The Sleuth Project ✓

Chapter 35: Dangerous Game

/35/
Dangerous Game

---

AS ANN tried her best to compose herself, napatalon ito nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone na nasa bulsa ng kaniyang pantalon.

Clutching her chest with a hand, she then quickly pulled herself together before taking a video of the messages found inside the burner phone by scrolling slowly and tediously.

Habang ginagawa ito ng dalaga ay patuloy pa-rin ang pag-vibrate ng cellphone ni Queenie sa kaniyang pantalon.

"I get it Jarrell, I get it." She muttered through gritted teeth, trying to be as quick as possible with her scrolling, but not so much that the video will make the conversations unreadable.

It was a heart-numbing five minutes when Ann finally reached the last of the digital conversation, her knees slightly shaking as she heard a few voices from outside.

Agad rin niyang binalik ang burner phone sa shoe box nito, once again plcing the box into its hiding spot using only the tip of her two index fingers - careful not to leave a mark, and careful not to leave any trace that she had unearthed Tyra's secrets - her very own Pandora's box.

Placing her phone into her other pants' pocket, she pulled out Queenie's phone and saw Jarrell's tracker still red and vibrating - an alarm that meant Ann had to leave. Now.

Turning around, the young Lobris heir scrutinized the room one last time - making sure that there wasn't a pillow or furniture left unturned. She had to leave the place just as she had entered.

Without another word, she then slowly crept to the door of the room, opening it slightly to peek out into the hallway.

Wala na ang mga boses na kaniyang naririnig kanina, pero wala na rin si Jarrell na nagbabantay sa hallway - something that they had both agreed that Jarrell would do once he had alerted Ann.

Quietly, the young girl locked the door of Room 311 once more, straightening her back and walking away as if nothing had happened.

As she exited the girls' dormitory building, she quickly checked the time on her phone. It was 11:27 a.m. - just enough time for her to return to the classroom.

With a deep breath, Ann walked cautiously - her mind spinning with the revelations that she had just discovered.

"This changes everything." She muttered to herself, wondering how they were going to go about the investigation now that she had discovered the true mastermind behind the crime.

But why? She thought, returning towards the Junior High School building with a rather worried expression. What would be his motive? Why would Maye-

"Ann!" A familiar voice called out, causing Ann to freeze and look up.

"Mayer," she greeted - trying to hide her surprised tone as she slowly walked towards the young man who had just exited from the *Insert Mayer's org's office.

"You okay?" Mayer frowned as she neared. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Oh I'm fine-I'm fine!" She laughed, waving a hand in the air. "Just had a lot in my mind... That's all."

"Hm." Mayer nodded, a serious expression on his face. Ann wondered for a moment if he knew that she knew - the exasperation killing her as she tried her best not to crack under his gaze.

"Anyway, I was heading back to the classroom since malapit na mag 11:30. Sabay na tayo." Ann said, changing the topic as she started walking once again.