LORELEI

"How's the installation of the hidden cameras?"

ALISTAIR AND I went down to the execom office pagkatapos ng afternoon period namin. Excited na akong i-share ang discovery namin. I thought we already hit a dead-end! Hindi pala. We only had to look at the situation from another perspective.

At lunchtime, we have figured out an important piece of the Augustus puzzle: the editor-in-chief and the general manager of the printing press are accomplices in the embezzlement scheme. Ito lang ang anggulong pwedeng makapagpaliwanag kung bakit walang discrepancy sa report ng Clarion at record ng printing press.

I don't know how Augustus did it, but he's clever enough to team up with the general manager to cover his tracks.

Loki and Jamie were already in the execom office. Nandoon din si Rye Rubio na nakasandal sa pader. They were in charge of clogging the ventilation of the Clarion's office and installing hidden cameras. Base sa kanilang mga mukha, everything went well.

Nakalupong silang tatlo sa harap ng isang laptop. I thought they were watching a movie or a Netflix series to pass the time. May pinapanood nga sila, pero hindi isang pelikula.

"Mukhang naging successful ang mission n'yo, ah?" Alistair commented as he stood behind Loki and Jamie. Sumunod din ako sa kanya. Nasa screen ng laptop ang apat na anggulo ng security camera footages.

The scenes looked familiar. Hey, that's the inside of the Clark Clarion's editorial office! I've been there twice already kaya natatandaan ko pa. Sa isang frame nakita namin si Augustus na nasa kanyang cubicle at nakatalikod sa camera. He was busy typing on the desktop computer.

"I thought it would be challenging to find materials that could clog the ventilation of their office," Loki answered, his eyes still glued to the laptop screen. "I never imagined that it would be so easy, thanks to Jamie."

"Mabuti na lang, naalala ko 'yong props na ginagamit ng repertory theater!" proud na sagot ni Jamie. She looked so happy, abot-tenga pa nga ang ngiti niya. I think I know why. First, she spent time with Loki during their mission. Second, Loki thanked her a few seconds ago for making their job easy. "Meron kasing mga unan doon na ang laman ay mga balahibo ng ibon. And birds' feathers are perfect for my Loki dear's plan!"

"So you borrowed those pillows from the props room?" tanong ko.

"No! Ano ka ba naman, Lori?" nakapamewang na sagot ni Jamie. "Wala na kaming time para magpaalam! At mas mabuting walang nakakaalam na may ninenok kaming mga unan doon. Kapag natunugan ni Augustus na may mga nawawalang unan sa props room, baka ma-realize niya ang trick namin."

I hate to admit it, but she has a point. Assuming that Augustus has eyes and ears everywhere in the campus, mas mabuti nang walang nakakaalam ng ginawa namin.

"If someone from the repertory theater is going to complain, I can buy them as many pillows as they want and slap them in the face using every pillow available," Loki said. "What's more important is that we managed to do our trick. The ventilation was clogged. Clarion called for housekeeping personnel. Our plan commenced."

"Kinailangan naming kontratahin ang dalawang taga-housekeeping para tanggalin ang bara sa ventilation at palihim na i-install ang mga camera," sagot ni Rye. He was chewing on a lollipop stick. "The Clarion knows our faces so we can't be directly involved with the installation."

I still remember the day when he's secretly following me. I thought he was enemy at first. But it later turned out that he was actually an ally.

"How sure are we na hindi ipagkakalat ng mga inutusan n'yong housekeeping personnel ang ipinagawa n'yo sa kanila?" tanong ni Alistair.

"May mga in-identify si Loki na dalawang housekeeping personnel na—sabihin na nating—hindi mahirap kausapin," sagot ni Rye na napanguso kay Loki. "At ang mga napili niya ay nangakong walang pagsasabihan tungkol sa hidden cameras."

"How did you identify them exactly?" I asked.

"During my free time, I investigate security guards, housekeeping personnel, faculty members—almost every adult in the campus—to see what skeletons they're hiding in their closet," Loki answered. "I've been expecting that one day, I might use whatever I found against them to make them do what I want. That day is today."

"So you blackmailed them?" How typical of him. Hindi ko pa nakakalimutan noong araw na in-invite niya akong sumali sa QED Club. He threatened that he would leak my photo while sleeping kapag hindi ako nag-apply bilang member.

"You can put it that way," Loki replied. "So if Augustus reaches out to them, they would really think twice and hard if exposing what they know is worth the risk."

"Don't worry! Ako ang nag-supervise sa kanila!" pagmamalaki ni Jamie. "Sinigurado kong madi-distract ang mga staffer ng Clarion at strategically na mailalagay ang mga camera sa dapat paglagyan."

I thought na wala dapat directly involved sa amin sa installation? "Hey, the Clarion knows you very well. Do you think na hindi ka nila makilala kapag nakita nila ang naka-braid mong buhok?"

"Not if I'm wearing a disguise!" may kumpiyansang tugon ni Jamie. "Sa tingin mo ba, makikilala pa nila ako kapag nakasuot ako ng wig na pang-short hair, may fake na bigote at uniform ng housekeeping personnel?"

"And that's enough to fool them?" may pagdududa kong tanong. For me, sa TV series at movies lang effective ang mga disguise-disguise na 'yan.

"You haven't seen Jamie's disguise skills." Loki glanced at me sideways. "Even I would have been fooled if I didn't know about her plan."

Inilabas ni Jamie ang kanyang phone at nag-swipe nang ilang beses sa screen nito. "Now tell me, Lori. Makikilala mo pa ba ako kung ganito ang itsura at suot ko? How about you, Al?"

Napabuka ang bibig ko habang tinititigan ang photo ni Jamie. When Loki praised her disguise skills, he was being genuine. Talagang hindi agad mahahalata na si Jamie ang nasa likod ng mukhang 'yon.

"Impressive!" Alistair commented. "Saan mo natutunan 'yan?"

"Alam n'yo namang dati akong taga-repertory theater, 'di ba?" sagot ni Jamie. "I've been friends with professional make-up artists. One time, meron kaming play kung saan kailangang mag-cross dressing. After our prod, they taught me how to make a woman a man. Pinractice ko lang sa bahay, then voila! Hindi ko nga in-expect na magagamit ko 'to ever!"

Napatulala lang ako kay Jamie. Aside from her convincing acting skills, may itinatagong disguise skills din pala siya. Well, sa sobrang galing niyang mag-disguise, 'di agad namin nalaman ang tungkol sa kakayahan niyang 'yon.

"Sigurado ba kayong walang naghinala sa ginawang pag-aayos sa ventilation ng Clarion?" tanong ko. Kahit kasi gaano kaperpekto ang disguise ni Jamie, kung may nakahalata kahit isa lang sa mga staffer, balewala ang effort namin.

"I've been watching them move around their office for two hours already," Loki replied, pointing at the laptop in front of him. "Not even once did they try to check the spots where the cameras were installed."

"Two hours..." bulong ko. "Teka, hindi ka pumasok sa klase mo?"

Lumingon si Loki sa akin. "Why should I? This is more interesting than listening to my Filipino instructor. And I already know the topic he's gonna discuss. I would only be wasting my time if I stayed there."

"Ni hindi ka nagpa-attendance man lang?" sunod na tanong ko. Hindi naman sa pagiging OA, pero concerned talaga ako sa academic performance niya. I know that this investigation is so important, but he shouldn't sacrifice his education over it.

"Nope!" Loki said with emphasis. "We are pursuing a student who's probably embezzling funds from the students' pockets. Between a boring classroom discussion and an exciting investigation, it's not really a difficult choice to make. Though to be honest, watching them sit for hours is getting me bored already."

Kahit kailan talaga, itong si Loki, hahanap at hahanap ng paraan para hindi pumasok sa klase niya. Hindi ba niya naisip na baka ibagsak siya ng mga instructor niya kapag napadalas ang pagiging absent niya? Remember that time when he got zero in a quiz? He said he's not interested in numbers. But in this school, numbers are needed to pass. Ayaw niya bang mag-graduate on time?

"Instead of mentally berating me, why don't you share the results of your exploits?" he asked. Changing the topic, huh?

"Oo nga!" Heto namang si Jamie, kukunsitihin pa ang pagiging bulakbol ni Loki. If she really cares about her Loki dear, she should be as concerned as I am when it comes to his academics. "May nakita ba kayong discrepancy sa records ng Clarion at ng printing press."

"Unfortunately, the numbers in both records matched," Alistair answered, shaking his head. "Walang finorge na quotation o pinalitang amount si Gus doon sa isinubmut nilang report sa Accounting Office."

"So that's a dead-end?" Loki sighed. Nakatutok pa rin ang mga mata niya sa laptop screen. He maximized the frame where Augustus could be seen seated. After a few seconds, biglang tumayo ang editor-in-chief at tila may kausap na sa phone. He started walking around in his cubicle. "Fortunately, we still have Plan B and Plan C. We only need to watch Augustus' movements closely and wait for him to show us whatever that can incriminate him."

"We found no discrepancy in the records," I repeated. "But we figured out something more disturbing."

Loki and Jamie turned to me habang si Rye ay napatigil sa paglalaro ng lollipop stick sa kanyang bibig.

"Disturbing?" Rye repeated.

Nagkatinginan muna kami ni Alistair. Tumango siya sa akin, signal na ako na ang maunang magpapaliwanag. "We believe that Augustus and the general manager of the printing press are working together. Kaya walang discrepancy sa records ay dahil nagkasundo sila sa presyo na ilalagay sa quotation."

"Pero bakit niya gagawin 'yon?" tanong ni Jamie. "Paano siya magbe-benefit sa gano'ng arrangement?"

"It's possible that the general manager will receive a cut from the Clarion's requested money," Alistair replied. "If he's not after the money, then maybe he's being blackmailed by Augustus to cooperate. Either of which can explain kung bakit mukhang malinis ang kanilang agreement."

"Where did you get this idea?" tanong ni Jamie sabay tingin sa akin.

"Biglang nag-pop up lang sa 'kin ang angle na 'to," sagot ko. "Rosetta and I were discussing about her upcoming business venture. Nabanggit kasi niya sa akin na pinagkakasunduan niya at ng online partner niya kung magkano ang perfume na ibebenta nila. It occured to me na baka gano'n din ang naging arrangement ni Augustus at ng general manager."

Minsan talaga, ang mga random conversation natin sa mga tao ang nagbibigay ng ideas sa atin. Kung 'di ako kinonsult ni Rosie tungkol sa business venture niya, malamang nagmumukmok na ako ngayon at depressed na dahil sa dead-end.

"So the general manager can manipulate the original cost of printing, huh?" Loki caressed his chin. "Augustus' power extends outside the campus. I don't know if we should be worried or not."

"Maybe we can talk to the general manager again?" Alistair suggested. "Baka pwede natin siyang mapakiusapan na makipag-cooperate sa ating investigation. After all, pera ng mga estudyante ang pinaglalaruan nilang dalawa ni Gus. Pwede siyang kasuhan kung may violation siya."

Loki chuckled. "Do you seriously think he would sell out Augustus once we appeal to his conscience? I don't know how long they've been doing this secret arrangement, but if he really did have conscience, he would have told Augustus to stop long ago."

"Posible rin kasing bina-blackmail siya ni Gus kaya hindi niya mapigilan," tugon ni Alistair. "Maybe we can help him. Pwede nating kunin kay Gus kung ano ang bagay na ginagamit na pam-blackmail sa kanya. Once we hold our end of the bargain, maybe he's gonna talk?"

Napatayo na si Loki at naglakad-lakad sa palibot ng mesa. "Adding another layer of investigation into this Augustus case can slow us down. What we need to do is to expose that there's a secret arrangement and force him to cooperate with us."

"Paano mo balak gawin 'yan?" tanong ni Rye. "The records of the Clarion and the printing press, according to your friends, matched. We also can't install listening bugs in the printing press office. Pwede tayong umasa na baka tawagan ni Augustus ang general manager habang nasa Clarion office siya. Our bugs might pick their conversation. Pero may chance na umaasa lang tayo sa wala."

"Question: How would we know if something's off with the numbers that the printing press wrote in their quotation?" tanong ni Loki na palakad-lakad sa harapan namin. Para siyang isang quiz master na biglang naglabas ng trivia sa kalagitnaan ng seryosong discussion.

Ilang segundo rin akong mapaisip. Dahil galing mismo sa printing press ang cost of production, it would be hard to dispute the numbers. Sila ang mas nakakaalam kung magkano ang presyo ng papel, ng ink, ng makinang gagamitin at iba pang bagay na related sa printing. They could say na mahal ang cost ng mga material para ma-justify ang quotation.

Paano nga kaya?

How can we argue na may mali sa ibinigay na quotation?

"Any volunteer?" tanong ni Loki.

Teka! May idea na sumagi sa isip ko.

"I'm not sure about this method, but hear me out," sabi ko sabay krus ng aking mga braso. "Nang kinausap namin ang general manager kanina, kinompare namin ang numbers sa record ng printing press at sa report ng Clarion. Walang nakitang discrepancy."

Tumango lahat sila sa akin habang si Loki'y taimtim na nakikinig.

"What if i-compare natin ang quotation na ibinigay ng printing press sa Clarion at ang quotations na ibinibigay nila sa iba pang student publication?" tanong ko.

"What?" kunot-noong tugon ni Jamie. "Hindi kita ma-gets, Lori. Bakit mo iko-compare ang quotation ng Clarion sa iba pang school? Hindi naman damay ang ibang student publications sa issue ni Augustus, 'di ba?"

"Ganito." Lumapit ako sa kanila. They leaned closer to me. "Isipin natin na pareho ang size ng issue, number of pages, quality ng paper, at number of copies na ipapa-print ng Clarion at ng isa pang student publication. Dapat magkapareho ang total cost sa quotations ng dalawa, tama? Kasi pareho lang dapat ang cost ng materials at production."

"I see!" Alistair nodded. "Kung pareho lang ang specifics pero magkaiba ang total cost of production ng Clarion at ng Publication X, may masasabi tayong discrepancy sa prices."

"Pwede nating gamiting bala 'yon laban sa general manager," dagdag ko.

"Perfect, Lorelei," Loki said, clapping. "That's also the answer I have in mind."

"Pero saan tayo makakakuha ng quotations ng ibang student publication?" tanong ni Jamie. "Mag-i-school-to-school ba tayo at hihingan ng copy ng quotations ang kanilang editorial board?"

"Baka hindi tayo bigyan ng copies dahil transaction 'yon sa pagitan ng school at ng printing press," sagot ni Rye.

"We can't ask for the quotations of other student publications from the printing press," Alistair added. "That might raise suspicions and the general manager will be on his guard."

Loki sighed. That sigh sounded like he has a better idea. "We don't need to ask anyone to give us a copy of their quotations from the printing press. We only need to create a fake publication layout that matches the details of the Clarion's releases and request for a quotation from the same printing press that the Clarion employs."

"Won't that take too much time?" tanong ko. Gets ko naman kung ano ang plano. Kapag hindi nag-match ang price sa quotation para sa ginawa naming fake layout at ang quotation ng Clarion kahit pareho ang specifics, something's definitely wrong. "It's not easy to recreate something."

"Don't worry," Loki assured us. Huminto na siya sa paglalakad at humarap sa amin. "While we're busy attacking Augustus in other fronts, someone would do that job for us."

"And who is that someone?"

"Have you forgotten about one of my Irregulars, Herschel?" Loki asked. "He surely has a desktop publishing and typesetting software installed in one of his laptops. This job is gonna be a piece of cake for him."

Ah, that's right! Hershey is a tech genius! Remember that time when the Clarion tried to bring the QED Club down? May mga voice clip noon 'yong news writer kung saan dini-discredit ang mga achievement namin. Hershey came to the rescue and edited the voice clips using his technological genius. If he can do something that complicated, madali lang sa kanya ang gumawa ng fake layout ng isang student publication issue!

"I will send him a copy of the quotations for reference," Loki added. "In this way, we can expose the discrepancy in how the printing press gives their prices. We can question the general manager and he would be left with no choice but to spill the beans."

"Not a bad plan," Alistair agreed. Tumango rin sina Jamie at Rye.

"I will call Herschel later so he'd start coming up with a fake issue layout," Loki said. "Time is of the essence so I might need to pressure him."

"Who are you going to pressure?"

Halos mapatalon kami sa gulat nang bumukas ang pinto. Akala namin kung sino na, si Maggie lang pala.

"Sorry for being late," she said. "The student council summoned me to finalize the preparations for the event on Friday. What did I miss?"

Muntik ko nang makalimutan, magkakaroon pala ng event sa Biyernes. Loki has some ingenious trick up his sleeve against Augustus on that day. The only question is if it would work against the editor-in-chief.

Rye took the honor to explain what we discussed a few moments ago. Kami nama'y nagbigay ng input tungkol sa plano naming gumawa ng fake student publication issue.

While Loki was explaining who Herschel was to Maggie, saglit na nagawi ang tingin ko sa laptop screen. Augustus was still in his cubicle and on his phone. Kanina pa siya naglalakad nang paikot-ikot doon.

This time, he stopped at the edge of the frame for a few seconds. He then looked up and stared at the camera habang may kausap siya sa phone. Nanindig ang mga balahibo ko nang tila magtagpo ang tingin namin.

But it was only for a second. Baka nagawi lang ang tingin niya sa direksyon ng camera. Minsan nga, 'di ba, sandaling nagkakasalubong ang tingin natin sa mga stranger na nakakasalamuha natin.

Well, I hope that's the case here.

Ibinalikwas ni Augustus ang kanyang tingin, ibinaba ang hawak niyang phone at muling bumalik sa kanyang upuan.

q.e.d.