5. They just want to chat.
“Hullo, Mousey! It’s been a while; how’ve you been doing? I saw the work that you’ve done on my website recently – thank you for that, my agent is so very, very pleased. Has there been any progress on the international cataloging database interface, or is it too soon to ask?”
15. They need a place to hide.
“Mouri-chan, this is very short notice, but please, please tell me that you’re home — I’m almost to the agency and I desperately need you to hide me for the next several hours. Can you do that for me?”
4. They’re on a game show!
“Evening, meitantei-san! Listen, I don’t have very much time, but I have a very important question for you: do you remember the name of the bloke who destroyed all of those buildings a little ways back? Something about the imperfections of his work causing his pride a bit of an annoyance. I’ve twenty seconds to get it right or I can’t advance to the next round. So please, Kudou-kun… the name?”
2. They’re lost.
“Ah, yes, hello Toyama-chan. I’m on my way to get pick you up, but it seems as though I’ve gotten myself terribly… misplaced… in your fair city. I don’t suppose that you’re any good with directions, are you?”
1. They’ve been arrested.
“Ah, yes, hello. Look, I know that this is a strange request, but if you’ll just hear me out, I promise to make it worth your while. You see, I find myself in a particular situation in which you, yourself, have quite the expertise in and, I, ah, well, I don’t know what to do. I’ve, ah… been sort of… incarcerated, and you are my one phone call.”
10. They want to invite you out.
“Ah, hullo, Kuroba-kun! I was just… calling to see if you might be interested… and by that I mean, available and reasonably willing — does that sound right??? — er, rather, would you like to accompany me to a… a, ah, little get together? I mean, it’s actually not little, per se, but it’s not exactly gigantic, either, it’s more or less rather in between and I’m supposed to bring a guest, you see, so would you? Like to accompany me, I mean.”
20. They can’t find their phone.
“Ah, hello, Emi-kun? I hate to bother you, but I’m running late and I can’t remember where I put my mobile… I think I last saw it when you were over earlier; do you recall what happened to it?”
3. They were kidnapped.
“Sensei… I can’t stay on the line for long… I’ve been taken to a warehouse on the eastern docks as horribly cliche as that sounds… I managed to get one of their cellphones, but… I think they mean to kill me."
17. They have a computer question.
“Kuroba-kun, it’s Hakuba Saguru… from school, you remember?” A pause. “Ah, I mean, of course you remember. Well, ah, anyway, the reason for my phonecall – and for disturbing you so late in the evening, apologies for that, incidentally – is that I’m having a little bit of trouble navigating this auction site… You see, it’s a connection with an internet black market and I’m trying to find a specific gem. What… key words do I need to put in? ‘Stolen property’ brings up far too many listings, it’s getting frustrating. Please help?”
13. They’ve just been attacked.
“H-Hattori!” The name came out in a ragged gasp, followed by a groan of pain. “I need you to do me a… a f-favor. I’ve tried the police but the power’s still out, all I’ve got is my phone and the-” he paused, phone muffled against skin for a moment. “-he’s coming back. My father’s home, please hurry!”