Secrets and Lies: Chapter 16
Ran smiled to herself. Her suspicions had been correct. He was finally going to tell her the truth about himself. Maybe he would add to the confession that he had made in London.
"I know you are," Ran said smiling at him to show that she wasn't surprised. "You're not very subtle sometimes and I have suspected you, but I thought it was impossible up until now. I can see why you haven't told me the truth."
"I didn't want to endanger your life. If people came after me you would be the first person they would ask so I didn't want to burden you by asking you to lie. Only a few people know about it."
Conan had always secretly dreaded telling Ran the truth because he was afraid that she would cry and feel betrayed that he had been lying to her all along. She was taking it better than he expected.
Ran could guess a few of the people that knew. "Hattori-kun , I guess? He calls you Kudo sometimes and tries to cover it up. I never guessed that Jodie-sensei was an FBI agent though. She seemed too... ditsy."
"The Organisation was what she was investigating," Conan explained taking her hand and leading her away from the corpses on the floor. "The woman named Vermouth killed her father and ruined her childhood. She has always wanted revenge. I suppose she had got it now."
He cast a look back at Jodie who was picking up the weapons that had been dropped by Gin and Vermouth. He thought he saw a tear snake down her cheek. He decided that it would be best if he left her alone for now.
Ran followed his glance and understood. "Can you explain everything to me now? I can guess some of what happened at Tropical Land that night."
"Not yet. I still have to find out who Anokata is and finish destroying Them," Conan answered sadly wondering how long it would take now that he had made a little progress. He had lost his two most important informers and he no longer had any allies in the Black Organisation.
Jodie wiped her face with her sleeve and picked up Vodka's phone that had been lying under Vermouth. She unlocked it and saw the photos and the message that went with it. She recognised where they were taken, then the significance of what happened to the girl in the photos hit her like a bolt of lightning. She gasped in surprise and shot a quick glance at Conan's retreating back. She knew who he was now. She smiled to herself and made a mental note to question his properly when she next had the chance. She read the message again and her heart jumped. Cool Kid must be hiding Kaito Kuroba, Aoko Nakamori and Saguru Hakuba at Professor Agasa's house which was where the photos had been taken. That meant the Organisation knew where they were hiding and could be on their way right now. In fact They could have been there and killed all of them by now.
She waved the phone at the nearest person which was Kaito who had taken off his suit jacket and top hat.
"I know who Cool Kid is now, but that doesn't matter now," Jodie informed him and showed him the phone. "We have to warn them. I'll go tell Cool Kid."
Kaito looked at the photos and the significance wasn't lost on him and his heart lurched into overdrive. If they had been taken outside 2-22 Beika someone from the Black Organisation that wasn't Vermouth must know that they were hiding there. He had to get everyone out of there immediately. If Haibara died there wouldn't be an antidote. If Hakuba died he would miss the arguments. If Aoko died he didn't know what he would do...
Haibara emerged from the basement wincing at her sudden exposure to light. She had finally finished making a prototype antidote and was looking for a prospective test subject. She had been planning to ask Kudo-kun as he always seemed to want one, but the only person she could see in the front room was the snobby blonde detective Hakuba. He was sitting in an armchair reading a Sherlock Holmes omnibus that he had found lying around. It was early evening and the sun had just set.
"Where is everyone?" Haibara enquired spotting Hakase working on an invention in the corner.
"There has been a sudden development. Kogoro Mori and Ran Mori were kidnapped earlier. Kudo-kun sent Kuroba to follow them using his hang glider and he went off with the FBI. I haven't heard anything from either of them. Nakamori-san is in the kitchen making something for her boyfriend."
Haibara nodded and headed off to the kitchen becoming aware how long it had been since she had last eaten. She had a craving for a peanut butter and blueberry jam. When she entered she found Aoko making a chocolate fudge ice cream sundae. Aoko offered to make the sandwich for her, but Haibara refused as she wanted to keep the place where she hid the peanut butter and blueberry jam secret.
The doorbell rang and Hakase went to see who the visitors were. After seeing who they were he let them in immediately. It was Yusaku and Yukiko Kudo. He introduced Hakuba to them and called Aoko and Haibara out to meet them.
"We just arrived from the airport. Our son gave us an explanation on why he needed us and warned us the there was a possible member of the Black Organisation staying in our house," Yusaku explained sitting down and accepting a cup of tea from Aoko. "So we weren't surprised to see him and we were armed just in case of anything. What we didn't expect was for him to be dressed in Kevlar and be carrying a machine gun. It seems he was just on his way here to kill all of you. Luckily I knocked him out and he is currently incapacitated."
"There's a member of the Black Organisation living next door. Kudo-kun didn't tell us," Aoko said angrily.
"There is. He probably didn't tell any of you for a reason. Nakamori-san there were several pictures of you on his computer that he left switched on. It seems he sent them to someone. You all need to get out of here right now."
"Now?"
"Yes. It's for your own good. There could be people on the way here already."
Haibara and Aoko nodded. Haibara rushed to the basement to retrieve her research and prototype antidote. Aoko grabbed her shoes and was ready to leave when the front door was blown apart and smoke began to seep into the front room and she had the ominous feeling that someone was waiting outside with a gun that was fully prepared to kill everyone. She screamed loudly to alert everyone else in case they hadn't heard the bang, grabbed Ai who had just come out the basement clutching a case of pills as well as a memory stick and ran to the kitchen to where Hakase, Hakuba and the Kudos were waiting. They had opened the back door and gestured at them to run first. There was no time to lose. The danger was imminent.
Hakuba pushed Aoko and Ai out the door first in the rule that he had been taught "Women and children first," and looked at Yukiko. She shook her head.
"You go first," she replied drawing a pistol from her designer leather handbag that she had been carrying. "Yusaku and I will buy you some time. You can run next door for now and we'll arrange a safe place later."
Aoko and Hakuba nodded, not liking the idea, but as they could hear yells coming from the front room and the kitchen was slowly filling with grey smoke, they knew that now was not the time to argue. Ai frowned.
"What about you Hakase?"
Hakase avoided her gaze and handed Aoko something small and light wrapped in newspaper. "I made a gadget for you. It was only a quick job, but it will do. Hurry."
Hakuba got the message and took Ai's hand and pulled her along with them as they ran across the back garden trying to block out the noise of shots being fired that was coming from Hakase's house. When they reached the wall that separated the Kudo and Agasa residences Hakuba's mobile phone began to ring. He looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Kaito. He accepted the call and put it on speaker so he could hear what Kaito was saying as he gave Aoko and Ai a leg up so they could climb over the wall.
"I really can't talk right now Kuroba."
As if to validate his sentence there was a loud explosion from the Agasa house and picked up the phone and scaled the wall himself whilst listening to Kaito.
"I called to warn you that there is a hit team on the way. I take it that you are already aware? Is Aoko safe?"
"Old news Kuroba," Hakuba said dropping off the wall as gracefully as he could whilst gripping a phone in one hand. He threw the phone to Aoko to let her confirm her safety herself whilst he decided what to do next.
Ai looked shaken like she had been a victim of a bombing and was clenching onto the case of pills and memory stick tightly. She had finished the antidote, but she might not live to give it Kudo and he might not live either to take it. She had to know whether it worked or not. She glanced over at Aoko who was talking on the phone worriedly to Kaito.
As Aoko hung up the phone after telling Kaito their location and listening to what had happened at the warehouse they all became aware that the sound of gunfire had ceased. They waited for minute to listen for further sounds of fighting and death. Aoko yelped when Yukiko dropped down onto the ground next to her. Her neat hair and curls were now in disarray and her face was blackened with smoke.
"Yusaku and Hakase are behind me," she explained straightening up and loading a clip of bullets into her gun. "Yusaku was shot in the arm and Hakase is fine." She looked around her. "We need to keep moving. I agreed to meet Yusaku at our house."
Inside the Kudo residence the group found Subaru Okiya tied to a chair in the library. He was now conscious and frantically trying to undo the rope. He ignored their entry into the room and Yukiko knocked him out again with her taser and made sure the gag and knots were still tight. Yusaku and Hakase entered the room coughing and wincing. Both were breathing hard and also had blackened faces and Yusaku was trying to stem the flow of blood from his shot wound with his arm. Yukiko grabbed his arm and tied a handkerchief around it.
"We can't stay here for long. It's only a matter of time before reinforcements arrive," Yusaku said looking fondly around his precious library for what could be the last time. If they ever returned to this house they would probably find it blown to pieces.
"I think we should," Hakuba agreed. "Kuroba told me that They are after Kudo and They know the effect of using of APTX 4869 on younger people. It is only going to take them a few seconds to work out who he really is."
"But where will we go?" Aoko asked concernedly. Kaito's mother had been attacked and the Kuroba house was probably been watched in case they went there, her house had been set on fire and Hakuba's house wasn't safe for obvious reasons.
Yusaku considered the options. "I think we should disguise ourselves and stay in a hotel. You can pretend to be our children. Nakamori-san and Haibara-san can be twins. Yukiko, go grab your disguise kit and a spare change of clothes for both of us and hurry."
After Yukiko ran off Hakuba asked what they were going to do with Okiya as they couldn't take him with them.
"We'll leave him here for the FBI unless his colleagues get here first."
"I've finished the antidote," Ai announced as they were leaving the house after they had all hastily put on wigs and make up. "It should be permanent. I was going to offer it to Nakamori-san and Kudo-kun as They are looking out for them as children."
I wouldn't normally be uploading, but it's the half tern holidays the moment. Sorry for my absence and thank you for reminding me that I left this unfinished.