Project LOKI ②

Chapter 26: Twinkle, Twinkle Murders (Third Murder)

"The victim doesn't only know who murdered her. She also trusts that person!" bulalas ni Jamie. "Akala niya'y mapagkakatiwalaan ang taong 'yon kaya pumayag siyang bumaba para makipagkita sa kaniya. Ang hindi niya alam . . ."

"So someone in her circle of friends?" bulong ko nang sumagi ang ideya sa aking isipan. "At this point kasi, sila-sila rin ang magtitiwala sa isa't isa dahil pare-pareho silang nasa panganib."

"Let's assume that the murderer is among Jessy's closest friends. What would be the motive?" Isa-isa kaming tiningnan ni Alistair. "And how can we relate it to the suicide of Jennifer Jimenez?"

"What if there's something else in the story they're not telling us?" hirit ni Jamie. "Paano kung 'di talaga nagpakamatay si Jenny? Paano kung pinatay siya at ang apat na magkakaibigan ang nagplano n'on? Baka may isang binagabag ng konsensya at gustong mag-confess sa kanila. 'Tapos para maitago ang sikreto, nagsimula ang patayan na 'to?"

"Sounds like a cliché mystery story." Kumumpas ang kamay ni Loki. "But let's not go further into conjectures. Let's focus on the facts at hand."

Cliché man sa kaniyang tingin, posibleng gano'n ang nangyari sa totoong buhay.

"So two down, two more to go." Sumimangot ako. "Sino kaya sa dalawang targets ang isusunod niya?"

"Have you read The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie?" Inikutan ni Loki ang crime scene, iniwasan ang pool ng dugo at chalk marks. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin. "It's a mystery novel featuring a series of murders where the victims were murdered alphabetically. Alice Ascher, Betty Barnard, Carmichael Clarke. Yesterday, when our client revealed the names of her bully friends, something piqued my curiosity. Do you remember their full names?"

"Leigh C. Pineda, Perry A. Enriquez, Jessy B. Nepomuceno, Jade D. Tadeo." Ni-recite ni Jamie isa-isa ang mga pangalan nang walang kahirap-hirap.

"Their middle initials!" I exclaimed.

"The first victim is Perry Enriquez whose middle initial is A. The second and latest victim is Jessy Nepomuceno whose middle initial is B. If the murderer is following a pattern strictly, we know who's gonna be his next target."

"Leigh C. Pineda!" sabay naming banggit ni Jamie.

Huminto na siya sa pag-ikot at humarap sa amin. "This is the part where we step in and prepare to foil a murder attempt."

"So what's our plan?" Napakrus ang mga braso ni Alistair.

"We need to stay close to the next target. Our presence will deter the murderer. But first, we need to discuss it with Lea."

"Lea?"

"Yes. Lea, our client."

"Her name's Leigh," I corrected him, but why would he care about people's names?

Tinapos na namin ang inspeksiyon sa crime scene at pumunta na sa aming clubroom. Nakuha ko ang number ni Leigh kahapon kaya may contact ako sa kaniya. I texted her and asked her to drop by. Kitang-kita sa mukha niya ang pagka-stress. Lalong lumalim ang kaniyang eyebags at sobrang putla na niya compared noong una ko siyang nakita. The death of her two friends was taking its toll on her.

"A-Ako na ba ang susunod?" bungad niya sa amin pagbukas ng pinto. Nilapitan ko siya para alalayan patungo sa upuan. Mukhang bibigay na siya anumang sandali.

"We haven't identified the murderer yet, but we've got a plan to expose him," sagot ni Loki habang ipinapaikot ang swivel chair niya. "We'll need your help to make it happen."

"G-Gagawin ko kahit ano basta mahuli na ang pumatay kina Perry at Jessy!"

"The murderer won't act as long as you're in a place where he can't approach you. You're safe while you're at school with your classmates and friends. The only time he can make a move is when you're alone, especially during the night."