Chapter Five

“I TOLD YOU we are going to make you look like a Coke Mismo,” Detective Judas taunted her.

Etel snickered at him but Detective Judas just laughed it off. Making Etel more irritated.

She jabbed his arm with a little force.

Detective Judas gave her a shocked face before getting back at her by hitting Etel on the back.

“Ouch!” she exclaimed.

“Serves you right,” said the Detective.

She glared at him before continuing fixing her outfit. It's true. What the Detective said was true. She looked like a Coke Mismo wearing protective gears.

In fact, it's hard to move while wearing it. The hard cap was annoying, it’s making her head hurt a bit and the bulletproof vest is so heavy making it hard for Etel to move around. She almost became a penguin while walking with it! But this is better instead of risking her life. Etel was busy trying to find a more comfortable way to wear the gears when she heard footsteps behind her.

It was Lucifer, Etel did not waste any time, she turned around to give her sweetest smile.

“Hello, my savior,” she greeted him. The man gave her a small smile before putting his both hands on her hard cap. He lifted it and shook his head.

“Does it hurt your head?” he asked and she nodded, unable to pronounce a word due to the feeling of the closeness of their body. Etel felt safe yet suffocating, it was kind of a warm that could hurt her because of the heat. A weird feeling, she thought.

Lucifer left her there standing, he went inside the inventory before coming back with a sort of foam on his hand. He took the hard cap off her again and gently laid the foam on her head and put the cap over. A small smile formed on Etel’s lips when she realized it lessened the weight she’s feeling.

With a concerned look on his face, Lucifer cupped her face. “Are you okay now?”

“Yes, thank you, Luci.” Etel wanted to look away but there was something in Lucifer’s eye that hypnotizes her to look at it for long. Addicting, but a good one.

“Luci, huh?”

The corner of his lips hitched up into a smirk. He, too, was staring deep into her eyes. It was like they are the ones who are in the world and nothing around them matters.

The staring contest lasted until they heard Detective Judas’s annoying voice. He whistled as he shook his head.

“C’mon, love birds, we don’t have time for that.”

They gathered their things as they turned to leave. She thought it would be better to stay close with the Detective than having yet another awkward staring contest with Lucifer. As they all turn to leave towards the parking lot, she is left to choose who she’s going to ride with.

Etel’s mouth gaped open, she stared at the two guys cluelessly. One was holding up a helmet as he leaned in on his motorcycle, on the other hand, the second one had already opened the passenger side door of his car. She let out a nervous chuckle, she didn’t know what to think. Without thinking, she took a step towards Lucifer and his motorcycle. Did she see that right? The corner of his lips tugged up into a smirk? The Detective just turned his eyes into slits.

At that time, she wanted to roll her eyes. Men and their unspoken rivalry.

Lucifer was about to put the helmet on her when Detective Judas intervened. “Wait, Madam Etel! I think it’s safer to have you inside my car than on his motorcycle. Enclosed, private. Also, it’s not as loud as yours.”

“Wait, you're right. I’m sorry, Luci, but I think I have to take his.” She returned his gear and walked towards the car’s direction.

“Are you sure?” She nodded and waved goodbye at him before entering the Detective’s car. She sat comfortably at the backseat, waiting for him to shut the door and drive.

They were in the middle of a long drive when Detective Judas suddenly asked, “Why are you so thankful to him? I saved your life too.”

Etelvina also thought about that. How was she so biased to Lucifer even though Detective Judas also saved her life? Come to think of it, she had been thanking Lucifer and even offered to serve him for life because he saved her life but couldn’t do the same thing to the Detective.

Etel shrugged, she’s still unable to answer his question. Silence clouded their whole trip, no one dared to talk and ask. But the weird thing is the atmosphere felt… soothing? Somehow, she likes it. Sitting there in silence with the Detective might be her new definition of comfortable.

What was she thinking? “New definition of comfortable”, what in the cheesiness was that? Maybe the medicine the doctor prescribed her is starting to hit. Yeah, maybe that's the reason and she shouldn’t overthink about her feelings right now.

It took them a while before reaching their destination. Etel was already tired after the long drive that she doesn’t ever wanna leave the car and the Detective was in favor of that. But out of the blue, she changes her mind after seeing Lucifer talking to a woman. Not just a woman, but a woman that would make her feel insecure because of the soft beauty she possesses.

She’s not saying that she’s being insecure after seeing the woman and that’s the reason why she’s gone out of the car but it’s partially the reason why.

She ran after them with a huge smile plastered on her face. “What are you guys talking about?”

“This is Andrea Baguilat, she’s a neighbour of Tino and also our source of the lead,” Lucifer explained.

She nodded. “So, where’s Tino?”

“She said she saw him entering his apartment not too long ago, hopefully, he’s still inside so we can arrest him and end this.”

She blew a breath. “I’ll come with you!”

“No, it’s too dangerous. You need to stay here and wait for our signal.” Etel looked at him, he looked so serious about what he said and it only means one thing, she just needs to be stubborn enough for him to let her.

And stubborn is what she did. Etelvina never let her guard down and stood proudly while shaking her head. “No, I want to come and show that bastard that he messed with the wrong person!”

“Woman, I’m ordering you right now to stop what you’re thinking and follow us.”

But she was still hard-headed. “No, I’m simply going to catch him myself without your help.” Before he could even answer, she ran as fast as she could and headed to the building. It was hard for Etel, she was clueless as to where the gunman’s lair was. She ran back and forth on the building, getting confused about where to find him until she stopped at the third floor, giving up.

Sitting on the stairs, sweaty, and breathing deep is her state when Detective Judas and Lucifer caught her at the end of the stairs. Concern was written on their faces. At that moment, she wanted to be conscious about her appearance but her tiredness won’t let her. The Detective brought her a bottled drink that she drank straight up after getting her hands on it.

Empty, she returned the bottle that made the Detective chuckle.

“You’re a stubborn woman, Miss Etelvina,” Lucifer boldly stated.

“Yes, I am but I can’t find him anywhere!” she exclaimed. “I think I need your help,” she admitted defeatedly.

Everything then went silent, the serious looks on the men’s faces were back. Judas was now squinting his eyes as if trying to figure something out while Lucifer scanned the place; like Superman with his x-ray vision on.

Etel, on the side, is clueless. “What is-” She was unable to finish her sentence when Detective Judas shushed her and quietly took his gun out of its holster and positioned himself against the wall. Her brows furrowed with the sudden action, it took her a long time to process what was happening. Lucifer held her arms and dragged her against the wall, treating it as a shield for them.

Is it possible that the two had spotted her gunman? But how come she never noticed anything?

“He’s inside, I’m going. Stay here with Lucifer, he’s gonna keep you safe.” Detective Judas looked like a captain giving his orders but it didn’t make Etel listen to him. Instead, she raised and silently walked towards the other side of the wall. Still being cautious, Lucifer gave her a warning look.

She shook her head, telling them that she will not listen to what they say and started to position to enter the hallway again. Without a sound, she boldly led her way towards one of the doors. Leaning by it, she pressed her ears to hear any movement. But as she failed to do so, she moved to the door next to it.

Little did she know, Lucifer and Detective Judas had been trailing her with their guns out. That’s why when they heard a clunk near them, the two used their bodies to cover hers. Etel then covered her ears while shutting her eyes close tightly.

“Lay your head low.” It was the Detective, again with the concerned look on his face. “You shouldn’t have done that, you’re only putting your life at risk. I thought you wanted to live?”

“I do, that’s why I’m putting this on end by catching him.”

Detective Judas sighed. “That would be impossible without our help. So, please, just stay with us and everything will be good.”

Etel couldn’t do anything but nod her head. Suddenly, they heard another clunk. Detective Judas gave Lucifer a signal to check where it’s coming from while he stayed by her side. With the gun by his side, he leaned on to her.

“Stay here while we clear the whole floor. Detective Eldridge is on her way, she’s going to help you, okay?”

But Etel couldn’t speak, her whole face was covered with shock and fear. She was unable to utter a word as she just stared at the man holding a bat behind Detective Judas. The man was about to charge the Detective when the Detective suddenly turned around and disarmed the man.

She shrieked when the two men started fighting. Using his gun, Detective Judas banged it into his attacker’s head making him lie down. Etel, who's shaking, runs as fast as she can to get the baseball bat that the other man’s trying to reach. She nervously backed down after she got it.

“I-Is that him? Tino?” she asked.

Detective Judas clenched his jaw, he looked like he had no plans on answering her question. He took out his handcuffs and cuffed the man who had a defeated look on his face.

In just a second, Detective Eldridge showed up. Her face was fierce and serious, she took the man and nodded at Detective Judas before running down with the man in her hands.

“Where are you going?” she asked as she watched the Detective follow his fellow Detective back to the building’s entrance.

“We’re going back to the precinct.” Lucifer behind her was the one who answered.

How can these guys walk without a sound?

“B-But why?”

Detective Judas stopped for a moment to look at her. “The man I just handcuffed is an acquaintance of Tino, he must know where he’s hiding now. I need to get him to talk while you and Lucifer need to stay at my house.”

Seeing how determined he is, Etel couldn’t help but compliment. “You seemed so passionate about this case, huh?”

“Of course, it’s my job, Madam Etel.”