A/N: Look who's posting yet another WIP! I currently have the first three chapters (including this one) written, so it's time for this fic to be sent out into the world! Hope y'all enjoy reading（＾▽＾）

Kudo Shinichi scanned the usual post-heist cleanup, noting absently that five or so of the Taskforce were attempting to free Nakamori-keibu and their fellows from the massive glue trap KID had sprung during the heist. Other Taskforce members were tied up or otherwise unable to move away from various display cases around the room. Shinichi's eyes narrowed as he registered that almost every trick KID had pulled during the heist tonight had been meant to keep people from following KID. There had been no glitter or feathers, only a minuscule fraction of the Taskforce been hit by any color of dye, and not one person had been given a costume. Had KID (or his assistant) seen someone suspicious? Had they known something would happen tonight?

Making his way towards the edge of the room, Shinichi noticed that his fellow detective had managed to mostly free himself from KID's trap. Shinichi was rather certain that particular trap had been meant to hit both of them. Whether his instinctive dodge when the smoke bomb went off had caused the worst of it to miss him or it had been luck that the rope trap had only caught his ankle so that it had taken him less than half a minute to cut himself free, Shinichi wasn't sure. Either way it had been enough of a delay that he'd only just made it to the rooftop in time to see KID launching his glider.

"Need a hand?" Shinichi offered the blonde detective.

Hakuba looked up in surprise and sighed, "It would be appreciated, Kudo-san." As Shinichi pulled out a pocket-knife to begin dismantling the trap, Hakuba commented, "I assume KID escaped again?"

Shinichi hummed in agreement as he cut another of the ropes around his fellow detective. "I got to the rooftop just in time to see KID launch his glider. The problem happened after that."

Hakuba narrowed his eyes, "Problem?" he asked sharply.

Shinichi mentally smirked as he finished freeing Hakuba from the ropes. "It's not deathly serious, but it is concerning, if I heard correctly."

The blonde detective was glaring outright now. "Are you going to share this concerning information at all, Kudo-san?"

Humming in absent agreement, Shinichi deflected. "Not here. If what I think is correct, I'd rather discuss this where there is less chance to be interrupted." Giving his fellow detective a measuring look, he added quietly, "Unless gunshots are common at KID heists?"

Hakuba's poorly-concealed grimace had Shinichi eyeing him expectantly. "More than they should be," the detective admitted. As Shinichi opened his mouth to ask what Hakuba knew, he continued, "I do agree that this needs to be addressed elsewhere, Kudo-san. Perhaps we could meet tomorrow?"

~S~

"Hello, Jodie-san."

"What's up, Cool Kid? Ah, Isn't it pretty late over there?"

"Yes, but this is more important."

The FBI agent's cheerful tone turned serious in response to his statement as she asked, "What do you need, Cool Kid?"

"Korn and Chianti are still in jail, right?"

"Of course! Cool Kid, everyone from that organization got life sentences, and they won't ever get a chance to break out."

Shinichi closed his eyes and sighed into the phone, "I was afraid of that."

"What? Why is this bad?"

"Did you hear about Kaitou KID while you were in Japan?"

"Kaitou KID…" Jodie muttered, "Ah, he was the jewel thief that sends riddles to the police telling them when he'd steal a gem, right?"

"Yeah."

"I thought he was supposed to be nonviolent? Are you saying he's one of—"

"No, that's not it. Someone's been shooting at him after his heists."

"A sniper? So you wanted to check on Korn and Chianti's situation."

"Yes, but if they're locked up…" he trailed off, not wanting to believe his own conclusion.

"What is it Cool Kid?"

"I think that we've missed a branch."

"Why that and not some rich guy with a grudge for being stolen from?"

"A fellow detective admitted suspicions but when I looked through statements from older heists, there was nothing. He's meticulous enough he would have reported something like this in detail, so that his statements didn't even reference it? Someone's editing reports. Also, I heard a rumor Nakamori-keibu was denied permission to secure buildings other than the one housing KID's target."

"Shit! Do you think they might target you too?"

"Doubtful, I've been back in the media for a few months and whoever it was only shot at KID."

"That could change if they find out you know there's a shooter, Cool Kid."

"Which is why I'm hoping you and Akai-san might be able to bring a team over to help out. With the FBI working to catch them, I can focus on figuring out why they're after KID."

"I'll talk with James, if this shooter is really from a branch we missed, there's a chance we missed others. The higher-ups will likely investigate possible connections for missed operatives, but they'll need something concrete before acting. If you can get proof of the shooter's presence we should be able to push for a team to be sent over."

"Thank you, Jodie-san."

"No problem, Cool Kid, and thanks for the tip."

The call disconnected and Shinichi set the phone down, hoping that whoever the FBI sent would be willing to work with him and Hakuba. He couldn't count on those he'd worked with during the previous takedown being available, they'd have cases of their own to solve.

A/N: I've read this chapter so many times that I cannot even focus enough to try to find mistakes. If y'all found any please let me know so I can fix it!

That said, I hope you liked it, next chapter should be up soon-ish featuring our detectives meeting up to hash out their plan of action!