Monday
First day of the week. First day of investigations.
Arcturus and Keith's schedule.
To save manpower, the group decides to spread through pairs, a pair for two non-consecutive days would save energy and money.
Being polar opposites, the two seems to work surprisingly well together. Arcturus' brash forward no bullshit persona combined with Keith's affable, yet sharp sneaky coercion. Its good cop bad cop revised for these two, the perfect pair assigned for squeezing out juicy tidbits from irrational douches.
Which is exactly what they're gonna do today. Walking along the murky road of Barangay Cogon on a cold cloudy Sunday morning, the partners were heading on the place of their first destination; Clint's house.
Every investigation starts with the lead, a decent one with a considerable motive. Clint, being one of the most vocal opposers of whatever the frats activities-slumber parties, movie night, heck even toilet cleaning of anybody bothers to ask- lands him first on the list.
The pair walked along the road in an awkward silence, passing by the church. Five more km to walk.
Arcturus was the one to break the silence. "So, what's your say on this rumors?" He asked seemingly out of the blue, " you hardly said anything yesterday. Too quiet at one point I've thought you were the bent."
"I think its full of shit." Keith replied as calm as he could be. Normally Arcturus would brush it off, this is Keith after all. But he swears. He's pissed. "They were so blatant enough to start a cult? Pft pathetic."
"Okay, let's not talk about that one for now. You've been to JT bar house yesterday? The Sanchez are at it again."
Keith inwardly groaned, not this again. There's not a single talk they had without even a mention of the Mexicans."No, why."
"Probably something about money. Again. Dude spent it all on viagra, wife says he wasted their electric bill payment. Then the dude was like, hurt. Says he's gonna use it for her. Ms Sanchez on the other didn't buy his bullshit."
"Ungrateful Mexican bimbo." Keith muttered rolling his eyes.
"Ok first I would have agree, but noooo. You ain't seen the best part. She told Mr Sanchez that he shouldn't have bothered telling her, he was gonna use it for his mistress anyway. The parish priest."
"Whoah whoah who ah! Padre!? Are you kidding me? They're..." Keith didn't have to bother ending it, the look on Arcturus eyes told him everything. Deciding not to delve further, "okay, switch topic." Arcturus didn't have to asked how disturbed he was.
Arcturus turned to face him, but seeing some familiar landmark he already knew behind Keith, he immediately turned around and halted. His expression now on neutrality. "Can it, heads up Keith. Were here." His tone laced with pseudo professionalism.
Keith nodded, turning around to face the all familiar house the pair stopped. A classic bungalow with a vibrant green painted roof. The place was painted green all over with the exception the door and windows painted yellow to give a stark contrast. A modestly sized front yard with a picket fence, nailed on was a sign that says "No gay-ass frat members allowed." This guy got balls.
Arcturus was nowhere near amused. " Picket fences!? Really!? The 60s are over Jason, get over it." He raised his voice intentionally, hoping to draw out the obnoxious homeowner they knew too well.
Keith rolled his eyes, it was a really corny line. But it fit too well in the situation, still he couldn't help finding it cheesy.
"Fuck off, you don't know how to read!? It sez right there in my yard. None of you insignia wearing freaks allowed in my space!" Came a grumpy reply from inside the house. Its him.
Putting up a very polite smile, Keith decide to say his part. "Good morning Clint! We were hoping if you could spare us a bit of your time. Think you could be kind enough for that? The reason were here is that we have a few questions, and we believe you good sir, might just have the answer for these questions. Hopefully." He said, putting up as much politeness in his tone.
Arcturus turns to face his partner with a raised eyebrow. Okay, Keith is the suitable man when it comes to things like this. Hes sort of a Filipino Mr Rogers. Only cooler. No cheesy lines, just pure clever choice of words. But something about his tone tells him that he is faking this one. Probably trying to hide his unease around this prick. Arcturus thought.
Few seconds later, after a string of colorful languages coming from the house. Clint finally came out. He was about as tall as Arcturus. With spiky black hair combed back, and a distinct birthmark around the neck. Brown eyes and a round cheeks. Dressed in a plain crimson bathrobe and blue monkey slippers. He looked more like a 1960s sitcom grampa than a teenager.
"Okay, fine. But I swear, it any of you frat boys prowls around my space again. I will report you." Clint grumpily said, glaring coldly at the pair.
Not that the those two cares anyway.
Especially Keith. "Well, we don't have all day so let's get on with the brass and taxes here. Do you by any chance heard a circulating rumors around our group recently?" He asked.
"There's a ton of them. About you being illuminaties whatsoever. Be specific." Clint snapped.
"About one of the senior members hiding in the closet."
Clint stare at the two for a moment. Did he just heard it right? And then bursts into hysterical laughter. Arcturus and Keith looked visibly annoyed, but he kept on laughing nonetheless. Crouching on the doorway, he wiped the tears on his eyes. "Oh man, there's that kind of rumor? Priceless!" He finally said.
"Yes. Or no? We don't have all day here hillbilly. Were running out of time, and I'm running out of patience. You can entertain my partner here all day with your bullshit, but not me. Nooooo sir." Arcturus asked. Taking every fiber on his being to resist the urge to go in there and smack the little bitch.
"I think I did, not too long ago. I was having lunch last tuesday on that diner over there." He pointed a street cafeteria few visible blocks away. "And then these girls came along, from your school I saw the uniforms. I've heard something along the lines of Deane, Benjamine, and closet. One of the girls was named Roxy. Set your sights on her, she brought that topic. Thats all I know."
"Roxy, do you by any chance know her?" Keith asked. Finally, they were actually getting somwhere. "If you do, can you tell us where to find her?"
Clint shook his head. "Nope, don't know her. Not one bit."
"What about you Arcturus, know something about her?" Keith asked to his partner.
The young investigator shook his head. "I mean I do, but don't care enough to know her address. But there is this Christine. A member of Roxies obnoxious followers. Follows her 24/7." He then turned around to Clint. "But I still don't know where to find her."
"With that I do. She's a close friend of mine. Bachman Street on Barangay Diego, Sabang Danao City." Clint answered. "Now there, now for the love of anything holy. Get out of my face."
"Tsk, Keith were outa here. Thank you for your consideration Jason!" Arcturus said sarcastically.
All appointments done, the pair turned around and leaves. Danao city, thats a pretty long trip.
Theyre gonna leave it on the next assigned pair for tomorrow anyway. Right now, its time for Chinese food.
"Finally! We actually manage to stumble on to something." Keith pulled out his phone and start dialling. "Gotta update Deane on Clint's file, remove him from the possible suspects." He said.
"Oh he's not out yet. In fact, he gave us a perfectly good reason to press on him further." Arcturus said, not even glancing at his partner. Keith turned onto him in surprised.
"Christine Roxanne "Roxy" Belinda, he said he don't know a fickle about her. Well when asked using her nickname anyway. But its still suspicious, later on he said she's a close friend of him. Thats two of his biggest blunders. Either he's lying, or trying to wind us up."
Keith stared at him for a few moments, befor tucking the phone back to his pocket. "Wow, your sharp." He said impressed.
With that, the two walk along to their favorite chinese barhouse.
