Dumb cop, liar cop (Oumota)

Case of the Serial Killer

After work, Kaito and Kokichi got on the metro together. They haven't said a word to each other since their fight at the station; work went about as normal. For all of his talk, Kokichi just mostly let everyone take care of their cases on their own and kept to himself. That had always been his style, Kaito realized. Antagonizing everyone so he can be left alone.

Kokichi would occasionally glance his way with a violent glare. At that time, Kaito's phone buzzed. Taking out his phone, he saw a line of text:

Hello, Mr. Kaito Momota! This is Angie Yonaga. Are you and Mr. Kokichi Ouma free this afternoon? Atua would like to paint your portraits now. Blessings~

Oh, right. Kaito had almost forgotten about that haunted house incident with Kokichi. Wait a minute, why did he go to such a terrifying place with the little brat?

He showed the text to Kokichi silently, who blinked nonchalantly. "Right, have fun with that."

"You need to come too."

"I'm busy~" Kokichi whined, "And I really don't want to look at your face any longer today."

"You will do it... cause it's the right thing to do."

"The right thing to do?"

"You know what I mean. Come on, be more generous with your time."

"You're the one who broke the statue," Kokichi said innocently.

"Okay, let's say you don't come, and Angie Yonaga sues you for her 10 million dollar statue. Have fun wasting your time in court."

Kokichi's eyebrows crinkled, but he didn't argue back. Kaito smirking in the silence, the unlikely set off towards Angie Yonaga's art studio. Kokichi pulled out his phone and opened a texting app Kaito barely saw from a sideways glance, only to read the blurred letters D.I.C.E. as the chat group's name. Kokichi purposefully turned his body away from Kaito, clearly not wanting him to read what he was typing.

Kaito shrugged, but then noticed that through the reflection on the train window behind Kokichi, he could read every single word:

Supreme Leader: I can't make it right now. Emergency mission. We will carry out the plan later tonight... or maybe tomorrow.

Jester: Aww man! I really wanted to see you, boss!

Clowney: Everything is prepared for when you say the word.

Kaito raised an eyebrow slightly. Supreme Leader? A pretentious username. There were so many questions he had... where was the liar last night? What exactly was the detective's plan? What more is he hiding from him?

Kokichi notices Kaito's stare. "Hey dumbass, mesmerized with my face or something?"

"Nothing," Kaito said, "I was just remembering why we went to the haunted house in the first place."

"Heh. You must have a very slow thinking speed. Are you sure this is an actual memory or some daydream you thought up?"

"Stop avoiding me, Kokichi. What are you investigating on your own? Why are you so determined to keep secrets?"

"Because I'm a liar!" Kokichi flashed one of his plastic grins at him.

...

The front Angie Yonaga's studio was decorated with palm trees and hanging baskets of colorful flowers and plants. Beautiful marble statues rested in the gardens, some fountains creating manmade waterfalls that evoked the image of a lush forest surrounding the Amazon river.

"...wow, tropical."

"Angie Yonaga came from some isolated island but moved here to develop her artistic skills. She has a very weird taste," Kokichi replied.

Kaito took a deep breath. "Try to be polite, ok?" He knocked on the door. Nobody answered.

"Uh, Miss Yonaga?"

No answer.

Kokichi knelt, observing the lock. "Fresh scratches. This door has been picked recently."

"Step back!"

Kaito burst through the door fireman-style. The two ran to the studio only to freeze when they see a horrible sight.

"Phew! What a relief. I guess we don't need to worry about the 10 million dollars now~"

"Kokichi, timing!"

Angie Yonaga, the famous painter was lying on the ground before a painting easel. There was a giant blot of red blossoming from her abdomen, as well as some blood drying on her hair.  A paintbrush was placed in her neatly folded hands as if she were sleeping, but the girl was definitely, undeniably, dead.