DECODE

CHAPTER 6.5; Riddle Me

ASHER

I am typing in my laptop, finishing the whole research paper of Zay and her research partners. I heard she have two other research partners in this one. One from the class of the ABM students while the second one is from the STEM class. Their names were Cynthia Velgara and Cassandra Leigh Lomad.

In fact, their paper is almost finished, only some retouches and edits were needed for it to get the highest score possible. And I am the one doing it today as her reward in solving the case that happened two days ago. The case of Micah Manambit, a friend of Trizia, one of our classmates, was the case solved by Zay earning this reward from me. I remember how confident and astounding she relay the whole story in front of Inspector Mar and his constables.

Aaron Laudez, a friend of the victim Micah Manambit and also the very person who abducted her was turned over to the police custody. We rode with him and other constables inside a police mobile towards the precinct. Inspector Mar told us that the deliberation and questioning for the whole case will take place there. That is why, Zay and I are with them right now.

"Great. You solved the case." I told Zay who's leaning on the window of the police mobile.

"That's just a piece of cake. Very elementary. Nothing so mysterious. Just common sense." she answered with full pride that made me smirk. She's really something.

"Relay the story before Inspector Mar. He will ask you bunch of questions. Be prepared-"

"I know what I will do, Ash. No need to tell me. Just stick to your words and do our research paper." she cut me in my sentence.

"Fine." I said and stopped talking. My mind wanders on what Zay is like.

She's a quick-minded lady. Very intuitive and keen. She has the eyes for all the pieces of details. She knows how to sort and judge everything she see. She's like me. She possesses an extraordinary sense in this kind of job. She may not look like it, but she's a very sharp and bright person. One of the few people I met with the brightest of mind.

"We're here!" we heard Inspector Mar announced and we immediately gathered ourselves. I opened the door beside me and went out of the mobile. Zay went out from the other side. The constables escorted Aaron out of the mobile. I saw his deadly glares upon us.

"You will all pay for this! Remember this day! I will have my revenge on you!" he yelled. I just look at him. Zay didn't speak a word beside me.

"You two, come with me. I need to have a written report about this case. Constables, imprison him already." Inspector Mar told us. Zay immediately followed him while I walk towards Aaron. He glared at me between the grips of two constables.

"You will have your day, very soon." he said to me with hatred and disgust.

"I have a question to ask." I told him. His glare didn't change. I can see madness and disgust in his eyes as he look at me. He didn't say a word so I proceeded to my question.

"How come you know we're in your apartment? It's so improbable and impossible if it's just a coincidence that you found us there. As far as I can tell, there's still one and a half hour before the dismissal. So, what or who told you to come back to your apartment?" I asked directly to him. He didn't say a word. He just glare at me.

I was shocked upon seeing a smirk formed upon his lips.

"Why? Do you know someone who might have tipped me about your coming to my apartment?" he asked. I did not answer.

"Haha! You have a bright mind, but shrouded with dark clouds. If you think someone told me, why don't you voice it out?" he said with a mocking tone. My jaw tightened upon his acts. I know someone have tipped him that we're at his apartment earlier. And I have a strong feeling that I know who tipped him.

"Remember that a spider has eight eyes. He can see everything. Always remember that." he told me before he was dragged by the constables inside the precinct. My hands balled into fists as I realized and confirmed something. The Spider has an eye on us!

I went inside the precinct and found Zay sitting in front of Inspector Mar's desk. She's filling up some papers.

"Thank you. Now, narrate to me everything that happened in the case as well as how you solved it." the inspector said. I sat beside Zay while she started her narration.

"Well, the truth is, I am not the one who first learned about the case. It's this guy beside me. He just relayed it to me and let me solve it on my own." she said as she gave me a sideway look. I just shrugged at them.

"So, Ash, how did the crime come to your notice?" the inspector asked.

"Her friend, Trizia Ole Quino consulted me about it. She relayed to me the story of her friend who chatted her in an unusual way. Sort of a hidden message was there but someone seemed to disguised it and make it something that is nonsense in the eyes of someone. I have a copy of it." I told the inspector and showed him my copy of the conversation of Trizia and Micah. His brows knitted upon seeing it.

"In fact, upon seeing the message, I already know how to solve the case and the possible suspects. And upon knowing what happened last night, I already solved it. But I let this woman beside me to solve it. Sort of proving her resolve to be a part of my club." I told him. I heard Zay snorted.

"Yes. He relayed me the whole story and showed me the same conversation of Trizia and her friend, Micah. He also described Micah to me based on how Trizia described her to him. Ang sabi n'ya ay isang STEM student si Micah at magaling s'ya sa programming. Knowing that, I learned the essence of the unusual message she sent to Trizia.

"We all know, one of the computer language a programmer use is binary. Binary can be also expressed through on and off message. If it's on, it's a one and if it's off, it's a zero. So if we will use that as the key for the unusual message to successfully decipher it. And if we succeed to substituting it correctly from on and off text to zeros and ones, we will get the real message." Zay relayed. The inspector took a sheet of paper and started to do what she have just said.

"As you can see, the strange message formed a binary code. And if you decode it, you will know the hidden message. It says?" Zay continued. The inspector changed the binary code to a plaintext message and told us what he found.

"The coded message says, 'SOS. He abducted me.'" the inspector said. Zay continued.

"Yes. That's the hidden message Micah sent Trizia. But since there's these messages after claiming that that message was nothing means the person who abducted Micah has her phone. Fortunately enough, she sent it before he's captor took her phone.

"Then, Ash told me that before that message was sent to Trizia, Trizia, Micah and their friends went to a bar to celebrate Micah's birthday. That's also the time she last saw her friend until she received the message earlier, two hours after she arrived at her house. So from that point, we can say that the crime took place two hours after their celebration. And we can narrow the possible suspects in the case from them.

"Trizia and Naneth, one of their friends, came home together. The rest came home with each other together with Micah. The people with Micah when they went home were Eduard Santos, Francine Peros, Giovanni Linaoan and Aaron Laudez. And the very interesting thing about them is that, all of them were STEM students, except Aaron. That made the case easy to solve.

"Knowing that the captor is clueless about the message that was sent to Trizia and did not made any efforts to compensate it, then that means that Micah's captor isn't a STEM student and have poor knowledge in programming. And among the people she's with the time she was abducted, the only person that has poor knowledge in programming is the person not exposed to it. And that is Aaron since he's an ABM student. From that, the case was settled.

"Thanks to Ash and the search for their places became easy. Ash told me the results of his earlier search for their addresses and we found out the address of Aaron. We immediately went to his apartment because the only place he can hide his captive is there. And fortunately, we're not wrong and found Micah there." Zay narrated. She leaned onto her chair upon finishing her story.

"Why didn't you called us immediately? We could have done the operation ourselves if you notify us earlier. S.p" Inspector Mar said. Zay answered.

"I don't know. I asked Ash to call you. But you did not come. I thought–"

"We did not receive any notice from you. We just received a notice from the landlady." the inspector said. They all wondered on what happened until Zay squinted her eyes and look at me.

"You didn't call them?" Zay asked me. I just smirked.

"I told you to prove your resolve to me. So, how will you prove it if there are other people helping you?" I told her. She just rolled her eyes to me.

"Next time that something is going on, especially crimes, notify us immediately so we can help you and protect you. We do not know what will happen or how the culprit will react and he might harm you." the inspector said. Zay shifted her gaze to the inspector upon hearing his question.

"What do you mean Inspector?" she asked.

"Is there someone who tipped Aaron that you went here earlier that's why he succeeded in coming here even it's not your dismissal?" the inspector asked. I answered him.

"Yes. And the most probable person that might tipped him is someone named Spider."

"Spider? Who?" the inspector asked.

"We still don't know. But this Spider claim to be the mastermind of everything that happens inside our campus. We only have talked with him once. And that is the abduction of Zay but they set her free. He just did that to introduce himself to us as someone behind everything that happened in our campus. He also told us that he already have his eyes on us. And I think, he's the person who tipped Aaron about our coming to his apartment." I explained. Zay and Inspector Mar just listened to me.

"So, someone's watching our steps?" Zay asked. I nodded.

"That's why I tested your resolve. We do not know when he will attack. We just need to be ready. Especially you." I told her.

"You use he and his in referring that person you are calling as Spider. Is he a boy?" the inspector asked. I shrugged.

"This person has a deep voice when we talked to him through a phone. Who knows if he's using voice changing devices but I have this feeling that he's a boy, the way he express his self. It's so manly." I answered.

"What's the plan now? I think it's better "

"Yes Inspector. But we're planning to tell Mr. Orson about it but not for now. We need to clarify first whether there is really someone behind the crimes committed in our campus."

"Alright. I will watch your campus closely. Maybe, I will propose to Mr. Orson to have me as the head of the security in your campus." the inspector said. I nodded.

"We shall go now. We have some other things to do." and we signed some papers and we left.

I finished typing the last word of the research paper I'm editing and it was completed already upon my finishing of my reminisce of last Friday. The longer I think about it, the complicated it goes to me. There were various questions in my head, everything seemed to be coiled to each other and I can't help but overthink the situation. I tried to made list of possible scenarios and names that is connected to Spider and yet, it seems so absurd.

I saved the finished soft copy of Zay's research paper into a file. I smiled upon finishing the easy task she asked me in exchange of her work. I leaned upon the sofa and closed my eyes as I tried to give myself a break when sudden knocks echoed inside the whole house. I opened my eyes and was greeted by the smiling faces of my parents as they entered the house.

"How's your day son?" my father asked. He's Drarich Monteverde. He's an attorney. He has this desire similar to mine, always seek for the truth.

"I'm fine." I stood up and hug them. It's a custom of ours.

"Hey, sweetheart, you know what, I heard a very interesting case again. Want to hear it?" my dad told me. I smiled.

"Of course! How can I say no for a case?" I told him. We both laugh as we walk towards the sofa.

"I'll prepare our food. You two talk there about your day." my mom said. She's Elle Monteverde. She's a psychologist that's why her words were strong. She's also a woman with a bright mind. We also have a thing in common, keenness to everything. We both know how to read someone and their acts.

"So, what is this case you want me to hear?" I asked my dad. He smiled.

"Solve this and I'll buy you another set of Agatha Christie's book free. Walang bawas sa allowance mo." he said that made me smile so wide.

"Shoot."

"There's a man, stabbed multiple times in a small reunion inside a big house. He was stabbed in the kitchen. The crime scene was full of blood. His friends saw him in the verge of his death. They asked him who did those to him but because of pain and his wounds, he became unable to speak. Someone named Paul stood up and tried to call for help but the wounded man grabbed him by his ankle as he look up on him grimly and after a few moments, he died. Aside from the wounded man, there were seven other person there.

"James is one of them. He loves seeing blood. Jacob is with them, too. A bit nerdy but he's handsome. Hates the victim for bullying him when they are in high school. Next is Lyka. She's the ex girlfriend of the victim. Luisa is the girl the man played when they're high school students. The twins Mell and Bell are there too. They despised the victim for being so cocky and boastful. And Paul, who's the enemy of the victim. There's no other thing in the crime scene except the murder weapon. Now, who killed the victim?" my dad finished his riddle.

I fell silent as I think about the story he relayed to me. A man died in a reunion with seven other people. He was stabbed to death by someone with him. But who? No things that is useful to the case was mentioned. Just the murder weapon used. So who did it? How will I identify the culprit?

I'm sure my dad put some tricks in his story. And the only trickiest scene there is the holding of the victim to Paul's ankle. My dad wasn't used to give so much detail, but always want to give information that will lead you to a wrong conclusion. And from that, I can exclude Paul because he was so exposed to the story which isn't the custom of my father in giving a case riddle.

So...who did it? If it's not Paul, then who? I'm sure I'm missing something here. I'm missing a vital piece here.

"Who did it, son? Think fast and answer for an Agatha Christie's book set!" my dad told me with his mocking laugh.

"Wait Dad! I'm thinking!" I told him. His remarks influenced my mind and I started to extract everything I could get from his story. I need to answer his riddle fast for the sake of Agatha's books!

Then, a smile formed upon my lips as I looked to my father. Now, I found it. I know now the correct answer for his riddle.

★★★

I went early to the school Monday morning and asked Zay and Silver to go directly to our clubroom upon their arriving at school. I smile to myself as I think about the upcoming set of books of Agatha Christie's that will come to my possession next week from my father. I'm excited of having them in my hands.

I went to our classroom first and put my things there. I brought my laptop with me and went to our clubroom next. I'm also excited to see my clubmates.

I arrived at our clubroom and sit to my usual spot. I put my laptop upon my desk and opened it. I scan the files and found the research manuscript of Zay. I smirked upon putting an encryption to it.

After fifteen minutes, Zay and Silver arrived in our clubroom. They entered the room with confusion and concern upon their faces.

"Why did you call us? Something happened?" Silver immediately asked. I pointed their seats in front of my desk and they obliged to sit upon it.

"Nothing happened. I just want to ask a favor from you Silver." I told them. Silver's brows knitted.

"Me?" he asked.

"Yes, you. Please solve this riddle. I forgot my password in the encryption of a very important file I made. This is just for you. The answer of the riddle is the password. I forgot the answer and too lazy to think about it so I give you the job. Answer it before the bell ring." I told him and handed a piece of paper where I wrote the riddle.

"And me?" Zay asked. I smiled to her.

"Well, pray for him to find the answer sooner for you might need the file that I encrypted. It's your research manuscript." I told her. Her eyes widened upon hearing what I have said.

"What?! No way! You're kidding right?! No way!" she exclaimed. I just shrugged at her.

"Silver! Solve the riddle soon! We will pass that before the next break!" she told Silver and shook him. Silver managed to calm her as he think about the riddle I gave him. It was the same riddle my dad gave me.

While Zay was whining on me about how careless I was, Silver is still analysing the riddle I gave him. I can see he's thinking very hard in solving the riddle I gave him. I look at the time and found out it's already five minutes past the time I gave him the riddle. I solved the riddle last night in eight minutes. Let's see how long will it take him to solve the riddle.

"Ash! Try to remember the password! I will be doomed forever if I failed to pass the manuscript!" Zay whined. I ignored her and just watch Silver as he think about the riddle I gave him.

"Silver! Please. Have mercy and solve the riddle!" she told Silver. Then, suddenly, Silver began typing in the keyboard of my laptop. A smirk formed upon my lips as I look at the time on my phone. He solved the riddle within nine minutes.

"Solved!" he announced and showed us Zay's research manuscript, flashing upon the screen of my laptop