Hey !
Looks like it's time to prepare a Thief's hunt ! But who knows who will trap who... :p
o.O.o
emmahoshi : people occupying your room o.O Hope you could get them out, sleep is important ! Though, it allowed you to have the chapter earlier so it's not 100% bad, right ? xD Haha,sorry, but I do need to introduce some new characters : ) Focus on the two suspicious looking ones (the politician and the Superintendent) and the target (when you'll know who it is...) and you'll be safe :p I love sarcasm too and I really like how it fits Shinichi to be sarcastic so... Maa, it's more a kind of coincidence for the Kid to be here, not something planned before... A bit like the scarlet train thing, it was a bit of luck : ) I like my readers to have their heads full of questions, it's funnier like that ; )
maplebuggo : Ah, all my stories should be read independently, except when mentioned otherwise : ) I always start from a "normal" situation and turn it into a nightmare xD So it's too messy afterwards to start a new thing usually. Except for "Cold drugs" and "Sunflowers". But there are some things I can use from one story to another. I liked this Yamato character and, even if you didn't read "Detective", you probably don't feel you're missing something. The ones who read it though, know why Heizo and Yamato had some problems with each other and have a bit more info about him :) This story could supposedly happen after "Detective" but you'll see why it can't after : ) Glad you like those stories despite th fact Shin isn't the main character, I feel proud to be able to have your attention without that ^^ And yes, I have to admit it, my stories are usually pretty long because I love all those twists, those little cases that turn into international ones... Isn't this how the fight with the BO began in DC ? ; ) ps : Crap, you've seen through me ! Nah, joking, I already mentioned it and, when you look at my stories, no need to be a genius to see the more I like a character, the more angst and tragedy I throw at them xD I bet some psychologist would say it's some kind of childhood trauma but seeing how people (you included apparently :p) like this kind of stuff (damn, there's even a word for that o.O), I'd say it's more of a trendy thing xD I'll just admit one more thing... I'm taming myself xD
Chapter 12 : Preparing the encounter
The next Saturday morning, just as planned, the Mouri were on my doorstep. It was rare for Mouri-han to come twice in a row - and I kind of preferred not to have him under my feet when I was investigating with Kudô seeing how useless he was. But I could guess he'd want to come for the heist, question was if it was to find any way to look good - haha... - or out of concern for his daughter and his freeloader since those shows weren't always without any risk.
Oh well, Okan was glad to have guests, it made the house more lively and helped her to focus on something else than her loneliness. I had to admit I appreciated it also : those two weeks where I had been unable to really progress on the investigation about the ones who ordered Oyaji's murder had been getting on my nerves and I knew I was quick to anger, even more than usual - which was saying something for me - irritated by my own helplessness.
I was nevertheless trying to keep it down, at least at home, I couldn't yell at Okan and Kazuha all day long... They weren't in any need of it, neither of them.
I could tell it wasn't easy on my childhood friend to have her father in jail and the school hadn't be reacting pretty well at these news, some being pretty much annoying with her. The hell the girl had anything to do with that ? These were all lies, lies from that damn Kasai... No need to say the words "stop with yer bullshit" had been yelled quite a few times from my throat at those ahou. It was pissing me off and I knew I'd have them apologize - forcibly if necessary - once I'd proven Toyama-han was just a victim...
I tried to visit him once or twice with Kazuha - she was there almost every day - but he was always so heavily guarded, I couldn't ask anything to him without having a bunch of witnesses, all probably devoted to the Superintendent General, probably because they ignored who he was...
It was frustrating to feel how Oyaji had already been long forgotten and with him, his right-hand. Most of the Police Station was still a bit sceptic about those accusations, according to Otaki-han, but the longer Toyama-han stayed in jail, the more would believe something was fishy about him.
We had been unable to have any intel as to what exactly was reproached to him, the secret had been well-kept by both Kasai and the internal affairs. The only hint, and it wasn't good, was that the man was still in jail, when he should have walked free after 48h if there wasn't any proof.
So well, having Kudô and Neechan at home would do some good to everyone in the house and, after the usual polite salutations, the four of us took the opportunity to leave home, to get some fresh air.
We hung around a bit in the town, for once not interrupted by a murder, which wasn't that bad once in a while, before stopping in a park, and Kudô and I were bringing back some cans to share with them when we heard their excited chatter.
"-... An' he opened the door just at that moment...
- Oh my..."
I froze at the voices, guessing exactly at what moment Kazuha was referring. Living together wasn't really a hinder. The girl was great - don't repeat that too loud to her - helpful and supportive.
Despite her own worries, she tried to shoulder me, at least emotionally, since I didn't want to mention the investigation at home, in those difficult times. Kazuha and her joyful character were bringing some light in that house and I couldn't say I was against it.
But, well, being used to live only with my parents, I wasn't really psychologically prepared to have to mind every damn door I'd open. And what was due to happen happened, forcing me to learn the hard way when I opened the bathroom's door, to find her in her underwear, a look of surprise on the face. So damn cliché. Needless to say the surprise quickly turned into anger and I barely escaped a wooden bucket thrown at my face along with cries of "AHOU" despite the fact I closed the door pretty fast. With embarrass and some crimson on my cheeks.
"- ... It's not like I wouldn' really mind if we were together but... He keeps escapin' when I try ta confess an', on the other side, he spurts things like "don' touch my Kazuha"... Sometimes I really don' get what he wants, this is so frustratin' !
- Haha, I get what you mean, I also have a kind of frustration on the subject right now...
- Ya still couldn' give him yer answer ...?"
"- We shouldn't be hearing this..." Kudô finally whispered, getting me out of my reveries.
"- Ya bet... Kazuha would kill me...
- Still, what are you waiting for ?" He grinned as he nudged me.
"- The right moment ?
- That's a coward's answer...
-... Please not that word."
It reminded me too much of Saijô... It would take me a while to accept that word without clenching my fists with anger.
"- Sorry...
- It's ok..." I said, shaking my head, regretting to have sounded aggressive when I didn't mean to. "I'm not in the mood, an' I bet Kazuha isn' either... I need ta close that case first an' then... I'll do it, I swear. We shouldn' wait the last moment ta tell important things...
- What did he tell you ?" My best friend asked, his eyes now in mine, having understood that last part was a reference to Oyaji's death.
"-... That he was proud of me." I managed to say, though turning my look away. "Still surprise me a bit today...
- It shouldn't... You're a great guy, Hattori. And count on me to help you getting rid of those hinders to your declaration. Guys like those shouldn't be able to run around."
That serious look on my friend's face, on his 7 years old face, was so cute it brought a smirk on my face, lifting a tiny bit of that weight on my heart.
"- Thanks, pal." I said, ruffling his hair with affection before going out of our hideout as naturally as possible. "We're back with the drinks !"
o.O.o
"- Ok, so what's the plan ?" I asked, half-sitting on my desk as I looked at my best friend throwing himself on my bed after we had lunch and managed to escape to the girls as they left for some shopping.
"- Hmm, well, the Kid's target is Arimachi Chikako-san...
- One o' Otaki-han's list on top o' that...
- Yea... According to the note I deciphered, he's supposed to come tonight, during the charity, to steal the necklace. Do you have any intel as to what kind of security there will be ? Will Nakamori-keibu be here ?
"- He'll be but he an' won' be allowed in, I confirmed it with Otaki-han this mornin'. Since Osaka's police is already watchin' the party, they didn' want anyone under their feet, not even the MPD...
- That's so stupid, he knows him the best, he'll be useless outside...
- I know... But that's not that stupid if Kasai's goal is somewhere else, those guys he can' order around would be a hinder.
- What did Otaki-san say about those three guests by the way ?
- Two policemen will be dedicated ta each. But it's more in case anythin' happens, else, they won' be followin' them around, those three wouldn' accept it… Ah, an' Otaki-han gave me some info about the place." I said, fetching a map in my desk's drawer before putting it on the bed in front of my best friend.
"- Oi, oi, didn't you tell him to stay discreet ? That much info is..."
I smiled at the startled face of the fake boy. Of course he wasn't expecting me to have a full map of the site. He shouldn't underestimate my abilities to get some intel !
"- He is, don' worry, an' I asked him ta be every day. So, accordin' ta this, there are four entrances. Main one, service one an' two emergency exits but they're locked with alarms.
- Meaning it'll be hard to sneak in... I would have managed to do something if Nakamori-keibu had been inside but since he isn't...
- Yea, I can' see any way ta officially attend this party.
- Meaning we'll have to be here unofficially ?"
I grinned at my friend to show my agreement.
"- Seeing your face, you're already thinking about something…
- Yup ! I'm not sure ya'll like it, though..."
o.O.o
"- Raah, fresh air !"
I smirked, looking at Kudô, fish-like as he gulped some air when I finally opened the duffle bag I put him in to sneak him in on my shoulder.
"- Don't laugh, lucky I'm not claustrophobic...
- Well, we're in so it was worth the inconvenience.
-Yea..."
Our plan until now had been working as well as it could to be honest. We sneaked out of the house - I knew we were going to regret it sooner or later but it would have been endless to convince the girls to let us go so... well, that would be later. We went to the back entrance, Kudô hidden in the bag, and I claimed I was some back up sent by the chief of the company employing the waiters - I got his name from Otaki-han - since the party was going to be busy. The guard, apparently expecting that, knowing that there would be more guests than planned, many finally interested to come to see the Kaitou Kid with their own eyes, let me in without any further question, barely noticing my big bag, probably thinking it was just some material.
I had a slight make-up, just in case I'd meet someone I know, thanks to my mother's cosmetics and Kudô's basic skills in disguise, after looking so long at his mother preparing herself. I wasn't really afraid for the guests to recognize me but the police force could, so I couldn't take the risk. Though it had just been about lightening my skin and slicking my hair back.
As to Kudô, no way they'd let him in as a waiter so I we just decided to hide him in my bag, and then he'd hang around in the party, like some guests' child, invisible to all these adults never looking at their feet.
"- Ok, I'll be going, I need to hide before the party starts..." My friend declared as he held to me a Detective Boys' badge before pinning his own into his blue jacket's chest pocket. "Don't forget, you focus on the Superintendent General and his interactions with those three guests, I'll check everyone else... And whisper when you speak in your badge, else someone could hear us !
- I know... Have fun with yer Kid's hunt..." I smirked, amused to see how excited he was when he left with a nod for what wasn't really us detective's line of work, a theft.
Though I could get solving mysteries which didn't imply someone being killed could be pleasant for once...
Grabbing my bag, I got up, and headed towards the changing room - thanks again, Otaki-han's map !
To see someone was already here, despite the early hour.
"- Eh, hi ! I'm... Rampo Hideoshi, I'm here as a backup tonight." I introduced myself, holding my hand to the - quite young - man in front of me. It was fun how he reminded me of Kudô, they had the same kind of built and a face with similarities...
The smile was almost the same, that I could see as he firmly grabbed my hand too.
"- Ah, same here, Todoki Kai"
No wonder the chief of the staff didn't really react when I said I was extra hands, with this Todoki already opening the way, I wasn't suspicious at all. My luck was with me !
"- Would ya happen ta know where are the spare uniforms ?
- Yea, cupboard on the left, take one without name tags. And the lockers just near of them are empty, you can use them.
- Great, thanks !"
I had taken some clothes just in case but I knew the best way not to stand out was to grab some spare uniform, there had to be some. And with a smile at the numerous tag-less suits, I knew I found just what I needed.
One hour later, I was stepping into the charity party, all dressed in black and white, in my waiter suit. Time to enter the scene !