Hey everyone! :D

Here is the next chapter of Final Countdown!

I don't have much to say about this chapter this time, only that I hope you'll enjoy it! :D

- But then, who ?!

That was the first question that had crossed detective Shiratori's mind when he heard the tanned teenager's deduction. Having not himself been working on the case but being an acquaintance of Karl Shaunner, a good friend of the victim, he had been asked a favor by him. He was, providing he was okay with it and had time for it, attend the case solving by superintendant Hatori's son. He had heard of that young fellow before, even met him on a few occasions, and knew that he was a brilliant detective mind not to be undestimated, just like that Kudo boy. By the way, what has he become that young rising crime solver ? It had been some time since he hadn't heard of him. But he was getting off track. He was here for the case. Focus, damn it ! It's already difficult enough to follow when you are paying attention, don't wander around ! He still couldn't believe his ears, was what Heiji Hatori the detective of the east had said really true ? The murderer wasn't the youngest son who had the motive, no alibi and had used his knife but someone else, impossible !

- If he didn't do it, said the detective, pointing at the suspect who was surrounded by two policemen, then who did it ? He has the motive and no alibi, and furthermore it was his knife !

The young man stifled a laugh so as to not upset the detective and looked amusedly at the young boy with glasses who was sitting on a chair not far away.

- Well detective Shiratori, the evidence points the guilt to the murderer for those who see it. Let me explain. Ku- I mean, Conan, could you help me please ?

- Sure ! Answered Conan, playing the obedient child perfectly. What do you need Heiji-ni ?

- Could you go get me the knives in the kitchen, you know, the ones on the counter ? Be careful.

- Yes !

The young boy exited the room quickly returning with the cooking knives displayed on a sculpted wooden knife rest.

- Here you go Heiji ! Said the boy with a big smile while handing them to his friend.

He really is living his role thought the older of the two.

- Thanks. Now detective, and you sir and madam. Started Heiji, looking at the younger son and daughter of the victim. And you my good sir, he added looking at the prime suspect in the case, if you will, I shall unveil the murder of your late father.

- Firstly, let me assure you, Mr. Sora Toyake here, he started, pointing at the older of the three children of the victim, did not indeed kill his father ! He was framed…

Heiji Hatori, the young prodigious detective of the east waited a moment for his effect to sink in. Although he never admitted to it, especially not in front of Kazuha or the brat, he really loved adding drama to his deductions.

- Now, you are surely wondering how he was framed, why and by who, but I will answer all that in a moment. The murderer wanted to get rid of an annoying parent and of Mr. Toyake at the same time and took great care in doing so that he couldn't have done this without much preparation. And I'm not talking about a few days or weeks, no it was months of planning and slowly combine all the necessary conditions to create the almost perfect plan. I say almost because yes, with all that planning and preparing, the culprit made one mistake.

Another pause. This time to gather his thoughts, he had to concentrate, after all he only had one shot. As Conan, no, Shinichi had said before they had no real proof, only suppositions, very solid suppositions, certainties even, but no real proof so e had to get this right from the start, no stupid mistake. He had to make the right impression so that the culprit's confidence would fall apart. He looked at all the people in the room, one by one, each one of them was nervous, but the three siblings were all the more worried as the freedom of one of them held in the balance. The older brother, Sora Toyake was calmly listening, thankful to have a second chance instead of being thrown in prison immediately, his younger brother, Heito was dancing on his feet, impatient to be done with to be able to go back to his house and his calm living room. The sister, Hayako was fidgeting with her hands, listening to each and every word of the young detective as if her life depended on it.

- As you all know, on the night of the 16th to the 17th of may the victim has been stabbed in the back no less than thirteen times with this kitchen knife, which, from what all of you say, belongs to Mr. Toyake here. As he was dying he left a message telling us that "He", whoever that is, had killed him written in his own blood. Then you say, Mr. Heito Toyake, that you discovered the murder weapon still plunged in his back when you arrived at the crime scene, and that you took it out as you tried to revive your deceased father while the ambulance you had called for was on its way. Thus explaining why your prints were found all over the weapon.

The younger of the two brothers nodded in agreement.

- Yes, but he was already like that when I found him, I told you, it wasn't me who did it, I even have an alibi !

- Indeed, it has been verified. The brother breathed in relief but tensed again hearing Heiji had not finished. But, Mr. Toyake, you could have easily forged such an alibi. Now, knowing this, we could deduce that you are the culprit and you tried to frame your own brother !

- No ! He was starting to sweat. I told you, I was at a restaurant, I have the receipt ! And what proves that it wasn't my brother who tried to frame me ?!

The older of the three siblings tried to punch his brother for implying that he could be the culprit and that he would have framed him but was restrained by the two policemen securing him.

- Calm down now ! Ordered the inspector Shiratori. Please continue Mr. Hatori.

- Thank you. As I was saying before, Mr. Toyake is innocent and for a very good reason. The knife. It's his, you all agree on that don't you ? Now, why would he use his own knife if he wanted to kill his own father ? Since it was prepared a long time in advance, maybe he tried to frame somebody else you might say. But why his own knife ? Why not someone else's knife with prints on it ? It would have been more efficient. No, he is innocent. Furthermore, look at these knives.

He pointed at the knife rest on the table next to him.

- These knives are the only visible ones in the kitchen; all the others are in the kitchen's drawer. And since he rarely visited anymore and hadn't used it in a long time, his knife was stored in the back of a small drawer, a drawer where someone who knew what was stored in it wouldn't have thought to look in. He was framed.

Conan was watching carefully how each person in the room was reacting, especially the siblings. They were the ones who were the most uncomfortable with Heiji's little show which was, he had to confess, very persuasive. No wonder the criminals always surrendered to him, they would all feel like they were trapped in an ever shrinking room.

- What do you have to say to that, Heito ? Continued Heiji. He had used the younger brother's first name to piss him off and make him spill the truth. If your brother isn't the perpetrator, then that makes you suspect number one, doesn't it ?

He was looking the man in the eye but glanced swiftly to Conan only to see him smile and slightly lift a thumb up in the air. Yes ! He thought. Kudo was right; the culprit always cracks with the right pressure.

The young boy was smiling as he lifted his thumb up in the air, he had seen something very interesting, something he had hoped for and awaited since the beginning of Heiji's little show. He had seen what the culprit was really thinking and they now had the advantage, a little more and this crime would be sorted and dealt with !

Thanks for the reviews, it really means a lot to know if you readers liked the chapter and what you expect! ;)

ESTELLE : Thanks! I hope you'll find the story as great as it is right now all along! :D

Great : Wow! You're reading my mind! x) No really, I won't say much more (or at least not go into details for the sake of the plot [plot over justice anytime! x)]) but yes, I have explosion and bombs in mind. Now about the girls... well you'll see x) I can only tell you that what you think as the truth may not be as simple as that... But other than that, it's a great guess! (Oh my god, I've said too much already... :P)