ALIBI

Chapter 10: Hide and Seek

Trigger Warning: language, substance,violence

Long chapter ahead.

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Forensics Lab

The cold, sterile atmosphere of the forensics lab hummed with quiet activity as Gwen stood over the examination table, her brow furrowed in concentration.

The body of the drug lord lay motionless beneath the harsh fluorescent lights, his skin unnaturally pale.

He had been in NBI custody for less than 38 hours before suddenly collapsing, foaming at the mouth.

The death had been quick too quick perhaps for it to be anything but foul play.

The forensics team worked tirelessly, running tests, swabbing for samples, and carefully examining every detail of the drug lord’s body.

Gwen crossed her arms, her mind racing with possibilities.Whoever had done this was skilled. They’d infiltrated the NBI, gotten close enough to administer a fast acting poison, and disappeared without a trace.

“Agent Apuli” a voice pulled her from her thoughts. It was one of the forensic scientists, holding a tablet with the toxicology report.

“Na identify na namin ang ginamit na lason”

Gwen’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the screen.

“Anong klaseng lason po ba ang ginamit?”

"Isang variant ng rare neurotoxin” the scientist explained.

“Fast acting poison, almost undetectable.Nagca-cause ng respiratory failure within few minutes.Isang variant na you’d had to be an expert to use it effectively.Even direct contact sa skin can directly shut down your kidneys so kung sino man may gawa nito had done this multiple times”

Gwen nodded, her mind already turning toward the next steps.

“In his case how did it enter his body po ba?”

“In his case ingested most likely. May mga natagpuan kaming trace sa kaniyang pagkain at inumin.Kung sino man ang gumawa nito couls have likely disguised as an NBI operative”

Gwen clenched her jaw. The assassin had been right under their noses.

At the NBI Command Center

Sheena sat in front of a massive array of screens, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she cycled through CCTV footage.

Every camera feed from the NBI building was under her control, and she wasn’t leaving any angle unchecked. Somewhere in the countless hours of footage was the face of the person responsible.

“Alam kong nandito ka lang,most likely you arrived during the shift change..hmm..imposible naman na you could have slipped under our noses given the tight security here” Sheena muttered to herself, her eyes scanning each face that passed through the main entrance.

“Yun lang ang oras na you could have entered in without drawing any attention.Kung sino ka man you're infiltration skill is very good”

Sheena paused as she closed-up on a suspicious figure. The person was wearing an NBI uniform, cap pulled low over their face, and moved with a confidence that suggested familiarity with the building. But something was off. Their posture, the way they avoided eye contact with other agents.

It wasn’t one of theirs.

“Ha! Timbog ka!” Sheena shouted zooming in on the frame and enhancing the image.

She tapped into the secure internal system and ran the face through the database. No matches. The person wasn’t one of their agents, confirming her suspicion.