A/N: Wow, this story has actually gathered quite a bit more attention than what I thought it would! Several people added it to their alerts, and even more to their favorites. I simply hope the following chapters don't disappoint.
Again, point out any problems as soon as you see them, and I'll get them fixed up. Even if it means I have to do a bit of reshuffling throughout the whole chapter, I'd rather put in the extra time and have my story in character than just let my story look lazy.

Also, a shout out to Chelseaj500 for the review! It was certainly a part of getting this chapter up so fast! (Though this I'm sure will be the exception, not the rule. ^_^ It usually takes me much longer to get out this much.)

Well, he'd been mostly right. The day hadn't been terrible, and Genta had been the source of a couple of laughs over lunch, but mostly his mind wondered. Learning division didn't really keep his mind occupied for long, and his thoughts kept turning back to that morning. He'd told the Detective Boys that he'd had a headache all day long, which gave him an excuse both for what he was sure had to have been odd, distant behavior and for heading home right after school let out.

With a relieved sigh, he could finally make out the lettering of the Detective Agency, knowing that soon, he might just be able to close his eyes for more than a few minutes without being interrupted. As he approached the stairs, he found himself massaging his neck, and realized that he actually did have a headache coming on. He wouldn't even need to lie to Ran again in order to be left alone. He tensed in realization just before grabbing the nob. He'd been willing to lie to her, just like that. Sure, it wasn't a big lie, but it was a lie nonetheless. He wrestled with his emotions, before finally being able to smooth his features into his usual calm expression. From there, a smile wasn't much harder. It would be the acting in front of the Mouri's that might be difficult. He took one last breath, then threw the door open, looking to all the world like a happy, energetic 8 year old just returning from school.

"I'm home!" Conan yelled as the door fell shut behind him. But as it turned out, he needn't have bothered with the show. Kogoro was asleep on the couch, empty beer cans laying just out of the reach of his limp arm dangling above the floor, the tv showing a rerun of some Yoko special. Ran didn't seem to be home yet, which was strange, but also not a first. Ran's school was closer, and she got out ten minutes before he did, so she almost always beat him home. Typically when she didn't, it was because Sonoko had dragged her off shopping somewhere. And usually, the only time that Sonoko takes Ran anywhere before letting her return home to clean up a little is when she's had a bad day. Instantly, images of that morning poured into his head, his heart stinging painfully in his chest. I'll call her tonight, he decided. It has been a while.

He looked over at the snoring old man, and suddenly Shinichi's phone in his pocket felt ten times heavier. Or I could call her now. After all, there's no way this guy's gonna wake up any time soon, and I doubt Sonoko will let her rest for a couple hours anyway. He hesitated, just for a second, hand half buried in his pocket, before he pulled out Shinichi's phone and began to turn the dials on his bowtie.

He hit 2, speed-dial taking care of the rest. And just as his finger floated over the SEND button, something happened that he hadn't taken into consideration. A phone started to ring. For a second, he thought it was his, even holding it up to his ear. Quickly though he realizes that it wasn't his phone, but the office phone that's ringing. It seems the first ring was able to rouse Kogoro from his sleep, a feat worthy of considerable merit on its own. With a slight sway in his step he walked over toward the desk over the second, third and fourth rings, nearly tripping at the fifth. The still not-so-sober detective grabbed the handset before the sixth ring, bringing it up to his ear. "Mouri Detective Agency!" His words were slightly slurred, due to either the alcohol or only just moments ago being asleep, or more likely, a combination of the two.

It wasn't until he could make out a faint, funny noise that he realized he'd been holding the phone upside down. "Hello? Is anyone there!" A clearly agitated feminine voice shouted. The detective held the phone back for a moment, his ear still ringing. Conan used the distraction it offered to sneak closer to the conversation so that he could hear both ends. "This is detective Mouri, what can I do for you?" His tone might have been a little on the strained side, but the other person didn't seem to notice.

"Thank god, finally someone answers!" There's an exasperated breath taken on the other end, and then "I'm sorry, that's the stress talking. Just -" With a slight movement of Kogoro's head, Conan hastily retreated to his earlier position near the couch, pretending to be interested in whatever it was that was on tv as the detective looked around for a pen, the volume from the cosmetics commercial drowning out whatever the client said next. It wasn't much though, for after a few quick strokes of a pen, the handset was dropped unceremoniously back onto its cradle. After a second to fold the paper and shove it into his pocket, the detective sent a cursory look around the room, apparently confused at what he found. Or rather, didn't find. "Hey brat, where'd Ran run off to?"

"Don't know, " Conan said in his most child-like tone. "I think she probably went shopping with Sonoko-neechan." With a somewhat disinterested grunt, he looked around the house again, thinking. Take it easy there Oji-san. Don't strain yourself.

"Well then..." his eyes fell square on Conan's own, making it obvious what he was thinking about. Leaving Conan home by himself, versus taking him along without Ran to watch over him. Ran had left him home alone plenty of times, but that was the thing. Ran had, and apparently, she'd done it either against Kogoro's wishes or without ever talking about it at all. What's he think I'm going to do anyway? Throw a party while he's out? Erase his Yoko collection?

Finally, after a few seconds of silence, Conan reached into his pocket and held his phone open between them. "Why don't we call her and find out!"

Detective Takagi was sitting at his desk, trying his best to find the one common thread, the one piece of evidence, the one statement that would point him in the right direction. And failing. The frustration was only compounded by the fact that so few cases these days ever actually wound up with any actual desk work. He was used to being out at the crime scene, finding the clues only hours, even minutes, after a crime had occurred. And usually, the case was solved right then and there, on the spot, at the crime scene. Though usually that's only because Mouri-san is involved somehow, he reminds himself. It seemed like he hadn't had a case where the detective hadn't somehow been involved since before the discovery of fire. But after so long, Kogoro was finally absent from not just one crime scene, but three, and because of it Takagi was having to solve it the old fashioned way. With hard work.

Even the kid is better than I am half the time, he thought. Clearly, he wasn't in the best of moods at the moment. He hadn't even really meant it when he'd thought it. But, now that the thought had invaded his thinking space, it dawned on him that it was true. Sure most of the time he'd have some transparent excuse ready, usually the 'I saw it on tv!' excuse, or 'That's what Shinichi-neechan said!', and he'd have no choice but to give an embarrassed laugh for not noticing what had been so easily pointed out and consider what the child had said. But everyone else seemed to take those excuses at face value, when it was quite clear to him that they most certainly should not. Now completely sidetracked from his work, he decided that maybe allowing himself to think about something else was exactly what he needed at the moment.

Do they really believe him? he wondered. It was true that he seemed perfectly innocent at times, but when the boy 'accidentally' revealed something pertinent to the case, there was always that look in his eye, and that sly smirk that would stretch across his face once everyone caught on. Not to mention all the times that he'd started to give spot-on deductions, only to stop with a nervous expression part way through. He would look so serious when he'd reveal those few crucial elements to the elusive secret, and talk in a way unlike any child Takagi had ever seen before. It was the same look he'd had on his face, that time in the elevator.

I'll tell you... In the afterlife. The words still sent chills down his spine. Wasn't that a confession, right there? That he wasn't who he seemed to be? That he was something more than just an ordinary elementary student? Wait, he thought, sudden inspiration striking. Elementary...

He took renewed focus on the case, reviewing all that'd happened so far. The first victim had been struck and killed with a rock. The next had been suffocated with a plastic bag. The third had been drowned. Earth, wind, water... Fire! He jumped from his chair with sudden realization, his wordless shout of triumph attracting stares like a moth to the flame. I got it! He was cheering again and again in his thoughts as he raced out of the office. It's got to be the butler! He's the only one with the motive! All other thoughts completely forgotten, Takagi rushed off to bring justice to a man who nearly got away with murder.

A/N: That's right, I made Takagi suspicious of Conan. But seriously, how can the guy not be? Oh well, let me know what you think of the development.
I know not much has happened with Conan yet, but don't worry, everything will come together.