THE MISSING SUNNY CASE
Detective Briannova Carlos
File Number: N-01
Date: 09/15/2018

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"On the 12th day of September, 18-year-old Sunshine 'Sunny' Miranda disappeared."

Detective Briannova Carlos read the case file again for the third time this morning. Gustuhin man nilang umasa na buhay pa rin ang dalaga, habang tumatagal, unti-unti na nilang tinatanggap ang posibilidad na hindi na nila kasama sa mundong ito si Sunny. That thought alone made her stomach churn, a heavy anchor in her chest.

'I have a family waiting for closure and her ex-boyfriend in the interrogation room. Get a grip, Brian,' she reminded herself and sipped on her milktea. 'To think that this is the first case SHADOW assigned to me.'

Inside their company car, the detective leaned her back and stared at the picture of the teenager who's been missing for more than 48 hours now. Muli niyang pinanood ang CCTV footage na ibinigay sa kanya ng Eastwood Police mula sa kanyang laptop. Sa kasamaang palad, malayo ang kuha nito. The grainy black and white video was barely enough to capture a girl---Sunny---entering an alley with a man. Ilang sandali pa, nahagip ng CCTV ang paglabas ng parehong lalaki, bitbit ang isang malaking trash bag.

Ngunit hindi na lumabas ng eskinitang 'yon si Sunny.

Nova cursed under her breath, glaring at the image of the man she will meet face-to-face in the next ten minutes.

'Pigs like these disgust me.'

Ilang sandali pa, nag-ring ang cellphone ni Nova. Nang mabasa niya ang caller ID, she immediately took in a deep breath and composed herself before answering.

"Hello, Officer Creed?"

["Detective Carlos, hinihintay ka namin dito sa station. Our suspect is already in the interrogation room."]

"Got it. I'll be there in a minute. Oh, and Officer Creed?"

["Yes?"]

"Do not approach him. Ako nang bahala na sa isang 'to."

Nova pocketed her phone and stared at herself through the rearview mirror. Sharp brown eyes were determined to see this through. After fixing her coat and shawl, mabilis na lumabas ng sasakyan ang SHADOW agent, tinawid ang parking lot, at pasimpleng pumasok sa police station.

In fact, police officers even opened the door for her.

'The impact of appearances,' Nova thought and thanked them.

She always wanted to be a fashion designer slash a special effects artist. Growing up, Nova had people tell her that models should be thankful she chose to be a detective instead. Ang hindi alam ng karamihan ng mga tao sa labas ng SHADOW, dala-dala pa rin ng dalaga ang kanyang mga hilig sa napili niyang propesyon. During the first few weeks of her being their agent, mabilis na kumalat ang usapan tungkol sa kanyang "talento" tuwing may undercover job na ina-assign sa kanya.

Before, Nova was forced to tag-along their other agents, especially her senior Ms. Olympia.

Observe and take note, that's what she was told to do.

But this is different. This is her first real case, and it just had to be the missing person case of Sunny Miranda.

Nang magtungo sa front desk si Nova, agad siyang hinarangan ng isang matangkad na police officer. Moreno at may kalmadong ekspresyon, ngunit bakas sa mga mata nito ang pagiging alerto sa paligid. He was fairly attractive, that much she'd give him.

'But I think I've seen that face before,' she mentally noted.

"Nay, anong kailangan natin?"

Nova smiled. "Makiki-CR lang sana ho."

Officer Creed blinked, as if this was the first time an old lady asked something of the nature. Ilang sandali pa, tumango ang police officer at tinuro ang kabilang hallway. "Last door to the right," he scanned the woman and her walking cane. "Kailangan mo po ba ng alalay?"

Nova almost laughed internally. Oh, what a gentleman. How fun!

"Ay naku, salamat hijo!"

While they were walking down the hallway, Nova observed her surroundings. Flourescent lights, beige halls, framed pictures of high-ranking officials ('They even have a picture of Inspector Placido Ortega when he was younger,' she thought), and an ugly color combination of tiles. Maya-maya pa, nagsalita na ang detective sa kanyang normal na boses.

"Good morning to you too, Officer Marcelino Creed."

Natigil sa paglalakad si Officer Creed at tumitig sa kanya. Kamuntikan nang lumuwa ang mga mata ng binata nang mapagtantong ito na pala ang agent na kanila pa nila inaabangan.

"D-Detective Brian Carlos?"

To be continued...