Shinichi slowly walked toward his house. His shoulder hurt, and was bleeding freely, but it was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. The pain of being betrayed by someone he thought he could trust was unbearable. All that time, he had trusted Shiho, but she had lied to him since the day they met each other. She had often been cold and distant to him, but at other times, she hadn¡¦t seemed that aloof. It was hard to believe that she was lying then too. Memories of time they had spent together began to fill his brain, and he quickly forced them out. He didn¡¦t want to think about them, or about her. He clutched his left shoulder and walked ahead blindly. He bumped into Professor Agasa as he walked toward his house, and fell back to the sidewalk because he was trying not to think about Shiho. It was the second time he had crashed into someone because of her. Luckily, this time it wasn¡¦t Gin.

¡§ Shinichi, why are you in such a hurry? Oh! What happened to your shoulder?¡¨ Professor Agasa exclaimed as he noticed the wound.

¡§ It was that traitorous criminal! She was lying all along.¡¨ Shinichi shouted, unable to contain his anger. All he could see in his mind was an image of a red haired girl pointing a gun at him. The image of the two of them on the roof was clear and vivid, but everything else concerning the two of them was unclear, as if those memories were shrouded by mist.

¡§ What? You mean Ai? Here, let¡¦s talk about it in my house.¡¨ Professor Agasa cast a furtive glance up and down the street as he said this. Shinichi nodded, and Professor Agasa led him into his house. He unlocked the door, and led Shinichi into the living room.

¡§ You say Ai shot you? I don¡¦t believe it!¡¨ the Professor declared. He couldn¡¦t believe Ai would shoot anyone. She had lived with him for quite a while, and he had come to trust her and begin to treat her like his daughter. When he looked at Shinichi¡¦s expression though, he knew it wasn¡¦t a joke. His mouth dropped open. ¡§ This¡K¡¨

¡§ Professor, can you look in my book bag and find my handkerchief?¡¨ Shinichi asked as he felt more blood spurt out from his wound.

¡§ Sure. Sorry I don¡¦t have any bandages.¡¨ Professor Agasa apologized as he started looking in Shinichi¡¦s book bag, while Shinichi started to tell him angrily about what had happened that day.

¡§ Professor, she lied to us all along. She never betrayed them. It was all a lie.¡¨ Shinichi started.

¡§ That¡¦s impossible, I don¡¦t believe it.¡¨ Professor Agasa still couldn¡¦t believe that Shiho would willingly shoot Shinichi, even though he could see the wound on his shoulder.

¡§ Believe me. After school today she took me to the rooftop of some apartment building and shot me.¡¨ Shinichi said shortly, not wanting to talk about the details or the other two times he had seen her since she¡¦d left.

¡§ here, Shinichi. I found it.¡¨ Professor Agasa said as he handed Shinichi the handkerchief. Just as he was about to close the book bag, his eyes fell on a white pen. It was the pen Shiho had given Shinichi that afternoon. ¡§ Eh, what¡¦s this? Is this yours Shinichi? I t looks like a girl¡¦s pen.¡¨

¡§ It¡¦s mine, but I don¡¦t want it. Please keep it for me. Having it will just remind me of what a fool I¡¦ve been.¡¨ Shinichi scowled at the pen, and looked hopefully at Professor Agasa.

¡§ All right, I¡¦ll keep it, but Shinichi, I think you should have more faith in Ai. Trust her. Maybe there¡¦s something she can¡¦t talk about.¡¨ The Professor agreed and put the pen on the table. He still believed Ai wouldn¡¦t shoot Shinichi voluntarily.

¡§ I trusted her once. I was a mistake. I won¡¦t make the same mistake again.¡¨ Shinichi decided. He was still angry and hurt. ¡§ Professor, it¡¦s late. I¡¦ve got to be going home now.¡¨

Shinichi left, leaving Professor Agasa staring after him. He believed that Ai had shot Shinichi, but he also believed something else had happened, something neither he nor Shinichi knew about. He could understand Shinichi¡¦s feelings, but in his anger, Shinichi couldn¡¦t think rationally about Ai. Shinichi was letting his emotions control him. He hoped Shinichi would see that soon.

¡§ Shinichi, you¡¦ve got to trust me. Why can¡¦t you tell me anything about your disappearance?¡¨ Ran demanded. School was over and they were walking home together. Shinichi had asked Ran to let him walk home alone, but Ran wouldn¡¦t hear of it. Shinichi had been unusually quiet all day; Ran hadn¡¦t even heard him say a single word.

¡§ Ran, I¡¦ve told you before. I was working on a difficult case.¡¨ Shinichi told her in a hollow voice.

¡§ How long do you expect me to believe that? Forever? I know there¡¦s something else. Why can¡¦t you tell me? I¡¦m tired of accepting your stupid explanations. I want you to trust me. I want the truth.¡¨ Ran screamed. Ran stared at Shinichi, waiting for him to speak. If he didn¡¦t tell her the truth, she didn¡¦t know if she could forgive him.

Shinichi hesitated. He could tell that Ran was serious. He knew he really did owe her an explanation. However, he understood that it was really too dangerous to tell her. No matter what, Ran¡¦s safety came first. ¡§ It really was a difficult case¡K¡¨

¡§ Fine! I¡¦m through with you! I¡¦m sick of your lies.¡¨ Ran yelled, then she turned and ran away from Shinichi as fast as she could.

Shinichi stared after her, feeling awful, thinking bitterly about lies and betrayal.

Shinichi¡¦s phone rang.