "Who can say? Hey, don't give me that look. I said I'd get us an audience with these people, and I will. Whether that audience will lead us to the answers we need, however, is anyone's guess."

"But why all this?" The detective waved a hand at the computer and assorted papers spread across the table alongside their empty plates.

"Because if we just go knocking on their doors and it turns out they do have something to hide, we'll be alerting them to the fact that they need to be on guard. This way, if they're innocent then no harm done. If not, we won't be giving away our position before the battle even begins."

"I see." Kaito did have a point, Shinichi supposed. But he still had the sneaking suspicion that the magician was using the whole debacle to amuse himself.

A soft knock came at the door before it opened to reveal their waitress.

"Ah, great timing. We were just finishing up for today," Kaito told her with a bright smile. "Just give us a few minutes and we'll be out of your hair."

"Take your time," she said, moving to gather up their empty dishes. "The next reservation for this room isn't for another half hour. Would you like me to refill your drinks?"

"No thank you," both boys chorused, making the girl laugh.

"You should brainstorm anything you want to ask Koizumi," Kaito said as they headed out of the restaurant. The formerly empty rooms were now all packed full of customers, and the magician had to raise his voice to be heard over their happy din. "We'll be meeting with her and Sai tomorrow."

"I remember."

Outside, the evening sky was a wash of purple fading to burnt orange on the edges. It felt a little odd to look at it after spending the entire afternoon sitting in the glow of an endless sunset. In comparison to that grandiose imagery, the street felt dull and surreal. Shinichi shook his head, bemused. It almost seemed unfair that the real sky was being outdone by a fabricated one.

"I'll walk you home," said Kaito.

"I assume there's no point in me telling you not to?"

"None at all."

The detective snorted, but a small smile made its way onto his face.

TBC

A.N: I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! ^_^