Kiss of Death Chapter 4

"Chessboard of Gwenddolau"

Warning: This is a major edited story. This chapter is the turning point! Which completely alters the original version of this story. I figured Conan could use some detective work!

A/N: This is the chapter that wasn't in the original scene. Very important chapter! OCs will be introduced! And what's more is there's a case!

Previously: We're all wondering like Haibara Ai, where was Conan? What is so important for him to miss lessons? Read to find out!

"Oi Kudo," Heiji nudged at the teenaged boy, "wake up."

Conan semi-consciously swatted his arm away, "get lost," he spat.

"You asshole. Don't you have school today?" Heiji questioned, his eyelids were not fully opened as well.

At this, Conan's sleepy eyes suddenly shot open, and he jolted awake. "Ah shit!" he cursed loudly, seeing that he had overslept for 2 hours.

"Why the hell didn't you wake me up?" he asked in frustration.

Heiji gave a hearty laugh before answering, "Am I supposed to be your babysitter now? Who was the one who needed a place like some hobbo?"

"Oh forget it," Conan sighed, lying down on the futon again, "not like I'd learn anything new in school anyway."

"Yeah just skip school. I've got you covered, I'll just say you were sick," the older male reassured. Well, the physically older one.

"Damn it," Conan cursed again once more, increasingly frustrated this time.

"What?"

"Haibara. People will surely ask her where I ran off to. God knows what she'll say," the boy said while putting on his spectacles.

His Osaka friend smirked -clearly amused. "Why are you being such a chicken about that? Or is that cold-blooded woman your wife now?"

"Hell no."

"Then why are you so worried, Kudo?"

"Heiji," Conan looked at him with boredom and irritation, he said in a deadpan manner, "It's Haibara you're talking about. She's unpredictable. There was once she placed chilly powder in my underwear for revenge."

At hearing this, the tanned man bursted out laughing, with teary eyes, he muttered, "you must have done something stupid to piss her off like that."

"Anyway," Conan started to change the topic, "what's your case about?"

Heiji walked off to take the crusted bread off the toaster and stuffed it in his mouth. While eating, he explained, "there's this old millionaire from America, he is in possession of a rare chess piece. He found it among his deceased granddaughter's items who committed suicide 5 years ago. The suicidal note dismissed it as it is, but the old man was unconvinced. He wants me to investigate behind the root of her suicide. He thinks it's murder."

Conan nodded, ingesting all the information that flooded to him. He questioned, "then if the client is an American, then why here in Tokyo?"

"Because she died in a motel in Tokyo."

"Anyway," Heiji patted the boy's hair, grinning, "why would you tag along and be of good use? I won't have you slacking in here," he said, as he shoved a piece of toasted bread on Conan's face.

"Heiji, it's pleasure to meet you here, and who is this?" the old millionaire questioned.

"Mr Cisson, this is Edogawa Conan," he answered, placing a firm grip on the boy's hair, "he may still be a kid. But he's bright. He helped the Sleeping Kogorou in a few cases and Kaitou Kid's heist."

"Well, he's then welcomed," Jim Cisson said, "now, to discuss this case-"

"-The chessboard, its pieces were made of metal then electroplated with silver and gold. Never seen anything like it. My granddaughter, Violette, seemed to have bought it at an auction," Jim continued.

Sipping the cup of coffee made for them, Conan asked, "and how does that relate to her...death?"

"That's where you come in, kid," the American pointed at him, "you see, I was never convinced that Violette committed suicide. She's too strong-willed, and when she passed, the crime scene had a few chess pieces lying on the ground, along with the chess board. The room centre of the room was a mess, yet the area where the suicidal note was located was neat and pristine. Another thing that I found odd was that the key was exactly on top of the chessboard."

"Go on."

"And one of them was missing," Jim finished, "the gold king piece."

"Maybe she misplaced it," Heiji commented.

"I highly doubt so," Jim reasoned, "that thing was known as The Chess board of Gwenddolau, named right after the legendary item. Never knew she had it. She possibly can't lose a piece of it."

"Why do you think she's murdered?" Conan questioned.

The old man lifted his cup of tea, and answered, "because she never stays in one place, as if she needed to run away from something."

"Or someone," Heiji nodded.

"That's right," Jim agreed, snapping his fingers, "I've always seen her with someone... whether it was a business associate or a boyfriend, I couldn't tell. He'd always have a formal wear that was all black, like he was going to a funeral. Violette followed the same, donned in black dresses. I was getting worried, so I hired people to follow her. They've always reported that she's last seen hopping onto that silver-haired man's car."

Conan's jaw dropped.

Could it be?

"Cisson!" Conan exclaimed, a little more distraught, "what was the model of his car?"

"Let's see..." Jim cupped his chin, trying hard to recall, "ah... It was a black Porsche 356A."

Conan and Heiji exchanged looks, a mutual knowledge that this case will be more than what is on the surface. They both nodded, with fiery determination expression, yet internally perplexed at the complication of this case.

"Mr Cisson," Heiji spoke to clear the awkward silence among them, "I do stand with you that there's a high possibility that your granddaughter has been murdered. But all the reasonings lack concrete evidence. We will put our best effort to investigate but shall there be any resolutions of which defined your granddaughter's case as a suicide, I would like you to be ready for that kind of disappointment."

Jim hesitantly nodded in agreement. At this, Conan knew that the American is adamant of his presumptions.

"If that is all, I'd like to visit the motel where the case had transpired," Heiji concluded, preparing to leave.

"It was nice to meet you Hattori and Co-"

"Pops!" a brunette in her middle 40s intervened, "isn't it rude to not serve your guests proper meals?"

On her right hand was a tray that carried fine plates of buttered bread and mashed potatoes. Using her other hand, she placed them on the table.

"Thank you, miss!" Conan chirped gratefully.

"My, my, you're welcome boy," the woman smiled, clearly flattered, "but clearly you've been too kind. I was a married woman and no longer in my youth. The name's Amora," she said, showing her ring finger. In it sat a wedding ring.

Conan's memory suddenly flashed to Ran's silvery ring. He tried his best to shake the image off.

Turning to Jim, she asked, "so, who are these two lads?"

"These two are Heiji and Conan," he gestures at them, "they are helping me in Violette's case."

In a flash, her cheery disposition altered into a displeased one, frowning and red in anger.

"Why are you so attached to that bastard child!" she screamed, enough for the rest of the people in the hotel's cafe to shift their eyes on them.

"Now, listen-"

"I'm not even your own blood, yet I looked after you because Julias told me so!" she screamed, loud enough for the others to turn to their direction.

"For my son?" he retaliated, standing up abruptly, revealing that he was much taller and larger than her, "don't think that I don't know about your plans to re-marry. Heck, you may be just waiting for me to die and get that bulk of money since Violette can't have it. Now, say anything of this matter again, Amora, and I still have the power to renew my inheritance and you'll have none."

"Well, pops you got it all wrong. I-"

"Pops!" Amora gasped, startled when the aged American was clutching onto his chest, as if he was about to get a cardiac arrest. She held onto his shoulder, but he squatted her away violently and she retreated.

Lowering her head in humiliation, she turned to the guests, "apologies for the calamity just now. Enjoy the meal."

After she was out of sight, Jim regained composure all too quickly.

The old man seems to be faking the cardiac arrest. Smart move, eh.

Jim chuckled lightly, feeling a little triumph that surged through his veins. He commented, "Amora, my daughter-in-law, she's a good kid but you know, females are susceptible to envy."

"Violette isn't her daughter, so who was?" Conan asked.

"I'm not proud of Julias having an affair. If he was still here, I would've have..." he answered, his eyes failing to meet Conan, "but a few years ago after Violette stepped in, introduced me as Julias' kid...I took her in. Her mother had passed and she was the only grandchild I have. Amora's infertile, she almost had ovarian cancer and had to remove them."

"I see, there's a little conflict here. And do you think Amora could've done it?"

"Done it? No!" Jim shook his head profusely, dignified, he said in utter assurance, "Amora being jealous? Yes. Amora feeling betrayed by Julias? Yes. But I've known her well enough to be certain that she have no capacity to commit murder. Besides, she was with me in America when Violette passed."

"And your son?"

In a soft voice, he answered hesitantly, "Julias... Gone. Nowhere to be found. 8 years ago, his personal paraphernalia and clothes dried with blood was found among the sewers in London. No body, but the scene all points out to murder according to the British metropolitan police." At this, Jim's tears welled up in his eyes, but he refuse to let them fall.

As swift as the wind, Jim's tears were nowhere to be found. Regaining his composure, he stood up, changing the topic, "Well, young lads. That's enough for today. This is the address of the motel and the unit she stayed at. This is my business card, in case you find any vital information." Conan took the two small cards, holding up to the light. He smirked at the address and contacts.

Now, the real fun begins.

"This is screwed up," Conan groaned at the site of the motel room. The cracked walls were suffocating in the already tiny room, the dust collecting on the sheets and windowsills. He opened the empty closet, hearing the creaky noise of the opening of the hinge.

It is understandable that this room remains unused. Some costumers think it's haunted.

"Kudo, it's weird. It doesn't add up," Heiji sighed, kicking the mattress. A large cloud of dust was formed and Heiji coughed at this.

"Yeah, though it is clear that there's a high possibility that Violette was involved with the Black Organization, I don't see who or why she has been murdered," Conan stated pragmatically.

"Yea, and the chessboard-"

RING!

"Sorry Kudo, have to take this call, it's Kazuha's dad," Heiji commented before answering his smartphone. The bespectacled boy diverted his attention to the arrangement of the room.

While the receptionist did say that they did not re-arrange anything ever since that case, then that means that the arrangement is strange.

Conan scanned the room, noting that the mahogany nightstand was on the left side of the bed. Across the two items was a closet and a little further was a study table and a chair a few feet away from the door.

There's this chair facing the door, almost as if someone had sat there and expected someone to arrive. Shouldn't the chair be meant for the study table?

Walking towards the balcony, he held the royal blue curtain up the light.

"Kudo, I've got information about the case from dad. According to forensics, there was a glass of water on the nightstand which was contaminated with a heavy amount of sleeping pills that seemed crushed into powder. Even the receipt was found in the thrash can. Apparently purchased the sleeping drugs in a nearby pharmacy. The pharmacy staff was able to verify that it was her that bought it. Cause of death was a deep incision on the right wrist. It was deemed as suicide although she sent a suspicious text asking an anonymous person to 'meet her'...But they deemed that it never happened," Heiji stated. Conan didn't turn to face him, still had his eyes glued to the curtain.

"Hattori...Do you usually have dark-coloured curtains for your window and have a balcony on the second floor?" he stated, a little too deadpan in the matter.

"Oh ciaociao," the Osaka detective was shaking his head, "the curtains just prevents the light in, but it is strange because this is the second floor. But I'd already asked the receptionist and they told me that it was requested by the costumer. For the balcony, this is an old motel, so the infrastructure is a bit old fashioned and the security is not updated."

The bespectacled detective relentlessly analyzed the surroundings, spotting for clues that may have missed a normal person's sight, but never the eyes of a sharp detective. In his peripheral vision, he spotted the windowsills in the veranda to be slightly chipped. He walked to the veranda, noting that two of the pillars that keeps people from falling over had a linear scratch-mark. He walked towards the chair that was facing the door in a straight fashion, seeing that there was the same chipped mark, of similar depth and thickness.

Now this is weird. All the chipped wood on the chair and windowsills seemed to be in a linear manner. There's also the marks, that are bigger on the pillars of the veranda. Even though the 2 pillars are separated, it looked like the marks suggest that a rod-like item was placed there. Plus, if she wanted to meet someone, she wouldn't have committed suicide. Unless...

"-About the chessboard, it's still with the old man and he'll let us inspect it tomorrow," Heiji blabbered on, oblivious to his friend was too occupied with his own logical reasoning to listen to him.

That could be possible that that's what happened, but why? How does that connect to the syndicate that shrunk me? 5 years ago, that's when the Black Organisation diminished. What's more, Violette died 5 years ago too. Her father, Julias, went missing 8 years ago, which is about the same year that I've shrunk. The events seemed to have lined up correctly, is it a coincidence?

"-eh Kudo?" he questioned when he finally noticed that his friend was too engrossed with his own thoughts.

"Hattori," Conan eventually answered, lowering his head so that his spectacles were reflecting the light, making his eyes not visible,"let's go. I think we've seen enough."

"Yeah I think we're done here," Heiji yawned, stretching his arms up, "wanna go somewhere to have dinner? Any good outlets around here? I'm starved. Eh Kudo, are you even listening? What are you looking for?"

Conan halted his search in scanning his surroundings. Turning to Heiji, he spoke, "it's nothing. I was just making sure no one's following us. No black Porsche 365A around."

"Alright, anyway I tried searching for the legend that the chessboard was named after, but I can't seem to find a decent answer," Heiji stated.

"I have a book on that..."

"Good!" the Osaka friend chirped cheerfully, "let's read it."

"No..." Conan hesitated, unable to meet his friend's eyes, "Ran borrowed it a few years ago from Shinchi. She hasn't returned it..."

Heiji noticed the change in his mood and decided to challenge him a bit. With a smirk on his face, he remarked smartly, "what the hell is this Kudo? What's up with you? The Kudo I know won't let anything get in the way when he's solving cases. You both are good as Conan right?"

"Yeah...Ran treats Conan like her younger brother," he answered, his voice was a little too inaudible.

"Then what the hell are we waiting for?" Heiji commented aloud, patting his friend on the head,"we can just tell her I want to visit her. I haven't seen her since. Then you can pretend to stumble upon the book and borrow it back. Unless it'll be too painful for you to visit Ran? If you can't, I'll just go ahead myself if that's fine with you."

"No. It's fine." he said blandly, very dignified and adamant.

The Osaka friend patted his shoulder, reassuring, "cheer up Kudo. How about we go and grab dinner first? My treat if you put that stupid trademark smirk back on your face."

"Who are you calling stupid?"

"Ciao ciao! It's just my way of cheering you up, you ungrateful bastard."

"Geez, you're worse than Haibara."

"Don't compare me to that detached lover of yours!"

The two detectives continued in their own friendly mocking conversation, unknowing to them that out of their sight, there was a car awaiting, obscured by a pillar. The owner of the car seemed observing them. But no, this owner didn't have a silver long hair, but a short black hairdo. Yet, he had the same cold, greyish eyes that spelled merciless. The owner was still donned in all-black, which was too warm for the weather. He couldn't help it, it was still his syndicate's pride.

Littering his cigarette butt on the ground and stepping on it, he then hopped onto his car, silently following the two detectives. His car was no longer the black Porsche 356A, having to be informed that the vehicle was much known to the British and American intelligence, so he traded it with a scarlet Porsche Boxster 986.

He cursed the damn moles and pests that attempted to infiltrate his syndicate. Because of them, he had to part with his rare and classic car. It was his identity. His trademark. A gift from the boss.

And what was his identity?

Gin.

A/N: Bummer. So these are my first four chapters as a "premiere". I figured that a little mystery should be added because, after all, it is Detective Conan right? But I'm kinda new in writing up mysteries. So don't expect a Gosho standard. The OC's names are by the way random. It doesn't mean anything, so if anyone has the same name, it is kind coincidental.