Erudition of Doyle: Volume One

CHAPTER 3: CASE I - THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF MERMAID

Case 1: The Mysterious Death of
Mermaid (The Deduction
Chapter, Last Part)

ROSALINDA

"NARINIG ko ang mga ingay na 'yon bandang rito, para bang may binubuhat," nakahalukipkip niyang sabi, nakasandal sa mga locker.

"Sigurado ka ba?" muli kong paninigurado sa kaniya.

Lumukot ang mukha nito. "Oo nga! Ba't ayaw mong maniwala sa'kin, ha?!" bulyaw niya, at napairap na lang ako sa sakit sa tenga ko.

"Lower your voice," pabulong kong sabi sa kaniya, sabay lingon sa buong paligid. "If we get caught, lagot ka talaga sa'kin."

Iniisa-isa ko ang mga numero ng mga locker. Bago kami pumunta rito, tinanong ko pa ang management ng pasilidad para sa listahan ng mga pangalan ng mga babae at kanilang mga locker number. Habang iniisa ko ang mga numero, napansin ko ang numero ng isa sa mga suspek.

Number 094.

"Let's go to the swimming sport club," wika ko, at nagmarcha patungo sa likurang labasan ng building. Naramdaman ko namang sumusunod siya sa'kin, padabog ang mga apak niya, halatang naiinis ngunit ayaw niya akong iwanan. Yes, I dragged him here but still, he can leave whenever he wants, hindi naman siya nakatali sa'kin.

I glanced at him briefly; his expression was almost indescribable. He shot me a glare when he noticed I was looking at him.

"What?!"

"I said, lower down your voice—"

"Then stop looking at me," inis niyang sabi. Ba't palagi na lang 'tong galit? Anong problema nito sa buhay?

I looked at the pool's circulation. There's something wrong with it. It's very subtle, so it's not immediately noticeable. The flow is unusual. The water is becoming cloudy, as if it's discolored, and on top of that it has an unusual smell.

Lumapit ako sa ladder. There was a loose bolt, and because of it, I reached a conclusion.

"Let's call the police."

Napataas ang isa niyang kilay.

"Bakit?"

"This isn't an accident; this is a murder."

Ilang oras ang nakalipas ay nandito na ang mga pulis. Tamang-tama at nandito rin ang may-ari ng paaralan. Pinayagan niyang makapasok ang mga pulis kahit natapos na ang kanilang imbestigasyon.

First time kong makita ang may-ari ng paaralan. Lagi ko lang siyang naririnig, sinasabi nila na nandito daw siya sa unang pasukan pero hindi ko siya nasipatan.

He is tall, very tall. If I were to guess, he's between 200 cm to 215 cm, or above. But he is very skinny, almost skeletal. He looks like he's in his forties. Nakasuot siya ng itim na suit, at nagkagulo-gulo pa ang kaniyang necktie. He has a long nose, small eyes, but he seems very innocent with a genuine smile on his face.

Nang natamaan niya kami ng tingin ay mabilis siyang lumapit sa amin. Buong akala ko'y magagalit siya sa amin at pagagalitan kami, ngunit hindi. Bumati siya sa amin na may umaapaw na sigla.

"Hello, students! Good morning, good morning!" Raleigh and I looked at each other, then back at him. "How are you? What can you say about the school? Is the progress of management here good? How are your studies going?"

"Great?" I said, not so sure. Hindi naman ako nakikinig eh; nasa malayo ang isipan ko.

"Why not sure?" He quickly turned to my companion. "Hello, boy! You sure look healthy!" He gently patted Raleigh's arm. "You're so young, yet you already have a muscular body. How did you do that?" He asked, staring at Raleigh's arms.