Nakasimangot lang si Special Agent Briannova Carlos habang minamaneho ni Nico ang sasakyan. From the corner of her eye, she can see the triumphant look on his face. 'Sly detective! If he thinks he can charm his way with me in this case, then he better think again!' Paghihimutok niya sa kanyang isipin. Oh, how will they ever get along?
"Remind me to punch you the next time you smile at me like that," naiinis niyang sabi habang pinagmamasdan ang mga nadadaanang mansyon sa Eastwood Heights.
"Bakit ko naman ipapaalala sa'yo kung ako naman ang agrabyado? Very unprofessional, Ms. Carlos."
'Very unprofessional?! Gosh! Pwede bang ipa-target kay HK ang isang 'to?!'
Nova took in a deep breath and tied her long pink hair up in a ponytail. Malapit na sila sa mansyon nina Lelouch. Pilit niyang isinasantabi ang kabang nararamdaman. Kinakabahan ba siya dahil magte-trespassing sila o may iba pang rason?
Nova pushed all those irrelevant thoughts aside and hoped that the young attorney wasn't home. Mas magiging madali sana ang trabaho.
Pero kailan nga ba umayon ang tadhana kay Nova?
Ipinarada ni Nico ang sasakyan, ilang metro ang layo sa mansyon. Napasimangot ito nang makita ang pag-garahe sa loob ng isang puting Mercedes-Benz. "Damn Sherlock. It looks like the devil just got home."
Tumalim ang mga mata ni Nova. "Hindi natin alam kung siya nga talaga ang serial killer. Hindi magandang ideya ang planong 'to."
Walang gana siyang tiningnan ni Nico na para bang nasisiraan na siya ng bait, "Then what else do you suggest? Kung wala tayong makukuhang ebidensya kung si San Andres nga ang Heartless Killer, walang patutunguhan ang imbestigasyon. Are you gonna wait until we find another victim with her heart ripped out?" He may look calm and composed, but Nova can see impatience in his eyes.
It was crazy. He's crazy!
'But he does have a point,' napabuntong-hininga na lang ang dalaga at walang-imik na lumabas ng sasakyan. "Tara na nga."
Agad siyang hinawakan sa braso ni Nico, "We have to do this discreetly. One of us will need to distract him while the other looks for evidence."
"Alam ko. At alam ko rin na ako ang gagamitin mong pain. Tama ba ako?"
Napabuntong-hininga ang binatang detective, "Kung magbabalat-kayo ka ngayon bilang isang kliyente ni Atty. San Andres, magagawa mo siyang i-distract habang nangangalap ako ng ebidensya. You're the expert with disguises, after all." Seryoso nitong sabi.
"Fine. Tara na." Dahil may magagawa pa ba si Nova?
Kumunot ang noo ng kasama, "Aren't you gonna transform into someone else or wear a disguise to distract him? Baka mamukhaan ka niya."
This time, it was her turn to smirk. "Believe me, detective. Hindi ko na kailangan ng disguise sa sitwasyong ito." At kumalas na siya sa pagkakahawak sa kanya ni Nico.
Detective Briannova Carlos walked with confidence, even though her heart is pounding nervously in her chest. 'Grace under pressure, Brian! Kaya mo 'to,' pagpapalakas niya sa kanyang loob bago pinindot ang doorbell sa malalaking gates ng mansyon.
'I can't believe I'm doing this!'
Makalipas ang ilang sandali, bumungad kay Nova ang katulong nila. The elderly woman smiled at her, "Ms. Brian, kayo po pala! Matagal na mula nang huli kayong nakadalaw dito." Masaya nitong bati sa kanya. The pink-haired detective smiled sweetly, "Manang, nandiyan po ba si Lelouch? Mangangamusta lang sana ako sa kanya."
May halong pagkabigla at pang-aasar ang mga mata ng katulong, "Naku, Ms. Brian! Saktong-sakto. Kakauwi niya lang."
"Saan siya galing?"
"Hindi ko rin alam eh. May kinausap yatang kliyente kanina. Pasok ka na po," at pinagbuksan na siya nito ng gate. The maid grinned teasingly as Nova stepped inside the area. Hindi talaga siya kumportable sa sitwasyong 'to and she knew Nico is probably confused at how she managed to get in so easily.
Yup. She has an advantage.
Huminga siya nang malalim. 'Sana naman hindi maging kumplikado ang sitwasyon.' She momentarily glanced over her shoulder and caught a glimpse of Nico walking around the perimeter. Mabuti na lang talaga at walang CCTV cameras dito!
"Sir Lelouch? May bisita ka po!"
Pagtawag ni manang nang maupo si Nova sa isang sopa. Ngayon niya lang natitigan nang maigi ang sala. Although she had just been here yesterday (during the interview with Vincent Antonio), Nova never had a chance to study the living room as a whole. Napangiti siya nang makitang halos walang nagbago rito, kahit pa ilang buwan ring nawala si Lelouch sa bansa.
'Sasha is taking good care of their home.' Nova thanked the heavens that Lelouch's sister isn't here. Kung hindi, baka mas lalong naging kumplikado pa 'tong gawain niya.
'At gaano katagal naman kaya mangangalap ng ebidensiya si Nico?'
She forced herself to remain calm despite the anxiety crawling up her chest.
"Brian?"
Nag-angat ng tingin si Nova. There, she saw none other than the famous district attorney, a shy smile on his lips. Magulo at basa ang buhok nito na para bang kagagaling lang niya ng shower. Nova noticed him wearing his favorite white polo shirt again, buttons undone. Napalunok siya. 'Get a hold of yourself, Brian!'
Naupo sa tapat niya si Lelouch. "Buti naman naisipan mong bumisita. I was worried you didn't miss me."
Pinilit niyang ngumiti, "Of course I missed you! Kamusta pala ang buhay mo sa New York?"
Atty. Lelouch San Andres gave her that warm and heart-stopping smile again. The same one that constantly haunted her in her dreams. 'Ayoko talagang maniwalang siya ang Heartless Killer! How can anyone so sweet be a cruel monster?'
Nabigla na lamang si Nova nang marahang abutin ng binata ang kanyang kamay at hinawakan ito nang mahigpit. The sincerity never left his eyes, "My life in New York was terrible and lonely. Walang araw na hindi ka sumagi sa isip ko, Briannova Carlos. Anywhere feels like hell without you by my side..."
Natigilan si Nova sa sinabi nito. At bago pa man siya nag-iwas ng tingin, nahagip ng kanyang mga mata ang maliit na sugat sa kaliwang pisngi ng abogado.
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