✔ 02 | Flames Of Madness [Soon To Be Published Under PSICOM]

CAPITULUM 38

T H U R S D A Y

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May 09, 2019
Eastwood
2:14 a.m.

"Tinawagan ako ng kapatid ko kagabi. It took us a while before we could get here, but we've managed to secure everthing before the police could arrive. Papunta na rin dito sina Inspector Ortega."

Nova's voice faded into the background as he stared at the crime scene in front of them. Sa unang tingin, hindi mo agad mapapansin ang nasunog na bangkay sa tumpok ng mga abo at natirang uling. Kulay itim na ang mga kalansay ni Janella Consejo, at umaalingasaw pa rin sa paligid ang nasunog nitong laman. While Nova and the others had to cover their noses, Nico didn't mind the smell.

He smelled far worse odors during Scorpio's medical examining sessions.

"Cremation ang tawag sa pagsunog sa bangkay ng tao. On an average it takes 1 to 3 hours to cremate a human body using modern methods. Kapag tapos na ang cremation process, naiiwan ang tinatawag nating 'cremains' o yung anumang natira sa nasunog na bangkay tulad ng abo at natirang buto. Depende sa timbang at laki ng nai-cremate na tao, pwede tayong makakuha ng 1.4 hanggang 3.2 kilo ng cremains sa kanyang katawan. Their ashes are then stored in an urn and the family of the deceased can just take it home. Mas mura kaysa sa pagpapalibing sa sementeryo," Nico wore his latex gloves (thank Sherlock he's always prepared), crouched down, and started touching the girl's ashes.

Sa kanyang gilid, napansin niyang pinapanood lang siya ng kanyang partner. Ang nagsisilbing liwanag lang nila sa lugar ay ang ilaw mula sa sasakyan ng detective at ang ilang mga lamparang ipinahiram sa kanila ng kalapit na orphanage. Still, Nova's pink hair stood out admist the lack of light.

"Bandang 5 p.m. daw nila nahanap ang bangkay na ito, pero ang sabi ni Nirvana, kaninang bago magtanghali pa nila napansin na parang may nagsusunog dito."

Abala pa rin sa pagkakalkal sa naiwang abo si Nico nang sagutin niya ang tanong ng dalaga, "Like I said, by modern means of cremation it takes 1 to 3 hours. Nasa isang closed space kasi kapag sinusunog ang isang katawan sa crematorium..  Pero kapag tradisyunal na cremation na nasa 'open' field kagaya nito, inaabot ng anim hanggang pitong oras. Countries like India and Nepal considers this an ancient tradition."

Kahapon ng umaga pa nawawala si Janella. Mukhang tama ang hinala ni Nico na bale-wala rin ang paghahanap nila sa kanya.

"It looks like the Robinhood Arsonist killed her right away. Quite predictable since she's the only witness and our lead to his identity," kumento ni Detective Nico Yukishito habang sinisipat ang ilalim ng mga buto. 'He used a lot of charcoal. I have to give him credit for that.'

Eventually, he sighed. "Well, now that I think about this, we're not even sure this is Janella. Oo, base sa kalansay nito, makikita natin sa malapad na 'pelvic bone' na malaki ang balakang niya---therefore, she's a female. But we don't have any other identifying traits yet."

Tumabi sa kanya si Nova. Her sharp eyes stared at something before she pointed it out for him, "hindi nasunog ang bracelet niya. Mukhang hindi ito napansin ni RA. From here, I can see her name 'Janella' engraved on the innerside of it. Malamang gawa sa aluminum o anumang aluminum alloy ang bracelet na 'yan. Aluminum is fire resistant."

Nang sundan ni Nico ang tinuturo ni Nova, noon niya napansin ang sinasabi nitong bracelet. Indeed, it had the dead girl's name on it. Ngayong buto na lang ang natira sa kanyang katawan, mas nakikita nila ang naka-engrave rito.

'Keen observation. Nice job, Nova.'

Of course, he didn't say that out loud.

Kinuha ni Nico ang isang piraso ng tela at tinitigan ito. Hind ito nahagip ng apoy. He stood up and studied the fabric under the light of a nearby lamp. Sunog na ang ilang parte nito, pero makikilala pa rin ang tela. Napabuntong-hininga ang detective, "It's a bit of the police uniform he used. Mukhang sinunog niya rin ito kasama ng bangkay ni Janella. What a bastard!"

Is this another dead end for them?

Inilibot ni Nico ang kanyang mga mata sa paligid. Doon niya lang napasin ang isang dalagang nakaupo sa isang gilid. The clothes she wore gave him the impression that she was suppose to go for an exercise. Jogging, perhaps?

Nova noticed him staring at her.

"Siya yung kasama ni Nirvana na nakakita sa bangkay. I advised them to stay put until the police arrive. Panigurado kasing hihingian sila ng statement."

"Has any of them seen the arsonist? Or his vehicle? Kahit anong makakatulong sa imbestiasyon ko---I mean, natin."

"Sa kasamaang-palad, 'yang bangkay na lang ang nakita nila. I don't think Karies  or Nirvana saw any signs of RA, or else they'll be another victim... Gosh! Dapat talaga hindi ko pinasama sa camping trip na 'to ang kapatid ko." Nova sighed and glanced worriedly at her sister. Kasalukuyan itong nakikipagkwentuhan sa kaibigan nito.

But Nico's mind was somewhere else.

"Karies?"

"Yup. Nakausap ko na siya kanina. Her name's Karies Victoria, if I'm not mistaken. Bakit?"

Ngumisi si Nico nang marinig ang apelyido. Agad niyang naalala ang mga artikulong nabasa niya noon sa mga magazine.

"Hindi ko alam na may anak pala sina Mr. at Mrs. Victoria. Considering their background, she must be filthy rich."

Nova looked confused. "Victoria? Parang pamilyar nga.."

"Sila ang may-ari ng pinaka-maunlad na pencil-manufacturing industry sa bayan, ang Victorian pencils. I have a drawer full of their products. Highly recommended. Good quality, fair price. Masarap tasahan lalo kapang puro walang-kwentang paperworks ang pinapagawa sa'yo ng baliw mong tiyuhin."

Napataas na lang ng kilay si Nova na para bang nawiwirduhan sa mga trip ni Nico sa buhay. The detective brushed her off. 'Ah, yes. Boring people can never appreciate the beauty of a pencil.'

Ilang sandali pa, nilapitan na sila ng isang lalaki. Kamuntikan nang makalimutan ni Nico na nage-exist nga pala ang isang 'to. The awfully righteous asshole of an attorney spoke, "Inspector Ortega texted. He said they'll be here in ten minutes."

Ngumiti si Nova.

Nico just frowned.

"Magkasama kayong nagpunta rito, therefore it is safe to say that you two were together when Nirvana texted her sister. At base sa huling sinabi sa akin ni Ms. Carlos bago siya nagwalk-out, malaki ang posibilidad na magkasama kayo dahil may kinalaman ito sa 'personal matters' niya. If I were a normal detective, I'd just conclude that you two were on a late-night date. But knowing that you already have a 'failed' relationship, it seems to be unlikely. Hindi naman makikipagkita si Nova kung hindi ito importante at kinailangan pa niyang isama ang kilalang district attorney ng Eastwood. This leaves me with the idea that the two of you did something... something illegal. Enlighten me, fellow humans, saan kayo nag-trespassing kagabi?"

Napapailing na lang si Atty. Lelouch na para bang hindi makapaniwalang ginawan pa ito ng deduction ng detective. "I really can't imagine how  Nova can last an hour with you."

"Sanayan na lang," Nova sighed and glared at Nico who blinked innocently.

"What?"

"Hindi ko lang talaga alam kung dapat ba akong mamangha o mainis sa'yo."

'Well, that's none of my concern anymore.' Nico wanted to reply, but he chose not to.

Maya-maya pa, nagsalita ulit ang abogado na para bang ngayon lang ulit naalala ang isang detalye. "Oo nga pala, dumating kanina ang isang madre dito. She was worried sick about Karies. Ang kwento niya, nasa kalagitnaan daw siya ng pag-aayos ng ivory figurine nang bigla na lang nila narinig ang sigaw ni Nirvana. Then, Karies just left the orphanage and ran here."

Agad na nagkatinginan ang dalawang detectives.

"D-Did he just say ivory figurines, Nico?"

Detective Nico Yukishito smirked. "It looks like we have another lead, Nova. Fate is really on our side."

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