Ran's Suspicion- Part 2
Another failure.
This makes no sense! She's spent hours trying to find anything on Tsukiko Okami and she came out empty handed! Does this mean that Tsukiko Okami is a fake name? Then who is this woman? Where did Shinichi meet her? She couldn't be from the FBI, could she?
Ran shook her head and pulled out her phone.
-Ran-san? This is unusual! Why are you phoning me?-
-Eisuke-san … I'd like to ask you a favour.-
-Are you alright? Did something happen? Is Kudo-san in trouble?-
Ran paused then asked with hint of suspicion in her tone.
-Why do you assume it has to do with Shinichi?-
She heard Eisuke chuckle.
-Well, obviously because you wouldn't be calling me otherwise. I'm usually the one phoning you and you never call me unless you're worried about Kudo-san.-
Ran blushed, stunned that she was so easy to read. Well, Eisuke is a really clever man too.
-I could be phoning just to chat.-
-Not likely, Ran-san. I'm not reprimanding you or anything. Please, don't misunderstand. I simply concluded that you would only likely call me if something bad happened to Kudo-san. If you, yourself were at risk, you'd have phoned Kudo-san. In fact, for any situation you'd phone Kudo-san. If you fail to phone him, then that means that the problem is about Kudo-san. And if you're phoning me and not Kudo-san friend, Hattori-san, it means that you do not want Kudo-san to know about this matter. Am I wrong?-
Ran sighed and smiled.
-You are correct. As expected from Eisuke-san. You're as sharp as Shinichi.-
-I appreciate the praise but I doubt my skills would compare to Kudo-san. I can't think of many people that could rival his intellect! But what troubles you enough to phone me, Ran-san?-
Ran hesitated before she let out a tired sigh.
-Eisuke-san, I … I'm worried. Shinichi has gotten a new girlfriend.-
There was a pregnant pause followed by Eisuke's confused answer.
-Oh? Um … Good on him? Is this a reason for concern, Ran-san?-
-No, not really. Not per say. I just … I find it strange that Shinichi would so suddenly declare having a girlfriend and then present us with a girl I have never seen before. It's as if she dropped out of the sky! I've tried looking her up online, but she doesn't seem to exist! No facebook, no name, no trace of her anywhere! I know I'm not that skilled as investigating people but … I should have at least spotted some sort of trace of her, no?-
-I see … That is rather odd. And you wish for me to investigate this woman?-
-Yes, please! If she's as she claims, then there's no problem but … I have a strange feeling coming from her.-
-A bad feeling?-
-Not … bad. No. Just … strange. Like she's hiding something but nothing actually harmful? Perhaps I'm just imagining things …-
-Do not underestimate yourself, Ran-san! I will look into this matter! What is the girl's name?-
-Tsukiko Okami.-
Preview:
-Are you free on Wednesday?-
[...]
-What for? Another party?-
-A date.-
[...]
-Just to be clear! When you say date, you mean YOU and ME going out TOGETHER as a COUPLE and to do COUPLE STUFF, right? Without dead bodies dropping at every street corner, yeah?-
