The heist was at 11:00 pm sharp. Shinichi arrived thirty minutes before that. She had to meet up with her new friends. Kaito and Aoko were waiting together at a nice family restaurant near the Suzuki business skyscraper. It was a decent place with decent reviews.

Once Shinichi rounded the corner, she saw Aoko. She waved to Shinichi and called for her. "Shinichi! Hey, glad you could make it!" She paused and looked around. "Where's Ran-chan and Suzuki-chan?"

Shinichi shrugged. "They're back at the heist spot." She pointed to the large Suzuki skyscraper. "Sonoko was asked to stay and Ran decided to keep her company." A cool breeze cut through Shinichi's jacket. Winter was coming. It was going to be a harsh one.

"Brr." Kaito shivered. "Cold, isn't it. Let's go inside, Shin-chan, Ahoko." He held open the door the the small restaurant.

Aoko frowned. "I told you to stop calling me that! Geez, maybe Shinichi and I should just ditch you and go to a sushi place." Kaito stiffened at the word sushi.

"Why didn't we go to that sushi restaurant down the block? I heard it was really good." Shinichi checked her watch, making sure to know the time down to the minute.

Aoko smirked. "That's because Kaito has a fear-Mphm!" Kaito swiftly put his hand over Aoko's mouth.

"We're not talking about that!" He replied in a dark, unsettled tone. Shinichi raised an eyebrow, confused. "It's nothing, Shin-chan."

Shinichi groaned and covered her ears. "Don't call me 'Shin-chan.' My mom calls me that, and it's usually just to annoy me."

Kaito let go of Aoko. "Why?" He asked, tilting his head. "I think it's cute!" He grinned wide. Trying to act innocent, Phantom Thief? Shinichi wanted to ask.

"Whatever." Shinichi said, entering the restaurant. Kaito and Aoko were quick to follow. They were seated in a booth, Aoko and Shinichi on one side and Kaito on the other. "Hey, what's good here?" Shinichi asked, examining her menu.

"Well, I've never been here, " Aoko began, looking at the beverages, "but I've heard the unadon[1] is really good." She smiled.

"Really?" A sly voice jumped into their conversation. Shinichi looked in the direction of the oh so familiar voice. "I heard it's terrible."

She didn't even bother to be in disguise. Her blond, curly hair draped down the empty seat next to Kaito. She leaned again the top of the booth, holding an unlit cigarette. She smirked and winked at Shinichi. "What's up, Cool Gal?"

Shinichi's face was priceless. Eyes wide, mouth open. Completely stiff. Kaito looked at Vermouth, then Shinichi, the Vermouth again. "You know her?" He asked a shell-shocked Shinichi.

Shinichi didn't repond to him directly, but then next thing she said confirmed it. "What are you doing here?" Her sharp eyes bore into Vermouth's deadly eyes, creating a vicious staring contest.

"Where're your manners? I asked you first, Silver-chan. What's up?" She grinned and placed the cigarette between her teeth.

Shinichi eyebrows went straight down, knowing that if Vermouth was here, something bad, terrible is going to happen. Shinichi shook her head and mumbled. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

"What do you mean nothing?" She questioned, placing a hand on Kaito's head. He jumped in surprise.

"What-" he began.

"You have to introduce me to your new friends." She interrupted. "I'm dying to meet them. Are they dying to meet me?" She narrowed her eyes.

Shinichi slammed her hands on the table, pushing herself up. People looked to her, startled by her sudden outburst. She ignored their stares and glared at Vermouth. "What ever you're doing, leave everybody out of it."

Vermouth lit her lighter. She brought the flame up to the cigarette in her mouth. "You can't tell me what to do, Silver-chan."

"I can take out my mobile and call the police." Shinichi threatened. Aoko's eyes widened and Kaito shifted away from Vermouth at the comment.

Vermouth just snickered. "Aww. Look what you did, Silver-chan. Now your friends are scared of me."

Shinichi gritted her teeth and grabbed Kaito and Aoko's wrist. She pulled them out of the restaurant, away from Vermouth.

"I'll see the boy soon!" She called as they ran out the door. "Kaito. Kaitou. Hmph." She ignored everyone's odd looks and sat back down normally. "Waitress, I'm ready to order now."

"Shinichi! Please, slow down!" Aoko tripped trying to keep up with Shinichi, who was out of the restaurant, but not far enough away from it.

"Geez, Shinichi. What the heck was that back at the restaurant?" Kaito asked lagging behind her.

Shinichi slowed down to a stop and let go of their wrist. They both rubbed there wrists. Shinichi's grip was strong. "Sorry. I was scared she would do something."

"You said you were gonna call the police on her." Aoko sounded scared. Shinichi sighed. She took out her mobile and looked for Haibara's number. "Are you doing that now?" She asked looking over her shoulder.

"No." Shinichi turned to a clearly distressed Aoko. "Don't worry. She's harmless." She smiled warmly, coating her lie in sugar.

"I see..." Aoko sigh and smiled. "That's a relief."

Kaito frowned. "You didn't seem too comfortable with her."

"I wasn't. That doesn't mean I should call the police on her. What I said was a loose threat. Don't worry about it." She hit call next to Haibara's name. "Excuse me."

The phone rang three times. "What misfortune did you bring this time?"

"Haha, Haibara" Shinichi replied sarcastically. "That's really funny." Kaito and Aoko stared at Shinichi in confusion.

"Why else would you call me?" There was a sound of a page flipping, and Shinichi guessed she was reading a fashion magazine or something like that.

Shinichi turned away from her two new, curious friends and quietly spoke, "She was there."

Silence filled the line. "Her? As in Vermouth? Where? Was she at the heist?"

"It didn't start yet. She was at a restaurant. She said she would see Kaitou Kid later on."

"What does that mean?"

"I think I know. I'm just not sure why."

"Oh, please. Do share."

Shinichi sighed pushing the nosy Aoko and Kaito away from her conversation. She glared at them, telling them to quit it. They didn't. "I'm a little busy."

"Of course you are."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

"Whatever. I'll call you later."

"I'll hold you to that." Haibara said before she hung up.

Shinichi turned off her phone and frowned at Kaito and Aoko. They avoid her eyes. "Stop trying to eavesdrop on my conversation."

"But you were talking about that lady." Aoko reasoned. "I was just wondering what you were saying about her." Shinichi sighed.

"What was that about Kaitou Kid?" Kaito asked, trying to sound casual.

Shinichi zipped up her jacket. "None of your business. You're not Kid, so why does it matter?" Shinichi smirked as Kaito pouted.

Now you're just screwing with me, Meitantei-chan, Kaito thought dejectedly. "Anyway," Shinichi checked her watch, "there's only fifteen minutes until the show starts. I want a front seat, so I'm going early." She looked up at the Suzuki skyscraper in front of her.

"So am I!" Aoko said, tagging along with Shinichi.

"Count me in!" Kaito smiled childishly.

"Alright." Shinichi walked into the building, watching Kaito's every move. They rode the elevator up. It was a silent, awkward ride. Aoko tried to provide some comments about the weather or how Kid was finally going to be captured tonight. Shinichi smiled in response to everything she commented.

The elevator stopped with a ding. The three friends exited out into a hallway. It was fancy. The carpet looked expensive and foreign. There were side tables set next to every room, each holding a vase with beautiful flowers in them.

"Wow." Aoko look around in awe. "This place is so cool!" She ran down the hallway, looking for the door that held Kid's next target. She found it withing seconds and motioned for Shinichi and Kaito.

Shinichi glanced at her watch as she entered the large display room. 10:48. She tapped Kaito on his shoulder getting his attention. "Hey," she smirked again, "there are a total of three detectives here. Hakuba, Aoko, and me."

"You count Aoko as a detective?" He asked giving her a weird look. She pointed at the spiky hair girl. Aoko was examining every window, door, and vent that was in the room. Her eyes held determination. She wanted Kid caught. Badly. Kaito turned back to Shinichi. "I see what you mean."

She leaned against the wall. "What's your master plan?" She smiled happily at him.

Kaito scoffed, but was actually starting to get excited. When Hakuaba pestered him about being Kid, it was annoying. When Shinichi did it, he felt privileged. He could go up against her and she wouldn't tell his secret. It would ruin her fun too if she did.

"I have no idea what your talking about, Shin-chan~" He teased.

Shinichi rolled her eyes and frowned. "I told you to stop calling me that."

"It suits you, though."

"How so?"

"Well, your always looking for the truth."

"One truth." She countered [2].

"There can be more than one truth." Kaito leaned against the wall, next to Shinichi. He took out a deck of cards and began to quickly shuffle them.

Shinichi shook her head. "There's only one truth. It's either you killed him or you didn't."

Kaito stared at Shinichi with a disturbed look. She spent way too much time playing detective. "That got morbid quick." He sighed, did a card spring, and said, "I guess there's only one truth. But there can also be multiple sides to one truth." He put his deck of cards away.

"Huh?"

"Nothing." Beep, beep, beep. Shinichi's watch's alarm went off at that moment. She looked at it and grabbed Kaito's arm. "What?"

"Time to shine." She held up her wrist, showing Kaito it was 10:58.

Kaito smirked. "Why are you holding on to me, Shin-chan? Don't tell me you've fallen for me?"

Shinichi suppressed a blush and let him go. "I've been debating with myself since the mall incident. Kid's heists are fun. They're nothing like homicides. They let me relax and think without having to worry about letting a murderer get away."

"In other word..." He trailed off, letting a goofy smile show on his face.

"You're good to go." She let go of his arm.

He grinned and held out his hand. The queen of hearts appeared in it. "I'll see you on the roof."

Shinichi smiled and took the card, but she frowned on the inside. Vermouth's threat still hung in the air. The power went out, just as the clock stuck eleven.

"I have no idea what your talking about, Kuroba Kaito."

[1] Grilled Eel
[2] I already told you "shin" means "truth." Well "ichi" is numeral "one" in Japanese. "Shinichi" would be "One truth."

A/N: Advancing the story is difficult...