Chapter 24

He'd heard the name before. It was hard not too; the name had turned up during his research on Conan Kudo, and was one of the more famous possibilities he'd considered, but eventually thrown out. Shinichi Kudo was declared dead years ago. He wasn't even mentioned in the files Auntie gave him.

Then why did the name feel so familiar?

The Superintendent General smirked with satisfaction. "Shinichi Kudo, the missing son of mystery writer Yusuku Kudo and former actress Yukiko Kudo. I'll admit, I didn't expect you to turn up in the hands of Lupin, of all people, especially after our failed kidnapping attempt when you were a child. I had always assumed Gin killed out for being annoying and lied about you escaping, but now…" He shook his head. "No matter. Your escape simply made you twice valuable. Now we can blackmail both as Lupin and the Kudo family."

Shinichi clenched his fists. Why was he telling him this? He'd known this man for months now, and he'd never seemed like the monologuing type. What was the reason behind this?

The Superintendent General continued. "You can't be blamed for not knowing, of course; amnesia is a pesky thing, especially from a young age, and with Lupin and Jigen deliberately misleading you, it's surprising that you knew you weren't a biological Lupin at all."

"What are you talking about?"

"Jigen and Lupin knew you were a Kudo." Liar. He was lying, there was no way—"They kept you intentionally, as revenge against them. Yusaku Kudo had prevented one of their heists from working smoothly a few months back." His parents wouldn't do that, they wouldn't—"And once Jigen found you on the street—" How did he know that—"the rest was history."

He was getting off on this. Shinichi could see it in his eyes, the cruel amusement that lit up with every flinch Shinichi tried to suppress. Was this what Hakuba was raised by? This monster who enjoyed his pain?

He'd give him pain. Shinichi bit his lip, shrinking in on himself. Making him look smaller, more prey-like, weaker, underestimated. Make him think you're defenseless, Auntie's words echoed in his head.

Then make him wish he was never born.

"What's going to happen now?" he whispered, refusing to look at him.

"Well—" he sounded satisfied—"You don't need to worry about that. So long as your families keep their words, you'll end up just fine." The door to the office opened and a woman walked in. "Ah, Vermouth. Take Lupin-kun over to the holding cells and lock him in tight."

"Yes sir," the woman answered and allowed her to manhandle him into standing. She dragged him out of the room and through various halls; this time, he could see, and began a mental map of the facility. Eventually, Vermouth pushed him into a holding cell and locked it.

But that wouldn't be any worry. She'd slipped him a lockpick during the walk, for whatever reason.

And Shinichi was ready to make them regret learning either of his names.

A/N: I know these have been short lately, but trust me, these last two are going to be up there in length.