Project LOKI ③

Chapter 49: Sign of the Four III (Forewarning)

A/N: Third update for the week! We're on a roll!

LORELEI

I WAS starting to think that the truth behind the Moriarty case was like a Russian doll. Once you open it, you would see a similar but smaller doll inside, which can also be opened to reveal another much smaller doll. Hindi ko na alam kung ilang dolls na ba ang nabuksan namin at kung ilan pa ang natitira sa loob.

Honestly, I feared what else was hidden deep inside the mystery that is M. Natatakot akong malaman sakaling meron pang nakagigimbal na katotohanan. The involvement of Jamie's late brother was already shocking enough to me. Ano pa kaya kapag may mas nakayayanig pa roon?

For instance, Jamie knowing about everything that her brother did as the original Moriarty. Hindi ko maiwasang mapasulyap sa kanya habang pinag-uusapan namin ang motivation noon at ngayon ni M. Her brother founded the organization, and now, the successor is driving it off track.

She showed us a convincing reaction of wonder and confusion. Well, that could have been a mask. She could be pretending to be surprised—Oh, God! I really hate these thoughts! Sana'y walang katotohanan itong pagdududa ko. We've been through so much already. Imagine how heartbreaking it would be not only to me, but also to Loki and Alistair, if my fears become real.

Matapos ang aming quick review sa mga case file, nagpaalam na muna kami kay Rye upang mag-break at pumunta sa cafeteria. Nagutom si Jamie kaya nagyaya siyang kumain. Nagpahabol pa ang bago naming boss na baka pwede naming i-check kung sino ang mga pasaway na hindi sumusunod sa "clean as you go policy."

Habang nasa hallway kami, huminto ako sa paglalakad nang may naaninag akong lalaki na suot ang prescribed uniform para sa male faculty members.

"What is it, Lori?" kunot-noong tanong ni Jamie. "Bakit nahinto ka? Is something wrong?"

Umiling ako. For a second, I thought that my uncle had returned to the campus and resumed his stint as a high school instructor. Nang mas malinaw ko nang nasilayan ang mukha ng lalaking faculty member, parang nakahinga ako nang maluwag. What was I thinking? Imposibleng makatakas ang uncle ko sa kulungan. And he wouldn't easily sneak into the school anyway.

Nasanay na siguro akong nandito siya kaya naaaninag ko pa rin ang image niya.

Lumabas na kaming apat sa high school building at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad hanggang sa marating ang cafeteria. Ilang hakbang na lang kami mula sa entrance nang may maramdaman ako sa aking bulsa. My phone was continuously vibrating. Someone's calling. I pulled it out and looked at the number on the screen.

Unregistered digits. Could it be someone from my dad's associates? But they had to go through Nancy if they wanted to talk to me.

"Teka lang," sabi ko sa aking mga kasama. They also stopped and gave me a confused look. Itinaas ko ang aking kaliwang kamay para i-emphasize ang "sandali lang." I pressed the accept call button and placed the phone near my ear.