The Winter Clock

CHAPTER 35 – THE BRACELET

“Mr. A, I need the surveillance camera footages last night,” Reina demanded as soon as she entered Mr. A’s office without even knocking. Mr. A almost spits out his coffee and jumps from his chair.

“For the sake of my brain cells, it’s four A.M.! Don’t you know how to knock?!” He exclaimed and wiped the corner of his mouth that was burned by the hot coffee.

“Lessen your caffeine, Uncle. You’re being too nervous.” Reina retorted and opened her palm in front of Mr. A. “Give me the footage.” She demanded for the second time.

“Do you think you’re asking for a piece of candy? Tsk.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Hand it now, Uncle.”

“What for?” Mr. A raised his eyebrow and crossed his arm above his chest. “You damaged the parking walls and some lights last night. Do you want me to deduct it to your salar-“

“Uncle!”

Mr. A flinched with Reina’s frustrated shout and quickly sat straight and rummaged his laptop. Ryther and Ral, who had just entered, almost lost their own souls with her shout.

“You’re such a brat, you know that, Brielle?” Mr. A remarked, his voice lowering an octave after recovering himself.

“The man that was following Silver since the day we went to the countryside is back. He was the reason why the parking space was damaged last night.” Ryther bumped in and opened Mr. A’s minifridge, fishing for two bottled cold coffees. “None of us saw his face, though.”

“That’s the problem here. The power was down for a while last night, and the surveillance camera was not able to properly capture the man’s face.” Mr. A turned his laptop for the two to see it. Aside from the footage being black and white, it was totally blurry due to the power interruption. “I stayed here throughout the whole night after the surgeries were conducted, but the electricity was not interrupted at all.” Mr. A added with a hint of confusion present in his deep voice.

“Aside from the control room, can someone be capable enough to turn the power off for probably, ten minutes in just a specific spot?” Reina asked and zoomed the man’s face but slammed her hand on the table. “His mask covered half of his face.” She mumbled.

“That’s impossible. The control room is the only one allow-“

“No.” Ryther cut Mr. A. “I often do that during our operations, Silver. So it is possible to interrupt the power without using the control room.” Ryther concluded and threw Reina a look. “Carter once did that to the hotel we stayed at last year, right?”

Reina stopped and racked her brain for the memories Ryther was pertaining to. He is right. I was during Natalie and Carter’s anniversary.

“Then it means the man was Carter?” Reina’s voice faltered. “But why? Why is he following you?”

“I have no idea.”

“You mean, the man on the parking lot last night?”

Mr. A, Reina, and Ryther froze on their spot and looked at the one who spoke in horror.

“D-Dr. Ral? I almost-no, I totally forgot you’re here.” Ryther stuttered and looked at Mr. A, who had the same expression as him with a “what-do-we-do-now?” look. Mr. A got his message and hurriedly cleared his throat, and Reina slowly put the laptop to sleep.

“Why are you here, Dr. Ral?” Mr. A asked, trying to control his voice not to sound panicking. “It’s too early.”

“You asked me for some files two days ago, Doctor. I’m here to give it to you before checking my patients.” She explained softly as she felt her cheeks burn. Reina smiled and walked behind Ral, then wiggled her eyebrows to tease Mr. A. Mr. A shook his head helplessly.

“I see. Thank you so much.” Mr. A flashed his warm smile, making Ral feel the butterfly in her tummies.

“You said something about the man on the parking lot last night, Dr. Ral. What was that again?” Reina’s smile left her lips with Ryther’s question, and Ral turned to face him.

“Y-Yeah, I almost forgot.” She stuttered and searched for something inside her bag. After struggling to find where it was, she finally managed to take it out. Seeing it, Reina stopped, and her eyes widened in disbelief. “I used the backdoor last night going to the parking space since my anxiety attack, and it will worsen if I use the lift. While walking, the electricity was shut down, so I stopped and searched for my phone for light.” She started, and the three patiently waited for her detailed story.

“Suddenly, the emergency lights were on, and the metal door opened, revealing a man with black jeans and hoodies, panicky running away. He bumped into me, and we both fell on the floor, but he quickly stood up and ran away. When I was about to stand, I saw this on the floor. Probably, it was his possess-“

“It’s Natalie’s bracelet.”

Everyone stopped and looked at Reina, whose face could not be drawn. Ral gaped. Reina slowly reached for the bracelet on Ral’s palms, and Ral felt a shiver run down her spine, so she quickly handed it to Reina. Reina clenched her jaw and brushed the name carved on the bracelet with her thumb. ~ Natalie ~

Anger slowly rose from Reina’s heart as she bit her lower lip until it bled. Ral’s gasped and pointed Reina’s lips with her finger, but Mr. A quickly covered her mouth and put her finger down. Ral looked at her with eyes wide open, but Mr. A only shook his head firmly.

Ryther brushed his thumb on Reina’s lips for her to stop biting it and wiped the blood that slowly dripped. Reina’s eyes were sharp, and hot tears were starting to form as she studied the bracelet. Ral stood still without knowing what to do. Ryther sighed and looked at Mr. A with eyes filled with seriousness.

“I think we should tighten the security more, Sir.”

Mr. A nodded and removed his hand from Ral’s mouth. “Dr. Ral.” He called, and Ral quickly turned to face him. “Everything you heard and saw, keep it to yourself.” Mr. A’s voice was authoritative. Ral gulped and nodded her head reluctantly.

“I-I will, Doctor.” She stuttered, and Mr. A smiled.

“Go now, all of you. Leave the security to me.”

~ One day, all pieces will fall in their own places. ~