The Sleuth Project ✓

Chapter 27: Pieces of the Puzzle

/27/
Pieces of the Puzzle

---

A LOW rumble of thunder echoed throughout the city as Queenie stared at herself in the mirror with a smile.

Kasalukuyang tinititigan nito ang mga damit na pinamili nila kanina, gushing at how great the outfits were. As she was posing and playing around in front of the mirror, she could hear the loud pour of rain that seemed to now be slashing her windowpane.

"Queenie?" A voice called out, causing the curly-haired girl to turn her head towards the door. There were a succession of three knocks before the door opened, revealing Sera who peered into her room.

"I see you're trying on the clothes." Sera grinned as soon as she had stepped into the room.

"Just excited to flaunt them." Tawa ni Queenie as she folded one of her skirts. "Napabisita ka?"

"Tatanungin ko lang sana kung alam mo kung s'an pumunta si Ann?" Sera asked, sitting at the foot of her bed.

At this question, Queenie paused and frowned before turning to her friend. "Hindi ba nasa kwarto lang 'yon?"

"Kaka-check ko lang and she wasn't there." Sera frowned. "I wanted to talk to her about our suspicions on Tyra."

Queenie's forehead creased as she glanced at the window. "Well, she couldn't have gone far with the weather. Baka pumuntang library."

"Na-wo-worry lang ako. The last time she went out on her own, she got kidnapped." Nag-aalalang sabi ni Sera, fidgeting with her phone. "Should we call Rein?"

"Let's call Ann first," Sambit naman ni Queenie na kinuwha ang cellphone mula sa kaniyang lamesa. "And then if she doesn't answer, I can use the tracker I gave-"

Before Queenie could finish, sabay na tumunog ang cellphone ng dalawang dalaga, prompting the two to check the notification.

"It's Ann," Queenie sighed in relief habang kumunot naman ang noo ni Sera as she read the text.

"Come to the boys' dormitory. I'm with the three musketeers. Be careful, don't get caught." Sera said out loud, reading Ann's message before turning to Queenie with a frown.

"Why would she be at the boys' dormitory? Okay na ba sila ni Rein? Saka sinong three musketeers?? Do you think this is the culprit in disguise?" Sera demanded, prompting Queenie to laugh.

"Ay nako Sera, relax ka lang." The dark-skinned girl said as she threw an extra raincoat to Sera. "The three musketeers are none other than Rein, Jarrell and my idiotic brother. I remember yun ang tawagan nila nung bata pa sila. If Ann's with them, one of the boys must've prompted her to use that code for precautionary purposes. Come on, before the storm gets worse." Dire-diretsong paliwanag ni Queenie kay Sera as she zipped her coat and put on the hood.

"Hm," Sera shrugged before putting on her coat. "What do you know, the two rivals can't get enough of each other after all." She commented, earning a laugh from Queenie as they switched the lights of their dormitory.

"We'll need flashlights." Queenie told Sera as she grabbed two small penlights just enough to guide them through the dark.

Sera eyed the paper bag full of pandesal that sat on their dining table before snatching it and slamming it inside her coat's large pockets.

"Para s'an 'yon?" Queenie frowned as they walked towards the door of their dormitory room.

"I have a feeling Kuya Tino will be doing his rounds with his guard dog so I'm bringing this just in case." Sera murmured quietly before the two snuck out into the quiet hallway.