The Sleuth Project ✓

Chapter 11: Wonder Whodunit?

/11/
Wonder Whodunit?

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COMPARED TO the bloody events that happened last night, Castillo High seemed to be brighter and cheerier the next day as the campus buzzed in excited rumors over Ria Vendeya's case.

"Mr. Marquez, ano pong masasabi ninyo patungkol sa nangyaring kaso ni Ria Vendeya? Kilala niyo po ba ang salarin sa likod nito?" Tanong ng isang reporter sa mayor ng Ylando City.

Jarrell, who was watching the interview from the television found inside the junior high school lobby, pursed his lips grimly. Kasama niya ngayon si Rein at Quinn na nakatingin na rin ngayon sa flat screen. Both friends had already filled Quinn in with the details of last night's events.

"Buti nalang talaga 'di ako officer." Quinn grinned earlier that morning after they had told him everything that had happened, including Jarrell's unfortunate wound.

"As the one who established the O.C.P., I am in fact furious with what happened, especially after learning that the crime committed was an apprentice of the O.C.P." The mayor, who was an older spitting image of Jarrell, said grimly as he stood behind a podium wearing a suit and tie. "Despite this, I as mayor, captain Arturio Biña of the O.C.P., and chief Monty Uy of the Ylando Police District, will ensure that this won't ever happen again."

"You think principal Lilia will keep her promise?" Quinn frowned as the three friends watched the breaking news change into the day's weather report.

"She's a woman of her word." Sambit ni Rein bago tumingin sa kaibigan na nakatingin sa malayo. "Why?"

"Because Jesper Marquez is heading right to our direction." Quinn remarked, nodding towards their left.

Dahil dito ay agad na napatingin sa kaliwa si Rein at Jarrell, only to see that Quinn was right. Jasper Marquez, one of the local government's counselors, the eldest of the Marquez siblings and Jarrell's older brother, was walking towards the three friends with an intimidating aura.

"Shit—"

"Act. Normal." Jarrell said to his two friends through gritted teeth as they straightened their selves.

"The three musketeers." Jesper said as soon as he came face to face with them, using his nickname for the trio.

Up close, the three could observe the cold, stern-faced features of Jesper — a Marquez trait that Jarrell did not inherit. Unlike the rest of his family, Jarrell had softer features and a friendlier aura. Ang tanging detalye lang na masasabing isang Marquez si Jarrell ay ang kaniyang buhok, which was light-brown like the rest of his family.

"Bakit ka napadaan kuya? Boring na ba sa trabaho mo bilang counselor?" Jarrell joked, but his brother did not flinch nor laugh at his statement. He however, was looking at Jarrell with a mixture of worry and sternness.

"Pinapunta ako dito ni papa to make sure you're okay." He said, eyeing them. "He wanted to know if you were near the Ria Vendeya incident last night — considering you're a class officer and was most likely an attendee of the leadership training."

"Oh psh," Jarrell scoffed, waving a hand as if it was a trivial matter. "Pina-stay nga lang kaming facilitators sa central grounds eh." He then turned to Rein and Quinn who immediately nodded.

"Diba mga pre?"

"Absolutely. We were all safe last night." Rein agreed for the sake of his friend.

"Ay nako, tulog mantika nga po 'yan si Jarrell kagabi sa tent." Dagdag ni Quinn kahit na hindi ito kasama sa nangyari kagabi. He then quickly glanced at Jarrell's bullet wound which was luckily covered by the sleeve of his polo.