All right, this should be a long one considering the case is two and a half hours long. Anywho, thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy.

It was several days later when Jodie and I called each other again to discuss trapping Vermouth. She was being eerily silent, and it made me uneasy, since it was like the calm waiting for the storm. It was unsettling to say the very least. I would have figured she would have made some sort of move, now that she had the girl's location.

"Have you heard anything Jodie?"

Jodie sounded puzzled.

"Yes, she has indeed been making moves behind the scenes. Ran called Agasa today and said that a person named Vermouth had sent a party invitation to her father to attend a haunted ship. I would guess it was to get her and her father out of town so they can't investigate her, and the Edogawa Conan boy might have also been invited to get him away from the girl. Also, one might have been sent to Kudo Shinichi."

Kudo Shinichi? I must have asked aloud because Jodie answered.

"Remember, he was the one I told you about that is almost always absent in class but showed up at the school festival a while ago? He apparently is a brilliant high school detective, and he is always away on cases. It is apparently a murder mystery party so he might have been invited somehow. There is no way to tell."

Another person to research.

"Has Vermouth shown an interest in him before?"

"I think so, since he is close to 'Angel', she might also have a pet name for him. He might have some connection to her but I am not sure. I just know that before he left he and Ran were nearly inseparable."

What was it that girl said when I met her in New York? She was waiting for a friend, a high school boy around her age? If that was this Kudo Shinichi, could it be possible that case was where Vermouth and Mouri Ran met? If so did she also meet the Kudo boy the same way? This is all speculation, and I have nothing to show for it. It certainly was a stretch.

"Should we keep an eye out for this Kudo Shinichi?"

He sounds like he might complicate matters. Jodie sighed into the phone.

"If he got an invitation there is no way to check. He is never at his house, so if he did, there is no way he would get it in time."

I nodded. Made sense.

"We can assume though that if Vermouth is trying to get the Edogawa boy out of town though she is going to make an attack on that girl."

Jodie almost immediately asked.

"Did you figure out if they were the same person?"

I hesitate. The more people that knew about Shiho in a child's body, the more risk she was in. I would have to keep that tidbit of information to myself.

"Not sure. What does matter is that Vermouth somehow thinks they are the same and will act to try to kill her."

Jodie replied instantly.

"Yes. I was planning on going—"

The bug on the Agasa home phone started going off. There was some shuffling and I think Jodie was trying to hook up her earpiece as well as connect it to the phone so I could also listen. This might just be a normal call, but since it is the night of the alleged party Jodie mentioned earlier, it might be something important. You can never be too careful.

"Hello, this is Agasa's house."

A little girl answered. Shiho. That's surprising, why did she answer the phone when an evil organization was after her?

"Sorry to call so late. This is Doctor Araide. Where's Agasa?"

Vermouth. Jodie gave a soft huff in excitement while I calmly lit a cigarette.

"Not home. I think he went out with Edogawa-kun."

I freeze. Well if that wasn't the perfect scenario for Vermouth to come kill her I don't know what is.

"Ah, but I hear his voice."

Now that she mentions it, you can hear the elderly and and younger boy speaking in the background.

"That is a recording on a tape. I don't know what he is doing. It's been playing for a long time. What do you want?"

Why was there a random recording? That didn't make sense, unless it was to drop the guard of someone.

"Ah, I wanted to talk with you actually. Didn't you say your cold never healed? I wanted to take you to a fully equipped, larger hospital for a better examination. I asked a doctor I knew because he is leaving town soon, he is only available tonight. Although it is a sudden request, is it ok if I picked you up now? I will contact Agasa-san about it."

There we go; the perfect plan to take this girl out of that house and probably murder and dispose of the body. Of course she followed up with reverse psychology.

"If you aren't comfortable with it. It's ok."

There was a pause on the other end.

"It's fine. They left me here alone anyways, and it's pretty boring being here alone."

Jodie hummed.

"She is really open, more open than usual."

Yes, that is rather strange. After all that work that the Edogawa boy did to keep her from Jodie's view, anyone's view actually, she is being rather nonchalant about this. This was normal stranger danger for children even; no normal child would go into a car of a person they have only met once and even more so when they are on a criminal syndicate's most wanted list. Could it possibly be a trap for Vermouth?

"That's excellent. Then I will pick you up in an hour."

They both hung up. There was some static as Jodie raced to unhook everything.

"Bingo. I am heading over to pick her up now."

"Do you need some help with Rotten Apple?"

I could hear the smirk in Jodie's voice.

"I don't think so. I already have an ambush waiting for her by the piers with a bunch of the guys, and I have evidence to trick her into revealing herself. I can handle it. Later Shu, we should have a drink later, maybe some Vermouth to commemorate."

She hung up before I could stop her. I rolled the cigarette between my fingers, thinking. No, that's way too easy. You should never underestimate Rotten Apple. I would have caught her in New York if I hadn't have done that. No, she escaped our grasp once, and I shall not make the same mistake again. No, I am going to go see what how this party plays out.

I should prepare first. I dress in dark clothing and carry light, a knife and pistol for self-defense. With a box full of cigarettes and matches, I am ready to go.

As I drive to the meeting place, I start to wonder about the boy. Edogawa Conan? How could he possibly be so careless? I thought he was capable, but within the spans of a night of negligence Sherry was in Vermouth's hands almost. Maybe I overestimated the kid.

I arrived not too far from the meeting place, close enough to walk but far enough that I wouldn't get noticed. I step out of my truck, stifling my cigarette with my boot. My body buzzes with anticipation, but I keep my movements smooth and slow. I am well known for my calm nature, and I am not going to lose it now. I stalk closer and closer to the spot that Jodie told me about. I think they are on the other side of these freights, next to the ocean.

Something was wrong though. It was too quiet, the silent night air only disturbed by a soft gale from the sea. Vermouth would not come without a fight that was for sure. There should be some sort of noise, yelling, police sirens, gunshots, something right?

I decided to climb up on some higher ground, just to see what was happening. Most of the freights had ladders on them, so it was no trouble to climb up to the top level. I crawled slowly over to the edge, looking down.

The first thing I noticed was a distinct lack of our agents surrounding the area as I surveyed across the freights first. The only person I saw…was a sniper? No way, Jodie wouldn't have called any other sniper besides me on this mission, if she wanted one. Which means this guy is for the organization.

Instantly I tense up. This was bad, now that I looked at the situation on the ground. Jodie was leaning against her car, holding a bloody side, with what looked like an unconscious Edogawa Conan. Oh, what was he doing here? Did he actually try to save the girl? Then there was Vermouth, pointing a pistol at Shiho, who was standing there, unafraid and willing to accept her fate. It was a good thing I decided to crash this party.

In any case, taking care of the sniper is top priority. Being one myself, I know how dangerous we can be, having something that surveys and can take out anything, yet untouchable by anyone else is a great strategic advantage. I sneak silently across the metal top, not daring to rise any higher in case someone noticed me, even though it looks as if all of the players in the game are absorbed in their own little world.

Suddenly, Jodie's trunk flips open. I reach for my pistol. Jodie didn't keep a spare agent in her trunk right? That was just crazy. But no, not an agent. Mouri Ran leaps out of the car.

I watch in tense fascination as she starts to run over the car. What is she doing here? Was she insane? She was going to get shot. Sure enough, she had slid across the roof and I hear the bullet zing out of the barrel of the rifle, barely missing its target. I creep slightly faster. I want this to be without casualties, if I can help it. I hear a shout.

"Wait, Calvados."

Vermouth was actually trying to protect the girl. She must have some affection for her to call her 'Angel' after all, but enough to go against the organization for her? Calvados had no intention of stopping as he released bullet after bullet against the teenager. To her credit, Mouri Ran was fast enough to just barely avoid the bullets. I think Jodie said that she was quite proficient in karate, but it was hard to hit a moving target. Nevertheless I was grateful. Although, what was her aim, why was she acting now of all times?

"Hold fire Calvados!"

More desperation leaked into Vermouth's tone as a bullet strayed particularly close to the girl. She was serious about this wasn't she? I was finally in position, right above the sniper. I wait for the opportune moment as Mouri Ran sprinted toward Shiho, who was looking quite surprised. As long as the sniper was still firing and getting Vermouth's attention, I couldn't attack.

"Stop!"

The sniper ignored her, taking several more shots at the girl's legs, hoping to hit her. Man either this sniper sucked, or this girl had the luck of the Irish with the amount of misses.

Suddenly Vermouth raises her pistol toward the sniper.

"Didn't I tell you to stop?"

She shot one warning shot at the sniper, dinging off the metal shipping container next to him and I see the sniper turn to look at her. Mouri Ran finally tackles Shiho out of the way, shielding her desperately from danger. Vermouth turns back to the pair, and the sniper has finally stopped firing. Now is my chance.

I leap down right on top of the guy grabbing at his mouth with one hand and his rifle in the other. He lets out a surprised grunt and tries to bite at my fingers. I debate quickly. Should I kill him? No, if we fail to get Vermouth, this guy could also give us information. Right now it was best to immobilize him, and take all of his weapons.

I stomped heavily on the man's shins, feeling them shatter under my feet as I hold onto the man's nose and mouth to keep him from alerting the others to our presence. I feel him shudder beneath me and fall limp, almost unconscious. I jump a little as more pistol shots ring through the air, but I barely spare a glance toward the ground. Vermouth was just bluffing. The older girl had Shiho completely covered, and Vermouth wouldn't defend her so much to the point of blatantly committing treason in front of this sniper only to kill the girl herself.

I start hurriedly searching the man, before he can regain full consciousness. He had a rifle, a shotgun, and three handguns on his person. I take the shotgun for myself, not bad, and the sniper rifle. I toss the rest of the guns far away behind the freights as I get down. The man was basically trapped up there; no way was he going to jump or climb down with broken legs. I can take my time with him later, preferably in an interrogation room somewhere. Now though, it was time to go completely corner Rotten Apple.

Jodie seems to have gotten into the sniper's blind spot. I carefully jump down between the freights, walking toward the scene. My boots echo against the metal around me as I step closer and closer toward my goal, pulling back on the pump action to ready my weapon. Finally, I can catch and be free of this woman. At least if everything goes according to plan.

"Ok Calvados. Attack."

Oh, did she think I was the sniper? She was going to get the shock of her life when she realized she was trapped. I smirked as I slowly but steadily made my way closer. Did I have everything prepared? Could I have forgotten something?

"Just use the shotgun, your favorite, to shoot this FBI vermin."

I bristle slightly at the insult, to Jodie and myself, but cover it with a smirk.

"Ho, that guy called Calvados has a rifle, a shotgun, and three handguns."

I stepped out into the light, trying to look casual to make her drop her guard.

"I figured he was an assassin."

Vermouth turned to look at me with surprise.

"Akai Shuichi."

"Shu!"

Jodie exclaimed relieved. I didn't take my eyes off Vermouth however, eying her seriously in case she tried something as I stepped closer.

"But now that both of his legs are broken…"

Vermouth gasped, narrowing her eyes up at the prone sniper on the roof of the shipping containers. She gave a displeased huff as she turned back towards me. I stepped in front of Jodie just in case in her anger Vermouth did something rash.

"Calvados is the name of wine made from boiling apples."

I smirk at her.

"It is quite fitting for the partner of Rotten Apple."

The assassin relaxed slightly in confusion.

"Rotten Apple?"

"It was our code name for you. You, movie star Sharon, are most remembered by your performance in The Golden Apple. At that time you were still beautiful, but now your heart is filled with wrinkles, a rotten apple."

She narrowed her eyes at the insult and I see the movement in her right hand. I react instantly, bringing up the shotgun and firing it at her chest. It won't kill her; in fact it will probably immobilize her, which helps us in the long run.

The shot hits her full in the chest, sending her backwards onto the ground. I pull back again on the pump, kicking out the used shell as I regard her carefully, watching for any other movements.

"You can't Shu."

Seeing that Vermouth won't get up soon, I relax, but only slightly as I smoothly dispel Jodie's fears.

"Don't worry. I can tell that she is wearing a bulletproof shirt underneath. At most it is a few broken bones."

That wasn't the only reason why I wanted to use the shotgun either.

"Look, the shotgun bullet scarred her face. So this isn't a disguise, but her actual look."

How though? Jodie told me about this woman killing her father almost twenty years ago. How does she still look so young? How did Shiho revert back to being a child? Mysteries the world will never know the answer to probably.

I had just finished speaking when Vermouth seemed to get her second wind and bolted to her feet. I aimed the shotgun carefully as she sprinted toward Jodie's car. I was just about to pull the trigger when I noticed where she was going. Edogawa Conan lay there, helpless. I let out a tsk of displeasure as I held my shot back. Vermouth bundled the boy carefully in her arms. I tensed, ready to fire but voiced my irritation.

"Annoying kids."

Vermouth gave me this smug look as she held the pistol to the unconscious boy's head, stepping back into car with a chuckle. I couldn't fire and put the boy at risk. This is why I hate civilians in operations, interfering in such an important job, this boy especially. From what I have seen he was probably trying to play the hero as usual with his stupid bravery, and now he was the woman's bargaining chip that would allow her to slip from our fingers once again. I had assumed the woman wouldn't hurt the boy when she had given him an affectionate nickname, but then again, I would be the one hurting him as the shotgun pellets would blast into both of them.

She hit out the glass of the window and shot twice at me and Jodie. I ducked and looked up to see she had slid over to the driver's side. She shot once more and I stepped to the side, gripping my shotgun, seeing my chance. The boy was lying farther down if I shot through the window…

The pellets sprayed through the window and the darn woman had the instincts to duck, letting it miss her completely. She got up and shot again, although this was mostly to distract not to hit as she threw the car in drive, squealing off. She was going to get away. I aimed for the tires, trying to get the car to stop, but without a precision weapon there was no way I was able to. Jodie was an ok shot, but she would have to be incredibly lucky to hit it.

I see the arm stretch backwards out the window and in another second, the other car burst into flames and exploded. I covered my eyes as Jodie leapt at the two girls still lying on the concrete. I watch as our prize of the night, races away, and escapes. She had exceeded our expectations once again.

"She actually hit the oil tank while driving and only using the reflection on the mirror."

As a fellow marksman, I knew how difficult that shot truly was, and in her condition, it should have been impossible. Ah well. It made the hunt even more worthwhile when they struggled. We would have Rotten Apple in our grasp, one day. I chuckled.

"She's pretty good."

"Shu, why are you standing there? She got away with a hostage."

I glance at her. Usually in this situation I would race off to my truck, but this hostage situation was different. She wouldn't harm the boy. It was just a bluff to make us drop our guard when she took him. Not to mention, this was no ordinary hostage. The last time I had seen the boy in a hostage situation; all three of the criminals had been arrested. True, this was Vermouth, but I still don't believe he is in any danger.

"Your car keys should not have been in the car."

I admonished gently. Jodie hissed with pain and I feel a slight wave of pity at the sizable blood stain on her side.

"Sorry."

I glanced up at the freights. We might have let Vermouth get away, but we still had Calvados. The night was not yet completely lost.

"Even if we did chase after her, she could have partners hidden elsewhere. We should just take that sniper up there—"

I see the figure barely raise an arm, and dread fills me just before I saw the muzzle flash and hear the pop.

"Oi, how do you still have a gun?"

I searched him thoroughly. There should have not been anything left. Jodie slumped wearily.

"Did he commit suicide?"

Probably, and now we have no leads. This night had been a disaster, although we did glean some information, managed to protect Shiho miraculously, and had taken Vermouth out of commission for a little while. The boss will not be happy with her, and she has to have time to recuperate. That's twice now that I have wounded her, and she has gotten away. Dammit.

Sirens interrupted my thinking. I glance off toward the sound.

"Look, the Japanese police have arrived."

That wasn't good. We are technically not supposed to be here in Japan, and definitely not supposed to be investigating and starting firefights on foreign ground. Jodie glanced toward the unconscious pair.

"It must have been this girl who called the police. In the trunk, even if she couldn't hear our conversations, she could still hear the gunshots. She probably got suspicious after seeing the photos in my house, so she hid in my car and wanted to investigate me. When she heard a gunshot, she dashed out. She wanted to protect the target, this brown-haired girl. Then she thought she was shot, and fainted."

I look at the pair, entangled even when they were passed out. I blink and an image of Akemi, embracing Shiho took thier place. I shove the memory away. That girl is doing it again. Jodie smiled fondly.

"Gosh, I don't know if she counts as courageous or not."

Jodie had gotten close to this girl and that boy in her investigation of them. I could tell. Not that that is necessary a bad thing, but I hope it doesn't blind her to our objective. The sirens continue to get louder, prompting me to think ahead.

"I will leave the rest to you. Just say that you are a FBI officer on vacation in Japan, and you were thrown into a child abduction case."

I paused, before continuing.

"Since that woman escaped, no one would believe you if you told the truth anyway. I guess I will be leaving now."

Akai Shuichi isn't supposed to be in Japan technically, and I definitely don't want to deal with questions from the police. I glance toward Shiho. There is so much I want to tell her, to apologize for, but not yet. Now is not the time. It is still too soon.

"It is not time for that brown-haired girl to see me yet."

I step away, back to my truck and Jodie doesn't say a word to stop me.

What should my next course of action be? Should I try to find Vermouth? I doubt she has gotten far; well far enough for me to not chase her, but something has to be done about the boy. I can't leave him in the arms of the organization. No, the boy can take care of himself. He has outwitted Vodka and has escaped Gin once. I bet, hope anyway, he can get away from a lady who wouldn't hurt him that had a few broken ribs.

I stay and watch as an ambulance takes Jodie away to a hospital and pull out my cellphone, just as the sun starts to peek over the horizon. The night is over. I should probably call James and let update him on the current situation.

"Akai-kun. Did something happen?"

"The mission to catch Rotten Apple failed. We protected the girl, and Jodie got shot through the side."

James hummed in response.

"I see. Come meet me later at Jodie's room and you all can fill in the details."

"Roger."

I hang up. Now to go see if the boy has returned.

I check the detective agency that Jodie said the boy was staying at first. The police had apparently given Mouri Ran a ride back, and Mouri Kogoro was stumbling up the stairs when I pulled past, but no sign of Edogawa Conan. I was about to go check Agasa's place when a yellow Volkswagen pulled up to the agency.

I breathed out a sigh as I see the boy I waited to see step out, and raise my eyebrows. He looked how I felt, disappointed and slightly irritated, like a child who didn't get the present he wanted for Christmas. Maybe things didn't go the way things wanted for him either, although I don't know how that was possible considering he was a hostage. Ah well.

I need to go maybe take a nap, and then go visit Jodie to make sure she was all right. It had been a long night, but we are all still alive, and next time the black organization won't be so lucky. I pull down on my gearshift and drive away into the early morning light.