*Capitulum 02

---

After their little photoshoot, Nova shot him a glare.

"How did you even know I'd be here?"

The million-dollar question.

Somehow, he wasn't surprised by her inquiry or by the accusing tone of her voice. Imbes na bumaling sa kanya, kinuha ni Nico mula sa isang staff ang paper cup na naglalaman ng umuusok pang kape.

Who knew being a "model" earns you the right to boss people around for coffee?

"I don't fancy the idea of stalking you, if that's what you're worried about," he plainly said before taking a sip. Napasimangot ang detective. Instant coffee from those cheap vending machines doesn't really satisfy his taste buds, pero wala na siyang magagawa. "Tinawagan ko kanina ang agency mo. Didn't they inform you?"

Natigilan si Nova sa kanyang sinabi, para bang may inaalala ito. Kalaunan, napanganga na lang ang dalaga na para bang ngayon lang niya na-realize ang lahat.

Another sip.

"Let me guess, you got distracted and didn't hear what your senior consultant told you?"

Tumalim ulit ang tingin nito, though her cheeks her flushed in embarrassment.

"S-Shut up."

That was the only confirmation he needed.

Kung hindi siya nagkakamali, pitong buwan na ang nakakaraan mula noong natapos ang Robinhood Arsonist case. In those past seven months, Detective Nico Yukishito admits that he was, one again, doomed to the most idiotic cases any human could ever imagine. Sherlock Holmes himself would be embarrassed. Sino ba naman kasi ang matutuwa kung puro kaso ng mga nawawalang pitaka at nakawan ng manok ang ilalapit sa agency nila?

'Who in the name of Sherlock would need to hire a detective for those shitty cases, anyway?!'

The stupidity was driving Nico mad and he knew Uncle X, the CEO of DEATH (supposedly the "top" detective agency in Eastwood), enjoyed every second torturing his beloved nephew. Of course there were times when robbery and homicide cases came in, pero kadalasan nare-resolve rin niya ang mga 'yon sa loob ng ilang minuto. No challenge. Indeed, Nico solved cases a hundred times faster than their local police officers would over the course of their worthless careers combined.

And he's not even exaggerating.

"Gotcha."

Napabalik sa kasalukuyan si Nico nang mapansing nakasilip na sa loob ng bakanteng dressing room ang kanyang kasama. It looks like Nova was busy taking pictures with her high-tech camera. Nico followed her line of sight and almost rolled his eyes when he saw the creative director making out with one of the models.

"An infidelity case? You must be really bored, too."

"For your information, I'm saving a woman from a cheating bastard. This is just as important as any other case, pero syempre hindi ko naman inaasahang maiintindihan mo 'yon," Nova quietly explained while fumbling something on the camera. Hindi na lang umimik si Nico, pero maya-maya pa, nahagip ng kanyang mga mata ang kwintas na suot ng dalaga.

"Your ex-boyfriend gave you that, didn't he?"

Dahil dito, nabitiwan ni Nova ang camera.

Nanlaki ang kanilang mga mata nang bumagsak ito sa sahig. The sound was definitely loud enough to be heard by anyone nearby. Ilang sandali pa, bago pa man pulutin ni Nova ang camera, a pair of polished shoes stood in front of them.

Someone cleared his throat.

"At ano naman ang ginagawa niyo rito?"

Nang mag-angat ng tingin ang dalawa, doon bumungad ang galit na ekspresyon ng manyakis na creative director. Before Nova could even hide the device, he snatched it away and scowled at her.

"You nosy little bi---!"

"We were just leaving," Nico announced and instinctively slung an arm over her shoulder, pulling her away from the asshole. "Let's just hope your poor wife won't find out about this." Pero bago pa man sila tuluyang umalis, kalmadong lumingon si Nico sa creative director na nakatuod na sa kanyang kinatatayuan. "By the way, we're detectives."

What? He wasn't good at this whole "undercover" thing, anyway.

To hell with that.

"Wow. You just blew our cover, smartass."

"You're welcome."

"Tsk! Saan ba tayo pupunta?"

Agad niyang inalis ang pagkakaakbay niya kay Nova. Mukha namang wala itong pakialam sa camera na kinuha sa kanya. Nang mapagtanto ng dalaga ang iniisip nito, it was her time to flash him a winning smirk as she raised her pink fingernails at him.

"I have NFC chips installed on my fingernails. Nai-transfer ko na agad dito kanina ang pictures mula doon sa camera. I just need to tap this to my computer back in the office and all the data will be recovered."

Nico frowned. He's heard about "Near Field Communication" or NFC technology before during a conversation with Film, pero ngayon lang niya nasaksihan ang practicality nito sa mga ganitong sitwasyon. 'Sinong mag-aakalang may ganitong technology rin pala sa SHADOW? Well, I guess they aren't primitive people, after all,' he thought.

Nang makalabas na sila sa lobby, agad niyang nilapitan ang isang taxi. Naningkit ang mga mata ni Nova. Kanina pa nito tinanggal ang kanyang disguise, kaya kitang-kita na ni Nico ang mga mata nito. Her sharp brown eyes pinned him in place. "And where on earth are you taking me, Yukishito?"

Nico shrugged. "Oh, I just wanna take you to an abandoned warehouse where I can kill you in cold-blood."

"Funny. That was my plan, too."

"Then let's play a game of rock-paper-scissors and see who gets to commit murder first," Nico smirked and opened the door of the taxi for her. "After you?"

Napailing na lang si Nova bago pumasok sa loob. Agad ring sumunod sa kanya si Nico. True enough, they came from rival agencies. Hating each others' guts comes naturally for them, even after being paired up against deadly serial killers twice this year.

Nang nasa loob na sila ng taxi, inayos ng driver ang rearview mirror at ngumiti sa kanila.

His mustache was a dead give away.

"Long time no see, detectives."

Nagulat si Nova nang makilala niya ito. "Inspector Ortega?"

Yes, 'the' Inspector Placido Ortega of the Heraldic Eastwood Local Police Department, or most commonly known as "HELP". A look of understanding and excitement crossed Nova's face. Dahil tuwing magku-krus ang kanilang mga landas, iisa lang ang ibig sabihin nito...

"The chief called me this morning to fetch you. Why else would I waltz into the modelling industry?" Nico said and finished his cup of coffee.

Something tells him that he's gonna need the caffeine today.

Inspector Ortega handed them folders before starting the taxi. "A dead body was found last night, inside her own household. Helena Taves ang pangalan ng biktima, 35 taong gulang. Her husband suspects a foul play despite the circumstances of her death. Didiretso na tayo doon."

Tumango naman si Nova habang binabasa ang profile ng biktima. "Did your officers already secure the crime scene?" Sandaling natahimik si Inspector Ortega. He hesitated before finally answering, "Hindi kami makalapit basta-basta sa 'crime scene', Detective Carlos... the ECDCP is currently taking control of this matter."

Nova's eyes widened at what she heard.

"T-The ECDCP? Mukhang...hindi nga ito normal na kaso."

Nico silently agreed, his eyes darkened at the possibility of an unseen element in this crime.

'Because nothing is normal when the Eastwood Center for Disease Control and Prevention is concerned.'

---