Chapter 18: Backstabber

It was still raining when Kaito finally got his shit together. He would have arrived on Haibara's doorstep much sooner if he hadn't had to murder one of his (ex) hirelings on the way. Did that part pique your interest? How about we go three hours back in time?

Kaito, on the other hand, had the bothersome job of mopping up all the blood and sweeping up the broken pieces. He couldn't have his neighbours lingering and asking suspicious questions. That was a huge no-no. Plus, having the police show up was the last thing he needed. Hence, he took great care to examine every square inch of the crime scene.

The water in the blue bucket sloshed as Kaito repeatedly plunged the mop's head before pulling it out. Droplets fell, and Kaito relaxedly swished the mop's head up and down his desired section of the floor. To fill the void of silence in his heart, he whistled a supposedly cheerful tune. Once content with how glistening the floor looked, Kaito ditched the piece of equipment and whipped out his mobile. Wait, that's the wrong phone. He redirected his attention to the other pocket.

Kaito's fingers moved seamlessly over the keypads before he turned the dial and put the device to his ear. A formulaic ringtone rang for a few minutes, which irritated the man slightly because he had always told his employees to be ready to answer his calls.

A huffed-out voice eventually came onto the speaker.

"H-Hello Sir!"

Kaito clicked his tongue.

"What took you so long?" The man was chastised gratingly. There was the sound of papers being fumbled about and the squeaking of a chair's wheel.

"I just got back from my break, sir!" the man spoke again.

Kaito hummed thoughtfully while checking his watch.

"I'm heading over." Be ready."

And the conversation ended with a click.

Kaito wished he could claim ignorance of the stresses of city traffic. Halfway across the bridge, he realised that taking the train would have been quicker.

As he pulled up to the front doors of his company, he was greeted by two staff members. Once he tossed his keys to one of the guys and flicked his finger at the other, he emerged from his vehicle.

Kaito said as he slid by, "Teiko-san, I need you to tell the staff to check the security cameras in the apartment." The shorter man hurriedly dropped his head as they climbed the stairs to the office, trying to keep up with the agitated boss's haste.

Kaito made two observations about this man's appearance. The man identified only as "Teiko" looked extremely exhausted for someone who had recently returned from a break. Kaito generally forgot people's names because he didn't feel the need to socialise with them outside of work. This was his first time taking an interest in this employee.

The way the man fidgeted with his fingers and moved his eyes from side to side to avoid Kaito's gaze showed that he was jittery.

"Are you the one I spoke with on the phone?" Kaito inquired, peering over his shoulder.

Teiko jerked his head up.

"Yes, sir." The man's voice was slightly croaked.

"You are aware of how much I dislike it when others take the time to respond."

Teiko's breath hitched, and he let out a stiff cough.

"I'm sorry for the late response. I can reassure you it won't happen again".

Kaito allowed the conversation to fizzle out.

Kaito was horrified to learn that the camera footage from his residence had been corrupted, implying that his luck had run out that day. Even though he wouldn't admit it aloud, he considered it a strange coincidence.

The man banged his fist, and the desk's legs shook at the sudden incursion. A few workers behind him cowered.

"What exactly do you mean, you can't fix it? What was the point of hiring you if you cannot do what I asked?"

Kaito's rage was directed at the shoddy man on the chair, who was typing furiously on the keyboard, sweat dripping from his brow. A repetitive string of 'Error' filled the screen.

"I-I don't know, sir! The cameras should have been working fine. "

Kaito groaned and threw his head back, feeling a headache coming on.

Could this day get any worse?

Losing the detective was one thing, but with no footage, he had nothing he could use as clues.

Just as the man was ready to call it quits, he spotted Teiko's figure standing a few metres away. The man's eyes were glued to his device's screen, and his fingers flew. Kaito's arm flopped to his side, and he took a few steps in the worker's direction.

The man was way too mellow for his liking.

'Teiko-san, "Kaito sang out, his tone tinged with benevolence. "Would you like to join me on the rooftops? We'll only be there for a few minutes. Kaito was prepared for a scenario in which Teiko would decline, but thank God, he accepted.

The pair trudged up the stairs at a slow pace, leaving the secluded office behind them. Despite its dilapidated appearance, the building did provide a decent view of the city. But Kaito wasn't here to goggle at the city. And besides, Teiko was the last person he'd want to share the experience with.

"How about one?" From his breast pocket, Kaito produced a pack of cigarettes and held it out to the wide-eyed man. The man bowed his head in deference and complied, just bending in to let the flame illuminate the bud. Kaito wrinkled his nose at the obtrusive odour.

Teiko inhaled that grey stench, the odour loitering in the air. The grey smoke had a way of revealing the air with its swirls, flows, and artistry. Kaito made a mental note to wash his hands afterwards. They stood there, watching the mundane city's life flash by.

"I didn't know you smoked, sir." The silence was broken by Teiko's voice as he exhaled a thin cloud of smoke. Subtly, Kaito walked slightly to the right.

"It wouldn't be a good image if I did," Kaito promptly responded, a sardonic half-smile flickering over his face. The absence of unctuousness in the man's acts went unnoticed by Teiko.

"I guess that's true..", the employee's voice trailed off.

Kaito could tell the conversation was coming to an end, but he needed to keep it going just a little longer.

"Say Teiko, are you dating anyone?"

The sudden question caused the man to choke on the smoke he had inhaled, and Kaito patted him on the back slowly and carefully.

"N-No sir. I'm not".

Kaito feigned to be surprised as he took a step back and gave a quick up-and-down glance at the man's attire.

"You've got to be kidding, right? I assumed women would be swooping all over you", Kaito said, making a dramatic gesture in the air to emphasise his response. This drew Teiko out of his guarded shell, and the man sheepishly tucked a hand behind his head in response to the forthright attention. An unpretentious smile lit up his pale-skinned face.

Kaito said to Teiko as he advanced for his coat pocket, "How about you let me take a shot of you? It would make a terrific profile picture."

"R-Really?"

"Of course, of course. That's what friends are for, right?

It was remarkable how powerful a single word could resonate with a person. Teiko's demeanour collapsed, and the man handed his phone to the smiling man without hesitation. He waddled back, smiling for the camera.

Kaito made a few comments here and there about where to stand and how to pose. Kaito was about halfway through taking a side portrait of the man when he noticed a message appear on the notification screen. Indigo's eyes narrowed, and he pressed it.

The screen changed to a messaging app, which showed a string of messages that were mostly sent by the sender. Now, Kaito didn't have to look far for answers, thanks to Teiko's lack of social skills. The first thing that caught Kaito's attention was the fact that his address was written in bold text from Teiko's end, and boy, was he fuming. There were also blurry images of Shinichi's figure. Both photos documented Shinichi's arrival and departure from the building. Kaito felt his nails dig into his skin as his fist tightened. He slid his finger down the display until he reached the most recent message and marvelled at it.

Unknown sender: Hostage apprehended. Money has been wired to your bank account.

By the time Teiko noticed the quietness from Kaito's side or the man's distorted face with wrath, Teiko had signed his death warrant. The smaller man threw himself onto the other, his hands outstretched for the device. Kaito stepped back when he saw the man land face-first. Kaito thought he heard a bone crack.

The gushing blood glinted red under the sunlight as it trickled down Teiko's attire, staining the ground. Teiko's eyes of distress bore into Kaito's own, ignoring how broken his noise was. But Kaito was done playing games.

The man collapsed on his knees, clasping his fingers firmly as Teiko beseeched, "Sir...I can explain! I didn't mean to..."

Kaito only sneered at the miserable act and walked closer, lips curled back into a snarl.

"Oh Teiko, spare me the bland details. We know you did it for money. How dare you go behind my back and sell Shinichi for pennies on the dollar? He's worth a million times more than you. Do you think I'm a moron? ".

Teiko's head shook furiously. Kaito crouched to maintain eye contact.

"Such a shame we couldn't be friends. Friends don't withhold such horrendous secrets from each other", Kaito lamented, patting the other man on the shoulder in defrauding consolation. Teiko winced and hesitantly gazed up.

"How can I earn your forgiveness?"

Kaito arched a bow.

"You want to know?" Kaito's reply almost came out as a whisper.

Teiko's head bobbed with the remaining conviction he had left inside of him.

Kaito observed the red and blue flashing vehicles pull up to the sidewalk from his high perch. Kaito felt a sense of déjà vu creep up on him. People were encircling a section of the path. A lifeless body lay in the centre, surrounded by a pond of blood. Kaito clicked his tongue at the view and stepped down. Before vacating the scene, he carefully aligned a pair of worn-out shoes, allowing the tip to touch the wall, and wedged a wallet into the shoe's sole.

Satisfied with the current arrangement, Kaito slid his hands into his pockets and strutted confidently down to the office.

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Part 1: All I have left is my wilting dignity and despair

Returning to the present, Kaito stood at the brown door of the little scientist and the professor, leaving behind his defunct company and employees in the past. The residence had quite a unique architecture, if Kaito may add. Even an odd house at the back. But, never mind about that. He was getting off-topic.

His hands were clammy, and he fidgeted with his jacket, trying to calm himself down. He could hear the murmuring of the rain and the whistling of the wind. So much rain was falling that the sound blurred into one long, whirring noise.

He could hear his heartbeat racing in his ears, which surprised him. Knowing he'd catch a cold if he stayed out in the hazy weather any longer, Kaito's hand hovered over the doorbell, his mind racing as he debated whether to press it or not. Water droplets dripped off his fingers, and he wiped them on his jacket before inhaling a deep breath. He knew that once he rang the bell, there was no going back. He would have to face them and tell Haibara how he failed to protect the detective.

To say that Kaito was a proud man who found enjoyment in many pursuits—including evading the police, stealing diamonds, and making the detective laugh—would be an understatement.

On that previous evening, he had assured the young girl the detective would be safe in his usual proactive fashion. Yet, that promise had been betrayed. The detective ended up being kidnapped by the same group that initially traumatised Shinichi, from right under Kaito's nose.

He retained wary surveillance at the entrance. What if the young scientist was unwilling to listen to him? Kaito knew he wouldn't get out of the conversation unscathed.

Kaito's feet shuffled back and gave himself some distance to think.

If push comes to shove, he could try to handle things on his own. Although the scenario was less than ideal, all he cared about was getting the detective to safety. Additionally, the notion of taking full responsibility if anything happened to Shinichi's companions during the rescue made Kaito's stomach churn.

Yeah, fuck that. He would rather go solo. As he descended the narrow path, the man heard the door groan open. The man swivelled around and nearly lost his footing. When Kaito saw her standing there between the door's ajar opening, his heart leapt into his throat as her trademarked scowl of contempt stood firmly in place.

Kaito blinked twice, puzzled at how she could have known he was there. Perhaps he was merely wearing his emotions on his sleeve because when Haibara's finger shot skyward, Kaito's eyes immediately followed.

There, sitting in plain sight, was a black surveillance camera. Its bright, crimson light blinking on and off. The man had been brooding too deeply to have noticed.

"Have you been watchin'?"

"Yes." The abrupt tone of Haibara's speech cut in. The expression never changing.

At this point, Kaito felt very dejected.

The man failed to notice Haibara's eyes look over his shoulder and search the surroundings behind him.

"Where's Kudo?"

Kaito's shoulders tense, and he guffaws in a stilted manner.

Uh, about that," the man's voice faltered a bit. Kaito hoped it was just the cold doing its work.

Kaito's words, "Maybe it's better I come inside and explain?" were hesitant as he felt the chill seep into his bones and his fingers grow numb. When Haibara didn't respond at first, the man was reluctant; she was going to leave him in the rain. After what felt like years, Haibara ultimately mumbled something along the lines of "Fine. Come inside", thus leaving the place unfilled.

After wiping his shoes on the welcome mat, Kaito made his way into the residence. The warmth of the house embraced his shivering body, and he sighed with relief. The room's layout was very basic. In the centre of the space was a set of purple sofas. Two steaming coffee mugs sat next to an orderly stack of books on the wooden table. A sharp anguish stabbed through Kaito's chest at the sight.

The figure of an elderly, possibly overweight man entered the scene. His bushy brows shot up in surprise when he spotted that Ai-kun wasn't alone.

"Goodness, I wasn't expecting anyone to drop by at this hour."

Haibara gave Kaito an exasperated look. "Neither was I." The disdain in the girl's voice was palpable. Professor Agasa, realising there was more to this peculiar rendezvous, left to make coffee for the visitor, much to Haibara's displeasure.

"Friend of yours?", the professor asked, executed at Haibara as he tottered off to the kitchen. From where he stood, Kaito could tell that the sofa Haibara flopped onto was not made from the same rich fabric as the one in his penthouse. When Haibara's lack of an introduction failed to come forth, Kaito decided to take hold of the conversation.

"Friend of Kudo, actually", Kaito answered, receiving a soft "Oh" from the older man's lips. A huff escaped from Haibara's lips along with an eye roll.

"Really! This is the first time I've met anyone outside of Shinichi's tightly knit circle of acquaintances "The professor's eyes gleamed behind his glasses as he exclaimed.

Of course, the joyful moment was shattered when Haibara decided to voice her apprehensions before the professor could probe further into the exciting details.

"Didn't you say you had something to tell me?" Regarding Shinichi?".

The little girl sat cross-legged across from him, arms folded across her chest. Honestly, Kaito was baffled by the young scientist's ability to maintain such a menacing posture.

"Don't just sit there," she barked. "Start talking."

The man sighed heavily, realising he couldn't run away from the major issue.

"So... Shinichi got kidnapped," he began tentatively.

Haibara's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What do you mean, 'kidnapped'? How could that happen?"

In the next room, the sound of a cup hitting the floor could be heard, and the professor's head popped out from around the corner.

"He got kidnapped!" the man gasped. Kaito swallowed and shuddered. This was not going as well as he had hoped. So Kaito started from the beginning, skipping over some of the less important details like the fact that he had previously kidnapped the detective or how he murdered one of his employees out of rage. That information was unnecessary. Haibara's body jolted and her brow furrowed when Kaito mentioned the black organisation in his speech. Perhaps she knew more about the association than she was letting on.

"So... they're still out," Haibara said immediately after Kaito finished. Her face had taken on a forlorn expression. Kaito nervously twiddled his thumb, unsure how to console her. He was spared the thought, however, because Haibara's eyes shifted into a cold glare directed back at him. The expression vanished as if it had never been there.

"Then why the hell are you here?", the girl, charred with fury, jumped up. Her frustration boiled over as she glared daggers at the man.

The professor attempted to console her, but his words fell on deaf ears.

"How come you haven't saved him yet?" The demanding question came out accusing and candid.

Kaito bit his lower lip. As he endured the girl's abrupt words, a bitter expression crossed his face.

"You promised me you were going to protect him! But that was obviously a blatant lie, wasn't it?"

Haibara's voice cracked, almost breaking.

"You should have let him go with me that night." Then none of this--"

Kaito's breath hitched. No. He wasn't going to let her finish that sentence. Kaito cut her off with a sharp, frustrated laugh.

"Do you honestly believe the outcome would have been different?"

Haibara's lips twitched. The man raked his fingers through his tousled, wet hair in quick vexation before continuing.

It was abundantly obvious that the men in black would have pursued the detective no matter where he went.

"Look, I came here because I thought you could help me despite our differences. It took a lot of effort to swallow my pride. Yet, but here I am".

When Haibara remained silent, Kaito took her acquiescence as an invitation to continue. Feeling the urge to move, the man swiftly rose to his feet and began pacing the room, not paying any mind to the girl's eyes as they followed his every move with intense scrutiny.

"We might have a decent chance of rescuing the detective if I could use your knowledge and you could use my talented sneaking-in skills. And being the gentleman that I am ". After hearing this, Haibara let out a snort of laughter, which caused Kaito's face to scrunch up.

"Until you feel more comfortable opening up to me, I won't attempt to coerce information out of you". Now that he'd said what he needed to say, Kaito felt a little better. All he had to do was wait and see how the girl would react. Everything came down to her.

The man could see the girl's cogs turning as she thought. He was reminded of the detective by the girl's mannerisms which made his chest ache again.

"It won't be enough".

"What do you mean?"

A sigh left the girl's lips and her glare softened negligibly.

"As much as I admire your enthusiasm, the two of us cannot possibly go against the group. Take it from someone who has been there ".

Kaito's brows squished together in a perplexed frown. If that was the case, weren't they basically back to stage one?

Haibara's eyes flicked over to Kaito, who seemed lost in introspection.

"What we need is a team".

"Oh, and you have that I suppose?".

There was an undertone of satire in his reply.

The corner of Haibara's quirked upwards.

"As a matter of fact, I do have an immaculate team in mind". The girl didn't elaborate further and instead made her to the Big screen computer modelling at another table.

"Professor, do you mind preparing a few extra cups? We're going to be busy."

The senior citizen responded with an upbeat "Of course" before returning to the kitchen. Kaito drifted behind as the girl brought up a chat window, and he caught a glimpse of the many messages she had received. She pressed the Enter key with her index finger after typing something that was concealed from Kaito's view.

Several responses to whatever the girl had written arrived quickly, with the computer making a soft pinging sound after each one. Kaito squinted as he tried to decipher.

Haibara said firmly, "Listen carefully," rousing Kaito from his musings.

Her face was set in a solemn expression. "Shinichi's friends are about to show up at any minute; if you mess up, I cannot help you, so I suggest you make up a decent back story for yourself."

Kaito tossed her a bombastic side-eye.

Well, Shit. Meeting the detective's social circle was definitely not on his agenda. The pressure he felt prior to hearing Haibara's warning only increased. He couldn't even tell Haibara he was quite, let's just say somewhat acquainted with each member of Shinichi's bunch.

And not in a good way.

He didn't even bring a disguise with him so all he had was a black cap to conceal his face.

"When will they show up?"

No sooner had he said that the pair heard the sound of a car's tyres screeching against the driveway's smooth surface. A low rumble resounded through the peaceful neighbourhood as the car's wheels settled into place as it came to a stop. Eventually, more cars began to appear. Their headlights illuminated the room. The engine dying down.

Kaito snuck over to the window and peered out clandestinely. When the figure stepped out, Kaito's eyes dilated at the sight of wavy dirty-blonde hair and a painfully familiar trench coat. He gulped. The universe was definitely out to get him. The very last person he'd have wanted to see again in this predicament.

Of course, it had to be the fucking, bastard Saguru Hakuba.

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Part 2: Saying hello to the friends of your boyfriend, whom you have already met, takes some courage.

It occurred to Kaito during this perilous hour that he might never escape the grasp of the Police force. Whether he was the notorious Phantom thief, a regular citizen, or the head of a small organisation, the man realised that most of his life had been spent in the presence of those in authority.

Maybe he should have been a police officer. Was it too late for a career change?

The chitchatting of Shinichi's active bunch drew Kaito back to the dreadful reality. He had taken over the computer seat Haibara had previously occupied, head hanging low to avoid the impertinent gazes thrown his way.

He made a mental note of the current guests in the room:

Ran Mouri- No surprise there. Oh, and her father, Kogoro Mouri decided to tag along.

Heiji Hattori- He better keep his loud gob shut.

Kazuha Toyama- Outside of impersonating her once (big mistake) Kaito hadn't paid much attention to her.

Sonoko Suzuki- the best friend of Ran. She could be a tad obnoxious but she means well.

Masumi Sera-a unpleasant memory just popped up.

Shuichi Akai- Pass.

Bastard Saguru Hakuba- Number one person to avoid at all costs.

To summarise the situation, Kaito was treading in dangerous territory. Outside of Ran, Sonoko and Kazuha and Heiji, Kaito had pissed off three, dangerous individuals so it was best to keep lips sealed. Pretend he was invisible.

For Haibara, despite her anxiety and the urgency of the situation, the girl breathed in profoundly and began speaking. "I'm sure you're all aware by now that Shinichi has been kidnapped by the Black Organization," she said, looking around the assembled members.

"This is the reason for our meeting today."

The group murmured among themselves, exchanging worried glances as they absorbed the news.

"Trust Kudo to always become the target," the Osakan detective muttered aloud. Next to him, Kazuha nudged the detective sharply in the ribs earning herself a "what?" glance from Heiji. Kogoro grunted from the other side, "That boy I swear is the definition of misfortune". All the while sipping from what appeared to be a beer can, which Ran snatched from his grasp and placed out of reach.

Alas, the man wasn't finished.

"Thank god you're not with him anymore! Am I right Ran-chan?"

"Dad!" chastised the young girl, sending a remorseful glimpse to the group, which happened to occur in the same time span of Kaito choosing to look up, and their eyes interlock.

Kaito averted his gaze instantly, but it was too late. He had been noticed.

"Hey Ai-chan, who is this?" came the question he had been dreading since the meeting began. He could tell by his hearing that everyone's attention had shifted to him.

"Ah, this is." Haibara paused as if she was contemplating what to say.

Kaito jerked a sharp breath, waiting for her answer.

"Kudo's boyfriend".

After the response, a layer of silence fell between them. It wasn't until Kaito raised a shaky hand and let out a scratchy, "Hi," did the room returned to its usual cacophony.

"Wait! I didn't know Kudo swung that way!" Heiji squawked, astonishment written all over his face.

"Heiji!"

"What!"

On Heiji's far left, a blonde individual was squealing in merriment.

"Omg! I did get the impression that Shinichi was a little different after leaving Ran! But omg!! Spill the beans!" Sonoko triumphed from her seat, her hands clapping in delight.

From the corner of his eye, Kaito spotted Hakuba scoot closer, leaning in with an inquisitive look on his face. Kaito scrambled backwards in his seat discreetly.

He'll be dammed if Hakuba actually managed to recognize him.

Somehow Sonoko had managed to slip under Kaito's guarded wall and drew closer, invading Kaito's space, her eyes glowing with curiosity. "So how long have you and Shinichi been together?" she asked eagerly.

Luckily, Ran shot Sonoko a warning look before turning to Kaito, saving him from answering. "I'm sorry about her," she apologised before smiling angelically at him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you..?"

"Uh Just call me K."

Kaito wanted to kick himself.

Ok, Ok. Yes, the name sounded dumb and unoriginal. But, at the very least, it was ambiguous, right?

"Heh. What that kind of name is that?" Heiji's disparaging remark reached Kaito's ear.

"It's obviously a code name or something," Sonoko scoffed, rolling her eyes as if she had just solved a case.

Sera, who had been watching the exchange with an unreadable expression, spoke up next. "What do you do for a living?" she asked bluntly.

Now that's a question he could answer.

"I was a CEO," he said simply. "I ran a small company."

There was a collective murmur of interest from the group.

"Was?" Ran echoed his word choice.

Hmm, she had a good eye. The benefit of being a detective's daughter.

"Yes, I recently resigned. It was an impulsive decision. I must admit. B-But with Shinichi gone... I-"

The man allowed himself to break forward, his shoulders convulsing as he buried his face in his hands. Azure eyes welled up with tears as he struggled to keep his voice steady.

"I know we only just met," he began, his voice quivering.

A complete and utter lie, of course.

"But Shinichi means everything to me. And now that he's gone...I don't know how to go on." The group shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to do or say in the face of Kaito's sudden emotional outburst. The man let out a choked sob for good measure.

Even Sera looked momentarily taken aback by Kaito's display of vulnerability as she exchanged a dubious glance with her silenced brother.

It was Ran who reached out first to pat Kaito's arm reassuringly. "Don't worry, we will rescue him," she promised softly. Kaito forced a shaky smile and peeked up at the group through tear-stained eyes, hoping that his performance was convincing enough.

"But how do we even know where he is?" Sonoko's voice piped up.

Kaito took advantage of the situation by placing a blood-stained card on the table.

Another round of gasps and murmurs jolted the group.

"They left this at the scene. It has the location on it." Kaito explained, his acting mode still on. He raised his jacket's sleeve to his face, wiping the tears away with a shaky breath.

Meanwhile, Haibara picked up the card, and excused herself, saying she needed to examine the blood samples.

Thinking he was in the clear, Kaito allowed himself to relax, reclining back to watch the group begin discussing the rescue plan. However, the moment was bittersweet as Hakuba decided to wander over, feigning interest in Haibara's books.

Kaito could feel the tension crackling in the air. Eventually, the detective's eyes fell on Kaito's slouched form. "Tell me," he said, his voice neutral and sharp. "How did you meet Shinichi? And why didn't he mention anything about having a boyfriend?"

Because you're a prick.

"We met at a cafe" Kaito answered loosely, keeping his tone neutral. "I saw him through the window, reading such an interesting book. I couldn't help but feel drawn to him."

"And then?"

"Well started talking, and...things just clicked between us

Hakuba raised an eyebrow sceptically. "Just clicked?"

"Love works in mysterious ways".

Hakuba hummed, and Kaito continued with his fable tale.

"Not that you'd know, but I'm quite an avid book reader myself". Kaito jerked his thumb to himself, waggling a toothy grin.

While Kaito's claim of being an "avid book reader" was factually incorrect, the man had been gradually getting into book reading thanks to the detective's influence.

"So, I assume you've been dating since then?"

"Correct".

There was a moment of silence as Hakuba processed this information. Yet it was clear Hakuba wasn't persuaded.

"Say, What kind of book genres are you into, K-san?"

Hakuba advanced a little closer.

"You look like the type of guy who's into exciting thriller novels like-"

Kaito could see where this was going.

"I'm going to have to stop right there, detective." Kaito articulated firmly, raising the palm of his hand upwards. Still keeping his face hidden, the man hoisted himself to an upright sitting position.

"I've had a long and tiring day. So, I would appreciate it if you could leave me alone."

Hakuba was clearly prepared to respond, but Kaito beat him to the punch.

"And take your pesky questions with you and save them for after we save Shinichi."

The blonde detective rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed by Kaito's response. "I'm just doing my job," he said contemptuously. "If you have nothing to hide, don't be concerned about answering a few questions."

Kaito's brows creased, feeling a surge of irritation rising within him. Typical, complacent Hakuba.

Kaito hissed through his teeth, "I'm just not in the mood right now."

"Is that so?" Hakuba said coolly. "I'm afraid to say that your mood doesn't usually matter in interrogations."

Kaito growled. "So you're admitting you were interrogating me? Like I'm a suspect?"

Hakuba nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders.

"I thought that was obvious?" came the dubious reply.

Kaito was resisting the urge to punch the blonde detective in the face. Hakuba should be thankful that Heiji summoned the man, finally leaving Kaito to his own devices, as he couldn't be more optimistic. Of course, the blond detective had to cast a glance behind him amid his departure.

"We'll finish this later," Hakuba's response left no room for argument, so Kaito could only respond with a tight-lipped smile as he watched the detective rejoin the group.

With a huff, Kaito spun the chair around, the wheels screeching at the motion. Grabbing a few loose pieces of paper from Haibara's paper tray, Kaito began jotting down ideas.

Screw Hakuba.

He had much more pressing matters to deal with.

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"Sooo, what were you talking about with the new guy over there?" Heiji queried once Hakuba was out of earshot of the newcomer. The rest of the group congregated around, pens in their hands.

"Hmm, just some trivial details," the detective replied dismissively, his gaze drifting over the scribbled notes on the white-sheeted paper.

"His mannerisms reminded me of someone I knew, so I felt it necessary to study him a little."

"Ohhh, I get ya", Heiji enunciated, nodding slowly.

Hakuba doubted that but refrained from saying it aloud.

"So did you find what you were looking for?"

Hakuba craned his neck just, observing the interaction between the new visitor and the small pink-haired scientist. When Haibara held up the piece of paper sealed in a sandwich bag, the man's shoulders relaxed, indicating that the bloody fingerprints did not belong to Kudo Shinichi. The stranger was surprisingly an easy person to read, despite not complying with Hakuba's interrogation.

The truth about Shinichi's boyfriend still lingered in the air. And to be frank, Hakuba would rather hear it from the other detective himself than believe the words of a proclaimed stranger.

He knew there was more to this man than met the eye - something that he was determined to uncover.

And, being the detective he is, he would make certain that no stone was left unturned.

The truth will always come to light.