Non-challenge: A Policeman's Tale (Day 38)
Title: A Policeman's Tale (Day 38)
Author: ytak
Word count: 1022
Rating (chapter): K+ (PG)
Rating (whole story): T (PG-13)
Comments: A-kon was fun. Photos up in my lj. Including the small Detective Conan meetup with fellow lj-ers. I'm trying to get back on track with the story. It might take another week or two.
Other chapters can be read through here or here.
Day 38
Over the last year, Takagi had come to expect a few things from his job. One of them was that Conan or Mouri (or a combination of) would be at the scene of some crime at almost regular intervals. So, when a call came in from one of Conan's friends, he knew that Conan was somewhere in the area.
What he did not expect was that the suspects were all parents of Conan's classmates.
This isn't going to end well, he thought as he glanced over the grim grade school birthday party. Most of the children had since been moved to a back room, away from the grisly scene in the middle of the room. A waiter lay dead in a slowly drying pool of blood. Off to the side, the three chaperons looked at the body with varying expressions of dismay, disgust and nausea. At least the body is fresh,Takagi thought with black humor, they haven't seen anything. With any luck, none of them ever will.
He nearly whipped around as he saw a familiar and small form move behind a table from the corner of his eye. Takagi suppressed a small twitch of a smile. Some things never changed. In a strange way, it was comforting to know that strangely adult child was also looking into the murder.
On another level, he was unnerved. Conan seemed able to put aside his emotions look at a case until it was solved in a way that would make experience officers weep with envy.
Deliberately, he looked away from the table. If Conan was snooping around, there was a strong likelihood that his friends were not far behind. They did not possess Conan's skill. They were still children in every sense.
A telltale opening and closing of the door without any visible heads to the room the children were in told Takagi all he needed to know. He slipped over there and stood in front of Mitsuhiko, Ayumi, and Genta.
He crossed his arms and gave them a look. They shifted guiltily on their feet.
“Can't we help?” Ayumi asked.
“Yeah!” said Genta, “Conan's already out here.”
Takagi shook his head, “I will be getting him and returning him to the room. Which is where you will be.” But not after I'm sure he's looked everything over, he thought with a sigh.
The Detective Boys spent several minutes trying to wheedle their way past Takagi. He was almost surprised when he managed to get them to return to the room (but not without more than a few complaints on their part).
"They are very persuasive, aren't they?" said a voice behind Takagi.
Takagi nodded in agreement, "Which is why I don't think they'll stay in there. They'll get someone to let them out, Shiratori-san." He scowled at Shiratori, "And I'm not volunteering to stay and make sure they don't get out. Conan-kun is around here, somewhere."
Shiratori frowned in response. More to himself than Takagi, he said, "He does get around crime scenes."
Takagi shrugged. “Which rooms are the suspects in?”
Shiratori rattled off the directions to the rooms. “And I've already talked to them and its pretty clear who the murder is. Not quite red-handed but pretty close. All we have to do is make sure we have all eyewitness testimony.” He shifted uncomfortably.
Takagi grinned, “And now it's the kids turn?”
Shiratori sighed, “I don't know how you handle them.”
“It's good practice for when you have your own kids,” Takagi said. A moment later he could feel his face heat up as Shiratori gave him an appraising look.
“Is that so?” Shiratori murmured before he walked into the room the children were in.
Takagi blinked. Shiratori-san just walked right in! I wouldn't have expected him to do that. His eyes narrowed. I just know he's up to something. He, well, everyone have been too quiet on the relationship front.
He was startled when one of the officers collecting evidence caught his attention. Taking a moment to mentally chastise himself, he turned his attention to what the officer was telling him.
“...And there is this kid running around, poking his nose everywhere. He's a slippery little bas-, um, kid, um, just like they all say,” the officer covered quickly.
Takagi raised and eyebrow and the other man had the grace to blush. “I think I know who you are talking about. Where did you see him last?”
The other man pointed down the hall. Takagi thanked him and trotted down the hall. A childish voice echoed down the hall quietly, just loud enough to be heard if it was being listened for.
A few moments later, Takagi passed an open door and could see the source of the voice.
With barely suppressed amusement, Takagi watched Conan talk to one of the crime scene techs. The tech must be new, Takagi thought. He's wearing that befuddled that all newcomers have when Conan-kun really talks to them for the first time.
Takagi marched in and leaned over Conan's shoulder, looking at what he was talking about. Conan talked for a few more seconds before he seemed to realize that someone was looking over his shoulder.
“ACK! Detective Takagi! Um, I was, uh, just looking around,” he finished out lamely.
Takagi just smiled at him as he grabbed one of Conan's arms and lead him out. Calling back to the crime scene tech, he said, “I'll just get Conan-kun out of your hair.”
The other man nodded gratefully and quickly turned back to his work, muttering about uncanny children.
Conan looked very sheepish as they walked back to where the children were being kept. Lightly, Takagi asked, “Find anything interesting?”
Conan stiffened slightly in his grasp before he shook his head no. “It's going to hurt him,” he said flatly.
Takagi let go of Conan's arm and awkwardly patted Conan on the head. “The murder's tend to not think of those they hurt, they just want to get their revenge or whatever else they may chose to call it, regardless of the concequences.”
Conan nodded in agreement.