T.A series Volume 7: Feathers of Fury

Chapter 32 - Tiny Breakthroughs

"What is there to be odd about? She is a criminal's daughter, she probably saw the worst things that Shinichi had to deal with." Michio quipped.

"Is it? I don't think so," Emiko shook her head, a thoughtful expression on her face. "In Shinichi's statement, Adeline was asking all sorts of questions attempting to get to the bottom over why he had bad blood with Mouri, but oddly close with Ranran."

"Maybe she is just attempting to get leverage of the association member to report to her father, The Snake?" Junko argued.

"That was what I thought so too, till I read Mouri Ran's report." Emiko passed on the paper to the two other members.

Michio and Junko took the paper from Emiko and began reading Mouri Ran's account of the incident. As they read, their expressions shifted from curiosity to surprise.

"Wait a minute, the Ema that Mouri Ran hung at that temple the other day with her best friend, Sonoko...Adeline was the one who vandalized the Ema!? Not Ranran!?" Junko gasped reading about this.

But that was nothing, compared to Michio's reaction, "Adeline...sounded bothered? That Sonoko and Mouri Ran wrote demeaning things about Ranran? She....even called Ran a bully!?"

"Exactly. Adeline's response to the vandalism of the Ema is quite telling. She didn't seem pleased about the derogatory messages written about Ranran. In fact, she defended Ranran by calling her a 'bully.' And when Mouri called Ranran a 'she-demon', her expression according to Mouri said if looks could kill, that would be it. It's almost as if she has some sort of attachment or loyalty to Ranran." Emiko nodded, her eyes serious as she watched their reactions.

Michio's eyes widened as she processed this information. "So, Adeline has a connection to Ranran? But why would she protect her? It doesn't make sense."

"Perhaps there's a hidden side to Adeline that we haven't uncovered yet." Emiko muses.

"Or, she could've just played herself as that just so no one suspects her when she strikes!" Junko pushes the paper back with a spat, "Anyway, aside from that, let's look into Professor Hoga's whereabouts by heading to Teitan University. I'll go prepare our bikes over since we are running a bit low on our funds since we kept on hiring cab service."

As Junko left, Emiko and Michio remained deep in thought, mulling over the information they had just uncovered. "Neh Michio."

"Hmph?"

"When you were on that date with Adeline before you learn that she was The Snake's daughter, did she even mention anything about knowing Ranran?"

"No, I was careful not to mention her name, cause at that time when Ranran and Shinichi registered Tantei Association under the school as an after-school club, I had my name put down to prevent anyone from knowing that Ranran was the true founder. Even Shinichi forbade me from uttering her name unless it is necessary." Michio replied.

"I see," Emiko nodded, processing the information. "Then what about Ranran? Did anything about her gave it away that she may have known who Adeline is?"

"Not that I know off."

Emiko leaned back in her chair, deep in thought. "It's perplexing. If Adeline and Ranran do have some sort of connection, it's well hidden. But the way Adeline reacted to certain things, especially her defence of Ranran, suggests there might be more to their relationship than we initially thought."

"Aside from the kidnapping part, I still can't understand why would Adeline orchestrate the kidnapping behind her Tousan's back," Michio rubbed his temples, his mind working through the puzzle. "I thought they are on the same side."