The Case Of 01462 (Eng.)

Chapter 1: Preamble

"SIS where the f**k are you?"

I distanced my phone away from my right ear.

"I know for the fact that you don't need to SCREAM to tell where am I," I replied emphasising the word scream.

Many people were startled to my action and looked in my direction. I immediately apologised and returned my attention to the ongoing call.

"Yeah, I know, but sis, there's a commotion here in the firm," my friend, Alexander, Alex for short, said and came a slight murmur of voices and a loud shout about possibly from our boss.

"Top of the morning, he really is mad but what's the issue, sis?"

"Someone broke his coffee-maker," he answered curtly.

I waited for more yet a few seconds passed and then he asked if I was here.

"That's all? Just someone broke his coffee-maker?"

"Yaz, I don't know why he's that mad but he can just buy another one. He is just making this issue so long," he drawled.

I told him does anyone know who broke our boss's coffee-maker and he said:

"It's me, but boy, Julia take the blame for she used the device recently," he laughed.

I rolled my eyes, "And you called just to say that you broke the coffee-maker?"

"No, I called you because I will refer a case suited for you."

"What case? The case of Mr. Anton? The one who massacred his family so that he can live with his concubine?"

"No, not that, but that case is gruesome. I'll talk—Mr. Defensor what did I told you? I said that don't do anything when I am talking—S**t! He spotted me, later," then he ended the call.

Great.

I snuck my phone back to my pocket and proceeded to fill my mind with wonders.

Right now, I was late for work since my classmate back when I was a fourth year celebrated her birthday, invited the block, and challenged everyone, including me, to a heavy drink roulette last night. As a born loser, my score was that of 7 loses compared to her 3 loses by which implied that Lady Luck still had her mercy upon me. The drink was full to the brim and type of alcohol was not my taste by which came from Munich, offering my taste bud a new reality. The jugs of beer cudgeled my brains and dulled my senses of time.

The revelry was quite fun and did surpass my expectation because all the block did come. That time was so nostalgic that I would offer anything in my life just to bring back the years when I was still with them. The night with them, stressing about an armful of cases, refuting each and every theory of ours as to what had AAA did to BBB, and the time that we were lectured by the landlord for we disturbed the neighbour next door.

However, when I said that I will have a work today, they insisted that I should stay longer because events like that never happen. Done so and there for many hours where each and one of us told our life journeys, the happenstance when were still in the university, and the heart-breaking moment when we graduated and became what we endeavored for: a fully pledged lawyer. After that, we bid farewell to each other, wishing each other wealth and health and hoping for this kind of party to happen once again.

I went home and was glad that I didn't throw up despite the displeasure of my tongue. I laid in bed, accumulating energy for today until I woke up near midday. I was taken aback and hurried myself in doing the everyday routine and took a ride with the help of morning jeepney and then waited an hour or so at the train station. At last embarked at twelve, relaxed myself from the stressors that I went through.

The train that I was in was that of a tatty, dilapidated compartment where at the centre reflected a gleam of afternoon sunlight that took a glimpse in the fissure upon the broken mechanical door, a shabby air conditioner that provided cold still air, a faint 90s music that resonated from the hanging telly, a dilettante graffiti inscribed on the rubbish polymer window, and the clank of chassis below the platform floor. I calculated that I would arrive at the law firm in less than an hour and would sneak about to avoid the detection of my hot-headed supremo.

A minute or so the old, sentimental record was interrupted by an introduction of a news anchor who narrated a horrible incident.

"Jojo Cruz from TV3 station, reporting. Time check, its 12:49 PM, Monday. Good afternoon, Philippines.

"At about 12:27 PM recently, a neighbour Mrs. Monika found a horrible corpse, Mr. Reyes, lying in the cold floor of the Obiedo's residence in San Isidro, Manila.

"She stated that she was calling for Mr. Reyes for a minute or so for the latter said to the former that she should come about the said residence to discuss for an important matter. Receiving no reply, she entered the property and was shocked for she found the front door was locked. She came about the house and into the back door she entered. The house was poorly lit, and she tried to turn the switch but to no avail. With no means of illumination, she dared into the darkness, ventured about the labyrinth, and called for Mr. Reyes. She had smelt an ill odour of a flesh and her apprehension had grown bigger when she stepped and suddenly slipped on something flabby and damp. She grabbed what was nearby that can be a source of resistance to prevent her fall. She had clutched a fabric, by which revealed by the sunlight as curtain, and thereafter was shaken with the sudden revelation.

"Lying on the floor was the body of Mr. Reyes Obiedo with his abdomen clawed and intestines sprawled. She then called the authorities by which their initial report was that of murder and the corpse was upon the floor for no more than a minute of thirty. Furthermore, Mr. Dela Rosa, the investigator of the crime scene, contended that the murder was committed with premeditation as indicated by fastening of the front door and that the murderer eluded recently and can be encountered by anyone.

"Eyewitnesses about the nearby residence stated that there was a man about a feet of five and a half, cladded in darksome hoodie, seaweed cargo pants with a hanging chain of number "one" of the Arabic numerals, and a stylish trainers of red, was last seen from the back door of the mentioned residence.

"The public was advised by the authorities to stay alert and report any man that matched the brief description.

"Once again, Jojo Cruz from TV3 station, reporting."

The interruption was then cut by the lithe nostalgic music of the 90s.

I repulsed in disgust as I heard the horrid news report and the people about me discussed of what had become of the incident.

"Creepy! That's why I always lock my front and back door. You'll never know what would happen next if someone break in."

"San Isidro, Manila. Hmm, currently we're in the San Nicolas which is in junction of San Isidro by the Lake Obrero; then that incident is about here, isn't it? What if we encountered the murderer?"

"No, not me, I ain't want any murderer crossing my path."

The cacophony of murmur continued, sharing fear to each other and what could possibly happen if they really encountered the murderer, and by a minute the train terminated swiftly about the station.

Before I stood, people started to jostle each other in fight for the exit door. I was bumped by a stout man, causing me to fall. An inconspicuous poor girl was also knocked off by the contending wrestlers and fell to the ground. She tried to stand to regain her strength but was unsuccessful. I caught a glimpse of brawling adults behind her and was advancing towards the little girl. I took and sheltered her under my arms before she could be trampled by anyone. Brawlers trudged on me, producing intolerable pain; however, dulled by a tinge of alcohol circulating about my blood vessel. New passengers commenced to equilibriate the vacant seats whilst other proceeded to an altercation of blame.

I was so angered by the lack of organisation here in Manila. Aren't they informed that there were also some children on board?

The uproar stopped and I helped myself and the girl to stand up. I cleansed her pinkish clothing adust by the platform and retouched his puerile face.

The child had looked at me for some seconds and opened her right hand with her thumb opposing the base of the finger which then she formed a fist. Queer I felt; however, she shrugged it off and sheepishly expressed her gratitude before she was called by her father.

I immediately exited the train and someone tall bumped into my left shoulder. The files and papers that were inside my briefcase flew across the platform.

"Out of all people, why me?" I sarcastically shouted at the stranger and picked my belongings one by one.

After I gathered all my things I realised that the stranger didn't helped me. I cursed whoever that was and continued my journey to the firm.

Before the monolith building of the firm, I greeted the security guard before I wrote my name to the navy blue log book beside him.

Whilst I was writing my time arrival, my phone vibrated, implying that someone messaged me. I took it and read whoever that was.

Nothing, just the sort of reminder that my subscription was expiring. I was about to turn it off when Alex messaged me.

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Monday, 1:13 PM

Alexander: Floor 3, bish now!

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I took note of it, finished my time arrival, and headed towards the third floor.