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AS THE WINDOW rolled down, revealing the driver's face, Raine exchanged a few hushed words with the person inside. Her confident demeanour was unmistakable, but something about the situation made Zane's stomach churn. He kept his distance, hands tucked in his pockets, silently scanning the area. The street lights flickered faintly, casting long shadows over the quiet street.

The driver nodded, gesturing for Raine to enter the car. She glanced back at him, her expression unreadable. "You coming?" she asked casually.

The man behind the wheel was rugged, with deep-set eyes that held an air of authority. His ashy chocolate brown hair, neatly combed, added to his stern look. He gave a quick nod to Raine before glancing at him, sizing him up with a brief but intense look.

Raine paused, her hand resting on the open car door as a woman's gentle voice floated from inside. "I knew it!" said the lady. Raine's eyes flickered toward the frontseat where a woman sat beside the man, her sharp features half-hidden in the shadows.

Ignoring the remark, Raine climbed into the backseat. "Noli Street, right?" she asked, her tone cool and composed, as if the exchange moments earlier hadn't phased her.

Zane watched silently. He could feel the unease of whatever situation he had just stepped into, uncertain but committed to seeing it through.

"Who's this?" the man asked, his gaze sharpening as Zane eased himself beside Raine.

"He's with me," Raine answered coolly, clicking her seatbelt into place without looking back.

Zane could feel the tension crackling between them, but he remained quiet, settling into the seat as the door thudded shut behind him.

From the front passenger seat, the girl leaned forward slightly, her red lips curling into a radiant smile. "Oh, so you brought someone along to stir things up, huh?" she asked teasingly. Her gaze barely flickered toward Zane, focusing instead on Raine with a look that hovered with joy.

"I'm just here to keep an eye on this woman," Zane replied evenly.

In the rearview mirror, his eyes locked momentarily with the girl up front, her flowing, slightly curly hair framing a face with striking crimson lips. Despite her poised appearance, a flicker of playfulness danced in her gaze. Without a word, she shrugged and slid her earphones on, shutting them out as she drowned herself with music.

The car's engine hummed to life, its steady rhythm failing to ease the tension inside.

"Raine, I'm serious. Who's he?" the man asked again, his tone sharper this time, his eyes flicking toward Zane in the rearview mirror with a serious, probing stare.

"He's with me," Raine repeated.

"You know I can't just bring anyone along, right?" he pressed, his patience clearly wearing thin.

"Where are we headed, though?" he asked, a shiver creeping down his spine as the unknown loomed ahead.

Raine's eyes shifted towards Zane. "What do you think?" she asked. "I sense you have a hunch."

Zane hesitated, his thoughts spinning through the possibilities. A party? A secret gathering? He couldn't quite pin it down, but the air felt too charged for something so simple.

"I'm guessing somewhere mysterious," he replied, attempting a wry smile.

Raine's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "You might just be onto something," she said, her tone cryptic.

"About earlier, how did you know Auntie knew me?" Zane asked cautiously, trying to gauge her reaction. "Were you aware she's merely my maternal uncle's wife?"

Raine met her gaze in the mirror, her lips curling into a playful smile, leaving Zane none the wiser.

"It's just a coincidence, right?" he interjected, grasping for a logical explanation.

"A coincidence? No," she countered, her tone firm.

"I simply saw it from you," she said.

"Saw?" he asked, confusion etching his features.

"I saw your childhood photo at Auntie Clara's coffee shop," she explained, her tone casual.

"But that doesn't necessarily mean I'm her nephew, does it?" he interjected, furrowing his brow.

"Your face looked a bit different back then--you were smaller and had a different hairstyle. I may have entertained the possibility it could be someone else, but..." Her voice trailed off, leaving the implication in the atmosphere. "You called her Auntie. But again, it's not a great clue to say that you are her nephew. Even I call her Auntie."

He frowned, contemplating her words. "Earlier, you immediately complained that the adobo I cooked was the chicken your mom asked your aunt to buy."

Raine turned to him, a knowing glint in her eye. "Your phone earlier, I noticed it's a bit old. Your slacks, a bit oversized. Probably because both of them are secondhand," she added, her tone matter-of-fact. "I've seen that outfit worn by one of the residents there. Your sister liked that one. Maybe the cloth held sentimental value for her, so she gave it to you instead of throwing it away or giving it to someone else."

"Now that conversation! Treating you to coffee and food. Just signs that you might indeed be known and have a connection to Mrs. Nuñez," she added with a smirk.

"Yes, but how did you know I'm her nephew?" he questioned.

"Mrs. Nuñez mentioned she has a thirty-year-old nephew who just graduated with a master's degree, and you are that one. Because a well-known college is nearby, you stayed here. The other rooms were already full, so even though you're a guy, she agreed to let you stay in the same flat as me. Why? Based on the photo I mentioned earlier and Auntie's frequent mentions of her mysterious nephew, I can say she wanted you to stay, so she allowed you to continue. Plus, you heard about those killings, and you want to protect your loved ones here, then went to Mrs. Nuñez instead of a boarding house," she explained, connecting the dots with ease.

"How did you know I have a sister who also rents there?" he probed further. "Do you talk to her?"

"I don't often talk to those who stay there. I'm usually inside," she replied, her gaze drifting towards the scene outside the car, lost in thought for a moment before continuing. "Your sister--she's the one that looks like you and not your aunt, most certainly! Although she doesn't talk much to your aunt, her photo is also there in the shop, and I remember Mrs. Clara mentioned she asked about her brother. So, another Nuñez."

"And you heard me right. I saw plus I observed," she added with a knowing smile.

"Okay, fine," he conceded, impressed by her deductions, though he kept his admiration concealed.

"We're here," the guy in front announced as the car slowly came to a stop, making them divert their attention to their destination.

As they each stepped out, he followed suit. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of nearby blossoms. Before him stood a quaint two-storey house, enveloped by lush greenery, its mint-green walls instilling a sense of serenity.

"What are we doing here?" he asked as he emerged from the car.

At that moment, it seemed as if she were merely paying a casual visit to a friend. Yet, inexplicably, his heart whispered otherwise. He began to walk forward, his pulse quickening as he caught sight of police tape not far away.

"Is this the theme of the club you're going to?" he jested, attempting to lighten the atmosphere as they approached the house.

Near the entrance, a few individuals clad in investigative attire stood, reminiscent of the characters from his sister's favourite TV shows.

"Why is your ward here again, Detective Inspector?" Jacob Mendez, one of the crime scene investigators, asked, eyeing Raine with suspicion.

"I've already discussed that with him, so don't expect him to send me away, sir," Raine retorted.

"I simply need to confirm my suspicions, which is why I brought her along," George explained firmly.

"And who's the other one?" Mr. Mendez questioned, his gaze shifting to Zane.

"She's just accompanying me," Raine clarified. "I didn't invite him, but he insisted on coming."

"So, are you joining us inside or staying out here?" George directed his query at Zane.

A mysterious aura enveloped Zane, urging him to retreat, yet his curiosity held him in place.

"You stay outside. We'll be quick," Raine instructed.

"Oh no! What if something happens to you while you're out of my sight?" Zane replied, his voice steady.

Raine sighed, casting a fleeting glance at George before stepping inside. Just as Zane moved to follow, his gaze caught the girl from earlier as she turned to leave.

"Aren't you coming in?" Zane called after her.

"Why would I enter? I'm not a cop," she replied.

Confusion clouded his thoughts. "Cop? What do you mean?"

"You mentioned going inside, so do it. They might be expecting you," she replied, stopping near the highway to stay inside the car.

"Be careful. You're straying further from what you're meant to watch over," she warned without looking back.

"Where's your companion? Is she joining us or not?" the man from the car asked, his brow furrowed.

"Cop? What does she mean by that? What is this, a crime scene? Impossible!" Zane thought.

"Mr. Nuñez!" Raine's voice pierced through the air, drawing his attention as she stood by the door, waiting for him.

"Oh! I just have a question," he interjected, hastening his steps to catch up with her. He walked as fast as his legs could manage, but he only found her ascending the stairs without a backward glance. "Where are we really?" he called out, his tone remaining calm.

Silence greeted his inquiry until they reached the second floor, where their companions awaited them. Both were adorned in matching white attire.

"Put this on," Mr. Mendez from earlier instructed, a hint of distaste creeping into his expression. He took one of the garments identical to his own from the table beside them and handed it to Raine.

My companion promptly complied, donning the attire behind her clothing without any hesitation.

"If she is doing something illegal, I'm ready to--" he thought.

A sudden realization struck him: his phone battery was down to a mere twenty percent. If he needed to document or send something important to his loved ones, timing was crucial. He couldn't afford to waste any more battery power.

Raine handed him one of the garments, her expression briefly softening as she advised, "Put that on if you don't want to raise any suspicion," before resuming her task of donning gloves.

"Just a minute and a half, clear?" Mr. Mendez reminded them sternly.

"Time's ticking away," Raine muttered to herself.

As Zane tried to calm his nerves while changing attire, Mendez opened a door on the right side of the hallway, revealing a woman slumped unconscious on the sofa within.

"Step there first! You'll need foot coverings," Raine cautioned after stepping into something that immediately covered her feet with a blue protective covering.

"A minute and a half!" the guard reiterated, maintaining his post in the hallway alongside the others.

George and Raine entered the room, prompting him to follow suit. His eyes widened at the sight of a gun clutched in the woman's hand, a red mark adorning one of her temples.

"What's going on?" he blurted out, unable to contain his bewilderment.

"Raine, doesn't he know?" George asked, glancing between them.

"I thought you were already aware. Didn't you see it when you searched for me on social media?" Raine replied with a sigh, her frustration evident.

"I thought it was some sort of joke," he admitted, still amazed and confused as he recognized George as the man from the picture where Raine had been tagged.

"Okay, just try to stay calm. If you want, you can just wait outside in the car," George suggested calmly.

"You're not... bad people, are you?" he jested, the absurdity of his question dawning on him even as the unease continued to creep in.

From his pocket, George took out a black wallet and, casting a glance at Zane, flipped it open to reveal his badge, which instantly caught Zane's attention.

Before Zane could fully discern the details, his focus was abruptly torn away by a sharp admonition. "Can you guys keep it down? If you're going to make noise, just go outside! You were the ones who said it's just a minute and a half, right?" Raine snapped, irritation lacing her voice. "You're wasting time."