Chapter Eight
Escape
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The three ran as fast as they could from where ever they were before. Kogoro was in the lead, hightailing it back towards the police department. "Damned! I thought you called that detective brat!" Kogoro yelled to Ran. She was just as confused, of course. "I-... I did. I called Shinichi's phone number."
"Then why did Heiji pick up?" Kazuha huffed before stumbling a bit and catching herself. "You don't think he came down here!?"
"He... He came down here...?" Ran asked more to herself as her mind wandered a bit. Maybe... no, that was silly. Would he actually come down all this way for her? And for that matter, why did Heiji answer his phone instead of himself?
Kogoro growled as he stopped in his tracks. In the distance were the bright lights of the police department; but in their way was a barricade of men with guns in hand. One of them chuckled and moved forward. "We're sorry, but we can not allow our insurance to wander off, now can we?" A woman's voice called as from the shadows, the blond haired beauty moved closer.
"Y-You...?" Ran whispered to herself as she stepped back is surprise. No, it couldn't be... that voice was similar, but this was a famous actor; Chris Vineyard!
Vermouth smiled slyly before cooing, "Please, drop your cell phones, will you? We can not have our little deal to become... messy."
"Deal?" Kazuha cut in as she gripped her hands into fists and moved back with Ran. Kogoro moved in front of the girls defensively and growled. "What deal!?"
Vermouth scoffed before responded by cocking her gun. "Drop the cell phones..."
Ran looked to her pink cell phone for a long moment, then dropped it. Kazuha and Kogoro followed after as Vermouth nodded, then moved a bit closer. "My, my... the famous Mouri Kogoro? I did not recognize you at first. What a hack you are to get caught this easily."
"Wh-What!?" Kogoro fumed. Ran grabbed her father's arm quickly, holding him back as he seemed ready to pounce. "Father! Stop!"
"Yes, father. Stop it before your brains are blown out." Vermouth mused before pointing her gun towards the nearby villa. "Now, we have graciously cleared out a place for this part. How about you hurry on up?" She smirked as she flipped her hair back, feeling a wave of victory flood over her every nerve. Once they were killed, she would burn the villa down and escape; a clean assassination process.
Two shots thundered through the air as two of the men behind Vermouth fell, blood trickling from the entrance wound of a bullet in their foreheads while the rest gushed from the back. Everyone was startled by this as Vermouth looked up towards the ceilings in surprised. "No way... those two were..."
"Does this remind you of anything?" Another woman's voice came from behind the trembling captives. Everyone turned to look as a tall woman with short blond haired slowly approached with gun in hand.
"J-Jodie sensei...?" Ran whispered as she was pushed back by Kogoro to get out of the line of fire. Two more shots were ifred as the last of the two 'henchmen' were taken down. Jodie brought her finger to her ear to listen to a message carefully before responding into the mouthpiece, "No, leave the last target to me."
"How gutsy of you..." Vermouth cursed as she held her guns steady at Jodie. "Does this seem familiar to you?" Jodie questions with a smirk. "Only this time, I will not allow you to take anyone hostage." Jodie said before moving in front of Kogoro and company.
"Oh, really?" Vermouth mused. She kept her calm composure for the most part as she eyed the group Jodie was protecting. "And what are these people to the F.B.I." She said out loud, making sure they all heard.
Jodie narrowed her eyes as she gripped the trigger of her gun tighter. "They are-"
"Friends of Cool guy?" She asked curiously before approaching slowly. "Ah, and the little Angel is here, too!"
"Be quiet!" Jodie snapped with a growl. "I do not understand what you think will come of your useless ramblings-"
"My, don't tell me they are still in the dark about everything, Miss. F.B.I." vermouth teased innocently. "Oh well. I suppose you were planning on telling them everything about it later when your dead friend's bodies are excavated from that large fire."
"F-Fire!?" Ran squeaked as she clasped her hands over her mouth. Jodie glared at Vermouth with such hatred. She wanted to pull the trigger now, but it was much to risky. There was a short silence before vermouth smiled and moved closer to Jodie and the group. "Why do you not fire, Jodie? Are you afraid I will aim for one of them and take them out with me? My, then they are already my hostages, aren't they?"
Jodie didn't respond as she looked back at the group behind her. If they ran, they would be prime targets.
"My, I was right..." Vermouth said as she stopped a few feet in front of them all. Ran stared at Vermouth, terrified. She could not find the courage to move. What would Shinichi do? What would he do when it came down to this? He would... fight... he would protect and put his life on the line for those he loved.
'Shinichi... you've always been strong...'
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Conan looked around the room as he wandered seemingly mindless of the surrounding, only to step over the trap door. "This place is big~" Conan mused before looking to Heiji and smiling. "Neh, brother?"
Heiji ignored Conan as he crossed his arms and looked down at the floor. "Now then. My little questionnaire... if you please? then we will glady accept. It is the wish of a silly, soon to be deceased, detective..." Heiji said in a doom filled, depressed tone.
There was a long pause before Kir responded. "I will answer depending on what question you ask." She replied as she watched them from the center balcony. She felt bad about this; Conan was there. Why was he there? She did not want to have him killed. Not like this...
"What is this woman's real name?" Heiji finally called out with a smile. "As a dying wish, I would like to know."
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Ran decided finally. She would act. Dashing out suddenly, she stayed out of the way of range as she came towards Vermouth. Vermouth's concentration broke at the sudden actions. Jodie took such an opportunity to fire. A bullet ran right against Vermouth's chest as she stumbled back and gripped her chest. "D-damn..." She cursed before bringing her arm up to point her gun at Ran. Though, before she knew it, a kick flew through the air and knocked it right out of her hand.
Jodie grinned, not believing the situation. Conan had told her that this would happen; Ran would find herself able to fight if there was enough tension. She was an Angel... "Ran, stay back!" Jodie called out as she tightened her grip on her gun again. Vermouth went to grab Ran's wrist to knock her down.
Ran was a captain of the karate team, though. She could stand up against simple tactics. She flicked her wrist to the side and abused the moment to send a flurry of quick punches at her chest. Each one hit something hard as Vermouth took the punches with ease, mainly. She accepted them, only to take the situation by storm as she slipped a knife from her hip and quickly sent it towards Ran's stomach.
The familiar force of the pointed blade penetrating skin fell over her as the punches weakened and halted. Vermouth grinned and ripped the dagger out. Right as she had done so, though, bullets rang out from all directions. The sniper rifles shot out Vermouth's head and back as Jodie fired for the chest multiple times.
Vermouth's face was stuck in take of shock, the bullets, if they were not shot all at once, would have forced her down onto her back. Her body slowly fell forward as she collapsed onto the cold hard pavement. Jodie didn't hesitate as she ran over to Ran and checked the wound. For a direct hit, it was not terrible. No more than a 3 cm penetration due to the weakening from the punches ran was throwing out.
"R-Ran!" Kogoro yelled out finally as she dashed over and went to his shocked daughter's side. He tried to snap her out of whatever she was concentrating on. Her eyes were glued to the bloodied form o the ground, her skin paled, from blood loss and fear. "She will be fine physically.." Jodie said to Kogoro before kneeling down to search through Vermouth's pockets quickly.
Kazuha went to Ran's side as she saw Ran go limp suddenly. Her and Kogoro both caught her as Jodie reloaded her gun and hollstered it. "Please, do not say anything about seeing me to the police." Jodie said as before excavating a small black case from Vermouth's pocket. She checked inside, only to be pleased by her findings. "Agent Camel will drive you back safely to the precinct. Please stay close to the police until your friends could to find you." Jodie said with a smile before a car pulled up behind her. Camel looked out the door to get a better look at the scene. "The police have become hectic, searching the streets suddenly. I'm afraid you should hurry, Jodie."
Jodie blinked, then walked over to the dropped cell phones. She picked then up and gave two of them to to group. "I'm sorry. I need her phone for a little bit. It will be returned to you as soon as possible." Jodie said before dashed off, calling orders into her mic all the while. There needed to be a clean up crew on the streets as soon as possible. With the police running around, it would not be long before they would wander upon a pile of dead people; one being a famous actress.
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Shinichi's phone rang suddenly as Heiji picked it up with a sudden frantic acting. "Hello? Hello!? Ran!? ... Shit..." He stared up at the lights with a loathing expression. "The deal is off." He said suddenly. He could hear silenced gun shots ring out as shortly after two thuds followed. He grinned and waved to the lights. "Good bye! Have a sweet time behind bars!"
He heard the guns being cocked from off stage as he grabbed Fenris' arm and pulled her close. Withing that instant, the stage trap door broke as they fell down an easy ten feet. They all landed with a bit of pain before dashing down the hall. "That's a very useful skill you have there!" Heiji called out to Fenris with a grin as she followed behind, her hand slowly healing back up. "being able to cut open the trap door so suddenly like that; I kinda wish I could do that!"
Fenris chuckled as they reached the back door. Heiji reached out and threw the door open only to have a pistol pointed at his head. He went a bit pale as he stared into the dark eyes of a cold blooded assassin.
Gin...
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