CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter may contain content that might be troubling to some readers, including, but not limited to, depictions of and references to death, self-harm and suicide, graphic violence, sexual assault, strong language and more.

Please be mindful of these sensitive themes and other possible triggers. Remember to practice self-care before, during and after reading.

LORELEI

THE CASE of the so-called Twinkle, Twinkle Murders was closed at last. The news about Officer Bastien Montreal's involvement in the foiled serial killings was never brought to light in the fear that the incident would undermine the integrity of the police. The Clarion, though privy to this information, chose not to publish anything related to the case.

Sa mga sumunod na araw, bumalik na sa normal ang lahat na parang walang nangyari. Alistair and I continued our seemingly peaceful student lives as we intently listened to Sir Jim Morayta's math lesson. Hindi gano'n kagrabe ang tamang tinamo niya mula sa police officer na kaniyang naka-one-on-one, pero may iniinda pa rin siyang kaunting sakit.

Pag-ring ng school bell, binigyan kami ng assignment at pinaalalahanang may quiz bukas. Once the class was dismissed, our classmates began to leave the room. Hinintay ako ni Alistair na matapos sa pag-aayos ng gamit habang nagpaalam ang seatmate kong si Rosetta na mauuna sa cafeteria.

"Lorelei? Alistair?"

Lumingon kami sa teacher namin na binubura ang isinulat niya sa whiteboard. His eyeglasses reflected the light outside, making it hard for me to see if he was looking in my direction. Isinara ko ang aking bag at lumapit sa teacher's desk. Alistair and I exchanged curious glances as we waited for our instructor to finish cleaning the board.

"Yes, sir?"

"I believe it's time for us to talk about the Moriarty case." Sir Morayta put the whiteboard eraser in his small box. "We're overdue for a chat."

Nangilabot ako matapos marinig ang codename ng mastermind. Sinabihan na niya ako noong suspended pa si Loki na marami raw kaming dapat pag-usapan. He also said back in the Diogenes Café that he was our ally. Last week's incident must have compelled him to reach out to us.

"Mga anong oras at saan po, sir?" tanong ko.

Chineck niya ang oras sa kaniyang relo. "Let's meet at the student executive committee office in thirty minutes? May kakausapin muna ako sa faculty room."

"Sige po."

"See you later."

He dismissed me and Alistair. Lumabas na kami ng kababata ko mula sa classroom—iniwan siyang nag-aayos ng mga gamit niya—at dumeretso na sa QED clubroom.

"He was the one who called the police, right?" tanong ni Alistair, sadyang hininaan ang boses para hindi marinig ng mga nakasalubong naming estudyante. Na-knockout nga pala siya kagabi bago kami iniligtas ng mga awtoridad. I was unable to tell him the other details once he regained consciousness. "But how did he know where we were that night?"

Napakibit-balikat ako. "Either he was keeping an eye on us or he was able to track Officer Montreal's phone like Herschel." The former was more likely than the latter. Our math instructor never struck me as tech savvy.

"Does that mean he's truly an ally? If he's with the enemy, he would not have called the police. He would have let that rogue officer harm us."

"The jury is still out. But I sincerely hope he's not one of the bad guys."

"I sincerely hope that he is not one of the bad guys."

Mula nang makilala ko si Sir Morayta, wala akong na-sense na evil aura mula sa kaniya kaya kumpiyansa akong hindi siya kabilang sa mga tauhan ni Moriarty. He was also old enough to be serving as a pawn to a young mastermind who considered himself as a king.

Tanging si Loki ang nadatnan namin sa clubroom. His face was covered by latest issue of the Clarion. Surprisingly, there were no signs of Jamie. Either late siyang darating o hindi siya pumasok ngayong araw.

"Jamie's not feeling well so she won't be joining us today," sabi niya pagkababa ng binabasang diyaryo. I did not say anything, but Loki said my thoughts out loud. Me looking around the clubroom might have given it away.

"She witnessed the gruesome scene of Officer Montreal's suicide, right?" Umupo si Alistair sa tabi ko at itinabi ang bag niya. "As someone with retentive memory, she must have been traumatized by it."

One could say that having an excellent memory was a gift. But for those who possessed it, that blessing could also be a curse. Baka binangungot si Jamie ng kasindak-sindak na image ng nagpakamatay na pulis.

Napatakip ako ng bibig nang muling sumagi sa isip ko ang itsura ng lalaking 'yon matapos barilin ang sarili. Wala man akong matalas na memorya katulad sa kasama namin, sariwa pa rin sa isip ko ang nangyari. Imagine kung magpe-persist ang gano'ng kadugong image sa utak mo, it would scar you for life.

Ikinuwento namin kay Loki ang imbitasyon ni Sir Morayta na makipag-meet mamayang alas-dose sa execom office. Mukhang hindi na siya masyadong nagulat pa.

"It's time for us to share information, huh?" Itinupi niya ang diyaryo at inihagis sa bookshelf bago tumayo at naglakad-lakad. "It's taken them a while to contact us."

"Now that we know Augustus Moran is one of Moriarty's generals," sinundan ko siya ng tingin, "maybe we should share—"

"But why?" Kumunot ang noo ko. "If they can help us solve the Moriarty case, dapat nating i-share sa kanila ang mga impormasyong alam natin."

"We're not yet sure if they're truly our allies. Remember what Baste said in the interrogation room? The other three generals perform administrative and reconnaissance duties. They may not commit murder, but they keep the whole organization running. They must have some semblance of authority as a front."

"What do you mean?"

"Moriarty has planted Augustus in the student publication." Napasulyap si Alistair sa kopya ng Clarion sa taas ng shelf. "Whoever his remaining two generals are, they must hold the same level of position, if not something close to the top."

"So it's possible they're part of the student council, the student executive committee or the faculty?"

Speaking of the student council, sumagi agad sa isip ko si Luthor. Loki used to describe him as someone who reeked of evil and manipulative—a seemingly perfect fit to be one of Moriarty's top officials. But the idea that his brother would associate himself with that murderous organization was ridiculous to me.

"By the way," may naalala ako, "you asked Officer Montreal some important questions in the interrogation room, but he didn't give any direct answers. Why didn't you press the questions?"

Sandali siyang huminto. "You may not have noticed it, but he answered them. Not in the most obvious way, of course."

"Did his finger tapping have anything to do with it? Inoobserbahan mo kasi ang bawat tap ng daliri niya noon."

"He communicated via Morse code. A short tap represents a dot while a long tap represents a dash. He may have verbally answered no, but he secretly answered yes."

Hindi ko memorized ang Morse code kaya wala akong ideya sa isinagot ng officer sa kaniya.

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Alistair sa akin. "What sort of questions were asked?"

"He asked him if Stein Alberts is Moriarty and if Rhea's death was connected to the files that she requested from the campus police," sagot ko. "Officer Montreal pretended to have no idea about them."

"He answered 'yes' to those questions," dagdag ni Loki. "I had my doubts about Moriarty's identity. But hearing it from one of his so-called generals, I'm now inclined to think that Stein is the real criminal mastermind."

During one of our discussions in the apartment, he brought up the possibility that Stein might not be the man pulling the strings in all the evildoings on campus. But now that the late officer sort of confessed the truth last week, his doubts could have been dispersed.

"Anyway, it's almost time for the meeting. Mas mabuti kung hindi tayo male-late."

"Let's hear what they have to say."

Bumaba na kaming tatlo sa ground floor at nagtungo sa office ng student executive committee. The student council office was literally next door kaya pagtitig ko sa katabing pinto nito, tila naramdaman ko ang chilling aura ng vice president. Tatlong beses na kumatok si Alistair bago siya pinagbuksan ng isang lalaking may badge na naka-pin sa lapel niya. We told him that we came here to meet with Sir Morayta. Pinapasok niya kami.

Teka. Bakit nga pala rito napiling makipag-meet ng math instructor namin? We could have met sa faculty room.

The execom office was almost as big as the student council's. This was my first time being here. Maraming papel ang nakakalat sa round table sa gitna kung saan nakapalibot ang apat na estudyante, kasama na si Margarette. Sa likod ay may mga lateral cabinet at sa pader ay may whiteboard at corkboard.

"What brings our famous detective club here?" she asked. Wala man lang good afternoon o simpleng hi at hello.

Hinila ni Loki ang isang office chair at umupo roon. Parang feel at home siya rito. "We've been invited to a tea party with Sir Morayta. I believe you're invited as well."

Upon hearing the name of my teacher, inutusan ni Margarette ang mga kasama niyang ayusin ang mga nakakalat na papel sa mesa. Umupo rin kami ni Alistair sa tabi ni Loki, kaharap ang chairwoman. Nang malinis na, deretso silang lumabas ng office.

"You must be one of the new recruits." Nabaling ang tingin ng babaeng nakasalamin sa katabi ko. What's your name?"

"I'm Alistair Ravena. Pleased to meet you."

"Margarette Fernandez. The pleasure's mine." Iginala niya ang kaniyang mga mata sa amin na tila may hinahanap. "Where's Jamie Santiago? Himalang hindi n'yo siya kasabay na pumunta rito. Male-late ba siya ng dating?"

"She's absent," sagot ko. "Kaming tatlo lang ang mag-a-attend ng meeting."

"Is that so?" Sunod na bumaling ang tingin niya kay Loki. "Should I be surprised to see your little club grow? More members, more potential collateral damage, huh? I heard they almost got killed last week."

Parang nagpe-play ng piano si Loki dahil sa pag-tap ng mga daliri niya sa mesa. Sandali siyang nahinto, 'tapos nagpatuloy ulit. "I won't let any of them become a collateral damage."

"We shall see." Ngumisi siya sa kaniya bago tumingin sa akin. "That's not the first time you were put in danger, Lorelei. Binalaan na kita noong una. Sinabi ko na sa 'yong mamalasin ka kapag dumikit ka sa lalaking 'yan. Yet, you choose to be by his side, trying to stay alive."

"I've managed to survive every danger thus far. Maybe I'm that lucky."

"Pray that your luck doesn't run out. As long as you're with Loki, you will need quite a lot."

Our eyes locked into a staring contest before she resumed reading a document on her side. Tahimik kaming nakaupo habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Sir Morayta. Chineck ko ang oras sa aking phone. Halos fifteen minutes na ang lumipas mula nang pumasok kami rito. Nabagot na rin sa kahihintay si Loki kaya naisipan niyang maglaro sa kaniyang phone.

"Sir Morayta is unfortunately running late," sabi ni Margarette matapos basahin ang text message na natanggap niya. "Mukhang napahaba ang discussion niya at ng kausap niya. You can take your lunch if you want. He will be here by the time you're done."

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas bago may biglang kumatok at bumukas ng pinto. Umangat ang mga balikat ko sa pagkagulat.

"What is it this time?" tanong ni Margarette sa lalaking may naka-pin ding badge sa lapel.

"Maggie! May nangyari na namang nakawan!" Hinihingal pa ang lalaki at pilit na hinahabol ang hininga. Mukhang nagmadali siyang pumunta rito para ibalita kung anuman ang nakita niya. "Nagrereklamo na naman ang mga club sa ground floor! Nanakawan na naman daw sila ng lunch!"

"Again?" Ibinaba ng chairwoman ang hawak na folder. "Paano sila nanakawan?"

Napakibit-balikat ang lalaking nagngangalang Gaston. "Ang sabi ng mga nakausap ko, iniwan muna nila sa kani-kanilang clubroom ang biniling lunch meals mula sa cafeteria para maghugas ng kamay. Pagbalik nila, wala na 'yong mga pagkain!"

"Some people's lunch boxes are missing. So what?" Loki rolled his eyes as he resumed playing the game on his phone. "It's their fault that their food got stolen. Why make a big deal about it?"

"Dahil hindi lang 'to isang beses na nangyari! At hindi lang iisang club ang nabiktima! There were two or three clubs who experienced the same thing!" paliwanag ng lalaki na napa-double take sa amin. "Teka, ano nga palang ginagawa nila sa office natin? Taga-QED Club sila, 'di ba?"

"Sir Morayta wants to talk with them so—wait a minute!" Lumingon sa amin si Margarette. "While you three are here, why don't you take this case? This is right up your alley."

Tumigil si Loki sa pagsa-swipe sa screen, iniangat ang tingin niya sa chairwoman. "You want us to deal with someone else's minor inconvenience?"

"Call it a case. Some clubs occupying the first floor need your help. Why don't you try solving that little mystery while waiting for Sir Morayta to get here?"

"Missing lunch boxes don't interest me. And that case may not have an interesting feature worthy of my time."

"Diyan ka nagkakamali!" kontra ni Gaston. "Bago pumunta sa washroom ang mga estudyanteng nag-iwan ng lunch, ini-lock nila ang pinto ng kanilang clubrooms para makasiguro na walang ibang taong makapapasok at makapagnanakaw ng kanilang pagkain. Naka-lock pa rin ang pinto pagbalik nila, pero wala na ang kanilang binili sa loob!"

Nagtinginan kami ni Alistair habang mukhang wala pa ring pakialam si Loki. Kung isang bangkay ang natagpuan sa clubroom, malamang ay nauna siyang tumayo sa amin.

"A locked room case, huh?" bulong ng kababata ko. "Isn't that intriguing enough?"

q.e.d.