DECODE

CHAPTER 9; Experiment [Part 2]

ASHER

The police arrived as well as the ambulance to assist the students having an unusual seizures. One of those students was Silver. All of us were left wondering and pondering as to what really happened to them.

My mind was running in frenzy as to what is the cause of the seizures of the students. What happened to them? What triggered them to act like that?

I am pondering this thoughts inside my mind as we were sitting all inside our clubroom. Zay and Leon were with me as well as Inspector Mar. We're all here after the students were carried away towards the nearest hospital in our campus.

"What do you think happened to your schoolmates here?" the inspector asked. The silence was broken as our gazes were diverted to him. No one immediately answered.

"You don't have any idea?" the inspector asked again.

"We don't have any slightest idea as to what happened to them. We don't know what happened earlier. That's the first time I encountered such kind of happenings." I said.

"It was unusual, what happened here earlier. They all acted as if they were poisoned, but they are not. They all fell on the ground. They all just have a seizure that time." the inspector said.

"I have something in mind as to what happened to them earlier. I have read something in the web last time about a drug that causes its user to have a seizure because of its hard effect and direct effect in one's mind. I guess they were drugged." Leon uttered suddenly. All of us turned our gazes to him. His eyes met mine and he continued his story.

"It is a kind of drug that cause users to act as if they're having seizure characterized by the oozing of saliva as well as rolling of the eyes like someone being a rabbies victim. They act also as if they were infected and acting in zombie-like manner. That's why some people call this drug zombie drug because of its capability to make someone act like a zombie upon intake."

"Now that you mention it, I think I also crossed that information in the web once. As far as I can remember, this drug is hard to be detected since it may be in any form. It can be in the form of liquid, or of powder, or of the typical drug." Zay added. My mind started to think about what they are saying.

"If that's the case, then what happened earlier was because of a drug, let's say, this zombie drug. Those students have that kind of drug and have a dosage of it that caused them to have that session of seizure. If we will follow that line of thinking, then does that mean that these students have that drug in them since earlier?" I asked. Leon answered.

"That's a possibility if the victims were few, let's say under ten students. But as we have seen earlier, there's a bunch of them having the kind of attack. It is so unlikely that many students will have the same kind of drugs and took it all at the same time. I just can't think that is possible."

"That is right. And it is so unlikely to an addict to use drugs in a place that he has a high probability rate to be caught such as schools and other public places. That's uncommon and unrealistic." Inspector Mar added. I was left in thought again as to what really happened that time.

What really happened here? What caused them to have that kind of drug, if it really was a drug that caused them to have that kind of attack? Based on our discussion right now, the only possible and acceptable reason as to what happened earlier is the drug thing. And it really make sense if we will follow that line of reasoning. The only question left is, what's the portal used for the drugs to be in the hands of the students and what induced them to take it?

I let my mind wonder inside my head in every possible ways that can be used to let the students have the drugs in their possessions. I tried my old strategy in solving problems following the advice of the known fictional character and my favorite private detective Sherlock Holmes about the probabilities. If you eliminate what is impossible, whatever left, however improbable, must be the truth.

I started to put myself in a trance, imagining myself in the student's shoes. Given that I have knowledge about what is good and bad, and about illegal drugs, I would be reluctant to just accept someone's offering of it to me. So, the probability of the drug being spread by just giving it to the students, even without telling that this is actually a kind of drug is not possible for anyone can suspect it as a suspicious thing and might associate it with illegal drugs.

So in what other ways can the drug be distributed to the students without them knowing it was an illegal drug? Think, Asher, think!

I tried to put myself again inside the shoes of the students, having the same attributes on the first one. How can I be induced in taking that drug knowing that I don't know that I am having that drug? Hmm...

Suddenly, an idea popped inside my head. The idea excited me and prompt me to get the attention of all the people with me inside our clubroom.

"Listen! I think, I knew now what happened following the line of reasoning that what happened to the students were caused by the illegal drug you are saying." I told them. All their eyes were fixed upon me curiously.

"We already established the idea that the students were all victim by a drug intake. And we all agreed that they can't take this drug in their own accord for if they did, they will know the consequences of it as well as the consequences of us knowing they're drug addicts. So, what left to us is the idea that they all accidentally, without any idea of a drug present, took the drugs into their system.

"But the question left is how? And I think, it can be easily done, if the drugs were put to things that are less suspecting in the eyes of the students. Perhaps, in their foods." I told them. They all looked at me, realising the possibility of my theory.

"If that's the case, that would explain all but one thing. How the drug was put to the foods? I know this line of reasoning will put the cafeteria staff into question, but I assure you, they can't do that." Leon asked.

"That's the thing we need to know. How the drug was put to the foods? And I believe another question that we must answer is, at what food did the drug been put to? Because, I'm sure if the culprit who put that drug put it in all of the foods, everyone must have an attack. But not, only some. So we must trace what food is the portal of the drug so we can narrow down the case as well as the suspects in this case. Although, I believe, I already knew a person who is connected with this."

"And who?" Leon asked. I smirked.

"Remember the note you received earlier. The note you showed us? I believe the person behind this happening is no other than the guy who wrote that note." I answered. I saw a surprised look upon his face. I also saw the disturbed look in Zay's face.

"Oh, he is the one behind this thing. Now I see what he is capable of doing." Leon uttered. I smirk.

"I believe he can do more than this. But for now, we need to solve this case first. In this way, we will have leads as to who the Spider is." I told them. Inspector Mar spoke.

"We established a theory already on how this thing happened. We'll see what the medical tests will say. But for now, the most acceptable theory for the case is the drug theory. I'll go for now. I need to talk to the faculty and the owner of the school. I'll go back to you to tell you what the medical tests results are." he then immediately left our clubroom. Leon, Zay and I were left in there.

"If that Spider really is the one behind all these happenings, then he has a very powerful drug in his possession that he can use for his criminal plots. We need to uncover who that Spider is or else, many more students will be a victim of him." Leon said.

"Of course. But I think, even if we solve this case, we will not have the Spider upon our hands. For your information, the Spider have so much subordinates. He call them Eyes. And I believe, what happened today is his subordinates' doing." I said. Leon looked at me wondering.

"What do you mean?"

"The Spider gave a phone to us. Through that phone he can communicate with us. There were times we spoke in that phone. There were times also that he texted us something about his plan and the next thing we knew, he already made a crime. But yesterday, I tried to call the numbers in that phone. And someone answered me.

"This someone is a lady, and she claimed not to be the Spider. But I believe she is one of his subordinates. She mentioned an experiment yesterday. And I believe, what she meant by that is a plan of something sinister again. And today it happened, the epidemic written in the note, the experiment the lady mentioned, that is what happened today to the students. Their plan succeeded." I said. Leon fell in deep thought.

"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" he asked.

"If I tell you, you will all be alarmed. And will try to avoid it that will force the Spider to suspend his move. If we're into catching this sly monster, then we should engage in his every action. Now, that action came, and it's just a matter of time until we will face the real spider."

×××××

I was sitting upon my spot inside our clubroom when a knock echoed inside the room. Zay entered the clubroom with a smile upon her face.

"Silver is in stable condition already. He's just resting now. And according to Inspector Mar, the medical tests showed that the students were really drugged yesterday. The drug is the why the students acted that way yesterday." she reported. She sat down in her spot as I let my mind run based on what she had reported me.

"So, the drug theory is correct. Now, we must answer the next question, how did the drug spread and was put into the students' possession? Following our yesterday's line of reasoning, the only way the drug can be spread and be taken by the students without them knowing it is through their foods. If the drug was added into their foods, once they ate them, the drug will be transmitted succesfully in their body that will trigger the attack. Come, let's see what the cafeteria will tell us." I said and stood up from my chair. We left our clubroom heading towards the cafeteria.

When we arrived to the cafeteria, Leon was already there, doing investigations inside it. When we're about to enter the place, someone blocked our way.

"Sorry, but it is a restricted area. No students are allowed to be here for the council–"

"Drop it. I know the deal with this cafeteria. And we're here to conduct also an investigation of it. We're the Decode club." I told him. He was taken aback by my tone. I saw Leon looking to us.

"Bryan, let them in. I know them." Leon said and the man let us in. I immediately enter the cafeteria premises. Many other council members were there, inspecting every inch of it. I saw also the cafeteria staff in one corner of the place.

"Don't touch anything. You might tamper potential evidences if you do." Leon muttered to us. I just ignored him and started looking around the place.

"Hey! What did I say?! Don't touch anything!" he exclaimed when I turned over a table to see if there's something in it. I turned to him.

"You're no detective Leon. So don't act like one. I know what I am doing. Zay, start questioning the staff. Ask them what foods did they served yesterday. Also ask them who readied each of the food. Thank you." I said and continued searching the place. I heard Leon cursed but I ignored him.

I started turning over tables, chairs and such that can conceal something like a drug container or such. But I found none. I immediately went to the thrash can but saw none also.

"You will see nothing from that. We already examined those things. We found none so it's not possible for you to find something. We don't overlook things, specially in this kind of situation." Leon said. I turned to him.

"So, your team found none. If that's the case, you better tell your team to search for the disposal area of the campus. Who knows we can find something of valuable there." I told him.

"And why should I do that?!" he exclaimed.

"Because, if the culprit wants to dispose the weapon he used, he most probably dispose it, if not here, there. Or, you want me to do the job and leave you behind in this case?" I said. I heard him cursed again but eventually asked his team to go and search the disposal area.

I went towards Zay who's questioning the cafeteria staff.

"Finished?" I asked. She nodded. She showed me her notes on her phone.

"Those were the names of the staffs as well as the foods served yesterday. Written there are the names who made the foods and served them to the students." she said. I took her phone and read her notes.

Linda Aquino - Head cook, prepared spaghetti, fried chicken and fish fillet.

Lorna Escultor - In charge of the counter.

Maribel Nuñez - Cook, prepared sisig and pork adobo.

Vilma San Jose - In charge of the counter.

Noel Endrada - In charge of making the drinks, prepared gulaman, calamansi juice and iced tea.

Mariflor Escalante, Juli Santos - In charge of preparing the order.

I finished reading her note and handed back her phone. I eyed each of the staff present here. They were all standing kn one side of the cafeteria.

"You're all a suspect. If you know anything, confess so that we can compensate your case. But if you don't want to confess, that's fine. I will reveal who's behind this no matter what." I told them while eyeing each one of them. And immediately, I left. Zay followed me.

"You will not interrogate them?" Zay asked. I shook my head.

"Let Leon handle them. Besides, I believe, we'll uncover the mystery of this case a lot easier if we approach it differently. Let's just say, talk to some of the victims and find the common food they ate yesterday. From that, we can immediately confront the one who prepared them." I said and left the cafeteria.

I told Zay to do the job of going to the hospital and asking some of the victims what they ate yesterday while I went towards the disposal area of our campus. There, I saw Leon's team searching the pile of thrash for any possible clue that may be used in this case.

"Found anything?" I asked one of them. The guy shook his head.

"Nothing. It's hard to find something in this pile of thrash. So far, we find nothing suspicious." he said. I ignored him and started to look for any container that can be used to contain drugs. I told them if they saw some vials or such, approach and give it to me immediately. I'm lucky, they're so cooperative.

After some time of searching the pile of thrash, beneath a disposable cup, I found a very small, but very important piece of glass container. My eyes shone brightly as I immediately picked the vial up and show it to Leon's team.

"I found it! I found the vial!" I told them, and all of them were glad to see the vial in my hand. I squinted my eyes on the inside of the vial and try to see the remnants in there. It seems, there were some remaining clear water in it. I tried to smell it, but it's odourless.

"The search is finish. Tell Leon to go directly towards the precinct. Tell him meet me there." I said and immediately run towards the gate of our campus. The guard tried to stop me going out of the school but when he heard the reason I am leaving, he allowed me to go. I took a cab and immediately went towards the precinct where Inspector Mar was designated. He can help to identify what was in this bottle yesterday.

Not too long, I reached the precinct. I texted Zay to meet me in the precinct after she finished her interviews with some of the victims. I entered the precinct and immediately looked for Inspector Mar. I was escorted by a constable into his office.

"Asher! What brought you here?" the inspector asked upon seeing me in his office. I immediately showed him the vial that I found.

"I found this vial beneath a disposable cup at our disposal area. Wala nang ibang ganitong vial doon. So I suppose this is the vial that contained the drug yesterday. I want you to run an examination in this vial and see if it really contained the drug used yesterday." I told him. I handed him the vial and he looked at it for a while. He also smelled it like I did but he did not give any conclusions from it.

"I can't say if the drug that was used to the students came from this vial. But don't worry, I'll let my team examine it at once to ascertain our ideas. Sit down for a while as I give it to my team." he said and left the room with the vial in his hand. I sat upon the couch in front of his desk and rested myself on it. I'm quite excited about this case. It gives me adrenaline rush.

I tried to relax and let my mind wander again in my own world. I tried to turn questions in my head and build possible scenarios of how the case were executed yesterday. It will be all easy once the finding of that vial was released and it was confirmed that it held the drug used yesterday. The chase for the culprit will be a lot easier after the result of the vial came since we can narrow down our suspects to a smaller number.

I am broken in my trance when I heard the door opened and Leon entered. He immediately turned to me.

"Where's the vial?" he asked.

"I gave it to Inspector Mar for him to run a test to it to see if that vial really contained the drug used yesterday." I told him. He sat on a chair in front of me.

"Is this really how the Spider act?" he suddenly asked. I felt a smirk formed upon my lips.

"Scary isn't it? He's in control. In this game, he has the upper hand. We're in his web. We're being played in circles. But yes, like a real spider, he's just in the center of the web. And we just need to find a way to to the center, and voila, we had him in our hand. Welcome to his web, by the way." I told him. He just sat there silently.

"Hey, I have a question. You really want to take over Spider's cases?" I asked him. He looked at me.

"Let's have a bet. If Zay and I solved this case and arrested the culprit before you do, you'll let us have the case of the Spider. You will let our club handle it. And we will not see the council interrupting our job or poking their noses into our business unless we asked your help. But if you arrested the culprit correctly before we do, dissolve our club." I told him. I saw the shocked expression upon his face when he heard what I said. But he immediately regained his composure and smirk.

"It's on." he said. A smirk formed upon my lips as the door flew open. Inspector Mar was already there, but he's with someone else. It was Zay.

"The test says it's not an illegal drug or something like the drug used yesterday to the students. The remnants inside the vial proved to be remnants of a drug that causes someone to have a stomachache." Inspector Mar said. I was frozen upon hearing his report. I looked at Leon and he's surprised and confused as I am after hearing the findings of the inspector.

"Are you sure about that?" I asked. The inspector nodded.

"Yes." he said and I can't help but reclined myself onto the couch. My mind started dropping questions and now seeking answers.

What does this new discovery mean? What effect it will have in our investigation of the case?

"Asher, I asked some of the victims, and among them, the only common thing they had yesterday was their drinks which is iced tea." I heard Zay spoke. I turned to her.

"If that's the case, the only suspect we have is Noel Endrada." I said. She nodded.

"Correct. The only thing the victims had in common were they all drunk iced tea, which was prepared by Noel Endrada." she said. I rested my head in a praying position and started thinking of some possible explanations in this case. This case progresses unexpectedly. And it drives me crazy as I find some solutions for it.

"We need to question that guy. Maybe he can help us in this case." Leon said. He left immediately taking the vial with him. Zay and I were left in the office of the inspector.

"If ever that guy was involved in this crime, I'm sure he's just an accessory. He's not the culprit. He's not the real culprit for the only thing he has was that drug that causes stomachache. Now, the question is, who is the real culprit in this case?" I said as I ponder for answers. Zay fell in deep thought, too.

I tried to think outside the box. Supposing that Noel Endrada is just an accessory of the crime, he put the drug that causes stomachache in the iced tea drink. Now, why did the killer need to make the students have an stomachache? Obviously, it is for his purpose. And that purpose is to succesfully have the students take the drug unknowingly. But how? Who can do that easily after the part of Noel Endrada?

My train of thoughts continued until, at last, a person came inside my mind. My eyes were diverted to Zay who's also looking at me and seems to be excited about something.

"I got the case!" I told her with triumphant smile. She smiled at me also, the same manner that I did.

"It seems we arrived at the same conclusion again." she said. I nodded at her and stood up.

"Inspector, may you come with me to our campus. We will close this case now." I told him and immediately left his office.

×××××

We're all set inside the place where we first discovered the unusual happenings to the students yesterday. Everyone is here; the cafeteria staffs, the faculty members, Leon and some of his subordinates, Zay, and the police. I stood up in the center of the clinic and eyed everyone of them.

"I called for everyone to tell you that the case was already solved. And the truth was already laid before my very eyes. I already know what really happened yesterday as well as who's behind it. And, I will not waste any more time and I will reveal already who's the one behind it, and also who's the one assisted the culprit." I said as I look at each of them.

"Who is the scoundrel behind the incident yesterday, Asher? Reveal who that scoundrel was! He will surely pay!" I heard the head of the campus said. I smirked.

"Well then, the people conspired to do the trick and executed the grievous act yesterday were none other than you, Noel Endrada..." I said and pointed the guy I mentioned.

"With you Ms. Janet Dadoria." and I turned my head towards the head nurse of this campus.