Knotted Conundrum (Project:Mystery #1) [COMPLETED]

Chapter Nine: Marionette Dance

Chapter Nine: Marionette

"How the f*ck he died?!" 

I flinched when Flare's heavy hands dropped down the wooden table. Nasa loob kami ng opisina niya sa SSC kasama sina Lucas, Yna at Friar. Friar is leaning on the back of the closed door with crossed arms, Yna sitting on the side couch, Lucas is crossed-legged next to Yna and I am sitting on the chair near Flare's desk.

Nakatayo na siya ngayon habang masama ang tingin kay Friar na nakatingin din ng diretso sa kanya.

"I just received the message early this morning. Huwag mo akong tingnan ng masama. I just delivered the message to you, brother."

"Oo nga, Sherlock wannabe. Makukuha din natin kung bakit ang Walter na 'yon namatay," pag-segundo ni Lucas. "Anyways, I had received information from Tyrone. Mayroon kang panibagong kaso na i-so-solve, Sherlock wannabe."

Napaupo si Flare at napahawak sa kanyang sintido. "Not now, Lucas," inis niyang sabi. 

"But it has a connection to the--"

"One of our leads just f*cking died!" sigaw niya na ikinagulat naming lahat. "We can't find another one once those pathetic lower rank informants give their job a good execution."

"Hoy, 'wag mo namang isisi sa mga lower ranks ang mga kapalpakan nila. All the counterattacks we tried to give to them are rendered useless because of the alternate attacks of our foe organization as well," reply sa kanya ni Yna. Napatayo na nga ito. "Hindi mo pwedeng sabihing kasalanan nila na hindi pa sila nakakakuha ni isang impormasyon tungkol sa whereabouts ng ating kinakalaban. We're all trying our best here."

Matalim ang tinging iginawad sa kanya ni Flare. "This is not a game, Yleena."

"Yes, I know. That's why we must stay calm on this situation," kalmado niyang sambit dito at tumango kay Lucas.

"So, about the case na sasabihin ko sana para kay Sherlock wannabe," lumingon siya sa akin at ngumisi. "Sa'yo ko na lang sasabihin, assistant ni Sherlock wannabe."

"My name's Mavis."

"Alam ko," nakangisi niyang sabi. "I just like giving you a new nickname. Suits you, by the way," dagdag niya sabay wink. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "Okay, going back na nga. Mayroong binigay sa aking kaso si Tyrone. It has a connection with our foe organization."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Flare at umiwas ng tingin kay Lucas nang marinig ang balitang 'yon. He got embarassed. Ha, serves him right. Nawala ang pagka-rational niya sa sitwasyon nang sinabi lang namatay isa naming lead.

"It has nothing to do with the police inspector Sherlock wannabe's familiar with. Galing siya sa station ng kinamumuhan niyang inspector pero kailangan ng tulong ngayon ng officer na 'yon kaya pinadala siya sa mansion kaninang madaling araw."

"Ha, refuse that case. I would not like to get involved with someone who aren't giving serious actions in a case. And..." Tinutuok ni Flare ang daliri niyang parang baril sa temple ng ulo niya. "... a crackhead like him would be easily greeted by his partner death."

Friar gasped. "Brother!" 

He shrugged his shoulders and leaned in his chair while looking away, silencing himself once again on his own world.

Napailing-iling ako at lumingon kay Lucas. "Continue, Luc."

"There has been a chain of cases about this information."

"Chain?"

Tumango siya. "For an odd reason, lagi raw considered as a suicide case ang mga nakitang biktima. May mga nakakita raw kasi habang nangyayari ang pagkamatay ng mga biktima. One or two witnesses maximum are always in each case. The latest one is a woman dressed in red dress that fell on a bridge. There's two couples that had seen the woman fell. She has no sandals. As for the testimony given by the witnesses, it seems like there's no other person who pushed the woman but only herself. Buti na lang daw may mga malapit na pulis at kaagad na naisalba ang babae pero hindi na siya humihinga."