Erudition of Doyle: Volume One

CHAPTER 28: CASE VI - THE HORRIFYING ADMIRERS

Case 6: The Horrifying
Admirers (The Missing Acting
Detective Chapter, Part Three)

ROSALINDA

I still can’t believe what Ajax did that afternoon. I never saw it coming, never imagined he could pull that off. I want to ask him questions, but he’s nowhere to be found. He wasn’t around yesterday, nor today. His classmates say he's present, yet I searched but found nothing. Is he avoiding me?

As for my brother’s case: no leads, no clues. Just dust settled on unanswered questions. The investigation goes nowhere, behind closed curtains with not even a flicker of light.

Suddenly, I find myself knocked from behind. A tall man towers over me, forcing me to lift my head just to see his face. I instinctively recoil back, adjusting my gaze upward. When I finally look into his eyes, I see him casually gazing at me, a faint, inscrutable look that lingers just long enough.

"It's you..." bungad ko sa kaniya at pilit na ngumiti, he didn't say anything. Napansin ko ang alalahanin sa mukha niya sa kabila ng seryosong tindig. May problema ba?

Huminto siya sa isang classroom sa dulo ng pasilyo. "Excuse me," pagkuha niya ng atensyon sa babaeng nagwawalis sa labas ng kanilang silid.

"Yes?" Kanina ay nakasimangot siya, pero ngayon ay lumiwanag ang mukha dahil kay Solomon. "May kailangan ka po ba?"

"Is Doyle here?" tanong niya.

"Ah, wala po."

Hindi nagtagal, lumakad na palayo si Solomon. Nang lapitan niya ako, agad ko siyang tinanong kaya napahinto siya. "Is there a problem?"

Nakahalikipkip siyang humarap sa akin at napabuntong-hininga. "Mind your own business," sabi niya habang tinitingnan ang ID ko. "Miss Rosalinda."

"Is this about Doyle? I'm in the Literature Club. And we're friends," nagsinungaling ako sa huling bahagi ng sinabi ko para lang siya makumbinse. "As a friend, if it’s about Doyle, won’t you share a little?"

"A friend?" Umiling siya at lumakad palayo. "Why would he have a friend? My brother never makes friends. He wouldn’t think of it. So, it’s impossible for you to be his friend."

Pinanood ko siyang naglakad hanggang nawala na parang bula. Napahawak ako sa baba ko. Hindi ko inakala na may nakatatandang kapatid siya.

Halata na hinahanap ni Solomon ang kuya niya. Bakit? Hindi ako pwedeng manghukay ng agad; kulang pa ang impormasyon ko.

"Rosa," tawag ng isang lalaki mula sa likod ko. Pagkalingon ko, it was Clark. "We have a problem."

Humarap ako sa kanya at hinintay ang paliwanag. "Nabanggit ng kuya ni Doyle na nawawala daw ito. Lumabas lang daw si Doyle para magpahangin, pero hindi na nakauwi sa mansyon nila. Nang binuksan ko rin kanina ang clubroom, nakita ko ang letter mula kay Maya—the one na lagi ring nagpapadala sa kanya, pero pinipiling balewalain ni Doyle." Kinuha niya sa kaliwang bulsa ang sulat at iniabot sa akin, tinanggap ko agad.

Mabilis ko itong binuklat at binasa.

Haunting echoes of the clock's tick-tock grow louder, walking faster, mirroring the ominous fate awaiting Doyle.