Author's Note: Sorry for the wait! Thanks for the reviews again! Here's File 3 :)

File 3

Conan had just managed to get out of the unfamiliar neighborhood and headed for Ran's home. He did not think about anyone else but Ran. His legs were getting heavier every step as he almost couldn't breathe, but he would not stop.

Please, don't let anything happen to Ran!

He found the agency later, but did not stop there. He raced up the stairs two at a time, almost stumbling as he did. He flung the door open. "RAN!"

He froze.

Ran was tied up in a chair and gagged, her eyes wide in fear. Vodka held his gun barrel to her head, while Gin was sitting behind Kogoro's desk (which was somehow cleaned up quickly with everything on the floor) with his legs perched on the desk. "A very comfortable hideout you had, tantei-san," he said with a sneer. "Too bad we're going to blow it to pieces soon."

"Let go of Ran, she has nothing to do with this!" Conan shouted, his fists clenched.

"I prefer otherwise, tantei-san. If you value her life, tell me where Sherry is."

Conan blinked. "What?"

"Miyano Shiho---or Haibara Ai, as you know. I bet you know her, don't you? We searched that old Professor's house, but there was no trace of her left. Come on, spill it. Where is she?"

"I---I don't know what you're talking about!" It was true---Conan didn't know what happened to Ai. He had not seen her for the last few days, not even in school. His classmate, Ayumi, had told him that she was sick, but he doubted it because Dr. Agasa would have told him.

"Don't waste our time, kid," Gin said. "Spill it, or the girl dies." Vodka pressed the gun barrel on Ran's head.

Conan gritted his teeth. Darn...if I make a move, he'll shoot Ran...what to do, what to do...?

Suddenly, the door flew open. Everyone looked up to see who it was. A man stood leaning against the door jamb, his black hat lowered over his face and black glasses covering his eyes. He had his hands in his black coat's pockets.

"Bravo, Gin-sama," he said in a deep voice. "But don't you think it's getting old, threatening a girl for information like that?" Conan thought that he saw a glint in behind the sunglasses.

Gin narrowed his eyes in suspicion as the newcomer sauntered in. "Who are you?"

"Don't you know me? I'm Port, part of the organization." The newcomer bowed. "I admire your work, Gin-sama, absolutely outstanding. But can I make a small suggestion? I know how to get this kid to spill the beans." He nodded towards Conan.

Vodka looked at Gin, who seemed thoughtful. What is Gin waiting for? This Port guy definitely looks like part of our organization...right?

Then Gin put down his legs and linked his fingers. "All right, Port. What is your suggestion?"

"Is it okay if I whisper it to you so they won't hear?" Port asked. But the look on Gin told him that it was not okay. "All right, all right...you see, it's like this..."

He took out what seemed like a pistol. But instead of firing it, he pushed the barrel down, and smoke filled up the room within seconds.

"What the---"

"It's a trick! Get---"

Clunk.

"Gin?!"

Vodka felt someone tugging his sleeve. He looked down, and saw Conan pointing his watch at him with a grin. The boy shot a needle, and Vodka immediately fell into a slumber.

Then Conan felt himself been lifted up. "Time to go," he heard Kid's voice saying, and was immediately taken out of the room.

Once they were outside, Conan was dropped onto the floor again. He turned to see Kid/Port with Ran in his arms, and immediately he turned red. "Put her down!" he said hotly.

Kid/Port snickered. "What, are you jealous?"

"You heard him, put me down!" Ran retorted, slapping Kid/Port's face.

"Geez, you aren't grateful." He put her back on her feet and rubbed his face. "Now, I'm going to take care of the cleaning up first, and then I'll take you back. Do not move."

But before he could go, Ran had grabbed him by the wrist. "No, you're not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on..." she said, her eyes burning, "...SHIN-I-CHI!"

Kid/Port blinked. Conan smacked his head countless of times. Then, Kid/Port burst out laughing.

Ran glared at him. "What are you laughing about?! It's not funny, Shinichi!" she shouted, looking almost ready to karate-kick him.

Kid shook his head, grinning. "I'm sorry, it's just that---you look cute when you're angry."

Ran blushed furiously. Conan did too, and he was now glaring even more. Get away from my girl! his furious eyes told Kid. Kid just grinned at him.

"Y-you aren't Shinichi!" Ran snapped, her face red.

"Ahh, glad you realized that, Mouri-san." Kid/Port tipped his hat down with an amused smile. "Well then, you wait here while I---"

"Leave them, why don't you?"

Everyone turned to see a young woman emerging from an alley. She wore a hat, a pair of sunglasses, and what seemed like a trench coat. Conan recognized her instantly, and it made him speechless. "H-H-Haib---" He gulped, remembering that he could not let Ran know yet.

Ran blinked. "Who are you? Why do you look like---Ai-chan?" she stuttered.

Miyano Shiho shook her head. "I'm not Haibara Ai."

"I think you are," Kid said as-a-matter-of-factly, "and you have to get out of here with Ku---Conan-kun and Ran before those men in black wake up and come after you. I'm not going to leave them there, that is Mouri-san's property. I'll be right back." With a small poof, he disappeared.

Ran blinked. "It's Kiddo...again?"

"Took a while for you to figure that out, eh?" said Shiho, looking up at the building.

"Don't talk about him first...where were you?" Conan demanded her.

Shiho looked down at Conan calmly. "Hiding, what else? Professor noticed that we were being watched, so we moved out quietly one night."

"And you didn't tell me?!"

"We wanted to, but it's hard to move around, and we're scared that your phone would be bugged. But it doesn't matter now anyway."

"So...how did you turn back to yourself?"

Shiho looked at him. "I don't know," was her reply. "It was only an experiment, and it turned out positive. I've been doing some research, hopefully this is permanent. But I am not too sure yet."

"And you tried it on yourself. You don't do that."

"Well, I don't have my experiment with me, and someone has to try it." Shiho patted Conan's head as if she were teasing him.

"Very funny," Conan grumbled.

"HELLO! Have you forgotten something?!" Both turned to see Ran glaring at them with hands on her hips. "What are you talking about? I want an explanation!"

Conan started to sweat. He looked at Shiho, but it was obvious that she was going to leave it all to him. "Um, where's Kogoro-ojisan?" he asked quickly.

"Still at the studio...and don't change the subject! Explain!" Ran was leaning very close to Conan now. The boy felt as if he had shrunk, trying desperately to think up of an excuse, but his mind (for the first time in his life) was blank.

"Tsk...always need someone to back you up, don't you?" Conan spun around. Kid was strolling up to them on the pavement in his usual attire (goodness knew where he went and what he did with Gin and Vodka). "No more chat now, and get moving," he urged. "You too," he added to Shiho, walking ahead of them to lead the way.

"But...what about Otou-san? Those men in black are looking for him, aren't they?" Ran asked, rushing to follow. Conan and Shiho were right behind her.

"If you're that worried about him, I'll look for him later then," Kid told her. "Right now, I'm busy." Darn, school starts in half an hour...and I haven't gotten my sleep yet, he thought grudgingly as he glanced at his watch. Never mind...two periods of Math should be enough for a shuteye. I only hope these people won't invade my privacy...

I'm going to have to lock my room very tight, he decided, glancing at Conan.