¡§Ran, please get better soon. You have to. I know you will. After you get better, you¡¦ll come to Osaka and visit me, right?¡¨ Kazuha asked her unconscious friend. Ran was a little better now, but she was still unconscious. She had been moved out of the ICU, and now she was allowed to have visitors. Kazuha and Eri were sitting on either side of Ran¡¦s bed, taking turns talking to her. There was an armchair in that room, and Shinichi was sitting on the chair, while Heiji sat on the armrest.

¡§Good thing Ran¡¦s a lot better now!¡¨ Heiji exclaimed cheerfully. Shinichi just nodded his head. He was relieved that Ran was recovering, but every time he looked at her lying weakly on the hospital bed, the desire for revenge swept through him again. A frown appeared on his face, and his moody blue eyes got deeper and darker. He scowled and wondered where he could get clues now. Shiho had said she didn¡¦t know how Ran got shot, and for some reason, he believed her. Maybe because she had saved Ran¡¦s life, or perhaps he just wanted to believe her. Speaking of Shiho, she was acting quite weirdly, nothing like the red haired girl he knew. There was no time to worry about her though. If only he could get a clue¡K

¡§If Ran would wake up, we could ask her what happened.¡¨ Shinichi stated gloomily. He looked over at Ran and silently willed her to awaken. But of course, nothing happened. ¡§Please get up, Ran.¡¨ He begged silently.

¡§Hey, Kudo.¡¨ Heiji smiled, his eyes were shining. ¡§I know a clue.¡¨

¡§What?¡¨ Shinichi asked. He looked at Heiji curiously.

¡§Admit I¡¦m the better detective.¡¨ Heiji prompted, folding his arms across his chest and looking playfully at Shinichi.

Shinichi sighed loudly. ¡§Okay, I admit it. Only if your clue is any good though.¡¨

¡§Heiji giggled happily. ¡§It¡¦s the red haired girl! How could you forget her? She¡¦s the best clue!¡¨

Shinichi couldn¡¦t help but feel more cheerful at his friend¡¦s enthusiastic behavior. ¡§Sorry, Hattori, seems like I¡¦m the better detective after all. I talked to her the day after Ran was shot. She didn¡¦t know anything.¡¨

¡§What? You started investigating without me?¡¨ Heiji asked in mock disbelief. ¡§No wonder you didn¡¦t pick up any clues. You were too upset. You need my help.¡¨

¡§Heiji, don¡¦t yell so loudly. Remember, this is a hospital. Don¡¦t scare Ran!¡¨ Kazuha shouted. Eri looked up, shocked. Shinichi stared at Kazuha with surprise. Heiji just rolled his eyes.

¡§Who¡¦s scaring someone, Kazuha?¡¨ he asked, looking at Eri¡¦s expression with a grin.

Kazuha looked at Eri bashfully. ¡§Sorry.¡¨ She said guiltily. Eri smiled at her and nodded. Kazuha scowled at Heiji. ¡§If you¡¦re going to be so noisy, go outside, Hattori.¡¨

¡§Fine, come on, Kudo, Let¡¦s go.¡¨ Heiji said. ¡§Tell me about this red haired girl.¡¨ He grabbed Shinichi¡¦s arm, and they walked towards the door, right into Kogoro, who was walking in.

¡§How dare you! You idiots! My daughter is injured, and you two are talking about seeing some other girl?¡¨ Kogoro screamed as he grabbed for Shinichi¡¦s arm.

Heiji and Shinichi both looked at Kogoro angrily. Heiji pushed Kogoro away as Shinichi looked on in disgust. ¡§We¡¦re trying to find out who shot Ran!¡¨ Heiji angrily shouted at Kogoro.

¡§Why you little¡K¡¨ Kogoro screamed, but Eri shot him a venomous glare. ¡§Kogoro, behave yourself.¡¨ Kogoro shook his fist at the boys, scowled, and hurried to Ran¡¦s side. Heiji and Shinichi looked at each other, shook their heads, and went out into the hall, where Shinichi began to tell Heiji about Shiho.

¡§What?¡¨ Heiji roared in disbelief when Shinichi had finished. ¡§Shinichi, you¡¦re way too trusting. She¡¦s a criminal.¡¨

¡§Heiji, she saved Ran¡¦s life. If she were really that bad, she wouldn¡¦t have saved Ran¡¦s life.¡¨ Shinichi said.

¡§She probably had her own reasons for doing that. I¡¦ll bet it wasn¡¦t out of concern for Ran. She might have been the one that shot Ran in the first place.¡¨ Heiji screamed.

¡§I don¡¦t think she was lying.¡¨ Shinichi insisted.

¡§Come on, it¡¦s just too coincidental. Ran is shot and who sends her to the hospital? That criminal. Who shows up unconscious in the street? She does. Is it just me, or is this just all a little too coincidental?¡¨ Heiji shouted.

¡§But why hurt Ran?¡¨ Shinichi wondered.

¡§Simple. She hates you, and she knows she can hurt you by hurting Ran.¡¨ Heiji told Shinichi.

¡§But she¡¦s lost her memory. She doesn¡¦t know anything.¡¨ Shinichi objected.

¡§It¡¦s all an act! She¡¦s lying to you! She probably thinks you¡¦re the world¡¦s biggest idiot. It¡¦s all an act.¡¨ Heiji yelled as he grabbed Shinichi¡¦s shoulders and started shaking them. ¡§Jail¡¦s too good for people like her.¡¨

¡§She might have hurt Ran?¡¨ Shinichi asked dizzily, as Heiji let go. Heiji nodded, thinking that Shinichi was finally seeing the obvious truth.

¡§It¡¦s a possibility, it sounds like something she would do to me.¡¨ Heiji stated.

¡§If she hurt Ran, I¡¦ll get her.¡¨ Shinichi shouted as Heiji¡¦s idea dawned on him. ¡§I¡¦ll never forgive her!¡¨

¡§Are you Mr. Kudo?¡¨ a nurse asked as she walked up.

Shinichi nodded.

¡§A man dressed in black told me to give you this letter.¡¨ The nurse said, handing a letter to Shinichi. Heiji¡¦s eyes widened. Shinichi and Heiji exchanged a look, and then Shinichi reached out and took the letter.