to him and wanted to talk to him more, but now he was gone. And there was nothing she could do about it.

"Well, don't pale a moping. Let's play," Jodie grinned. She tried to cheer up her student a little so that she wouldn't be sad anymore. Akai would see her again sometime later, although Jodie hoped it wouldn't.
"You're right. Come on let me play the round," Ran nodded.
"Yes, get in then," Jodie nodded and looked at her. "You like him don't you?"
"What? No ... well it had been a nice day, but nothing more.It's a shame he's gone again. I told you what I had to think about all day at school. So he ... he was involved in it too, but positively ... he was one of the positive memories I had of that time, "said Ran.
"Oh, then I understand it all now. I was wondering where you know each other from and how it came about. I mean, he's a little older than you," interjected Jodie. "You will surely see him again at some point, surely you have exchanged addresses."
"No, we didn't and I told you that I don't feel anything for him, at least you should know," put in Ran. Why did everyone think they wanted something from Akai?
"Good, but that's not what I meant. I was talking about your friendship," the blonde winked. Then she explained the machine to the girl, she should stand up normally and fasten the arm-leg splints, and then move during the fight as if she was really fighting.
"Friends? I don't know. I just met him earlier, more or less," said the girl, mumbling softly. She didn't know whether the two were friends or not. It was way too complicated to say something about it or to judge it, "said Ran and played a round on the simulator. She immediately won the round, which was no wonder, since she could master the game in no time.
"That was really great," smiled Jodie.
"Thank you," smiled Ran and got out of the device. "I'm sorry, but I would like to go home and think a little about everything that has happened so far," the girl asked her teacher.
"That's no problem at all, I'll take you home if it's okay with you, you never know what's going to happen and maybe you'll meet the stranger again," she winked.
"You don't have to take any risks because of that. He's on our side."

"And how do you know that exactly?", Jodie raised her eyebrows and walked slowly with Ran to the detective agency. Surely Shuichi would be nearby and be under surveillance again. It had been good, then she would be able to talk to him again.
"You mustn't tell anyone else," Ran Jodie wrested the promise. "He's working as an FBI agent in the US and he's here because he's on vacation," said the girl. Akai hadn't asked her to keep silent, but she could trust her English teacher.
"I promise I won't tell anyone," Jodie nodded. But inside she could have screamed out. Ran knew that Shuichi was an FBI agent and that wasn't a good thing.
Together with the girl, Jodie arrived at the detective agency, they went up the first stairs and then one floor up to the apartment.
"Thank you, Miss Saintemillion, for your help," smiled Ran and opened the door to the apartment.
"I was happy to do that," Jodie nodded. "I'm sorry, but I have to go now too," she said and said goodbye to Ran.

Jodie looked around downstairs, she couldn't find Shuichi and that almost drowned her. Where was he and why didn't he come back? For a brief moment she also thought that he was somewhere at his observation post and that he was now seeing her.Damn it ... Shu where are you? she grumbled inwardly. And she didn't see this agent, who must have represented Akai, either, at least she didn't know him and didn't even know that he was closer to her than she thought.
"Great," muttered Jodie. Since she couldn't find him here, she decided to pay him a visit at home and scold him angrily.

"Man, I almost forgot," Ran said to himself. She was already in the apartment, but then ran downstairs to the detective agency. Today she was supposed to cook and her father would be home soon. As always, it was gone somewhere, but she didn't know that.When Ran came to the detective agency, she found a note from her father. "You could have told me that earlier," she grumbled.
[i]I'm at the horse race, don't wait for me, Kogoro wrote on the slip of paper. Ran was surprised that Kogoro was already there at this time, but she was much more surprised that Conan wasn't home yet. She saw that there was a message on the answering machine and listened to it. Conan called and told her that he had gone to Agasa after school.
Ran was now alone in the detective agency and had to see what she would do.

After Jodie left, Chris Vineyard stopped by here. She had already waited a while here because she didn't want to meet Jodie yet. All of this would be a long time coming. Today she was there for something else. She was dressed normally, civil and wore black sunglasses. The detective agency already knew her well, she had been here often, never when she was herself. When she then stood at the door, she knocked and rang the doorbell.
"Just a moment", Ran called and only then went to the door. When she opened it, she was amazed. She thought she couldn't believe her eyes.
"Miss Vineyard," the girl muttered, rubbing her eyes to make sure it was Chris.
“Good afternoon.” When the woman heard Ran, she said nothing, she was a little petrified. That voice and that happiness, she remembered it again. She too had tried to suppress what had happened then, but it was not that easy.
Back then.
Then she had saved them.
Together with Shinichi.
"I would like to see the detective Kogoro Mori," she said in a very friendly manner.
"I'm sorry, my father is not at home, but please come in", Ran asked the young woman and held the door open for her. Now she was a little ashamed that it looked so ugly at home.
"Thank you," the blonde nodded and looked around inside.Together with the girl she went to the table and sat down. When she was offered coffee and cake, she didn't say no. She was even happy that she had been greeted so warmly and that she could see Ran again. Their last meeting wasn't so nice after all and Yukiko was there too.
"What can I do for you? I will write everything down and tell my father afterwards. He will surely accept your order," said Ran after she put the coffee and cake on the table. Then she sat down too. She couldn't believe it, Chris Vineyard was sitting across from her. She would have loved to say that it was madness or that she would never believe it. Maybe even 'oh my god'. But then she remembered how Sharon reacted to that and then she still didn't want to say it.
"It's not what you think. I'm not here for an assignment," smiled Chris. She took off her sunglasses and put them on the table. "I'm having a party in my villa here in Tokyo and I wanted to invite everyone who has rank and name. Actors, the press, some famous photographers and I thought that the sleeping detective shouldn't be missing," said Chris and looked Come on.
"You ... you want to invite us?", Her face showed that she was amazed, but she also smiled and was happy.
"Yes, that means, only if your father has time. I have two tickets for him, the place and the time are entered. So if you want to come, just come. I would be happy," said Chris.
"We'd like to come, but I don't know ... you know, there is a little boy living here with us, I can't just leave him at home like that," put in Ran. Apparently she wouldn't be able to go after all.
"You shouldn't worry about a child. I will personally greet all guests at the gate and children don't need an invitation, just bring them along."Chris had been polite again and after she finished the coffee and finished the cake, she no longer saw the need to be here.

"May I ask you something else?", Ran wanted to know. There was a sadness in her voice and she wasn't sure whether to really ask or not.
"Naturally."
"I met your mother back then, in New York ... She told me that you disguised yourself as her deceased husband ... why did you do that?", Ran wanted to know.
"She has what? Typically my mother, she may rest in peace," sighed Chris and looked at Ran. Then she crossed her legs and thought. "You know, when you grow up, you realize how life really is to you. My mother was always careful to keep her secrets and everything else. I didn't like going there and because she always kept her feelings except for my own family, I disguised myself as her husband, "she said. "I loved my father very much, but she never talked about him ... actually, with my act I wanted her to finally speak, but we hadn't had contact for ten years since then. The time was really horrible ", Chris lied, but Ran took it from her.
"I see ... I'm sorry ... Forgive me for being so straightforward, but your mother said you were dealing with shady characters ..."
"And now you want to know if something is there, am I right?" Chris smiled a little. "Don't worry about me. That was back then, I just took a look at what life had in store for me, but I'm an actress and will continue to live like my mother did before. I guess I got that from her. "That was the end of the conversation for Chris and she got up. "I would be happy to see you and your father."
"I'm happy too," Ran nodded and bowed as Chris left the detective agency.She still couldn't believe her luck.

Jodie left the detective agency with mixed feelings, she didn't really know what to do next. Ran knew that Shuichi was an FBI agent and he probably had told her about it himself, even if it was totally atypical of his behavior. But now she couldn't change the whole thing. It was too late, far too late.
The young woman continued on her way, she had to do something, something, only she didn't know exactly what. Should she just take it or go to Shuichi and talk to him about it, and what about James? As the boss, didn't he have to find out that a civilian knew that an FBI agent was here? On the other