Kingstone Industries
9:15 p.m.

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"You just shouted at my boyfriend, bitch."

Para bang nabingi si Detective Briannova Carlos sa narinig niya. 'Wait, boyfriend?' Agad niyang nilingon ang sinigawan niyang lalaki at napansing napapakamot na lang ito sa kanyang ulo. Oh, shit. She screwed up!

The man sheepishly smiled at her, "Ah, ayos lang po, ma'am. Naiintindihan ko naman pong nag-aalala kayo sa partner niyo. We'll save him, don't worry!" Pagkatapos 'non, mabilis na kinausap ng lalaki ang team leader nila at ipinagbigay-alam dito ang sitwasyon. Samantala, hindi na umimik si Nova.

'I guess the stress is finally taking its toll on me,' Huminga siya nang malalim at inayos ang kulay rosas na buhok.

District Offier Rizee Mariano watched her for a few seconds before sighing. Nawala na rin ang galit sa mga mata ng babae at nag-iwas ng tingin kay Nova, "No need to be worried, Ms. Carlos. Katulad ng sinabi ko sa'yo kanina, kailangan mong magtiwala sa partner mo. Detective Yukishito earned his title for a reason." Malumanay nitong sabi. Gumaan ng konti ang loob ni Nova, but she still felt guilty.

She glanced at the burning building again.

'She's right. Nico earned his title as the #1 detective in Eastwood and I'm pretty sure he has more surprises up his sleeves.' isip-isip niya at bahagyang napayuko. 'But did I earn mine?' Hindi na alam ni Nova. Sa inaasal niya kanina, alam niyang lumabag na siya sa ilang etiquettes ng pagiging isang detective.

She lost control of her emotions and used her authority to boss people around.

"Olympia would probably be disappointed with my behavior," mahina niyang bulong sa sarili. Sa kanilang kompanya, nagsisilbing pangalawang magulang sa kanya ang kanilang senior consultant. Huminga nang malalim si Nova at iniangat ang mga mata.

At the same time, someone appeared by the burning building---no, someone was walking out of it!

Bumilis ang pintig ng puso ni Detective Nova nang makita ang nakakairitang mukha ng kanyang partner.

"Sorry I took so long, I did some investigation while I was inside. Isa nga itong murder, and it looks like the Robinhood Arsonist---I still think that's a stupid name---is on the move again." Napapailing na lang si Detective Nico Yukishito at pinagpag ang jacket na para bang hindi siya nanggaling sa isang nasusunog na gusali. He remained calm as he continued, "Nahanap ko na ang biktima."

Nova pushed aside her relief. "Nasaan siya?"

Sumeryoso ang mga mata ng binata.

"He's dead. It was too late when I arrived.. he was crucified at the bathroom door of his own office."

Kinilabutan si Nova sa narinig, at mukhang pati si Officer Mariano ay hindi naging kumportable. Walang-emosyon namang ibinalik ni Nico ang kanyang mga mata sa Kingstone Industry office kung saan inaapula na ng mga bumbero ang apoy. Pinipigilan nila itong kumalat sa kalapit na residential area.

"Mr. Kingstone's body was nailed and posed like Jesus Christ. Gumamit ng malalaking concrete nails ang arsonist at walang-awang ipinako katawan ng biktima sa pinto ng sarili nitong banyo. He probably even used materials present at the nearby warehouse since Kingstone Industries manufactures materials used for construction. Nagiging resourceful na ang serial killer slash arsonist natin."

Officer Mariano shook her head in disgust, "Noong una, may isinaksak siyang rosaryo sa wasak na ulo ni Mr. Jones, now he just crucified his victim? What's this for? Mocking religion?"

"He probably stole money again, but aside from that, I'm not sure about his real motives yet." Nico said.

Pero may gumugulo pa rin sa isip ni Nova. "Paano ka nakaligtas nang wala man lang paso? Surviving unscathed in a fire like that is impossible!" It still puzzled her.

The greatest detective in Eastwood smirked confidently. Inayos niya ang pagkakasuot ng kanyang jacket, "Actually, with the advancement of technology today, it's possible. Fireproof ang suot kong jacket, design by our tech geeks back at DEATH. Ginamitan ng 'aerogel' technology ang jacket na ito. If you're not familiar with it, aerogel is considered the lighest solid here on the planet. It's a synthetic material made from gel."

"Gel?" Yup. She's lost. Akala ba niya lighest solid? 'Di ba ang "gel" ay pinaghalong liquid at solid? Pwera na lang kung...

"Yup. Isipin mo na lang na 'yong liquid part ng gel ay pinalitan ng hangin, para tanging ang solid particles na lang nito ang natitira. That's why it's the lightest solid on earth. Nadiskubre ito ni Samuel Stephens Kistler noong 1931, at idinevelop ng iba't ibang scientist sa paglipas ng panahon. Ilan sa mga nai-develop na properties ng aerogel ay ang pagiging mabisang thermal insulator nito. Well, it's also flame resistant if you put it that way... This jacket is made from aerogel fabric, kaya hindi ito nasusunog at lalong hindi nakakaramdam ng init ang sinumang magsusuot nito. It can withstand temperatures reaching up to hundreds of degrees Celsius, but my body still won't be affected by the fire. Thus, my awesome jacket is fireproof."

Kaya pala.

'Kaya pala ang lakas ng loob ng hudas na 'tong tumakbo papasok sa nasusunog na building! Gosh, Nico!' Nova thought. Mukhang nasayang lang pala ang pag-aalala niya. Nang balingan niya si Officer Mariano, she smiled in approval. "Napansin ko rin kanina ang tungkol dito. I've seen jackets like these in our department, kaya agad kong nalamang fireproof ang suot ni Detective Yukishito. As long as he's wearing that, he'll have less risk of catching flames and burning himself."

Napasimangot si Nova. She made a mental note to read more about Science and technologies at home.

Ilang sandali pa, lumapit sa kanila ang boyfriend ni Officer Mariano. The district officer smiled upon seeing him. Hinihingal pa ito at pinagpapawisan. Kumuha ng panyo si Rizee at pinunasan ang mukha ng kasintahan, "Okay na, Terrence. Nakalabas naman nang buhay si Detective Yukishito."

Terrence stared at the detective and sighed in relief. "Hay! Salamat naman.. Akala ko talaga papatayin na ako ni Ma'am Carlos kanina dahil sa pag-aalala niya sa'yo, sir." Pagak siyang natawa.

Kumunot naman ang noo ni Nico, "Pag-aalala?"

The pink-haired detective froze.

Rizee smirked and nudged her boyfriend. "Babe, natural lang 'yan sa'ming mga babae kapag nag-aalala kami sa mga lalaking gusto namin. No need to make it a big deal.."

Inside her head, Detective Briannova Carlos was murdering her. Naramdaman niya ang pamumula ng kanyang mga pisngi dala ng hiya, lalo na't nakatuon na sa kanya ngayon ang atensyon ni Nico. 'Damn it! Ang daldal nila!'

Just then, Detective Nico Yukishito smirked. Dimples.

"It seems you're not denying it, Nova. May crush ka na ba sa'kin?"

"I-I... LOOK! N-Nandito na pala sina Inspector Ortega!"

True enough, the Heraldic Eastwood Local Police Department had just arrived. Nangunguna rito ng kanilang hepeng si Chief Inspector Placido Ortega na mukhang kakagising lang. Nova silently thanked the heavens for perfect timing. Agad na nilapitan ng hepe si Nico, "Kagagawan na naman ba ito ng Robinhood Arsonist natin, Detective Yukishito?"

"Unfortunately. The unlucky businessman who is now turning to ashes is Mr. Kingstone himself. Huli na noong maabutan ko siya kanina nang pumasok ako roon---"

"Pumasok ka sa nasusunog na gusali?!"

Nico laughed, "Nagpainit lang ako ng konti, chief. No worries. Anyway, I found some interesting objects at the crime scene, chief. Baka pwede nating pag-usapan ang mga detalye nito sa loob ng isang resto? All this action is making me hungry."

Hindi na nga pala sila nakapag-hapunan. 'So much for dinner,' Nova thought. Walang angal namang tumango si Inspector Ortega, "Well, the nearest resto is a thirty-minute drive. May alam ka bang mas malapit, Officer Mariano? You're from around here, right?"

Tumango naman si Rizee at ngumiti sa mga kasama.

"Yeah. In fact, may alam akong Chinese restaurant, just a few blocks away."

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