WHOSE DEDUCTION SHOW?

15: STICKS IN A BUNDLE

Chapter 15: Sticks in a Bundle

AMBER

GRAY?” pukaw ko nang mapansin ang pananahimik niya. He’s always in deep thought whenever something is bothering him.

Another reason could be the QED Club’s leader. Loki’s competitiveness brought out Gray’s will to win kaya matapos mag-walk out sa living room ng QED Club, agad na humingi ng permiso si Gray sa mga suspect na inspeksyonin ang mga kwarto at gamit nila.

They were gladly cooperative, saying they had nothing to hide anyway and gave us the go signal. We went to their rooms to check samantalang naiwan si Math kasama ang mga suspect at crew sa sala. She said she would guard them para masiguradong wala sa kanila ang aalis doon to dispose whatever.

“Kaunting-kaunti na lang, papatulan ko na talaga ang Loki na ‘yon, eh,” Jeremy said as we searched Sir Arturo’s room. He flipped every pillow on the bed. Maging ang drawer at cabinet ay isa-isa niyang binuksan

. “You’ll prove him right if you do that, Puns,” Gray said as he rummaged through the drawers. “Besides, I see him as a worthy rival. I admit he possesses the qualities of a detective, minus that cocky attitude.”

I mentally rolled my eyes. Akala mo naman, hindi ka rin mayabang. He may be not as blunt and rude as Loki pero may itinatago rin naman siyang kahanginan. Sila na siguro ang patunay na hindi palaging totoo ang kasabihang, ‘Birds of the same feather flock together.’
Look at them, parehas silang mayabang ngunit nagka-clash pa rin ang mga ugali nila.

“At hindi n’yo man lang pinaglaban ang grupo natin. Hahayaan n’yo bang gawin niyang Quadrumvirate ang pangalan ng grupo natin kahit na Detective Triumvirate Plus One naman tayo?” Jeremy aired his sentiment.

Well, kung ako ang nasa posisyon ng QED Club, I’d rather call the group Quadrumvirate kaysa mag-aksaya ng laway at boses para sa napakahaba at walang kuwentang pangalan ng grupo.

We were all focused on searching the murder weapon or anything useful inside the room kaya pinili naming huwag pansinin si Jeremy. Ngunit sadyang makulit siya.

“Abo?” he nudged Gray, wanting to defend the group.

“I’m busy, Puns,” sagot ni Gray.

Jeremy frowned and turned to me. “Bestie?”

“Jeremy, mabuti pa, tumulong ka na lang sa paghahanap instead of whining. If Loki underestimated us, we’ll make him choke on his words.”

He sat on the bed with a stomp. “Baka kasi ‘yong multo talaga ang may gawa.”

Gray darted him a glare. “Puns, again and again, ghosts don’t exist,” Gray said, looking annoyed.

“Weh, ‘di nga? Hindi ‘yon totoo? ‘Di ba may ‘ghost-to’ ka kay Bestie? Ayieee!” he teased with that annoying grin followed by a more annoying giggle. At malamang kung nasa tabi niya ako ay sinundot-sundot na niya ako sa tagiliran. Well, he’s luck that I was on the other side of the room. If he was near me, I might have punched him right in the face.

Gray looked at my direction. Nang magtama ang tingin namin ay agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin. “J-Just keep searching, Puns!”

We found nothing suspicious on the writer’s room. Like he claimed, nasa mesa nga ang script ng show na nire-review niya. I noticed na medyo organized siya dahil malinis ang kanyang kwarto at hindi nakakalat ang kanyang mga papel.

Sunod naming pinuntahan ang kwarto ni Sir Michael B. Naka-play pa sa kanyang laptop ang isang episode ng American version ng ‘Whose Deduction Show?’ Marahil ay hindi na niya nagawang i-pause ‘yon nang umalis siya sa kwarto matapos makarinig ng pagtili.