Chapter 5: Code

Mika's P.O.V

I'm now on my way to the location Inspector Lee sent, it's on 16th street, 4th blue house, there are already yellow police tapes all over the property...I showed them my badge that the head of the department of police gave me so that I can easily have access to crimes that occur especially when the Inspector in-charged doesn't know me, I can show them my badge and that gives me the full authority to investigate.

It's already 6 pm when I arrived at the said location and there are two police cars are parked outside the two-story house.

"What happened here, inspector?"

"A man found dead inside his office near his computer, his name is Raul Villanueva. 56 years old, cause of death is tetanus, the murder weapon is found on his trash can, it's a 6-inch rusty nail, estimated time of death is 5 pm"

"Okay, who are the possible suspects?"

"We have four primary suspects, first is Amelia Villanueva, 54 years old and she is the wife of the victim, second is Ara Bella Villanueva, 15 years old and the daughter of the victim, next is Reynan Moraya, 43 years old who is their family driver, last but not the least is Vina Alcaros, 27 years old who is their 7 years maid"

"where are they? can I go to the crime scene and investigate further?"

"Sure Mika you can, the suspects are gathered in the living room, I'll escort you to the room where the crime occurred, the victim's body is still there tho is that okay?"

"Sure inspector, dead bodies aren't a problem to me, I'm used to it hahaha"

"Whatever you say ms. detective"

Inspector then escorted me to the said office of the victim, I took a glance at the said suspects when we passed the living room, I'll interrogate them later, I need to see the actual crime scene first and find a flaw and possible evidence that the culprit left.

We stopped in front of a big wooden door, I guess this is the office of the victim, Inspector then said that he needs to go because there is something he needs to handle downstairs so it's just me and a few police in here who is also investigating.

I noticed that the window is not locked, it's close but not locked and when you take a look at the view outside of it, its just walls and the roof, the roof is pretty pointed tho which is connected to their garage and kitchen, next is the victims' big rolling whiteboard, three types of codes were mentioned in there, its the Atbash, Pigpen, and Bifid Cipher, I think the victim was studying it.

The victim's body is near his table where his laptop was located, there was blood visible on the edge of the table, this must be the part where he hit his head when he collapsed, the victim's neck has a visible pricked bruises, this is maybe the part where he got pricked by the rusty nail.

I also noticed that the victims' computer has the letter ERMZ was in coded in there, it looks like random letters but if you analyze it closely... it's not just random letters, I smirked when I decrypted those letters, now I know who the killer is but I need to know how he or she manages to do such a crime.

It's kinda strange, if this is just a tetanus case, the time of its spreading was unusual for ordinary tetanus to spread, there must be another murder weapon that has been used, a poison perhaps.

I continued to search deeper in the room, I began opening drawers and cabinets but there is nothing when I opened the drawer of the victims' office table, I noticed a small bottle on the left side corner of it, I wore some disposable gloves first before I grab it, and I was right, there is another weapon that has been used, more like...a poison.

I informed inspector Lee about what I found and he was surprised too, he then asked for the autopsy report again and there it was, they also found a trace of cyanide in the victim's neck, the killer must infuse the cyanide on the tip of the nail that she used to prick the victim.

I asked the inspector to see the nail that they recovered, it says that there are no fingerprints that have been detected on the said weapon, so I need to see it myself if there is any lacking of that nail.

Inspector then handed me the nail and as I observe on it, there are residues of a furry cloth on the side of it, strange...

I then asked inspector Lee if I can now interrogate the primary suspect in the living room and he said yes.

I'm now in front of the suspects, the wife and daughter are still crying because of the death of their family member, the other two remained shocked and seems like they can't believe what happened Woah...all of them looks convincing but there is one impostor in them, and that is the killer.

"Now, I'm gonna ask you four the same question, where were you during the time of 4:30 to 5 pm?"

"I and my daughter are in the garden watering the plants and cleaning it around 4 pm, after 30 mins we then came inside the living room to watch tv"

Amelia answered.

"Its true, me and my mother were in the garden that time and I got tired that's why I asked her if that's enough and we can go inside to watch Netflix"

Ara confirmed.

"How about you Mr. Moraya?"

"I was in the garage cleaning the car around that time, you can check the car right now, it still has soap on it since I did not finish car washing it because of this incident"

"Okay, and how about you Ms. Alcaros?"

"I was in the kitchen cooking dinner"

"Okay, Mrs. Villanueva, Ara, did anyone of you go upstairs and entered the office of Mr. Villanueva?"

"No, my dad's office is always locked whenever he is inside, all of us just got in there when mom keeps on knocking on the door but he is not answering, because a client called my mom and was looking for dad, saying that he is unable to reach that's why we called Mr. Moraya to break the door, that's how we discovered his d-dead b-body"

Ara answered almost crying because of what happened to her father. I think I know how the killer manages to do it but I still need to confirm one thing.

"Uhm where can I get a glass of water?"

"Oh its fine Ms. Standford, I can get one for you"

Vina suggested and gave me a warm smile. She then stands up and to get me the glass of water I requested, we all just remained quiet until Vina arrives with the glass of water in her hands.

When she was about to come my way, I accidentally stretched my feet and she got tripped, surprisingly her reflexes were amazing and her balance, not one of water got spilled.

"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to, sorry"

"Its okay Ms. Standford"

And she gave me a warm smile, I drink the water she gave me halfway through and excused myself.

I went to the kitchen and put the glass of water in the sink, I then found the missing piece that I was looking for.

"Inspector Lee, I already knew who the culprit was..."