✔ 01 | Crime Of Passion [Published Under PSICOM]

Capitulum 40

"U-Uncle X...?"

Inaasahan niyang si Attorney Lelouch ang mahuhuli niya. He was their suspect! Pero ngayon, mukhang lalong gumulo ang kaso.

"Nico, put that gun down."

Hindi siya nakinig.

Nico almost lost his grip on the handgun. Almost. He took in the appearance of the man standing in front of him. Rumehistro sa kanya ang maamong mukha ng kanyang tiyuhing si Xavier Alcantara, ang CEO ng DEATH. A man in his midforties, Uncle X looked as harmless as anyone. Tumalim lalo ang tingin ni Nico sa kanya, "Anong ginagawa mo dito? Akala ko ba nasa ibang bansa ka?"

Ngumiti si Uncle X sa pamangkin at humakbang papalapit, "There was an emergency. Kinailangan kong mapahinga muna. Sasabihin ko dapat sa'yo kahapon, pero alam kong abala ka sa paperwork."

Nico pointed the gun at his forehead. "Gaano katagal mo na akong niloloko? Damn it, uncle! Isang buwan mong iniwan ang kompanya sa'kin, tapos ngayon makikita kitang nasa crime scene?!" Lumalim ang paghinga ni Nico. Hindi siya makapaniwala mga nangyayari ngayon.

"Hindi ako umalis ng bansa."

Nakaramdam ng galit at pagkabigla ang detective. He expertly masked his anger. "Anong ginagawa mo sa crime scene kanina? For the love of Sherlock, don't tell me you're the serial killer?!"

"Wala akong alam sa sinasabi mo---"

"HOW THE FUCK CAN I EVEN TRUST YOU?!"

Napabuntong-hininga si Uncle X, "I was just passing by. Nang marinig ko ang pagsabog, agad akong sumilip. I had to hide because I knew you'd eventually figure out that I didn't left the country. Pasensya na, Nico." Pero may napansing iba si Nico sa mga mata ng kanyang tiyuhin. He was lying. Ramdam niya iyon. May tinatago sa kanya ang kanyang sariling tiyuhin.

He's not telling the whole truth, and that pissed him off.

Nang subukan pa nitong lumapit sa kanya, agad na kinasa ni Nico ang baril. He was inches away from pulling the trigger when a female voice pulled him out of his hazed state.

"NICO! Gosh! What the heck are you doing?!"

Sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata, nakita niyang huminto sa kanyang tabi si Nova. Bakas ang labis na pagtataka sa kanyang ekspresyon. She glanced at the man standing before them, unaware of who he is. Hindi na iyon nakapagtataka. Kailanman ay hindi nagpakilala ang CEO ng DEATH sa publiko.

"That bomb was detonated by someone near the crime scene. Unfortunately, I caught my own uncle observing us from afar."

Nagulat si Nova sa sinabi niya. "U-Uncle? You mean, this is the CEO of DEATH?" Mahina niyang sabi at muling tinitigang maigi si Xavier Alcantara. May edad na, ngunit kababakasan pa rin ng karangyaan sa kanyang pananamit. Nova frowned and placed a hand on Nico's shoulder, "Sigurado ka ba? Baka naman nagkataon lang?"

"Tsk! Lelouch wasn't even near the crime scene. Sino pa bang paghihinalaan natin?!" Asik nito sa dalaga. Umirap lang si Nova bago sumagot, "Iyon nga ang rason kung bakit kita sinundan! Nakita ko si Lelouch sa kalapit na jewelry shop kung saan natagpuan ang bangkay ni Thami."

Natigilan si Nico sa narinig.

Napabuntong-hininga si Nova, "Kung tama ang sinasabi mo, then Lelouch was in a close enough location to detonate the bomb. He's still our prime suspect, after all." Kung may kalungkutan mang itinatago si Nova, hindi nito ipinahalata. She met his eyes again, this time, her intense gaze held him. "Don't be impulsive. Kailangan nating pagtugmain ang mga ebidensiya. Iyon ang panghahawakan natin. You can't just shoot someone just because you think he's the Heartless Killer! Think, Nico. That's what you're famous for."

Ilang sandali pa, nag-iwas ng tingin ang binata. Ibinaba niya ang kanyang baril at huminga nang malalim. Nico tried to compose himself. "Fine. We'll continue with the plan."

Nang lingunin niyang muli ang tiyuhin, he noticed Uncle X was deep in thought. 'How the heck could he leave me alone to handle his fucking company?! He even lied to his own nephew!' Dala ng galit at pagkadismaya, mabilis na naglakad papalayo si Nico. Ngunit bago pa man siya lumiko sa kanto, mabilis na hinawakan ni Nova ang kanyang braso.

The pink-haired detective turned serious.

"HELP and ECU are already handling things. With the victim's body gone, there's nothing much we can do. We can spy on Lelouch later at the party, kung magmamanman tayo sa kanya ngayon, mahahalata niya."

Nico frowned. "Then, what are you planning to do now, smart-mouth?"

"Taking you to the nearest coffee shop, detective. You look like you haven't even slept last night and you've been grumpy all morning! Kailangan mo nang mag-kape."

At hindi na nakipag-away pa si Nico.

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