Chapter 19: An Unexpected Ending (The Case)

I found ourselves standing in front of a big two-storey house. Mataas ang mga pader na nakapalibot sa bahay at natatabunan iyon ng halaman na gumagapang sa pader. On the side was a rusty swing at mga estatwa na kung anu-ano. It was no doubt an old house base sa disenyo ng bahay. We didn't wait too long dahil agad kaming sinalubong ng isang matangkad na babaeng nakasalamin. Nakapusod ang buhok nito at may dala-dalang planner. I bet she's Thalia. Bahagya itong nagtaka dahil may kasama si Sir Ric but it was only for a while. Agad na nabalot ng pangamba ang mukha nito.

"Sir, naghihintay po sa loob si Mr. Ruelan at si Sir Eddie. Tumawag na rin po kami ng pulis-"

"Pulis? Why did you call some again?", gulat na tanong ni Sir Rick ay Thalia. Inayos nito ang suot na salamin at bahagyang napaatras.

"Ideya po iyan ni Sir Eddie. Alarming daw po kasi-"

"I do not want the police to be involved here again Thalia! Nasa loob din ba si Osler?", his voice wasn't the usual sweet-toned guy na kausap ni Jeremy kanina. Maybe he was really angry.

"O-opo Sir."

He stopped on his track at laglag ang balikat na hinarap kami. "I'm sorry it's a wrong timing. You see, nagkaroon ng kaunting problema."

"No problem Sir, gaya nga po ng sinabi ko kanina, we will try our best to help", malawak ang ngiti na wika ni Jeremy. Sinuklian naman iyon ni Sir Ric ng ngiti at iginiya kami papasok sa loob ng bahay.

I thought I will wander myself with the interior of the house ngunit nang makita ko kung sino ang sinasabi ni miss Thalia na "pulis" ay napasimangot ako at nakalimutang mamangha sa disenyo ng loob ng bahay. It was Detective Adler with his minion again, but this time he was with Inspector Fenris. Inirapan ko siya at ngumisi ito ng nakakaloko.

"Ah, must be fate to meet you again Miss Sison", wika niya at tumingin sa akin. Tumayo siya sa kanyang kinauupuan at sinalubong si Sir Ric. "Magandang araw Mister Enriquez, I believe we already meet few days ago."

"Yes Detective Adler, mukhang patuloy pa rin ang mga natatanggap ko na pranks. So you know these kids with me?"

"Ah yes, we're friends or so I thought. Well, kakilala ko sila especially this one", he tapped my head at agad kong tinabig ang kanyang kamay. Heck, I am not a dog for goodness sake! "She's hmm, let's say a big help to the police like us."

No matter how flattery the words he used to describe me, wala iyong epekto sa akin. I hate him at magugunaw muna ang mundo bago kami magiging magkaibigan.

"Gayundin ang sabi ng mga batang ito. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang gagawin ko dahil sa mga nangyayari nitong mga nagdaag araw", sagot ni Sir Ric. "If you excuse me, I have to talk with my editor for now."

Tuluyan na itong umalis at nilapitan ang isang lalaki na naroon din. Lumapit naman si Detective Adler sa amin at muling ngumisi. Have I told you how annoying his grin is?

"I'm not surprise to see you here. I believe malakas ang radar ninyo kapag ganito ang mga sitwasyon."

I rolled my eyes and planned not to talk to him. Mas pipiliin ko pang mapanisan ng laway than to chitchat with him.

"Hey you."

Sabay kaming napatingin ni Detective Adler kay Jeremy. He wasn't smiling and his direct gaze was boring through the detective. "Alam mo bang ayaw kitang makita?"

Napahalukipkip si Detective Adler at napatingin sa kanya. "Who are you again? Ahh, I remember now. The murderer, oh no. Almost the murderer."

It isn't good to evoke some painful past and that experience isn't pleasant for Jeremy. I thought that he will burst in any moment but he just calmly smiled at him.

"Hello Detective, even if it is not nice to see you, I guess I must be used to it dahil langaw ka nga pala, pakalat-kalat lamang sa paligid."

Mapaklang tumawa si Detective Adler. "Wrong choice of words. Ako dapat ang magsabi niyan since this is my line of work, kayo ang pakalat-kalat."

I pulled Jeremy by his wrist at tinangkang dalhin siya sa isang tabi but he didn't move. "Mabuti pang wag mo na lamang siyang pansinin Je."

"You are not really nice Sison, don't you? I will let it slide since I want to work with you in this case. Hindi ito ang unang beses na nangyari sa kanya ang mga pranks na gaya ng nasa libro niya. Last week, he received a broken cup and a lighter."

"Just like what happened in the Guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt", Jeremy whispered.

"What?"

"In his book, the hero who is a lawyer received a broken cup and a lighter. He's a lawyer na may split personality. He kills people and accept the cases of those he killed", sagot ni Jeremy.

"Ah, you're a fan. I only started reading after receiving this case last week", sabat ni Detective Adler.

Sabay namin siyang inirapan ni Jeremy. Sinong may sabi sa kanya na pwede siyang sumabat sa usapan ng may usapan? Duh.

"At ngayon ay sisiw at isang X na marka sa kanyang mesa."

"License to Death", mahina ang boses na wika ulit ni Jeremy. Ibig sabihin ay alam talaga niya ang tungkol sa libro. Oh, perk of being a fan.

"Exactly."

Even if I don't want to, I found myself turn to Detective Adler at tinanong ito. "Does the broken cup and lighter came by mail?"

"I thought you will ignore me", nakangising wika niya. "Sasagutin ko pa rin naman ang tanong mo. Nope. It's all in his study room kaya malakas ang loob ko na nasa paligid lamang ang nagpa-prank. It's either his editor, publisher, nephew or the secretary. What do you think?"

"Why ask for my opinion? You're not a detective for nothing, right? I think you can figure that one on your own." Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin bago tuluyang hinila si Jeremy sa isang dako kung nasaan ang isang lalaki. We sat on the sofa where the man seated too. Nang mapansin niya kami ay ngumiti siya sa amin at agad na nagpakilala.

"Kaibigan ba kayo ni Ric?"

I smiled at him at inilahad ang palad. "We're his fans." Uh, I guess I have to follow Jeremy on this as a 'fan' to avoid further details of the introduction. "My name is Amber Sison at ito po naman ang kaibigan kong si Jeremy Martinez."

Ngumiti ang lalaki at tinanggap ang nakalahad kong palad. "My name is Osler Colata. Kaibigan slash editor ni Ric. This is not the first time na nagdala ng fans niya si Ric, let me guess, you saw him through his disguise right?"

"Ganoon na nga po."

"Just as I thought. Eddie hates having visitors here ngunit sinusuway siya ni Ric", kwento ni Ginoong Osler.

"Po? Sino po si Eddie?"

"Pamangkin ni Ric. Adopted ng pinsan niyang namayapa. The owner of this house. Those two lived together even if they are not really close."

Napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya. "Nagtatalo po ba sila dahil doon?"

"Well at times. Ric is generous. If a fan sees him through his disguise, he loves to invite them here at ayaw iyon ni Eddie. Ah, I must not say more dahil mukhang papalapit na dito sina Ric." He looked on the direction of the group that are walking towards us. Sir Ric with a middle aged man at isang medyo may kaputian na ang buhok.

"Amber, Jeremy, Detective Adler are inside my office to investigate. Aren't you going to?", tanong ni Sir Ric nang nakarating siya sa dako namin.

"I think they can handle it Sir", paumanhin ko.

"I see you met Osler. Ito naman ang publisher ko, si Sir Kenny", pakilala niya sa amin sa kasama. The man nodded at us and we did the same.

"Ric, I think it's about time na sundin mo si Eddie. Wag ka ng basta-basta magpapasok ng kung sinu-sino. That is why you're receiving all those pranks. Posibleng mga baliw na fan mo ang gumagawa nito", wika ni Sir Kenny. I prevented myself from raising my brow. I know it's just for safety precautions but still I cannot help myself. Are they implying na hindi kami welcome doon dahil sa mga pranks na natatanggap ni Sir Ric lately na posibleng iniisip nila na kami ang responsable?

"Ah, don't mind Eddie, alam mo naman yung batang iyon", pag-iwas ni Sir Ric sa usapan. I observed that he was a little bit tense kapag iyon ang pinag-usapan. Agad na nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya at inakbayan kami ni Jeremy. "Let's have lunch here, okay?"

"Hindi po ba nakakahiya sa inyo Sir Ric?", pag-aalangan ni Je. I know he loves to eat with him ngunit may natitirang hiya pa rin pala ito.

"No, it's fine at all. We will all eat together", sagot ni Sir Ric. "Now, please yourself around habang naghahanda pa ang mga katulong."

We did as what we were told at pumunta sa study ni Sir Ric kung nasaan ngayon sina Detective Adler at Inspector Fenris. Hindi nila kami pinigilan sa pagpasok at pinabayaan na maglibot doon. Agad naman akong lumapit sa mesa kung saan may malaking X na naka-carve roon. It looks like a sharp object like a knife was used to carve it.

"I think a hunter's knife is used to carve this", wika ni Detective Adler mula sa likuran ko.

"What made you think that it's a hunter's knife?"

He tapped the table few times. "This is a hard wood, and a mark like that is only made by something sharp and hard. And another thing that I am sure is that the culprit is left-handed."

"Left-handed?"

"Yes, tingnan mo itong ink na natapon. It dried but mukhang natabig ito ng intruder. You see this missing ink spot here? This shows that the intruder is left-handed."

Tiningnan ko ang ink blot na tinuro niya. Yup, he's right. It's done by a left-handed person. Sino nga ba ang nakita ko na left-handed? I tried all my best to remember and - I knew who's left-handed! Miss Thalia! I saw her fixed her eyes glasses using her left hand! And Sir Ric is left-handed too! Napansin ko kanina na kaliwang kamay ang ginamit niya sa paghawak sa tasa kanina. And also Sir Osler.

"Another thing that's bothering me is why did Sir Ric transfer his study room downstairs. Dati ay sa katabing silid ng kanyang kwarto ang study room but only after last month he moved here", nagtatakang wika ni Detective Adler at nahulog siya sa malalim na pag-iisip. "Well maybe for a change. Writers usually want a new environment."

"Who are you?", wika ng isang malaking boses. I turned to the door kung saan nakaupo sa wheelchair ang isang lalaki. He was younger than Sir Ric and the others so I guess he was that Eddie. Makapal ang kilay nito at may peklat kung kaya tila kalahati lamang ng kanyang kanang mata ang may kilay. He was looking at Jeremy kaya marahil ito ang sininghalan niya. Napatingin siya sa gawi namin ni Detective Adler at mas lalong napakunot ang noo nito. "Inspector Fenris! What are these high schoolers doing here?!"

"Sir Eddie!", nagulat na wika ni Inspector Fenris. "Mga kaibigan yata sila ni Sir Ric. Sinabi niya sa amin kanina na hayaan silang maglibot dito."

"Ha? Ano bang akala ni Uncle dito sa study ko? Playground?", he said and scowled at us. For a young man with guests inside his house, he's kind of rude.

Detective Adler cleared his throat at lumapit kay Eddie. "My bad, Eddie. Just consider these kids, mukhang makakatulong sila sa amin."

Isa-isa niya kaming tinapunan ng madilim na tingin bago ito lumabas ng silid na kinaroroonan namin. Lumapit si Jeremy sa kinaroroonan ko at agad na napasimangot.

"I hate it, I will not be able to hear the spoilers of Sir Ric's new book", wika ni Jeremy. "Iyon pa naman ang dahilan kung bakit nandito tayo. Bahagyang natakot ako sa lumpong iyon."

"Je!", saway ko sa kanya.

"He just recovered from an accident last month kaya naging apektado ang paa niya. I think it will take much time to heal", Detective Adler said. "But, do you mean his new manuscript, the Voyeur?", sabat ulit ni Detective Adler sa amin. Looks like he loves to barge into our conversation.

"The Voyeur?", Je asked. "You know about it?"

Tumango ito. "Yup."

"Then tell us."

"Ah-ah-ah. Not that fast", he let out a wide grin.

"Edi wag."

"Wait! I heard na konektado sa bagong manuscript ang mga bagong nangyari kanina!"

"You negotiate well. What do you want?", direktang tanong ko sa kanya. I know he want something in exchange of the information that he's about to give.

"Information about the Vander Mafia."

Wow. Ang ganda naman ng hinihingi niya. Maybe he still hasn't give up with his dream of crashing the mafia. Gusto niyang bigyan ko siya ng impormasyon tungkol doon, it's just like he's asking me to commit suicide.

"No thanks. I'd rather sneak and get a good look on that manuscript", sagot ko sa kanya. Mahal ko pa ang buhay ko and I don't want to risk it with the mafia.

In the end, Detective Adler didn't persuade me to give information about the mafia at pinagpatuloy na lamang niya ang pag-iimbestiga at umalis naman kami ni Jeremy sa study na iyon. Like I said, I'd rather sneak and peak on that manuscript.

"Teka Bestie", he said at tinanggal ang nakahawak kong kamay sa kanya. "Don't tell me you're serious when you said you'll rather sneak?"

"Mukha ba akong nagjo-joke?"

Lumawak ang mata niya at napahawak siya sa bibig niya. "No!", matigas niyang tanggi. "There's no way I will do it. A fan will not do it to his idol! Maghintay tayo na magkwento siya."

"You said you're going to do it?"

Medyo nakahinga siya ng malalim dahil sa sinabi. "Good, I just thought-"

"I'm going to do it and you will be the lookout."

"What? No way!"

"Yes way!"

"Bestie No!"

I rolled my eyes to him. Yeah, like I will listen. "Je, this is a way on how to identify who's been doing all those pranks to your idol. You're a fan right? You should do something about it!" Yeah, my way is dirty but it's the best thing to do, I guess.

"That strategy will not work on me. If you're a fan, you should not invade his privacy."

"Even if it's for his safety?"

He sighed at agad na nalaglag ang balikat. "Fine, five minutes is enough for scanning. Do it bago pa tayo mahuli. I guess the manuscript is in his laptop na iniwan niya sa kwarto niya. I saw him went up there. The second room to the left."

I gave him a wide smile at agad na tumango. "Do something to warn me okay?" Nang tumango siya ay agad akong umakyat sa hagda, careful so that nobody will see me. Gaya ng sinabi ni Jeremy, Sir Ric's room was on the second door of the right side.

I expected a room full of papers or cups half-filled with cold coffee and a computer along with a trashy table but it wasn't. In fact ay napakalinis niyon. I've been in a room of a writer before and it was a total mess and that's what I expected here. Uh, should've cut the prejudice. Hindi naman siguro lahat ng writer ay makalat, isa pa ay baka sa study sa baba nagtatrabaho so Sir Ric. My bad.

In fact the room was extraordinarily clean. Mukhang OC yata si Sir Ric at ayaw ng makalat. There are few copies of his books there and others ngunit mukhang hindi pa iyon nabubuksan.

Agad kong hinanap ang kanyang laptop and was glad to find it immediately. I should not goof around dahil baka mahuli ako ng kung sino. Hindi na ako nahirapang buksan ang laptop niya dahil wala iyong password. I scanned the manuscript with my eyes and I got an unclear picture.

The antagonist was a stalker of the ugly duckling turned swan protagonist. Isa siyang writer/voyeur na nangangalawang ang utak until he decided to watch over the girl and write things about her. Eventually he began writing sordid things as what he observed in following her. Wala siyang ginawa kundi ang isulat ang lahat ng ginagawa ng babae- until his adult books became a big hit. Hanggang sa may serial killing na nangyari and all victims has a copy of the book.

Napatigil ako sa pagbabasa nang mapansing wala pa iyong resolution. I read the last part over again but still, no suspect for all the serial killings at kung bakit. Bakit wala pa itong resolution part? He said na wala pa itong ending gaya ng sinabi niya. Ah maybe-

I felt like someone is watching me inside the room. Sinulyapan ko ang suot na wristwatch. It's already past 10 minutes mula ng pumasok ako dito sa loob ng silid. My phone keeps on vibrating on my pocket kaya agad kong tiningnan iyon. It was Jeremy and holy shit! He said that Sir Ric is coming! Naramdaman ko ang matinding pangamba and I think there's no other way than the door to escape! By impulse, I found myself jumped inside the big closet just exactly when the door opened. If I delayed to act even just for a second, malamang ay nahuli na ako.

It was Sir Ric and he was a bit surprised to see his laptop opened. Nanikip ang dibdib ko nang unti-unting lumapit sa closet si Sir Ric. I can see him through the small opening at kahit anong minuto ay maaring buksan niya ito at madiskubre na nasa loob ako. I can hear my heartbeat along with his footsteps walking closer towards me but-

Bakit tila may isa pang mga yabag akong narinig? The steps were alternately light and heavy. Dahan-dahan kong hinawi ang ilang mga damit upang makita si Sir Ric ngunit bago pa man ito makahakbang patungo sa direksyon ko, I saw a long and shiny object pass through his belly at tumilamsik ang maraming dugo. I wanted to shout for help ngunit bago ko pa magawa iyon ay naramdaman ko na ang paghila sa akin ng kadiliman at agad akong nawalan ng malay.

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-ShinichiLaaaabs