Game Of Life: Volume 2

27. Alibi

Eivel

Nagkaroon ng sandaling katahimikan. Hindi ko kaagad naproseso ang narinig ko. Parehong umangat ang dalawa kong kilay habang tulala.

H-Hm?

"I-I'm sorry if I didn't gave you much help." Claret apologized.

Hindi ko siya nasagot at nanatili lang akong tulala— pinoproseso pa rin ang sinabi niya.

"After me and my husband fought, I fell asleep because of tiredness. That's all that I can remember."

"If there's another way I can help you, just say it and I'll do the best I can."

Parang pumapasok sa isang tenga at lumalabas sa kabila ang mga sinasabi niya. Hindi pa rin mawala isipan ko ang mga salitang binitawan niya kanina.

W-What the hell was that?

Gun shots.

Why she did she mentioned gun shots-

"E-Eyo, Eivel..."

I snapped back in reality when Kid gently tap my shoulders. Doon ako natauhan na kanina pa ako nakatingin sa hangin.

"O-Oh, it's okay. It was a h-huge help." I tried to fake a smile.

Claret tried to smile, still with tears in her eyes. "I'm glad that I was able to help you. If you'll excuse me, I need some rest."

For the last time, she smiled before walking past us. While I remained frozen in my place.

"Eyo, okay ka lang?" Nag-aalalang sambit ni Kid nang lumipat siya sa harapan ko para tignan ako nang mabuti.

Hindi ako nakasagot sa tanong niya. Malalim ang iniisip ko at sinusubukan kong pagdikit-dikitin ang mga clues na meron kami ngayon.

Their statements.

Their connections with the patriarch.

Their alibis...

What do they all have in common? And what are differences?

I created a new scenario inside of my head. A possibility.

Last night, around 10 to 11, the patriarch and his wife— Claret, had a fight. And because of that, the patriarch decided to sleep on his office instead of his and his wife's room.

And last night, coincidentally... the patriarch asked the chef— Antonio, to prepare food in advance because he's going to have a visitor early in the morning which he prepared during midnight. And at the same time, he asked the maid— Minerva, to bring him some tea early in the morning which she did quarter to four, minutes before she found the patriarch's body.

The clues I have right now is that thing I saw in the patriarch's body. The coffee corner. And... the gunshots.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko at para akong nakatingin sa kawalan. Malawak ang isipan ko ngayon at pinagdudugtong-dugtong ko ang mga pangyayari.

Is the visitor has something to do with the crime? Did the patriarch asked the tea for himself? And where did Claret— the wife, got the gun shots from?

Masyado lang ba siyang nalulungkot at wala sa sarili kaya niya nabanggit 'yon?

O... nadulas siya?

Napaismid ako at napakagat sa kuko ng hinlalaki ko. If ever that Claret is really hiding something... then this is the scenario I'm thinking about.

Last night, after she and the patriarch fought, the patriarch felt guilty about it. Maybe that is the reason why he asked Minerva to bring him some tea early in the morning... because it's for his wife.

Unti-unting namilog ang mga mata ko. Y-Yeah, that makes sense.

May kulang sa alibi ni Claret. 1 am ang possible time of death ng patriarch, at ang tanging nasagot niya lang sa akin ay wala na siyang naalala dahil nakatulog na siya kaagad. Kaya pwedeng-

Pero... wala rin si Minerva no'ng mga oras na 'yon. At ang tanging dinahilan niya lang din sa akin ay natulog na siya nang maaga...

And there's nothing wrong with sleeping at that time, because it's already freaking midnight.

F-Fuck... I'm having a hard time.

"E-Eivel..."

Masyadong naghalo-halo ang mga clues na hindi naman konektado sa isa't isa.

"Eivel..."

But does that mean... that the clues doesn't make sense at all?-

"Eyo, Eivel!"

Natigilan ako sa pag-iisip nang tumaas ang tono ng pananalita ni Kid. I slightly flinched when he called my name.

"H-Huh? Ha?"

He really looked worried while looking at me. "O-Okay ka lang ba? Okay lang ba lahat?" Magkasunod na tanong niya.

I faked a chuckle. "Y-Yeah, yeah..."

"Nagmamadali tayo hindi ba? Okay lang ba nandito lang tayo?" Muling tanong ni Kid.

Natauhan ako sa sinabi niya. I guess we almost spent 20 minutes asking the suspects, Sherlock gave us only 40 minutes to solve this case. We only have half of the time left.

"O-Oo... kailangan nating bilisan." Seryosong sambit ko.

"Saan na ba tayo pupunta? Bakit hindi natin tanungin kay manong ung direksyon?" Nalipat ang tingin ni Kid sa labas ng bintana na konektado sa backyard. He pointed outside.

Napunta ang tingin ko sa direksyon na tinuro niya at mabilis nitong nakuha ang atensyon ko. Sa madilim na bakuran, isang lalaking papunta sa isang maliit na storehouse ang naiilawan ng liwanag ng buwan.

The chauffeur.

One of the five suspects.

Kid and I didn't wasted our time. Through the back door in the kitchen, we went outside to the backyard to meet the chauffeur in person.

Kita kong may dala-dala siyang mga gamit para dalhin sa loob ng maliit na storehouse rito sa backyard. Saktong pagbaba niya ng mga gamit sa loob at pagsara niya ng pinto ay nakita niya kami.

Napaatras siya nang kaunti dahil sa pagkabigla sa biglaang pagsulpot namin ng kasama ko.

"O-Oh, you surprised me!" Marahan siyang napahawak sa dibdib niya.

"I apologize for that, sir." I calmly apologized. "May I know what you're doing outside at this time?" I asked an obvious question.

Napatingin siya sa loob ng storehouse na tinignan ko rin. "Oh, I'm putting some old tools inside. I'm cleaning the automobile and they were all scattered." Sagot niya habang pinapagpag ang magkabila niyang kamay. "By the way, how can I help you?" Nalipat sa amin ang tingin niya.

"We would just like to ask you some few questions, may I know your name, Sir?"

"Sure. I'm Blir Wiliams, the chauffeur of this family. I've been serving them for 2 years now."

Blir Wiliams
The Chauffeur

"I see, Sir Blir, may I know where were you and what are you doing during 12-3 in the morning?" Deretsong tanong ko.

Nanliit ang mga mata ni Blir habang nag-iisip. "Hmmm, during that time, I'm pretty sure that I'm already asleep." He answered confidently.

"Do you have any proof or evidence that support your statement?"

"Hmmm, yeah. You can ask Antonio— the chef. After all, my room was just next to the kitchen. I'm sure he saw me enter there and didn't left."

"During the time you mentioned, I'm pretty sure that I'm sound asleep. I mean, I didn't heard any gun shots."

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