A/N: The third day of the second wave of updates! Things are gonna get messier!

I'd like to thank the readers for sharing their insights through their comments here on Wattpad or through their tweets! Reading your comments keeps me inspired to regularly update the series. It's kinda rewarding for me to know your thoughts and theories!

LORELEI

THE FIRST twenty-four hours of our search for Augustus' dead man's switch was somewhat futile. Our working theory is that the late chief editor entrusted his "box" to a person whom he trusts the most. We didn't know him very much kaya kinailangan naming magtanong-tanong.

We started with his colleagues in the Clarion. They all shared that their relationship with Augustus was only professional. Nag-uusap lang daw sila kapag may iuutos siya na related sa publication. Beyond that, they can't say na may ka-close talaga siya sa staff.

We moved on to his classmates in Grade 12-HUMSS. Tinanong namin kung sino ang mga kaibigan niya, but no one volunteered any name. In class, they said that Augustus maintained constant communication with everyone, but their connection with him never led to what they could consider as "friendship."

At the end of the day, wala kaming pangalan na nailagay sa aming suspect list. That was so frustrating! Gaya ng sinabi ni Rye sa morning meeting namin kahapon, it's like finding a needle in a haystack.

Either Augustus' colleagues and classmates failed to notice who he is close with, or one of them was lying. Or maybe, Augustus' confidant is in the circle that's out of our reach: someone in M's organization or someone from the outside.

Remember what Sir Jim Morayta told us about the school holding a memorial service for Augustus? The next day, we convened in the school gymasium for that ceremony. May malaking portrait niya sa stage. May urn na naka-display na may mga kasamang bulaklak. Some of us wore black armband as a way of mourning the dead.

"I get why we need to pay our last respects to him," Loki spoke as we sat on the bleachers. He would rather stay in the execom office than to join us. Kinailangan pa namin siyang hilahin ni Jamie. Nang magmatigas siya, we asked for Alistair's help. Hindi na siya nakapalag. "Given everything that we know about him, does he really deserve it? Does he deserve our sympathy?"

"Can you tone down your voice?" I whispered to him. We're in a solemn event, I hope he could shut his mouth for an hour. Napatingin ako sa paligid namin. May iilang nakasuot ng itim na armband. "Someone might hear you."

"I don't really like him," komento ni Jamie na umupo sa kanan ni Loki. She stuck to him like a leech. Para-Paraan nga naman. "But he's still a student of Clark High. May contribution siya sa honor at glory ng school natin. He won a number of journalistic competitions, mula division hanggang national. Under his leadership, the Clarion received a number of recognitions!"

"I assume that almost everyone here does not know about his other accomplishments?" Alistair commented, watching the other students with black armbands. "His involvement in M's organization and his embezzlement issue in the Clarion?"

Those facts weren't made public kaya 'di na kataka-taka kung karamihan ng mga estudyante rito, walang kaalam-alam kung ano ang "other side" ni Augustus. Inilibot ko ang aking tingin sa ibang taong nakaupo sa bleachers. They were mourning for a man who got his hands dirty. Yes, he brought honor to Clark High, but that doesn't wipe off the stain of his bad deeds.

Maybe the only people who know about Augustus' other business are the student council, the execom and the school officials. Sir Jim told us that he was gonna inform the higher-ups about the late editor's final act.

If we fail to find the "switch" before tomorrow, the entire Clark High would be in chaos. The secret of some students here would be exposed. I doubt that they would still mourn the death of the person behind the threat and revelation.

"...Augustus' legacy shall be etched in the history of Clark High. Forever," the student council president Emeraude Emerson said. Kagaya ng ibang student council officers, meron din siyang suot na black armband. She bowed. Normally the gymnasium would erupt in applause after her passionate speech, but this was a solemn moment. Behave ang mga estudyante.

Emeraude said some nice things about the late editor. She's well aware of what he did. But becasue this is Augustus' memorial, she had to highlight the good and forget the bad for a while. Hindi magandang pakinggan kung sasabihin niya ang masasamang ginawa ng yumaong editor.

She's right though. Forever nang maitatala sa history ng school namin ang legacy ni Augustus, lalo na kapag hindi namin napigilan ang leak na siya mismo ang may kagagawan.

"A somber morning to everyone," a man probably in his early forties stood before the lectern. Siya ang susunod na magbibigay ng eulogy. I saw him limping his way to the stage earlier, with a steel cane by his hand. That reminded me of Loki and Luthor's dad. "My name is Ephraim Quirino, the former adviser of Clark Clarion and a mentor to our dear Augustus. I've known him for two years..."

Nagawi kay Loki ang tingin ko. I expected to hear him ranting about how pretentious the speeches were and how boring the memorial service was. But his silence meant something was strange. Pero nakatulala siya sa kawalan at nakakrus ang mga braso.

I sighed. I almost forgot about that thing.

"Ang tahimik mo yata, Loki dear?" tanong ni Jamie. "Na-touch ka ba sa speech ni Emeraude? Kung 'di ko alam ang tunay na kulay ni Augustus, maiiyak na rin ako."

Alistair softly shushed her. Mukhang napansin din niya itong trick ng katabi namin. "Loki's sleeping."

"Sleeping?" pag-uulit ni Jamie na may pagkunot ng noo. "Paano siya natutulog e dilat na dilat ang mga mata niya? At hindi ko rin siya naririnig na humihilik. He must be taking the solemnity of the memorial seriously. Right, Loki dear?"

She nudged him on the elbow but she got no response.

"He knows how to sleep with his eyes wide open," I told her. I was somewhat amazed when I learned of that skill. "Kapag hindi niya gusto ang discussion sa klase nila, he resorts to that technique. Have you forgotten?"

Pasimpleng kumaway si Jamie sa harapan ni Loki. Wala man itong imik at hindi man kumurap ang mga mata nito.

"You may be right, Lori," Jamie muttered. "Magpapaturo nga ako sa kanya kung paano gawin 'yon. I might use that skill sa boring kong classes. And there are a lot of them!"

"I suggest that you don't," sabi ni Alistair. "Sleeping with your eyes open can damage them. Kapag natutulog tayo nang nakapikit ang ating mga mata, nalilinis at nare-repair ang cornea natin."

"So my Loki dear shouldn't be doing that!" Jamie almost exclaimed. Yuyugyugin na sana niya si Loki but I stopped her.

"Just let him sleep," sabi ko. "Late na siyang natulog kagabi. That nap might help him feel better."

I thought of waking him up, pero mas mabuti na sigurong tulog itong si Loki. I don't want to listen to his side comments. Baka may iba pang makarinig sa kanya at gumawa siya ng gulo. We already ahd too much on our plate, we can't afford to add another.

"I'm Friedrich Rivera, some of you know me as Sir Rich," the new adviser of the Clarion took the spotlight. "I've only known and worked with Augustus for three weeks, but I've observed a lot about him. And I can confirm that what the people before me said are nothing but facts..."

Ah, yes! Three weeks pa lang pala si Sir Rich na nagtuturo sa Clark High. Akala ko talaga noong una, nang makita niya kami ni Alistair sa tapat ng Clarion office, isusumbong na niya kami. Instead of reporting us, he volunteered some files that supported our theory the next time we met. Remember those quotations that he got from other publishers showing the overpriced cost in the Clarion's quotation? That was a huge help.

He seemed to be an ally. I hope he is. I'm starting to like him.

The memorial service lasted for about an hour. At the end, we offered our prayers and bade the late editor-in-chief our final goodbyes. May ilan sa mga kasamahan niya sa Clarion at mga kaklase niya ang napahagulgol.

Unfortunately for me, Augustus hasn't given his farewell. Hanggang sa mga sandaling 'to, ginugulo pa rin niya ang buhay ko. He's already dead, but he's still aiming to win the game posthumously.

Kinurot ko na sa tagiliran si Loki para magising na. He almost jumped from his seat.

"Is it over?" he asked before yawning.

"Yup," I answered as I stood.

"Napasarap yata ang tulog mo, Loki dear?" tanong ni Jamie.

"I had a dream where Augustus tried to kill us," sagot ni Loki. Ilang beses niyang kinusot ang kanyang mga mata. He shouldn't do that. "Well, I knew it was a dream because there's no way he could still be alive."

"But his presence still lingers," Alistair added.

Nagsitayuan na ang mga estudyante sa paligid namin at maingat na bumaba sa mga bleacher. Pinauna na namin silang umalis. Ayaw kong makipag-unahan. Nang mabawasan na ang mga tao sa gymnasium, sumunod na kami.

"Now that this unnecessary ceremony is over, we can focus our attention on more important matters," Loki said, jumping from the last step of the bleachers. "It's time to continue the hunt for the switch."

"Miss Rios?"

Lumingon ako sa aking kaliwa at nakitang patakbo sa direksyon ko si Sir Rich. Mukhang kakatapos lang nilang mag-usap ng dating adviser ng Clarion. Napatingin din sa kanya ang tatlo kong kasama.

"Who is he?" bulong ni Loki.

Oo nga pala. Kaming dalawa pa lang ni Alistair ang nakakakilala sa kanya. "This is Sir Rich, the new adviser of the Clarion."

"Oh," Loki muttered. He stared at the teacher longer than a minute. Parang may pinag-aaralan siya sa mukha nito. Maybe he's trying to read what kind of person he is. "Isn't he the one who provided us with the quotations from other publishers?"

Sir Rich nodded. Iniabot niya ang kanyang kamay kay Loki. The latter shook hands with him. "You must be Loki Mendez! My name's Friedrich Rivera. Everyone calls me Sir Rich. I'm happy to help the QED Club in any way I can. I've read some of the stories written by Lorelei here. What an honor to meet the four of you in person!"

He's probably in his mid-forties pero parang nagpa-fanboy siya sa harap ng kanyang idols.

"And you must be the gorgeous Jamie Santiago," Sir Rich said, with too much emphasis on gorgeous. Sunod niyang inalok ng pakikipagkamay ang katabi ko. "I've read about your retentive memory. That must be an awesome gift!"

Jamie flipped her braided hair before shaking hands with him. "What can I say, sir? I'm really gifted. Kitang-kita naman, 'di ba?"

Bumalikwas sa ibang direksyon ang tingin ko. Her retentive memory was both a blessing and a curse to her. Nakatutulong kapag may naiimbestigahan. Nakasasama kapag may nakikita siyang image na disturbing.

"Do you mind if I talk to Lorelei in private?" tanong ni Sir Rich. "Don't worry, it won't take that long."

Napatingin ako sa tatlo kong kasama at marahang tumango. "Sige, mauna na kayo sa execom office. Susunod ako."

I can't let Loki wait for a few minutes. Excited na siyang ipagpatuloy ang imbestigasyon namin. I'd rather have him go ahead than hear him quietly muttering why the talk was taking so long.

The three went ahead while Sir Rich led me toward the stage. Napaisip ako kung bakit gusto niya akong kausapin nang ako lang mag-isa. Did I do something wrong?

"I mentioned before na may mga connection ako sa publishers, 'di ba?" pambungad na tanong niya.

May nabanggit nga siya noong Monday tungkol sa umano'y "connection" niya. Bigatin ang mga pangalan ng publishing companies na kinontak niya. He's an English teacher so maybe it's not uncommon for him to be well connected to the publishing industry.

"Are you interested on having your works published?" he asked next as I gave him a nod. "Because I believe that your writing has a huge potential."

Ilang beses na kumurap ang mga mata ko habang nakatitig sa kanya. Bumukas ang aking bibig, may naiisip akong sabihin, pero walang lumabas na boses.

Tama ba ang narinig ko? He's asking me if I wanna be a published writer?

"I... uhm... I..."

"The thought hasn't crossed your mind?" Sir Rich smiled. "Pasensya na kung bigla kitang tinanong. I should have taken it slowly. But I'm so excited to tell you about this opportunity."

"I d-don't know ho kung deserving ba ako sa o-opportunity na 'yan," I stammered. Honestly, I didn't know what to say. I was already happy na i-consider ng Clarion na i-publish ang ilang blog entries ko sa kanilang literary folio. That's already an achievement for me. But this? My stories getting published for real? Out there? In the bookstores? This is too much.

"I know what you're feeling," Sir Rich said, gently holding me on my shoulder. "I was a writer in my younger years and the thought of getting published overwhelmed me. If your dream is to see your book in the bookstores, then this might be the chance."

Huminga ako nang malalim. Getting published is not really my ultimate dream. Parang side quest lang siya para sa akin.

"I only wrote those blog entries as a hobby. I find writing therapeutic for me," sagot ko na may kasamang pagngiti. Naalala ko kasi 'yong araw na nag-start akong magsulat sa adventures ng QED Club. Kami pa lang ni Loki ang member noon. Sunod na dumagdag si Jamie, tapos si Alistair. "Hindi ko ho alam kung worth it bang ma-publish ang mga isinusulat ko."

"I was reading the literary folio and I read your entries," Sir Rich shared. "I can say confidently that you have the potential. Kung willing kang i-grab ang opportunity na 'to, I'm here to guide you. I can be your editor."

Pakiramdam ko'y namumula na ang pisngi ko. I'm not really used to receiving compliments.

"Look, I know that this is a lot to process," sabi niya nang hindi ako makakibo. "Baka busy ka rin sa iba pang school-related duties. I will give you some time to think about it. Pero gusto ko sanang i-consider mo ang opportunity na 'to. Kapag may sagot ka na o kung may tanong ka pa, feel free to contact me."

Ibinigay niya sa akin ang kanyang business card.

"Sorry, but I've got to go. Have a good day, Miss Rios," paalam ni Sir Rich. Nagsimula na siyang maglakad palayo pero lumingon siya sa akin sa huling pagkakataon. "Please think about it."

I stared at his name on the card. Nandito rin ang phone number niya. The idea of getting published excites me but... I had to deal with the problems at hand. Mabuti't binigyan niya ako ng time para pag-isipan kung i-e-entertain ko ang opportunity. I need to clear my head muna para makapagdesisyon ako nang maayos.

I had to deal with Augustus first.

Palabas na ako ng gymnasium nang may maramdaman akong kakaibang lamig. Nanindig ang mga balahibo ko kahit hindi gano'n kalakas ang aircon dito. Wala rin akong nakitang nakakapangilabot.

This could only mean two things: Either Augustus was making his ghostly presence felt or that person was nearby.

"You look troubled," Luthor spoke behind me. May suot siyang sunglasses. I thought it's strange for him to put on that kind of eyewear, but I remembered that Loki punched him in the face thrice. Pumutok ang kilay at ang labi niya. May pasa pa rin siya sa mukha. Nagbiro pa nga ang kapatid niya na bakit may bulag daw na nasa gymnasium.

"I've been offered with an opportunity." I heaved a long sigh. "I don't know if I should take it or not. Anyway, what's up?"

Luthor and I haven't spoken since the day Augustus died. Well, we don't regularly speak to each other. Everything went according to our plan, except the part of the editor dying.

Sabay na kaming naglakad patungo sa school building. I was worried at first na baka may ibang makakita sa amin. But I guess there's nothing wrong with the student council vice president walking with an execom member. Sakto ang suot niyang sunglasses dahil tirik na tirik ang sikat ng araw. I had to shield my eyes from the blinding light with my hand.

"I assume that you haven't had any breakthrough in finding Augustus' confidant?" he asked, putting his hands behind him.

I shook my head. "We hit a deadend yesterday. Walang nakakaalam kung sino-sino ang mga ka-close ni Augustus. I don't know kung intensyonal niyang hindi pinapakita sa mga tao kung sino ang malalapit sa kanya o talagang wala siyang kaibigan."

"Maybe you're looking at this case frm the wrong angle," he commented.

"Maybe," I muttered. "Baka wala rito sa Clark High ang confidant niya. Baka nasa labas. If that's the case, I can't say kung may enough time pa tayo para mapigilan ang leak bukas."

"We have to prepare for the worst, huh?" Luthor said, looking up at the clear skies. "Storm clouds are brewing over Clark High, but we don't know where it's going to strike."

"Aside from the confidant, there's also the issue of Augustus' death," sabi ko sabay tingin sa kanya. That's still a mystery to everyone. "We still don't know who killed him and why. Do you have any idea?"

Sandaling nagawi sa akin ang tingin niya, nagdadalawang-isip siguro kung dapat ba niyang i-share sa akin ang nalalaman niya. He had already confessed to me his deepest and darkest secret, so what else should he hide from me?

"Stein sounded like he had no idea about what happened to Augustus," Luthor revealed. That's exactly the same thing that Jamie told us yesterday. Kung gano'n, nagsasabi siya nang totoo. Not that I doubt her, pero mas mabuting may mag-corroborate sa mga isine-share niya sa amin. "As soon as he found out, he told me to be prepared for what might come."

Natahimik ako habang patuloy kami sa paglalakad. There's one thought in my head that sounded absurd, but I wanna still ask him.

"Tell me, Luthor. You had nothing to do with Augustus' death, right?"

He halted. His eyes looked down on me and his figure casted as shadow over me.

Back in the board room, Luthor was the farthest one from Augustus, being at the opposite end of the table. The distance would make it difficult for him to hit the editor with a blow dart, unless he's an excellent marksman, which I don't think he is. Isa rin siya sa mga hindi lumabas ng board room kaya wala siyang opportunity para itago o itapon ang murder weapon. The police should have found something when they conducted a body search on him.

"I might have considered laying a finger on him... if I didn't know about the consequence of his death," Luthor answered as he kept on walking. Sumabay na rin ako sa kanya. "Him dying might mean the end for me. I can't take that risk. I'd rather have him under control than to kill him."

Pareho rin sa sinabi ni Jamie kahapon. Stein, Luthor or anyone in their organization wouldn't dare to have Augustus killed. Masyadong risky para sa kanila. They could only do that kung nasa kanila na ang "Augustus' Box." But as Loki pointed out yesterday, Stein doesn't have it yet.

"So someone else wanted him dead. Someone who might not be from our group and your group," I muttered. "The question is who? We really need to see the toxicology report para may additional details tayo sa circumstances ng pagkamatay niya."

"The campus police wouldn't want your involvement," Luthor reminded me. "But let me see if I can pull some strings."

"That will be much appreciated," I replied. "Thank you."

"I should be the one thanking you." Luthor gave me a sidelong glance. "You foiled Augustus' plan of exposing my secret to my brother. And you took the black bishop off the board. I should have been free to make my next move, if it weren't for Augustus' final act."

I can't take all the credit. It's really a team effort. Luthor and Loki had a part to play in it. Sir Rich also helped us even if he wasn't part of the team.

"Ready ka na ba?" tanong ko. "Sakaling hindi natin mapigilan ang leak bukas?"

"I have given this situation much thought," Luthor answered, looking ahead. "If we don't find the confidant, I only have two options: Tell my brother about my involvement in M's organization or let the confidant expose my secret. Either way, the outcome is the same. I should expect more than three punches in my face from him."

Kung iisipin, parang dry run na pala 'yong drama nilang magkapatid sa locker area. Ayaw ko talagang makita ang totoong galit ni Loki. Enough na ang napanood kong pag-atake niya kay Stein noon.

I don't want to be there when that happens, but I have to. If worse comes to worst, I have to be there to knock some sense into Loki. I have to be there for him.

"Just in case na malusutan natin 'to," sambit ko. "What are you planning to do next, if I may ask?"

"I shall begin making moves to put the black King in checkmate," he replied.

King?

"Have you heard of the phrase 'Nature abhors a vacuum'? Stein is the king and the organization is his kingdom. He has a crown on his head. The truth is, Stein is actually a su—"

"A king passes down his crown to the next king. The word that Augustus might be trying to say is successor. It's the only word that can fit his king-kingdom analogy."

I remembered what Augustus and Loki said about the word "king." The title "Moriarty" is a crown and his organization is a kingdom. It can be passed down from one person to another. Whoever wears the crown controls the organization.

My eyes looked at Luthor intently. Something clicked in me. Naalala ko ang arrangement ng chessboard sa student council office. He wanted to have the black bishop removed from the board so nothing stood between him and the black King. With Augustus gone, wala nang nakaharang.

Now he's preparing to make a move against the black King.

"Once you eliminate the black King, what will happen next?" I asked curiously. "Will someone pick up his crown and become the new King? And is that someone possibly you?"

For the second time today, his eyes looked down on me with that chilling gaze, as if I shouldn't have asked that question.

The school bell rang. He offered me no answer.

"Good luck on your hunt, Lorelei," he said, walking ahead.

Saved by the bell.

q.e.d.

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