The Incomplete Detective [Volume 1]

[11] Conund-Room

Sebastian

THUDDING NOISE from downstairs, broke the silence. Delvin and I stood up and turned towards the direction of the sound. Slowly, the figure of five individuals—one being a woman—in blue uniform appeared, looking up to us. The Angeles Crime Investigation Unit lead by Inspector Guerrero finally arrived to investigate the scene.

"Good afternoon, inspector," bati ni Delvin nang nakapamulsa ang kamay.

Matalim na titig ang naging tugon ng inspektor sa aking kasama. Kumunot ang noo niya't nanatiling tikom ang bibig hanggang sa nakatayo na siya sa aming harapan. "Ito na ang pang-apat na beses na naratnan ko kayo sa crime scene. Hinahabol ba kayo ng krimen o kayo ang naghahabol?" malamig na bati niya.

Nagkita lamang kami kahapon matapos mapabalitaang nag-suicide ang isang estudyante ng Mondragon U. The news told us that a grade 12 student jumped off the rooftop of the hotel. No one saw anything including the CCTV's, locking all doors for us to work much on that case.

"Talagang malakas lang ang hatak sa amin ng krimen, inspector," Delvin joked, scratching his right temple with his index finger. "At least, na-secure namin ang lugar para siguraduhing preserved ang crime scene."

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ang inspektor. Lumingon ito sa kaniyang tatlong tauhan na lalaki. He instructed three to cordon the doorway of the crime scene, while the lady officer remained standing beside the inspector, carrying a clipboard on her right hand and a pen on her left hand.

"Alam mo na ang drill ng first responder, Delvin," Inspector said coldly before signalling the lady officer to jot down notes. "Ano ang mga napag-alaman n'yo na?"

Delvin nodded with a wide smile. "Eksaktong alas kwatro bente-dos nang matagpuan namin sa kaniyang unit, Room 42, ang bangkay ng biktimang nagngangalang Leonardo Enriquez. Lima kaming nakasaksi: ang guwardya ng dormitory na si Bernard Bernardo, kaming dalawa ni Sebastian, and two ladies named Beverly Gail Alfonso and Claire Tamayo."

Inspector nodded. "Nasaan na ang tatlong kasama ninyo ngayon?"

Delvin pointed a finger at our three acquaintances following the order of when our name was mentioned. Lumingon ang inspektor sa direksiyon na hindi kalayuan sa amin. He observed the two ladies na nakaupo lamang sa isang pulang sofa na matatagpuan sa dulo ng pasilyo. Claire was embracing Beverly with her head resting on my classmate's chest.

"Buti na lamang ay dinala kayo ng mga paa niyo rito?"

My clubmate narrated every information we heard from Claire during our talk in today's afternoon. "...To sum it up, narito kami dahil humingi ng tulong ang kaibigan ng biktima."

"Pinaghihinalaan niyo ba siya?"

"May pakiramdam akong nagsasabing hindi magagawa ng babae ang krimen," Delvin remarked. "Buhay pa si Leo noong hapon ng Linggo kung susundan ang sinabi ng guwardya, at buhay naman siya hanggang gabi ng araw na 'yon kung susundan ang text ni Leo kay Claire. Ayon pa kay Mang Bernardo, 'di tumungo rito si Claire nang halos dalawang Linggo na."

"Based on my observation, I see it more as a suicide case," I seconded which caught the eyes of the inspector. When I saw him furrowing his brow, I continued, "Pagkarating namin, naka-lock ang knob ng pinto, but the guard said that Leonardo didn't come down since Sunday afternoon. Tinawag namin ang guwardya, and he unlocked the knob. Yet, the door was still locked inside with a latch barrel sliding bolt. We only barged our way in after sensing that something isn't right."

Inspector nodded to my words with unpleased expression. Ngayon niya lang kasi narinig 'yon. Kung kasing suicide case ito, masasabi kong nasayang ang oras niya—iba kasi ang ipinapadala sa mga ganoong kaso. "Siguro nama'y hindi n'yo pa pinakialaman ang crime scene, 'di ba?"