A/N: Is Jamie one of 'them'?

LORELEI

FREYA JUMPED from my arms and walked toward the locked door of Room 315, the former headquarters of the QED Club. Kinailangan ko pa siya ipuslit sa isang basket para makapasok kami sa campus. Fortunately, during the guard's inspection of my items, she hid silently underneath a pile of clothes.

She stood at the room's doorstep, repeatedly letting out a soft meow before turning to me. I don't understand cat language but I could read in her eyes that she was asking me to open the door.

Sorry, Freya, but we need to find a new home. We have been evicted from the clubroom, thanks to a certain someone who was more powerful than Luthor, according to Loki. The only thing that we can do right now is stare at that door and reminisce the good old days.

Room 315 may just be a room for everyone else in this high school, but to me, it is more than a room. It was my safe haven ever since Loki invited me to the club. Kapag wala kaming pasok sa isang subject, dito ako pumupunta. Kapag may estudyanteng nangangailangan ng tulong, dito ang takbuhan nila. It has been a witness to many of our adventures.

Without a doubt, I will miss Room 315 and the tales that were told within its four walls.

Kung mabigat sa puso ko na mag-let go sa aming clubroom, kumusta naman kay Loki? That room has been his home while listening to boring problems and solving the most intricate cases that baffled a number of students. Doon niya sinimulan ang kanyang career bilang high school detective.

And most importantly, his memories with his late partner Rhea. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for him to let go.

"The QED Club may be dead officially, but its legacy lives on. And it lives within us."

I was suprised to see Loki standing on my right. Sa sobrang pagda-drama ko, hindi ko na napansin ang presensya niya. Nang nilapitan siya ni Freya, kinarga niya ang pusa sa kanyang bisig at marahang hinaplos ang ulo. He did not care if some cat fur would stick on his royal blue coat.

"Remember? I told everyone in Alistair's room that if I had to put up a stall across the hallway or under a mango tree, I will," he said while caressing the cat's head. There wasn't any tinge of sadness on his face nor was there a mournful tone in his voice.

"Aren't you sad that they took away your home?" I asked curiously. Gusto ko rin sanang sabihin sa kanya na walang mango tree sa campus, just in case he's serious about it.

"I was sad." Loki shot a sideward glance at me. "But then I realized that the QED Club in essence won't die along with the disbandment order. As long as I breathe and you are with me along with Jamie and Alistair, the QED Club is still alive."

I flinched at the mention of Jamie's name. Naalala ko na naman ang ikinwento ng nurse noong nasa ospital kami. I tried to dismiss the thought but it kept on bothering me whenever I remember our female member with braided hair.

Did I tell Loki? No. This is the second piece of information that I have withheld from him. First, Luthor. Now, Jamie. Kaka-disband pa lang ng club namin, ayaw ko munang i-break sa kanya ang balita.

Remember when Loki was suspended? Not even once did Jamie visit the clubroom. I thought that she was busy or she didn't see any compelling reason to come because our club president, around that time, was holed up in our apartment, solving menial puzzles to kill time.

But if I were to believe the nurse's story about her visiting Stein Alberts while he was in a coma - thanks to Loki beating him up - then their connection is becoming more apparent. At hindi ko rin pwedeng balewalain ang fact na magkasama sila noon sa Repertory Theater. Jamie was the actress while Stein was the director.

Teka... Actress? Director?

Ugh! Why are the pieces of puzzle falling into the most suspicious places?

Kung idagdag pa ang "Mary Had A Little Lamb" ring tone na narinig ko noon sa bahay ni Emeraude at ang coincidence na nasa labas ng kwarto si Jamie, lalong lumalakas ang theory ko laban sa kanya.

Is Jamie one of Moriarty's minion? Or is my mind overthinking again?

"How's Alistair? When will he be out of the hospital?"

Thanks to Loki's question, I snapped back to reality. My consciousness almost drifted elsewhere.

"He needs to stay for a few more days. Kailangan niya munang magpalakas bago siya payagang makalabas. Baka kailanganin din niyang sumailalim sa therapy dahil sa ilang linggong pagka-coma."

Halatang nanghihina pa si Al noong mayakap ko siya sa ospital kaya malamang, hindi muna siya makakapasok. When I told Rosetta and our class about my childhood friend's recovery, they were glad to hear the good news.

"By the way," something crossed my mind, "have you decided whether you will take up the executive committee's offer or not?"

Loki sighed. "I don't wanna decide on my own. Hihingin ko rin ang opinyon n'yo tungkol sa alok nila. And as you know, Maggie and I are not in good terms. I need to consider if my presence would annoy her."

That's true. Margarette hates him to the bone. She's still blaming him for Rhea's death but... "I think Margarette can work professionally with you. Despite everything, we have the same goal, don't we?"

He was about to reply when something distracted him. Inilabas niya ang kanyang phone at binasa ang kakapasok lang na text message. It is never my habit to peek at someone's inbox, but I looked over his shoulder and tried to read it. Nakita ko lang na ni-reply-an niya ng "K" kung sinuman ang kawawang ka-text niya.

"I have an urgent business with my brother," he said as he pocketed his phone. "He doesn't usually send me messages unless it is of utmost importance. My guess? He probably summoned an element of darkness in their student council office and he wants me to slay it."

Maingat niyang hinawakan si Freya at ibinigay sa akin. When Loki walked away, our club cat cried "meow" softly at him.

If he only knew that his brother is the element of darkness himself. One day, when the time is right, I will tell him the truth. But not today.

"My God! Tinotoo nga nila!"

Upon hearing that familiar female voice, a shiver was sent down my spine. Kalma lang, Lori. Try to act normal.

Paglingon ko sa kaliwa, Jamie's frowning face greeted me, her braid was dangling over her shoulder. Biglang tumalon mula sa bisig ko si Freya at hinarap ang bagong dating kong kasama. She was hissing and baring her fangs at the same time, her tail whipping the floor.

Bakit ba ngayon ko lang napansin? Freya has been telling me to be cautious! She showed the same hissing reaction to Luthor back in the gymnasium. And Luthor is Moriarty! Now she did it again for the nth time she saw Jamie. They never liked each other since the day their eyes met.

Cats can sense danger, and Freya has been warning me about dangerous people. I was too blind or too dumb to not notice it.

"Hey, Lori! Okay ka lang ba?" Jamie waved her hand in front of my face.

I shook my head and forced a smile. "So-Sorry, naalala ko lang kasi ang ilang memories natin sa room na 'yan."

"What a shame that they had to disband us just because of someone's order." She frowned again, her eyes fixated on the door. "Kapag nalaman ko kung sino ang nagpasara ng club natin, I will strangle them with my braided hair!"

Yes, that braided hair. The hairstyle that somehow reminded Loki of his late partner. If my suspicion is correct that Jamie is one of Moriarty's underlings, that let-me-braid-my-hair-to-look-like-Rhea technique gave her an instant pass to the QED Club.

Remember? Loki rejected Rosie's application because the latter might become a liability. But for Jamie? He went too easy and accepted her application without second thoughts. I guess his judgment became biased the moment he saw the young woman with an identical hairstyle.

And if Jamie is in cahoots with Moriarty all along, that would mean they planned the whole spitting image thing. Argh! I find it hard not to entertain the thought!

Naiintindihan ko na ngayon kung bakit may ilang bagay na hindi sinasabi sa akin noon si Loki tuwing may imbestigasyon kami. He knew that I will find it difficult to act as if I know nothing.

"Wala na nga tayong club, tapos ganyan-ganyan ka pa!" Jamie scolded the terrified cat. But Freya did not budge. She stood her ground like a proud lion facing an evil witch.

I lifted her up and cradled her in my arms. In an instant, kumalma na ang nagngingitngit na pusa.

"You were telling me the whole time. I should have noticed it," I mentally told Freya as I played with her nose.

"What are we going to do now?" Jamie asked, twirling her hair. "Are we gonna join forces with the executive committee? May desisyon na ba si Loki dear?"

Oh, crap. If Loki accepts Professor Morayta's offer, the four of us from the now defunct QED Club will be working in their organization. And if Jamie is an agent of Moriarty, then she will position herself as a spy in the last bastion of justice hunting down the criminal mastermind.

"Hey, Lori?" She had to get my attention again. My mind was floating with a lot of conspiracy theories. "Ang dami mo yatang iniisip?"

"Sorry, hindi pa rin kasi ako nakakapag-move on sa nangyari sa club natin," palusot ko. "It is too much for me to absorb."

"Kahit nga ako eh," Jamie seconded. "Teka, naisip mo ba na baka si Moriarty mismo ang may pakana nito? Loki seemed to know who's the person behind this disbandment."

Oh, linking your boss' name to our dilem-oh, stop, Lorelei! Hindi dapat ako ganito mag-isip! Despite all the circumstantial evidence pointing to Jamie working with the enemy, I shouldn't judge her. But my mind was leaning to that conclusion.

Isa lang ang magagawa ko: Prove whether Jamie is our ally... or Moriarty's.

"I don't think that Moriarty is behind this," I answered. "With or without an official detective club, he knows that Loki would still chase him to the ends of the earth. So ordering the disbandment of our club is totally unnecessary."

And Moriarty-or Luthor rather-said before that he won't take away something precious from his brother. I take his word for it, no matter how despicable he is to me.

"Have you seen Loki dear?" Jamie looked around. "I thought he would be here to say goodbye to our clubroom."

"He went to the student council room to meet with Mor-more important people." Muntikan nang madulas ang dila ko. Puro kasi Moriarty ang nasa utak ko in the past few minutes.

"And how is he? Is he depressed? Does he need someone to comfort him?" Jamie looked pretty concerned and her voice worried. "I need to be there for my dear Loki. Tell me if he needs some cheering up. Will you, Lorie?"

Her admiration for Loki, is it real? Or is it part of the-Oh, I'd rather not entertain another suspicious thought. I had enough.

"Don't worry about him. He seems fin-"

"Calling the attention of Lorelei Rios and Jamie Santiago. Please proceed to the high school building entrance! Thank you!"

It has been a while since I heard someone use the speakers installed on every floor to call someone out. Ginagamit lang kasi nila ang mga 'yon tuwing may i-a-announce na earthquake o fire drill.

"Anong kailangan nila sa atin?" nakakunot-noong tanong ni Jamie.

I shrugged my shoulders. I have the same question on my mind.

"What if si Loki dear ang nagpapatawag sa atin?"

"I highly doubt that." I shook my head slowly. "He's bringing his phone with him and its battery is far from being empty. At hindi siya mag-aaksaya ng oras na ipa-announce ang mga pangalan natin."

Jamie squinted her eyes and stared at me with a hint of suspicion. "How did you know about the battery thingy?"

"I unintentionally glanced at his phone earlier while he was typing a reply to someone," paliwanag ko. "I sort of practiced one of his methods."

Ibinaba ko na si Freya sa sahig. I wanted to carry her in my arms but she should not be seen by any faculty member or security personnel.

"Bababa muna kami, ha? You take care of yourself while we are away," I told her.

"Meow!" she replied as if she understood what I said. Bumalik siya sa doorstep ng Room 315 at doon na humiga. If only the clubroom was open, she would sleep on her favorite spot: the bookshelf.

Jamie and I went on our way to the ground floor. She asked me about Alistair's condition and said that she's hoping to see him back in school soon. I may doubt her real allegiance, but I don't doubt her concern about my childhood friend.

Pagdating sa building entrance, pinuntahan namin ang guard on-duty at sinabing kami ang ipinatawag kanina.

"Kayo ba 'yon?" tanong ni Officer Muldong na naistorbo namin sa paglalaro ng Everwing. "May naghahanap kasi sa inyong dalawa. Emergency daw."

The security guard then pointed to the black car parked in front. Mula sa kotse, may lumabas na dalawang lalaking matitipuno ang katawan at nakasuot ng sunglasses at itim na barong. One of them climbed the school steps and approached us.

"Miss Rios? Miss Santiago?" The man said as he removed his sunglasses. We nodded in response. "My name's Hugh Iñiguez, security detail to the Ravena family. That's my brother Munroe. Ipinadala kami rito ni Sir Ravena para sunduin kayong dalawa at dalhin sa ospital."

"Huh?" My eyebrows furrowed. "Bakit? May nangyari ba kay Al?"

"He underwent several tests and the doctors found out that he is suffering from brain hemorrhage. Kailangan niyang sumailalim sa operasyon. At gusto niya muna kayong makita."

What?! I thought he's gonna be okay? Dr. Grimm Mortimer said that his condition is good!

"Let's go now."

I ran down the steps along with Jamie. Munroe opened the car door for us. Sa backseat kami umupo ni Jamie habang sa driver's seat si Munroe at sa tabi niya si Hugh. As soon as we were all inside the car, the Iñiguez brothers drove away from our school.

"I thought Alistair was fine," Jamie whispered as she started playing with her braided hair. We have the same worried look on our faces.

"Ganun din ang akala ko." I can't help but bite my nails. "They should have run him through multiple tests while he was still in a coma and detected that hemorrhage beforehand!"

"Napigilan nga natin ang doctor - or nurse - of death mula sa pagtatangka niya kay Al. Ngayon, may mas malala pa palang banta sa buhay niya!" Jamie said with matching hand gestures.

"We should inform Loki about Al's condition!" Pagkabunot ko sa aking phone, bigla akong natigil at napatingin sa rearview mirror kung saan nakikita ang mukha ng dalawang bodyguard. "Kami lang ho bang dalawa ni Jamie ang pinapasundo? Hindi ba kasama ang kaibigan naming si Loki?"

Hugh lifted his head and stared back at me through the same mirror. "Our boss specifically asked for the two of you. Wala siyang nabanggit na pangalang Loki."

That's weird. Loki is also Alistair's friend. He should have been fetched along with us.

Nevertheless, I still need to tell him what was going on. Paulit-ulit na nag-ring ang phone ko habang hinihintay na sagutin niya. Please pick up the phone!

"Yes, Lorelei?"

Thank God! "Hello, Loki! May kailangan akong sabihin sa-"

"Guess what? I'm gonna have merienda with my brother somewhere. I hope the tea is not poisoned. If I don't go home to our apartment, please call the police and search for me."

Just this once, set aside your whining about Luthor! "This is about Al! He's no-Loki? Hello, Loki?"

I stared at my phone screen and noticed that there's no signal. Bakit ngayon pa nangyari 'to?

"Did he hang up?" tanong ni Jamie.

Umiling ako. "Nawalan ng signal ang aking phone. Can I borrow yours?"

She looked at her phone and made a curious facial expression. "Weird, wala ring signal sa phone ko."

Muli kong tiningnan ang nakasulat na "no service" sa taas ng screen, hoping that the signal bars would return so I can call again. Yes, this happens sometimes, but why now?

"Wala rin signal ang mga phone namin," sabi ni Hugh sabay pakita ng hawak niyang gadget. "Lagi namang walang signal ang mga network na 'yan."

Sumandal na lang ako sa leather seat ng kotse at napabuntong-hininga. Gusto ko ring tawagan ang katiwala ng pamilya Ravena para malaman ang kondisyon ng childhood friend ko. Kapag nga naman tinamaan ka ng malas!

The car was stuck at the intersection point. Munroe was tapping his forefinger at the driving wheel, waiting for the light to go green. Hugh was whistling an old song.

I expected the car to turn left but surprisingly, it turned right along with other vehicles. Doon na ako nakaramdam ng kaba.

My hand searched for the door lock on the side and pulled it, but it did not budge. Lalo pang lumakas ang pagkabog ng puso ko.

I don't like where this is going.

Nag-type ako sa aking phone at patagong ipinakita kay Jamie. I couldn't tell whether Hugh or Monroe was watching us dahil sa sunglasses na nakatakip sa mga mata nila.

"We need to get out of this car."

Jamie creased her forehead, the question "What?" written all over her face. Pasimple akong umiling to tell her that we are in danger.

"May problema ba?" tanong ni Hugh na mukhang nakahalata sa pinaggagawa namin sa likuran.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and gathered what was left of my courage. I won't lie. I'm scared. I'm scared of what these two men might do to us.

"Hindi ito ang daan papunta sa ospital kung saan naka-admit si Al."

Hugh chuckled. He turned to us with a mask covering half of his face and pointed a spray bottle at us.

"SURPRISE, BITCHES!"

A weird-smelling gas oozed from its tip which made me feel dizzy. Para akong dinuduyan. Dumoble si Hugh sa aking paningin habang dahan-dahan akong nahiga sa kanan.

Everything faded to black.

q.e.d.