Heiress (Hanazono Series #2)

Heiress 19: Investigation

Third Person’s POV

The investigation went on as Lavalee remain seated inside the car. Jace dragged her to the car because she wouldn’t stop butting in the investigation.

“Sino yun, Scott? Ang damin alam ah. Police ba yun o doctor?” Tanong ni Inspector Fracis Castanieda kay Jace

“Studyante.” Balewalang sagot ni Jace at nagpatuloy sa paghahanap ng clue. Biglang tumunog ang telepono niya at nagtaka siya ng pangalan ni Lavalee ang lumabas doon.

[3:00. Clue.] saad ni Lavalee pagkasagot ni Jace ng tawag

Jace looked at the direction and he didn’t see anything.

[Go closer, there’s an ointment for rashes and boils there.] she said and Jace immediately went there and his forehead knotted when he did saw it.

“Clue.” Jace said and took a plastic, one of the investigators took a photo before Jace picked it up.

After collecting clues and evidences they looked for witnesses from the spectators but none of them is familiar with the woman. A girl took Jace’s attention because she was shivering.

“Miss, what’s the matter?” Jace asked the girl

“K-kuyang pulis, y-yung babae. N-nakita ko siya kanina. T-tinulungan ko pa siya maglagay ng ointment sa braso niya kasi sabi niya m-may nakain d-daw siyang allergic s-siya.” The girl was stuttering due to shock and confusion

‘That explains the ointment.’ Jace thought

“Then?” Jace asked to make the girl say more

“I-iniwan k-ko na p-po siya. N-nag t-thank y-you pa s-siya b-bago ako u-umalis.” The girl continued

Jace nodded and signalled the other officers that he found a witness. Inspector Sariin went there knowing that Jace isn’t the type of person who speaks long.

“Miss, anong pangalan mo?” Inspector Sariin asked the girl but the girl shook her head

“Ganito nalang, anong alam mo sa nangyari?” Inspector Sariin asked the girl but the girl just looked at Jace helplessly

“Miss, kailangan namin ng tulong at kooperasyon mo. Wala pa kaming lead at baka sakaling makatulong ka.” Inspector Sariin tried to convince the poor frightened girl

“You know, you shouldn’t force a girl to talk.” Jace’s brow furrowed when Lavalee arrived while carrying Mnemosyne

“I told you – Don’t want to.” Lavalee cut Jace’s words and looked at the poor girl

“Hello, are you alright?” Lavalee asked the poor girl and sat beside her

She placed Mnemosyne on the ground and the latter jumped to Jace.

“N-natatatakot po a-ako.” The girl said while bowing her head

“Don’t be. Wag kang matakot, there’s nothing to be feared off.” Lavalee said and made the girl stare into her eyes

“What’s your name?” she asked not removing the eye contact

“Ainah Manaig po.” The girl replied

“Now, Ainah, I want you to answer my questions, okay?” the girl mindlessly nodded at Lavalee

“What do you know?” Lavalee asked and the police officers we’re kind of surprised of her bluntness

“Yung babae pong namatay, kanina po kausap at tinulungan ko siya maglagay ng ointment sa balat niya kasi sabi niya po may nakain siyang allergic siya.” The girl answered slowly like she was being dictated

“Thank you for cooperating, Ainah. Now you won’t be afraid, alright?” Lavalee said and the girl, Ainah nodded before she seem like she was back to her senses.

“Thank you po, ate.” The girl, Ainah said and hugged Lavalee

“Go home, okay? Don’t go around telling this to other people. Rest well.” Lavalee said and Ainah nodded obediently before standing up and leaving.

Lavalee turned to Jace and Francis.

“You recorded it?” Lavalee asked then and it seems as if even Francis was hypnotized

“Yep.” Jace replied and showed his phone while holding Mnemosyne

“Ang galing paano mo nagawa yun?” Inspector Francis asked

“Because I’m a girl?” Lavalee said and walked towards Jace

“Come here, Mne.” She said but Mnemosyne growled at her

“She likes me more.” Jace teased Lavalee

“Mnemosyne.” Lavalee said and carried Mnemosyne

“Uwi na tayo.” Lavalee told Jace

“You want?” Jace asked her and she nodded

“We have to go.” Jace said and tapped Inspector Francis on his shoulder

Jace and Lavalee went to the car and Jace drove to the Mansion.

“Saan kayo galing?” Chelsea asked Jace and Lavalee when they arrived

“Park.” Lavalee replied while holding Mnemosyne

“I’ll just take a bath upstairs.” Lavalee said and went upstairs.

They ate dinner and slept but Jace was thinking deeply that night.

‘Why do you know so much, Lav?’ he thought

He’s already having doubts and speculations on how Lavalee knew that much.

Kinabukasan maagang lumabas ng kwarto niya si Jace para kumain ng agahan. Kumatok siya sa kwarto ng mga kasamahan niya at sinabihana ng mga ito na pumunta sa sala.

“Bakit, Inspector Jace?” tanong ni Caspian

“Oh? You’re early.” Biglang lumabas si Lavalee mula sa silid kainan kaya kumunot ang noo ni Jace

“Off to investigate?” tanong ni Lavalee

“Yes, Alpha, Delta, Lieutenant, I will leave the things here under your commands, call me if anything happens.” Sabi ni Jace at sumaludo ang tatlo

“Sir, yes, sir.” Sagot ng tatlo habang nakasaludo

Bumalik sa kanya-kanyang kwarto ang tatlo para maghanda ng sarili kaya naiwan sina Lavalee at Jace.

“Ba’t ang aga mo gumising?” tanong ni Jace kay Lavalee

“Yiee. You spoke Filipino.” Pang-aasar ni Lavalee pero blanko lang siyang tiningnan ni Jace

“I’m leaving.” Sabi ni Jace at lumabas para sumakay sa kotse niya na naka-park lang sa garahe pero natigilan siya nang makitang flat yun.

“Need a ride?” tanong ni Lavalee kaya tiningnan siya ni Jace. Itinaas ni Lavalee ang susi ng kotse niya at naiiritang kinuha yun ni Jace pero itinago ni Lavalee sa bulsa niya

“I want to come.” Sabi ni Lavalee

“No.” sabi ni Jace

“Yes, please?” sabi ni Lavalee

“No.” Sabi ni Jace kaya napairap si Lavalee

“Fine. Just send me to a café.” Sabi ni Lavalee at ipinakita kay Jace ang larawan ng isang café.

“Café? It’s too early, Lavalee.” Kontra naman ni Jace

“But Jace that’s the point. I’m running away from my body guards.” Pagrarason ni Lavalee

“More reason to leave you here.” Sabi ni Jace

“Fine.” Pagsuko ni Lavalee at ibinigay kay Jace yung susi ng kotse

“Good. Now behave and do not make a mess.” Sabi ni Jace

“Whatever.” Inirapan ni Lavalee si Jace at tumalikod kaya kampanteng umalis si Jace but little did he know Lavalee ordered a butler to drive behind Jace. Then to the Café she was talking about

Nang makarating si Jace sa presinto ay agad siyang binati ni Francis.

“Oh? Nasan na yung girlfriend mo?” pambungad ni Francis

“Where’s the autopsy result?” tanong ni Jace kaya napakamot ng ulo si Francis

“Oii Jace tagal mong nawala ah. Saan ka galing?” Sabi ni Regil Tenerefi, isa sa Forensics Team

“Assignment.” Maikling saad ni Jace

Pumunta sila sa isang vacant meeting room at inilatag ni Dr. Regil Tenerefi ang mga pictures at autopsy report.

“Sa totoo lang wala talaga kaming nakitang possibleng dahilan ng pagkamatay bukod sa cardiac arrest pero may kakaiba lang kaming napansin.” Sabi ni Dr. Regil Tenerefi at itinuro ang isang litrato

“Boils?” tanong ni Jace

“Oo, sa unang tingin boils ang makikita mo but as you can see there’s necrosis in the skin tissue. Wala siyang report ng burns these recent months or days and that makes it weird.” Sabi ni Dr. Regil Tenerefi

Biglang tumunog ang telepohon ni Jace kaya nainis siya nang makitang si Lavalee yun.

[Hey don’t get mad, okay? I brought someone you might need to meet.] sabi ni Lavalee

“What are you talking about?” naiinis niyang tanong

[Just see me. Ipapasundo kita, kay?] sabi ni Lavalee at binabaan si Jace

“Continue.” Sabi ni Jace

Biglang may kumaluskos na malakas na parang kinakaskas kaya binuksan nila ang pinto at nakita nilang namumutla na ang mga officers, may iba naman na nakahanda na ang b***l.

*ROAR

Parang naglalakad lang sa hallway na naglakad si Mnemosyne papasok ng meeting room kung ansaan si Jace at agad na mahinang umatungal.

“Mnemosyne.” Sabi ni Jace kaya agad na napatigil si Mnemosyne at umupo

“Mnemosyne, come here.” Sabi ni Jace at tumalon si Mnemosyne sa lamesa

Mnemosyne stepped on the photo of a skin with necrosis and dragged it to Jace, then Mnemosyone dragged another photo. The picture of the arm before it was cut.

Mnemosyne lift her head up and Jace noticed a small paper clipped on Mnemosyne’s collar. Jace took it and read it.

“Where’s she?” tanong ni Jace at agad na tumalon pababa si Mnemosyne

“I need to go.” Sabi ni Jace at lumabas sinundan anman siya ng iba pa niyang kasama kaya’t nakita ng mga ito si Lavalee.

Lavalee’s arms are crossed over her chest and she seem so impatient. When Mnemosyne went near her, Mnemosyne circled on her feet and she raised her brow at Jace.

“Why did you make wait for so long, huh?” Mataray na tanong ni Lavalee

“What is it?” Tanong ni Jace at itinuro ni Lavalee yung isang babae

“She’s Moreen Sanchez, 31 years old, kapatid nung babae and she’s the last person the victim was with apart from Ainah.” Sabi ni Lavalee

Lumapit si Jace sa babaeng takot na takot.

“Interview her.” Sabi ni Jace sa mga kasamahan

“I told you to stay home.” Sermon ni Jace kay Lavalee

“And I told you I want to go to a café.” Sagot naman ni Lavalee

“Where did you see her?” tanong niya

“I saw her at the café. She’ll die in an hour.” Sabi ni Lavalee dahilan para samaan siya ng tingin ni Jace

“What?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Jace

“She’s poisoned too. There’s hydrofluoric acid in her blood, that boild in her shoulder means she’s also going to die.” Sabi ni Lavalee at itinuro yung balikat nung babae

Lumapit si Dr. Regil Tenerefi kayna Jace at Lavalee habang nag-uusap sila.

“Hello, Miss. Girlfriend ka ba ni Jace?” Dire-diretsong sabi ni Regil

“No. I’m L-” Sagot ni Lavalee

“Lav.” Saway ni Jace bago pa magsalita si Lavalee

“What?” tanong ni Lavalee

“Go home.” Sabi ni Jace pero pumaywang si Lavalee at hinarap si Jace

“No. I am staying to watch that girl.” Sabi ni Lavalee kaya napatingin sa kanya si Regil

“Bakit?” tanong ni Regil

“You’re a Forensics Analyzer, right?” Tanong ni Lavalee

“Yes, why?” tanong ni Regil

“There’s a chemical burn on her shoulder cause by hydrofluoric acid and she’ll die any moment now.” Sabi ni Lavalee at tumingin sa babae na ini interview ng police.

The interview went on when suddenly the woman clenched her chest and collapsed on the ground.

“Told you.” Lavalee said and looked at Jace

They were about to bring the woman to the hospital but she was declared dead when they checked her pulse.

“Cause of death, cardiac arrest.” Lavalee said and turned her back but she gave a paper to Jace.

“Inheritance?” Jace asked when he read what Lavalee had wrote

“Yes, life insurance.” Lavalee clarrified

“It’s murder, Jace.” Lavalee added and carried Mnemosyne

“I’ll wait for you in the car.” Lavalee said and went out of the precinct.

“Paanong nalaman nya yun?” tanong ni Regil pagkalapit kay Jace

“I don’t know.” Sagot ni Jace, dinala naman ng forensics team ang katawan ng nung babae.

“But anyways, she said right. This case is a murder case.” Sabi ni Regil

Ginawa nga ni Jace ang sinabi ni Lavalee, their division went to the Million Lives Life Insurance and they were surprised when they found out that the two victims; Moreen and Loreen Sanchez are successors to ten million peso worth of inheritance and their life insurance benficiaries are theirselve and their eldest brother; Torin Sanchez.

Torin Sanchez had already received three hundred thousand pesos when his wife died from an idiopathic pulmonary disease, and now that his sister are dead he will receive about six hundred thousand pesos. He’ll also be the sole inheritor of the Ten million inheritance.

They traced Torin’s last contacts and whereabout and found out that he often visits his sisters and he came to his sister’s house two days before Moreen’s death.

“Torin Sanchez, you’re under arrest.” Sabi ni Jace nang ma-corner nila si Torin Sanchez na paalis na sana papuntang New Yastrid para tumakas.

“You are under arrest for killing Moreen Sanchez and Loreen Sanchez, you have a right to an attorney. Anything you will say will be used against you.” Jace said and cuffed Torin Sanchez’s wrists.

Dinala sa presinto si Torin Sanchez at ikinulong.

“Ang galing mo talaga, Detective Scott.” Sabi ni Inspector Fracis kay Jace

“I have to go ahead.” Sabi ni Jace pero nang papasakay na siya ay nahigit naman siya ng mga kasamahan.

“AY bakit ka nagmamadali ha?” nakakalokong tanong ni Inspector Sariin

“I have to leave.” Sabi ni Jace

“Ay sino yang nasa sasakyan mo? Ikaw ha, nangingidnap ka.” Sabi ni Inspector Francis habang nakatingin kay Lavalee na nakapikit.

Biglang bumaba ang window ni Lavalee at iminulat niya ang mata niya

“What now, Dreice?” Mataray na tanong ni Lavalee at tinaasan ng kilay si Jace

“The won’t let me go.” Sabi ni Jace

“And why? Mne’s asleep already.” Sabi ni Lavalee

“I have to bring her home.” Sabi ni Jace at sumakay na ng sasakyan

“Hoy! Ingatan mo yan, ha!” sabi ng mga Inspector nang magdrive na palayo si Jace.

Jace drove the both of them home and when they arrived everyone’s asleep. Jace carried Lavalee to her room because Lavalee fell asleep while in the car.

“I love you. Stay.”

“I love you, Love.”