I would like to thank Akrim for pointing out areas of development and proof reading this chapter, much like all the previous ones. You're really a great help!

"Can you find her?" Genta called from around a corner.

"No," Ayumi shook her head as she spied behind the plant's large leaves. "She's not here either."

"Neither here." Mitsuhiko said as he stepped out from the door. "Is this really where we saw her last?"

"I'm sure." Ayumi bit her lips and looked around the corridor, at the walls, the velvet carpet, the pots of leaves and desks with leaflets standing all around. "Here's no sign of her. What will we do?"

"We'll find her somehow. I'm sure—" Mitsuhiko yelped, startled from a crashing noise behind him. Surprised, the detective boys turned around, meeting a sheepish expression from a passersby, his clipboard dropped onto the floor, sheets with check boxes, redly ticked was scattered around.

"Sorry to have startled you. But I was surprise to see you, children, wandering around," the man said, gathering the loose sheets, the trio were helping pick up. He glanced at them. "Let me guess, you here to see Kid, aren't you?"

"Not see, catch!" Genta corrected almost immediately. "We're the Detective Boys. We'll catch any thief as bad as Kid."

The man looked up, brows shot up high before he threw his head back. "Ha ha! So, it's like that, I see!" the man picked his clipboard up, righting numerous sheets into a neat pile and tucked them under metal hinge. He turned and straightened his back, "Then, I guess you won't break out crying like the others when I'll tell you that Kid has been caught already."

.

.

.

"WHAT?" Genta's eyes opened wider than should be possible, "How can that be?!"

"Ha Ha! I knew you'll react like that," the man grinned, his eyes crinkled wide as he stood up with his clipboard under his arm. "But it is true. Nakamori-Keibu clarified it himself, and people are getting ready to leave. You, guys, should get moving too. The heist is over."

"B-but. . .already?" Mitsuhiko tried to think but his mind was casted in total blackness. "It's hasn't even started yet."

"Seems like he wasn't on his best condition today," the man rubbed his neck. "Must be a total let down for you. Sorry. But look at the bright side, one less criminal to worry about!"

Genta stared at the man long and hard before coming to a conclusion and accused him of lying. The man looked at him in surprised for a second at most until his lips were twitching again, almost breaking into a grin. "Now, why would you think that?"

"There's no way Kid would be caught already!"

"He's right. He hasn't been caught for like—what twenty years?Why would he be caught now?" Mitsuhiko frowned. "This doesn't make sense."

The man gave them a challenging look before he narrowed his eyes on them. "Are you accusing Nakamori-Keibu to be lying?"

"Well, not exactly," Mitsuhiko answered uneasily, glancing towards his friends who had a similar expression on their faces. "Maybe there was some sort of miscommunication?"

The man shook his head. "He said it to me directly. It was an order to spread it around. Kid has been caught."

"Why would Nakamori-Keibu tell this to you!" Genta cried out at last, pointing at him. "You're not even an officer!"

Wordlessly, the man drove a hand to his pocket until something like realisation flashed in his widening eyes, and his cheeks coloured. "I, erm, heard him say it."

"Yeah, right." Genta snorted and crossed his arms, glaring at him.

The man crouched down and spoke as convincing as he could. "I speak the truth. I have heard him say it."

When the Detective Boys still looked uncertain, he tried again. "Haven't you seen the exit? People are leaving every second. Why would they leave if Kid was still coming? That's the thing though, he isn't."

The Detective Boys looked at another and nodded. Mitsuhiko turned to the man. "Why are you telling us this?"

"Are you Kid and fed up with us trailing you all this time? Have you decided to lie to get rid of us?" Ayumi asked, placing her hands on her hips, furrowing her brows at him.

"What? No, of course not. Where did you get this idea from?" the man shook his head almost immediately, laughing under his breath. "I'm known as Taichi, a passer-by that's just worried about a bunch of kids. Look here."

Taichi walked to the nearest window and motioned towards the pane. The Detective Boys climbed on to the tables and looked out of the window onto the crowded street. More and more people were walking out of the gallery and queuing for taxis or rushing into the car park across the road under the light drizzling rain.

"See this?" Taichi spoke again, now looking at the troubled faces from the trio. "What if your carers are wanting to leave too? Don't you think they are looking for you right now?"

"Well, they could be but," Ayumi looked to her friends and bit her lower lip before looking back to Taichi. "We're looking for our friend right now, so I don't think they would leave any time soon."

"Yeah!" Mitsuhiko turned to him. "Our group is incomplete, so we definitely aren't leaving."

"Well, well, if it's like that then, here." Taichi rummaged through his pockets until he got a small white card out which he stretched out for Ayumi to take. "If you find you need any help searching just give me a call. But I still think it's best if you'd go to the main hall to find her. She got probably told the same thing and is waiting for you there."

"Thank you," Mitsuhiko said, watching him leave with a small wave at them. "We might just do that."

"A strange fellow," Genta muttered, crossing his arms behind his head as he watched Taichi walk away and glanced at Ayumi's wide eyes.

"Huh? what's wrong?" Genta looked down towards the card. His mouth opened.

Mitsuhiko, now curious, walked over and peeked over Ayumi's shoulder, staring at the card she held between her fingers. Mitsuhiko raised his head slowly, turned his head towards his friends, sharing a similar expression of disbelief and surprise across their faces. It was silent for a while until Ayumi dared to raise her voice to break the silence but even then her voice was not higher than a small whisper.

"That number there," she swallowed and glanced back towards her friends, "Isn't that from the police?"

She was met with deathly silence. Ayumi turned around, fully, raising the card higher but the piece of paper faltered in her hands when a figure came running from the corner. Like a whirlwind long, dark hair swept by, but when they settled at last, and a familiar pair of blue eyes peeked between her tousled bangs, it didn't take a second for the Detective Boys to recognise the person in front of them.

Ran bent forward, leaned on her knees to catch her breath but her voice was loud and clear, full of urgency when she said, "How do I get to the main hall?"

The Detective Boys only pointed.

". . . ., isn't that right, Sonoko-san?"

Sonoko did her best to smile and nod, looking fully attentive whilst her eyes wandered towards the door more than she could count. What took Ran so long? It had been more than ten minutes already since she left. Sonoko couldn't help but be worried. Should I have gone along with her? She sighed and turned to look at the door again.

". . .wouldn't mind wearing this ring?" the man smiled and leaned towards her, showing an emerald ring that didn't quite suit Sonoko's taste. She tried to stop her nose from wrinkling in distaste and glanced back at man she knew to be one of her father's business associates. "I made it specifically for you. This would be a promising arrangement for you and my son."

"If you think so," Sonoko mumbled, not really listening, looking at the door again until the man started to laugh under his breath and several giggles followed. Frowning Sonoko glanced back at her father's associates that gathered around her and found them all looking amused. Sonoko tilted her head. Did I miss something?

She opened her mouth to ask when heavy footsteps and shouts rumbled from the door. She glanced back only to see a bunch of kids storming inside the main hall. Her best friend was still nowhere to be seen. At least she thought so until she saw a familiar figure crouch next to a fallen someone that looked quite a bit like Genta. Sonoko was sure, not many had his figure.

But, was that person. . . .?

"I bet my son would be happy to have a bride like you," the man continued, his voice too smooth as he spoke each word carefully, his eyes twinkling.

Sonoko canted her head back. From where she stood she could only catch glimpses. But maybe it was really Ran sitting next to him. Sonoko nodded absent-mindedly, her eyes still trained at those two near the door. There was another one rushing towards them. Was that Mitsuhiko? Now Sonoko was completely sure. She smiled bright and turned back towards the little group standing close to her, finding that they were laughing more than they did before.

"Let's have a toast," her father's associate raised his drink and the others followed. Sonoko reluctantly raised hers. "Hereby I welcome Suzuki Sonoko to the Family."

"Yes, that's. . .pardon!?" her eyes widened, and she quickly retracted her arm. "Surely, that's only a jest."

"It wouldn't have been if you paid attention," he laughed and Sonoko cheeks burned as she looked at her shoes. But her father's associate continued, "My, my, I did expect of you to snap out of it sooner, my dear."

"My apologies," Sonoko hid her sheepish smile behind the glass as she sipped from her drink, "You see, I'm worried about my friend. She has been gone for too long."

"So, why don't you go and have a look for her?" an older man joined in, and Sonoko turned and saw her Uncle standing behind her. "It's not your place to entertain all these guests of mine in the first place. I can see it bores you."

"You don't have to put it like that." Sonoko crossed her arms and turned away, trying her best to ignore the rising redness on her cheeks. But the others only laughed along with her Uncle. Honestly, what was even funny about that? Sonoko only glared as the waiter came by and gave Suzuki a drink, who was already cracking up at other humourless jokes.

Sonoko sighed and turned on her heels to march down to meet her personal invitees when she noted that they were gone. Her brows rose high. Before she had the chance to look, her Uncle suddenly yelped. Sonoko whirled around at the sound of crashing glass and found Ran positioned in one of her stances. She saw Ran lower hand and glanced down at the shattered glass on the floor. The Detective Boys stood by Ran's side wide eyed, completely in shock and Sonoko glanced back to the broken glass. Based on their reaction she guessed Ran broke it, but before Sonoko had the chance to ask why, her Uncle already threw an offending glare at her best friend.

"What's the big idea?" he scoffed and flicked a wrist at the nearest waiter to clean the mess up. "I know you're Sonoko's friend but that doesn't excuse you giving others heart attacks like this. What was this even for?"

Ran was still catching her breath and Sonoko heard her muttering under her breath strings of "Thank goodness." and "I made it in time." and "He is still fine." Sonoko walked closer and placed a hand on Ran's shoulder. "You alright there?"

"Aren't you supposed to be asking me that?" her Uncle threw in and gave them both a look that Sonoko all too willingly returned.

"You're in danger."

They both turned to look at Ran, surprised. "What?"

"How can this be—?"

"—surely this is a mistake—"

"—lacking manners to be causing such a scene—"

"My friend doesn't lie!" Sonoko threw in sharply and glared at them, cutting off any other accusation about to drip from the business associates' before turning to Ran. "Where have you been all this time?"

"Doesn't matter right now!" Ran replied quickly and glanced around. "Where's my Dad? I need to tell him this. . ."

"Tell me first!" Suzuki pushed forwards. "Who has the nerve to go out for my head?"

"Suzuki-san, you don't honestly believe this nonsense—"

"In fact, her imagination must be running wild—"

Sonoko's brows twitched and she flex her fingers into a fist as anger rose in her. The nerve to accuse her friend like that. Sonoko a had a wild lashing ready on her lips when the Detective Boys rushed to stand in front of Ran as though guarding her from the harsh criticisms they strewed in her way. Only then, when Sonoko swiped her glance back to Ran, she noticed the surprised and hurt look in her friend's eyes.

Sonoko turned to narrow her eyes at them in compensation when she realised their attention was still taken up by the mini-detectives, too busy scoffing at the Detective Boys and their childish lecture.

"How can you say that!" Genta pointed an offending finger. "Ran-nēchan wouldn't lie about something like that!"

"Yeah! How can you imply she's lying? Even when Ran-onēsan was running so fast to save Suzuki-san!"

"That's right. You should be ashamed." Mitsuhiko added with a firm nod, his arms crossed over his chest. "She saved a life! For all we know that glass could have been poisoned."

"Why should it be poisoned?" they cried out confused. Even Suzuki looked surprised. Much less Sonoko who blinked at them for seconds before she coughed and put her irritated glare on and crossed her arms.

"Are you doubting the judgement of the daughter of the famous detective?" Sonoko saw something flicker in the business associates' eyes and she smirked. "Thought so."

Suzuki quickly composed himself and threw Sonoko a look. "Of course not. I'm sure we can clear this misconception up in a much calmer manner."

"In any case, I need to speak to my Dad." Ran said quickly, rubbing her temple. "He's far more capable handling this situation than I am."

"Will do." Suzuki closed his eyes for a moment, pinched the bridge of his nose before ordering someone to fetch Mori-san from the control room.

Sonoko grinned and placed a comforting hand on Ran's shoulder as she steered her away from the crowd. This is my chance! "Now, now. Let's be serious, shall we?"

Ran stopped to blink at her before her face turned a little annoyed. "I am serious. This is serious. There are these guys after your uncle, Sonoko. Who knows when they will—"

"C'mon now. After rising this much attention, you should know by now that you can trust me a little." Sonoko's grin widened and she let out a loose laugh. "Did you really think I wouldn't notice? Or is that part of your plan, hmm?"

Ran frowned and reached up to put Sonoko's hand down from her shoulder, turning to face her. "What plan? I'm trying to prevent a crime here. You should know that by now."

"Oh please," Sonoko waved her off. "You can drop the act. You should have realised by now that your secret is fine with me."

"What secret?" Ran finally snapped and placed her hands on her hips, gazing at Sonoko challenging. "Do you think I'm doing this for show? That I'm only pulling this off as a joke?"

"Of course not." Sonoko snorted before a slow smile stretched on her face as she glanced at Ran a little slyly with just the right amount of coyness in her that should ring Ran's alarm bells loudly. "But I do think that startling the crowd with a fake threat to my Uncle is a little petty, although it still has your originality." Sonoko smiled widely. "Just what I expected from you - a master thief."

"What?"

"You may have fooled the others easily. But you can't flee from me." Sonoko shook her head lightly at the thought to be underestimated and sent her supposed friend a cheeky grin. "I have seen through you. . .Kaitou Kid-sama!"

"What?"

Sonoko laughed, delighted. "Impressed, aren't you? But I won't fall for your tricks anymore. It took me a while to figure it out. But, you know, Ran takes in deep breaths before she acts. Not to mention that her eyebrow twitches when she's mad." She grinned and dropped her voice to a whisper. "Get it right next time, will you?"

She watched Ran resigned as her lips pulled back into a little smirk. "Impressing alright, mademoiselle. I take you'd like to see your friend or at least...desire to aid me?" Ran winked back, "Secretly, of course."

Sonoko could barely contain her squeal when Ran's- no- Kid's hands slipped into hers, and she fought down a shiver from the touch of his cool hands and she breathed out a feeble, "I'd love to."

Kid only smiled.

The weariness coated on her eyelids wore off. Like lead they slowly opened, coming face to face with total darkness masking her whereabouts. Ai raised her head, blinked the fogginess inside her head away as she reconstructed the recent events under a throbbing headache until she ended up sighing, giving up the will to question her bad luck anymore.

A muffled groaned trembled past her taped lips once she tried to move. Her hands suffered of pins and needles and her back ached against the carpeted floor. How long had she been lying there, knocked out cold in the middle of nowhere?

Ai glanced around and caught shallow movements. Her senses sharpened, she squinted at the dark until a sensation of brushed her hand, cold and oddly metallic, she suppressed a gasp and drew back even as a hand grabbed her shoulder and pushed her closer.

"If you keep on moving like that I'll end up cutting more than just the rope."

The voice was eerily familiar and at the same time astoundingly irritating. It was none other than the cause of her troubles- that Junsa-buchō, Asuka Itsuki. Ai frowned but bit back the mounting sharp words that boiled at the tip of her tongue. His callous fingers were carefully unravelling the ropes bounding her wrists.

Ai massaged her hands before she painfully pulled the tape away from her lips and opened her mouth to tell that policeman a piece of her mind for dragging her into this mess when his gentle voice rose through the quiet.

"Sorry 'bout this. Didn't mean to get you involved," his hands carefully searched for her ankle as his fingers trailed down the length of her leg and tugged on the ropes. Ai fiddled with her wristwatch, switched the flash-light on and caught the gleaming edge of a pocket knife held within the grasp of his fingers as he cut the rope wrapped around her legs. His eyes lax despite the mild frown furrowing his eyes brows. "Really. Never thought they'd attack me with a kid around."

"Save the apologies," Ai turned away as she suppressed an eye roll even though her annoyance lay thick on her tongue. "Just tell me what I've gotten myself into already."

Itsuki leaned back, sat comfortably against the wall as he slowly shook his head. "Difficult to say. I'm not entirely sure myself."

"You don't expect me to believe that, do you?" Ai's look was unflinchingly hard and uncompromising enough for Itsuki to blow the air out of his cheeks. He drove his quick fingers through his hair, adjusted his skewed snapback before he faced her.

"Although I do have some speculations, I don't want to casually point fingers and falsely accuse my people. Since whatever I say is only an—"

"—unverified assumption. Talk without hard evidence. In other words, plain nonsense," Ai rolled her eyes despite the twitch at her eyebrow as she remembered a detective freak with glasses and a fake name. "But still, I have the right to know."

"Well yeah, 'course you do. But it might be best for you to remain oblivious towards this. For the sake of police's…credibility." Itsuki gazed away. "This whole ordeal is making us lose face, you know. It would be bad for Japan's future generation to mistrust the police system for something trivial as this."

"This triviality knocked me out cold and locked me in here with you. This incident alone serves me the right to mistrust the police," Ai snorted, gave him a deadpan look, gazing at him unflinchingly. "Honestly, if you didn't want the public to know about the internal conflicts within the police then innocent citizens shouldn't have been involved in the first place."

Itsuki's mouth drew into a taunt line. His gaze hardened on her, perfectly serious, hadn't it been for the awry twitch of his lips. "You sound surprisingly mature for your age. Almost like a miniature adult. It gives me the creeps."

Sarcastic laughter sprang out of Ai's mouth, and she glared at him, threw an annoyed look in his direction as she crossed her arms in front of his chest. "Quit changing topics already."

"I'm not," a pair of knowing eyes fastened on her with a smile rolling chills over her. "I think it's correct to assume that you understood what was going on back there—with Naomi and all."

"It wasn't difficult to figure out given how suspicious all of you were acting." Ai muttered and raised her wristwatch, momentarily blinding him as she stood up, towering over him with a hand on her hip. "Now spill."

Itsuki sighed and leaned back, thumped his head against the wall as his shoulder slumped. "Have you ever heard of police rivalry?" He turned his head and gave Ai a tired smile. "I'm not talking about two stubborn officers constantly competing with another. But a fierce competition between officers for promotion."

"I've heard a thing or two about it. There was a newspaper couple of years ago commentating on the selective selection of officers chosen for promotion. If I remember correctly, it correlated the detrimental effects of their psychological health and. . . ." Ai trailed off and coughed as she looked away from the look on Itsuki's face. His brows were raised high and his mouth dropped open as he stared at her in wonderment.

"Of course, that's only what I heard people say back then. I don't know much about it," she tried to amend to no avail. Itsuki tuned her out as he started whistling under his breath and ruffled her hair.

"You really are something. Goodness, I didn't know that children are so remarkable these days. Makes me feel like an old geezer already." He laughed, his eyes crinkled fully amused and Ai held in her irritation at her own carelessness and only waved a hand for him to continue, even as she glared daggers at the hand still messing up her hair.

Itsuki's laughter morphed into an amused smile but his eyes retained the solemnity of the situation as he glanced away and stared at the darkened room. "As you probably know, not every officer continuously rises through the ranks. Maybe once to every five to ten years. It varies but it's tough nonetheless."

"And that's the problem?" her brows drew down as she looked at him, sceptically. "Jealousy and resentment towards their colleagues for something silly as that?"

"It seems ridiculous until it happens," the pools inside his eyes darkened. "So far I've only heard about it. And yesterday I even laughed about it. It's hard to believe that only moments ago I've seen the real deal."

"Is that why you're locked you up here?" Ai frowned. "Because you have seena squabble?"

"Not a squabble. Underhand tactics and sabotages aren't even close to describe what's going on today." Itsuki glanced at her and a sense of foreboding rouse inside Ai. His jaw was set tight and his face hardened. "Without a doubt, this might easily be the worst day of my life."

The cold didn't freeze her.

Aoko opened her eyes, momentarily blinded by the bright chandelier and its golden rays spanning across the hall, golden like the gem and bright like the sun, washing the grip of that familiar cold away as it relinquished its grip on her neck and defrosted the parts it seized.

She didn't freeze.

Aoko moved to stand up, noticed Hakuba and his golden mob nearing her with an easy smile, but she could see the knowing glint in his eyes and the assured way he walked towards her, as though he knew her treacherous thoughts from before—

"You're in denial and we both know it."

She froze, felt the frantic jabs of her heart that screamed otherwise and the blankness of her head that swept by like an invisible mist. She swallowed, took a couple of steps back and wondered whether it was okay to dash away—to avoid him—to not talk to him. Because Kaito wasn't—

You think he's Kid.

Aoko bit her lip, listened to the silence roaming through her mind and the memories lurking at the back of her mind, but they were there—all those half hearted words she has spoken, all those she has listened to, all those she has pushed away and ignored, all those vague answers Kaito threw at her and. . .all those Hakuba had spoken to her like a light that reached out to her from the darkness cladded ingorence that Kaito shrouded her inside.

"Let's together unreval this mystery that Koruba Kaito is."

Aoko swallowed, silently watched the detective coming to stand in front of her, the glint inside his eyes brighter than the golden rays she had seen before, brighter than this ignorance she was still held within.

"Have you made up your mind now?"

The answer came to her. She had denied it, closed her eyes from it, pushed it away and screamed whenever it came close to her. And now—

". . .you're not believing your own words."

"It's not too late," he smiled and stretched his hand out as though she would take it.

And take she did—clasped his hand with both hands and stared into his eyes, hope glimmering inside the shade of her saphhire eyes as well as the doubt that plagued her ever since her first conversation with him. But at the same time—

"Trust me."

Aoko swallowed the rising lump inside her throat, blinked her eyes to dispell the mist inside her head as the words trembled past her lips, "Can you give me once last chance?" she squeezed his hands and forced her conviction with each passing word. "And if I'm wrong one more time then. . .then I'll believe you."

He stared at her with facinated eyes as though he couldn't believe her an her stubborn mind. "Look Aoko, don't you think you've suffered enough?"

"I have suffered enough." Aoko pushed her hair out of her eyes as she stared right back. "I have had enough. I'm sick of being hurt and decieved."

The detective narrowed his eyes, staring at her almost uncompherendingly as his mind failed to follow up with this conversation. "Then why are you still denying it?"

"He thinks you're Kid, but we both know that's not true. . . . .You're not, right?"

"About that. . . ."

"Because I still haven't gotten my answers." She let go of his hand, tentatively, and swallowed, not entirely sure what was coming out of her mind when she only felt the rising panic of her heart, springing almost out of her chest. "He still hasn't answered my question."

Hakuba rose a brow and his unvoiced question wrenched her aching heart, but she refused to falter against his knowing eyes and his self-assured smile.

"This is his final chance to answer." Aoko held his gaze, clearing the mist inside her mind with a definite shake of her head. "And if he lies—if he turns out to be Kid then—then I'm done with him and I'll accept it."

Hakuba's expression didn't change.

Aoko fisted her hands at her side and determnination glinting inside her eyes. "If he turns out to be Kid, then I'll also help you catch him."

"I assume, you're aware of waht you're saying. Catching him means—"

Aoko didn't need a warning. She was fully aware what she was doing. These answer always came easily to her, always at the background of her mind, even as she had denied it—closed her eyes from it, pushed it away and screamed whenever it came close to her.

But never once had she battled with it. Never saw eye to eye with it. Never reasoned with it. Never accepted it. And now—

"I'll make this alright."

Aoko took a deep breath and nodded, didn't see the half-heared smirk and the sympathetic eyes from Hakuba when she turned around to catch her answers with her own pair of hands, and ran past the people to where Kaito was, convinced that she can prove it once and for all.

Whether he was Kid or not—a liar or not—her friend or not—she'll prove it to Hakuba, and to that mini detective, and everbody else who were convinced that Kaito was a lying thief. She'll prove it to all of them. Even to herself.

That Kaito was nothing but her best friend.

I'll believe in the hand stretched out to me.

Aoko sprinted down the hall, looked left and right, searching for a ready smile and blue mischievous twinkling eyes that she could pick out from a crowd of a thousand, and this time she wouldn't lose him—wouldn't trip—wouldn't fall—and most of all she wouldn't let him go until she was truly assured of his identity.

It didn't matter if she had to stick to him like glue, shadow him like a stalker, or scream at him like she had a couple of screws loose because she will tell him, and he wouldn't be able to avoid her. He cannot lie to her. Cannot throw dust into her eyes and smile it off with a shrug because if she were to see him disguise as Kid—if she were to fall asleep—then she will know.

But if he lets me stick by his side—

If Kid comes and he's still by my side—

Then I know he's not.

Then I know he cannot be!

Unless he couldn't prove her otherwise he was Kid to her. A lying thief and the worst criminal she will ever lay her eyes on.

And she will tell him so.

This time she wouldn't let him hide from her.

Not again.

The time when we'll meet next, I'll untangle this thread.

Edogawa Conan smelled the unease and tension swirling in the air. It was almost tangible, shrouding the police officers with its tight constraint, invisibly pulling their harshly knitted eyebrows deeper, sagging the corners of their lips down down down until their age quadrupled under the harsh lines of wrinkles folding across their faces and Conan knew something was off. Incredibly off.

By just once glance, Conan knew that the tension sprouting off the officers were beyond the effects of a crime scene- beyond that of a heist. But from something beyond his knowledge. Something he wasn't quite aware about.

Conan followed them closely. Carefully. Always a couple of steps behind. But under Satō's continuous look over her shoulder, it appeared to be increasingly difficult. He frowned at her sharp sense, re-emerging from the shadow, momentarily glad that they were walking through a rather dimly lit hallway.

If only she could be as dense as Kogoro-no-ojisa.

When Satō re-fixed her sharp eyes to the front again, Conan waited a few seconds before he tiptoed after them, slowly sneaking closer until the floor under his feet suddenly disappeared and he found himself held up by a pair of hands.

"Aren't you a sneaky boy~"

A lady cooed right behind his ear. Conan was held up high by unknown hands that shook him like some prized doll for everyone to stare at. One of Conan's brows twitched, marked with blunt annoyance as he laughed sheepishly at the varied expressions that ranged from surprised to annoyance with a firm amount of disapproval written across their features. Well, except the wannabe magician at the back. He was busy snickering.

Conan suppressed a glare and turned to face his capturer instead. She was as tall as Ran and had a mass of loose maroon hair, grinning albeit too wide for Conan's comfort. He immediately stepped back the moment she descended him to the ground.

"Gaki! Just what are you doing here?" Mōri was on him in a matter of seconds, picking him up by the collar of his shirt. "How many times do I have to tell you that this isn't a playground for you to mess with!"

Conan snorted, couldn't detain his increasing annoyance, his quaking brows drew further down into an obvious frown that he directed at the maroon-haired that was now happily showing him a peace-sign.

What on earth. . .?

His attention was stolen by Satō's flighty but secret wink as she showed him her palm, fingers forming an 'o' with her thumb and forefinger. Conan recognised the sign almost immediately.

'Don't worry, I got you.'

He flashed a grin, making sure to look a tad bit sheepish when Satō begun to dissuade them from removing Conan with carefully chosen words to tip the surface of their ambivalence into a unanimous agreement to keep him. But Megure-Keibu's face remained hard and unaffected by Satō's advances and he shook his head firmly. Her face fell, and a sheepish smile blossomed on her face when her superior's disapproval was directed at her too.

"We cannot have children at every crime scene we investigate."

Satō lowered her head in disappointment, conceding, but not before giving Takagi a firm nudge and a demanding glare, pointing her head at Megure-Keibu challengingly. Conan didn't like to think his fate rested on Takagi's zero persuasion skills. He was already now stammering at the mere insinuation from Satō's hard stare.

The maroon haired stifled a laugh but clapped her hands like an adult would do to a bunch of pre-schoolers, getting their attention but also their contemptuous stares—even from Conan. "Now, now. There's no need to stir up a ruckus. The little boy can join us. He'll need to be questioned anyway. It's sooner than initially planned but nothing we can't handle."

Mōri grumbled but let him down anyway. Conan immediately took it as an opportunity to run away from him and stand next to a happy Satō and a relieved Takagi, all the while glancing at the maroon haired curiously, wondering who she was to enforce her will on others. He glanced at Megure-Keibu. He was sighing and muttering a string of words under his breath that Conan couldn't make out, but the senior appeared just as unhappy about the situation as Mōri felt, though Conan was sure due to different reasons.

During their walk to who-knows-where, Satō took the liberty to explain what was currently happening. Conan was already aware that they were gathering witnesses to question them. The fact alone that the Detective Boys weren't here meant that they planned to question the kids later, preferably after the heist.

Conan could also guess that they initially wanted to spend the time to thoroughly interrogating the wannabe magician. Conan honestly didn't think he was lying to that girl when he said they might suspect him too. The fact alone that Snake felt the need to eliminate him meant that the criminal considered the magician a threat. But something Satō mentioned stumped him. He turned to ask her, gently intercepting her informed speech, "Why is everyone sent to the main hall?"

As far as Conan knew the room would be overpopulated, providing Kid the perfect gateway to disguise as anyone. But Satō looked rather confused at the question—that was, until something flashed in her eyes. She laughed, her eyes twinkling amusedly at him.

"Of course, you wouldn't know. I heard that the task-force are planning to apprehend both Kid and Snake. That's why as a safety precaution, they are going to safely evacuate the citizens as soon as possible to avoid any potential casualties."

"You speak as if it's going to get dangerous." Conan murmured quietly to himself and was surprised that the maroon haired heard him.

"It will get dangerous." Reika corrected. "Our sources confirmed that Snake is prone to pull his guns. It'll place the citizens in jeopardy if we were to detain them inside the gallery. That's why we're secretly evacuating them with false rumours. It would be a hassle otherwise."

"Spreading rumours?" Satō asked with her eyebrows rose high, falling in step with the maroon haired, who only bore a secretive smile. But it didn't last. After seconds of goading nods thrown at her direction she was already indulging their desires, fatting them up with answers that even Takagi was craving for and when Conan looked around, Mōri and Megure's attention was completely taken away by her too.

Conan couldn't help but wonder whether she intended that. But the thought didn't stay long when she nodded and begun to speak again. "Yes, rumours. From what I've heard they're saying that Kid has been caught."

Conan rose his brows at the revelation and he whipped his head to stare back at the wannabe magician who looked just as confused as him, much like everybody else in the hallway.

And then sudden laughter barked from behind them.

Behind them stood a man Conan didn't recognise. But if he had to compare his facial features to anything then it would be definitely a rat.

The man chuckled and neared them, "To be telling lies like this Reika. We both know that these are not rumours but actual facts. Kid has been apprehended. He's right here, in fact. Although, I do wonder how Nakamori-Keibu didn't manage to catch this toothpick sooner."

His narrowed eyes swiped away from them and fell on the wannabe magician, who surprisingly didn't return the stare. If anything, he was openly ignoring the elder, stuffing his hands inside his pockets and sauntering up and down the corridor, taking in the paintings hanging on the beige walls as though he had an appreciation for art.

The elder snarled at the disrespect and wrinkled his nose distastefully, seemingly about to reprimand the other when his attention was taken up by the maroon-haired. Sharply she intercepted him, her previous happy smile reduced to nothing but a tight taunt line. "You've got it wrong. That's not it. You're suspecting a member of our force. Kid has yet to be apprehended."

The elder ignored her with a flick of his hand. His crane clicked across the ground as he moved. He had a hand on his chin as he seized the teenager up and down. "Now, I do believe that the rumours about Kid were always exaggerated. How can a sickly and skinny guy like him even be considered to be as a national threat?

The wannabe magician snorted and turned, opened up his mouth to retort but the voice of the maroon haired ruled strongly over his as she stressed with a voice ebbing of frustration that Kid was a thief, not a nationalthreat. Conan glanced at her, seeing absolute anger and hatred brewing inside the depth of her eyes.

"Reika, dear, is that how you should be speaking to your superior?"

Reika gritted her teeth but kept a straight face. Conan stepped back, fully aware that those two were incompatible and secretly he was glad that Satō understood too. The female police officer placed a firm hand on the Reika's shoulder and steered her away from him. But that wasn't necessary. The elder bypassed Reika as though she was non-existent.

Something in Reika's eyes flashed violently but she held her tongue and glared with such ferocity Conan took another step back. The elder noticed and barked a laugh, stared at Reika and her angry eyes until the harsh lines of his smile oozed with such rotten smugness. His eyes creased with dark complacency as he clicked his tongue at her before he turned, acknowledging Conan's presence for the first time with nothing other than a wrinkled his nose as though he saw nothing but a mere bug. Conan scowled.

"Who's that brat? Under whose authority is he here?"

Conan's eyes narrowed at him but before he could say anything, Reika picked him up, cradling him against her chest as she spat. "This boy is with me—won't you apologise to him?"

"And why should I? In fact, shouldn't you be apologising to him in advance? Knowing you, you'd put that brat in danger." The man gave her a look, snorting when Reika's face darkened. "What's with that expression, my dear? Don't tell me you're not planning to misuse the poor brat for one of your wicked plans just like you used your poor good-natured friend—who was it again? Michi? Oh, yes, yes, I think was our dear Michiko. I wonder what she thinks of you, now, in heaven."

He was smirking now, sneering at Reika what looked like a slithery snake in Conan's opinion. "If my memory serves me right, your manipulative streaks and cold mindedness did never any good. It's best if you kept yourself at arm-length of this investigation from now on before you make any other mistakes." He moved his hand as though he was shooing a persistent fly away. "Now, off you go. You're dismissed."

The grip on him tightened. Conan shifted and glanced at her, surprised to notice that her face was completely apathetic and calm despite having this man—this superior of hers—consecutively hitting there where it definitely hurt.

From a behind them a throat cleared.

"Is that how you should be talking to my co-worker, Nezumi-Keibu-ho?"

Conan turned to see a man in shades dressed in a steward attire. His arms were crossed over his chest and his words were dripping of ice and cold showers as he steadily neared them.

Conan wondered whether he was the same as Reika. A weirdly disguised police officer.

"Hondo-san," the elder acknowledged his presence with a nod before his glaring eyes fixed back on Reika. "I wonder how pests like her could even be considered a co-worker. Should she not have been purged from the force the moment she opened her mouth? Air-heads like her aren't needed in this area of expertise and professionalism." Nezumi-Keibu-ho shook his head and wrinkled his nose at her. "Dear, remind me yet again of the manner you were assigned with a badge? If I remember correctly, it was a sign of gratitude for your favours, was it not? Mind going back to that particular profession?"

Conan wheezed for breath. Pain stung through his abdomen as Reika's arms tightened around him. Almost like a death-grip. He wiggled and caught glimpses of her hardened face. Her cheeks were flush with contained anger. But her narrowed eyes were hollow as though nothing, but an empty vacuum remained in her eyes.

"I have resigned that particular profession a long time ago. Information gathering isn't exactly my field of enjoyment." Her voice was surprisingly calm and smooth. But Conan felt her arms clenching deeper into his flesh. He wiggled but his struggles went by unnoticed. Sometimes he really hated his height and strength.

"Enjoyment, you say?" the elder scoffed and fixed a glare at her. "As I believed someone like you cannot exactly fathom the level of importance the police force is. You're underestimating—"

"For someone, who came late to an official investigation you sure bark a lot. I wonder, whether it is not you who's underestimating our profession." Hondo muttered as he strode passed with a gaze fixed ahead and his fingers stuffed inside his pocket. "Anyhow, we should be starting the investigation and not teeter about these useless matters."

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Nezumi-Keibu-ho was already hot on his heels, snarling at disrespect and spewing out complaints regarding the manner of Hondo's conduct and its consequences it would entail.

But at least he was far away from Reika.

She breathed out, softly muttering stings at curses at Hondo and his careless attitude. Her arms loosened up but still tight enough to firmly detain him. But that wasn't what perked his interest. Conan frowned and turned to look at her, surprised that she isn't censoring her swears in front of a child. But he was also glad that her stoic face was slowly softening up.

The pain ebbed away, and quietly Conan whispered. "Shouldn't you be grateful instead?" at least I am.

Reika lowered her head, blinking at him as she tilted her head to the side. "Why should I be? That dimwit was so close to getting another promotion—this guilt will follow me for the rest of my life."

"But you can't speak to a superior in such a way. Especially not during working hours." Megure muttered sternly, gazing at the back of Nezumi-Keibu-ho's back. "But I'm not surprised Hondo dared. He had always been different since that incident regarding his friend. I'm sure, he won't mind its consequences."

Satō and Takagi only shared a look before Satō spoke, "We were under the impression he was always like that."

"He was, but never to such an extent." Reika answered slowly and adjusted her grip on Conan, steadily walking to catch up with the rest of them. "He used to laugh and smile but now he only frowns, grunts and glares. It's uncomfortable, really, but understandable. Not everybody has their best friend supported by a life machine."

Silence clung on them like second skin for a full minute before, Reika cleared her throat. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it awkward." She tried to smile and tried to lift the mood as they walked through the corridor.

But although she sounded sincere, Conan could hear the dissonance reverberating between each word and the cries of missing parts that didn't create the entire picture. But even as the silence droned on and the footsteps ceased in front of a door Hondo opened to let the wannabe magician and police officers in, Conan could do nothing but frown as the wooden doors clunked shut.

Reika put him down at last, still flashing him a smile as she flopped to the ground, sitting on the red carpet strewn across the corridor in a not-so-feminine-way. Conan watched curiously as she slipped off her heels and threw them next to her, rubbing and massaging her feet with quick fingers as she groaned, muttering strings of words about the intensity of the pain and her refusal to wear them ever again.

Conan dropped a sweat but smiled kindly as he stepped back. He turned and threw a sharp glance at the door. He could hear the faint echoes of mumbles but nothing else.

"You can't listen in, you know? If they catch you I'd get an earful again." Reika suddenly spoke up, sending him a contemplative glance before she patted the space next to her. Her hand reached up and she pushed her hair back, a black bud was perched inside her ear. "If you really want to hear so badly, I can lend you an earpiece if you'd like."

Conan stood rooted in his spot, giving her sceptical glance. "You would?"

She laughed, tugged on the cord and offered to him with a beaming smile. "Of course, come here. I have done my homework. You're Kid-Killer and adamant as much as Nakamori-Keibu to get Kid behind bars. That's why I want you to listen," she stretched her arm out farther, dangling it in front of Conan's uncertain eyes. "I want you to understand that you've got the wrong guy. Kuroba-kun isn't Kid. He's just some kid playing the decoy for us."

"Are you supposed to be telling me this?" Conan asked, stepping closer, stealing a glance at her outstretched hand before his gaze landed at her discarded heels. "You're not exactly following protocol. You're risking your job. You will get in trouble by the bad man again."

Reika only threw her head back and her locks rolled down her lower back, along with the rakish laughter that danced on her tongue. She looked at him, joyfully as though she was having fun, as though she wholeheartedly enjoyed the joke he has supposedly cracked. Conan stepped back, stared at the lady through impassive eyes as her eyes crinkled into indistinct narrow slits, even as her full lips stretched into a wide, friendly smile.

"Of course not. My actions are always authorised, regardless what happens. You know, like they say 'All is fair in love and war' it's the same for justice—at least my kind of justice. But it doesn't matter right now. Not when nothing goes according to plan. If you haven't realised it yet, Kid Killer, at this point we're all just improvising, throwing sand everywhere in hope to build a castle." She was dangling the cord now, like a pendulum it swung before Conan's eyes. "Well, little boy? Are you going to take it or not?"

Conan took his eyes of the swinging ear piece and flashed a look at the door. It was awfully quiet now. But if she spoke the truth, those officers would probably inquire about the circumstances of the wannabe magician's fall. Nothing Conan didn't know already. In fact, doesn't Conan know more than them already? He had seen the perpetrator getting shot, hadn't he?

Slowly, he shook his head. He moved to sit next to her and noticed she has still not slipped her heels on. His brows furrowed as his eyes caught glimpses of scars peeking through her black pantyhose before he directed his eyes to her face. "Is the condition of this Hideki-san affecting you too? Are you out of it as much as Hondo-san is?"

Reika's eyes fixed on him. Conan tried not to flinch under her blank stare as he met her gaze head on. He had already characterised Reika as a very open person. She could rumble away about sensitive matters people would clam their mouth tightly shut or gaze away from. But perhaps, he has misjudged that?

I hope I didn't hit a nerve.

Conan opened his mouth to apologise and change topics when he was interrupted by Reika's loud sigh. He glanced at her and found that her jaw has lost its tenseness, her shoulders relaxed, and her head leaned against the wall, but she was still looking at him. Her eyes were twinkling with such strange brightness, Conan didn't know what to think.

"You got me there, boy. You're right. I am affected. But not by Hideki. I wasn't particularly close to himbut his fiancée, Michi—you know, that Michiko that rat-face was referring to? That's the one. She was a member of the police department as well. That's how I know her. We were partners until. . .you know."

"Oh," Conan muttered and wondered whether it was her death that was affecting Reika to such an extent that she was dislodging information so carelessly. "Did she recently. . .?"

"Hmm? Oh no. She died three months ago. Suicide, they said, falling down a building cannot be anything but," she wrinkled her nose in distaste as her brows twitched into a frown. "They haven't even found a single motive yet, but the authorities don't particularly care about these things as long as they can stamp a case close."

She shook her head and shifted, reeled in her legs to sit cross legged on the red carpeted floor, and pressed her hand in front of her eyes. Conan remained quiet, even as she started to laugh quietly to herself with no joy bouncing off each echo of her words. But there was a glint in her eyes, and Conan knew she was looking at something far away, at something Conan was sure he couldn't see.

Slowly she raised her look off the floor, placidly smiling at Conan as she raised her hand, ruffling through his short hair. "Adults can be such deranged, wild creatures. I hope you won't ever grow up to be one of them."

Conan could only nod.

Reika smiled and withdrew her hand, turning around to face the end of the hallway when thundering footsteps bounced off the walls. Another waitress rounded the corner. Even from afar Conan could see the massive scowl perched on her face as she stared daggers at the ground. Her mouth moved as though she was grumbling colourful curses under her breath.

Wasn't that. . .?

"Tanaka!"

Conan flinched when Reika's voice boomed across the hall as she hollered the waitress' name, scampering up to her feet, still covered by nothing but nylon, she ran forward with worry etched on her face, grabbing onto Tanaka's arms as she asked, "What happened?"

"Will you believe that idiot? What on earth is he taking me for?" Tanaka groaned as her eyes flashed with other bursts of anger. She pressed her hand on her forehand and glaredwith an intensity that rivalled the sun.

"First, he orders me to make rounds with Taichi. Then, he sends Naomi to tell me I should be here, taking testimonies. And then has the nerve to get Tachibana to tell me I should be up there, on the second floor with Taichi making rounds! Is Hondo planning to make me mad? Is he doing this intentionally to get back at me? Just because I've told him a piece of my mind!?" Tanaka snarled, drilled her heel on the ground and Reika held her hands up to placate her, as though she didn't want her words to erupt the next explosion of Tanaka's anger.

"I don't know what happened between you two, but Hondo has changed his mind not long ago. He wants you to be stationed at the first floor, main hall, watching out for conspicuous activity and the likes. Now that the majority are leaving, there are chances that Snake could reveal some cards he has hidden up his sleeve." Reika informed her with a lowered voice and Conan was amazed at the elaborateness of her lie. But he was even more amazed at the different shades of irritation marking Tanaka's face as she gnashed her teeth.

"Why didn't he say this to me? He only sends others to fetch me! How dare he flaunt his superiority over me? I'm as qualified as he is! There's absolutely no need to have me walk around this building like a circus-clown! What was the superintendent thinking to have himguide this operation? Why wasn't—"

Reika clasped a firm hand over her rumbling mouth and gave her pointed look. "Tanaka, I know you're angry, but you cannot rant—not during working-hours and especially not when your team leader is in a position to overhear your very complains. You know what will happen if he decides to file a report on you. He's mad enough at you as it is, so don't go adding injury to the insult."

Tanaka pried her hand away. The anger was now carefully subdued behind the depth of her narrowed eyes, but she was still grumbling when she corrected Reika. "It's adding insult to the injury. Besides, I don't care about that anymore. Just tell him this," she raised a finger, glaring heatedly. "If he wants to be childish about this, fine, but I will be too. He should prepare himself. As best as he can. I'm not letting him trample over me and my pride."

Pointedly, she wheeled on her heels and turned away, ready to march down the hall when she halted and turned back, her eyes flashed sharply at Conan. "Speaking to Reika almost made me forget about you. You're the kid from before, aren't you? I don't really care whether you love playing detective and chasing Kaitou Kid around but you're still a brat that's intervening with our work. Shouldn't you be playing with your friends instead? Like all normal kids do?"

Well, sorry for being abnormal. Conan's eyebrows twitched in mild annoyance. Although, he has already come to terms with his outward appearance, it still sent jabs to his already bruised pride.

"Don't worry about him. Hondo ordered me to babysit him. He's next to be interviewed after our Boy."

"I see. Don't cause too much trouble then." Tanaka nodded at Conan before her gaze swiped towards the pair of heels laying carelessly on the ground. With furrowed eyebrows, she gazed at the pantyhose that covered Reika's feet and after a moment Tanaka snorted. "I won't ask but be sure to wear them. You don't want anyone else to see you like this."

"Sure, I will. As soon as my feet stop hurting." Reika flashed her quick grin and Tanaka only rolled her eyes, seemingly ready to leave when something crossed over Reika's expression. "Wait, where did you say Tachibana went again? After she told you to come here?"

"I don't know?" Tanaka looked back questioningly, probably wondering whether she ever uttered something regarding to Tachibana's location. "Why?"

"Because it was her job to listen to the testimonies with Hondo. I just wonder where she went." She spoke slowly, almost thoughtful if it hadn't been for that poise lodged in her voice and the sharp glittered in her eyes. "I haven't seen her for a while, you see."

Something flickered in Tanaka's eyes and she turned on her heels and shrugged exaggeratedly. "Who knows? Maybe she has misheard or gotten confused as I was just now. Things like that happens, I guess."

"I guess. But do tell her to come here if you happen to see her." Reika uttered through hawk-like eyes as she watched Tanaka walking away until she rounded the corner where she came from.

Conan waited in silence, wondering whether he should call out on all the lies that Reika spouted in less a minute. At last he decided to let the matter drop. "Instead of waiting here, wouldn't it more productive to look for your colleague?"

"There's no point. I doubt Tachibana will participate in today's scheme. She won't be appearing any time now." Conan only gazed at her perplexed as Reika's lips twitched into a rueful smile, the twinkle in her eyes dimmed. "But I hope she does, so I can falsify my suspicion."

Conan opened his mouth to call her on it, hoping to get an answer when thundering footsteps echoed once more through the hallway. Conan looked back. A frantic man ran and wrung the door open to the make-shift examination room and barged inside. Conan only managed to grab snippets of 'attack' and 'Suzuki' but it was enough for him to puzzle the pieces together.

In a matter of seconds chairs clattered and Mōri and Nakamori-Keibu were already madly dashing out of the door room and racing toward the main hall with strings of curses muttered under their breaths.

"So, it begins." Reika laughed quietly as she moved to walk inside the room but not before giving him a glance. "You should go to the main hall, too. Stay there as well. I would hate it if you happen to get hurt amidst the chaos and the confusion."

Conan nodded but stayed rooted at his spot as he peeked through the opened the door. His eyes lingered at the wannabe magician. His easy-going smile and carefree eyes were out of place under the hard scrutiny of Megure-Keibu's eyes and Nezumi-Keibu-ho's hard expression. His entire posture was relaxed despite the tension that filled the room.

Conan's alarm clock rung loudly inside his head. Quickly, he moved to follow her. She noticed and raised her brows at him before she smiled and opened the door wide enough for him to enter as quietly as he could.

Something inside Conan told him that it wasn't starting just yet.