Euclid Shellingford

PROLOGUE

EUCLID SHELLINGFORD 

(VOL. 1: The Rise of the New Detective)

A Detective Fiction Made By EuclidAngel

|| Mystery・Thriller・ Action ||

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author's wild imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

PS: If in any case or any means, you found a story which may be similar or undoubtedly copied my story, please let me know. I won't exhibit any mercy to those who will try to plagiarize my works. 

NO to PLAGIARISM. 

***

"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

This is my favorite quotation very well said by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the one who created Sherlock Holmes, the person who owns the name of 'Conan' by which Conan Edogawa has been derived (Edogawa came from the Japanese translation ofthe writer Edgar Allan Poe, エドガワ ランポ ー Edogawa Ranpo).

I'm Euclid Shellingford, 18 years old, a certified fan of detective stories. But I'm not only a fan, 'cause I myself is a college detective. I solved mysteries secretly. 

That's my job, before.

PROFILE:

Name: Euclid Shellingford

Age: 18

Sex: Male

Education:

Primary: American Mensa Academy (accelerated)

Secondary: Southville International Highschool (accelerated)

Tertiary: Edinburgh University

BS Criminology

Elite's Academy

BS Chemical Engineering

Member of Mensa International (since 5 yrs old)

I.Q: 150

College detective

Record: No case unsolved.

Everything is under control not until my mom came and decided to take me back.

I, Euclid Shellingford, a great detective...

IS GOING TO A NORMAL SCHOOL?

That's the biggest change I have in my entire life.

Jeez! 

"There's always one truth. It doesn't matter where I am, as long as there are criminals, I will always be there to capture them." 〜 Euclid Shellingford

***

"You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney during any questioning..." I just watched Officer Daza put the cold handcuffs around the psychopath's hand who killed his own son to death in his courtyard along with five more victims. Bago sumakay sa police mobile ay tinapunan pa ako nito ng masamang tingin.

"What?" naka-crossed arms ko pang tanong sa kanya. Hindi ito sumagot bagkus ay tumawa lang ito ng nakakaloko.

"You won't be able to foresee and control everything, Shellingford! I'll be waiting for the day when you have to beg for mercy!"

"Oh yeah? I wonder if that will ever happen, Mr. Davids!" naglakad ako ng ilang hakbang palapit sa kanya at saka inilapit ang labi ko sa kanyang tainga. "After all, you'll be spending your life in jail forever... until you perished."

Nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi nito at napalitan ng panlilisik ng mga mata. Itinulak na ito ng mga pulis papasok sa loob ng police mobile habang nakapako pa din ang mga mata sa'kin.

I waved and smiled at him at maya-maya pa ay hinatid ko na sila ng tingin habang papalayo sa crime scene.

"Good job in locating that man, boss!" nilingon ko si Razor na masayang nakangiti habang hawak-hawak pa ang tablet.

"You're slacking off again," I exasperatedly sighed as I looked at him. Razor is one of my colleagues and is part of my team—the techie freak.

"I'm just at the area for some—"

"Entertainment, " putol ko sa gusto niyang sabihin. "You were holding your tablet the whole time since you left the HQ. You went to Roshan's unit and persuade him to come with you, the smudge of peanut butter on your collar is the proof since that's his favorite breakfast," napatingin ito sa collar niyang may talsik pa ng peanut butter at sa tablet niyang hinawakan niya pagkakain. The screen got greasy on the part under his thumb and at its back.

"You tried going to Sven's room next after you were rejected by Roshan. He wasn't there though so you left after trying to break in his room again," napangiwi ito sabay iwas ng tingin.

"After checking my location using GPS, you decided to go to this area and watched me solve the case from your car and after I bid good bye to the killer, you went out and walked towards me as if I won't be able to see right through you."

"Wait boss, how the heck did you know that I was watching you the whole time?"

"Do you really think I won't be able to notice your drone above?" tumingala ako at saka tiningnan ang drone niyang nasa taas. Napanganga naman ito at mukhang hindi alam ang sasabihin.

"Okay fine, I give up!" laglag ang balikat na sabi nito. Kahit kailan talaga ay may pagka-isip bata ang isang ito.

"You don't have missions to do?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"None at the moment," pagkibit-balikat lang nito at saka ibinaba na ang drone na kino-control niya using his tablet.

"Go ask Dr. Pascal for some tasks. Someone might mistook you here for a kid who's cutting his afternoon classes!" tinapik ko ang balikat niya at saka naglakad na palapit sa kotse kung saan nakaabang ang chauffeur na si Sebastian.

"Hey boss that's absurd!"

Sumakay na ako sa kotse at iniwan si Razor na nakasimangot habang masama pa din ang tingin sa'kin. Now he really looked like a bullied kid who has nowhere to go.

***

Location: Caythorpe, Lincolnshire, England

Time: 07:00pm

"We're here, Sir!" I opened my eyes and looked outside from the window at my right. Kinuha ko ang cellphone sa coat ko at saka tiningnan ang oras. Pasado alas siyete na pala ng gabi. Mahigit isang oras din pala ang itinagal ng byahe mula sa pinanggalingan namin.

I stretched my arms at pagkatapos ay binuksan na ang pinto ng kotse. Sinalubong naman ako ng malamig na hanging nagpahalukipkip sa'kin. Honestly, If this isn't one of the major cases requested by Mr. Berill himself, I'd rather have my early retirement for the day on my black table in the villa than directly report here. The urge to finish Agatha Christie's book was still lingering in me.

"See you later, Sir," I heard my chauffeur said before he bid goodbye. I just nodded my head then turned my back on him. I sighed exasperatedly as I remembered the previous case I had an hour ago. Napailing na lang ako habang pilit nagsusumiksik sa utak ko ang kaawa-awang itsura ng mga batang nakuha namin mula sa bakuran ni Mr. Davids. They all have multiple wounds in their bodies and their faces were almost unrecognizable because of complex deformities made by the psychopath's beating.

Napabalik sa kasalukuyan ang isip ko nang marinig kong tumunog ang cellphone ko. Napangiti ako nang makita ang mga numerong nagregister sa screen nito. It's definitely a call from them.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Mr. Shellingford?" said the other line. I can imagine the face of a blonde lady wearing a white blouse and high-waist black pants. It was definitely Ms. Courtney.

"Yeah, speaking," sagot ko habang palapit na sa may entrance ng building.

"Mr. Berrill wants to talk to you now."

"As in--"

"Right now," I somehow sensed a hint of urgency on her. I let out a deep sigh as an answer.

"Okay, I'll be there in two minutes," ibinaba ko ang tawag at saka dumiretso na sa private elevator. Tatlong segundo muna akong nag-undergo sa body scan nito at pagkatapos ay lumabas na sa right side nito ang isang monitor.

"Access confirmed. Good evening Mr. Shellingford!" bati ng A.I sa'kin.

"Bring me to the 50th floor," sabi ko dito at pagkatapos ay naramdaman ko na ang paggalaw nito pataas. I looked at my watch to monitor my time.

30 seconds...

1 minute...

1.5 minutes...

Inayos ko ang suot kong coat at saka diretsong tumingin sa papabukas ng pinto ng elevator. Dire-diretso akong naglakad palapit sa office ni Mr. Berrill. His secretary Ms. Courtney, the one who called a while ago, guided me inside the modern-style office. She's on her thirties pero hindi iyon halata dahil sa slim na pangangatawan nito at alagang kutis.

"As usual, you're very time-conscious Mr. Shellingford," iyon agad ang bungad ni Mr. Berill pagkapasok namin sa loob ng kanyang office.

"That's where I'm good at Sir," mabilis kong sagot sa kanya. Tumangu-tango naman ito bilang pagsang-ayon.

I looked at the old man standing in front of me. His sparkling white hair gave him a look of surreality. His skin is as smooth as those models in the neighboring building and even though he is already forty, he looks like a bachelor in his twenties. I don't know how he managed to create an image like this. He's Mr. Lance Berrill, the great grandson of Mr. Rolando Berrill, one of the founders of Mensa International. He's the one who gives M.I agents like me challenging cases to solve from different parts of the globe.

"So what can I do for you Sir?" I asked trying to hide my excitement.

Is it a new case?

"Your Mom has called."

I gulped and tried to slowly absorb what he just stated. Honestly, that's the last thing I wanted to hear from him. I opened my mouth so as to speak a word but I can't mutter one.

"She wants you back," pagpapatuloy niya pa. I closed my eyes so as to calm myself.

"But I don't--" 

"You know she's not asking you... she's ordering you to go back," he said while showing his complete set of teeth. I bet he's enjoying my reactions now. 

"But of all time, why now?" I complained.

"Because I miss you son."

I froze upon hearing that voice.

A fine lady walked beside Mr. Berrill. She has those eyes that no one dares to stare with for too long, the powerful and remarkable stance and aura, and the authority in her voice can make anyone feel intimidated with her.

"M-mom.."

Parang biglang bumagal ang oras at tumahimik ang buong paligid dahil sa unti-unting paglapit niya sa'kin. Huminga muna ako ng malalim at saka siya tinitigan.

Now I'm ready...

I looked at her carefully. She moved her right hand then threw a right jab which I have succeeded to shield on. But the next attacks are fast and with irregular pattern of jabs and kicks. I have set a distance but she threw a roundhouse kick and little did I notice her right hand holding something as it struck the back of my neck and then everything turned black.

***

Nagising ang diwa ko nang marinig ang tunog ng alarm clock sa tabi ko. Kahit pikit ang mata ay pilit kong inabot ang maliit na orasan at saka ito pinatahimik. Using my one eye, I looked at the clocks's two hands. It's only 8:00 in the morning.

Jeez!

When did I set the clock to this early time?

I closed my eyes again. Then a flash of memory came upon my brain which made me stand up in no time. I instantly looked around.

Oh crap!

This is my room but not my usual  room!

I mean, this is...

"So you're already awake huh?"

I looked at the man who just opened the door at my right side.

"Dad?"

"Welcome... home?" he said as if unsure of what to say. He hugged me as he got closer with me. I broke the hug.

"This is... impossible!" I burst out.

"Impossible is not in our family's dictionary, my son," he chuckled.

Meet my dad, Aristotle Shellingford, a former head of the Intelligence unit in Mensa International, a retired navy captain and at present, a writer of different books concerning Military intelligence.

"Yeah but, I'm at Lincolnshire, England last night! Why am I—"

"I've taken you back remember?," napalingon ako kay Mom na biglang pumasok din saroom ko. 

Meet my mom, Henriette Shellingford, a former secret agent of the prestigious crime investigation group "Red Phoenix". A blackbelter, judo master, and at present, working as a trainer-recruiter for new Mensa members and agents of Red Phoenix.

"Ohh yeah," Naalala ko na naman yung ginawang pag-atake ni Mom last night. She surely hasn't changed at all. Hilig niya pa ring i-test ang martial arts skills ko. Napahikab na lang ako dahil sa antok. I got rid of the tears that formed on the side of my right eye.

"Son, you're not in England anymore okay? So you better speak in a more suitable language. I mean, you are in the Philippines now, d'you still remember how to speak tagalog?"

"Yeah of course."

Easy as pie.

"That's good then. You better prepare for school. Here's your registration form, your credit cards, your car's key, and your bag. We gotta go! Come on honey!," she just gave me all those things then bid goodbye.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako ng wala sa oras.

Pero teka... did she just mention school? Did I hear it right?

I gulped for a second then looked at the registration form which she just handed me.

Name: Euclid Shellingford

Student no.: 20200110606

Course: B.S. Chemical Engineering

Oh men!

Elite's Academy?

Is this for real?

I'm going to study in a normal school with normal students?

Oh no!

***