The Special Case

PROLOGUE

The moon is watching, it is shining, the night is beautiful and at peace but what is it that you're hearing? 

Shouts. Cries. Pain. Lies.

"You should've never betrayed me. This is the price you must pay for being a snitch bit*h. Did you really think you can ruin my life? Well you're wrong because your story ends here. Sleep in hell and say hi to their king for me." 

The shadow with a knife and gun on its waist slightly approached a room, but find no one except for an empty crib. 

"Where is the child?" the shadow asked to a woman who is lying on the floor, bleeding.

She chuckles.

"Do you think... hah...hah... I haven't predicted this huh? You can never hurt my daughter. She is peacefully travelling now, far away from you. Isidor will be here soon, look." She took out a small phone that she hides under her sleeves.

On the screen, there are two words that looks like nothing.

Aiming Andre

"No one can understand this except him." She smirked. "And I'm sure he's on his way here you idiot." The woman added while coughing from her own blood.

"I'll find that child and kill her with my own hands, and Isidor? He will never get up from this mess. You think you're smart enough to beat us? You see, I already win and you know what, loving that man is your biggest mistake." 

With that, the shadow slowly disappear in the dark as the black car arrived outside the house.

Chapter 1: The Special Case

Enola's POV

Its already 12:00 a.m. and I just got back in the office after solving a case which involves the abduction of an 18 years old 1st year college student, Macy, by their electric technician. She was abducted last September 21, 2021 at exactly 9 o'clock in the evening when her parents aren't home because of business matter. 

We found her at the technician's abandon house outside the Barangay where the girl lives. The man holds a grudge towards the parents of the girl because her wife was killed by Macy's father. 

According to my deductions based on evidences and later, statement from the father of the girl, he attempted to rape the wife of that technician before but she fought and he lose control over himself and drag the girl to the pool until she died. This is the reason why the technician chose to get the most important thing to them and that is obviously their only daughter. 

She almost got drown on the pool when we found them fortunately we manage to save the girl and both the technician and the father go to jail.

Now the water is running down continouosly from my body because I directly jump to the pool to save the unconscious girl who is tied in a chair. Those cops are so slow like a snail, I can't believe they passed the physical training exercises and get a license with that weak body. 

"Those cops always move like a turtle! Hay. Why do I need to do their jobs every single time, I already solve the case and they still want me to do their jobs! Jeez! Those men." I complained loudly, shaking my head. 

Well, I'm not bother yelling here now because its passed midnight and I'm sure I am the only person left here which is not surprising at all for they all go home by 7 o'clock.

"You always do that, why are you still annoyed huh?" 

My heart almost jumped out because of Mr. Del Rosario, the president of this agency. He was a 52 years old man who wears eye glasses. Mas maliit ito kaysa sa akin kaya madalas kapag nag-uusap kami kailangan ko pang yumuko para makita siya.

For some reason that me, myself don't know either, I treated him as my own father more than Uncle Ruben. Hindi nga lang halata sa 'min. He took care of me when my grandfather died and molded me to become a better and stronger version of myself.

"Don't scared me like that tandang Adonis, you know I might attack you thinking that you're an enemy, gosh! What's the matter?" I asked as I grab my extra clothes from my backpack below my table.

"What do you mean 'what's the matter?' Am I now prohibited to stay late on my own agency hm?" he answered as he approach the coffee machine in our office.

"Stop fooling around, you're too lazy to stay late in this office. You always go home even if it is only 4 o' clock in the afternoon so now tell me why do you want to talk to me?" I asked again. I slowly walk towards his direction and start making my own coffee.

"I just want to congratulate you for being the rank 1 in this agency, surpassing Caloy, and I want to tell you that you must stop involving yourself to other detective's cases from now on. Don't push the limit iha." He hold my arm that just about to put a hot water on a cup and shake his head. He give his cup of coffee and walk away while stretching his back. 

I scratch the back of my head trying to figure out what just happened. 

He give a serious look before going out of the office. It took me a minute before I've absorb what he is trying to say. I immediately go to the bathroom with my clothes and that cup. I immediately shut the bathroom door and found an address written at the bottom part of the cup.

#20 Kaingin St. Parada, Valenzuela City

Why does he have to secretly give this to me when we are the only one here? Is it possible that there is someone here in the office who secretly watching us? Anong bang nangyayari tanda?

I immediately put on new clothes and decided to finally leave the place. I hopped in my blue motorcycle and drove away to go to that address.

As I continue driving I notice a black motorcycle that seems to follow me. I'm sure I've saw this vehicle earlier at the parking lot of our building. 

"There's only one way to find out." I intentionally turned left to see if it will follow me. I turned left again and it is still behind me. For the third time around, I changed direction and notice that the black motorcycle still follows me.

"I hate this kind of scenario." I speed up and take many turns to be able to lose him until I finally did. I continue taking the road and arrived at a small house outside the city.

When I say small its really small. It looks like just a big box that is placed right in front of me. The structure is so simple and the house is kinda old. I knocked three times until I heard Mr. Del Rosario's approval to enter.

"So why did you..." hm? Where is he? "Tandang Adonis nasa'n ka?"

"Come down here quickly..." his voice came from below the table of the house so I look at it and find lines. I push it and it slightly opened. I saw a stair and turned my flashlight on. I go down the stair and saw a large hallway that lighted up by small light bulbs.

"Oh wow. So should I follow this hallway?!" I shouted.

"No, look behind you iha." 

I pointed the flashlight in his voice's direction and found a black door.

"You're the best tanda." I complimented him as I entered the room. "So how did you come up with this idea huh, small house above but is gigantic below?" I asked. 

"This is not my original idea. It was inspired by an old friend's house, come here quickly. Wait, what took you so long to get in here huh?" 

I blankly stared at him, raising my eyebrow.

"I was followed by someone. As if namang hindi mo alam." I raised my right eyebrow and threw an annoyed look at him. "I know na alam mong may nakamasid sa 'kin. Now tell me, what is happening here?" I answered as I walked inside the room.

I stand just right beside him and started examining a bunch of papers and pictures scattered around the table.

"Hm? Is this Mr. Almar? Yung tatakbong presidente next year?" I asked as I hold the photo of Roderick Almar. Last week, he have filed his candidacy for presidency which will be held next year. He serve as a senator for how many years and now decided to run for president.

 "Oh sabi ko na di talaga yan matino eh" turan ko habang sinisimulang kainin ang tsitsiryang nasa lamesa.

"Yeah but this is bigger than what you think iha.This involves the murder of the former president back 2017 na pinalitan ni Vice President Galanza who is eventually became our current president" I stopped eating and did focused on what he was saying. "This involves corruption, drugs, illegal organizations, and i'm afraid some detective agency's, police officers, mayors, and some senators are also involve in this case. This is so chaotic that me myself can't handle it alone. I might not be able to put an end to this before I die" he continued.

Why do he have to mentioned death? Is there a threat on his life?

"How worst this case is? Could you possibly die before this year end?" I asked "Do you have a death threat? Does that man who followed me earlier somehow connected with this? Bakit mo ba kasi hawak 'tong case na 'to? And why are you telling me everything now?" 

"Good question."

He started roaming around the room while wearing an expression that made this place look more mysterious and dark.

"I already received a lot of death threats luckily wala akong asawa't mga anak but my life is like a candle now. In no time, matutunaw na ko at mamamatay na ang apoy ko. Iha, ngayon palang sasabihan na kita. You cannot do this alone too, you need a team. I believe you need that man too" he explained, thinking deeply.

"Next, I am giving you this because I trusted you and you have proven yourself a long time ago. There is no one who could put an end to this except you but not alone."

He dedicated his whole life for revealing what is true and helping this society. Bakit ba may mga tao na handang pumatay ng mabuting alagad ng batas para sa pansarili nilang interes? Why do this world always taking the most important thing to me? 

"Find this man, he was just somewhere outside the city" he explained as he gave me an old photo of him with a man who is about 6 ft tall.

"Form a team na mapagkakatiwalaan mo and you must keep this case just to yourself and your team. Walang dapat makaalam kahit yung mga nasa agency natin or else wala tayong mapapala," he continued as he drink a cup of coffee.

"Gaano pa katagal ang buhay mo? Estimated?" I asked as my voice cracked from holding back my tears.

This is the risk of our job, we might die anytime and worst we can do nothing but to accept it.

"No one knows. But I'm confident that I have found the right heir for The Home of Holmes Detective Agency."

He hug me as my tears started to run down my cheeks. I hate crying. I hate this feeling. 

"How could you talk casually knowing that you might die tomorrow or even tonight?" I started crying in agony.

"You are the most important gift I have received in my life, Enola. I don't want you to have a sad memory with me bago ko mamatay. Gusto ko na ang pagpanaw ko ang mas magpalakas sayo at ang mga alaala na kasama mo ako ang siyang humatak sayo pataas sa tuwing nanghihina ka. Oras na para umalis ako iha, ayaw mo bang magpahinga ang matandang 'to?"

I just can't believe that we are talking like this here knowing that he might die any moment. I can't. I just can't afford to lose him too.

"I just can't. Why do we have to experience this? Why do these people can live happily while we suffer?" I groaned as I crumpled some piece of papers in the table.

"Everything will be alright. One day you will appreciate why do you have to go through this things, Enola. The road in front of you are still too long and you must continue walking. Find your last destination and I will still guide you from a far"

We both hugged each other and separately left the house after finalizing stuffs regarding the case.