LORELEI

DISBANDED? My head turned to Loki and shot him with a curious stare. He only replied by a simple squinting of his eyes. Jamie was as shocked as I was in the room, gaping at the Math instructor who broek the news.

I have never known Sir Jim Morayta to be a joker who would jest randomly. I can tell by the look on his face that he is serious. I also tried to read something from Margarette's and Rye's expressions. The news must be real, though I hope that it isn't.

"The order came from the school administration," Sir Jim explained after almost a minute of silence. "We, as the executive committee, were tasked to remove all stuff from your club room. Ayaw kong mabigla kayo pagpasok n'yo bukas na naka-lock na ang inyong office kaya minabuti ko nang sabihin sa inyo ngayon."

Wala pa ring kumibo sa aming tatlo. The news was too much for us to absorb that it rendered us speechless. I was waiting for Loki to comment on the announcement, but his mind might still be processing the information.

"How about the Luthor?" That name was the first thing that came to mind. "How about the student council? Didn't they do anything to stop the disbandment?"

With a disappointed look on his face, Sir Jim shook his head slowly.

"Luthor did not say a word against the order," Margarette took the turn to explain, crossing her arms across her chest while her eyeglasses shone. "I thought he would try to use his convincing powers to overturn the admin's decision. But he did not."

"He told me before he wouldn't let something that Loki holds dear disappear—"

My mouth froze. For a moment, I forgot that Luthor is Moriarty. Dahil sa deal namin ilang buwan na ang nakararaan—noong binalak din nilang buwagin ang club matapos ang Stein Alberts incident sa coffee shop—I thought he would come to the club's defense. Idagdag mo pa ang sinabi niya noon sa gym na hindi niya hahayaang mawala kay Loki ang mga bagay na mahalaga para sa kapatid niya, kagaya ng club.

But no. Baka siya pa nga ang may pakana nito at ipinalabas niya lamang na utos ito ng school admin. But I don't see how he would benefit from it. Yes, the club is now officially disbanded, but that doesn't mean that Loki would stop his investigations already.

"The last straw might be the incident at the abandoned building," Sir Jim said. His eyes gazed briefly on me and Jamie. "I don't see any other reason why the admins would give out that order."

"Suspicious." Loki finally broke his silence. His eyes were staring blankly at the wall. "It has been more than two weeks since that incident happened. Why did they act just now?"

Napaisip akong bigla sa sinabi niya. Tama nga naman. Bakit tumagal ng mahigit dalawang linggo ang pagdedesisyon nila?

"I would have understood if the disbandment order came out a few days after what happened," he went on, his eyes now looking at my Math instructor. "So why now?"

"Tama si Loki dear!" biglang hirit ni Jamie na binasag na rin ang kanyang katahimikan. "Hindi naman siguro ganun kabagal magdesisyon ang mga school admin. I suspect that something happened behind the scene that compelled them to order the disbandment. Paano kung pakana ito ni Moriarty?"

As I thought earlier, wala namang mapapala ang criminal mastermind kung ipapa-disband niya ang club. Whether or not our detective group is officially existing, Moriarty would just keep on playing mind games with us.

In response, Margarette shrugged her shoulders. "The school administration has a lot on their plates too. Hindi n'yo sila masisisi kung bakit ngayon lang sila umaksyon. Hindi naman sila pwedeng magbigay ng instant judgment."

"Jamie's right. Something might have happened recently," Loki nodded. "The school officials never had the intention to disband the club until now. This is just guesswork, but someone must have exercised his influence on them. Someone who has their ears. Someone who is powerful enough to make them dance. Someone who doesn't want me to—"

Bigla siyang natigil sa pagsasalita habang dahan-dahang nanlaki ang mga mata. He stood frozen like a statue for a few moments, his widened eyes staring at the hospital room door.

"Loki? Loki dear?"

"No, it can't be. Him?" he muttered with a tone disbelief. "That's the only explanation that would make sense."

"Him? Luthor?" I asked, but he replied with the shaking of his head.

"I highly doubt that my brother wields that much influence on the school administration. It must be someone greater than him. Someone higher than him. Someone who's respected so well that his words are taken as gospel."

Why do his words give me the impression that they were some sort of riddles? He had mentioned in several occasions that Luthor is the man behind the man in the student council. Kaya napaisip ako kung sino ang tinutukoy niyang "greater" at "higher" kaysa sa kanyang kapatid. It's like saying that someone else is much worse than Moriarty.

"At dahil ang school admin na mismo ang nag-utos, we cannot do anything about it," Sir Jim sighed, touching the bridge of his eyeglasses. "They dissolved your club and took away the club room that you have already considered as your second home at school. Ngunit alam kong hindi pa rin kayo titigil sa ginagawa n'yo."

"They can have the bloody club room if they want," Loki said defiantly. "We will still accept and solve cases on the hallways, on the streets—"

"How about cases that fall under the jurisdiction of the Campus Police?" tanong ng Math instructor ko. "Sa pagkakaalam ko, pinagbawalan na rin kayo ng bagong campus police chief na makialam sa imbestigasyon. Ngayong wala na ang club n'yo, mas lalo kayong nawalan ng access."

We can still investigate, but we no longer have the privilege of freely investigating any cases. Ganun siguro ang gustong sabihin ni Sir Jim.

"But we can still do something about that," he smiled. "Maliban sa pagbisita kay Alistair, I wanna make the offer in person to the members of the now defunct QED Club."

"Offer?"

"If you want to still legally investigate cases, you can join the executive committee." Sir Jim's response elicited surprised reaction from me and Jamie. Loki's face, meanwhile, was still as blank as a brick. "We have been working on cases separately. Baka ito na ang tamang panahon para magtulungan na tayo."

"You want us to work for you?" Loki asked.

"I want you to work with us," Sir Jim corrected, putting emphasis on the word with. "Maaaring iniisip n'yo na tine-take advantage ko ang pagka-disband sa inyong club pero ayaw kong masayang ang kakayahan n'yo sa paglutas ng mga kaso. You four are welcome to join us."

Nagpalitang kaming tatlo ng tingin. I tried to read on Lokis face whether he liked the proposal, but his expression was as blank as a white sheet of paper. Jamie seemed too confused to comment on anything.

"If you choose to accept my offer, you have to work under my supervision," dagdag ni Sir Jim nang walang kumibo sa amin. "Hindi na kayo basta-basta pwedeng mag-imbestiga ng kung ano-anong kaso."

"You need to seek for my approval first," singit ni Margarette. Her voice sounded more authoritative than before. "Once you become members of the executive committee, nakabantay kami sa magiging galaw n'yo. To be honest, I'm half-hearted about our adviser's proposal. Ayaw kong magkaroon ng liability. And not to mention, one of you seems to bring bad luck to the people around him."

Hindi talaga palalampasin ng babaeng 'to na magpatutsada kay Loki. Sakaling magdesisyon kaming sumali sa kanila, I hope her hatred towards Loki won't affect their working relationship.

"I ask that you let us sleep on it," Loki answered in a humbler tone. "We have just found out that our club is gone. That's too much to absorb already. And I have to consult my members first."

"You have all the time that you need," tugon ni Sir Jim. "Once you have made your decision, you know where to find us. Magiging malaking karangalan kung mapapabilang kayo sa amin. At mapapabilis ang imbestigasyon natin kay Moriarty."

"Speaking of the criminal mastermind, have you made progress on checking any suspicious student in the leadership?"

"We checked the background of the student council officers. There was nothing suspicious."

Eh? They did not find anything suspicious on Luthor? Or did they not dig deeper?

"But we are looking into Augustus Moran. Noong kasagsagan ng paninira ng Clark Gazetta sa inyong club, Luthor brought it to our attention."

Naningkit ang mga mata ko nang muling mabanggit ang pangalan ni Luthor. Something doesn't add up. If he is Moriarty—and I know for a fact that he is—why would he give away the identity of his general to the executive committee?

But knowing that he is a manipulator as Loki claimed he is, posibleng calculated risk ang kanyang ginawa para ipakita na kunwari'y tumutulong siya sa imbestigasyon. He is now playing both sides of the chessboard.

"Obiously the editor-in-chief is one of Moriarty's minions. A high-ranking one," Loki acknowledged. "But did you find any thread that might lead us to the unexplored parts of his web?"

Umiling si Sir Jim. "We have planted spies in the student publication to observe Augustus' movements. But not once did he meet with someone suspicious. Baka nakahalata siya na may nakamasid sa kilos niya o sadyang maingat siya. Mukhang nag-lie low siya mula nang pumalpak ang balak nila."

"He has been on guard after the Clark Gazetta incident." Nagsalita na rin si Rye habang nakaipit sa pagitan ng kanyang mga ngipin ang lollipop stick. "I doubt he would do something foolish that might expose himself."

"If we will work together, we can unravel these threads much faster. Umaasa akong pag-iisipin n'yong mabuti ang alok ko. We shall see you tomorrow in school."

Nagpaalam na ang mga miyembro ng executive committee na aalis. Ngunit bago sila tuluyang makalabas...

"Have you looked into the suspected first victims of Moriarty?" pahabol kong tanong.

Nagbato ng nagtatakang tingin sa akin si Sir Jim, maging si Loki.

"Meron kaming file nila kaso hindi pa naming tuluyang binusisi ang mga 'yon. Bakit?"

"My instinct tells me that there might be something in them that will shed light about Moriarty."

"We will take note of that." Sir Jim smiled before leaving the room along with Margarette and Rye.

Naiwan na naman kami nina Loki at Jamie sa kwarto. The room fell silent. Only the beeping noise of the machine could be heard.

"Should we consider their offer?" tanong ni Jamie, pinapanood ang pabalik-balik na paglalakad ni Loki sa harapan niya. "Hindi naman ganun kasama ang ino-offer ni Sir Jim. Though I would still prefer working as a QED Club member."

Loki did not respond. His eyes were still in deep thought.

"I'm curious as to who ordered the disbandment of our club." Napasunod na rin ang mga mata ko sa kanya. "Someone who's more powerful than Luthor? Now that's news."

"You need not to know who that person is," Loki replied as his right hand made a dismissive gesture. "Like what your Math professor said, we can no longer appeal the decision. If we want to revoke the disbandment, we need to convince that person, not the administration."

"You speak as if you know that person very well."

He halted at the center of the room and turned to me. "Yes, I do. Parang babangga ka sa pader kapag kinontra mo siya. I doubt that my brother could do anything to convince that person."

So Luthor also knows him personally too? Just who in the world is that mysterious man?

"Pero nakakalungkot talaga," Jamie said, frowning. "That club room is filled with unforgettable memories. I still remember the first day I step inside and met you two. That's probably one of the best days of my life. And now, a certain someone tells the school admin to shut down the club."

Kung ganun ang impact ng balita kay Jamie, paano pa kaya kay Loki? He founded that club and it served as his comfort zone for a few years. And the walls of that club room have witnessed the friendship he shared with Rhea. It is kinda hard to imagine him easily letting go.

"There's no point crying over spilt milk," Loki said as he continued walking around the room. "I sort of expected that this day will come. We have been through thick and thin and the club stood still. But we have to move forward. Only forward."

Looking at him right now and watching him pace back and forth, he appeared to be the least affected person. But deep inside, he must be grieving for the loss of his club. Baka ayaw niya lang ipahalata sa amin.

"I wonder what Al's reaction would be once he hear about the news?" Napatingin si Jamie sa walang malay naming kaibigan. "Things are happening left and right and he's missing a lot of action. I do hope that he wakes up sooner."

"Why don't we distract ourselves for a while?" I blurt out of the blue. Sabay na lumingon sa akin ang dalawa kong kasama. "What we need right now is a distraction from the depressing news."

"And how can we do that?" tanong ni Loki.

"Are we gonna play a game?" dagdag ni Jamie.

"You heard the nurse earlier, right?" sagot ko. "Ang sabi niya, may sumpa raw ang doktor na may hawak kay Al. Lahat ng mga comatosed patient niya ay namamatay."

Loki squinted his eyes, a hint of disbelief flashed on his face. "Don't tell me that you are buying that story. How many times should I tell you that—"

"—that there is no such thing as curse, right?" Ako na mismo ang kumumpleto sa balak niyang sabihin. "Hindi naman sa naniniwala akong may sumpa ang doktor. Maybe—just a maybe—we can debunk that rumor?"

"And why should we do that for Dr. Montecillo?" Loki asked in a matter-of-fact tone.

Ilang segundo ring nag-buffer ang utak ko, iniisip kung sinong doktor ang tinutukoy niya. "Dr. Mortimer, not Montecillo."

"Whatever his name is."

"Kung wala siyang sumpa, bakit namamatay ang mga pasyente niya?" tanong ni Jamie. "Was it a coincidence na lahat ng naka-comatose na hinawakan niya ay binawian ng buhay?"

"Murder is another plausible explanation as to why his patients died," Loki replied.

"Let's say for the sake of discussion that he had something to do with his patients' deaths," sabi ko. "Shouldn't we be worried? Al is his patient and he's still in a coma. If we follow the pattern, he might be next victim of the so-called doctor of death."

Loki touched his chin as his eyes stared at the floor. "Those cases might be worth investigating. If he is indeed an agent of death, we might be dealing with a serial killer under the guise of a doctor."

"Where should we start?"

"We can pay him a visit and ask some questions about those unfortunate deaths."

"Let's go!" masiglang sabi ni Jamie.

"But someone needs to watch over Al." My head turned to our unconscious friend in bed. "Maybe I should stay here and wait for you two—"

"I suggest that Jamie stays here instead of you," Loki cut my words short. "It was you who suggested that we look into this case."

"Teka, teka! Bakit ako ang maiiwan?!" protesta ng kasama namin. "Ang daya naman! Kayo lang ba ang member ng QED Club?"

"Kapag dumating ang tagapagbantay ni Al, pwede ka namang sumunod sa amin." Sa totoo niyan, hindi ko alam kung anong oras babalik ang katiwala na nadatnan namin kanina. Sinabihan ko kasi siyang magpahinga habang kami muna ang bahala sa pagbabantay.

She pouted sullenly. "Sige na nga. Basta kapag bumalik na ang magbabantay kay Al, susunod ako sa inyo. I-text n'yo sa akin kung anong room number ng doktor."

Bumaba muna kami ni Loki sa nurse station kung saan tinanong namin ang room ni Dr. Mortimer. Once we got the information, sumakay kaming dalawa sa elevator paakyat sa third floor.

"So why did your instinct tell you to review the files of Moriarty's suspected first victims?" Loki asked as the elevator door closed in front of us.

I did not expect him to ask a seemingly irrelevant question. "Naalala ko kasi ang method na ginamit natin habang iniimbestigahan ang suicide case sa mall. You said that we needed to trace why the victim chose to kill herself. Kung pag-aaralan natin ang mga naunang biktima ni Moriarty, we might understand his motivations and find a loose thread that he might have overlooked."

He smirked. "If the QED Club were a real person, he would be honored to have you in the team."

I blushed. Bihira lang kasing magbigay ng compliment si Loki. Once in a blue moon.

Upon hearing the "ding!" sound, we got out of the elevator and walked across the white hallway. We stopped in front of Room 313 where we saw the signboard bearing the name "DR. GRIMM MORTIMER." The room number and the doctor's full name were quite ominous.

Loki looked at me as if his eyes were asking if I'm ready to go in. I simply nodded. Kumatok muna muna siya sa pinto bago ito tuluyang binuksan.

Bumungad sa amin si Dr. Mortimer na abalang-abala sa pagsusulat sa kanyang medical journal.

"Good evening," bati niya pagkaangat ng kanyang tingin. "You are friends with my patient Mr. Ravena, right? What can I do for you? Did something happen to him?"

"He's still doing fine, doc," Loki answered. "I just have one question: When are you planning to kill him?"

q.e.d.