Hope Has Descended, And She Lives With Me

Chapter 9: The Final Puzzle

Back at Breaker Street, all of the civilians had already calmed down since thirty minutes had already passed since the last gunshot echoed. The group huddled together and noticed the hat IRyS is holding.

Biggs: Where did you get that hat?

IRyS: It was just laying on the street.

Ina: Ame is alive?

Biggs: So she wasn't at her house.

(Y/N): No, she was. She was just lucky to escape that building.

Biggs: How'd you know that?

(Y/N): See those soot on the hat? Those things only come out from explosions, right? So, that means she was caught in the explosion and survived it... Well, barely, by the looks of it.

Biggs: Don't you think maybe she left the hat?

(Y/N): If she did, then her hat would've burned down completely. With that explosion, I doubt anything in her room would've survived.

Biggs: Huh...

(Y/N): Speaking of which, there's a hole here. It looks like it was shot.

Ina: D-Do you think...?

(Y/N): No, doubt it. If it were, then this should've been soaked in blood.

Ina: Phew...

(Y/N): But, no doubt someone is after her. She was just here. That gunshot must've been aimed at her. They fired, missed and knocked the hat down on the street. Which means, she was on the roof.

After his sudden show of deduction, everyone stared at him in awe, while IRyS is happily clapping for him.

(Y/N): W-What?

Ina: H-How did you figure all that out?

(Y/N): Well, isn't it obvious?

Ina: No.

(Y/N): Anyone could've solved that, it's simple.

IRyS: Well, every problem is absurdly simple when it is explained to you.

Biggs: You picked that up from her?

IRyS: We've been paying her frequent visits over the last few weeks.

By their surprise, Bubba came rushing towards them.

IRyS: Bubba!

Ina: He's... all by himself.

Bubba was barking loudly and whimpering continuously.

IRyS: He's worried...

(Y/N): He must've lost Ame. We gotta find her!

Dispatch called again on every policemen's radio.

"Calling all units, there has been a 207 at the Holo Ocean Highway. All units, respond!"

Biggs: I think I know where she is.

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Back at the Holo Ocean Highway, her "kidnapper" performed as instructed, and they are now inside the warehouse. There are several additional henchman on every side and corner, all staring down at Ame's presence. Prof. Mortimer emerged at the warehouse's middle, glaring at the henchman beside her. The henchman approached the professor and they exchanged long, drawn-out stares. After the deafening silence, Mortimer handed him a revolver and led him to a room at the far end of the warehouse by two other henchmen. The room is vacant, but the view of the beach from the window outweighs the grime and spiders. The two escorts then closed the door, leaving him alone as he concentrates his attention on the ocean, breathing deeply while reveling in the wonderful vista before him and hearing the waterfall splashes. Again, silence filled the air, and after a full minute...