✔ 04 | Bones Of Terror

CAPITULUM 24

"Our sincerest apologies. On behalf of Madame Hartwick, we deeply regret the passing of Sir Pierrino Hemmingway---"

"Deeply regret? Iyon na lang 'yon?!" The woman yelled from across the room, anger and pain brewing behind her tear-stained features.

Natahimik ang loob ng drawing room. Nova eyed the other guests and, to her surprise, others looked at the woman with such apathy that made her question if they were even human to begin with. 'These bastards,' she thought in disgust.

Kapag ba nagkaroon ka na ng criminal record, nawawala na rin ang emosyon mo sa mga sitwasyong kagaya nito? Is the death of a man so common that it won't even bother you anymore?

"Ms. Villaluz, please calm down," Bernie tried to say. Pero hindi nakaligtas sa obserbasyon ni Nova na tila ba sinasabi niya lang ito out of politeness, not sympathy. Na para bang scripted na ito.

She remembered all the articles on Insula Diaboli. All those guests gone, no one returned after the charity ball.

"Uminom ka muna, Ms. Villaluz."

At nag-abot ang head housekeeper ng mansyon ng baso ng tubig sa babae. Agad na napasimangot si Nova at naging alerto sa aksyon nito. Before she could even think twice, the pink-haired detective walked straight towards them and slapped the glass out of the woman's hand. Naging sanhi ito para mabasag ang baso, bumaling ang lahat ng atensyon sa kanila.

But Nova couldn't care any less.

"Namatay ang partner niya dahil sa cyanide poisoning na posibleng mula sa tubig na ininom nito. Don't you think offering this poor lady a glass of water is an insult itself?" The female detective calmly stated, but the edge in her voice was undeniable. "Let her mourn her loss."

Matagal na tumitig sa kanya ang head maid, tila ba minumukhaan siya. Kung nakilala man siya nito noong nagpanggap siyang isa sa mga kasambahay o hindi, the old woman didn't show any indication. Ngumiti lang ito sa kanya at tumango.

"My apologies, ma'am."

When the maid was out of sight, Nova knelt down and quickly picked up the shards of glass on the floor.

Maya-maya pa, naramdaman niya ang pagtabi sa kanya ni Clyde na tumulong na rin sa pagpupulot nito.

"You shouldn't be picking these up with your bare hands, detective. Baka masugatan ka pa."

Nova shrugged, not bothered one bit. "I imagine picking up glass shards is nothing compared to the problems we have right now. Paniguradong naiihi na sa excitement si Nico dahil may murder nang nangyari. Hindi na matutulog 'yan kakaisip kung sino ang susunod na biktima."

"You know him too well," Clyde chuckled.

"Unfortunately," she replied and stood up, taking the shards to the nearest trash bin. "I know him too much."

Nang bumalik ang dalawa, napansin nilang nakikipag-usap na ang iba pang mga bisita. Not surprisingly, the foreigner who almost hit them with a golf ball was the first to speak up.

"What's the point of even bringing us here? Are you accusing us of killing that man?" The man glared.

Nico, who silently sat on a chair, smirked and raised an eyebrow in arrogance. 'Mukhang makakahanap ng katapat niya ang foreigner,' isip-isip ni Nova at napabuntong-hininga.

Kalmadong sumagot ang detective, "Those are your words, not mine, Mr. Avantgarde. Do I have a reason to suspect you for murder? Pray tell so that I can wrap up this case and call it a night."