The Detective Prince

Chapter 133

A Wave of Time

The internal clock was now ticking, more prevalent than it had been before. The day was finally here, ready to make the first move which would ultimately lead to the prized possession itself. He stood with his hands leveled upon the railing, staring into the far distance ahead.

"Tonight can't come any sooner."

The presence of another approaching could be felt soon after, glimpsing over his shoulder to see he had been joined on the balcony side.

"You've been standing here for a while now Master Kuroba," Konosuke said after reaching his side. "It almost feels as if you're waiting for something."

"Not waiting," Kaito said in response. "Preparing."

"I don't understand," Konosuke said upon hearing this. "What exactly is it you're preparing for?"

"For what is to come."

"By what is to come would you referring to tonight's date with Mr. Lane?"

"I don't recall a gathering for business interest in a game of chess amongst employees to be considered a date," Kaito said in response. "But I can appreciate the humor."

"I didn't hear an answer within all of that."

"To truly reach our goal will be to not only get ourselves acquainted but to look past tonight's events in the process."

"By that you mean to set up for future reference, am I right in saying so?"

"Yes," Kaito confirmed. "There's no simpler way of putting it."

"With that out of the way there's only one thing left unanswered that I'd like for you to share with me."

He turned to face him at the mention of this.

"What is it you wanted to know?"

"The plan master Kuroba, the full plan," Konosuke replied. "I want to know what you have in mind for how we're going to get our hands on that device."

"Agreed," Kaito said. "I've held off on giving you the full details for long enough."

"That's not all."

He expressed a look of surprise upon hearing this.

"It isn't?"

"No," Konosuke replied. "I think it's time we discussed matters dealing with our… friend."

"Oh," Kaito said turning back for the railing side. "You're thinking of the contractor."

"Precisely," Konosuke said in response. "With all that's been going on we've had very little time to focus on this mystery guy."

"Don't you mean person," Kaito corrected. "There is no confirmation that the individual we're dealing with is a man."

"Sure sounded to be the case from the call you recorded on the initial contact," Konosuke said. "But then they could have been using a voice disrupter of some kind."

"Man or woman, I think it's a safe bet some kind of device was used to shadow their true voice."

"Something we can agree on," Konosuke said. "But how do you propose we go about finding whoever this person is?"

"Like a thread and needle."

"… What?"

"Through absolute patience," Kaito clarified. "They've obviously got some hidden agenda we've yet to be informed of."

"And I don't think we will."

"A fair assumption," Kaito agreed. "Which is why we'll have to try figuring for ourselves, through time and patience."

"Yes."

"Whatever they've got going won't hold for long," Kaito continued. "They're bound to have a misstep at some point, and when they do."

"We'll capitalize."

"Exactly," Kaito said. "But there's more to it than that."

"And what is it you mean by that?"

"The elements," Kaito replied turning back to face him. "The outside circumstances we can't fully control."

"I don't believe I fully understand what you mean by that master Kuroba."

"It's all in the reaction," Kaito replied before setting his sights to the clear once more. "With every action we made we can surely expect a reaction of sorts."

"Well of course," Konosuke said. "That's with anything."

"Perhaps so," Kaito said. "But for what comes next will only raise the stage, whether we like it or not… the spot light will be on us."

There was no real way of describing, no clearer way of putting it in his mind. Only one thing could be felt, uncertainty. A small sequence of time had passed since the news had been broken, looking up at him with only one question to ask.

"How long?"

He was given the eye contact that he seeked, clearly finding there would be nothing hidden behind the truth.

".. I don't know."

"Is there anything," Shinichi asked. "An estimation even?"

"Hours, days, weeks," Bruce began. "Maybe even as far as a month."

"I don't understand," Shinichi said with the shake of his head. "How do we not know?"

He took only one step more after hearing this, coming to a complete stop as he turned to face him once more.

"It is as I said before," Bruce finally replied. "The state of your current condition is erratic, unpredictable to the point of where no conclusions can be made."

"But you just said it yourself," Shinichi reminded. "The fact that I'm supposedly succumbing to something."

"Though true there is no real time table to measure on."

"Being that this is obviously something new to you as it is to me it wouldn't expect for you to know more on the matter," Shinichi said. "But at least answer me this, what are we looking at?"

He was a little taken back by this, sensing no fear of uncertainty regarding his current state or the thought of what was to come.

"Very well," Bruce said turning back for the house. "Right this way."

He immediately followed as instructed, taking very little time for him to speak on the matter once again.

"Where are we going?"

"The book room."

"Why there?"

"That's where I was reading over your blood results before meeting with you," Bruce replied. "I could explain everything, but I think everything would make a lot more sense if you saw it for yourself rather than for me to try and explain."

It was now that an uncertainty slid in, starting to wonder if he really wanted to see the results from the blood test. Either way, he was soon to find out.

The day's journey was just getting started, looking out across the way as they trailed along the high ends of the city. There was something different, something that didn't take long for them to take notice of. It was quiet, more so than it had ever been with the two traveling together. It was in the thought of this that they came upon a red light, giving an opportunity to address the matter.

"You're not you're not as talkative as before," Kylane said briefly glancing over at him. "Is everything alright?"

He showed no signs of movement for the first moments, finally looking her way as she began to drive once more.

"I'm fine," Heiji replied in an assuring matter before turning back for the window side. "There's just a lot to think about."

"Like what?"

"Everything."

He was unsure if that was the best way to depict it, but was the first thing that came to mind. Nothing further was said on the matter, both keeping to themselves as they traveled on. Everything was now going full circle throughout his mind. It was first the stolen weapons, which ended up leading to the death scene from the day before. But what was most questioning of all was the link, the link between the man found dead and Salomon Green.

This stayed clear to the mind the rest of the way, taking only minutes for them to reach the police station of Central City. They pulled into the lot soon after, taking very little time to find an open space.

"Let's do this." Kylane said being the first of the two to unbuckle and find her way out of the car.

He joined her soon after, stepping out from the passenger side with the lock of the door before closing it.

"After you." Heiji said seeing to it that she lead the way.

It was only then that they took notice of someone in uniform heading their way. The two of them recognized who it was only after a couple steps taken.

"Detective Norwich, Hattori.. so glad you were able to make it."

"Good to see you again as well detective Noles." Heiji said being the first to reach out his hand to greet his.

"It's clear you've been expecting us." Kylane said.

"Yes, we all have." Detective Noles said looking her way.

"Perhaps so," Heiji said. "But it isn't very often that we're greeted out in the parking lot."

"That's only because I was asked to do so."

"You were asked to meet us out here," Heiji more than surprised to learn this. "Why?"

"Come," Detective Noles instructed. "There's something the two of you must absolutely see."

They looked to one another before facing back to see he had already begun walking. Neither had any idea what they would come to find. This unknown only brought about a high interst, one which could be felt for the both of them.

"Maybe now we've come to a real break in the case."

To Be Continued