He poured the beaten eggs into the pan heated previously, observing them sizzle and take on the classic yellow coloring of cooking. Having ascertained that the underlying side was cooked, he lifted with a spatula half of the omelette and bended it on the other half, turning off the burner. Then he let it slip in a dish, that he placed on the kitchen counter next to a jar of jam and a chocolate frosting tube. It would have been the recipient of that breakfast to decide how to fill it. While waiting for him, he prepared a good coffee, as he used to do every morning.
The young man in his school uniform wasn't long in coming, coming into the kitchen while he was still tying his jacket and arranging his tie.
- Good morning- he greeted him.
- What a delicious smell!- exclaimed the boy in response, approaching the counter and looking surprised at the omelette into the dish.
- I'm glad you like it, since it's for you- he smiled, pouring the coffee now ready in a small cup.
- Did you prepare it for me?- he pointed at himself with his index finger - There was no need, you always bother too much Akai-san-
- No trouble, I repeat that I'm a guest in this house- he drank the first sip from the cup.
- You never eat anything?- he sat at the counter, taking the chocolate frosting and pouring a little over the omelette.
- Not usually, I just need a good cup of coffee. Sometimes I make an exception, but most of the time I eat something in the late morning-
- I see- he nodded, cutting a piece of that appetizing breakfast and holding it to his mouth.
He watched him chewing tastefully, savoring the food. He was pleased to see him like this, it meant that what he had prepared had been appreciated.
- It's excellent!- he said at last, when he had swallowed.
- Well, I'm glad- he smiled - Speaking of desserts, I would like to ask you something- he put the now empty cup in the sink, flowing some water inside.
- Tell me- he listened attentively.
- Do you mind if I invite here Jodie to eat a slice of cake?- he came straight to the point, as he used to.
He saw him taking an air halfway between the surprised and bewildered, as if he didn't expected that request. He couldn't blame him, in fact in the eyes of those who didn't know it could have seemed a strange question.
- No, of course not- he finally answered - But why a cake?-
- The fact is that a few days before I told her about a very nice bakery here in the neighborhood, where I went and I must say they made very good desserts. Jodie is a bit greedy and she suddenly wanted a cake, so I promised her that I would take one of their cakes to sample it. She also confessed that she wanted to see her favorite detective, so I decided to invite her directly here-
He had changed a little the reality, he couldn't say how the things were exactly, otherwise he would have to give further explanation. They were small white lies after all, they wouldn't have hurt anyone. Also he knew how to hit in the pride, to be told to be the favorite detective of an FBI agent had to be a credit to him; Jodie on the other hand had never hidden the sympathy she felt for him. There was no reason why he shouldn't believe his words.
As he expected, he saw him blushing slightly, smiling a little: he had taken the bait.
- Okay, there's no problem for me. What do you say to invite even Shiho? So you two can talk again- he suggested.
- That sounds great- he accepted.
- Then I'll call her on the way- he stood up from his chair carrying the now empty plate in the sink along with the cup, ready to go to school.
- If you don't mind this time I would like to go to ask her in person, otherwise she could think that I continue to hide behind you-
The young detective nodded, throwing a quick glance at the clock and therefore rushing to take his schoolbag. He couldn't help but smile: as usual he was late.
- I have to run, see you this evening!- he greeted him, running out of the door.
Remained alone, he lit a cigarette and put on his leather jacket, ready to go out and start a new day of work.
He also came out from the house, locked the door and getting in the car. Before walking away along the road, he glanced at the Doctor's house, indulging in a smile that betrayed the satisfaction in having designed a perfect plan.
A few minutes later he reached the FBI headquarters. He parked the car and proceeded to get on the elevator, direct to the office where Jodie was working the day before, convinced to find her still there struggling with Vermouth's case. Once there, however, he found the desk empty. He thought she might have gone out, but getting closer he noticed that on it there were no files or papers, a sign that no one was working in that location. He left as he had entered, thinking about where he might be.
As he walked down the hall, he met Camel coming out of another office. Maybe he knew where she was, after all he had often worked with Jodie after arriving in Japan.
- Good morning Akai-san- he greeted him amicably.
- Good morning. Have you seen Jodie by any chance?-
- Yes, I saw her getting into James' office about an hour ago, I think she's working with him on Vermouth's process. Is there a problem?- he asked, perhaps perceiving the haste with which he had asked where his blonde colleague was.
- No, no problem- he simply said, greeting him with a wave of the hand and leaving him there in the hallway, directly to James' office.
Another would have surely took it on, but he was certain that Camel had become accustomed to his manner, and he was aware that there was no malice or bravado in it. Simply he was like that.
When he reached James' office he knocked on the door, waiting for the permission to enter.
- Come in- he heard James' hoarse and worn from years voice on the other side.
He slowly opened the door, but standing still on the doorstep. He looked around the room, finding James sat at the desk and Jodie sat in front of him on the opposite side. On the table there were the cards he was looking for before, sign that Camel was right about the fact that they were working on the Vermouth's case.
- Good morning Akai- greeted him James - Is there something wrong?-
He wondered with self-irony why every time he asked for someone or came into a room, whoever was the person in front of him thought there was a problem. He couldn't certainly define himself a good guy who kept out of trouble, but he didn't think to have such a bad reputation. Another one in his place would have took it on, but he found it even funny. In a sense now he understood why his mother always scolded him when he was younger, he might have given her a hard time with the character that he had.
- No, actually I was looking for Jodie- he glanced over her, who was staring at him, waiting to know what he wanted - Do you have a minute later? I want to talk to you about something-
- Why, has something happened?- she asked, trying not to stress herself before she knew the answer.
Everything comes in threes, after Camel and James she also had to ask him the same question. He tried to suppress a wry smile, so as to avoid having to give explanations.
- Don't worry, everything is ok- he reassured her.
- Okay, I finish one thing and then I'll join you in the office where we worked yesterday-
- Good- he nodded - Sorry for the inconvenience-
He closed the door, taking leave from his boss and colleague. He turned back the hallway returning in the office in which he had entered just before, leaning on the desk with his hands in his pockets. There he waited patiently for the blonde to join him, mentally repeating all he had to tell her to make his acting look as real as possible.
Jodie came half an hour later, holding in her hands the file to which she worked for days.
- Sorry if I made you wait Shu. What did you want to talk to me about?- she asked, leaning her folder on the desk and giving him her eyes as blue as the clear sky.
You could lose in those eyes, if only he wasn't a person so cold. Cold wasn't even the right word, maybe it was better to say stoic.
- The cake you wanted so badly will come this afternoon, so if you want you can come to Kudo's house tonight. I've already asked Shinichi and he said there's no problem, on the contrary, it's a pleasure for him to receive your visit- he smiled, remembering how he had praised him from her that morning.
He watched his surprise face at the news, probably she didn't expect that he would have solved the cake issue in such a short time. On the other hand, he could not blame her: until the day before he seemed to have completely forgotten about that business.
- Perfect, then I'll come tonight!- she smiled happy, masking the disbelief of a moment before.
- I'll wait you at nine o' clock- he said, walking toward the exit.
- Ok-
Without another word he left the office and the colleague. With his back turned, he wasn't able to see the melancholy expression of Jodie, who was wondering why unlike the day before he seemed to want to run away from her instead of spending time together. Unaware of this, he let out a small smile of satisfaction, knowing that he had just got what he wanted.
…..
It was now three o'clock in the afternoon when he checked the time on the phone, having spent the previous hours to help colleagues with the final preparations before returning to the United States. Now there wasn't much work to do, at least not for him. He had reached his purpose, his worst enemy was rotting under the ground, his revenge for his loved ones had been accomplished. The rest was just a pro forma.
He returned to James' office, knowing that he would have found him still there.
- It's you again Akai- he pointed out to him, but without reproach or discomfort sign.
- Today I decided to play the part of the nuisance- he laughed at it.
- You just can't sit back, eh?- smiled the old man, who after all those years had got to know all too well - Unfortunately there isn't a lot of work for you-
- That's okay, I'll take it like a little vacation. In this regard, I wanted to ask if I could leave early, I would have a commission to attend to- he remained vague.
- I would say that there is nothing urgent to which you have to deal with, so you can go-
- Thank you James, I'll return the favor- he greeted him.
He appreciated that the man had not made him questions about the commission, but probably he hadn't done it because knowing him he knew that he wouldn't have received a reply, or at least a satisfactory one. James had always respected his willing to not want to talk about his personal affairs, he always waited for him to say something as and when we wanted. You could say that they were the experience and wisdom of age to make him so understanding.
He took the elevator and went downstairs, where he left the building and got into the car, heading for the bakery. The preparations had started.
Twenty minutes later he stopped the car a few meters from the window of the bakery he had chosen as accomplice of his plan. He had chosen one with a very pretty and tasty cakes, because what he had told Jodie on special cake could be credible. After all he wasn't aware that Jodie had frequented many bakeries since she was in Japan, so she would never come to understand at a glance the origin of the cake that he would have served her.
He came in the bakery and waited for his turn, taking the opportunity to slide his gaze on the exposed cakes and choose the one that he would have bought. He found a perfect one, a cheesecake with a biscuit base finely decorated at the top by a full circle of blueberries with leaning over a flower -shaped plate made of milk chocolate, all completed by strawberries arranged in a radial pattern. He doesn't hesitate to buy it when the smiling shop assistant asked him what he wanted and just as quickly he took it in Kudo's home refrigerator before it could melt or go bad. Now there was only one last thing to do to complete it all, but before he allowed himself the luxury of a cigarette to relax. Not that he had stressed himself out in choosing the cake and bringing it home; the truth was that meeting her again face to face made him still a bit nervous. He knew that that clarification wasn't enough to ensure that they could have a normal and civilized relationship like two old friends, he still expected hostility from her.
He put out the cigarette butt in the ashtray on the table and left again the house, heading for Doctor Agasa's house. He rang the doorbell and waited with his hands in his pocket for the door to open. He wondered if she would come to welcome him, but instead he found himself in front of the Doctor.
- Hello Doctor- he cordially greeted him.
- Oh, good afternoon Akai-san. But you shouldn't be working at this hour?- asked him the scientist, surprised to see him there in middle of the afternoon.
- There is not much left to do and so I asked for a permission to attend to some personal commissions. Can I come in? Excuse me if I come here empty-handed-
- Of course not, come on in!- he invited him smiling to get in that extravagant house.
- Thank you. I hope not to bother you-
- I was working with Shiho to a new invention, a little break will be good for both!- he explained while escorted him inside the hall.
Arrived there he found Shiho busy to study chemical formulas that most likely served to that invention the Doctor was talking about. He saw her raise her eyes as soon as she heard their steps approaching, and when her eyes met with his a strangely decipherable expression appeared on her face. He could call it a mixture of surprise, annoyance and discomfort. Maybe even a little bit of fear, but not like before. Probably it even bothered her to see him showing up in the house out of nowhere, it was understandable, but at least she didn't stare at him with all that hatred anymore, so he could consider himself lucky. Now it was to him to continue to do be good to her.
- Hi Princess, are you working?- he smiled, trying not to make it look like a bastard's smile as was he usually did.
- Which is more than I can say for you- she pointed out to him, with a note of biting sarcasm.
- Let's say I took a day off- he kept smiling to the young woman irreverence, that as a bad temper was his worthy adversary.
- What are you doing here?- she came straight to the point.
- Come on, try to be a bit more polite!- retorted her Agasa.
- Don't worry Doctor- he reassured him - After all she's right, I came here in the middle of the afternoon and without explanation. To be honest I was looking for you, Miss-
- For what?- she stared at him with inquiring eyes.
- Do you like sweets?-
- Eh?- she stared at him incredulously, expecting anything but a question like that.
- I bought a delicious cake and I was wondering if you want to come and taste it this evening. Of course the invite is even from your detective friend, currently host- he specified, thinking it would make her more calm knowing that they wouldn't be alone.
Her expression changed from disbelief to hesitation, explaining how difficult it was to even accept a simple invitation like that if he was the one who addressed it. He could also receive a no as answer, but in his heart he hoped they had already gone beyond the stage of rejection. She had cried in front of him, so she could also accept an invitation for a cake.
- All right- she finally said, almost sighing, although she wasn't really convinced.
- Perfect, then we wait for you at nine o' clock- he gave her the same schedule that he had confirmed to Jodie, to be sure they were all there at the same time.
- So you will be out even tonight- said the scientist, who until that point had remained on the sidelines in the conversation - I'll have to get used to being alone-
In response, the young scientist glared at him, making him shiver: he had probably said too much. There was one more word in that sentence, a word that could open a locked security door. Of course to a guy like him it wasn't escaped and she knew it, otherwise he would never reprimanded Agasa that way. He imperceptibly smiled, satisfied.
- Oh, so you went out last night- he anticipated her, before she could say anything to the poor Doctor.
- It's none of your business!- she replied bluntly, putting herself on the defensive - The fact that I agreed to have a civil relationship with you and try to get along does not mean that I have to tell you everything I do!-
- Hey Ai! There's no need to be so grumpy!- retorted her again the scientist, not realizing he had called her, in the heat, with the pseudonym that he himself had given her.
- No, she's right- he stopped him, reassuring him - I was rude to pry your own business. Please, forgive me- he bowed his head slightly.
He could also humiliate himself to apologize for his intrusiveness: he had already got what he wanted. Shiho was trying to hide something or rather someone. He was smart enough to draw her out even without making direct questions, that would have been too inconvenient. He didn't want to push her away again, he just wanted to satisfy his curiosity. He still had one last card to play.
- I'd better go now. Then I'll wait for you at nine this evening- he reminded her of the appointment, hoping that in the meantime she hadn't changed her mind - Ah, if you want you can take with you also that famous friend you mentioned the other night. See you later-
He let himself escorted to the door by the Doctor, greeting him one last time before leaving for good. Long way from the living room, he couldn't see the shocked expression on Shiho's face, although in a way he had imagined it. Certainly she didn't expect that he had overheard the conversation with Shinichi, as she didn't expect he had taken to heart that friend's affair. He knew that with that invitation had suggested in her doubts, basically he knew her better than he knew, and it wasn't hard to predict her moves. The culprit who is afraid of being found out always ends up with unmasking by itself and a self-respecting detective knows every trick to force the guilty to disguise itself as soon as possible.
As he walked again towards Kudo's mansion, he allowed himself again the luxury of a satisfaction's smile, just as the one he had done after the invite to Jodie. His plan had been carried out successfully.
….
When Doctor Agasa came back in the hall she was still there with her face bewildered, wondering what was there behind those words. Was it possible that in some way he had found out that the friend she was talking about was Jodie? It couldn't be ruled out, Akai had already shown at the time he was infiltrated in the Organization to be one who didn't struggle to find evidence when he wants to find out something. Maybe it has been Jodie herself, unable to disguise in front of him, to provide him those information. But if he knew, why not just tell her? Hadn't he promised her to stop plotting behind her back? She had again the doubt that she couldn't trust him one hundred percent, on the other hand she knew that the leopard can't change its spots.
- Can you tell me why you behaved so badly with Akai-san?- interrupted her thoughts the Doctor, giving her a lecture - It seemed to me that you had made peace!-
- I don't like the fact that he continued to peek at me- she folded her arms across her chest.
- He didn't come to peek at you, he just wanted to invite you to eat a slice of cake- he defended him.
- I wasn't referring to that, but to the fact that he knows that I wanted to bring a friend with me when I would have come back there. It was a detail that I only told to Shinichi while we were talking in private, so if he knows it is because he was peeking at us!-
- Take it easy, do not come to hasty conclusions- he tried to reason with her - Maybe he was in a room next to your and had inadvertently heard your conversation. Or maybe it has been Shinichi himself to tell him-
She didn't answer, she had no time to analyze the Doctor's theories or to inquire about how he came to know: she had to take remedial action before it was too late. She grabbed her cell phone and looked for Jodie's number in the last calls, regardless of the recalls of the scientist who was asking her to pay attention to him.
She hold the phone until she heard the voice of the blonde on the other side.
- Hello! Do you already miss videogames?- she joked, as it was in her nature.
She didn't seem worried or tense and this stoked even more her doubts. Was she getting unnecessary paranoid? Perhaps Akai was just curious to know who it was that friend but he didn't barely suspect of Jodie.
- Akai-san has just been here- she came straight to the point, without even a "hello".
- Eh?!- she seemed surprised - But he shouldn't be here? I haven't seen him since this morning because I had to deal with a thing, but I didn't know he had left the work early…-
- He said he had some commissions to handle and that in any case there was nothing for him to do. However, he invited me to eat a cake at Shinichi's house this evening at nine-
- Are you serious?! He has done the same invitation to me this morning!- she exclaimed.
Her eyes widened at those words, while the heartbeat quickened. Forget it: he certainly suspected of Jodie. Indeed, probably he knew exactly that her friend was Jodie, otherwise why inviting her at the same time, at same place, with the same excuse? If it was a coincidence was absurd, much to give the shivers.
- Do you think he suspects something?- she asked.
- I do not know... well, he wouldn't have reason. The cake story is a set-up that he has created because when Shinichi called him after speaking with you to inform you'd gone to clarify things with them, not wanting to tell me what they said, he made up the excuse that Dr. Agasa had ordered for them a special cake made only in a specific bakery. I teased him a bit to see how far he was good at masking the thing and he invited me to go to taste it when it would arrive. Since I continued to ask him if it had arrived or not I think he was forced to do so in order not go back on his word and ensure that I didn't become suspicious. Probably he invited even you because he think it's a good opportunity to spend time together and get to know you better now that you have clarified- she ended - I don't see why he should be suspicious of us-
- Because before he left he said a phrase that only me and Shinichi could know. The other night I talked alone with Shinichi on the front door and I asked him if I could bring a friend with me when I would return. Obviously I didn't use names, so not even Shinichi knows that I was talking about you. I believed that Akai was in another room or at least away from us, but obviously it was a few meters from us and has heard everything. Today he left saying to me "if you want you can take with you even that famous friend you mentioned the other night"- she badly imitated his voice - That's why I suspect he knows. Maybe he has started again to peek at me and he has heard while I called you or he has seen we have gone out-
- Damn... if so it would be a disaster! How could we explain that we have made friends omitting the fact that I told you of his personal things?- she sighed, now clearly worried - Why did you ask if I could come too?-
- Because I wanted to return you the favor and the only way that I came up with was to invite you to spend time with Akai-san outside working hours, since I realized you felt something for him even before I asked you openly- she admitted.
There was a brief moment of silence, where both meditated about the whole thing to find a solution. But without concrete evidence in charge, what solution could they find? It was like sailing in a waterless canal.
- What do we do now?- asked Jodie, sighing.
- It's a complicated situation because we don't know for sure if Akai-san knows something and what he knows. I believe there is only one thing that we can do: pretend we have never seen each other. Tonight when we met at Shinichi's house we'll pretend to be surprised and if they ask me about the friend I will say that she hadn't time to come. What do you think, is it a good plan?- she asked for confirmation.
- In fact it might work, but the fact remains that if you continue to never introduce this phantasmal friend sooner or later, the suspicions will grow and become a certainty-
She couldn't blame her, now that she had played the friend's card she couldn't go back on her word. She was a scientist, not a magician, she didn't know how to get rid of the rabbit once it had been extracted from the cylinder. If she hadn't introduced no one Akai surely would have continued his research, because the curiosity to know was stronger than trying to not meddling in her affairs.
- What do you want to do then?- she asked, hoping that her friend had a backup plan or simply a better idea.
- Personally I think it's better to simply tell the truth, that the friend you were talking about it's me, but omitting the part where I told you the truth before Shu did. In this way we will avoid to stoke suspects and our secret will be safe-
- Don't you think it's a risky move? You know yourself how good those two are in investigations-
- It is, but arrived at this point any move we will do is risky. If really Shu has suspects on us the only thing we can do is trying to smooth them out, not misleading him. If we run away he will chase after us. Stoking lies will not help, also we have already had enough of lies and personally I'm tired- she admitted.
- Keeping hidden from him that you have told me everything is a lie- she pointed out.
- In fact, that is more than enough-
- All right, if you think it will work I trust you. Tonight we will say that you are the friend I was talking about, but we'll be careful to not saying anything else- she accepted.
- Let's hope that everything will be fine!- she sighed loudly.
- Yeah. So see you later- she greeted her - There is one good thing: we can spend an evening together again!- she tried to make her friend feel better, because at that time she needed it more than her.
- I would rather return to the arcade!- she admitted, making her smile - See you later!-
When she hung up the concern that had pervaded her was still there, perhaps even stronger than before. Surely it was the same for Jodie, that between the two was the one who was taking a big risk. One wrong word was enough to provide to Akai the evidence he was searching on a silver platter. To her nothing would happen, but maybe for Jodie there would be consequences for getting mixed up in a matter that didn't concern her. She had to do her best to defend that friend who had shown her things from a different perspective: that was a way to return the favor.
- I think you should behave normally and say the truth, why hiding the fact that Jodie convinced you to talk to them? Basically she didn't do anything wrong, on the contrary- asked Doctor Agasa, who for all the time had listened to the conversation.
- Because Mr. "I mind other people's business" doesn't like when someone mind his own business: if he came to know that Jodie did it, even if for a good cause, he will be angry with her!- she explained.
- But no, I don't think Akai-san would be angry with Jodie because she convinced you to talk with him again- shook his head the scientist - I believe that instead he would be very grateful-
- You have a lot of imagination and trust too much in people, Doctor- she sighed, returning to the chemical formulas that she had abandoned - Come on, let's resume our work-
No longer returning to the subject they resumed their work. She hoped that the work would have distracted her in the next hours, preventing her from thinking about the meeting of that evening; however the apprehension that had caught her after Akai's words didn't fade.