Detective Conan FF: ♤The Poisoned Trio♤ (English)

Chapter 16

Tired and in a bad mood, Nick wandered the hallways, looking for a specific person. As much as he didn't want to, Dubonnet needed to talk to Vermouth. He hadn't exchanged another word with Ash or Minuro since yesterday. He had been left alone until the boy had disappeared at night. Nick sighed, needing to sort out his thoughts, which was why he had spent the night on the roof.

The agent turned the corner and knocked on the door. But even after several minutes, no one opened the door. Where could the woman be? "Are you looking for Vermouth? She's at the hotel...persuading certain gentlemen," a female voice suddenly said. Surprised, Dubonnet turned around. In front of him stood a slender woman, with black hair and an angular face. If he was not mistaken, Kir was standing in front of him.

She, too, was a NOC, of the CIA. "Thank you. I need to talk to her urgently," Nick replied. Kir just nodded, apparently not interested in Dubonnet, because she had already disappeared around the next corner. "Then I guess I'll have to pay the lady a visit," Nick grumbled and sighed inwardly.

♠♠♠

Brennevin threw her bag into the corner of the bed and sighed loudly. What had gone wrong with that guy yesterday? Why had he been so freaked out? The girl rubbed her temples and tried to remember what the boy had said. "SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND! Because of me she became...." his voice broke off. "She died...because of me...AND NOW GET OUT." Nick had screamed that in her face. Ash bit her lower lip. Had she really gone too far? Had she hurt him that badly with it?

But...if Nick didn't know about the photos...why had the strange man handed them over? Who was this man anyway? The girl brushed her brown hair. She could try to talk to Nick... "No, this is going to be a conversation with a wall," the girl muttered and stood up. Maybe Minoru had an idea about how she should talk to Nick.

Annoyed, she sauntered into the kitchen and stopped uncomfortably in the doorway. "Grandpa? Do you have a minute?" she wanted to know stretched. Minoru was clearing dishes, only putting one plate in at a time.

"Will you help me a minute?" he replied with a counter-question. Ash didn't answer. She stared at the table for a few seconds, then shook her head. "Nope," she grumbled. "Then at least give me that can there," Minoru sighed, pointing to the Tupperware. Ash looked at it with a grin. "Catch," and the thing flew in Chardonnay's direction. It plopped down as the can fell to the ground because Minoru couldn't catch it. "You're serious? I only have one arm-it's not free right now," the man shook his head.

"As I always say, better to have your arm on than-"

"Go, I'm coming," Minoru grumbled, staring at the dishwasher. The two sat down on the sofa. "Well? What was so important that it couldn't wait?", Minoru wanted to know. "It's about Nick, Grandpa," Ash grumbled, playing with her strand. "Why don't you leave the boy alone? He had enough stress yesterday," Chardonnay replied tensely.

"Yeah mom," Ash muttered, stretching. "But why had he reacted that way?", Ash still wanted to know. There was silence for a moment. "I don't know...but...I think...the photos show how Nick had lost his girlfriend...when he was little," Minoru explained thoughtfully. "He sort of...has a trauma. That's why he had such a pointed reaction to it yesterday," the man added wearily, scratching his mustache.

His gaze slid to the laptop. "Someone wanted...us to know all his secrets..." he grumbled.

Now Ash also remembered what the rat could represent. Nick had secrets like they all did. They all lied...more or less. Either someone didn't want the three of them working together...or... "Why would anyone want that?" asked Ash. "I think someone is playing a game with us. Maybe even the organization, might want to test us," Minoru replied, closing his eyes for a brief moment.