Chapter 17 - Yuno

People still loitered around the hallway of the municipal building. Most of them were catching up with their friends especially the parents, and my folks were no exception. James introduced my mom to his friends where they shook hands and exchanged short conversations.

I tried to look for some familiar face among the sea of strangers. Unfortunately, it was hard to spot a familiar face in this clustered environment.

Another thing I also noticed was Rayven was out of sight. I knew he was just behind me when we filed out of the hall, but then he was gone now. I wondered where he was.

Shrugging my shoulders, I fished out my cellphone and started scrolling on my social media account. But there was no interesting news as I kept on scrolling on the screen.

I continued my monotonous routine until I received a message from Rayven.

Tay and I are in!

I chewed on my lip since I was still skeptical of Rayven's tactic, but he was right. This was the fastest route to get the information we need if the Black Order was really behind these series of abductions.

I was about to reply to our chat group when I felt a presence behind me. I turned around and found a familiar face.

It was Dylan.

He nodded at me and that was when I returned my phone into my bag.

"Hey!" I greeted.

"So what's your reaction about the mayor's speech?"

I rolled my eyes at him to express my dissatisfaction. "He was taking this lightly. I'm pretty sure he will just make a drastic action if the situation is already dire."

"You might be right. Anyway, the reason I came to you is about Jane."

"What about her?"

"Coincidentally, my mother is friends with Jane's mother. She's a regular customer at our store. And I asked my mother to set up a meeting with Jane's mother in their house."

I was impressed by this since conveniently, we could talk to Jane's mother about her daughter's disappearance.

"Well, that's good! So did she agree? What did you tell your mom why we need to Jane's mother?"

"Actually, I partially told my mom that we are interested in learning the story of Jane since it might be connected to Raymond's disappearance. Of course, she looked bothered when I told her, but I reminded her that Raymond and I are used to be best friends. So she contacted Jane's mother, and that's it. She agrees to meet us since she also wants to talk to someone."

"I have no problem how you did it. The most important thing is we can talk to her now. So when is it?"

Dylan paused and gave me a forced smile. "Jane's mother told my mother that she's free this lunchtime."

"Oh." I looked at my parents who were still busy talking with other people. "I'll just inform my folks then we can go to her house."

He nodded and stayed on the area as I ask permission to my mother.

*****

After debating with my mother for a very long minute why I need to go somewhere during lunchtime, I was eventually let go. I had to thank James for convincing my stubborn mother.

Dylan and I were on the bus headed to Jane's address which was given by his mother. It was a short ride from the municipal hall, and we arrived at the address. The residence was near from the riverbank where I could spot the riverside from the bus stop.

Few people were walking on the street as we headed to our destination. When we spotted the gray house, Dylan pointed this was Jane's residence. We went on the porch and knocked on the door.

We didn't wait for long as someone quickly pulled open the door. It was a woman with pony-tailed hair while her home clothes were covered by a red apron. She weakly smiled at us and let us in.

She led us to their living room where shelves of books greeted us while the TV was turned on.

"I'm sorry. I'm still preparing for the food. Please take a seat."

"You don't have to bother, Mrs. Manobo," Dylan answered.

"Oh please call me Therese. Plus I don't want to waste good food if you're not going to eat it." She went to the kitchen area to continue finishing her task in there.

Dylan and I exchanged looks and sat on the couch.

After a few minutes, she called our names and beckoned us to the dining room. We rose from our seats and went to the next room.

She prepared a chicken stew and salad on our behalf, and we started digging on the food. It was an awkward moment since none of us were talking as we are all busy finishing the food before us.

After finishing our meals, we helped Therese on putting the plates on the sink. Then she led us back again to the living room. We all took a seat and shared awkward smiles at each other.

To break the ice, I rose again and observed the books on the shelves.

"You have a lot of collection in here, Therese! Most of them are history books. Are you by any chance a History teacher?"

She smiled at me. "Yes, I teach at the community college. My specialization is History. Jane and I just transferred here at the beginning of the year since I was offered to teach here."

"Oh, that's nice! You mean General History? Or you do specialization also?"

"General History. But on the side, I did some research on local history also. I was fascinated by how rich the history we have here especially in this town on how they avoided the wreckage from the Japanese occupation despite other towns were wrecked." She paused as she noticed that we were both staring at her.

"I'm so sorry. History makes me talk too much." She chuckled at that.

"Don't worry about us. I'm new in this town so new information for me. Is Jane a book lover also?"

Therese clutched on her chest and nodded at me. "Yes. It was her favorite past time whenever she's at home. She got it from me. Thank God! You see his father is out of the picture already as we got separated when Jane was still in elementary."

"Is Jane's favorite book around here on these shelves?"

Dylan arched his brow at me, looking confused at my question.

Not noticing our glances, Therese rose also from her seat and approached a shelf beside the window panel.

"This shelf is Jane's. All her favorite books are stacked in here."

I went over and found some familiar books like Hunger Games, Little Women, and other female lead books. And that was when I spotted the complete volumes of Harry Potter. All seven of them.

Therese saw my eyes glimmered when my eyes landed on the Harry Potter books.

"May I?" I inquired her.

She nodded her head and moved aside as I pulled out Book 1. I browsed the pages and found nothing. Then I moved on Book 5 and browsed it also. But nothing again. Next was Book 6, but like the previous books, nothing also. When I pulled out Book 7 and started browsing the pages that were when I found what I was looking for.

A black paper inserted in the book as a bookmark, and it had the same text as with Raymond and Monica's.

Dylan saw it too and quickly approached me. Therese noticed this and pursed her lips.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Yes," I answered. I turned over the black paper to her and let her read the text.

"What's the meaning of this?"

"I don't know also. I think someone sent a message to your daughter. This might be a clue to her disappearance."

Therese held the paper like it was a snake attempting to bite her. Then she looked at us.

"You're looking at this case also, right?"

I glanced at Dylan and nodded my head. "Yes. Two of our friends are missing also. And both of them received that kind of black paper before they disappeared."

"W-why are you telling me this? Are the police informed about this?" She stammered.

I shook my head while I took a breath. "The police don't know it yet since I don't know who to trust as of this moment."

"Are you saying that the police might be hiding something to us? Or somehow they are involved in this?" Dylan intruded and both of them were staring expectantly at me.

"I don't know how to answer that. But it's just a gut feeling. Therese, can you keep it for the meantime while we look for more answers."

She took a seat as it seemed that her legs were shaking from the revelation.

"But you're just kids. My daughter's life is at stake here, and you'd expect me to trust you based on a hunch of a kid?"

"Therese. Please trust us. We're onto something. Just give us time."

She thought for moments while her hand remained clutched the black paper. "First, how do you know that this paper is hidden in that book?"

"Bookworms like us think alike. I also do that whenever I have some notes that I don't want my parents to find out since you won't be bothering to browse on our books. Plus books are the last place you will think if you're looking for something."

"How do you know that you will find it in the Harry Potter book?"

"Actually, it's just a guess. I scanned her book collection, and most of them are female lead characters except for one – her Harry Potter books."

Therese sighed heavily. "I have this feeling that this is not your first time solving cases, am I right?"

I just flashed my smile at her.

"Fine! But I need to be updated every now and then."

"Deal!"