A/N: This is the second update today (11/10/2020)! Expect more double updates this November rush!

LORELEI

STEIN ALBERTS was grinning at me. Why does he always appear out of nowhere? I'm starting to think na may lahi siya ng kabute na pasulpot-sulpot nang hindi mo inaasahan. Kagaya sa hospital noong binisita namin si Luthor doon. His appearance there was the last thing that I had expected.

It would have been perfectly fine if his presence only brings us annoyance. Seeing his face, hearing his voice. We can live with that inconvenience. But the fact that he's standing before me might mean bad luck. I'm not a superstitious person, but we knew what happened in the hospital after we crossed paths with him on the fifth floor. Maggie met an accident later on. I'm not saying that he's a harbinger of doom, but I was starting to think that way.

What's worse? He overheard me speak the name of Jaime Santiago, the founder of the group and his predecessor to the crown of the elusive Moriarty. Mukhang doble ang malas ko ngayong araw.

"Why do you and your friends always look starstrucked whenever you see me?" Stein asked in a nonchalant tone. "Hindi naman ako isang celebrity, pero bakit parang nakakita kayo ng super sikat na artista? Do you admire so much that I left such impression in you? I might be underestimating my charms."

Parang celebrity? More like a ghost. Kapag nakakita ka ng multo, maninigas ka sa kinatatayuan mo, mamumutla hanggang sa mawalan ang kulay mo at hindi ka makakaimik nang ilang segundo. That's exactly what happened to me. I meant no disrespect to ghosts. I know it's unfair to compare them to him.

"Maybe we're not that pleased to see you," I replied, trying to maintain my composure. Ikinuyom ko ang aking mga kamao para manatili ang tapang ko.

Iba ang pakiramdam ko ngayon. In our previous encounters, I always had someone with me. Ngayong ako lang mag-isa ang kaharap niya, sobrang tense ng atmosphere sa faculty room. Parang sumisikip ang dibdib ko. This may sound like an exaggeration, but he's sucking the life out of me. Ganito ba kalakas ang aura niya kapag wala akong kasama?

"I feel the exact opposite! I'm pleased to see you or anyone in your group," he replied. "By the way, I wanna extend my condolences. I may have nothing to do with Margarette's death, but I still feel bad about her accident. Gone so soon."

Did he also feel the same with his victims? I wonder.

"But you haven't answered my question, Lorelei," he called my name in a way that brought chills down my spine. Again. "Why are you interested in Jaime Santiago?"

Kaya ko pang malusutan 'to. Mabuti't hindi nalalayo ang pronunciation ng pangalan ng magkapatid. "I wanna know if my friend Jamie is doing well in her Math subject. Wala namang masama sa pagiging concern sa grades ng kaibigan, 'di ba?"

Natawa si Stein, sinuklay ang kanyang bangs gamit ang kanyang mga daliri. "Nice try, Lorelei, but try harder next time. You mentioned specifically—and I quote—the late student council president. Your friend Jamie is neither the president nor is she dead already. Also, Sir Morayta isn't her Math instructor."

Oh, crap. Nabanggit ko nga pala 'yon. He got me there. "You know her well, don't you?"

"We've worked together in the repertory theater for a short while," Stein replied. "Nagkaka-chika-han kami minsan tungkol sa acads, lalo na sa Math. You know me. I'm the patron saint of Mathematics in Clark High. Students who have troubles in that subject pray to me for my guidance." Ipinagdikit niya ang kanyang parehong palad na tila nagdarasal siya.

Liar, I thought to myself. Jamie is her spy in our group. Hindi lang sila nagkaka-chika-han minsan.

Of course, he must not know we already knew that twist.

"Come to think of it, nabanggit mo na rin noon ang pangalan niya," Stein recalled, his eyes looking up. "Remember when I asked for your club's help to track down the rogue agent in my group? You asked me about him—"

"And you told me that's a name you haven't heard for quite some time," I cut his words short. Natatandaan ko pa ang tagpong 'yon. Loki even asked me why I was asking about someone who's been dead for two years. Back then, I already suspected that Jaime Santiago might be an important piece of the puzzle. What I didn't know is that he's the most important piece in this mystery.

"So why are you asking about him?" he asked. His eyeglasses gleamed and he looked more sinister than he used to be. "What piqued your curiosity? You don't seem like the type of person who would randomly ask about someone."

"Masama bang maging curious?" tanong ko. The best way to avoid answering his question is by replying with another question. Sana'y maligaw ang discussion namin sa iba pang topic. That would save me from the trouble.

"There's nothing wrong with being curious, as long as you know your limits," Stein said, pushing his eyeglasses back. "You can make breakthroughs using your curiosity. But it can also break you if you aren't careful enough."

"Why does that sound like a threat?" I mustered all the strength that I had. Sa totoo niyan, nangangatog na ang mga tuhod ko sa sobrang intimidating ng aura niya. Mas lumakas pa 'to nang magliwanag ang kanyang salamin. I hope this was just an exaggeration, but it wasn't. "May mga bagay ba akong hindi dapat malaman tungkol kay Jaime?"

"Oh, I wasn't speaking about him or anyone in particular. Wala akong binanggit na tungkol sa kanya ang curiosity remark ko." He shook his head slowly, his grin still plastered across his lips. "There are some stones that you should leave unturned. Why? Because what's beneath them might put you in danger. 'Di mo alam, may nagtatago palang ahas sa ilalim ng bato. Baka matuklaw ka pa at ikamatay mo 'yon. You get what I mean, don't you?"

The more he spoke about it, the more I got curious. Ano bang ayaw niyang malaman ko tungkol sa kanyang predecessor?

"Sorry for keeping you wait."

The tense atmosphere was instantly lifted when I heard Sir Jim Morayta's voice. Parang may nag-snap ng daliri tapos biglang nawala. Gumaan na ulit ang pakiramdam ko.

"What were you asking again?" Humarap sa akin si Sir Jim sabay bulsa ng kanyang phone. His eyes widened when he saw Stein standing behind me. He already knew about the bespectacled boy's alter ego so I wouldn't be surprised if he put up his guard. "Alberts, nandyan ka rin pala."

"Hi, sir!" Kumaway si Stein sa kanya. "Isa-submit ko sana 'yong form doon sa national Mathletics competition. Pero may pinag-uusapan yata kayo ni Lorelei kaya maghihintay na lang muna ako rito."

Nagkapalitan kami ng tingin ni Sir Jim. I couldn't read what's on his mind, but it's probably about Stein. Was he mentally asking me if I'm okay or what was Stein doing here?

"You were asking about—"

"Nevermind, sir." I smiled at him. "Hindi naman po gano'n kahalaga ang tanong ko. Baka mas importante ang pag-uusapan n'yo ni Stein. At saka kailangan ko na rin palang umakyat para sa next period namin."

"Maybe next time." Sir Jim nodded at me before turning to Stein. "Na-fill out mo na ba 'yong application form mo?"

Tumango si Stein at inabot sa kanya ang isang piraso ng papel. Our Math instructor read it with his own eyes.

"Mauna na po ako, sir."

"Before you go," Sir Jim spoke, making me turn to him again. "Sinabihan pala ako ni Inspector Morales kanina. He wanted to see the four of you in the campus police station later this afternoon."

"Noted, sir."

Pahakbang na sana ako palayo sa kanila... nang may marinig akong pabulog na hirit mula kay Stein. I stopped next to him, standing shoulder to shoulder with the young mastermind.

"Don't get too close to the fire, Lorelei. The last time a moth got a teensy bit closer, she got burnt. She's now a cautionary tale to anyone who crosses the line. Just a friendly advice."

Tumuloy na ako palabas ng faculty room nang hindi sumasagot sa kanya. I don't want to dignify his not so subtle threat. He's obviously referring to Rhea, who got this close to finding out the truth about M.

Paglabas ko roon, gumilid agad ako at sumandal sa pader. Isang malalim at mahabang buntong-hininga ang inilabas ko. Halos bumigay na nga ang mga tuhod ko sa sobrang kaba.

I found myself surprised that I managed to put up a one-on-one conversation with Stein. That took a lot of guts but drained all the energy that I had left in my body. That was an intense five-minute conversation. Daig pa niya ang mahigit thirty minutes na pagre-report ko sa klase.

Nang makabawi na ako ng lakas, sinimulan ko nang umakyat pabalik sa aming classroom. Damang-dama ko ang aking pagkahapo dahil hinang-hina na ang mga binti ko.

Alistair was quick to ask if I was okay when I returned to my seat. Nahalata niya siguro ang pamumutla at pagkapagod ko. I told him everything that happened in the faculty room. I had been keeping too much from him, he deserved to know some of what I know.

Later that afternoon, the three of us met in front of the campus police station. Hindi na nabanggit sa akin ni Sir Jim kung bakit kami gustong makita ni Inspector Morales. My guess? It had something to do with Sir Friedrich Rivera. 'Yon ang huling pinag-usapan namin bago nagulantang ang mundo namin sa mga nangyari last week.

"Talaga?" pagulat na tanong ni Jamie. Nasa lobby na kami ng station, hinihintay ang paglabas ng inspector. "You and Stein crossed paths in the faculty room?"

I nodded. "Tinanong ko kasi si Sir Jim tungkol sa kuya mo. I hope you don't mind, Jamie. May nabanggit kasi siya tungkol sa kuya mo noong nasa memorial park tayo, 'di ba? I thought our Math instructor could shed more light about your brother. Kung meron ba siyang nakaaway noon. Kung meron bang may galit sa kanya."

So at this moment, I decided not to omit anything or outright lie to her. Masyadong risky. Remember that she's still acting as Stein's spy. Pwede siyang utusan nito para alamin kung bakit ako nagtatanong tungkol sa kuya niya. If she found out through him that I was asking people about his late brother without telling her, baka masira na naman ang tiwala niya sa akin. A sense of transparency might suffice for now.

"What bothered me ay ang veiled threat niya sa akin," kuwento ko nang may kaunting pagkabahala sa aking tono. "Na para bang ayaw niyang magtanong ako tungkol sa kuya mo. Maybe I was just reading too much into it. Maybe his words meant something. Hindi ko masabi, masyado akong natakot kanina."

I had to keep pretending that I knew less about her brother.

"Maybe he didn't want you to dig into the foul play theory na shinare ko sa inyo?" sabi ni Jamie. "Baka may makuha kang clue na siya nga talaga ang nasa likod ng pagkaaksidente ng kuya ko."

"He even told me that if I get too close to the fire, I might get burned just like the other moth," I added. "Hindi ko sure kung ang kuya mo ang tinutukoy niyang moth o si Rhea."

I was sure that's Rhea, but let's add his brother to the options to make me sound clueless.

"That doesn't sound good," Alistair told me, his voice hinted of worry. "Kailangan mong maging maingat, Lori. Hindi pa natin alam kung bakit gano'n nag-react si Stein sa pagtatanong mo tungkol sa kuya ni Jamie. Maybe there's something that he doesn't want us to know. That when we find out about it, our lives will be in danger."

"I'll be extra careful from now on," I assured him. I knew the danger the moment I realized that Stein overheard me.

Bumukas ang pinto sa chief's office at lumabas ang isang lalaki na naka-formal suit. Sunod na lumabas si Inspector Morgan Morales na mukha pa ring nakakatakot dahil sa peklat sa kanyang ilong. I didn't get to hear the story behind the scar. That made me still wonder kung ano ba ang sikreto nito.

His right hand made a beckoning motion, prompting us to come to his office. He held the door for us and waited until we were inside. Isinara niya ang pinto at pinaupo kaming tatlo.

"It's been a while since we last saw and hear from each other," he started, clasping his hands behind him.

Because of Maggie's death, hindi na kami nagkaroon ng time na bumisita rito. Hindi na namin nasubaybayan kung ano ang naging desisyon niya kay Sir Rich. But I already had an idea.

"In case you missed it, I decided to let Friedrich Rivera walk free."

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Alistair habang bahagyang napabuka ang bibig ni Jamie. I only kept a straight face as I looked at the inspector.

"Apart from the suspicious circumstances of his confession and the discovery of the supposedly damning evidence, I took into consideration your observation on the surveillance videos.

Itinaas ni Alistair ang kanyang kanang kamay at hinintay na ma-acknowledge siya. "Pasensya na ho sa magiging tono ng tanong ko, but do you think that's the best course of action? To let him walk away?"

He's been against Sir Rich being allowed to walk free. Muntik na nga silang nagkasagutan ni Loki dahil doon. He wanted the court to decide the instructor's innocence or guilt kahit na mukhang napilitan lang umamin si Sir Rich sa krimeng hindi niya posibleng nagawa.

"I thought about my decision very well," Inspector Morales said, standing behind his seat and clutching on top of its backrest. "Even I still have doubts."

"Then why did you let him go?" Alistair asked. Napatingin kaming dalawa sa kanya ni Jamie.

Hindi na siya pinagsabihan pa ng inspector kahit hindi siya nagtaas ng kamay. "I didn't let him go because I believe a hundred percent that he's innocent. I set him free to let his guard down."

"What?" Halos mapatayo ako sa aking upuan. I thought we already proved something? "Do you still suspect him kahit na imposibleng siya ang nagbigay ng lason kay Augustus?"

"I suspect everything," sagot ni Inspector Morales. Just one stare from him, muli akong napaupo nang maayos sa aking upuan. "Maging ang statement niya nang umamin siya na binlackmail lang siya para isuko ang kanyang sarili. I can't put a finger on it at the moment, but I felt something was off. I am well aware that officers of the law shouldn't solely rely on gut feeling. Pero iba ang kasong 'to."

"Ano po ang gusto n'yong gawin namin?" tanong ni Alistair. I had the same question. Hindi naman niya siguro kami ipinatawag dito para bigyan kami ng FYI.

Inspector Morales sat on the edge of his desk and crossed his legs. "The campus police can't keep a close eye on him. He'd put his guard up. So we have to rely on you. I want you to watch him closely. If his actions do not raise suspicion, then I made a good call. But if I was wrong, we have to act immediately and put him under our custody. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"We'll communicate via phone until the observation period is over. He shouldn't get any hint that you're working with us. Ayaw nating mabulilyaso ang plano, tama?"

Tumango kaming tatlo. Personally I think that this was gonna be a complete waste of our time. My gut feeling told me that there's no reason to suspect Sir Rich. We should be looking for the person who blackmailed him instead.

"Do you have any questions?"

"I do."

Neither Jamie, Alistair nor me replied those words. Sabay-sabay kaming lumingon sa pintuan ng kanyang office. Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang isa pang police officer na may familiar na mukha.

"Gareth," Inspector Morales called him, grinding his teeth.

Pumasok si Officer Gareth Estrada at iginala ang kanyang mga mata sa paligid. He used to own this office as the former chief. "Ang dami mo palang pinalitan sa dati kong office. Wala na 'yong mga souvenir na iniwan ko rito, ah?"

"What brings you here?" the inspector asked, looking slightly irritated.

"Gusto ko sanang hiramin ang tatlong apprentice mo," sabi ni Officer Estrada, ibinaling ang tingin sa amin. "May mga nahuli na kaming persons of interest sa Ephraim Quirino murder case. Naikwento ko na sa 'yo ang case na 'yon nitong weekend, 'di ba?"

Jamie, Alistair and I exchanged glances. Is the third party one of those persons of interest? Malalaman na ba namin kung sino siya?

q.e.d.

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