Thanks you for reading. This is for episodes 308-311.

I bolt upright, covered in sweat. A dream, sweet and enticing memories of when Akemi was alive and breathing. Her smile, her laugh, our dates, nights of cuddling on the couch, burned into my mind's eye. Of peaceful times. Those were even harder to deal with then the nightmares of watching her die, a bullet in the chest, bleeding out, blaming me for her predicament. At least those allowed some closure. At least those didn't lie.

I sighed as I stood up heading to the bathroom to wash off my face. It was all that Mouri Ran's fault. She was so like Akemi it made my stomach turn. Why did I meet her last night of all times? Just when I thought I was getting over it. Her face, her voice, her kind tears that always seemed to be in her eyes whenever we met were just so much like hers that it brought back unpleasant memories of times long gone.

Edogawa Conan was there too. Not too much of a surprise since I hear he is living with her, but the way he reacted when he saw me was strange. I had just called James, asking for anymore leads, and he had given me one to investigate, a man named Itakura, who apparently was making some sort of software for them. I was just about to go check the man out when I saw them walking down the sidewalk, hand in hand, Mouri Ran crying, and Edogawa Conan looking guilty about something.

As soon as they saw me, the boy froze, tensing up. He unconsciously stepped forward, arm in front of the girl protectively, shielding her from me. It looked actually kind of laughable, because if I was a real criminal wanting to do harm, a young child was not going to stop me. However, the wariness in his eyes and unguarded suspicion was enough for me to back off. He thought I was a threat, which was kind of strange. I mean, I don't exactly look like an outstanding citizen, but I didn't think that I had my intimidating aura on.

After a short talk, where the girl proved once again that she was Akemi's reincarnation or something with the same words she had said at some point, at some forgotten situation. Feeling bitter and a little shaken, I push past the duo, heading toward Itakura's apartment. I just needed to get away from there before I did something I regretted.

There had been nothing there, well besides police cleaning up a murder. I had thought the lead ended there. Maybe they had already gotten what they needed from him and killed him, or he had tried to run. Either way the guy was dead, and I couldn't do anything about it.

It was almost midnight. James had said he had tapped a good majority of Itakura's phones, so if he was going to call them, it would automatically come into my laptop. We couldn't hack his email without arousing too much suspicion. It wouldn't matter though now if he was dead. The only thing I could hope for is that they try to contact him and I can manage to trace the call. I take a drink of water, and have every intention to try to get a few more hours of shut eye.

Suddenly, the phone tap notification on my laptop went off.

I pause. Someone was trying to call Itakura. Was it them? I coolly open the laptop and put in my headphones to hear. Man what a nasty surprise they were going to get when they figured out he was dead.

There was a woman's voice, stating to leave a message on the answering machine. I hold my breath, waiting, when a familiar gruff voice spoke through the phone.

"Yo what's up?"

Vodka! I smirk under my breath, trying to get the tracking on the phone. They took the bait. Now I hope this can trace the call before he hangs up.

"I know you are there."

That makes me freeze. Wait, was someone there, in Itakura's safe house? The phone is from his cabin up in the mountains near Gunma. Was someone else trying to get the organization? Or wait, was Itakura even dead? The corpse of the murder was already taken away by the time I got there, so maybe just because it was his apartment, didn't mean he was the one who died.

"Hey answer me. I know you are in there. You better pick up the phone Itakura-san. Oi!"

I waited, pressing the listening device farther into my ear. Would someone pick it up? They wouldn't right unless it was indeed Itakura. If it wasn't I bet they were really panicking right about now. Suddenly, the sound of a phone picking up off the receiver and another male voice cut in.

"Sorry, I couldn't find the phone in the dark. I guess the lines got disconnected during the storm. The power went out before I could check my mail."

Oh, so I was wrong in assuming my lead was gone. Itakura was still alive, and I could probably question him after this, that was if he was still alive after the organization got a hold of him. But what was this about an email? I bet it was the way they were contacting him, and that email was going to tell him where they were supposed to meet to give the software. Vodka scoffed.

"You shouldn't have tried to open the mail out there. Hey wait a second, why'd you open it at a place where you knew a blackout could happen?"

Itakura countered calmly. In fact, way too calmly for a person dealing with the organization. I thought he was blackmailed into this? Most blackmail victims were desperate, just trying to get rid of the blackmailers as quickly as possible. Why was this man so calm?

"Blackouts happen often in this weather. This is the only place I can relax."

Vodka hummed in response.

"I see."

"I have a question, how did you know I was here?"

Vodka laughed.

"Everyone's actions are predictable to us."

Itakura answered a little angrily.

"I hope you all haven't been watching my cabin as well."

"We weren't don't worry. I hope you finished that in time, the computer system program we hired you to complete by now."

I listen closely to everything they say. Anything they say could be a piece of the puzzle, something I could use, and maybe Vodka would let on what this mysterious program was supposed to be used for.

"I barely did."

There was a barely audible click in the background. Vodka asked suspiciously.

"Is someone else there? Hey, answer me, what was that sound?"

I hear a shaky intake of breath and a slight stutter.

"Th-the wind. The noise was made by the wind blowing against the window."

Hmm, that wasn't the truth though, was it? Was someone else there? I guess it didn't matter because Vodka bought it.

"Ah, I heard it was snowing heavily there."

Itakura continued smoothly.

"Well I can't use my computer at the moment. Can you just tell me over the phone? Where and when I will be meeting you to hand over the program."

Ah, now this, this I needed to hear. Vodka chuckled.

"Alright fine. Listen carefully because I won't repeat this. You know Kenbashi station that's under construction? It is a station that will become part of the Touto line. Tomorrow at midnight, meet me at the underground coin locker #0032. Don't forget to bring the program."

Perfect. That gives me time to roust up some of my FBI buddies and we can lay an ambush. A pause, before Itakura declined.

"I can't, tomorrow is no good."

I couldn't help my mouth dropping open. Man, this guy was far more ballsy then I realized. They are definitely going to kill him now. The black organization only does things on their terms, and there is no room for negotiation. This guy just straight up told Vodka no, and that was a death wish right there. Vodka seemed to think so too.

"What?"

"I will be staying in the hospital then. As you know, I have heart issues."

Heart issues? What on earth was a man with heart conditions doing out in a blizzard then? No one with heart problems is going to do that, which means this isn't Itakura. This is someone else. So Itakura was actually dead, or he wasn't dead and had gone to the police or someone else to help him out of his predicament. That didn't explain his voice though. How? How could he be talking, but not be at the cabin? Voice mimicry of this magnitude shouldn't be possible, and Vodka didn't ask who he was, so maybe Vodka hadn't met Itakura before to hear his voice. But no when he answered Vodka had had no doubt of his identity. Vodka seemed to not dwell on that little fact as he asked suspiciously.

"Could it be you are trying to buy time to finish the program?"

Fake Itakura replied smoothly, not at all intimidated.

"No it is already finished. The program is complete."

"Then when would be good?"

Oi, seriously? Vodka was going to let this guy dictate the terms? That's just asking to walk into a trap. This guy might be PSB or any of the other major law enforcement agencies after the organization. I am not complaining, but this was like negotiation 101 for bad guys. Fake Itakura answered quickly.

"I will be released from the hospital in three or four days, no about five days from now."

"Fool, we can't wait that long. Just cancel your appointment."

"It took me a long time to get an appointment with this renowned heart surgeon. I can't cancel it."

It did seem like this guy was trying to buy time. Did he not have the program from Itakura or was he waiting for reinforcements from his superiors? Unless…

"The only time I can give it to you before my appointment is today, but the site workers will be there in the morning. You don't want them around do you?"

Is he trying to get the meeting moved earlier? He knows that the organization needs the program sooner rather than later, so of course Vodka will jump at the chance to move it earlier, if that was the case there would be no time at all to gather up people to catch them. Sure enough, Vodka replies smugly.

"Then at 4:00, at 4 AM, bring to the place I just mentioned, the computer program."

"4 AM? From Gunma to Tokyo?"

Ah, fake Itakura isn't sounding too happy. Although, it could be an act to make sure Vodka picks this time. He completely manipulated the entire conversation to make sure the meeting was on his terms. It was amazingly done. And the best part, Vodka doesn't even know he is being duped yet.

"What is it? It shouldn't be a problem if the programs are done."

"No I've got it; I will meet you in four hours. But I want you to assure me of something. Promise me this isn't a trick so you can ambush me. You could take it by force, but then you would lose all means of accessing the disk."

Ah, that might also be a good reason. With no time to prepare on this side, it is impossible for the black organization to put together an ambush on such a spontaneous meeting either. So this guy or multiple guys, is just planning on catching Vodka.

"Just like they said, you are an old bird. Then, at 4 AM, be at Kenbashi Station, locker #0032. Don't be late."

"Right."

Both men hung up around the same time. I leaned back in my chair with a soft sigh, glancing at my watch. It was almost twelve fifteen now, which means I should try to get there early. I have no intention of catching Vodka tonight. Where there is Vodka, there is usually Gin, and catching both of them is going to take a whole lot more planning then just three and a half hours. No, but I could learn some things if I stake out the place. Without a doubt, the black organization will have its eyes out there to scope out things, and I can't have them recognize me, at least not yet. So a disguise was in order.

I also wanted to see who this Itakura was. I am almost seventy five percent sure that it isn't him. Which means that the man is actually dead? That was his murder that I stumbled at in his apartment. Wait, could that be the reason why the fake Itakura wanted it done earlier? If Itakura's murder was to be put on the news later this morning, then it would cause them to back off and get the disk another way, and they would know that this one is a fake.

Well, time to go see if I can glean any information.

I stumbled down the street. It was almost two thirty as I gripped the bottle of rye whiskey in my hand. Just a little morbid joke between me and the black organization. I had my black cap on, and a hood. I had managed to put on baggier clothes, making me look not as buff as usual, as I shuffled down the street, trying to look like an unrecognizable, easily forgettable drunk. I pretended to swig half the bottle as I continued. They won't suspect anything if I keep looking at the ground, and it is dark outside.

I looked around, not seeing anyone or anything suspicious, but I have been wrong before, not often, but I have. I slowly sauntered down the steps, trying to trip and stumble as often as I could. I had to make sure they didn't think me as a threat. Now if I could just find a cubby hole somewhere to curl up in, that would just be dandy, first to find the coin lockers though. As soon as I was underground I picked up my pace. I found the coin lockers, looking around. Looks like I was the first to the party.

I slipped a mic in a random locker. I couldn't hide in the room or even within listening distance, so I would have to make do with this. I slowly make a one over the room before I back out. Time to go find a hiding spot. They should be here soon.

It was easy to tuck away in a barely noticeable corner, behind some pipes and construction equipment that easily hid me from view and let my dark clothing let me seep into the wall. I settled back against the wall, transmitter for the mic in my ear, ready to go.

I must have taken a short nap because the next thing I knew I heard footfalls sprinting toward the hiding place. It was way too dark to see anything but the footfalls are very light, like the person who had them was young, or possibly a woman. They were gone into the coin lockers before I could get a grasp on the situation. Was that the fake Itakura? That didn't make sense, but that definitely wasn't Vodka. Ah well, I had the mic.

I listened carefully, there seemed to be heavy breathing, but the imposter didn't say anything. There was distinct clanking of lockers opening and closing, but no words were spoken, and then I hear the quiet click of dress shoes against concrete coming toward me. Vodka.

I shrink farther back into the corner as he passes by, not daring to look up or even breathe as the light from the flashlight he is holding almost touches me. I want nothing more than to strangle him, but I can't be hasty. I am just doing reconnaissance, hoping they will spill something about deals in the future, not here to pick any fights. If they find me here I am a dead man. Well, that imposter is probably going to die. It was a dead end and no possible hiding spots in the room. It's like watching a horror movie.

I just press my hand to the ear piece, trying to hear what was happening.

"Oi, Itakura."

No answer. The fake must have squirreled away somewhere then, probably hiding behind some of the lockers.

"Just like Itakura, not even here yet."

Silence for a moment before there was a sound of a lighter being clicked open. I wait patiently. There had to be something right? Any minute the imposter would reveal him or herself and arrest him. Vodka breathed out heavily, probably exhaling smoke from a cigarette, when I hear the question.

"A check?"

Wait, they paid him? Probably their way of passive aggressive blackmailing.

"It's for the same amount we gave him."

The sound of a locker opening.

"This is the program we forced him to develop. What a fool. He left the money and the program since he was so afraid of us."

The sound of something being spit out, probably the cigarette, and it sounded like Vodka was talking on the phone, but I quickly turned off the transmitter as I heard someone else approaching. The footsteps were silent but swift, and I could see the light blond long hair in the dark. Gin. I tensed, my hand on my knife I always keep with me, but he didn't even glance in my direction. I made sure he was gone, before switching the ear piece back on again.

"What? Only some drunks and a kid entered the station? That can't be. Look again."

Well, looks like my disguise worked. That was good. But kid? What is a kid doing up at 4 AM? Maybe they meant a teenager, sneaking off to smoke some drugs or do graffiti. Suddenly the familiar sound of a hammer being pulled back.

"What is this?"

"Partner."

Ah, I see Gin still holds fear over Vodka. I kind of tune out Vodka's explanation. I hope that the imposter is ok. He is now in a room with two murderers basically out in the open and not just any murderers, he is up against Gin.

"Oi, do you know why there is tape on this?"

I blinked in confusion at Gin's question. Tape? On what, the disk? Ho, this fake is crafty. I would guess it would be…

"It was to get your fingerprints, since you couldn't peel them off with your gloves."

I smirked. Thought so. So fake Itakura wasn't there to arrest. He was just there to get evidence against them. Which also means—

"And you lit a cigarette when you didn't see the person you came to meet. The saliva will tell him your blood type you see. Why don't you hold onto it?"

Ah, this was one smart imposter. And it would have worked if it weren't for Gin. I may hate the guy, but I will never underestimate his intelligence. It would definitely get me killed one day. I was pretty sure the ear piece was now melded to my ear with how hard I was pressing into it.

"Look here, he also wanted to find our hideouts. Look there is a tracking device in this case. This is a clever fox."

No holding back with this imposter. How many tricks and traps did he have? He had gone further than my expectations. It is a right shame he is about to die, and I can't possibly do anything to stop them. I could possibly ambush them, but the chance of me getting out alive was slim, unscathed impossible. I would just have to wait and see.

"Itakura, that bastard."

There was the sound of a foot stomping into the concrete, grinding something into oblivion. Gin remarked calmly.

"No, not Itakura. Extreme climate conditions place stress on the heart. Someone with heart issues would never go somewhere like that during a snowstorm."

"Then who did I talk with on the phone?"

"That was probably someone he hired. But they screwed up this time."

I tensed. That spelled bad news.

"This case, it has been wiped down, but it is still emitting heat."

"That means…"

"Yes, he is hiding nearby."

Ah crap. I debated. Should I step in? I only have a knife, I didn't bring a gun; guns would attract attention, and probably bring in all the crows outside and the police. They however always carried pistols at least. I shouldn't risk it. Rather one then two dead, and sacrifices needed to be made. He made that choice when he decided to stay in the room. There was silence except for footsteps. They were probably checking the aisles.

"I guess there is nowhere for him to hide around here."

Gin replied coldly.

"There is always somewhere."

A few more seconds of silence and I am just waiting for the screams and the gunshots.

"Partner he isn't here."

Wait, what? There is no other way out of that room. If the fake Itakura had left I would have heard him. I even heard Gin and he is silent on his feet. He should still be in that room. But where could he have hidden? The lockers? None of them could fit adults.

"Partner?"

A locker opened and shut. Was he seriously checking the lockers? Gin gave a short laugh.

"What am I doing? An adult can't fit in here. Let's disguise and leave, the police could be on the way."

"Because of the guy Itakura hired?"

"Yeah, always be on guard, because there is someone investigating us. A fox as clever as a detective."

I scrunched back into my hidey hole. Not moving as I heard them walk out of the room down the hall. Well, that was a given. A lot of agencies and people are investigating the black organization. Although, this agent or whoever they are certainly made the impression on Gin, which doesn't happen often. And it is never good to be on Gin's hit list. Although I am still confused as to where the imposter went. I was sure I checked for possible escape routes when I went in earlier.

They walked past me, not even looking in my general direction. Should I follow them? No, they are extra cautious because of all the things the imposter did. They would be looking for people following them. I would get spotted even if my tailing skills are top notch. No I should retrieve my mic, and try to solve the mystery of the missing fake Itakura, and then leave.

I waited fifteen minutes, just to make sure they were truly gone before I unfold myself out of the spot, walking quietly toward the lockers and trying to work out the stiffness in my joints. I placed the mic in my pocket, made another quick sweep of the room. There was a remnant of an electronic device on the floor, probably the tracker, but it was true. The room was empty. There were no windows, no closets, or hidden panels in walls. The man had simply vanished. I walk around one more time, before I give up and check my watch. 4:30. I should probably get going. I can take a quick nap before breakfast, and review everything the mic picked up.

I was walking back from a café where they served me breakfast. I was listening to the news on the radio, hoping to hear and confirm my suspicions on Itakura's death. I walked past Kenbashi station when suddenly footsteps came rushing up the stairs. I hid myself in the crowd of rush hour on pure instinct as Edogawa Conan came sprinting up into the sun, looking around in confusion and looking at his watch.

What is he doing here? No, scratch that, what was he doing in Kenbashi station? Wait, gears were slowly turning, fueled by coffee and pieces fell into place in an instant. Snippets of last night filtered through my mind, painting a picture.

Light footsteps, really light weight, like a woman's or a child's.

"What? Only some drunks and a kid entered the station? That can't be. Look again."

"What am I doing? An adult can't fit in here."

Was he the imposter? That would explain the disappearance with his small body he could fit in one of the lockers. But how did he mimic Itakura's voice so perfectly? How did he do everything? Still, assuming he did do everything last night, he had almost trapped Vodka, if Gin hadn't shown up. He had skillfully manipulated the man, and had almost gotten evidence against him and had found a way to track down their hideouts. It was an act of savagery, of hunting of criminals, which I had only seen in myself. It was clever, and bold, just like him. I was officially impressed with the kid.

Unless Itakura put him up to it. I bet the kid was the type to do anything as long as a criminal was involved. I highly doubt it though. Now that I look back on the night, the way with words, the risky way that he had made the meeting, the way he calmly placed his traps, it was his style through and through. I was starting to get a feel on how this kid operates. I still don't believe I have seen everything though.

This just confused me even more. So did that mean he wasn't with the organization at all? That took some of the heavy load off my chest, but now something different weighed on my mind as more possible theories popped up. Was he actually trying to catch them? I definitely don't want him killed. But how did he get mixed up with them in the first place? Are relatives in it? Why was Vermouth so interested in a child that was investigating them, interested in something so dangerous that could get both of them killed?

My answer to some of these questions came traipsing up the stairs after him.

"So what were you doing in there?"

I tense. That voice, that tone actually. Slightly cynical, yet so very grown up, even if it was in a younger voice. So familiar even if the voice was a little higher then what I was used to. Edogawa Conan answered easily.

"Ah, I was just taking a quick nap."

"Really, you think I would buy that?"

It is the same. The same voice that called Akemi on our dates, the one that belonged to the scientist. Shiho. But that was impossible. She should be overseas, escaped and free, anywhere but here in the same city as Gin.

"Don't worry about it. Let's just go home and forget about it."

"Wait a second, where is the professor?"

"The professor is all right. He is probably with the police."

I turned slightly. I had to see. I had to check and make sure my ears weren't playing tricks on me.

There standing next to the boy was the brown haired girl that I had just caught glimpses of in the past, but now that I got a good look at her, it was so familiar. It was just as I remembered it, although, that definitely wasn't the size I remember. That was Shiho, wasn't it? But this was a six, no, seven year old child. It couldn't be. Could it?

Suddenly she whipped around, looking past me. I turned, feigning innocence and continued to walk. I saw her face. It was her. It had to be. She wouldn't react that way, be that paranoid unless she was. I am not just trying to see her because I was reminded of Akemi last night. This was real. Shiho was now a child. I don't know how, or why, but I can't think of any other plausible explanations.

So Shiho had probably introduced the boy to the organization, but why was he helping her? He was sharp; he probably deduced something about her. Her personality wasn't exactly childlike so I doubt she hides the fact she is a child very well.

No, wait. I can't jump to conclusions. The probability is high, but I don't have proof or any evidence to back it up. She could easily just look like her. It was a big coincidence, but it could still be the truth. I would have to have these two tailed to make sure, to get absolute proof.

I had hoped this lead would lead to some definite answers; instead I was only confronted with more impossible questions, and mountains of files and research to go through. I would have to reevaluate this whole situation, look into this girl and the Edogawa boy even more thoroughly then before, now that I knew what I was looking for. I walked back, intending to report to James, as the radio in my ear spouted news about the murder of Suguru Itakura.