Shinichi sighed as he walked over to answer it, wondering what else could happen to him this week. Shiho¡¦s shooting and Ran¡¦s shouting involuntarily came to his mind. It was really hard to say which hurt him more, Shiho¡¦s betrayal or losing Ran¡¦s trust. He reached for the phone, wondering what news it would bring. It was Heiji. Shinichi smiled in relief when he heard his friend¡¦s voice on the other end. Unfortunately, Heiji was not the bearer of good tidings.

¡§ Kudo, you¡¦d better come to the hospital. Ran¡¦s been shot!¡¨ Heiji exclaimed frantically.

¡§ What? How could she have been shot? I was just talking to her after school.¡¨ Shinichi told him. Shinichi gritted his teeth. How could all of this happen in one week? He could feel the blood leave his face as he turned white and pale.

¡§ How bad is it?¡¨ he asked weakly.

¡§ It¡¦s bad. I¡¦m not a doctor, but I¡¦m sure it¡¦s not good. They¡¦ve put her in an intensive care unit, and we¡¦re only allowed to watch her through a glass panel. Come quickly.¡¨ Heiji urged.

¡§ Okay. I¡¦m coming.¡¨ Shinichi agreed and quickly hung up the phone.

Kogoro¡¦s cries of rage reached Shinichi¡¦s ears as he walked in the hospital.

¡§ Who did this to my daughter? I¡¦ll make them pay for it!¡¨ Kogoro shouted angrily at the top of his lungs. Beside him, Eri was trying to silence him without much success. Heiji was standing on the other end of the panel, far from Kogoro. Kazuha was with him, and they were both peering into the room anxiously.

¡§ Sir, we can understand your feelings, but please remember, this is a hospital. Please be a bit quieter. If not, you¡¦ll have to leave.¡¨ A nurse said.

¡§ How is my daughter?¡¨ Eri asked as Shinichi came running up. Eri looked back into the room worriedly. Shinichi followed her glance, then ran up to the glass to have a closer look. He drew in his breath when he saw Ran looking so pale and helpless. Huge machines surrounded her, and an IV bag filled with a clear liquid was sending the liquid to one of her arms. Shinichi had never seen her looking so pale and weak. His hands trembles as he cupped them around his eyes for a better view. He felt lost and was unsure what to do, but he couldn¡¦t bear to look at Ran for another second, so he turned around. A sob escaped from Kazuha and she gripped Heiji¡¦s hand tightly. Then, they all turned around and looked at the nurse, waiting for her answer with bated breath.

¡§ Well, she¡¦s in critical condition right now, but she appears to be stable. It¡¦s lucky none of the bullets hit any of her vital organs. Some came pretty close, though. There¡¦s nothing else I can really say, but it was lucky that she was brought to the hospital so soon. If not, I don¡¦t think she would be alive right now.¡¨ The nurse responded.

¡§ Yes, I¡¦m glad she was brought here in time.¡¨ Eri declared thankfully. Heiji and Kazuha nodded in agreement. Shinichi and Kogoro were glad too, but they were still angry that Ran had been shot. Shinichi¡¦s blue eyes blazed angrily while Kogoro swore.

¡§ Kogoro, if you want to stay, you¡¦ll have to be quiet. Please don¡¦t embarrass me and Ran¡¦s friends.¡¨ Eri snapped. Kogoro scowled, but shut his mouth.

¡§ Nurse, can I ask you a few questions?¡¨ Shinichi inquired, hoping to get some clues so he could catch the person who did this to Ran.

¡§ You can ask, but I¡¦m afraid there¡¦s nothing I can really tell you.¡¨ The nurse answered.

¡§Please tell me everything you know.¡¨ Shinichi requested.

¡§ A red haired girl called the ambulance and she was the one who rode here with Ms. Mouri. The girl and boy from Osaka were here because the girl skinned her knee and they needed some antiseptic. They identified themselves as friends of Ms. Mouri¡¦s and told us the names of her parents. We called her parents, and they only arrived a few minutes before you came.¡¨ The nurse said.

¡§ A red haired girl? What red haired girl? Where is she?¡¨ Shinichi demanded.

¡§ She¡¦s there.¡¨ The nurse turned around and pointed, then frowned. ¡§ She was here until the girl and boy from Osaka came. I guess she left.¡¨

Shinichi¡¦s head spun dizzily and he could feel the floor turn under his feet. He only knew one red haired girl.

¡§ Was it her? Was it Shiho?¡¨ he wondered.