The Missing Link

021. A Story with No End

The two approached the victim's house. For Raine, it was her second visit, but for Zane, it was his first. The funeral had been held in the city at one of the local funeral homes. The house remained locked and under investigation, with police officers standing guard, ensuring no one could enter.

As they walked down the street, several eyes followed them, the quiet gaze of the onlookers heavy with curiosity. Despite the house's remote location, the villagers made no effort to hide their watchfulness, their interest in the ongoing investigation apparent.

"The burial's tomorrow, right?" a passerby asked, pausing as they crossed paths.

"Yes, are you attending?" her companion replied, offering a brief glance at the person before moving on. "They mentioned it during the wake last Thursday."

"Of course," replied the woman. "You did the pagpag, right? We don't want bad spirits coming into our houses if we don't follow superstition."

"I did," her colleague answered, and their voices slowly faded as they moved toward the pathway leading to the nearby houses.

"Hear that?" Raine asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she glanced at Zane.

"Of course I heard it," Zane replied.

"You miss your own province? Where is it, anyway?" Raine asked, her gaze shifting to Zane. "In Bicol, am I right?"

"Uh... yes. Why?"

"Nothing, just curious," she replied, her tone light. Then, they both came to a stop, their eyes catching the police tape ahead.

The house before them was smaller than the Suarezes' home, painted a fresh white. Perched on a small hill, it had a five-step cement staircase leading up to the flat land where it stood. A modest garden stretched along the side, and a fence made of densely planted small trees ran around the property, their roots clearly well-established over the years. The house itself appeared recently painted, just enough space for two or three people. Police cars were parked at the base of the hill, along the narrow two-way street, while crime scene tape surrounded the fence and the perimeter of the house.

"Look who we have here," called out one of the forensic investigators, leaning near the stairs under the shade of a large pili tree. "I thought you were off duty, Doctor de Verra. Why are you here again? Detective Inspector Ferrer must've called you again, huh?"

"Who are you talking to?" Detective Ferrer's voice came from behind as he stepped outside the house, scanning the area for Mendez. His eyes landed on Raine as he approached him.

"The raven's back," Mr. Mendez said with a smirk, his tone playful. "If there's a mystery to be solved, she'll be circling overhead. And now, it seems, she's picked up a little sparrow tagging along."

"Very funny, Mr. Phil," Raine replied, her smile widening. "Did you forget I'm part of the team assigned to investigate this case? Or is your memory a little foggy, or perhaps your stressed-out brain is just playing tricks on you?"

"Are you forgetting that I hold a higher position than you?" Mr. Mendez asked, rising from his seat, his tone sharp.

"No, sir," Raine replied, her voice calm, though there was an unmistakable edge of sarcasm in her words. "I wouldn't forget something like that. I'm just focusing on the matters at hand."

"Enough, enough!" DI Ferrer interjected, his voice firm. "The last thing we need is another scene. We don't want this whole neighbourhood poking around here again."

"Plenty of gossip, then?" Zane asked.

"Everyone here seems to want to be involved in everything that's happening around this land," DI Ferrer muttered, rubbing his temples. "Anyways, have you got new reports back at your lab?"