Chapter four
Deal
ooOO-OOoo


The bustling around him was something very familiar and welcome to him. Yes, he liked to retreat into the safe haven of his parent's library, where no one disturbed the quiet and he could lose himself in his mystery novels, but sometimes, he needed to feel the life pulsing around him. And few places were as suited for that as a Police Department – even if it wasn't the one Shinichi was used to; Ekoda PD wasn't that much different to Beika. A busy receptionist whose phone rang constantly, officers submitting reports before heading off again, and a vending-machine with awful coffee that seemed to belong to the standard equipment for every PD. He grimaced at the watery brew in the paper cup, asking himself why he'd bothered to buy one in the first place and looked out for a place to discard it discretely. How anyone could stand this stuff was beyond him.

A quick glance at his watch told him that it was time for his meeting with Nakamori anyway and he set out to the Inspector's office.

On his way he was met with some curious glances. Reaching the door in question, he ignored them all together. As much as he'd wanted to keep his name out of the press – after the shooting at the warehouse it had been impossible. At least he'd managed to reject any requests and invitations for interviews so far, but the reporters had been all too happy to write some quite ludicrous stories about him and the reasons why he'd vanished for two years anyway. Thanks to that, he was almost more famous than before, what prevented him from leaving the house all that often. He'd come to dislike the attention and hoped that with some time, everything would calm down again.

He rapped his knuckles against the dark wood and entered after the grumpy call to come in had sounded through the door.

Nakamori sat behind a huge desk that was loaded with paper stacks and manila folders, all of them labelled with the name of a certain phantom thief. It seemed that the Inspector thought rather poorly of the advantages an electronic database had to offer.

The sullen look on Nakamori's face as he waved Shinichi in to sit down in front of him, indicated that he wasn't pleased with his results so far and that he would try to make short work of their meeting. It was obvious from their previous encounters that working with Nakamori would be much more difficult than with Megure, who was familiar with Shinichi roaming around crime scenes since forever, and who respected his line of work. He knew that Hakuba Saguru could tell a thing or two about how much Nakamori liked to have high-school detectives on the heist sides. Oh joy.

Whatever – he would have to deal with it. "Good morning, Nakamori-keibu. Thank you for taking the time to see me," he said politely while he sat down in the visitor's chair.

"Kudou-san," the Inspector greeted him with a curt nod. "You asked to talk to me about KID, so did you remember something important about the last heist?" Nakamori damn well hoped that was the case, because he wasn't satisfied with the vague statement the teen had given so far.

'Got away after some struggling.' He huffed. As if this boy had come close enough to lay a single finger on the thief. KID got away before he even blinked twice was more likely.

Shinichi could feel the annoyance and impatience radiating off Nakamori like heat waves. He suppressed a grin, knowing that what he had to say certainly would catch the Inspector's attention.

"Well," he said, leaning back casually. "Not exactly, but close enough."

Seeing a vein popping out at Nakamori's temple, he had to remind himself that he needed the older man's approval, but he could understand now why KID enjoyed to tick him off so much. His behavior downright asked for it. He took a deep calming breath and sat straight again. "It's not about the last heist specifically, but about KID's motives in general."

Nakamori frowned. What could the Kudou-kid possibly know about the thief's motives after just one heist? Okay – maybe two if one counted that one at the clock tower. The boy already had been a pain back then, he remembered grumbling. Surveying him, he decided to hear him out just the same. Of course he had heard about Kudou Shinichi before and he had to admit that the boy had shown some determination regarding the case with the Black Organization. The clear blue eyes met his gaze calm and confident; the cane leaning against the chair was a testimony of Kudou's dedication to protect. Nakamori folded his hands and leaned forward, propping his arms on the desk.

"Ok, I'm all ears."

Shinichi braced himself. It was important that he brought this across properly and assuming that Nakamori's patience would run dry rather quickly, he decided to come straight to the point.

"It seems that KID himself is targeted. Someone wants him dead."

The Inspector raised an eyebrow. "Wants KID dead? How do you know that?"

"Well, this is the point where I have to confess that my statement hasn't been accurate and I apologize, but it was necessary."

Nakamori felt his temper rising. So he had been right. Damned kid had given a false statement. He forced himself to keep his cool.

"Alright then, what has really happened on the roof?" he grudged out through clenched teeth.

"A sniper tried to shoot KID while we, uh, spoke. He didn't get him, but it hasn't been the first time," Shinichi said, deciding that Nakamori didn't need to know about his gadgets and how exactly he'd distracted the shooter. "Actually, they are after him since the beginning. It's all thanks to KID that no one has been injured till now."

"What?" Nakamori's bellowed shout caused Shinichi to flinch slightly. "You're saying that there have been snipers on KID's heists all along and we didn't notice?"

Rubbing his abused ear, Shinichi nodded gravely. "I don't say it's your fault though. They work well-hidden and know how to stay out of the spot-lights, but recently, they've gotten a lot more aggressive and KID is concerned about the people who attend his heists." That was just part of the truth, but it couldn't hurt to point out that the thief cared about his fans and also his task force. "That's why he chose to contact me and with that the police too."

"Yeah, and for sure it has nothing to do with him trying to save his own hide," Nakamori remarked snidely, though he knew that KID never would endanger anyone if he could help it. It was the one and only rule the thief insisted on and Nakamori had to give him some credit for that, if begrudgingly so. "So why, pray tell, do they want KID dead? Did the bastard steal something from them?"

Shinichi shook his head no. "Quite the opposite. They wanted him to find a jewel for them, but he refused. After learning about some of their dark deeds, he proclaimed to find the jewel before they would and destroy it, what got him a ticket to the top of their hit list."

"All this trouble because of a glittering rock? Are they stupid?"

Shinichi shrugged. Actually he'd thought something along the same lines, because honestly – immortality? Due to a gem? But his experiences with the BO had taught him that some people acted beyond reasoning if just the profit was promising enough.

"That's the state of facts. KID asks for a collaboration to stop them, before someone gets harmed."

The Inspector seemed to consider this new information. "And how would that work? He is a criminal – would he join our meetings, give his input and disappear in a puff of smoke afterwards?"

"No, I don't think that he'd be comfortable sitting in a Police Department in the middle of his task force, although… maybe he would, but that's beside the point. I will act as his go-between, just like now."

"Ha!" Nakamori laughed out scoffingly. "You – a self-proclaimed detective, the Heisei Holmes, want to play the sidekick for a thief? And not just any thief – for the Kaitou KID?"

Shinichi reined in his anger and kept his voice level. "Call me a sidekick if you want, but I'll do what I think is the right thing to do. I don't approve of KID's methods so far, but this is bigger and more important than catching a thief who doesn't even keep what he steals."

Taken aback by the teen's calm speech, Nakamori sobered quickly. Kudou had a point there. Nakamori fucking hated the elusive thief for his smug grin and his humiliating pranks, but that was mostly because KID poked at his pride with glee. After all, he had to acknowledge to himself that he didn't want to see the thief shot by some thugs and he would be damned if he'd let a criminal gang run riot in his jurisdiction. He cleared his throat.

"You want me to work with him? Fine then, and somehow I'm sure that you already have a plan how to pull this off, but tell your thief that I will throw him behind bars as soon as this is over." His eyes narrowed. "I don't give a damn if he gave everything back or not, he broke the law and for fuck's sake, he will take responsibility for that." His hand slammed down on his desk, sending some papers flying.

Shinichi gulped – Kuroba wouldn't like that, though he most probably expected something like this.

"I'll make sure to tell him. So, do we have an agreement? No one arrests KID as long as this operation isn't over, and he will provide you with what he knows about this syndicate to bring them down."

Nakamori gave him a long look, obviously still not quite coming to terms with the new situation. "Alright, you got yourself a deal, boy."

Inwardly sighing in relief, Shinichi nodded at Nakamori and got up. "Thanks for your time again, Keibu. I will be in touch with you as soon as I've spoken with KID."

"Have it your own way, but don't come running if the wacko drives you nuts," Nakamori grunted.

Not for the first time during this conversation, Shinichi was more than grateful for Megure's much calmer temper, even though the stout inspector could have his outbursts if rubbed the wrong way.

Closing the door behind him, he turned around to head home, but collided with someone who wanted to enter Nakamori's office just this second.

"Uuf," he wheezed, as the air was temporary knocked out of him. Looking down, he was met with an unruly shock of brown hair and two big eyes staring up at him in surprise.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't look where I was going. Are you hurt?" the girl sputtered out and looked him over concerned. For a moment he thought he was looking at Ran, who somehow had managed to make a mess of her hair, but the voice didn't match and her eyes where a different shade of blue.

"No no, it's fine – I'm alright," he assured her, just to be hauled to the side by a third person.

"Ahoko, pay attention, will you? You could have knocked him out with that pig-head of yours."

"I apologized, Bakaito! Stop insulting me or I'll mop you six ways from Sunday."

Shinichi gaped at the bickering pair and his eyes widened even more as he recognized who was still holding onto his arm.

'What the hell…?'

Before he could gather his wits, 'Bakaito' dragged him down the corridor.

"I'll make sure that you really didn't damage the poor boy. Greetings to your old man," he waved at the girl, who stuck out her tongue at him before they turned a corner and were out of sight.

Finally freeing his arm with some effort, he hissed at the boy before him. "Kuroba, what are you doing here?"

"Visiting Nakamori-keibu obviously," he responded good-naturedly while giving a passing officer a greeting nod, completely at ease.

Shinichi stared at him for a few seconds - and then for a few seconds more.

"What?"

Kuroba laughed. "Come on - let's have some actually drinkable coffee and we can talk. My treat."

ooOO-OOoo

"When you've said it would be your treat I didn't expect you to invite me to your home," Shinichi said, surveying the kitchen with a steaming cup of black coffee in his hands. It smelled delicious and he took a relishing sip.

Kuroba had settled for tea and eyed the detective in front of him amused. "Well, I didn't think a café would be the right place for this and I did buy the coffee."

"Okay - point taken. So tell my why again did I meet you in the Police Department when that should be the last of all places for you to run around?"

Kuroba dumped a teaspoon of sugar in his tea and stirred it. "I'm friends with Nakamori Aoko since we were kids and we attend the same class. To be more precise, she lives right down the street and I've spent a lot of time with her and her father after my dad died. They are like a second family to me," he explained.

Shinichi found himself staring yet again. "Just let me get this straight. You are friends with the daughter of Nakamori-keibu, who tries to arrest you when you are on your night-job and you meet him on an almost daily basis. And he didn't figure it out yet?"

Kuroba grinned rather smugly. "That's right. Oh, and by the way - Hakuba Saguru is in my class too." He wiggled his eyebrows. "Makes life quite interesting, don't you think?"

"Uh huh," Shinichi answered eloquently.

He had to say, the thief was full of surprises. Every obstacle seemed to be just another interesting challenge for him. Though he remembered what Kuroba had said about keeping his family and friends save and realized that at least some of his playful attitude was a facade. He wasn't sure if the thief himself even was aware of it. Probably hiding his anger and sadness behind a cheerful mask has become second nature to him. No surprise, if he'd started acting like this after his father's death; it was a long time during which all the facets had melded into one, well, maybe two personas. The happy-go-lucky Kuroba Kaito on the one side and the enigmatic phantom thief on the other. And sometimes the behaviors switched, showing that they belonged to just one boy after all.

'Life has to be exhausting for him,' Shinichi thought. He had first-hand experience with handling a double-life, but he wasn't sure if he or Kuroba had it worse. Being shrunk had given him the opportunity of clear lines between being 'Conan' or being 'Shinichi'. Kuroba was both of his identities all the time. Thinking about it made his head spin, but what he definitely knew was that keeping his secret from the Nakamoris had to tear Kuroba apart.

'But then again,' he noticed, watching how Kuroba flipped his teaspoon in the air repeatedly with a smile, 'the guy seems to be overflowing with energy.'

Shinichi sat his now empty cup aside. "So, Nakamori-keibu gave green light, but you know that he will be after you again as soon as this is over?"

"Expected that much. I wonder when the thought will hit him that he could have insisted on me turning myself in in exchange for his help," Kuroba chuckled. He hoped it would happen when he was in ear-shot. Nakamori's colorful cursing was always worth to be heard.

"Riiight," Shinichi said, perking a brow. "I hope you've already thought about something to get Snake and his gang, because I don't think the Inspector will wait for long."

"Of course I did," came the nonchalant answer. "It's pretty simple actually. I will announce another heist, but this time my fans won't be allowed to see me up close; would be way too dangerous. And that way it also will be easier to notice anyone who isn't supposed to be there." He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed behind his head. "We'll pull off the usual catch-me-if-you-can part, but the task force will concentrate on getting Snake, so that he can lead us to his boss."

"You're aware that playing decoy could kill you?" Shinichi deadpanned. The thief was just too carefree for his liking.

Kuroba rolled his eyes. "Snake always aims for the heart and I'm going to wear my bulletproof vest, don't worry."

"And what if it won't be Snake, like at your last heist? It could be a different sniper and he might prefer headshots instead."

"It will be Snake, I'll make sure of that," Kuroba promised suddenly earnest. "The heist note will be published in the press and I will leave a definite hint that I'm sure the jewel is Pandora. He won't miss the chance to be the one to kill me and get Pandora."

'He is determined to take the risk,' Shinichi mused. 'And it's not like I have a better plan at hand.' Reluctantly, he admitted that it might be their best option. The only place they knew the syndicate would show up for sure was at the heists.

"Which jewel do you have in mind?"

Kuroba sighed and stood up to fill the cups again. "That's the only crux in my plan. I've already checked every possible jewel that might be Pandora here in the area and there are no interesting exhibitions in the near future."

"Can't we use a fake? Just give it a fancy name and it might pass for a high-class gem."

"Am afraid that's not possible. They have experts who might look through it and that would be as good as telling them directly that I've involved the police. It has to be a real one."

Shinichi bent his head in thoughts, hand at his chin. "Hmm… maybe I know someone who could help us out, but it won't be easy to get him to coope-."

"No," Kuroba cut in without turning to the detective while he put the pot back on the hotplate of the coffeemaker.

Shinichi frowned at his back. "I didn't even tell you-"

"I know who you have in mind and I say no. I'm not going to involve civilians."

"I'm a civilian too, you know?"

"Strictly taken, yes, but you're aware of what you've signed up for and you're not some crazy art collector who's only purpose seems to be to catch me," Kuroba pointed out.

"Ok, got it. No Suzuki-san it is then."

On second thought, Suzuki wouldn't have agreed to the whole thing anyway. He was too focused on his obsession to catch KID to step back.

"So what? We wait and hope that someday a suitable jewel is exhibited?"

He watched how Kuroba placed the refilled cups on the table. The thief seemed to ponder over something as he dipped and lifted his teabag in the hot water.

"Kuroba?"

"I have to make a call," he said and suddenly ran out of the kitchen, leaving behind a puzzled detective.

'What is he scheming now again?' Reaching for his coffee, he decided that he would just wait what Kuroba was coming up with. After a few minutes he heard the muted speaking in the hall stop and Kuroba came back in.

"I got us a jewel," he proclaimed satisfied.

"That sure was fast. How did you manage?"

"My mom is overseas at the moment and she has… connections."

"Do I want to know?" Shinichi asked a bit worried.

"Don't think so. Anyway – she can organize that a touring exhibition will add Tokyo to their schedule. Among other things they are putting a sapphire-necklace at display that's called 'Circle of Rain'. They are rather small stones, representing raindrops, but there is one larger one that embodies a pond or the sea – who cares," Kuruba shrugged. "I've had it on my list, but so far it never had been exhibited close enough for a heist." He carefully blew over his tea to cool it down before taking a sip. "Because they've already announced their visits in the other cities, they'll have to work us in somehow, so it will take some time. Most likely in three weeks, but mom will give us the details later. Gives us a bit time to prepare properly at least."

"Prepare? Us?"

Kuroba grinned at him cheekily. "Admit it – you always wanted to see how I'm working. I'll give you the rare opportunity to peek behind the curtains." He leaned forward almost predatorily. "You, my dear detective, are going to plan my next heist with me."


A/N: This was my first time writing Nakamori-keibu. Is it weird that I enjoyed writing all the swearing? Somehow I like the nicknames 'Bakaito' and 'Ahoko' – I just had to bring them in ^_^ And Shinichi as KID's trainee? I wonder how that will turn out. ;D