LOHIKA 2: Land Of The Missing Children [COMPLETED]

Chapter XXXII - Locked Room Murder

The Forensic Team arrived at Nightingale Exclusive Condominium and started the investigation right away. They took photos of the crime scene and took everything that can be used as evidence.

​When Ms. Hansel's body was lifted out of the bathtub and everyone was busy with their own business, Prosecutor Del Mundo went near the tub. Mayroong bula ang kalahating ibabaw ng tubig. The soft, white bubbles were located at the right side of the tub kung saan naroon kanina ang ibabang parte ng katawan ni Ms. Hansel. If one wasn't aware about the fact that someone had died on it, maaaring magamit pa iyon para sa ilang oras na pangrelax at refreshment sa katawan. Sa parte ng tub na walang bula ay napansin ni Prosecutor Del Mundo ang isang rectangular at itim na bagay na tila ba'y isang cellphone na nakataob sa ilalim. Alam niyang hindi pa iyon napapansin ng Forensic Team even after they had lifted the dead body. He glanced at everyone. Nang makita niyang walang nakatuon na atensyon sa kanya ay pasimple niyang inilabas sa bulsa ang isang transparent evidence bag. Bahagya niyang inililis ang kanang sleeve ng kanyang damit at pasimple niyang inahon ang bagay na siya lamang ang nakapansin. Mabilis niyang isinilid iyon sa evidence bag at agad na itinago sa bulsa ng kanyang maluwag na trouser.

​"Prosecutor Del Mundo," Lieutenant Jiho Lim called the startled Prosecutor. Napansin niya ang rumehistrong kaba sa mukha ng kagalang-galang na leader ng Ace Team. He also noticed his wet latex glove at maging ang nakalilis na sleeve nito. He watched as the old man glanced around the busy officers and carefully pulled down the right sleeve na parang wala itong ginawang kahina-hinala. Hinintay niya itong makalapit sa kanya bago niya ito sinabayan palabas ng unit.

​"Levomethorphan," said Kayla Xien Gumabat. She stood beside Jiwon and showed her the evidence bag containing an empty medicine bottle. They were both standing in the middle of the living room.

​"Are you saying that she probably died of an overdose?" Jiwon asked.

​"There's a big possibility. This empty bottle was found near her. Levomethorphan is a pain reliever prescribed exclusively for patients with terminal cancer. Isang potent narcotic na five times stronger than morphine. Thirty milligrams can easily kill her."

​Jiwon crossed her left arm in front of her chest and her right hand's index finger traced the shape of her chin. Thoughts played inside her head. "Walang visible external injury, but her manicured nails were cut suspiciously. If someone else had cut it after she died, we can't rule out a suicide here."

​"Bakit hindi?" Detective Alinas argued nang marinig niya ang sinabi ni Jiwon. Mayabang siyang naglakad palapit sa dalawang dalaga. He stood in front of them na para bang siya ang pinakamataas na officer sa lahat ng officer na naroon sa unit. His face was shouting his disagreement. "Hindi pa ba obvious? Nagpakamatay siya dahil sa kunsensya. Kinidnap niya ang mga anak ni Miss Tanggol," he said in a way that it sounded like it was the only fact na tatanggapin niya. Iyon lang, wala nang iba.

​"We don't have enough evidence to prove that she really abducted the children," Jiwon explained. Though there was a hint of disappointment in her voice, nagawa niya pa rin sabihin iyon nang mahinahon. It was a fact. Katotohanan iyon na inaasahan niyang aware ang lahat ng kanyang kagrupo kahit na walang magsabi. They're all sworn officers who should only claim something if it was proven with enough evidence on hand.

​"Ano pa bang ebidensya ang kailangan mo? Sumisigaw na 'yang bote ng pills. Kung nakakapagsalita lang 'yan, kanina pa niyan pinamukha sa'yo na nilaklak siya ng walang utang na loob na babaeng 'yon para tumakas sa responsibilidad."

​"Kung totoong nakunsensya siya, I don't think suicide would be her answer." Jiwon saw a glimpse of a mocking smirk on Detective Alinas's dark lips. She was well aware that the mean detective was only pushing her to the edge of the case. The moment she joined the team, alam niyang hindi mawawala ang pagiging kontra nito. Maybe he was just born with that temper. Or maybe the nature of his work sculpted him to become one. She felt a sense of sympathy towards him, regardless of what he was acting. Poor Alinas. How can he be saved? "Let's say it's true that she really abducted the children of Miss Tanggol and was eventually tortured by conscience. She should have surrendered to the police to correct her mistake. Siya lang ang nakakaalam kung nasaan na ang mga bata. If that conscience was killing her, hindi ba dapat gawin niya ang lahat ng p'wede niyang gawin para mailigtas ang mga inosenteng bata? Why did she kill herself in the middle of her refreshing bubble bath?" The words refreshing bubble bath were articulated. Those words sounded like they didn't belong with the whole conclusion.

​"Eh pa'no mo naman ipapaliwanag 'yan?" Detective Alinas pointed at the evidence bag containing the empty medicine bottle. May halong pangungutya ang tono ng kanyang tanong. It came out as if what Jiwon blurted was nothing but absurd. His hands laid on his hips while one corner of his lips slightly raised out of his mockery to the young criminal profiler.

​"Maybe she induced the medicine herself."

​"Oh, edi inamin mo rin—"

​"Maybe someone forced her." Jiwon watched as Detective Alinas's smirk turned into a flat one.

​"Anong pinagdedebatihan niyo? Seryoso ah!" Sebastian appeared out of nowhere and laid his one hand above Detective Alinas's shoulder. He automatically backed off as the pissed detective aggresively brushed his hand out of his shoulder. "Alright, bro." He even raised his both hands to surrender. Pinanood niyang lumabas ng unit si Detective Alinas bago ibinalik ang atensyon sa dalawang dalaga. "Anong problema nu'n?"

​"Don't mind him," Jiwon answered.

​Sebastian saw the charming smile that flashed in Kayla's lips bago nito hinila pataklob sa bibig at ilong ang kanina'y surgical mask na nasa ilalim ng kanyang baba. It made him realize kung gaano kaganda ang dalaga behind the hideous plastic white uniform. He would love to see her in casual clothes.

​"Sebastian, what did you say about... the burglar alarm?"

​Kung hindi pa nagtanong si Jiwon ay hindi magagawang umiwas ng tingin ni Sebastian sa ngayo'y nakatago ng mukha ni Kayla. He touched and gently rubbed the back of his neck as he focused his eyes on the white tiles. "Ah... 'yung burglar alarm na nakainstall sa pinto niya... tutunog 'yun at magsesend ng direct signal sa security ng condo at Hamilton Police Station kung hindi mo maipapunch ang code bago lumabas. Hindi 'yun titigil sa pagtunog hangga't hindi mo napipindot ang code or may device ka na tulad ng hacking device ng YPID... which I strongly vouch na ako pa lang ang meron." He finally got enough courage to face the beautiful ladies in front of him. Sinalubong niya ang tingin ng mga mata nito. "Meaning, kung pinatay nga siya ng ibang tao, alam ng taong 'yon ang passcode niya."

'Someone she knows,' Jiwon thought.

(end of ch. 32's first half)

Kaloka ang ikli 😂😂😂
Naalala ko si Jiwonnie kanina nang mabalitaan ko 'yung hostage taking. Nakapag-update tuloy.
Try kong itype bukas ang second half netong Ch. 32. So pagnatapos, post ko sa gabi.
😁☺️😉😍😘😚
Thank you sa'yong nagbabasa.