Hello again, since it is summer, I hope to get a few chapters out relatively quickly. As with Silver Bullets it might take me a while to get Bourbon's character and thoughts. Please be patient until then. I am also sorry for typos. I am very rusty. This is episode 579.

I unlocked the passenger door to my RX-7, looking up at the blond foreign woman who was getting into the car. I quickly school my expression into the newest mask that I had acquired, Bourbon, as Vermouth sits next to me.

Keep it cool. I quickly pull up Bourbon's character from my mind, putting together the profile of the organization agent. It was all the intelligence and skill of Furuya Rei, with a cynical, cold blooded attitude. I could do this.

"So Vermouth, what could you need from me today?"

It was a couple of weeks after my first reconnaissance mission against the FBI, in trying to find out if Akai Shuichi was truly dead. I hadn't had the resources, or the time to be going after the FBI. Besides, the more time, the more doubt will eat away at those agents. Let them squirm and they will soon give something away.

"Is there a new mission?"

Vermouth smirked in her infuriating way.

"No, I am just giving you a few warnings today."

I pulled away from the curb. I am almost used to her whims now. She would call me up, I would pick her up in a random location, we would drive and talk about the organization details, and then I would drop her off in another random location. Cars, especially mine as it wasn't bugged, were the safest places to have a conversation without it being overheard. I had thought of putting some bugs in there for information purposes, because recording our conversations would be enough to put her and several other crows behind bars forever, but it was far too risky. If Vermouth found one, I would be dead within seconds.

I swerved into another lane.

"Ho, what kind of warnings?"

Inside though, I was shuddering. They couldn't have figured it out right? After all the sacrifices I have made to get this far in? Vermouth smiled at me.

"First, you were quite careless a couple of weeks ago."

I know, but to honest, it wasn't the best conditions. I mean five robbers, plus the FBI breathing down my neck. I worked with what I could.

"What are you referring to?"

Play it cool. Banter back and forth.

"Your Akai appearance made the news."

That's worse then expected. My mask held firmly in place as my stomach sank. If anyone in the organization saw that, they would be up in arms the next time 'Akai' appeared. Any top rate assassin would be after my head, when in all actuality I was trying to help the organization here. That would be horribly ironic if I get killed over a simple misunderstanding. I chuckle, pretending that this was the most hilarious joke.

"Ho, I had no idea my acting was that good. So who is coming after me?"

Vermouth glanced out the window, putting her chin in her hand.

"Gin and Vodka have seen it and plan to stake out in this town for a while. If they see you, they will take you out. I wouldn't be surprised if Chianti and Korn were involved either. They are on Gin's beck and call."

That's right. They kind of had their own group in the organization, one of the most skilled at least in this area. Truly I was honored that they would put so much work into trying to kill me.

Although, it's kind of is a win sort of. I never really liked Gin. The only thing we can agree on was that Akai needed to die a horrible death. But if I keep him distracted, at least I can keep his attention on me besides any other nefarious thing he had planned for the organization. Plus, I know this will annoy the heck out of him. So a win.

"Please tell me you won't let them kill me."

Vermouth was finicky at best, and willing to watch you burn to death with a knowing smirk on her face at worst. Like a very self-serving cat; doing things on her own terms. She could tell Gin to back off, or not. But she did have the authority to put Gin and other higher ranks then me in their place; a valuable ally to have. Vermouth raised her eyebrows.

"Let's see where this plays out shall we?"

Which wasn't a straight answer. Great. I stop at a light and rev my engine absentmindedly. I need to go on a drive sometime, a real one.

"One more thing Bourbon."

I glance over at her. Her body language was relaxed, but her eyes were hardened like the assassin she is.

"I know you want to prove that Akai Shuichi is alive, but do not let this interfere with your original mission. Your top priority is finding information on Sherry."

Right. I had been on other, less savory missions for the organization when Vermouth had called me to come help her with this project. I had been eager to help for multiple reasons. Sherry had been a successful escape from the organization, had tons of information, and she was Elena's daughter. I had to find her and protect her, for all that Elena did for me.

"I understand Vermouth. I just feel like if we don't deal with this possible problem first, it will become trouble in the future. I won't let it affect my work."

Right, that is my top priority right now, but that Bastard just always seems to overtake any aspect of my life and just move in and never leave. Bastard.

"I am probably going to scout out the FBI once more just to check, but that is it. Then I promise I will focus on getting Sherry back."

Vermouth tapped on the door and I stopped at the stop light. She unlocked the door and stepped out onto the sidewalk. She gave me a practiced sweet smile like the darn good actor she was.

"Good luck on your last endeavor then. Let me know if you need help with the disguise."

Then she whisked off into the crowd. I looked up just in time to see the light change to green.

Right, I think it is time for me to go harvest the fruits of my labor. Not only could I check the FBI and check for inconsistencies from a distance, but maybe this news has reached Akai if he is alive somewhere and he would also be hanging around to catch the fake him.

I drive for awhile before I find the place I wanted. I parked my car near the park. A stroll sounds delightful.

I walked around the green, watching people. Children were playing a football game on the field, while their parents and other adults were loitering about, talking and walking. Several teens were playing instruments or had started a game of frisbee. Some were walking their dogs, and even a few were running.

I smiled. Japan's people, enjoying life in the sun. It made working in the shadows worth it, if this was protected.

I always needed a small break after talking with Vermouth. The mask I have for her and the organization is heavier than most others I wear, and I feel like I am walking on grenade eggshells around her. Besides, I am here for a different reason.

I scope out the surroundings as I walk. Barely any cameras, not even phones are out and pointed at my direction. I was just another face in the crowd. I walked along, chatting with strangers, petting dogs, returning the odd frisbee. Just enough to make it seem like I also was just another person at the park, but not enough to leave a lasting impression. I could also see the entire park and could tell that there was definitely no organization members present. Good.

I spy the telephone booth and make my way toward it. I make sure to snap the door closed firmly and take one final glance around. I would love to go a more secluded location with less witnesses, but I didn't have the time to drive out to the middle of nowhere. I feel like everyone is looking, ready to report my traitorous activity to the organization. I shook my head. I could play it off as getting information, which technically wasn't a lie. I just can't take chances.

I pick the phone off the hook and dial the familiar number, slipping in a few yen.

"Hello Furuya-san."

I smiled at hearing Kazami's voice.

"Hey how are you? I wanted to let you know I wanted to go out with our mutual friends soon."

Just in case there was a bug on me or this booth, I keep my conversation normal like any other citizen. He had been the one I had keep tabs on the FBI, and to alert me of their movements. Now was the right time to strike. I hear the clicking of a keyboard.

"They have been rather quiet recently. It seems like they are going to the Beika Department store tomorrow."

Hmm that could be an opportunity.

"Anything on your end Furuya-san?"

I wish I had information from the organization. For as good as I was at information gathering, the organization was well versed in their craft. I replied steadily.

"Hmm, no I can't do that. Sorry. I do owe you one though."

"Ah good luck then Furuya-san."

I hang up, and wipe down the numbers habitually to get rid of fingerprints. So I can stake out the Beika Department store tomorrow, and I remember enough of the disguise from Vermouth that I could get up early and do it myself instead of involving her. I will send her a quick text tonight to let her know. I smirk as I calmly walk out of the park. Tomorrow should be very enlightening.

I check my reflection once more in the mirror and snarl slightly. This accursed face. Lucky for me, the burn offsets it slightly so it isn't technically the same, but it still is unsettling to see his eyes staring back at me.

It was about 11:30 when I got on the train from my apartment and made my way to Beika Department store. There were a few floors and finding the FBI was going to be a pain, but I could manage it. Quickly, stealthily I blend in with the crowd and follow the rest of the people inside.

It took longer then expected to find the agents. It was Jodie again, and I could tell that these past weeks hadn't been kind to her. She looked exhausted, stressed, and agitated probably from the doubt of seeing her friend alive again when he should be dead, and trying to rationalize his existence.

The man with him I recognized only by the files on him, Andre Camel. Big guy, must like to work out. I hear he is a top tier driver as well. Now if he is as good as me that's debatable but still decent. He is worried about Jodie. So I am guessing, by the looks he is giving her, that she didn't tell him of her encounter with me at the bank. He looks at her with pity, like a normal person who is grieving is in denial of the deceased death.

I wince slightly. I know I wanted results, and I know I hate the FBI with a passion, but I am dealing them a low blow. This will be like losing their friend all over again. I couldn't even imagine if someone dressed up as Scotch, or Matsuda just to prove they were alive, I would have mental repercussions too. I shake my head. Focus on the mission.

They were sitting in a café, and I zero in on how Andre supposedly leaves, heading toward the restrooms next to the café. Perfect, my chance has arrived. I tried Jodie last time with no luck, maybe if I tried Camel I would yield better results.

I push my way into the bathroom. He is in one of the stalls, and I go to the opposite one, biding my time. I hear the other stall door slam shut, followed by the sound of running water. I exit my stall and walk straight behind him without making a sound, or even acknowledging him. I keep him in my peripheral, just like Jodie. He looked deep in thought, but I caught his face just as he noticed me.

He turned pale, and his eyes widened almost comically. He stood in complete shock. I was worried he might actually grab me so I picked up the pace a little and managed to hide in the crowd just as he came bursting out.

"Wait a minute!"

I watch his face quietly from behind the pillar I was hiding. Surprise, and disbelief fell over his face as he lowered his hand. Nothing new.

I quickly go up to the next floor. I don't want to risk being caught in another robbery or anything else with those two. Jodie had limited exposure last time, but I am sure if she saw me again, she would definitely take me back to FBI headquarters or something equally bad.

I would have to lay low for a minute, maybe try again and see what Camel would try to say to me. No I tried that with Jodie and almost got caught for my troubles, not to mention I would never get the chance of them being separate again. It was obvious that he had no idea either.

Those agents were the closest to Akai, and they had definitely thought he was dead. So now…I wasn't sure. If he wasn't dead, why would he not even tell his closest allies? Unless he knew we would ask? I wouldn't put it past him, he seems like the guy to do such a thing.

I suddenly spy a small crowd gathering at the other end of the floor. I wander closer, making sure to stay near the back as I take in the situation.

It was right by the elevator. There were two men, an older teenaged girl, and a young boy. One of the men was sweating profusely and was holding open his coat to show…are those bombs! I blink slightly aghast. What is with this disguise? First a robbery, and now another high jacking. This guy is giving me bad luck from beyond the grave.

The other man is one I recognize, not from meeting him before, but from all the files I had seen on him. Mouri Kogoro. Instantly the information from all of my sources organize themselves in my mind's eye.

From the PSB, he had worked as a police detective for years, but nowadays was a private detective. He is divorced from a very accomplished lawyer, and has recently grown in fame due to his unusual methods for solving a case. Apparently while sleeping, which I would love to observe that mystery.

From the Black organization, he was the one that the FBI used to trap Kir and had placed the tap on her foot. The FBI of course, blasted Akai, had sniped Gin and his team when they had tried to attack the men. He was cleared of doubt, but…I wasn't so sure. I don't think he can be off the suspect list so easily. I mean, he looks like he is incompetent, but many other people can act that way and still be brilliant.

Mouri Kogoro stepped back, looking terrified.

"You, why do you have that?"

The man explained.

"I don't know. The man knocked me unconscious from behind in the restroom, and when I came to a masked man had put this on me. The man told me that he had also put the paper bags in front of the escalators and stairs. He threatened to blow everything if I didn't do as he said."

I narrowed my eyes. I could possibly help, but I doubt I could do it discreetly enough to not be noticed. Anyway, I want to see what Mouri Kogoro can do. Let's see if he can solve this with his usual method.

Mouri-san pulled out his phone, his hand shaking.

"At any rate…the police. I am calling the police."

The bomb man walked forward.

"Don't! He said that he'd press the detonator the moment any police approach this department store. He also said if anyone escaped from the floor it'd be the end."

I narrow my eyes slightly. How was this guy supposed to regulate if police come or if someone leaves the floor? If he isn't here himself, that leaves two options. One he could have henchmen that could watch the store front and exits to the floor and tell him when people leave, or police arrive. The other is if he hacked into the cameras some way and could watch our moves from a safe distance. Third option is that he is here himself on this floor to monitor our movements.

"What does he want?"

The man with the vest held up a blue duffel bag.

"Inside this bag he said that the send of these thirteen red t-shirts must be located at any cost."

A sender of red shirts? It must have meant something to Mouri Tantei, because his eyes widened.

"Red t-shirts?"

"About the sender, he said they are definitely on this floor."

Finding the sender of these shirts to this man doesn't mean that he sets bombs up to blow up random citizens. This seems overaction at its finest. So, these red shirts must be a message to this man or something if he is this agitated. Blackmail perhaps? Hmm, thoughts for later. My first priority is go and check and see if it is true that he can monitor this floor. Then my next step would be to contact Kazami. At best, this is a well made bomb that can be diffused, at worst, a very disable bomb that could blow at any time, depending on criminal behind it. I was jerked out of my brainstorm by Mouri yelling at the crowd.

"You hear that? I don't care why you did it, but whoever sent all these red shirts, if you are here, come out!"

That is definitely not how to handle the situation. If people realize there are bombs they will panic. The bomb man continued.

"He demanded that the escalators be stopped, and not let the elevators stop on this floor."

This guy sure remembers a lot of this mysterious bombers demands. I mean adrenaline can help you remember things sure, but there is still a limit. Could he be working with the guy?

I sense a shift in the crowd as Mouri-san says coldly.

"I see, he is locking up all the customers on this floor, huh?"

Oh crap if the bombs doesn't make people panic, those magic words will.

"No!"

A man sprints toward the elevator and soon I am surged forward in the crowd, all shouting and rushing to leave. I step back against the floor, digging in my heels. Mob mentality is terrifying. If we aren't careful we are going to—

A hissing noise comes from the pink bag by the elevator and a white cloud of smoke starts spewing out of the hole of the bag. Immediately the crowd changed from going through the elevator and started to back up.

"Calm down!"

Everyone freezes. I raise my eyebrows at Mouri's authoritative command. Well then, that's good. Calm, but firm, what any good detective needs to be in this situation. Maybe he does know what he is doing.

"You just heard right? The bomber is searching for whoever keeps sending him those red shirts and he believes the sender is one this floor. If anyone is to escape this floor he will engage the switch. Of course, it would be over if we inform the police. Any arbitrary step by one of us could cause casualties."

He turns to the man.

"That's what he said, right?"

I decide to back out at this point. I think he has the situation under control again. I want to check on the other 'bombs' and make sure that my theories about him being there are correct.

I stopped by the escalators and the stairs. At all of the locations, there was a bright pink bag with a small smoking hole in it, just like the one at the elevator. I scoped out the location, eyes checking everything. From all of the locations there were cameras, but they weren't pointed at the stairs and instead at the store fronts. Even the ones on the floor below weren't pointed at them from the vantage point of the railing I looked over. So, cameras is out.

I then started to look for any suspicious figures standing in these areas. Everyone was kind of at a standstill, watching the stairs and escalators with trepidation, however, no one was people watching and keeping people from going down besides workers. So no accomplices either.

Feeling like I did my part, I move back toward the quickly growing crowd by Mouri-san. I see they have successfully laid out all of the red shirts. Mouri-san speculated out loud.

"According to the torn delivery slips, inside the bags containing the t-shirts, seven, six, and five weeks ago, two t-shirts were sent per week. On the fourth week for some reason, only one was sent. Then three, two, and one week ago, two shirts were sent each time again."

I slowly move to the middle of the crowd so I could see.

The shirts were laid out in the order which they were sent. Hmm, there are some strange creases in the shirts. Did the store package them that way when they delivered them? No, then they would be folded the same way.

"Does this mean something?"

"Hmm, I can only say that it totals thirteen, an unlucky number. Hey you don't come near me, you have bombs."

No. The sender sent these on purpose. If these shirts did mean something, then this must be the complete set if the bomber is acting now. I am sure of it.

"Oh, I am sorry."

"Hey, on the shoulder of your coat. There is something red on it."

Huh, that boy. He looks familiar. Have I seen him before? Wait a second, isn't that that Conan kid, from the bank? I almost didn't recognize him. He sounds more like a kid now than then.

"If it's red could it be related to this case?"

"Oh, this is probably someone's lipstick. I came on a crowded bullet train before I came here."

Alarm bells went off in my head. That doesn't make sense. A person with a bomb vest wouldn't just casually ride a bullet train.

"Oh is that all? In any case, stay away from me for a bit."

This man's credibility went out the window. Maybe this guy works with or knows the bomber? Even better, the bombs might be fake. I will have to keep an eye on this man for awhile. The teenage girl that was standing by Mouri-san tipped out the bag that must have held the shirts.

"Huh, inside the bag that had the t-shirts, there is something. Isn't this a receipt from when they bought the t-shirts?"

The receipt looks strange, cut in a triangle almost. Are they hiding which store, or something else?

"There was a receipt for one t-shirt as well."

The boy, Conan, pulled one out of another bag.

"The other bags have them too."

They quickly scrounge around, looking for other receipts. I can already guess what kind of information can be gleaned from there. I doubt the receipt has the senders name, or the clerk's number. I bet the time, which should be around now, and the store's name was on there. And guessing from the shirts, they are looking from the sports section, which is here, but it looks to be the thermal underwear people use in winter sports or running in the cold. I recognize them because they are the same brand as the kind I wear for when I go skiing.

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I debate. Should I stay here, and watch this mystery or see what my caller wants? The call could be urgent, and it looks like they have a good start on solving the case so I quietly take my leave, walking back to a secluded area. As soon as I didn't have anyone around, I answered the call.

"Hello?"

I was expecting Kazami, but I was certainly glad I didn't say his name because the voice on the other end was certainly not him.

"Bourbon, where are you right now?"

I pulled the phone away from my ear to see the caller ID. Vermouth. What an unpleasant surprise.

"I am at the Beika department store. I was shadowing the FBI."

"As Akai?"

I bristled at the name, but the tone made me pause. The tone implied she was hoping I wasn't.

"Yeah why?"

I hear a slight intake of breath.

"Take a look out toward the front of the store. You have visitors."

My stomach dropped as I walked through a store to one of the windows that was facing the front. At first, it looked like a normal busy street, until I saw the black Porsche off to the side, and Chianti crouched, rifle to her eye in the building across the street.

This situation went south, real quick.

Vermouth snorted.

"Good luck."

Great. I was going to need it.