Sorry guys adulting takes up a lot of time. I promise that the last chapter of this will come out a few days after this one. Hope you all like the chapter. This is episodes 866 and 867.

The police arrived and started investigating immediately. I tried to stay as far away from Bourbon and Conan as I could. I didn't want to draw unwanted attention to me from my enemy, and I definitely didn't want them to notice my connection to Conan. We were just acquaintances, not allies, at least at this moment. Anything more then mutual minor cooperation will cause Vermouth and Bourbon to question my motives. I wouldn't talk to him unless prompted or there was a real emergency.

I wasn't surprised to see some familiar faces, mostly Chiba, Takagi, and of course Megure come in and pull the body down and start. Of course, division one was called for this murder. Megure was standing over the body.

"What's the overview of the case?"

Takagi was quick to shift through his notebook.

"Oh, right. The deceased is musician Hado Rokumichi, thirty-nine years old. He was going to perform a concert tomorrow."

"I see. What is the time of death?"

The forensic investigating the body looked up at him.

"Based on the dilation of the pupils, he's probably been dead for an hour or two."

Takagi continued.

"According to his manager, Hado had been in here for around two hours writing lyrics."

Megure picked up.

"And during that time someone entered the auditorium, hanged the victim by the neck, and killed him."

He glanced up toward the top of the stage, where the man had been hanging.

"They probably passed a rope over the metal bars used to hang spotlights and lifted him using the machine for moving the heavy curtains."

Good they are thinking along the same lines we were. Now to put them completely on the same page. Bourbon stepped forward, putting forth his deductions confidently.

"I don't think that's possible. The room with the curtain controls was locked. When the murder took place, the staff who had the key were out to lunch."

Takagi looked surprised.

"Then did they lift him without using a machine?"

I suppose I should put forth my findings.

"Yes, probably with several people. Without pulleys attached to the bar above the stage, it would have been impossible alone."

Bourbon butted in again.

"Another point of interest is the folding chair, leftover rope, and toolbox left on the edge of the stage."

I glance to the side as I put in another point I had found out.

"There is also a strange hole in the rope, near the knot of the rope attached to the seats."

I don't want this to be competition between us. Gosh knows we don't need that; we have enough of that already. Suddenly Conan pops up on stage almost out of nowhere, childish voice and simple grin on his face.

"And there was a baseball with a kite string attached to it in the middle of them."

Takagi blinked in shock.

"C-Conan-kun, you're here too?"

Of course, he is. It is almost guaranteed that if there is a murder in a fifty-mile radius, Kudo Shinichi will be there. Megure gave a small sigh.

"In any case, we should question the staff."

Not a bad idea. Although we didn't really have that jurisdiction, so that's why we have been waiting for the police to uncover more from the suspects. The detectives quickly dispersed. Conan placed his chin in his hand and scowled.

"I am taking one last look around."

Bourbon quickly volunteered as well, giving me a look as if expecting me to jump in as well. We have already looked around as much as we could and with police here it will only limit our movements. If we are there for the interrogations maybe we could pick up some more clues.

"You can go ahead. I will go take a look at the suspects."

They both nodded and took off, Conan scampering off to forensics, while Bourbon walked calmly into the wings of the stage. I followed the police to the lobby.

I watched Enjo-san the manager, and Fuse-san, the record Label President, both answer questions. They looked distressed, but normal considering their friend and business partner was killed. Neither one gave any signs that they were the culprit. Neither one of them had an alibi though, Fuse-san complaining he had an upset stomach and was in the bathroom, and Enjo-san was running around giving instructions to staff. So either one could have slipped away at any moment to kill this guy.

Megure came out of the theater and I see that Conan and Bourbon followed close behind. I could tell by the puzzled and disappointed looks on their faces they didn't find anything useful. Conan gave me a hopeful look. I just shook my head. Nothing really stood out to me as criminal behavior or criminal answers. He only looked dissatisfied for a second before he bounded up to stand beside me for Takagi's briefing. Bourbon gave me a side long look as he went to go stand next to 'Azusa-san'.

I settle in next to Sonoko, and a mild distance away from Bourbon, trying to blend in as Takagi puts forward the small amount of information they had found out during the interrogations. I had already heard most of this so I focused my attention on the elephant in the room.

Bourbon, and Vermouth. I was ready to get out of here, minimizing my exposure to the black organization members as much as possible, and now it looks like not only am I stuck here with them for the next few hours until it is solved, but I must actively work with one of them. I have taken a foot in the right direction by actively participating in the investigation, but every step from now on ups the risk of my identity being discovered.

I have been undercover enough that I am not quite shaking in my boots here, but I do feel uncomfortable. Both of them hate me with a burning passion, and I can't let Okiya Subaru get on Vermouth's radar. Suddenly, my path that I have been taking is full with pitfalls, and I am blindfolded. I have no idea how this is going to go, and I have never wanted Conan's oracle abilities more then right now.

This isn't good. Doubt now leads to recklessness, and eventually mistakes. I can't have doubt or fear right now. I just need to be confident and maintain a healthy middle, where I don't hog the spotlight, but they would notice if I try to blend into the background too much. I slowly take a deep breath and try my best to relax. Don't think about how one wrong move and you could be found out. Don't think about—

"Hey, did any of you play baseball?"

I am shocked out of my miniature inner panic attack by one of Conan's childish questions. What am I thinking? It is different from my other times that I have infiltrated somewhere; I have a dependable partner. Right, if I make a wrong move, I have the expert strategist to help me plan my next one. I can do this. All doubt scatters out of my mind as I focus back into the investigation. Amazing how just Conan's presence can calm me when dealing with the enemy. He is the good luck charm after all. Ran and Sonoko both admonished the boy, but he didn't revoke his question. Fuse-san, Enjo-san, and Kajiya-san, the reporter, all answered.

"I played Rugby in college."

"I played a little tennis in middle school."

"I was a phantom member of the hiking club."

Kajiya-san added thoughtfully.

"Hado played baseball through high school. Apparently, he was an outfielder with a strong throwing arm."

Fuse-san bent down a little, asking gently.

"Why do you ask?"

Ah, his childish personality is once again working as an advantage to him. Takagi raised hands.

"We found a baseball at the crime scene."

Enjo-san raised her hand to her chin.

"It is probably the ball Hado received from his team when he graduated from high school. He always had it on him."

Kajiya-san smirked.

"Of course his ex knows all about him. You dated Hado from that time until he started getting popular right?"

This guy is blunt that is for sure. It is helpful yet also, not. Enjo-san scowls at him. The reporter continued.

"And then that company president fell in love with the beautiful manager but ended up being rejected."

Fuse-san sighed resignedly.

"That was years ago."

Kajiya-san shrugged.

"Who cares? Who knows what kind of warped emotions are behind your twisted relationships and Hado's death?"

So not only do they not have an alibi, there was possibly a motive. This is turning out to be a great investigation.

"Do you all know where Hado's cell phone is? It wasn't in the green room or with his things."

Enjo-san answered helpfully.

"He always keeps his cell phone in his breast pocket."

Across the room, I see Bourbon stiffen slightly. What, did that clue him in to something? Takagi pulled out a notebook.

"We are going to get handwriting samples from all of you now. There was a note with the body, and we want to do a handwriting analysis. We need you to write your name and I'm sorry."

Sounds ok to me. I watch as everybody kind of disperses a little. I watch as Takagi approaches Bourbon and I turn away, observing other occupants of the room. I stiffen a little as I see Azusa-san approach Conan, but decide not to act. Vermouth won't hurt her precious little charge, hopefully. I watch as she asks him something and he turned with a haunted look on his face. Did something happen? I decide to let him handle it. Even Vermouth isn't as bold as to make a move here in the middle of police. Takagi approaches her next and she is quick to give her statement and he moves toward Enjo-san.

I pretend not to observe them as Bourbon sidles up next to her and they whisper to each other. I wonder what they could be discussing. Me? Conan? Or the fact that their plan was messed up as well.

Oh yeah, with all the excitement, I forgot our original mission. This was supposed to tie us to Rum somehow, and now our number one witness was killed off, and they didn't even do it. So it looks like they won this round I guess since he was silenced before he gave us anything useful.

"Subaru-san?"

I turned toward Takagi as he held out the notebook.

"It's your turn."

I carefully grab the pen in my left hand and sign Okiya Subaru's name, along with the apology.

"Is this all right?"

Takagi nodded, giving me a grateful smile.

"Thank you."

I wonder if he is referring to my deductions or just me being a polite person to the police. Ah well, back to trying to put together a hundred-piece puzzle with only sixty pieces.

"You're left handed?"

I try my best not to react as Bourbon pops up out of nowhere. Was he watching me? It was a known fact that Akai was left handed. Did I just shoot myself in the foot here? I answer calmly, ignoring my racing heartbeat.

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

Bourbon had his mask on, the disarming kind. The one that told me immediately he was fishing for information.

"No, when we met the other day, you removed your mask with your right hand. I thought you were right handed."

I had a sudden flashback to the roof of that hospital, planning with the Boya. I find that most people don't actively look at which hands people use, so it shouldn't be a problem. Most people, huh? Well that was my first mistake; Bourbon isn't most people. This is one of those moments that I was worried about earlier. Now, how to handle this? Stay calm. Play dumb.

"Is that right?"

Bourbon closed his eyes, smiling sweetly.

"Don't worry about it."

His eyes opened again, and I could definitely see the predator in them.

"The man I hate, enough to kill, just happens to be a lefty."

I couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't even swallow as unbelievable pressure dropped on me like a net. I could tell that he was looking past the glasses, past the makeup and foundation, past the dyed wig, to look at Akai Shuichi, like a scientist looking at something under a microscope. How can I fix this situation? I say coolly.

"Is that so?"

Bourbon opened his mouth, probably to chew me out some more when I hear Takagi across the lobby.

"Megure Keibu, the handwriting analysis is done."

I can't suggest for us to go and pay attention; he will assume I am distracting him and only dig the pit I am already in even deeper. He must back off himself. He frowns, before huffing with displeasure. He steps back and the intimidation factor dropped away, mostly. He stepped away and folded his arms, facing Megure. I followed suit but I could tell he was still stealing glances at me. Thankfully, Ran and Sonoko stepped in to fill the gap.

"What? The victim wrote the note himself?"

"Yes sir, according to forensics, the paper came from the notebook he used to write songs."

Wait, could we have been wrong this whole time? Was this a suicide? It wasn't exactly uncommon for stars to fall under the pressure of fame. Megure theorized.

"Which means it's likely the victim felt indebted to someone, and that became their reason to kill him. Any ideas?"

Enjo-san answered his question.

"I don't know about indebted, but he may have had an inferiority complex. Hado often said he had to work hard to keep up with handsome musicians since he had an off-putting face."

Megure replied thoughtfully.

"I see."

Fuse-san commented.

"I told him not to worry about it. I said the way he seemed difficult to approach was part of his charm. "

Sonoko whispered to Ran, and I leaned in to listen.

"Come to think of it, Hado-san changed his image recently."

"Yeah he seemed softer than before."

Conan came out of nowhere, popping off his usual helpful questions.

"Changed how?"

Both teenagers glanced at each other.

"Just his overall impression."

Sonoko mused.

"Maybe his face?"

The reporter jumped in.

"That reminds me, there were some rumors that Hado got plastic surgery. Although I think that was around the time he graduated from high school."

Enjo-san snapped.

"I told you before that's all nonsense. We didn't have any money back then. We worked every day for a shipping company to make enough money to become a musician."

The reporter replied smugly.

"But Hado dumped you after you worked so hard together, and married another woman. I think that was sixteen years ago. And the song ASACA he was set to announce at this concert was composed seventeen years ago. There must be some reason he left it without lyrics for seventeen years. Right pretty manager?"

Fuse-san stepped between the reporter and the manager.

"Hey that is enough."

"President you must know something too. I heard Hado asked you after a previous concert, 'why didn't you say anything for seventeen years?' and after your argument Hado suddenly announced he'd be releasing his new song ASACA. There must be something going on."

While Megure stepped in to clarify I managed to stop from stiffening once again as Bourbon glared daggers at me. Get off my back. I handled him as well as I could. Even now, minutes after and no longer in the heat of the moment, I still can't think of a better answer then what I gave. I left it open ended and his surveillance on me will be thick for a while, but I can do this. Suddenly I am drawn back into the conversation as Kajiya-san snapped.

"Isn't it impossible for anyone to have committed this crime?"

Impossible. A flashback jumped unbidden into my mind. A rooftop, a pistol, and a scared man.

You can't. It's impossible.

Give it up. Scotch.

I shake my head slightly. Now is not the time to be dwelling on the past. Bourbon is bringing up unpleasant memories. I give him a glance and he reacts defensively, turning to me with a questioning glare. I couldn't wait for this investigation to be over.

"Hey let go. I need to get back to the office and write an article about this case."

Takagi had his hand wrapped around the strap of Kajiya-san's reporter bag. I roll my eyes inwardly. He doesn't understand; he can't leave period until we catch the culprit, and especially without letting police check his bag. I forget that most people don't know crime scene etiquette.

"We need to check the contents of you bag first."

"You guys never give up. I told you to let me go."

I saw it happen a second before it did, and I stepped forward to prevent it too late. Takagi released the bag only for it to canon into the forensics officer carrying suitcases with evidence in it out to the police vans. The suitcases fell to the ground, popping open and spilling their contents everywhere. The officer gasped.

"Oh no the evidence."

Conan, Ran and Sonoko quickly knelt down.

"We'll help."

"Thank you."

They started carefully organizing the evidence. I carefully watch Conan's face as he sifts through the small baggies with careful fingers, observant eyes examining them. He stares at one in particular for a few seconds longer and then turns and I see his eyes focus in that 'aha' moment I have been waiting for. I smirk as I step forward. Something clued him in.

I knelt next to him and I am immediately aware that Bourbon is hovering over my shoulder. He isn's exactly hiding his presence. I give Magure a quick look to make sure he is occupied before I go rifling through evidence. He is busy looking at the camera that was in the bag. Good. Conan acknowledges mine and Bourbon's presence by flashing me the piece of evidence. Hado's driver license? What does that have to do with anything? Then he pointed to the rope.

Wait a second, how the rope is coiled up. That looks like someone wrapped it around their forearm, like how shipping company people do it. I raise my eyebrows at him. That narrowed it down to two people, Hado-san, or Enjo-san since they both worked in the shipping company after high school. However, seeing the size as it was beside Ran's foot, it was obvious by the smaller loops the culprit was probably a woman. I could tell Conan was having the same thoughts. Bourbon however seemed to miss the hint that Conan had given. Maybe he didn't understand what he was given.

Yes, finally the pieces are coming together. Megure interrupted my thoughts as he stated.

"After viewing the images on the camera that was in your bag, it looked like you were secretly taking photos of Hado-san as he entered the concert hall."

I take a look at the series of photographs. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Hold on a second…his eyes. I had worn glasses and contacts a lot, and I could tell there was a difference between the pictures on his ID and the pictures on the camera. Did Hado-san wear contacts?

"Yeah."

"What did he say then?"

"He just said to stop taking pictures."

Takagi stepped up to whisper in Megure's ear, but I had lost interest. Conan had run up to the evidence officer.

"Hey mister!"

I tense; this was important. Conan always gave hints, leading us around by the nose. It was his main method of communicating. Right now, this was a message to me and Bourbon. I could tell by how loud he was and how childish and how outputting he was.

"Did you find a…on the ground? Azusa-neechan said she lost one."

Lost? What could Azusa-chan have lost on the crime scene. And only one, which implies more then one. I turn back to the three suspects, looking for some kind of clue to help clue me in on what the boya meant and Bourbon mirrored the movement. I scoured Kajiya-san, and Fuse-san, before spying a small gleam on Enjo-san's back.

Wait, what is that? Of course… a contact lens. If Hado had them in his eyes when he was hung, or if they fell out. But if she has one, there has to be another one somewhere around.

"No we didn't find anything like that on stage."

Conan asked sweetly.

"Then was anything missing like wire or gloves?"

Gloves for the fingerprints, wire for what purpose exactly."

"The staff said both of those things were missing from the toolbox at the edge of the stage."

"Did the staff leave that folding chair next to the tool box?"

"No, they kept it further up stage."

We need to find the other contact lens, for further evidence. I see Bourbon eyeing the staff across the lobby, handling the rope. No matter. I focus on what I could do.

"Did you inspect the folding chair too?"

"Not for prints yet. But he's taking it back along with the mic stand for further inspection."

If the contact lens wasn't on the stage it has to be on those two items. Although, logically, if he hung himself, the chair was the better answer. I see the man in question and quickly corner him.

"Could you show me the bottom of the seat?"

He looked startled.

"Sure, just for a second."

"Thank you."

I carefully take the chair and spin it around, kneeling to get a good look, along with Conan and Bourbon. Sure enough, the contact lens was exactly where we thought it was.

I see, so that's how it is. The contact lens placement proved that Hado-san committed suicide. He used the chair to commit suicide, then his feet knocked it over, and the contact lens fell out and onto the chair. That is why the baseball and kite string were there, so he could throw the rope over the rafter himself. However, why this other charade?

I hand the chair back to the evidence officer and he leaves with it. Conan glances between me and Bourbon and beckons toward a hallway nearby. I follow him carefully and I notice that Bourbon is hesitant to do so, but does as well. Conan gives us both looks before whispering.

"Ok? Has everyone figured out the culprit, and the method?"

I had figured out everything I think, except for how the small little Enjo-san could lift the man. Although, this was probably a good thing. My incompetence could lead to Bourbon lifting suspicion off me.

"I am still stuck on how Enjo-san lifted Hado-san."

Bourbon smirked triumphantly.

"You don't know such a simple thing Okiya-san?"

Conan gave me a surprised look. I know this is out of character Conan, but I need this. I smile sheepishly.

"As I thought, loving mysteries as a hobby is different from professionals."

I see Conan glance from me to Bourbon, before relaxing. Ah, I see he understands my strategy now. Bourbon smirked as he explained condescendingly.

"You were the one who pointed out the notch in the rope."

I straightened slightly.

"Ah, I see. A pulley system right?"

Right, shipping companies use a series of knots to create pulleys without wheels. How had I forgotten about that? The notch was where the rope rubbed together. Mauro smiled disarmingly at Conan.

"I am surprised you knew it was Enjo-san. Did you see the lens on her?"

Conan shook his head.

"No."

Ah, that's right he missed that hint. I replied for him.

"The rope was coiled like how people that work at shipping companies do it, around the forearm. Since the loops were smaller we concluded it had to have been Enjo-san."

Bourbon shot me a mysterious glance. Dang, I redeemed myself didn't I? I quickly backtrack.

"I only guessed because that's what Conan-kun showed me."

Conan tensed slightly before relaxing. I know he doesn't like being under the spotlight as well, but he understands that out of the two identities, mine needs to be protected more. Conan folded his arms.

"Can I trust this to you Amuro-san?"

Bourbon grinned.

"You can jump in whenever you like Conan-kun."

Conan narrowed his eyes before shrugging. Bourbon turned to me, sickly sweet smile on his face.

"You as well, Okiya-san."

I will tread carefully Bourbon. I don't plan talking out of turn. Bourbon led the way up to Megure.

"Pardon us Keibu, but we know how the killer lifted the body."

Megure turned to us in surprise.

"You know how the killer lifted the victim's body? Is that true?"

Bourbon smirked.

"Yes probably. We need a long rope however."

Conan-kun smiled sweetly at Takagi.

"Could you help us demonstrate Takagi-Keiji?"

Takagi nodded.

"Sure, let me go get the rope."

He ran off, toward the staff that was pulling the ropes down from outside. Ah, the clue that must have led Bourbon to the pulley trick. I noticed him eyeing them, but didn't get it myself. Bourbon led the way inside the theater, chatting with Megure about the details, while Conan went and grabbed the other suspects, while I contentedly sat back and watch them work. No need to get Bourbon to see or interact with me more than necessary.

Takagi retrieved the rope. Bourbon pulled out a chair and set it middle stage.

"Could you tie a loop in the rope, big enough to fit your torso in?"

While Takagi followed orders, I stayed at the top of the theater, with 'Azusa-san', and the other girls. Finally it looked like the trick was ready.

"We passed the rope over the spotlight bar and tied the other end to Takagi, but is one person really strong enough to lift him out of the chair?"

Bourbon replied naturally.

"Of course."

He went over the steps to create the pulley knot intricately, creating it with his hands as he talked. He was thorough, creating the system easily. Everyone in the theater watched him with awe, as if he was putting on a show.

"—You created and pull on the leftover rope."

He called up to us.

"Sonoko-san, you seem like the weakest person here. Could you pull on this?"

I smirked. Good choice. I doubt in normal circumstances, Sonoko couldn't lift Takagi. She is perfect to demonstrate this trick. Sonoko stated in shock.

"What me?"

She skipped down the stairs, looking at Amuro with surprise.

"Sure. I doubt I will be able to lift him though."

She pulled against the rope, and sure enough, Takagi rose out of the chair, yelping in astonishment. Even Sonoko looked at him in disbelief.

"What? How?"

Megure added.

"What is going on?"

I start down the stairs toward the stage. Now would be a perfect time for me to jump in and put forth a tiny, almost insignificant part of the deduction. Bourbon smirked smugly.

"It's the principle of pulleys, right?"

He turned to me expectantly, as if wanting me to continue the deduction. I nodded.

"Yes. The small loops created along the rope function as pulleys. Each set of loops doubles, quadruples, and octuples the strength at which the rope pulls. Since we are using a rope rather then pulleys, the strength isn't octupled due to friction. But if you use a light and slippery enough rope, even Sonoko-san can lift Takagi Keiji."

Bourbon hopped back in, picking up where I left off.

"In other words, the culprit used not the strength of several people, but lifted Hado-san alone."

He paused slightly and I notice him give me the same look. Your turn. I don't like him pulling me along with his pace, but I will go with it for now.

"Furthermore, this is known as a shipping knot. Which means the most likely suspect who lifted Hado-san's body is his manager who worked for a shipping company when she was younger. Kanae Enjo-san, it's you."

Her eyes widened and her face tightened. Both of the other suspects turned toward her in horror. Megure seemed to take the fact in stride as he asked.

"I can see how she lifted him but how did she tie the rope to the seats?"

Bourbon turned back toward the stage.

"That's simple."

He knelt down, messing with the rope.

"First, after lifting the victim, she temporarily secured the rope by tying it to a nearby seat. Then she wrapped a wire around the rope leading upwards around here."

Ah so that is what the wire that Conan asked about is for. He pointed to the system he rigged up.

"Once the rope comping from the ceiling is secured using the wire, the remaining rope can be untied and reattached to the seat. The best part of the shipping knot is that it can be untied easily since it doesn't actually create any knots, but if it's done using brand new rope, then it leaves telltale marks. That's why after retying the rope to the seat, you cut the end using the box cutter in the tool box, and left it coiled next to the tool box at the edge of the stage, right, Enjo-san?"

He directed his last question toward the manage, who has broken out in a sweat by now. She knows she is caught. Fuse-san stepped forward protesting.

"You can't just assume she did it just because she used to work at a shipping company."

Boya, you are up. Explain your theories. Sure enough, as if he could hear my directions, Conan spoke up.

"It's the size of her feet."

"Her feet?"

Conan explained.

"Shipping workers coil rope by wrapping it like this."

He wrapped the rope around his forearm, demonstrating the action.

"The inner loop is approximately the size of a person's foot since the space between the elbow and the wrist is about the size of their foot. Since the rope found at the crime scene was in loops about the size of Ran-neechan's feet, we thought the rope might have been coiled by the smaller manager."

Kajiya-san smugly looked over at Enjo-san.

"I see. So after seventeen years, the managers feelings for Hado turned into hate."

Fuse-san immediately reprimanded him.

"Hey, you shouldn't say that. We are still not sure that she did it."

Conan interrupted their argument.

"Contact lenses."

As expected they all turned to him in surprise. He continued.

"As his manager, you must've noticed Hado-san was wearing contact lenses to make his irises look larger."

Enjo-san replied shakily.

"Yes."

"I noticed after looking at Hado-san's driver's license and comparing it to the images the reporter took today. One of the lenses is stuck to your back."

She gasped.

"What?"

She turned to try to look. Megure came walking up.

"Do you mind."

Enjo-san nodded.

"Go ahead."

Megure nodded as he noticed the small circlet.

"I see. While you were lifting his body one of them fell onto your clothes. That's enough evidence for me. You can tell us the rest at the station."

Enjo-san slumped, heading toward the door resignedly.

"Wait a minute. Did you really do it? After supporting him for seventeen years, why did you have to kill him?"

No, Enjo-san isn't guilty of killing him. I want to speak up but I know my partners will in my stead. Sure enough-

"She can't answer that, because she didn't actually kill him."

Enjo-san straightened in shock at Bourbon's claim.

"What? What do you mean?"

Bourbon answered.

"Where do you think we found the other circle lens? It was under the folding chair left at the edge of the stage. In other words the chair had fallen under his feet after he was hanging. There is also the baseball tied to the kite string. It was used to pass the rope over the bar by tying the other end to the rope, throwing the ball so that the kite string would pass over the bar on the ceiling and pulling on the string. I don't mean to be rude, but I doubt Enjo-san would have been able to throw a bar high enough to clear the bar. Although Hado-san, known for his strong throwing arm on his high school baseball team, is another story. Then there is the note found in Hado-san's breast pocket. You know where this is going right?"

Megure guessed.

"He killed himself?"

"That's right. He hung himself, and she disguised it to look like a murder after finding him."

Kajiya-san questioned.

"Why did you try to hide his suicide? Something must've happened seventeen years ago."

"Were you worried about what we discussed the other day?"

Enjo-san gasped, turning toward Fuse-san. I step closer. Could this reason be tied to Rum? Doubt it, but I could hope.

"What do you mean?"

Megure questioned. Fuse-san answered calmly.

"Seventeen years ago she was pregnant with Hado's child."

Enjo-san interrupted indignantly.

"Fuse-san."

He continued.

"Saying it was for their unborn child, the freshly debuted Hado locked himself in his studio and wrote music. He stayed up so many nights in a row I thought he would die. When she came to stop him, she collapsed in front of the studio and miscarried. At the hospital she told me not to tell Hado about it."

This story is turning out to be depressing. I spoke, voicing my thoughts.

"I see. Since ASACA was the song he wrote for that unborn child, he held onto it for seventeen years unable to write the lyrics. When he learned what happened, he felt responsible and attempted to write lyrics for the child and release the song, but unable to write, he wrote 'I'm sorry' and chose to die instead."

Megure asked.

"But why was it necessary to make it look like a murder?"

I was wondering that as well. Enjo-san answered tearfully.

"I didn't want his family to know he killed himself over his ex's baby. So I took his phone with the message goodbye in his outbox out of his pocket and raised him up."

She broke down sobbing. Kajiya-san snorted.

"What an idiot to make a woman cry about his death."

Enjo-san pleaded.

"Don't put this in your article, please."

Kajiya-san stopped, and stayed still as he commented.

"I followed Hado for years. I crawled on the ground day after day looking for a story, and now the story I've found is also the biggest scandal in Hado's career. I like to think I understood Hado better than anyone. Even if you didn't ask me not to, I wouldn't write about this. Such an overly sentimental story doesn't suit a rock and roller."

I release the breath I had been holding. This was for the best. Finally, both of them agree on something. Such matters should remain private, only for those involved.

Enjo-san gets escorted to the police cruiser while we all step into the lobby. 'Asuza-san' is the one that brings up the thing that I had almost forgotten about the real reason we were all here.

"We still don't know why the CA in ASACA was spelled the way it is."

Right, we were here to investigate Rum and his connection to Hado. Well I can say for sure, that they weren't related by any means. Fuse-san answered Asuza-san's question.

"Oh, I asked Hado about it before. Since he heard about the pregnancy at a morning café after an all-nighter, if it was a girl he wanted to call her Asaca, taking the ca from café."

Vermouth smiled sweetly.

"I see."

Bourbon cut in.

"But if you were good enough friends for him to tell you that story, why did you turn on him and push him towards retirement? Did you know about his band member that got arrested for possession?"

Fuse-san's eyes widened.

"I don't know anything about that."

I'm impressed Bourbon. How did you even figure that out while in the middle of another investigation.

I'm impressed.

I sigh as I think back to that night; the night that changed everything.

I had accidentally come up to him on the roof. He had turned in surprise and for a second, we were both caught off guard. I had heard him talking to outside help on the phone, in fact I am pretty sure PSB was tossed in there a few times. He had jumped forward and I had acted in self-defense, throwing him over my shoulder. He had landed hard, but in the scuffle he had stolen my gun.

"I'm impressed Scotch."

My hands were up, heart thumping in my chest. He was going to kill an ally. I had to stop him. Stall for now.

"You took my gun while pretending to be thrown by me. I won't beg for my life, but before you shoot me don't you want to hear what I have to say?"

Scotch is scared, as any agent whose cover is blown should be.

"I didn't draw your gun to shoot you."

Then what is he planning? I had an idea, as I have thought about what I would do as an agent caught before. I call his bluff.

"I see."

Scotch turned the gun.

"I did it to do this."

No! I can't let him kill himself over someone who was on the same side as him. I narrow my eyes and leap forward, reaching for the gun. I have to stop this. Please don't let me be too late. He is sticking the barrel against his chest, his finger on the trigger. One hand grabs the cylinder while the other slams into the wall behind him, effectively caging him. He has to listen to me now.

"You can't."

I breathe a small exhale in relief as I explained.

"It's not possible to pull the trigger of a revolver when someone is holding the cylinder. Don't kill yourself Scotch."

He narrows his eyes at me. Looks like I have to give him something to make him trust me.

"You're not meant to die here."

"What?"

I don't want to blow my cover but I have to.

"I'm Akai Shuichi, an agent of the FBI. Like you, I'm a dog trying to sink my teeth into them. Now let go of the gun and listen to me. Helping you escape will be easy."

Scotch relaxed slightly.

"Ok."

Thank goodness. He is going to listen to me. I relax slightly too, only to tense again as I hear a dreaded sound; footsteps on metal stairs to the roof. I turn toward the threat and time slows down in an instant my hand comes off the cylinder, Scotch grits his teeth in resolve and gives me a look, apologetic and scared and slightly angry all at once. I don't know whether he thinks I betrayed him by asking another member here, or if the added second member spooked him into doing the deed, but next thing I know, a shot permeates the night.

I grimace and clench my fists. It wasn't supposed to end like this. I look down and through the copious amount of blood coming out of his chest, I see a cellphone. I pull it out slightly. I see. He took my gun so he could destroy this. This cellphone that likely contained data on his friends and family.

The footsteps are closer now. This is horrible, however the one positive thing is that I could use this, which isn't right, but I am doing it anyway. The organization will trust me more now that I have 'taken care of' a rat. I turn and am slightly surprised to see a younger agent, looking horrified.

"Traitors will be punished…right?"

Yes Bourbon's hate for me is a pain to deal with, but if he ever knew that Scotch was pushed to suicide because of him, it would destroy him. I could be his scapegoat if he needed, but I am not telling him that.

Speaking of, Bourbon is walking over. I try my best not to get in a defensive position out of habit.

"I have a strong urge to fold down that turtleneck, but I will restrain myself for now."

I don't dare move. So he is letting me go? So he isn't one hundred percent sure I am Akai yet, but refuses to act until he is because he doesn't want another embarrassing incident like before, and even though he hates me he knows that revealing me to Vermouth isn't smart. Good, he can learn.

"See you, another time."

A promise of another investigation. I give him a side glance, not even looking him full in the face. You are on Bourbon. I won't lose.

He walks off, with 'Azusa-san' trailing behind. I relax my shoulders once he was gone.

Well, that could have been way worse. I mean there were positives and negatives about today. Positives, we solved the investigation, and Bourbon doesn't totally know my identity, and Vermouth has no clue. Negatives, we found nothing about Rum, and Bourbon suspects me again. I was wrong before in assuming the Black Organization won, it was actually a tie on both of our parts since neither side won or lost the information on Rum. Better a tie then a loss.

As soon as Bourbon and Vermouth leave out the glass doors, I feel a tiny hand on my knee. I look down to see Conan grinning tiredly at me. I smile down at him. Ah he must have been feeling the stress of two members as well.

"We did it Conan-kun."

He glanced toward the doors.

"Amuro-san treated you well."

I nodded.

"Yes, I think he might come over and visit me again."

Conan looked up at me sharply, understanding the implications. I nodded.

"I will be careful."

He nodded, before heading out after Ran and Sonoko. I follow; I am their ride after all. After I drop them off, I need something to calm my nerves after this adventure. Mentally I am exhausted. I'm not feeling Bourbon tonight; maybe I should try some Scotch, for old times sake.