Chapter eleven
Identities
ooOO-OOoo
The place was huge, as Kaito soon had discovered. After he'd left the cellar, he had lucked into a disguise as a janitor who was just about the right size, gender, and age. With the baseball cap the man was wearing, Kaito was able to hide his face and the difference in hairstyles.
Now he had a valid reason to access almost every room just by saying he had to maintain this or that. Most people didn't pay much attention to janitors anyway, so chances where that he wouldn't be discovered easily.
He was now in the staircase on his way to the 8th floor and had by now found out in what kind of building he was, after he'd found a storage room. It was stuffed with equipment used for gambling games. Two old roulette tables, a bunch of billiard queues leaning against a wall, discarded decks of cards and so on.
It seemed to be some sort of gambling hall or casino. He was sure that he wouldn't find anything useful by going into the hall itself as it surely just was a facade. He wanted to search the upper floors to see if he could find an office that maybe would provide him with some material he could use against the syndicate. That was only assuming that this actually was the headquarters and not some random place they used for whatever jobs they were doing besides sniping at KID.
So, he made his way up to the next floor. He didn't take the elevator because he didn't want to be stuck in there with someone who could become suspicious of him. Places with no good escape routes were to be avoided if one had to hide something.
What he had been able to figure out about the building was not that much, but at least he knew that each level seemed to be fairly big and looking up the staircase he could make out ten floors. It had taken him some time to make his way up, so he really hoped that he would finally find something or he would have to go without any leads if he wanted to make it in time for his heist. He also still had to contact Shinichi or Nakamori and tell them that he was okay, but there hadn't been an opportunity so far.
He reached the door that lead into the corridor and carefully pushed it open just a crack. He wanted to get a quick impression before entering completely. The floor seemed to be empty. From where he was standing, all he could see was the corridor leading ahead and doors to several rooms. Thick carpet on the floor, pictures on the walls, some plants, that was it. It seemed to be safe enough to take a closer look, so he walked in, unsure if he should just go and open the doors.
It were the pictures that got his attention. They all were showing starry night-skies, planets and galaxies. At the end of the corridor hung the biggest one. It was huge and covered almost the entire wall. Kaito read the small plate that was on the wall next to the picture and shivered.
'Volley Comet, by Takamoto Rikuto'.
He had seen this picture before when he had searched the net about the Pandora legend and the comet mentioned in it. Even if he didn't believe in the whole immortality-thing, it didn't hurt to know a little about what made your opponent going. Kaito had found out that, yes, there actually was a comet named Volley and that it crossed the earth's path every ten thousand years, following its route through the universe. There had been photos too, taken with some strong telescopes, for the comet had been pretty far away at that point. What one could see in the night sky was actually the past, because of the time light needs to reach us. For example, the sunlight needs about eight minutes, the moonlight about 1,3 seconds. So for something like this comet, it surely was possible to see it coming if you knew where you had to look for it. Even though the picture you got was a bit outdated.
Well, and the most prominent photo had been this one. Best quality, most reviews, highest click rate. If this picture was here, he was sure he was in the right place.
Looking left and right, he found that there was only one door on the left side. He went over to it and listened if he could make out any sounds from inside the room. There was nothing to be heard. No rustling, no footsteps and no voices, and he decided to take a look inside.
The door wasn't locked, what made him stop for a second. He gave a soft knock in case someone was in there after all. He could always say that he had to check something like the ventilation or light bulbs or whatever, but just entering without any notification would be suspicious. After no one answered, he entered the room and closed the door behind himself.
The room was big - as in really, really freaking big. And, how to say it - dignified. The furniture seemed to be expensive, just as the paper screen with the wonderful calligraphy that stood in one corner. It had a traditional feeling to it. The bookshelves were filled with books, Kaito was sure cost a fortune and the massive table seemed to be made of ebony. The only things that seemed to be out of place were the laptop on the table and the six flat screens mounted on the wall next to it. On them, Kaito could now see that this was indeed a casino as the scenes flickered from one camera angle to the next.
His skin tingled. This seemed to be the place he had been searching for. After a last check that no one was coming, he went over to the table and examined the laptop. It was on, but a click showed him a screensaver an a request for a password. Would have been too easy, right?
Kaito sighed and turned to the drawers to his right. The first held just pencils, a calculator, a costly pen and so on. Everything was neatly sorted and he took care not to shift anything. The owner of this office seemed to be a well organized person and those people tended to pick up on the tiniest changes.
The second drawer was just as uninteresting. It was the third one that made him hold his breath. This person not only was well-organized - their love for traditional things seemed to be involving old fashioned files as well. Maybe he didn't even need to crack the password for the laptop. He didn't expect to find personal files, listing crimes or such things. He just needed something incriminating enough to get the police something to work with. After all, they could just say that Kaito being here was total coincidental and that they hadn't anything to do with the kidnapping.
He flipped through the pages feverishly, knowing that he wouldn't have that much time. No one who held such a high position would leave his office unlocked and the laptop running if he didn't intend to come back very soon.
Nothing. Nothing. And nothing.
Frustrated, Kaito closed the last file to put it back into the drawer. Well, who would put such stuff into a unlocked drawer? At least he now knew the name of the casino. 'Infinity'. But now he had to go through the trouble of cracking the password. The stress seemed to get to him a bit because he dropped the folder. He cursed under his breath and bent down to pick it up.
"Searching for something?"
With a jolt, he was back up, folder forgotten on the floor.
A man was standing in the doorframe and looked at him calmly. Kaito's brain provided him with a quick analysis, learned from years of observing people to impersonate them.
Middle-aged, maybe 45 - 50 years old, slender built, about 170 cm, designer suit, sharp eyes, composed behavior, used to having the upper hand, gun holster under his jacket.
The man must have noticed Kaito's gaze towards his jacket and grinned while he took out a small handgun.
"You are very attentive, Kuroba Kaito." His voice was smooth and pleasant with a hint of amusement. "I have no idea how you managed to get up here or how you escaped Snake, but I will put an end to your exploration here and now. You better had left when you had the chance instead of snooping around. While I had something else in mind for you, I don't think that I really need you anymore. KID got the message and will follow up on it. After all," he cocked the gun and took aim. "No one gets hurt, right?"
Kaito swallowed thickly. He had faced off guns before, but then he'd had his equipment and an escape route at the ready. Now he was standing in the corner of a room with empty hands and nowhere to run.
'Lady Luck, now would be a very good opportunity to show me that you still favor me.'
He almost couldn't believe it when he heard the knock on the door. Lady Luck sure answered promptly.
"What is it?" the man asked without lowering the gun.
"It's me, Snake, Sir - Takamoto-sama," came a rough voice through the door.
The man, Takamoto apparently, huffed. "Good timing. Come in, Snake."
The moment the door opened wide enough to show who was standing in front of it, Kaito's breath caught and he cursed Lady Luck for her fickleness.
Stepping into the room was not only Snake, but also Rat. But what made Kaito clench his teeth was the sight of the two other persons. Kudou Shinichi was dragged in between the two men, seemingly unconscious and Snake shoved a girl in with his free hand.
Aoko.
Frozen to the spot, Kaito could just watch as Snake gave Aoko another push that sent her to her knees. Her small outcry was muffled by the tape over her mouth, but it was enough to jolt him back into action.
"Hey! What..."
"Stop right there," Takamoto said calmly and changed his target. Now the gun was pointing at Aoko, what shut Kaito up completely. He was breathing heavily by now, but forced himself to regain his cool. His eyes took in Aoko's frightened gaze that was fixated on him, her pale face and the red skin on her wrists where the cable ties had chafed it. It made him angry to see her like that, but thankfully, she seemed to be unharmed otherwise.
That couldn't be said for Shinichi, though. The detective had been dropped to the floor next to Aoko and was bound just like her. On his hair and neck, Kaito could see dried blood. At least he seemed to be coming to his senses now, as he was shifting his position slightly and his eyes opened just a bit. Had they drugged him? Was he concussed? Kaito didn't know.
Snake's widened eyes meanwhile switched back and forth between Kaito and Shinichi. "How can you...? Why are there two of you?"
Kaito raised an eyebrow. Really? While yes, Shinichi and himself bore a striking resemblance, even someone not so bright like Snake should be able to pick up on it. Especially when he was faced with both of them.
Takamoto seemed to think the same. "Snake, what are you talking about?" he asked harshly. "First you let the Kuroba boy escape and now you drag two other teens here? What do you think we're doing here? I think I've given you a bit too much leeway and you're in need of a reminder of your position."
Snake blanched and hurried to explain. "No no, wait boss! I've got the Kaitou KID for you right here!"
He waved an envelope in his hand. An envelope Kaito recognized all too well.
"I even got proof." He took the letter out and reached it to Takamoto, who gestured him to keep Kaito in check while he skimmed through the lines Kaito had written only for Aoko's eyes to see.
"And the girl here - she is Nakamori-keibu's daughter and he is in love with her."
Takamoto let out a short laugh and stepped over to Shinichi, who still had a hard time to get everything into focus.
"So, you are the troublemaker who gave me so much headache?"
With a swift motion, he kicked Shinichi's ribs and the detective curled in on himself, the tape containing his painful gasp. An intense hatred was written on Takamoto's face as he continued to kick into the defenseless boy's stomach and ribcage.
"Do you even know how much you troubled me?" Kick. "Cost me?" Kick. "Delayed..."
"Stop!"
Kaito's shout saved Shinichi from another bruise. Kaito watched how he coughed violently and tried to roll away from Takamoto, who grabbed him and dragged him back, shoving his gun against his head.
"Why? Why should I stop here? Why not just kill him on the spot and be done with it? I'm sure the two of you would be enough to convince the police to deliver the jewel. Why bother with this thief any longer? Kaitou KID should be dead anyway." His finger bent around the trigger.
"No!" Kaito yelled. "He's not KID! It's me! I'll get the jewel for you!"
The scenery was frozen for a moment. Kaito heard his blood rush in his ears and the thumping of his heart was almost painful. He didn't dare to look at Aoko. He didn't know if she'd seen the letter's content herself, but now the truth was out and he couldn't afford to let it get to him. Not right now. Not when all their lives were at stake. So, he focused on Takamoto, tried to convince him not to kill Shinichi and hoped that he wouldn't shoot himself instead.
Takamoto looked at him unimpressed. "You are Kaitou KID? And you're not only trying to save this boy?" he asked and nudged Shinichi's head with the muzzle. "You have five seconds to prove it. One..."
"I could tell you about every time I've encountered one of your useless pawns like Snake over there. I could tell you about the original KID you've murdered in cold blood. I could even recite the whole letter you are holding in your hands. Are you interested?" Kaito spoke with as much aloofness as he was able to muster. He just didn't want to let the other man know in how much turmoil he was inside.
'Don't let him see how much he gets to you. Pokerface!'
Takamoto reassessed the situation before he turned to Shinichi again. "Now, if you are not KID, then who are you, pray tell?" he asked and ripped off the tape from Shinichi's mouth.
The detective gasped for air, still coughing a bit, but said nothing.
"Speak!" Takamoto ordered. "Give me a reason to keep you alive."
Now, Shinichi looked him straight in the eye. Regaining his breath, he answered with an arrogant grin. "My name is Kudou Shinichi, maybe you've heard of me?"
Recognition showed in Takamoto's eyes and Shinichi's grin only widened, and though his voice was a raspy, he still managed to sound smug. "I think you will have the whole Tokyo Police Department after you, now that you've taken one of their detectives. Are you really up to testing how far you can get after they know you've killed me?"
Takamoto had enough and backhanded him hard enough to almost knock him out again. But it had been worth it. Kaito winced as he watched how Shinichi tried to get back up again with blood trickling from a corner of his mouth and was very thankful for his sacrifice. Because that was what this whole show had been. A sacrifice to give Kaito an opportunity to do something, anything. Sadly, Kaito's options were very limited with Snake's gun still trained on Aoko, but as Takamoto as well as Rat and even Snake had been distracted by the other teen, Kaito had been able to write the name of the casino onto a slip of paper and hide it in his clothes.
Takamoto got up again. "Well, well, if that isn't a surprise. The Heisei Holmes himself in my humble home. I actually have to thank you," he smiled and gave a short bow. "You've taken care of the Black Organization that was so bothersome for me." He then turned to Kaito. "I think I will take you up on your offer. Bring me that jewel and your friends here are free to go." He made a generous gesture at Shinichi and Aoko, who had watched everything with tears running down her face.
"But if you come back with the police or without the jewel or don't come back at all..." He paused and put the gun back at Shinichi's temple. "They're dead."
