Erudition of Doyle: Volume One

CHAPTER 20: CASE V - THE UNEXPLAINED DEATHS

Case 5: The Unexplained
Deaths (The Missing Detective
Chapter, Part Three)

ROSALINDA

I just stared blankly as Detective Joshua gently stroked my back. I can’t shed tears; I don’t feel like crying right now and I don’t know why. Anger wells up inside me more than sorrow. Before me sat Doyle, August, and Raleigh on the chairs downstairs. We were in the second-floor living room. I wondered why they were comforting me. I don’t need comfort; I need justice.

I might embarrass my mother in front of those guests at my debut, and I might fail to remember all their faces. I might not cry over what happened to them. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care. I do, deeply.

I was glad Harley wasn’t here. I could never forgive if anything happened to my brother. I wouldn't hesitate to tear someone’s skin, feed their flesh to bears, and sell their insides.

But a sudden thought cut through my rage. I noticed my father was missing. Where is he? Had something happened to him?

I stood up, and the four of them followed my gaze. Just as I was about to leave and find my father, Detective Joshua gently held my hand. "Saan ka pupunta, Rosa?" alala niyang tanong.

"Somewhere," tugon ko, marahas na binawi ang kamay ko.

"Finding your father, hm?" Doyle smirked. "I suppose I can help you—"

“No need.” I glanced at him. “I don’t think I can handle a boy who smiles, shows no reaction, and feels no compassion in the face of tragedy.” I gave him a sharp look. From the start, all his actions seemed suspicious, but I let it slide. The more I tried to uncover who he really was, the more elusive he became.

"Oh," his smile widened. "Say what you will, but the truth is—I didn’t do anything wrong."

Humarap ako sa kaniya; dumagdag ang naiipong galit sa dibdib ko, sobrang bigat. "Hindi ba’t sinabi mo kanina na nakita mo 'yong flashdrive at letter sa libro na binabasa ko recently? How did you know that book is what I’m reading? You know something about this case, don’t you? You know the man who calls himself Satan in that video?" tanong ko, pero hindi siya sumagot. Ngisi pa rin ang nasa labi niya.

Tumayo si Raleigh at lumapit sa’kin, siya na ang bumasag sa katahimikan sa sala. "Tutulungan kita sa paghahanap sa tatay mo. Malalim na ang gabi, baka mapano ka pa," sabi niya.

"No need, I can do it by myself."

"I am not asking to help you, it’s a statement. I’ll help you whether you like it or not." He declared, na ikinalukot ang mukha ko.

"I'll help too," sabi ni Augustus, mabilis na naglakad papalapit sa’kin.

Ngunit nang mapalapit siya, inutusan ko agad, "Stay here and keep an eye on Doyle," pabulong kong sabi.

"Why?" tanong niya, nagtataka."Just do as I said," sagot ko, matatag.

Nilibot namin ang mansion pero hindi namin siya nakita, kaya napagpasyahan naming ipagpatuloy sa labas ang paghahanap. Bago lumabas, nagpalit ako ng damit: maluwag na plain white t-shirt, black jogging pants, at tsinelas na ang suot ko ngayon.

"Sigurado ka bang wala kang nakitang kakaiba na puwedeng magbigay ng hint kung nasaan si Dad?" tanong ko kay Raleigh.

"Wala," sagot niya. Hindi ko mapigilang mapikit habang naghihilamos. "Saan madalas pumunta ang tatay mo? Baka nandun siya."

"I don’t know; he usually stays in his office," said I. "Madalang siyang lumabas, kaya hindi ko rin alam kung saan siya madalas pumupunta."

"Mahihirapan tayo sa paghahanap ng tatay mo," tumingin siya sa paligid, nagtataas ang kilay. "Hanggang ngayon, hindi mo pa rin siya matawagan?"