The Sleuth Project ✓

Chapter 1: The Classic Rivalry

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The Classic Rivalry

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THE OCCASIONAL clicking sound of the driver's wheel was the only thing that could be heard from inside the limousine.

Seated alone at the back of the car was the only heiress of the Lobris' wealth — prim, proper, petite Annaliese Gracielle Beltran Lobris, who had her legs crossed in a dainty manner. Tahimik lamang itong nagbabasa ng libro; with her short, bob-cut hair pushed behind the back of her ears.

Halatang pinalaki sa striktong pamamaraan ang dalaga. Not a speck of dirt could be found on her ironed white blouse, nor a wrinkle from her necktie and pleated maroon skirt. Sa sobrang ayos ay para na siyang manika — caricatured by her own parents to be that way.

Or so it seems.

Sa pagkakataong iyon ay nabasag ang katahimikan sa sasakyan ng biglang tumunog ang cellphone ng kaniyang ama. Without lifting her head, she narrowed her eyes and watched her father who was seated in the passenger seat, pick up the call.

"Hello?" Her father greeted, not mentioning a name.

Interesting. Ngisi ng dalaga before going back to reading. Baka mahalata pa ng kaniyang ama na pinapanood niya siya.

"Yes, I'm on my way to the meeting." He said, lifting an arm to check the time on his vintage wristwatch.

Ann flipped a page from the book she was reading. It was one of the 1997 Nancy Drew classics — old and hardbound.

But she wasn't reading it anymore. She was however, focusing on the conversation of her father and the unknown caller instead.

"I know, I'll be there." Her father said cautiously. Just from her peripheral vision, she could see that her father was eyeing her — checking if she was listening.

Nang nakita ng matanda na busy sa pagbabasa ang dalaga ay ibinaling muli nito ang tingin sa kalsada. Ann's lips curved into a smile.

I'm not that stupid, dad. She thought wearily and bitterly.

The call then ended and Ann flipped another page. Hindi man direktang sabihin ng kaniyang ama ay ramdam ng dalaga na may nililihim ito.

After all, Ann had observed these little details for as young as she can remember. The mysterious phone calls, secret deals, late night meetings, and the hushed conversations behind closed doors.

Lahat ito ay napapansin ng dalaga because of her gift of being too observant — too meticulous.

At that moment, ang cellphone naman ng dalaga ang tumunog ngayon, prompting her to snap out of her thoughts, and shut the book she was reading.

"Sino yan?" Tanong agad ng kaniyang ama as she opened the text message she had just received. It was from an unknown number.

The text read: You and your stuck-up parents deserve to die.

"Huh. So original." Ann chuckled sarcastically after reading it, tossing the gadget back into her bag.

Same old, same old. Sa sobrang rami niyang natatanggap na death threats araw-araw ay hindi na ito bago sa kaniya. She was after all, the daughter of a famous politician and a hot-shot corporate lawyer.

Everyone either wanted to be her, or was envious of her and her family who came from a long line of old money.

"Who was that?" Her father demanded again, turning around para harapin ang anak niyang nakaupo sa likod.