So umm, first of all, I'm really sorry for updating this longer than I expected. I don't want to recall how long I've been holding this chapter. Anyway, sorry for the late update.

Another suggestion takes place here too. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Gosho Aoyama is the creator of DC. I'm just a mere fan.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 11

"Okay, let me introduce to you men…" Sato who just coughed cut off inspector Megure. "I mean, let me introduce to you the one who's going to help us in this case. Come in!"

The door opened and in walked a short, light brown-haired girl. She was about Shinichi and Saguru's age. She looked more like a scientist rather than a person who can help them.

"Her name's Shiho Miyano." Inspector Megure said. "She can help us in the computers and other stuff. I don't want to enumerate. Too many." He paused, "Okay, help out with Takagi-kun and Hakuba-kun."

"Hey! If she helps me out—she also has to help Kudo out. Well—I don't want him to miss all the action." Saguru blurted.

"That's nice of you. I didn't know you had a heart." Shinichi teased. "Or is that a way of you rubbing it in my face that I have to stay and look after Mouri?"

Saguru just chuckled as he scratched his head.

"Fine. But I'm not doing this just because your father is a higher official than me. Oh, is that alright with you, Miyano-san?"

She just nodded.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Sonoko stretched out her arms as she let the sun touch her fair skin. "Ah! The breeze is nice!" She took a deep breath. "The pavement is a bit wet from the rain last night though. But who cares? Right Ran?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah."

"What's the matter? You seem absent-minded today."

"Well—it's just that Ku-" Ran stopped. Oh yeah, she hasn't told Sonoko about the situation yet. If she would tell her then Sonoko will be all fan girl mode and become jealous. Well—she is her best friend. There's no excuse not to trust her. "Sonoko, there's something I haven't told you yet."

"Uh—okay. I'm listening."

"It's about Shinichi Kudo." Ran paused but Sonoko butted in.

"Don't tell me you two are actually dating?!"

"No we're not! It's nothing like that, just hear me out. Dad can't come home now because of work so he asked Kudo to take his place for a while."

"And you've been bothered by that because you haven't told me yet?"

"Not that. He just got a call from dad last night. Dad said, someone just got kidnapped again. The criminal was escaping right before Inspector Nakamori's eyes just as he got home last night."

"Don't worry! We won't get kidnapped! I mean, Kudo-sama is a great detective! He's very alert and smart! With him as your protector you'll be fine!" Sonoko twirled around with beaming eyes as if she was looking at something far away. "Oh Kudo-sama! He's so cooooooool! I can just melt into those beautiful blue eyes of his!" She then stood still with an undistinguishable expression although it was clear that she was daydreaming and drooling.

"It's not that. Since the serial killer was escaping right when Inspector Nakamori was going home—I have a bad feeling that it's Aoko who got kidnapped."

"Nonsense! Stop thinking so negatively! Let's all look where the grass is greener! I got that from Kudo-sama." Sonoko was wearing a wide grin.

Ran's spirits weren't really lifted, knowing that he actually said something like that or maybe Sonoko was just trying to cheer her up , "You're right. I might be thinking too much about this." Says Ran in the hopes of not making her friend worry.

"Okay! Let's head for Nakamori residence!" Sonoko took two steps forward the turned to Ran. "We'll have to take the train right?"

Ran giggled and nodded and they headed for the train station. They had to wait for five minutes but the trip was so fast! Well—it is a speed train. Aoko's house was just a ten-minute walk from the station so it wasn't such a big deal.

As soon as they arrived, they only saw one car. Come to think of it—her dad is an Inspector. Surprisingly—the gate was not locked. Maybe because the doorbell outside wasn't working. They let themselves in and knocked on the door as loud as they can, just to make sure that it can be heard throughout the house.

The door opened but much to their surprise, it wasn't Aoko's mom.

"K-Kaito?!" they both exclaimed.

"Came here to visit as well huh? Come on. In you go." Kaito took the safety bolt off and opened the door widely.

"So—where's Aoko?" Sonoko asked.

Kaito just stayed quiet and led them to the living room where Aoko's mom was. She was sitting on the sofa, her hands covering her face and her shoulders went up, up, down, up, up, down. Right there they knew—she was the latest victim.

"What? But why?" Sonoko asked. She remembered what Ran had told her just before they went to the train station. The criminal was escaping right before Inspector Nakamori's eyes just as he got home last night. If that's the case then—she was kidnapped while she was sick! And the next target could be—Ran. "No way! This can't be happening for real!"

"It is. Face it. This is reality. We have to find that serial killer and get all the other hostages he has!" Kaito said with much determination.

"Yeah but—Kaito—what can a civilian like you do? You're not part of the police or any organization that deals with these kinds of things." Ran pointed out. "Sorry if it sounds harsh but—like you said—this is reality."

Kaito smirked, she didn't who he was. What he does. But then again—he can't blame her. It's his secret to keep.

"How can you smile at a time like this?!" Sonoko shouted. "Your girlfriend's missing and you're just standing there as if you don't care!"

"If only you knew."

Ran and Sonoko sighed as Kaito continued to comfort Aoko's mother. They both dropped themselves on the two soft chairs in front of the large sofa where Kaito and Aoko's mom were seated. No one uttered a word.

Back at the police station, the meeting just ended and this Shiho Miyano went straight to the computer rooms where she can start working in peace, or so she said. The others went back to investigating where Saguru, Shinichi, Inspector Megure, Mr. Mouri, Takagi-kun, Shiratori, Sato and Chiba were. Well—they're one group. They all sat down as Sato poured coffee for all of them.

Takagi entered the room along with Chiba, a big envelope at hand. They slammed it on the table and sat down with the rest.

"What's that?" Inspector Megure asked, leaning forward to get the envelope to reveal its contents.

"High School gym. Backstage. Butchered." Takagi simply said.

"WHAT?!" everyone else took a look for themselves.

"That is just—gruesome." Saguru said. "Can he get more evil than this?"

"Try considering the fact that he's out there killing these people! And we haven't caught him yet!!" Shiratori slammed his fist on the table.

"Whoa~! Hey easy." Inspector Megure suggested. "Name."

"She's an orphan. Haruka Yamamoto. She's just a junior. Unlike the first three who were seniors." Chiba answered.

Shinichi realized something, if the first three were senior students, then he's going for three junior students and then three freshmen perhaps. And how come he always kills one girl whenever his hostages exceed the number of three? What's with the number three? He went deep in thought. He held his chin.

"You look deep in thought there, Kudo." Sato patted his back. "What's on your mind?" she had already finished giving coffee to everyone so she just sat beside him.

"Huh? Well—nothing I was just wondering why he just keeps the hostages in a closed number. Think about it—he doesn't exceed the number three in his hostages. Whenever he gets a third one—he kills the other. Leaving him with two. And he picked three seniors and now most probably he's aiming for three juniors and then perhaps three freshmen. What's with the number three?"

"Good call." Everyone else went deep in thought.

"Exactly who was the one who got kidnapped recently?" Shiratori asked.

Inspector Megure sighed, "Nakamori's daughter."

"This is getting harder and harder." Mr. Mouri voiced, playing with his mustache. "Hey Shinichi! Better watch out for that daughter of mine, she can possibly be the next target."

"Oh yeah, she's a junior high school student." Takagi said.

"One thing also bothers me—why people under college? And why girls?" Saguru pointed out.

"That's another good question." Shiratori voiced.

Shinichi glanced at Saguru, his eye twitching. Of course he would notice that they're girls! Saguru even told him once when they were walking in the school's hallways that one of the victims were so hot that it was a total shame to have her killed.

"Perhaps he's giving out a clue as to who he is. Perhaps his name has something to do with the number three. And I bet he's a guy." Shinichi leaned back into his seat, making it recline a bit.

"But why would he give himself away?" Sato asked.

"He's not. It's just a clue. And besides, there are a lot of people in Tokyo. It would take a long time to find out who he really is."

"Why does he like girls so much anyway?" Shiratori mused.

"As Kudo said, he's a guy. And you know what he does before we find them all killed!" Saguru stated. "It's mostly assumed that a girl in her high school years are still virgins. And those are the kind of girls that have more appeal to older men. Whoever that person might be—he's one sick guy!"

"Not only that but he takes the popular ones too. We asked around the victims' schools and that's what we found out." said Sato.

"Well—so far—what he have is clearly not good enough. A male's name that has an association with the number three." Inspector Megure said.

"But—it can also mean his life—. Maybe he wasn't able to get into college. It seems weird but—it's a possibility." Takagi voiced as everyone looked at him. He didn't notice how stupid it must've been for them until he saw the two high school detectives' twitching eyes.

"This is the hardest case I've been in." Chiba said. And silence followed, everyone was just deep in thought trying to think of a logical reasoning.

"It is for all of us." Mr. Mouri said, sympathizing with him.

"Okay men—let's continue the investigation. Let's stick with what we have so far. A name that's associated with the number three but he wasn't able to get to college?" He glanced at Takagi one more time. Stupid it may seem yes, but it's better than not having any more leads.

Shinichi was still baffled, something seemed wrong. It didn't sound right somehow. That's what circled his mind all through out the day until he came back to that house, only to find someone crying in the sofa.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Taking too long here! Next chapter! Please review. Hope you liked it too.