Chapter 6
A Cat and Her Claws
The girl, who had identified herself as Sumi Tamuro, told them everything she’d learned from Reiko of her encounters. After they exchanged information, she devised a plan to introduce Noda and Eiichi to Reiko after school the next day. She said she would tell Reiko all about their ‘profession’ and this set off red flags for Noda and Eiichi, wondering if Reiko would even believe such a hair-brained cover, after having met them only a few days ago. They stressed with Sumi that she not mention at all that they were private investigators, nor that they had followed them home.
Later, Noda said she didn’t think anything she had said to Reiko would discredit them as not being undercover private investigators, but Eiichi stressed that if Reiko found out and said something, they would be in a heap of trouble for impersonating professionals, even if they had never claimed to be police.
The next day, after school let out, they waited in the main lobby. Thankfully for Eiichi, Noda was back to her usual geeky appearance, braids and all.
“They’re taking a while.” Noda checked her phone.
“It’s only been ten minutes, you’re just being impatient.”
Her output had been teeming with excitement and driving him up the wall. He couldn’t blame her, she couldn’t help herself. This hopefully meant no more sneaking around.
He continued. “She’s probably still talking with her. I don’t think Morita’s first reaction to total strangers offering help would be elation. More like caution.”
“Kozuka!!!”
The random bark from up the hall set both their nerves off and their heads turned in slow increments towards the brick-red ponytailed bombshell that was Ryoko Takahashi, stomping up the hall toward them with rage in her eyes and likely homicide on her mind. Eiichi would check if this was really the case.
“You had better come up with a convincing story as to why this girl is with you, because I am just about inclined to believe you brainwashed her!” Ryoko clenched her fists, her nose just centimeters away from his.
He could tell she had been observing their conversation from afar.
Eiichi P.I., Vol. 1 Page 30