The scent of cinnamon, coffee and assignment sheets wafted in the newly opened café. It was probably not the safest place to discuss criminal matters, but as his grandmother had once told him, the more you try to conceal yourself, the more conspicuous you appear.

Heiji had been waiting at the table furthest from the entrance, his eyes darting towards the door whenever he would hear the bell ring. A group of girls giggled as they peeked at him, to which Heiji responded by simply pulling his cap further down to shield his eyes.

"Sumimasen!" A bag was gently placed on the seat opposite his. "May I know if this is Hattori-san?"

Heiji looked up to see a girl whose black hair had a spike in the middle. He waved. "Hello. Are you Mouri-san?"

"Yes…would you like to have some coffee first? It's my treat," the girl – no, Mouri Ran, Heiji corrected himself – said smilingly.

"No, thank you. I've got water."

After gesturing to a waitress, Ran turned her attention back to him. "Sorry for the sudden call yesterday. I just didn't know who to turn to."

"It's fine. Don't worry too much about it," Heiji tried to ease the distressed girl. "I would have been shocked too, if I had been in your shoes."

"This is more than what I can handle. This isn't even a normal case to begin with, and I, I – "

"Mouri-san," Heiji said bluntly. "He wasn't killed in the explosion in the first place, was he?"

Ran stared at him in shock. Very slowly, she replied, "No, he wasn't." Heiji nodded as if it was common sense.

"He disappeared," he said conversationally, "but he wasn't killed. Clearly someone targeted him."

Ran tried to appear calm. "Miyano Shiho. She was involved." Upon seeing the scepticism in Heiji's eyes, she spoke more loudly, with more conviction, "I saw her. She was there when Shinichi died, and she told me that I could find her by –"

She paused halfway when she realised that she had been attracting too much attention. Cheeks aflame, Ran lowered her voice, "I think she has accomplices too." She did feel bad for overwhelming Heiji with so much information at once, but she could not help it. Looking at the famous detective hopefully, Ran did not realise that she had been holding her breath until Heiji scratched his chin and asked, "How did he die?"

With a flourish, Ran conjured a tattered piece of newspaper. "Look at this article," she whispered.

"KUDO SHINICHI: MYSTERY OF THE DETECTIVE'S DEATH," Heiji read out, looking at Ran quizzically. "Yes I've read it – wasn't it the one that mentioned he died in an explosion? What about it?"

"No, no," Ran shook her head fervently. "I'm talking about this," she pointed at the inconspicuous chunk of words written in a small font size due to its relative insignificance - CEO OF FUJIMOTO INC.: DEAD

"I've read that too, but what's the link?"

Ran slapped her forehead, as if suddenly remembering something. "I'm so sorry, I forgot to set the context. On 19 January, Shinichi and I went to Tropical Land. All of a sudden he ran off. I chased after him but tripped – and I lost sight of him. And when I found him he was dead."

Heiji's eyes skimmed through the text briefly as she narrated the story. He looked up, eyes ablaze with new-found knowledge. "That's when Fujimoto Akira died too."

"Isn't it fishy how they died on the same day? I refuse to believe that Fujimoto-san died of natural causes. Those men in black must have done something to him."

"Where does Miyano Shiho come into the picture?"

"She offered to resurrect Shinichi on the terms that I don't tell anyone about what had happened, but she's suspicious too – how did she know that Shinichi needed resurrection – in other words, how did she even know that he was dead? And she didn't have to help Shinichi – "

"What was his cause of death?" Heiji cut her off.

"Eh?" Ran was surprised. "What do you mean?"

"Was he shot? Stabbed? Or anything?" Heiji gazed at her with fierce intensity. Ran felt herself faltering under his stare. "Well…" she struggled to remember, "I don't think he was bleeding. He was just really pale – I knew he was dead because he's stopped breathing."

Heiji smiled half-heartedly. "You don't suppose that he died of the same supposed 'natural cause'?"

"Of course not! Obviously he was killed – " Ran stopped short of what she was saying. "But now that you mention it, I really couldn't tell what caused his death."

Heiji clasped his hands together. "Although I have little evidence to back this up…the two deaths are definitely linked, and the method of killing for both is the same."

"You don't think he died of natural causes, do you?" Ran looked down at the floor. Heiji made a gesture as if he were batting a fly away. "No, it was a homicide. The agent responsible for his death should be created by someone who has conducted extensive research."

"But who would conduct research on such a thing?" Ran said in disbelief.

Heiji shrugged. "People who would have a motive for killing Kudo Shinichi and Fujimoto Akira."

Ran felt herself sinking deeper into the chair. "Are there really no more leads?"

"Miyano Shiho may be the key to everything. Let's find her."

Back in the confines of the dark hallways, Shiho kept her face low as she walked past the main hall. Everywhere, there were whispers and shadows. As Gin had kindly informed her, Anokata wished to bond with her more by gaining more insight into her work and personal life.

"I can't be any more grateful for such an endearing and thoughtful boss like him," muttered Shiho under her breath.

Of course, interacting with a man of such high status required a room that promised utmost secrecy and privacy. She took the elevator to the highest level of the building and took a turn to the right, and then to the left, and another turn to the right. Before long she found herself at the foot of the staircase which would lead her to The Room.

She nodded to the lanky guard standing rigidly next to the door. "Identification?" he asked in a dialect which she could not identify.

"Senior Chemist, Sherry," she said, climbing up the stairs and pressing her finger against the fingerprint scanner while lifting her ID card for him to check. He nodded in approval and the steel doors creaked, before opening to reveal a chamber. She stepped into the chamber, and the doors closed behind her.

"Anokata," she called out. "I am Sherry. I have arrived on your orders." For a minute she stood while waiting for her next instruction.

"Please sit," a disembodied voice echoed. Shiho felt her heart drop to the bottom as she lowered herself onto a chair. She was scared an hour ago – this would probably be the time when her heinous sins are exposed and she is to be executed on the spot – but she had gotten over her fears. Still, she could not help but feel unsettled. She waited for him to continue.

"How is the development of APTX 4869?"

Shiho swallowed. It's fine, he's just asking about work, she assured herself. Mustering confidence, she replied, "Very well, sir. As you may have known, I have just had a breakthrough in the study of altered DNA shape a few days ago."

Anokata laughed. "Of course I know; I was very impressed. No, but I am more interested in the latest project that you have embarked on in your own capacity."

"I'm sorry, sir?"

"Don't play a fool, Sherry. You know what I mean. My men reported to me that you have brought a victim of APTX 4869 back to your apartment to further your research on the drug."

She froze. Did he know…? "Yes, indeed I have, sir." Thousands of questions swam in her mind. Who told him? Was it one of the kenkyuusei? Shiho gritted her teeth, but forced herself to smile as though she were greatly pleased with her research project – she knew Anokata could see her on CCTV.

"Oh, do tell me more." Even though Shiho could not see him, she could imagine him leaning forward eagerly, with his elbows propped up and his teeth gleaming as he thought of all the crimes he could commit with the new discoveries. She sat still, unable to say a word. The white wall stared back.

"Well…" Shiho trailed off, searching for something to say, something to satiate the Boss' curiosity for now. "Since we were not making any progress in developing APTX 4869 into that which we initially planned to, I thought that maybe I could look at things from a different angle and see how cells of victims of APTX 4869 function."

Her head pounded crazily as the silence hung. Would he accept my explanation?

"And?" was his smooth reply.

That fox! He knew I was omitting things. Biting her lips, Shiho considered her options carefully – she could lie or just tell the truth. Or warp the truth.

"It was nothing that I expected," Shiho said, trying to sound excited and certain of her findings. I have to play this right. "Although the cells did self-destruct at first, they started self-reproduction again after certain chemicals are added."

"That victim you brought back…it is Kudo Shinichi, the famous detective, is he not?"

Shiho gulped. "Yes, it is him." She certainly could not lie when Anokata could easily check with the laboratory researchers.

"Interesting…so I take it that you brought him back to life, no?"

"Yes, I did."

He chuckled, and it was so hollow that it sent shivers down Shiho's spine. "Good job, Sherry. You did not disappoint me as the future Head of Biochemistry."

"Thank you, sir," Shiho stood up and bowed, before sitting down again.

"But I do worry – won't he leak our dirty secrets? Kudo-san is after all not to be fooled easily." There was a dangerous edge to his voice, which Shiho picked up instantly.

"It seems that his memory has been wiped out completely. He could not even remember his own name. Interestingly though, his above-average intelligence still remains," she assured him, smiling. Please do not exterminate him!

"Such giftedness must be harnessed. He would be a great asset to us, wouldn't he, Sherry?"

Could he mean…?

"Ah, Kudo Shinichi, I have always liked that man. He's thwarted our plans more than once – and I always wonder how it would feel to have him as our ally. Convince him to join us, Sherry. If he refuses, kill him."

Shiho was stunned beyond words. Mutely, she nodded, later realising that he must have been expecting a verbal response.

"Yes, sir."

"I'm home," Shiho said to herself as she unlocked the apartment door and slipped into the living room. It was 8p.m. by the time she reached her doorsteps. It had been yet another exhausting day – she supposed she should be glad that she was still alive after all. After the conversation with Anokata, she was drained and sapped of all energy and life, and it took at least five cups of coffee before she convinced herself thateverything would be fine.

While she tabulated her findings on the computer, she was searching the database for any pictures of people who are related to Shinichi. She felt stupid for not having thought of this simple, traditional method already – more often than not they proved themselves to be extremely effectively. Hours passed, and she finally left the Headquarters and went to a shop to buy dinner for Shinichi.

Dangling a plastic bag containing bentou in one hand, Shiho removed her shoes and grabbed onto the door for balance. After neatly arranging them at the genkan, she went on to inspect each room in the flat. She could not tell if she was more surprised or relieved that the house had been intact – but maybe it was just that she had always expected the worst case scenario.

Shinichi had not escaped. He was doing Calculus in his room. Shiho leaned casually against the door and observed him quietly. He furrowed his brows in concentration, stroking his chin as he played with the pencil in his right hand. Elegantly, he wrote down the last number and flipped to the next page.

"Where did you find that?"

"You're back," Shinichi said, looking up to greet her with a smile. "I managed to locate it in one of your bookshelves – thought you wouldn't mind since you left the study room unlocked."

"That is a fair assumption," Shiho shrugged. "Anyway, have you eaten?"

Shinichi seemed confused, until he looked out of the window and saw the darkening sky. "I didn't know it's already so late," he said sheepishly. "I forgot all about dinner until you reminded me."

"What a nerd," Shiho said, shaking her head. "Well, I bought you dinner."

"You're not one to judge!" Shinichi protested, "You're the one with the thick piles of books and scientific journals. I had nothing to do anyway."

Shiho rolled her eyes. "I'm going to take a shower. We need to talk later."

Shinichi reached for the packed bentou. "Thank you, Shiho. I enjoyed breakfast too."

Neither of them noticed that Shinichi had dropped the suffix and called her by her first name. Shiho merely waved – You're welcome – as she made her way to the bathroom.

After showering, Shiho had forced Shinichi to sit opposite her in the dining room. She wanted it to be formal. After all, this might just work. She clenched her fists and felt the piece of picture in her hand crumpling slightly.

She had no idea how to start this conversation. Warily, she said, "You had a girlfriend. Her name is Ran."

Shinichi nodded. He wasn't exactly paying attention, because Shiho looked really gorgeous with her damp hair after showering. Nonetheless, he forced himself to focus on the matter at hand.

"I managed to find a picture of her." At this, Shinichi's eyes widened slightly. Shiho felt herself shaking for some reason, wavering – "Do you think you'd want to see it?"

Shinichi leaned back in his chair. "If you think it'd be good for me."

Shiho breathed in deeply. "Here goes." Unclenching her fist, she held up the passport-sized photograph between two fingers. "This is Mouri Ran, your girlfriend."

Shinichi squinted. It was a 17-year-old girl who smiled brightly at the camera. Her eyes were wide and innocent, and her raven hair was combed back neatly. However, there were stubborn strands of hair which stuck out prominently at the edge of her hairline, giving her a tomboy appearance. Maybe in the past she had been important to me, but right now she was nothing more than a face.

He shook his head at Shiho. "I don't remember her. Sorry."

Shiho licked her lips. "It's fine. I have a lot. Just take a look at them and try to remember as hard as you can."

Shinichi looked at the pictures that Shiho had proffered. There was one of the girl posing under a Sakura tree, and there was another of her smiling with a girl with short, chestnut hair. In one she would standing at the beach, her feet sinking into the soft, golden sands, her hair flying in the sea breeze, and her eyes staring dreamily out into the sea. In another she would be in her navy blue school uniform, laughing merrily away with her high school classmates.

"To think that I was part of her life," he muttered, staring at the pictures with a gaze that seemed to not register anything. Shiho gave him a hopeful look. "Anything?"

Shinichi remained silent, his eyes glued to the smiling girl in the pictures. "Do you think she'd be smiling now?"

Shiho could feel the pain in his voice – the longing, the desire to feel. She then remembered the bawling girl when she had said to her coldly, "Oh, I forgot to mention. You are not allowed to tell anyone about Shinichi's death, nor are you allowed to make contact with Shinichi at any time."

She was cruel for saying that to a girl who had been so utterly in love, but she had to. She had to ensure her own survival – she could not allow things to be foiled by a mere emotionally unstable teenager. But now seeing the blank look on Shinichi made her feel hollow inside too, somehow. She wanted to engulf him in a hug and tell him that she was sorry for creating that drug, and that she would make it up to him someday, and that –

She wanted him to be happy. To lead a normal life. Shiho had not felt it, but ever since his arrival she had started to feel care for another human being that was not her sister. It was not part of her plans. She had never wanted to become emotionally invested in another person, but taking care of him had forced her to care for him in a way that probably ran deeper than friendship. (At this she thought, why else would it be taking care?)

Shiho slammed down another picture almost impulsively. Apparently it was the last picture they took together before he disappeared.

"You and Ran," she said, swallowing hard, then sharply turning away. She lay out other collections of pictures she had managed to obtain, ranging from pictures of him with his family to those of him holding trophies and certificates. "I would leave you alone for now."

Shinichi stared, shellshock. His hands unable to move, as if the weight of the picture had rendered him immobile. "This…" He looked up at Shiho, speechless. In the picture, his arm was draped over her shoulder, and Ran was blushing. Still, she wore a cheery smile and he his trademark smirk. It struck Shinichi now, how happy he looked back then. He almost remembered the fragrance of Ran's hair, the powerful Karate kicks that she challenged him with – no, no, I don't want to remember – the aroma of her cooking, the –

He dropped the photo and grabbed his head like a wounded animal. "No, I don't want to remember, no, no…" At first, Shiho was surprised that the picture had triggered his memories, but she soon recovered and fetched a concoction that she had prepared beforehand.

"Drink up," she said gently, holding up the glass and tilting it into Shinichi's mouth. He drank it greedily, then lay on the dining table like a defeated soldier.

"I could remember bits and pieces of her, Shiho…"

Shiho had her lab notebook ready. "What did you remember?"

"Trivial things, I suppose. Her hair smelt of lavender. She's a very good Karate student. She's a good cook too." Shiho jotted it down, and looked at him cautiously.

"I can remember more things now – Ran's best friend is called Sonoko. Ran and I are childhood friends. My parents are overseas. My mother and Ran's were in the same high school." Shinichi mumbled in agony, his headache seemingly cutting his brain into pieces and sewing them back together. He did seem to be experiencing milder pain, thanks to the drug Shiho gave.

"Anything else?"

But Shinichi was already fast asleep, a few dried tears staining the corner of his eyelids. Shiho looked at him with a sad smile, before carrying him to the sofa where he would sleep more comfortably.

Author's Note: Hello guys! You know, I was just reading through all the reviews that everyone had posted and I was so overwhelmed with happiness and I am so, so grateful to all of you for your constant support. I feel incredibly blessed to be on the receiving end of so much kindness and I just want to say thank you once again. Have a great week ahead!