Project LOKI ③

Chapter 44: Dead Man's Switch VI (Trust and Doubt)

"We can say that it's sort of legit that's why we can't easily dismiss it as a prank," sagot ko bago lumingon sa aking likuran. "Al!"

Ayaw ko sanang istorbohin si Alistair mula sa pagbabasa, but he might have some idea on what we can do. I gave him a nod and he closed the book he was reading. Lumapit siya sa aming dalawa ni Rosetta.

"What's up?" tanong niya. "Is something wrong?"

"Rosetta here received a threatening email from someone named Tiberius Roman," I said, jerking my thumb toward my seatmate. "I believe na related 'to sa dead man's switch case natin."

"Dead man's switch?" Rosetta repeated, looking at me then at my childhood friend.

"At meron pang ibang naka-receive ng email individually," dagdag ko. "So the switch is communicating via email to his targets."

Rosetta looked confused. "Sorry, I don't understand what's goin—"

Napahawak sa kanyang chin si Alistair at napatingin pababa, tila nag-iisip nang malalim. His eyes slightly widened, probably an idea popped into him. "Loki has a friend who's a tech genius, right? The name's Hershey, I think?"

I nodded. Hindi ko lang sure kung "friend" ba ang turing ni Loki kay Hershey. What I know is that he's one of his so-called Irregulars. "Are you thinking of tracing the IP address and the location of the email sender?"

"There's a chance na ima-mask niya ang kanyang IP address, but we can still try," Alistair nodded. "Maybe the switch isn't as smart as Augustus."

If he's as smart as the late editor, we're doomed. Augustus was a formidable opponent. We needed to fool everyone in the campus just to outsmart him.

"Rosie, may copy ka pa ba ng email?" tanong ko sa aking seatmate.

Rosetta happily nodded. "Yup! Gusto n'yo ba ng access para mabasa n'yo? I can give you my school email address and password. Wala naman kayong makikitang confidential message doon."

"That will be a great help, Rosie!" tugon ko. She texted me her account credentials and wished us good luck on our search for the creepy email sender.

Pagkatapos ng afternoon period namin, muli kaming nag-meet sa execom office. I'm excited because we might have an additional lead, but at the same time, concerned if Jamie's already okay.

Pagkarating namin ni Alistair sa office, nadatnan naming nandoon na si Jamie. Siya lang mag-isa, nagbabasa ng magazine. Wala pa ang Loki dear niya.

"Good afternoon," bati ko bago umupo sa tabi niya. She normally replies to my greeting, but she might not be in the mood yet. Ako nga noon, I had to sleep para ma-clear ang mga bumabagabag sa isip ko. Maybe tomorrow she'd feel better. Maybe not.

Nagkaroon ng awkward silence sa room. The three of us pretended that we're busy with our own businesses. Nagbabasa ng magazine si Jamie, nagbabasa ng notes si Alistair habang ako'y nagbo-browse sa aking phone. Puro buntong-hininga at tunog ng aircon ang naririnig namin.

"Jamie," Alistair broke the silence. He put down his notebook. Hindi na siguro niya natiis ang awkwardness sa office. Honestly, the silence was deafening and uncomforting.

Jamie continued on flipping through the pages of the magazine na parang wala siyang narinig. She was pretending na wala kami rito sa kuwarto.

"I'm sorry for not telling you about the plan last Monday," my childhood friend went on kahit na tila walang pakialam ang kanyang kausap. "It was my decision not to inform you."

Nagawi ang tingin ko kay Alistair. Why was he taking full responsibility himself?

"Your decision?" Sa wakas, tumigil na si Jamie sa paglipat ng page at iniangat ang kanyang tingin sa kasama namin.