Accomplice__ Kudo Shinichi x Kaitou Kid, Kaito Kid x Kudo Shinichi

Part 36:Deadline for you to come back

Running away—it's instinct.

Kuroba wondered if he could have gone back with Kudo. A sudden doubt gnawed at him. If the Organization had kidnapped him, then after escaping the dungeon, he had countless opportunities to leave.

Even though the Organization had threatened him, attacking or harming the police, or a cop's daughter, wasn't as easy as it seemed. Especially not his own mom—she was the Phantom Lady, after all, capable and brilliant. With all other possibilities ruled out, only one answer remained—Kuroba chose to stay, to seek the truth.

In his hand was a photocopy of the death certificate. Even though there were no apparent flaws in the conversation between Martin and Kudo, Kuroba found it hard to believe that his father would die in such a way.

Maybe, deep down, he had already accepted his father's death. Long ago, on those nights without parents, and on that black funeral eight years ago, he had already accepted the truth.

Though unfamiliar with Paris's streets, Kuroba's skills as Kid allowed him to navigate the city with ease, shaking off his tail in no time. It was getting late... Kuroba slipped into a department store, purchasing a few sets of women's outfits, and emerged from the restroom looking completely different.

Rebecca, the assistant who had bumped into Nick earlier that afternoon, was meeting an informant in a restaurant in the western district of Paris, and now with the ID card stolen from Rebecca, giving Kuroba the perfect opportunity to slip into the evidence storage room.

"Rebecca! There you are! Four bags of coffee downstairs, bring them to the meeting room," the supervisor knocked on the glass door, motioning for her to follow, a group of subordinates trailing into the elevator. Kuroba nodded obediently, swiping Rebecca's ID card to enter the office. The memory of Kudo accusing him of stealing an ID card as Nick flashed through his mind, making him chuckle.

One of a magician's basic skills was sleight of hand. While the ID might have looked like Nick's, it was just Rebecca's ID card with a film of Nick over it.If he wanted to retrieve sealed evidence without authorization, he needed to be smart.

A few minutes later, Kuroba, carrying a bunch of coffee cups, approached the gate.

"Excuse me! Sorry, sorry... Ah, time's running out. Uh... sir... could you help me with this?"

The pretty assistant, burdened with too much work, looked like an employee crushed by her boss. The guard frowned. "Where are you headed? This isn't the way to the office or meeting room."

"I know, but my boss asked me to take the coffee and evidence to the meeting room immediately. There are only four minutes left, and if I..."

"Miss, you can't take coffee into the evidence room. It's against the rules."

"Please, just let me leave it outside. I don't want to get yelled at again. You know my boss." Kuroba's face met the guard's resigned expression. The latter finally gave in, standing up while his colleague merely glanced over and mouthed, "Hurry up. You know what, maybe I will lead you the way, in case something spills all over the room. Just, just to be careful, we normally won't let you get inside with food and drinks on hand. "

The guard led Kuroba, who was carrying a pile of coffee, to the evidence room. Kuroba turned sideways, exposing the pocket on the side of his suit.

"Could you help me get my ID card? I... I don't have a free hand."

The guard's eyes widened, not believing what he was hearing. "Miss?!... Ugh... fine, fine." He impatiently pulled out his own key card, and the door clicked open. "Give me those things and get in quickly! Don't take too long."