Chapter 9: Angel in Disguise

Mika's P.O.V

I was surprised when he called me General 99 and Empress Mika, I don't know how he knew all of that but I need to focus on solving this crime first, I can ask him later.

The Inspector in charge handed us some white disposable gloves so we can't ruin the possible evidence if we touch something.

As i examined the body I find it difficult to find a flaw, the crime was performed very clean, the stab on the heart and a slice on the neck was done well, but i can tell that the killer did still had a struggle with killing the victim, the victims right and left arm had multiple knife slices wounds but that's all...the crime was almost perfect.

The victim was killed instantly from the stab on the heart but I guess the killer wasn't satisfied at all and sliced his neck, the bible, pen, and an eyeglass was scattered around near the body, I was getting pissed cause I can't find any possible evidence.

The body's position doesn't have anything suspicious except for the right hand of the victim, it's close, unlike the left open one.

"Ms. High School Detective, our inspector in-charge inspector Santiago told me to give you these notes where a few information was written since there is no autopsy report yet"

"Oh, thank you.."

The police just nodded his head in response and I immediately read what was written on this notebook.

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Name of the Victim: Ptr. Ignacio Manalo

45yrs old.

Cause of death: One stab in the heart killing the victim instantly and a slice on the neck.

Murder Weapon: 12inch knife found on the left side of the dead body

Body Found: Back of the altar around 1:20 pm.

Estimated Time of Death: 12:30 pm

Primary Suspects:

1.) Emelia Manalo - 40yrs old, younger sister of the victim.

2.) Roberto Alipayo - 34yrs old, church

worker.

3.) Aleya Manalo - 19yrs old, Daughter of the victim.

4.) Troy Vicente - 18yrs old, A musician in the church and the one who discovered the dead body.

The victim was last seen going inside his office.

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I told Kalix that I'm gonna interrogate the suspects and he said he will just catch up and that there is something he needs to see first.

"Ms. Detective, these are the primary suspects, Emelia, Roberto, Aleya, and Troy you can start interrogating now"

"Thankyou Inspector Santiago, I will take it from here"

The inspector just nod in response and got back to inspect further on the body, I first observe the suspects, Emelia is wearing a floral yellow dress with yellow 3-inch heels and she is in a high ponytail with a dark green hair tie, Roberto is wearing an aqua blue polo, black pants and has a silver Timex watch on his left wrist, black shoes and hair have gel, Aleya is wearing a dark blue long sleeve, the right sleeve on her wrist part is lacking one button unlike the left one that has one golden button attached to the wrist part of the dress, hair is in a bun tied with a black scrunchie and has a pink flower hair clip, and a black velvet 3-inch heels, last but not the least is Troy who is wearing brown fubu t-shirt, the lower part of his shirt is kinda crumpled, black pants, black shoes and also have a silver Timex watch, just a different style.

"Uhmm Hi everyone, I guess you already know me because we are churchmates hehe, so I'm here to interrogate all of you, I got permission from the inspector in-charge to investigate this case"

"Yes, we do know you, the only daughter of the Standford and the well-known high school detective right? please do your best to catch the killer of my brother"

"I will do my best ma'am Emelia but may I ask? where were you by the time crime happened? around 12 to 12:30 pm?"

"I am still preparing what I'm wearing for today's service, I was looking for my eyeglass and around 12:10 pm I saw Ignacio entered his office that's when I asked him if he saw my glasses, he said he saw it on the study table and I said my thanks to him and left, that's the last time I s-saw my b-brother"

Ma'am Emelia then burst her tears after saying all of that, and if you're wondering, the church has an extension at the back and that's where the house of the pastor is, that's where Ptr. Ignacio, the four suspects, and a few more churchmates live.

"Is there someone who can prove that you are telling the truth ma'am Emelia?"

"Ah yes, Roberto, the study table is near the kitchen and Roberto was there"

"Okay, how about you Mr. Roberto? where were you during the crime happened?"

"I and Troy was in the storage room because we are taking out the new cymbals and drumsticks to replace the old ones, I just assisted Troy and helped him to get the cymbals and drumstick so that the other stuff in there won't be scattered around since the cymbals were placed at the corner left bottom and has been covered by other stuff, after that, I returned to my room to get ready to take a shower but the bathroom is still occupied and I just decided to rest for a bit and then decided to fill the water jag on the kitchen, that's when I saw Emelia getting her glasses"

"Okay, how about you Troy? after you got the cymbals and drumsticks, what did you do next?"

"After Mr. Roberto handed me the cymbals and drumsticks, I go directly inside the church and just put the things in the table where the microphones are located and then headed back to the house to prepare for today's service, I headed back to my room and was about to take a shower but as Mr. Roberto said, the bathroom was occupied by one of the youths and I just took a quick nap, after 45 mins. I was wakened up by the vibration on my phone and that a notification popped up, it's already 12:45 pm when I woke up and I took a shower, after I took a shower and finished getting ready, I was about to go back to the church to assemble the cymbals but when I passed by behind the altar, I found Ptr. Ignacio lying dead on the floor"

"Okay, how about you Aleya? same question."

"I was in my room but I did saw tita Emelia and Dad talking, I am done taking a shower and getting ready that's why I was just in my room the whole time, and for the last time, I saw him going out from his office and headed to the church"

"Oh okay, can I have your permission to enter the said office?"

"Sure, there are already a few policemen that entered in there, you can go as well"

"Thank you, ma'am Emelia"

I was about to go to the said office of the pastor but Kalix approached me.

"Mika, are you done interrogating the suspects?"

"Yes...where were you??"

"I was on the Office of the Pastor and look what I found"

Kalix handed me an envelope and I was shocked when I saw what's inside, now I know who the killer is, I just need ONE piece of evidence that can point directly to the culprit.

"Kalix, help me find any possible pieces of evidence on the victims dead body, I'm sure the evidence we're looking for is just somewhere in him"

"Sure.. let's go"

We headed straight to the back of the altar where the body is located and searched for any solid pieces of evidence, while we are searching, I was also telling Kalix how the interrogation go and what are their answers.

But it has been already 30mins. of searching but we found nothing, what kalix found in the office are just the motives but it's not evidence, the killer can simply deny the allegations that we throw.

I was about to give up when I saw the closed right hand of the victim and decided to open it and bingo this is enough to pin the killer.

"Kalix, take a look at this, remember what I told you during the interrogation and my observations?"

"Ohhhh nice, the killer didn't notice that"

"tss HAHAHA yeah"

I can't help but smirk, this crime was almost perfect...but let's accept the fact that there is no perfect crime on a detective that includes 'giving justice' on their principles in life.

Kalix told the inspector that we already know who the killer is and gathered everyone so we can start our 'Deduction Show'.

"Is it true that you both already know who the killer is?"

Mr. Roberto asked.

"Yes mister, we do" Kalix answered.

"Okay then, who is it?" Aleya asked us as if she was challenging us and I just smirked.

"You"

I said bluntly, all of them were surprised except for me and Kalix, Aleya's eyes widened, and tried to deny our allegations on her.

"What?!?! he was my father how can I kill my father?!?!"

"Mmm...how did you kill your FATHER?"

"What are you talking about?? I did not kill him!!!"

"Sshhhh...listen, dear, to start, you performed the crime neatly, its almost perfect, but you neglected one thing, and that is, the missing button on your right sleeve"

I said calmly and she was shocked and quickly looked at her right sleeve where the button is missing.

"When you performed the crime, the victim noticed you, you were supposed to stab him from the back but the victim was alert, you had a small struggle but you still manage to insert the knife on the victim's heart, he was about to make a noise and that's why you sliced his neck and you consider it as a job well done, but what you didn't notice is that when you and the victim has a small fight, he pulled the button from your sleeve before he was stabbed, that's why the victims left hand was open and the right hand was close because he was holding something that can lead to his killer and my dismay...his killer was his daughter. If you would permit us to check your room, I'm sure we can find the disposable gloves that you used on your trash can"

I said in a calm voice but the smirk was still plastered on my face.

"What?? How could you Aleya?? what are your motives??? HOW CAN YOU KILL YOUR FATHER?!?!?!"

Maam Emelia burst into anger and couldn't help but shout at Aleya but the killer just laughs loudly.

"I think her motives is this when Mika was interrogating you, I asked a police to escort me to the office of the pastor and I found this, it was a picture of Aleya being naked, she was raped by her father, maybe that's her motives"

Kalix explained and showed the envelope he found in the office, everyone was shocked including the other church members who were still around.

"HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA you're pastor is A SON OF SATAN, HAHAHAHAHAHA YOU'RE ASKING ME HOW COULD I KILL MY FATHER?!?! HAHAHAHAHA ask him first how could he rapped his daughter, its been almost a year since he started touching me and I kept quiet, but I can't keep it for too long...he threatened me that he will kill me if I told this to anyone HAHAHAHHAHAHA that's why I killed him first"

Everyone was speechless and her tita Emelia hugged her and now both of them were crying, even I can't believe that our pastor can do such thing but this is life, its full of surprises and misery.

We bid goodbye to everyone, I and Kalix just took a grab car and headed to a nearby cafe to chill, it's already quarter to 4 and we just decided to hang out and explore the city for a while until it's already 6 pm.

The lawyer texted the location of the said law firm and we headed in there immediately, Kalix is kinda nervous about the results but at the same time, he was excited.

"Good evening everyone, here is the results all of you have been waiting for...."