LORELEI

I was sleeping when someone knocked non-stop on my door and it irritates me. Even if my bed wants me to lay on it again I went to my door to see who ruined my peaceful sleep. When I opened the door I saw Loki at mukhang aalis ito, Hindi kasi siya nakapambahay.

"Go dressed up Inspector Estrada called and said he needs our help." Tsk. Demanding pa.

"Ang aga-aga pa he Loki besides nandoon naman si Hel diba?" Hel is Inspector Estrada's assistant so she is supposed to be the one to help Insp. Estrada not us.

"Malaga pala ang 9:30 para sa iyo no. Hel is sick that's why he called me instead."

"Huh, Fine. Wait for me."Pagkasabi ko nun akmang isasara ko na ang pinto pero narinig ko siyang bumulong.

"I will always wait for you my dear Lorelei." Well, I must've misheard it.

I went to the bathroom and got ready for Loki's so called Case

...

After getting ready I went out of my room and I saw him sitting on the couch reading SHERLOCK HOLMES: A STUDY IN SCARLET.

"Mr. Valdez is waiting for us outside." It's Vasquez Loki not Valdez. Then he closed his book then placed it on the table."Let's go!"

Pagkalabas namin ng apartment at nakasalubong namin si tita Martha.

"Saan kayo pupuntang dalawa?"tanong ni tita.

"Were just gonna visit a friend Miss Landlady." Liar.

"Ah akala ko mag de-date kayong dalawa e." No tita, no a big no-no. N.O.- NO

"Hindi po tita. Imposible po iyon." Pag tatama ko sa kanya. Ngunit nang mapasulyap ako sa aking kasama, may pagkadismaya sa kaniyang mukha. Bakit kaya?

"Let's go Lorelei, Mr. Velasquez is waiting for us." Pag-iiba niya ng usapan.

"O sige po tita alis na ho kami."

"Sige ingat kayo."

...

Pagkasakay namin sa kotse ni Loki ni isa at wala ng nag salita sa amin. As usual he's playing Criminal Case while I am just watching the the buildings as we passed by.

Pero parang pamilyar ang daan na aming tinatahak. Suddenly we stopped at a familiar house. This is the house of...

"Jamie." Loki said. Pshh. He read my mind again

"You said we're going on a case why are we at Jamie's house."

"This is the address Insp. Estrada sent me. I'm also shocked." Na shock ka pa sa lagay na iyan ha.

"Let's just see what's inside." He said and we went closer to the gate. But I saw a police car coming towards our direction. It also stopped at front of Jamie's house.

"Loki!" Ahh! It's Insp. Estrada.

"Well Insp. What was the case you're talking about?" Loki asked . I am also curious.

"It's a kidnaping Case." Wait! Jamie's House, Kidnaping. Don't tell me...

"Jamie is kidnapped." Loki and I said in chorus.

"I think the victims name is Jamie pero pumasok Munda tayo sa loon para sigurado." Then Insp. Pressed the doorbell button. After few seconds a woman opened it and guess who that woman is

"Ah Kayo ba yung mga pulis?" Tanong ni Tita Dolores. The housekeeper of the Santiago's

"Opo mam, maari po ba kami ng pumasok?" Tanong ni Inspector.

"Sige,pasok kayo!" At pinapasok kami ni Tita Dolores. Pag pasok namin at pinaupo niya kami sa couch.

"Salamat at nakarating kayo, hindi ko na kasi alam kung saan hahanapin ang batang iyon." So si Jamie nga ang nawawala.

"Sana nyo po siya huling nakita?" Tanong ni Loki. Hindi talaga ako sanay na hindi siya nage-english

"Dito din sa bahay, pupunta kasi siya sa libing ng tatay ng pinsan niya kaya umalis siya pero hanggang ngayon any di pa siya dumarating." Sagot ni Tita.

"Did you contacted her friend already? Baka po nandoon Lang siya."

"Sinubukan ko nang tawagan pero walang sumasagot, Hindi ko naman alam ang address ng kaibigan niya kaya Hindi ko mapuntahan."

Suddenly Insp. Estrada's phone ringed and he answered it.

"Hello?" Luckily his phone is on Speaker so I can hear it, I mean WE can hear it.

"Is this the police? Someone please help me! My sister is kidnapped and I need your help please." But how did she know that he was kidnapped?

"Pano niyo po nasabing kinidnap siya. Baka po umLis lang."Insp. asked the same question

"The suspect called me! And he was demanding for randsom."

"Ah! So it was a kidnapped for randsome Case, interesting." I heated Loki whispered

"Okay mam kindly send us your address."

"Thank you very much sir!" At pinatay na ang tawag.

" I think these two cases are connected." Sabi ni Loki.

"Hindi porket parehong kidnapping nag nangyari konektado na ang dalawang kasong ito." Saad ko

Wala kaming nagawa at iniwan si Tita Dolores sa bahay nila.

After a few minutes, we arrived at a subdivision. Ang la-laki ng mga bahay dito. Then we stop at one of those houses. It was the biggest among the others.

Then we got out of the car. Before we can press the doorbell, the guards already opened the gate. We are greeted by a man probably in his 40's.

"Come in Mam and Sir, the lady is expecting you." The man said. He must be the Butler.

He invited us to go inside and we did. Kung namangha ako sa labas mas namangha ako dito sa loob. Everything is elegant and arranged perfectly.

We went in front of a room and when the butler opened it we were greeted by a girl maybe on her 20's.

"Thank god you came. Come in!" Then she invited us to come inside.

"Ako nga pala Leilah Jhiene Fransisco ang kapatid ni Macy. You can call me Lei." Pagpapakilala niya. She is very pretty. She's wearing a red dress matched with pearl accessories like earings and necklaces.

"Ayon sa Inpormasyon ang pangalan ng iyong kapatid ay Macriolaine Lianne Fransisco." Sabi ni Insp.

"So Mam ayon sa iyo, ang kapatid mo ay nakidnapp. Paano nyo po nasabi iyon. Maari naman pong nawawala lang siya?" Dagdag niya.

"Ganito kasi iyon, may tumawag sa akin hindi ko alam kung sino dahil iniba niya ang boses niya-"

"So the criminal used a voice changer huh?" Loki said as she cutted off Miss Leilah i mean Lei.

"Yes, as i was saying. He said that i have to leave 10 million pesos in the rooftop or else he will kill my sister. But something is weird, he said that he will also kill another girl. But n i was about to ask him who that is, he hanged up." She explained

"So you have any oonnections to the Santiago Family?" Loki asked.

"Yes. Why?" Wait- does Loki mean...

"Just as i predicted. Your father died this week right? At kahapon yung libing. You are the daughter of the famous businessman Arnulfo Fransisco." I never thought Loki would know things like this.

"Well i just read it in the newspaper." He read my mind again.

"How did you know?"Miss Lei innocently.

"I will tell you later. For now lets focus on the case." Sometimes i cant understand Loki. Ang hirap niyang ispelingin.

Then a phone suddenly ringed. Luckily it was ownwed by Miss Lei.

"Its him!" She shouted.

The police got their laptop and connected Miss Lei's phone. After that she the call. "Hello" mukhang kinakabahan siya base sa boses niya.

"Yung randsome na hinihingi ko ilagay mo sa rooftop pagsapit ng 3:00 ng hapon. Kung hindi sasaktan ko itong kapatid mo at ang pinsan niya." At pinatay na ang tawag.

"Romeo! Pakikuha po iyong suitcase ko at yung pera." Utos ni Miss Lei na sinunod naman ni Mr. Romeo daw.

Pero parang naweweirduhan ako dun sa tawag, parang may mali he.

Pagdating ni Mr. Romeo, inayos na ni Miss. Lei ang mga pera at inilagay sa suitcase. Kahit sanay na akong makakita ng mga pera nito hindi pa rin mawawala ang pagkamangha ko sa dami nito. Akala ko ay pupunta kami sa rooftop ng bahay ngayon pala ay pupunta kami sa mall na pagmamay-ari nila.

Pagkadating namin doon ay inilagay na ni Miss Lei ang pera sa rooftop. Hindi kami nagsama ng maraming pulis dahil baka mahalata ng suspek.

Saktong alas tres na kaya todo bantay sina Inspector. Ngunit makalipas ang 5 minuto ay hindi pa dumarating ang kidnapper.

Lumipas nag trenta minutos pero wala padin dumadating. Bigla nalang tumunog ang telepono na pagmamayari ni Miss Lei at sinagot niya ito. Pero bago pa siya mag salita ay naunahan na siya.

"Kung gusto mong iligtas sila, pumunta kayo sa parke." At namatay na ang tawag.

"Bakit hindi siya pumunta rito at kinuha ang Ransom?" Tanong ni Inspector na kahit ako ay hindi alam ang kasagutan. Natunugan kaya niya na may pulis dito?

"I also dont know Inspector but let's go to the park like what the kidnapper said." Suhestiyon ni Loki.

Pero mukhang hindi sasama si Miss Lei. Kaya tinanong ko siya.

"Hindi po ba kayo sasama?"

"No, i will just stay her and wait maybe the culprit will show up." She answered

"Sigurado po ba kayo?" Tanong ng isang officer

"Oo." Sagot ni miss lei

Kaya tinahak namin ang lugar papunta sa park. Walking distance lang naman ang park at ang mall nila.

But the suspect didt left a clue on what we would do in here. Pero may nakita akong box sa isang bench. Nilapitan ko iyon at may nakasulat na letter K which i think stands for Kidnapper.

"Loki!" I shouted to call Loki's attention. Then he came on my spot.

"Look at this!" I said and pointed the box. Its colored black with a red ribbon. Loki examined the box. Mukhang chine-check niya kung may laman bang bomba ang box. Then he removed the ribbon and opened it. We saw nothing except a card that says:

Go to the Underground Depot. They're waiting for you

It's handwriten and the hand writing is not that good.

Loki went to the Inspector and told him about the note. He confirmed that there is an underground depot here in the park. We went there as fast as we can. The room is very dim. When we are about to open the door but it won't budge, it's locked.

"Tsk." Loki cussed. Then he got his lockpicking kit out of his pockets and started lockpicking the door. After a few seconds, we heard a click noise which means it's open.

We hurriedly got inside the room and there we saw Jamie tied on the chair crying.

"Loki Dear!" She said with sobs. I helped Loki remove the ropes tied on Jamie. After she's untied she hugged Loki and the latter did the same thing. Why do i feel like a sad part inside me? This is not me.

"Where is Miss Macy?" The butler named Romeo asked.

"She's there."Jamie said and pointed a girl maybe older sister than Miss Lei. She is also tied pero nakatumba yung upuan niya. Mr. Romeo and Inspector untied her. Pero may napansin akong pinulot ni Mr. Romeo hindi ko napansin kung ano iyon

"Suspicious." I almost jumped in my place when Loki suddenly popped up in my side.

"Inspector!" Sigaw ng isa sa mga police officers.

"Bakit?" Tanong ni Inspector Estrada

"Si Ms. Leilah po sa Rooftop."

Agad kaming pumunta roon at pagkarating namin sa rooftop nakita namin si Ms. Lei nakabulagta. Loki checked her pulse and hdisappointment flashed on his face." She's dead." He said. Hindi ako makapaniwala na patay na siya. Dahil kanina palang kausap namin siya.

"Noo! Leilah! Leilah!" Macy shouted. I dont have a sister but i know it's hard for her to loose her sister.

...

We are now in the police station for the testimony of the witnesses, sila Jamie at Macy.

"Paano kayo nakuha ng suspek at saan?" Tanong ng isang Police officer. May inasikaso raw sandali si Inspector Estrada at babalik nalang daw mamaya.

"Ganito kasi iyon. I am curious kung nasaan si Macy dahil ihahatid daw niya ako sa bahay. Pero hindi mo siya mahanap kaya bumalik ako sa puntod ng tatay niya pero may biglang tumakip ng panyo sa bibig ko then bumigat na ung mata ko kaya nakatulog na ako." Pag sasalaysay ni Jamie

"Siguro tulog na ako noong panahong iyon. Bumalik ako sa puntod ni Papa. At pareho na ang nang yari saamin ni Jamie." Saad niya

"How about when youre inside the underground depot. Anong nangyari?"

"Nang magising ako nakatali ako sa upuan. Nang bigla kong nakita si Macy nakatali rin sa upuan pero tulog siya kaya sumigaw ako para magising siya. Nung magising siya, saktong bumukas ang pinto akala ko kayo pero biglang namatay yung ilaw kaya wala akong makita. Tapos lumabas na yung kidnapper. Biglang bumukas noon yung ilaw. At naka-tumba na si Macy."

"Can you see her face from your spot?" Tanong ni Loki

"No Loki Dear." Sagot ni Jamie.

"Did the lights turned out only once?" Tanong ulit ni Loki.

"No, there's another time, a little bit when you guys are about to save me." I dont know what is Loki thinking right now.

"Substitution." He whispered on me. I dont know what it mea- wait a second. I tried to remember all the things that can serve as evidence.

I just figured out something. Now i understand Loki.

...

We went to the Underground Depot just as Loki wished. We are now with Inspector Estrada. Loki explained everything to him.

"Dont you find it weird that the Kidnapper didnt took the Ransom money? Well because he didn't really need the money. It's all part of his plan.

"Tell me who that kidnapper is. He killed my sister." Macy shouted. Acting innocent.

"Oh, dont act innocent Moly i know your the culprit."

"It's Macy not Moly. And please huwag mo nga akong pag bintangan. Bikatima lang din ako." Pag depensa ni Macy.

"Your the kidnapper right?" Loki said with a smirk.

"What? Paano naging ako? Biktima din ako and Jamie is my witness. Right Jamie?"

"Hate to say it but she's telling the truth Loki dear." Pag sangayon ni Jamie kay Macy.

"Well you've been tricked Jamie. Let me explain to you how. Your main objective here is to kill Leana right? You promised Jamie a ride back home so that she will find you when it's time to go home then everything gone as you expected. Then it's the perfect chance for you to kidnap her. Your just using her as a witness to have an alibi. When she woke up you turned down the lights that is controlled by a remote control. Then you removed your ropes since its just easy to remove and placed a mannequin, snuck outside and turned on the lights again. Then you went to the park and palced a black box containing the card. You called Lena to go to the park so that you will have the time that you need. You know that she would stay in the rooftop so tahts your next destination. You killed her by strangling her then you went back to the Underground Depot quickly before we can get there, that explains the lights to come down once again. You repalced the mannequin by the real you then opened the lights again am i right?" Loki explained.

"Everything you said are lies. Where is your evidence huh?"

Then Loki turned on me as if he was suggesting me to continue the show.

"The evidence is on Mr. Romeo." I pointed him.

"Sorry my lady." He said as he handed us the pearl on the necklace that was owned by Miss Lei.

"She was still tricky until now. It's her fault why she died. Anak lang naman siya sa labas ni dad e. Pero ngayon mapapatunayan ko na kay dad even in heaven na ako pa rin ang mas matalino sa kaniya. Hahahaha." Then she laughed non stop. The police handcuffed her and bringed her to the police car.

But for me masyadong malalim ang rason niya para patayin ang kapatid niya. Sana wala nang mangyaring ganitong kaso sa hinaharap.