Chapter 9: The Strange Mansion

I was standing near the London's Eye at tinitingnan ang giant ferriswheel. I smiled sweetly as I stared at the world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel. Napakaganda niyon! If I would have more patience, I would have ignored the hour-long queues and waited upang makasakay sa ferriswheel. God! I can live forever here in London! Bigla na lamang tumunog ang Bigben and I was standing at the north side of the Westminster Palace and in front of me was the great tower of the chiming clock.

"Amber."

Napalingon ako sa tumawag sa pangalan ko and I saw Gray smiling all the way as he walked towards me. Huminto siya sa harapan ko.

"You look good standing here in the palace, mahal na prinsesa", wika niya.

I pouted when I heard his nickname for me. Mahal na prinsesa. Mahal na nga, prinsesa pa! It's good to hear anyway.

"Tss. It's so beautiful here Gray", wika ko and I look up at the giant clock.

"Indeed, Your Highness and it's a perfect time for this", he said and he pulled me close to him. He wrapped his arms on my waist and I was too shocked to move. Or should I say I prefer not to move as I felt his body on me. Unti-unti niyang ibinaba ang kanyang mukha and my gaze was fixed on his luscious lips. I felt the urge to close my eyes  and waited for his lips to touch mine.

I waited for a few seconds ngunit walang dumapo na labi niya kaya dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang mga mata ko at ....

Holy Crap! Napabalikwas ako ng bangon at nasuntok ang mukha ng lalaking nakahiga sa harapan ko! His face was just few inches on mine!

"Damn! Can't you just say good morning?", Gray said habang kinukusot ang mata at napahawak sa pisngi niya na nasuntok ko.

Teka, have I told you na umandar na naman ang kapilyohan ni Sir Arman at nagpa-reserve ng iisang hotel suite para sa aming dalawa?! Okay, the bed was kingsized ngunit nagulat na lamang ako nang mapansing sobrang lapit na ng mukha namin! I thought it was just a dream ngunit totoo ngang halos magkalapat na ang mga labi namin! Sheeet! Na-conscious tuloy ako sa hininga ko!

"Bakit ka nakayakap sa akin?", I asked hysterically! Darn! Nakisabay pa talaga ang panaginip ko!

"Am I? I thought you're the one who wrapped your legs on me", he said. How could he look so good even if he just gone from bed? I prevented myself from touching his dishevelled hair and run it through my fingers.

Arrrgh! What am I thinking!? No no no! Erase that thought! Erase! Nakakainis talaga! Nakalimutan kang may katabi pala ako!

"I unconsciously do it when I'm asleep! You don't have to take advantage!", I scowled at him. Mahilig kasi akong yumakap ng mga unan kapag tulog ako. I prefer to have a pillow beside me than having one on my head. Nadagdagan pa ang mga katabi ko mula nang dumating si Baymax.

"I didn't take advantage on you Amber, it's the other way round. Pinagsamantalahan mo ako habang tulog", he said with a pout.

"What do you mean?"

"You really want to know?", he asked with his mischievous smile.

"What?!"

"I felt something sof—"

I cut him off by covering my ears. "On the second thought, you shut up!"

"You said you want to hear it!", he said and he giggled samantalang nagmamadali naman akong nagpunta sa banyo.

"I'm saying I felt your soft hair na nangingiliti sa leeg ko! You placed your head on my neck all night", narinig kong sigaw niya kasabay ng halakhak. "Oh, you punched me in my face, it hurts you know!"

Well, he deserved it. Uh, See? I guess this is how we say our good morning to each other.

After we ate our breakfast ay nakatanggap kami ng email mula kay Hazel. We exchanged emails yesterday after Gray said that we will help her find the other will na maaring nasa mansion lamang ni Jedidiah Wheatly kung saan nananatili sina Jodie at Hazel.

She told us that the will might be in the mansion where Jedidiah lived and nursed by Helena Higson and her husband Dion Romano dahil si Jedidiah mismo ang sumulat niyon after he consulted his lawyers.
He was a half-British, born and raised in the Philippines but he wasn't married. Nanirahan ito sa London and lived a British lifestyle. Jedidiah's late wife was a cousin of the Higsons. Yumao ito nang hindi man lamang nabibigyan ng anak si Jedidiah.
Hazel and Jodie's grandparents were Jedidiah's cousin at nang maulila sila ay napunta sila sa pangangalaga ni Jedidiah.

Hazel met us at Regent's Park that morning. Kasama nito si Jodie nang magkita kami. She said in the email that we can stay at the mansion.

"Thank you for accepting my invitation. Nakausap ko na rin ang mga kaibigan ni Lolo Jed. I told them about the two if you and they're hoping that we can really find the other will", wika niya.

"Walang ano man iyon Hazel. But ayos lamang ba sa mga Higson na manatili kami sa mansion?", I asked her. Baka kasi magalit ang mga Higson kapag manatili kami sa mansion. Gray said that we'll stay there for a day or two if Hazel can find a way to let us stay there. Suportado naman ni Sir Arman ang "misyon" namin. Napag-usapan kasi namin kagabi sa hapunan ang tungkol sa mga balak naming gawin sa loob ng dalawang linggo naming pananatili doon.

"Don't worry about it Amber. I told Aunt Helena na may mga kaibigan akong dadalhin sa mansion at pumayag naman siya. Don't worry about her sister, Aunt Adella na masungit. Their youngest sibling was Uncle Zach", she said. "By the way, if ever we'll find another will, does it render the old one void and null?"

"Yes. We'll ask a lawyer to contest the old will", Gray said. "My mom's a lawyer and I asked her if we can do that and she said yes. It's applicable in the British law."

"But are you sure that it's really in the mansion?", I asked.

"I overheard them spoke about a written will by Jedidiah himself and it was signed and witnessed by some lawyers both those lawyers were gone. One died due to his sickness, the other one was of car accident and the last is murdered", wika niya.

"What? Is that a coincidence?", hindi makapaniwalala kong tanong and he shrugged his shoulders.

"Who knows."

"Looks like you heard that much Gray. So, paano? Let's go to the mansion", Hazel said at sumakay na kami.

It just took us few minutes bago kami dumating sa Wheatly Mansion and I was surprised to see the house! It was a huge one at nagmukha itong royal abode! On the yard was an angel statue and it was in the middle of a huge fountain. There were flowers of different varieties on the side of the Tudor-styled mansion. It looks so old but heck,you can call it a palace dahil sa lawak niyon. Sinalubong kami ng pamilyar na mukha ng lalaki. He was one of the passenger of the same flight where we have been.

"Sila na ba ang mga bisita mo Hazel?", he asked with a smile. He was a man around mid-30's.

"Opo Uncle. This is Gray and ito naman si Amber", pakilala ni Hazel at bumaling sa amin."He's Uncle Zach."

We exchanged greetings at sinamahan niya kami papasok. Habang naglalakad ay panay ang kwento niya. Ayon sa kanya, he spent most his life sa Pilipinas at ngayon lamang siya nakapunta dito. Tanging si Helena lamang ang nanatili sa London upang alagaan ang matanda at madalang itong dalawin no Adella.

"I guess I'll be staying here lalo na at sa amin pinamana ni Tito Jed ang lahat ng estates niya", he said and he laughed. "I'm a rich man."

I saw a glimpse of anger on Hazel's eyes. I understand her side. Isa pa ay sila ang mas kadugo ni Jedidiah and not the Higson's. Marami silang pinangakuan ni Jedidiah Wheatly ngunit lahat ng iyon ay napako. Nang mga sandaling iyon ay naisip ko rin ang iba pang napangakuan ni Wheatly na makakatanggap ng shares mula sa estate nito. Marami ang umaasa dito and this mission is an important one.

"Mauna na ako sa inyo, Hazel guide them to the guest quarters", Uncle Zach said and he walks towards the other direction.

Inihatid kami ni Hazel at Jodie papunta sa quarters. I was clinging all the time to Gray! Okay, don't get me wrong. Ginawa ko lamang iyon dahil sa mansion! It was a bit strange and one of its eccentricities is that there where photos, pantings and wallpapers which were eyes! Sa mga pinto ay may nakaguhit na mata and on the walls were pantings of an eye! Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay andaming nakatingin sa akin.

Nang makarating kami sa kwartong gagamitin ko ay mas lalo akong natakot.

"There's no way I'll be sleeping alone here!", I exclaimed when I saw the room! Gosh! It was a huge room with red bricks at gaya sa labas ay napakaraming mata doon!

"You want to share rooms with me?", Gray asked.

"Yes! I mean No! Uh, I'm left with no choice. Ayaw kong manatili dito ng mag-isa!", I said at inalog si Gray. "Please."

"Fine with me. I don't want to leave the princess alone", he said and I rolled my eyes. Hazel just laughed at nagpaalam muna sa amin. She said she had some errands to do at tatawagin lamang kami kapag kakain na.

When the meals were served ay tinawag na nga kami. Muli naming nakita ang mga Higson. The couple who was arguing at the flight was Adella Higson and her husband Rufino. The younger guy was their child at Don ang pangalan nito. Si Helena naman ay kasama rin ang kanyang asawa na si Dion. Uncle Zach is still a bachelor.

"Kayo pala ang mga kaibigan ni Hazel", wika ni Aunt Adella. "I'm telling you right now, ayokong nandito kayo but for Hazel's sake ay pumayag nalang ako dahil aalis rin naman siya dito sa mansion!", she said with full authority.

"Don't be rude on them Helena", wika ni Kuya Zach.

"Ano po ang ibig ninyong sabihin?", Hazel asked in disbelief.

"I'm sending you back in the Philippines, doon sa mga kamag-anak ninyo. Wala ka rin namang silbi dito sa mansion. Nagbu-buhay prinsesa ka lang", she said. Naikwento na sa amin ni Hazel na siya at si Jodie ay apo ni Jedidiah but their parents were already dead. Namatay ang mga ito sa plane crash but they still have their relatives on the other side.

"Whaaaat? How about Jodie?", Hazel asked.

"Kasama mo. Kung wala kang silbi ay mas lalong wala siyang silbi!"

"Adella! Nasa hapag kainan tayo!", saway ni Helena sa kapatid.

"Totoo naman ha, Ate!", Adella said.

"But we lived here for so long!", wika ni Hazel. She was on the verge of crying. Maging si Jodie na nasa murang edad ay inilapag ang kubyertos at biglang napayuko. I can feel the tension on the dining hall at yumuko lang din ako. Tanging si Gray ang direktang nakatingin sa mga Higson and I bet there are thousands of things on his mind. His simple gaze can draw many deductions.

"Tumahimik ka Adella dahil nasa harap tayo ng pagkain", her husband said.

"Wag kang makialam dito Rufino dahil sampid ka lang din naman. Why don't you just sign our annulment papers at nang maghiwalay tayo? Wala ka ring aasahan sa mga pamana ni Kuya Jed!", singhal nito sa asawa.

"Adella, tama ang kapatid mo. Nasa hapag kainan tayo", wika ng asawa ni Helena na si Dion.

"Kinaklaro ko lamang ang lahat Kuya Dion! At alam niyo bang isa si Hazel sa mga nag-file ng claim kasama ng iba pang mga kaibigan ni Kuya Jed, and declared that they're told that another will was made in favor of them!"

"Totoo ba iyon Hazel?", tanong ni Helena at yumuko lamang ang naging tugon ni Hazel.

"Sinasabi ko na nga ba! Huh!"

Nagsalita naman ang anak ni Adella na si Don. "I doubt Aunt Helena. That matter never go further unless they located the other will kung totoong meron man."

Pinalakpak ni Uncle Zach ang kanyang kamay, sanhi upang naagaw niya ang atensyon ng iba. "Cut the topic. Kumain muna tayo", he said at natahimik naman ang lahat at ibinalik ang atensyon sa pagkain.

***

I tossed and turn on my bed nang nagpahinga kami. I was thinking of the scene kanina sa hapag-kainan. I hardly can't swallow my food kanina dahil sa pinag-usapan nila! I pity Hazel and Jodie too! Sino nga kaya sa kanila ang narinig ni Gray sa eroplano?

Speaking of Gray, he was busy surfing on his laptop. I don't know kung para saan iyon ngunit mukhang seryoso ito sa ginagawa kaya hindi ko na ito inabala pa. Bigla na lamang siyang lumingon sa akin.

"What?", I asked.

"Base sa nangyari kanina, what can you draw upon it?"

"They're greedy", sagot ko. Naiinis ako kapag naiisip na hindi man lamang nila tutulungan sina Hazel gayong sila naman ang kadugo ni Jedidiah.

"Yeah, I know that. Other than that?", he asked again.

"I hate the steak. There's something off wit—"

"Not that."

"The dessert was —"

"Amber."

"Gray, I'm not as observant as you. So just spill it, okay?", I rolled my eyes at him.

"I can say that there really is another will", wika niya at bigla na lamang kaming nakarinig ng sigaw.

Agad kaming napatakbo sa pinagmulan niyon and we saw Aunt Adella sitting on the floor at nahintakutang nakatingin sa nakabukas na pinto. Lumapit din doon ang iba pang nasa mansion at nagulat na lamang kami ng makita ang katawan ni Rufino. He was hanging on the ceiling with the rope on his neck!

"No! Rufino! No!"

Isa na namang sigaw ang narinig namin and it was Hazel's voice! Tumakbo kami papunta sa banyo and we saw Don sitting dead on the floor. Sa tabi nito ay may kutsilyo at laslas ang pulso nito.

"Doooooon!", sigaw ni Adella nang pumunta ito doon at bigla na lamang itong hinimatay.

"Oh my God!", Zach exclaimed. "Who could have done this?" Binuhat niya si Adella at inakyat ito sa silid upang mailapag sa kama.

"Amber, call the police—", hindi na natapos ni Gray ang sasabihin dahil pinigilan siya ni Zach.

"No. Don't call the police. Not yet. Hindi pa natin alam kong pinatay ba sila o nagpakamatay and I don't want our family to be in such scandal kaya let's figure out this on our own", paliwanag niya at sumang-ayon naman si Helena.

Gray flashed his usual smile everytime he encountered a case. "If you say so, but as of now I can say that this is pure murder disguised as a suicide."

Nagulat naman sila at napatingin kay Gray. As of me, I'm not surprised anymore. Inaasahan ko na malulutas ito ni Gray. I was busy observing the dead bodies too. There were some peculiarities and remarkable things na nasa mga crime scene.

"This is a family matter kaya sa tingin ko ay labas muna kayo dito. I suggest you should stay at your room while our family fix this", wika sa amin ni Dion.

The arrogant side of Gray appeared at hinarap ito. "We're directly involved on this lalo na at nandito kami mismo sa bahay. We could be important witnesses to this case and like I said, it's murder but if you wish not to call the police until we solve this case, that's fine", Gray said. He was oozing with authority evertime he speak arrogantly.

"Sino ka ba talaga?", tanong ni Helena. "Why do you act as if you know the police procedures?"

"My name is Gray Silvan and I'm a detective", tinuro niya ako. "She's Amber Sison and she's a detective."

Bigla na lamang humagalpak ng tawa si Zach. "You're a detective? Nagpapatawa ba kayo? Okay, what are your grounds for saying this is a murder?"

"Want to try us? First is Rufino. Hindi mo ba napansin ang rope marks sa mga daliri niya? It was because of his struggle bago siya binawian ng buhay. As of Don's case, I haven't got much", Gray said at sumingit naman ako.

"As of Don's case it's also murder. Look at the position of the knife. It's on his right side but the cut marks on his wrist was from right to left. Ibig sabihin, a right handed killer cut his wrist and not Don himself", paliwanag ko sa kanila.

They checked our theories at napatunayan na totoo ang mga sinasabi namin. Tinanong ang bawat isa kung nasaan sila sa mga oras na pinatay si Rufino at Don.

Helena said that she was from the bathroom and stayed at the bathtub for few hours. His husband Dion was on the art room since he was a painter at kasalukuyang tinatapos ang kanyang obra. Zach was smoking on the portico at silang tatlo ay walang mga witness para sa mga alibi nila. As of Adella, hindi pa namin ito nakakausap dahil wala pa itong malay after she fell unconscious nang makita ang kalunos-lunos na kalagayan ng asawa at anak.

We continued our investigation for few minutes. We search the whole place para sa mga posibleng makapagtuturo ng kung sino man ang gumawa niyon. It took as while at saka ko lamang napansin na wala doon si Hazel at maging ang iba.

"Amber, nasaan sila?", Gray asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

"Let's go upstairs", wika ni Gray. Pumunta kami sa silid ni Hazel at kumatok doon. She was with Jodie inside.

"Pasensya na kayo kung wala ako kanina doon sa pagtatanong ninyo. I'm comforting Jodie at nilalayo ko lang siya sa crime scene. Looks like dinamdam niya ang sinabi ni Aunt Adella kanina", Hazel said at naawa ako sa bata. Her eyes were red dahil galing ito sa pag-iyak.

Lumapit si Gray sa kanya and he confronted her. "Don't worry about it Jodie, okay?"

"But Lolo said that this is our home", Jodie said at muli na naman itong umiyak.

"Hush Jodie. Kung nasaan man ngayon ang lolo mo, he doesn't want to see you crying", wika ko. Pinunasan naman niya ang mga luha.

"Yes, that's what he told me when he died", Jodie said.

"Ah, oo nga pala. Si Jodie ang nasa tabi ni Lolo bago ito namatay", wika ni Hazel.

Si Jodie? Maybe she heard his last words. "Aside from saying na wag kang umiyak, ano pa ang sabi ng lolo mo Jodie?", Gray asked at nag-isip saglit si Jodie.

"Hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin niya dahil binawian na siya ng buhay. His last words was 'I will' and then he passed away", sagot ni Jodie.

"Do you know already who the culprit is?", tanong ni Hazel sa amin  and Gray shook his head.

"I still have no idea at kung bakit niya iyon ginawa and what's the reason behind. Isa pa ay bakit ang mag-ama ang kanyang pinata — shit! Aunt Adella might be in danger!", wika niya at tumakbo papunta sa silid kung saan inilapag kanina ni Zach ang katawan ng kapatid.

Hazel called the others but it was too late. Gaya ng inaasahan ay wala nang buhay ito.

"What? No! Anong nangyari kay Adella!", umiiyak na wika ni Helena.

"She was poisoned. I can smell the scent of almond on her mouth. This is a case of poisoning", wika ni Gray. Saka ko lamang napansin na nasa master's bedroom pala kami. Just like the rest of the house, there were lot's of eye in the wall. Naroon din ang pinakamalaking painting ng mata. It was on the doorway towards the big closet.

"But who poisoned her at maging ang pumatay sa pamilya ni Ate Adella?", tanong ni Zach.

I walked towards the big closet. Habang abala si Gray sa kanyang deduction show, na-curious ako nang makita ang pinakamalaking mata. I opened the closet and walked inside at isinara ang pinto ng closet. Saka ko lang napansin na may maliit na button sa gitna niyon. Naririnig ko pa rin ang boses ni Gray as he was spilling his deductions about this crime.

"The one who killed them was—

I pressed the button kasabay ng pagbigkas ni Gray sa pangalan ng killer and I was shocked when the floor where I was standing suddenly opened and I fell on the long tunnel downwards.

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs.