Confidential Scheme 1

Chapter 8: Prominent Thespian

"Kelsie Yoo."

We all faced Lorcan who hasn't talk for a while since the student council vice president left. So that's her name. Its obvious that there's something going on between them. I meant Lorcan and that Kelsie.

I'm now curious as to why she's sarcastic towards Lorcan and what did she mean by '...add more people to bury'. But that's irrelevant for the moment.

We need to go to the student council president's office. Not to visit him but obviously to know why he needs our club's assistance.

I checked the time and it's only 3:30 in the afternoon. We have plenty of hours to spend and go to the student council president's office. An idea popped out in my mind.

"Why don't we eat first? All of us haven't take lunch yet."

"Great idea. I'm also starving." I'm glad someone replied because it would be too awkward if I'm the only agreed to the idea.

"Not sounds bad to me. We need energy." Minji answered seconds before Dustin finished talking.

Then I looked at Lorcan. We exchanged glances for a few seconds then he stood up.

"Lets go."

Everybody was obviously shocked but they just had to pretend that's Lorcan for a daily living even though it's the exact opposite thing. Usually we have to first him just for us to go to the cafeteria.

He's not in the mood and I can feel that.

We arrived at the cafeteria and... It's a little crowded today. Lorcan straight off went to one of the empty seats good for 4 people. Exactly for us.

When we all seated. I volunteered to order the food when Dustin said that he'll go with me. The two didn't object so we went to the middle station.

The line is a little bit long compared to when it's lunch time. Probably the class was cut so students today were brave enough to eat all day. Which is good. Students deserves this. I deserve this.

"Lorcan seems a little bit off mood. I mean, his typical was too keep quite and only tak when necessary. But it's different and became horrible since that girl entered our clubroom."

That's what I'm thinking. To put in plainly, there must be something in the past that resulted to Lorcan and Kelsie's beef. Well, i don't if its right to call it beef but there's really something going on with them.

But I'm more curious to...

"What about Minji? Why is she like that?" I asked after his explanation. We stepped forward as the first customer left.

Dustin looked down and sighed, "I did something that annoyed her. I didn't know how to applogize for her. I thin she doesn't wanna hear my voice."

That's exactly how I felt when Lorcan said that reporting something to the Student's Affair would be useless. The difference? I was at fault and Minji wasn't.

"Just let her mind cool down. And don't ever to it again, whatever you did."

"I believe I cannot do that anymore especially if this is how far she can get."

The line became shorter until we finally came to order. We ordered two pasta, lasagna and burger. For the drinks we only bought water since sodas in can are unavailable in the cafeteria today.

I said that this cafeteria is like a restaurant. For visual purposes but the difference is that they do not allow waiters so it's all self-service which is fine.

We placed the food and drinks on the table.

The three of us started eating our meals except Lorcan. He's just staring at the burger in front of him. His hands are crossed on the table. What exactly is bothering him?

Not only me noticed his behaviour. Dustin waved at his eyes to get his attention.

"Dude, you gotta eat the burger or else I'll eat it."

He successfully got his attention. Lorcan grabbed the foil with burger inside and opened it. He started with a small bite until it's all finish. He's actually the second one to finish eating next to Dustin. After that we placed the trash on the bin on the right corner of the cafeteria.

We are heading to the student council president's office. It's actually located to building E which is on the other side of the gymnasium. After minutes of walking, we finally arrived.

Dustin knocked 3 times on the door and someone opened it. A guy greeted and asked if we were the ARC Club. When it was confirmed, he let us in.

I felt cold breeze of the air condition as soon as we walked in. If you asked me, only select rooms are privileged with air condition here in the university. It's unnecessary though, because the weather for most is not even hot. Also all classrooms comes in with a fan so it really helps a lot.

I thought that we would see the table behind this door but what is interesting is a slide door glass is in the middle of it. So i guess this is the waiting area because there's two long couches placed on each side.

The guy that opened the door for us once again let us in. And this time in the slide door that's opaque so you can barely see what's behind it.

It's bright in where we're standing but not in the student council president's side. His name is Alexander Rim based on the name plate.

Wait? Rim? Don't tell me?

"Would you mind telling why you'd summoned us? Brother."

I was loss of words when he said the word 'Brother'. So they're really siblings! How come I didn't that Lorcan has a brother?

If Lorcan's tall then this one is a literal giant. Am I exaggerating? Maybe. But that's one of the thing I could describe how tall he is.

His hair is black and visibly longer than Lorcan. He's facing the same direction as us so we can only see his back and broad shoulders.

"Actually, the case is not related to me."

"Not related huh? How I wish that case was me."

"I felt sorry for your club members that they'll have to tolerate that kind of childish behavior."

"I felt sorry for the members of the student council members that they'll have to serve such an entitled person for the rest of the year."

The three of us felt op in this discussion. They're both putting energy with their rants.

I'm actually not surprised that Lorcan's brother is not going along with him. But why does it looks like the beef between them has deeper reason?

"Hyeoncion's Theatre. Director is looking forward to meet you and your club members."

"Tss."

Then Lorcan walks out the slide door without even informing us. Did he forget that he's with us and not by himself?

The three of us followed him on the outside. Dustin is the only one who can keep up with him. Both me and Minji is struggling to keep up.

When he saw the vice president , he looks a bit down but it suddenly changed when it comes to his brother. He looks as if he's going to a battle.

I don't know where is the school's theatre so I am just following them. I guess it's better that they're faster because it would've been awkward if it's the other way.

The theatre looks fabulous. I can say that the school really put their funds and effort for making every single building and room in here. I'm impressed.

We were greeted by 7 people who were probably the staffs of the theatre. Then a guy introduced himself as the director of this year's production. His name is Apollo Mabini. He invited us to the backstage to discuss when...

"Cut the formalities, what's the case?"

Lorcan seemed really interested with it.

"You know the month of June is about to end, right?" Apollo said. "It's a forte for the theatre club to do a production opera at least once a year in the month of June.

"And we only have 2 days before the production and one of our actress is missing."

"How can you say she's missing?" Dustin asked.

"She's been gone for almost a week. Madeline is passionate about being an opera actress. Never did once she's absent for rehearsals. It's really the first time and why would she just do that suddenly?"

Madeline? Its very familiar.

"Madeline is the name of the missing person, right?" I asked him and he nodded. "Is her surname Bayhart?"

When he nodded, I gasped in my mind. I exchanged glances with Minji who's definitely familiar with the name. She's one of the suspects last time and she's the victim? Poor girl.

"Madeline is really popular in terms of operas that's why we can't have the production started without her. She's also one of the main actors of the skit and we can't find someone who's willing to take her part and we only have two days. I hope your club can help us with this."

"We'll bring back Madeline a day prior to the production." Lorcan said firmly before we go out the Theatre.

We were silently walking towards our clubromm when someone halted. So all of us came into a halt.

"Who's Madeline Bayhart?"

"Are you forreal? She was one of the suspect on the office incident. Our first case together."

He looked at me, "Oh, I thought it's Marilyn but I guess I'm wrong."

That sounds like Madeline but how come he didn't remember her when she's one of the suspects of the case he solved days ago?

"I tend to forgot people's name sometimes so don't bother."

He said as if he knew what's going with my mind...again.

"Anyways, Minji. Remember the client earlier? What's her address?"

"Oh, I left my phone back there. But I already memorized it."

"Good."

"What about it?"

"We'll solve that case first."

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Where exactly are we now? We are currently waiting for him to come out. Ricanne said that he usually comes out 8:00pm and come home past midnight.

Lorcan didn't tell anyone the reason why he wanted to solve this case first. But as the club members we must trust the president especially that he acts as the main detective of the club.

After minutes of waiting we finally saw him walks out of his room and drove off using the black car in front of their apartment.

"Dustin." Lorcan signals him to start off the car and follow the guy.

For some reason, Lorcan didn't allow Minji to come with us. The two of them probably talked about this earlier. Minji didn't seem to object about the idea.

To think of it, there's really nothing much about this case except for the fact that Michael is probably cheating on Ricanne. I don't know why Lorcan accepted this case in the first place.

He stopped by on a convenience store and exited the place with two paper bags that was probably food. When he was a bit far from us, Dustin quickly turned on the car's engine and followed the path where he left off.

We followed him for minutes until he stopped off in front of an apartment by the subdivsion. I really have to give it to Dustin for following discreetly. He seemed know all routes from this place so Michael won't see that someone's following him.

"Do exactly what I told you."

We get out of the car and keep silent until we arrived to where Michael is heading to. The apartment building is only composed 3 floors. 1st and 2nd floors composed of five rooms each and then the rooftop.

It's not actually bright because the post lamp is not working on the area. We can still see him unlocking the 2nd floors fifth and last room. When he's already inside we quickly ran towards the door.

"Madeline!"

I was shocked when Lorcan and Dustin kicked the door when we heard him scream exposing the Michael and one person inside.

A girl was tied on both her hands and feet. Her mouth was also covered with duck tape.

I quickly looked the other way after I saw her. It reminds me the time I got abducted.

Then I heard a thud on a floor. When I looked at it again I saw Michael lying on the floor, unconscious.

"Don't worry we just incapacitated him so he won't have the chance to harm any of us." Lorcan assured me.

"Calm down."

"I am calm." I told him firmly.

I turned the other way and saw the girl hugging Dustin and was traumatized, she's bursting of tears. When I focused on her, I realized that her face is familiar.

When I remembered the name that Michael shouted earlier. I gasped.

"What's the meaning of this?"

"Exactly what are you thinking." Lorcan replied.

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Michael Writher was arrested for k********g. That's what the police said. And what's more mind-boggling is that Madeline Bayhart was his victim. That explains why Lorcan wants to solve this case first.

Is because solving this would have closed two different cases that's actually connected. Some may say it's hitting two birds with one stone.

Madeline explained that she has been kept on the apartment days ago. Every night Michael comes to the place to bring her food. She also said that he blackmailed her.

On the other hand, Michael seemed confused about what's happening. I don't if it's just an act or not. He's denying all of the accusations of Madeline. He's also claiming that they have a relationship for months now.

"How could you do this to me, Madeline?"

I remember him crying all out. Unfortunately, all the evidence have not been in his side because it all fitted Madeline's accusation.

He was detained for now.

"So you knew it all along?"

"I suspected." Lorcan answered.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"My answer explained it all. I suspected it. I could be wrong or right. And I don't wanna take the risk telling anyone without any substantial proof."

"What about you, Dustin?"

"I also suspected it. They were both classmates so it's not impossible if Michael's obsessed with her that he kept her just for his own will."

"Minji also knew about it, doesn't she?"

"I told her to track where we are and call the police the moment we stepped the apartment." Lorcan explained.

So I'm the only who is not informed about it.

How dumb of me.

"It's getting late let me take the two of you home." Dustin volunteered.

"No, thanks. My parents personal driver is on his way. Take Chloe home."

We arrived at my apartment minutes after Dustin drove off. The police station is 1km away from here. So it took a lot of time.

"Wait, Chloe," Dustin stopped me from opening the car door. "Do you mind if I ask something?"

"What is it?"

"Are you mad that we didn't tell you about our suspicion?"

"I'm not mad. I don't have the rights to be mad. You have your own mind. You don't need to tell evrything to me. I'm just...a bit disapppinted in myself."

He sighed. "Do not be disappointed you're an ARC member. You won't be a member if you don't have something special in you."

I smiled.

"Anyways, it's really gettin' late. Goodnight, Chloe."

"Goodnight, Dus."

I locked my apartment and took a warm night shower. After that I lay down in my cozy bed to take a sleep.

I didn't tell them whate exactly I think but... I looked like a decoration in the club.