Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1, thankyou.

Chapter 2: The Call

"Ohayo gozai-mass minna-san!" Jade exclaimed happily upon entering the room where both Conan and Tess were in. They looked up from their conversation and smiled.

"Good morning, sleep well?" They both said in unison.

They had gone back to Tess' house the night before after explaining to Conan everything. So now he knew about all the murder cases and knew ever piece of information they had collected, which wasn't much to go on.

"Yeah I did, and thankyou for letting me stay with you until this case is solved, I really appraciate it." Jade said sincerely, Tess only smiled and waved it off.

"We were just talking about the clues gathered. You say they contacted you in Japan, correct?" At Conan's question Jade nodded.

"How? Did they call you? If so then you'd have their number in memory on your phone, right?"

"Well not exactly, they called me from a payphone." She shrugged, both Conan and Tess nodded in understandment.

"Hey Jade? Do you mind doing me a favor?" Tess asked, looking up at the girl with ebony and crimson hair.

"No, not at all." Was her reply.

"Can you run to the store for me and get these items on the list? I would go myself but I need to call the Chief and ask him something." Tess handed Jade the list, she looked it over and nodded.

"Okay, I should be back in about an hour." And with that, Jade departed.

"What did you need to ask your Chief?" The pint-sized detective asked curiously.

"I didn't, I just needed to talk with you privately." At that Conan cocked a brow.

"Okay then, what is it?"

"I dunno, that girl...just seems WAY too happy, it's not normal."

Conan laughed,"Is that all you wanted to say to me?"

"Well...I did want to ask you" Tess never got to finish her sentance, for her cell started to ring, interrupting her.

She grabbed her cell from the coffee table infront of them and answered. Conan sat there wondering what she had been about to say, but decided he'd ask her later.

"Hello? Oh hey Chief. What? Ok sure, but why? Was there another murder? No? Then why would we need took,ok, we'll be there."

-In Japan-

Ai sat in the livingroom of Dr.Agasa's house, flipping through one of her fashion magazines. Professor Agasa had gone out for the day, leaving the chemist there by herself, which she didn't mind in the least.

She was enjoying the peace and quiet of it all,that is, until the phone started ringing.

"Hakase didn't mention he was expecting a call..."

She sighed, obviously agitated, but she stood nonetheless to answer the wretched device.

"Moshi moshi, Agasa residence." She kept her facade, hoping the person on the other end would be a wrong number and stop wasting her time.

"Miyano? Is that you?" The voice on the other end laughed coldly. Ai's glacier eyes widened, she recognized the voice and she knew who the person was.

"Keina! I thought you were killed!"

At that moment she lost her cold composure. How was it even possible for someone to survive an accident so...fatal as that one had been? Surely it was impossible!

"You weren't there long enough to see that I came out in the end with only a few broken bones, but nonetheless, I was fine." Came Keina's reply. Of course when she said 'not there long enough' she was referring to her being left for dead, handcuffed to that pipe. That was when Ai tried to take her own life with APTX-4896, which backfired obviously, shrinking her.

"Why'd you call...? How'd you get this number? How'd you know what happened...?" Ai asked suspiciously of the girl.

"I called you because I need some information on that drug of yours. And you'll find out how i knew in due time. But until then, promise me one thing, Shiho. Tell no one that i've contacted you, or else my mission would be jeopardized, and I cannot afford that."

"I promise you, Keina, that no one shall find out. But from now on, call me Ai Haibara, lest the organization hears you and figures everything out. Speaking of them you're still with them, are you not?"

"They're the only family I have."

BEEP BEEP

"I have another call coming in, I'll keep in touch with you. Goodbye Shi...Ai." And with that they both hung up.

"I'm back!" Jade entered the house, her hands full of bags, only to discover it empty. She put the bags down on the counter, noticing a note.

Hey Jade!

It's me, Tess, as if you didn't already know. We'll probably be gone by the time you get this. The Chief called me and told us to come down to the Gaming Company. There hasn't been a murder or anything, he just wanted us to ask the workers some questions. He said they were highly suspicious, but I guess we'll find out, huh? I got to go, bye!

-Tess and Conan

Tess and Conan had gone down to the gaming company as had been advised of them to do. They had been there a little over an hour and so far they hadn't found anything suspicious about the workers.

"I'm beginning to think that your Chief has sent us on a wild goose chase." Conan sighed exasperated.

"He wouldn't do that, he's not the type to play jokes or anything of the sort on others." Tess answered, but she too wondered the same thing.

"Can we go now? I'm supposed to be meeting my wife and if I'm late she'll chew my head off." Asked one of the people they had been questioning. Tess glanced down at Conan, who nodded.

"Yeah, you can go. We'll keep in touch." The dark haired FBI agent said to the man.

"C'mon Jimmy, let's get back home." He nodded as they both started back for her house.

"Sorry for leaving on such short notice, hope we didn't make you wait long." Tess apologized.

"That's okay, I just got back only a few minutes ago anyway. I got everything you had on the list, and already put it away for you." Jade smiled.

"I'll be right back! I'm going to call Rachel and tell her that I arrived safely." Conan ran off towards the room designated as his bedroom while he was staying there.

"The distraction was set earlier. They were fooled by thinking it was her Chief that had called her. During the time they were gone we pulled it off, they'll never know until it's too late." A man, cloaked in shadows, spoke through his cellphone.

"That's perfect Boss, but unfortunately I have to go. I'll call you if anything comes up, goodbye Gin." The girl hung up, smirking.