"This can't be happening!"

I was awakened from deep slumber when I heard the heated conversation going on outside my room. Out of curiosity, I got up from bed then joined my companions in the living room, regardless of how I look early in the morning.

"Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on him?!"

Sandro, who was seated on the couch, noticed my presence but immediately shifted his gaze back to Atticus.

"We did. But to our horror, he was reported dead on his dormitory last night." he calmly explained.

"Bullshit," Atticus cursed. "What about Donita?"

"Her whereabouts are unknown."

Atticus was about to say something when he finally saw me. He quickly kissed me on my cheek. "Good morning."

I rubbed my eyes. "Care to explain?"

He sighed. "Tyson Guerrero was found dead last night. He's one of the five persons of interest, love." sagot niya.

Napatingin naman ako kay Aster na nakaupo sa isang gilid at tahimik na nakaupo. "Who killed him, Officer?"

"The investigation is still ongoing." he answered my question. "But his case was officially declared as suicide."

"Suicide, my foot. We all know he didn't kill himself!" Atticus exclaimed through gritted teeth.

Umupo ako sa tabi ni Sandro na noo'y wala namang pakialam sa akin. "I went to Donita's apartment last night. Her place looked just the same when we left it, but there was no trace of her." paliwanag niya.

"The culprit killed Tyson before we could even reach him. There's a slight chance that he'll move on to the next target." sambit naman ni Aster na ngayon ko lang nakitang ganito kaseryoso. "Kailangan na natin siyang maunahan. He's always two steps ahead of us and he might target the remaining three, too. I suggest we meet with the others as soon as possible."

His suggestion was reasonable. If the real culprit is decided to cut the loose ends, then we have to move.

The news broke my heart. I was just celebrating my birthday yesterday. Never did I expect that someone would die due to my case. It's deplorable.

"I'll take care of Gregoire Canlas."

"No, Sandro. You have something to do for me." Atticus demurred. "I want you to finalize the list of all the cars parked on the vicinity the night when Stellar was killed."

"I understand."

He turned to Aster. "Officer Gomez, I'd appreciate your company. Let us contact Gregoire Canlas."

Aster nodded. "Copy."

"One second, love." Atticus gestured me to follow him to his room. Sinundan ko naman siya. "My mother-in-law will visit your hospital later. She's expecting you to come, Stellar."

I gasped. "Do I really need to go there?"

He frowned. "Unica hija niya si Gaia. Of course."

"What about you? Are you coming with me?"

"I'm afraid I can't accompany you, Stellar. You see, my plate is full as of the moment." He replied in an apologetic tone. "You can manage, right?"

"Yeah, sure." labas sa ilong kong sabi.

Ginulo muna niya ang buhok ko bago lumabas.

Napaupo ako sa kama ko. It's been a while since I first met the madame, Gaia's mother. That encounter drained the life out of me. Hindi palagay ang loob ko sa babaeng iyon.

Something tells me that I should be cautious and wary around her. Kung tutuusin, mabait naman siya, pero ewan ko kung bakit parang may mali sa kanya.

"I'm not done with the bad news yet." Aster announced when I came back. Napaubo naman siya. "Allow me to inform you that Conan's fingerprints were found on the weapon used to murder the victim."

Napasapo si Atticus sa kanyang noo, tila nawawalan na ng pag-asa. "Aww, fuck. Don't tell me I'm about to lose a case for the first time in my life? Is this for real?"

"However, do not feel troubled. There's a slight chance that the knife was replaced with a new one." dugtong ni Aster.

"How so?" Sandro queried.

"In the middle of having sex, Stellar left Conan to run away. I asked him to take note of the time interval," pahayag ni Aster. "He told me that it took half an hour before he decided to get up and follow her."

"I don't understand. What makes that detail important?" naguguluhang sabi ni Atticus.

"Don't you get it? Stellar was already dead when Conan found her. When he saw her lifeless on the ground, the first thing he ought to do was to remove the knife on her chest, hoping to revive her."

"Which makes him the primary suspect, because they saw him holding the knife." Sandro added subconsciously.

"Still theoretical." Atticus commented.

"I agree. It's still circumstantial. But don't you think that it's weird to point Conan as the suspect? Una sa lahat, kung talagang galit si Conan, susundan niya agad si Stellar. But it took him half an hour to follow her, meaning to say that he's neither enraged nor demented. He was cool in the head." Aster implied.

We earnestly listened to him.

"Pangalawa, kakatapos lang nilang magtalik ni Stellar. He was probably naked until he decided to get dressed again, but would he bother to go to the kitchen just to get a knife to kill her? I don't think so, knowing that he has some visitors outside the room. That would make him someone suspicious."

Pare-pareho kaming napaisip sa sinabi ni Aster. Well, point taken. But if we rely on that speculation, it would be difficult to solve the case. First and foremost, we don't have a clear lead. Ni wala kaming ibang suspect kung hindi si Conan, na kliyente pa namin.

"So... If we want to win the case, we need to find the original tool used in killing Stellar. Is that right?" Atticus asked.

"That is, if my theory is correct." Aster told him.

"Okay, it's time to move. Let's go."

The three of them stood up. Aster and Sandro nodded to me before leaving the unit. Si Atticus naman, pasimple akong hinalikan sa ulo. "You'll be okay, right?"

He seemed worried about me going alone. I gave him a small smile then raised my thumb, assuring him that I can manage. Pinanood ko silang tatlo na makaalis at hinanda ang sarili ko para sa araw na ito. 

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