15

The next day...

Kevin already forgot last night's event. He passed out after confessing so I left him sleeping on the couch.

"Morning..." he groggily greeted me while making coffee.

"Morning," I replied and sat opposite him.

"Mari... did I do anything stupid last night?" he asked shyly. His usual attitude seems to be lost.

"Nah, just some mumbling, but it's okay.. nothing crazy," I replied. Well... it is quite crazy, but he doesn't need to remember his jealousy and confession. "Anyway, since the investigation about the burnt storage unit gave nothing... I plan to go around the places you went into during your investigation three years ago."

I changed the subject before he could pry. He wanted to ask more but stopped as soon as I changed the subject.

"Sure. I'll go with you. Please don't say no," Kevin spoke determinedly. I nodded at his request.

"Oh, and I think I should also start calling you by your real name. I noticed Andrew calls you Za?" he suddenly asked catching me a bit off guard.

"Oh... yeah apparently that's my nickname," I replied.

"I see. Anyway... you're with Chance today, am I right? Or do you want to investigate some cases? I mean... It's up to you..." his tone was a bit different.

"Well... I spoke with Chance last night and we agreed I'll be there for half a day. Then, I'll go to the station to do some work." I replied.

He nodded and looked somehow excited?

He dropped me off at the café before going to work.

"Hey!" I cheekily greeted as I entered the café.

A smile was plastered on Chance's face and immediately gave me a cup of coffee.

"So what brings you here?" He asked almost like he didn't expect me.

"Huh? We talked last night that I'd be here for half a day. You forgot?" I asked him teasingly.

"R-right. Yeah, I forgot. Sorry. A lot of things are happening lately," his smile was strained and he turned his back on me so I can't exactly see his reaction.

"Oh well. So what do I have to do today? Should I clean the storage? Make inventory? Go to the market?" I started asking questions just to ease the sudden tension between us.

"Oh. just check out the back office. I mean I haven't gotten the chance to clean up, so it's probably full of dust bunnies." he replied and gave a hearty laugh.

I laughed with him and chatted for a while before I went to the back office to clean.

As I busied myself cleaning the office. A ton of old books, receipts, and purchases are all over the place. No wonder he can't find his house keys in this mess. While dusting the cabinet, a photo album that was turned over catches my attention.

I flipped it over and saw Chance, Kevin, and another guy with a similar feature with Chance. Maybe his brother? Come to think of it he's never talked about his family. I've never seen a family photo at his house. As I looked at the photo closely, a striking resemblance between Chance and the guy struck me... Twins?

I was about to call out for Chance to ask when a sudden blow into the head hit me... I didn't even get to turn around before my world goes black.

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My head throbs in pain as I come to. I tried to reach for my head, but I seemed to be tied to a chair. The tight ropes sear deep into my skin.

"Ugh..." I tried to move to no avail. I scanned my surroundings to see that I'm in an old building. The broken glass and the boarded-up windows add an awful aura. It's already night! Shoot! Kevin!!!

"Good!!! You're awake!" A familiar voice spoke in the shadows. I looked around as my eyes tried to adjust to the dimly lit place.

"Where am I?" I asked... my voice almost choked as I denied that the voice I'm hearing is him...

He chuckled and showed himself.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Cain Langley." he bowed his head and looked straight at me.

"You're Cain?" I asked so surprised that my tone was way higher than I expected. "But you died... 7 years ago!" I replied.

"I guess my brother never told you a thing. Yes! I am Cain Langley! And yes, I faked my death 7 years ago!!!" he laughed maniacally like he's losing his mind.

"Does Chance know you're alive?!" I asked.

"NOPE! But he's the perfect scapegoat! He looks exactly like me and I can pin everything on him!" He laughed again.

"So it was you! Not Chance!" I replied trying to move.

"Tch. Chance wouldn't even hurt a fly. He's so nice as a twin brother! And you know what?! Everything would have gone smoothly if it weren't for you!" he screamed at me angrily. I looked at him and saw track marks on his arm.

"And how is it that I'm involved?" I asked. I should keep him distracted while I try to loosen the rope behind me.

"Don't you remember the night you got attacked? That was me. If it weren't for him... you would have been sealed in one of those drums in the storage unit! And if he didn't fall in love with you, then I would have the perfect plan of pinning everything on him! But now... I have a new plan... you will be my scapegoat!!!" He screamed again, and he faced me with anger. He's losing it...

He's clearly high on something. I told myself. I hope the boys will find me.

"You're crazy!!" I replied.

"Oh really?! Maybe I am. But you are naïve! You didn't even budge when I leaned my head on your shoulder last night!" He almost growled.

"That was you?!" I was surprised again. My head is clearly muddled. How the hell did I not notice?!

"We looked alike. I even switched places with him a couple of times. He just doesn't know..." he let out a satisfied laugh as he looked at my puzzled expression.

"Ever wonder how?! Well... I'm gonna tell you anyway! I drug him so that he'll sleep while I take over his life." My blood was boiling at this point.

"He's your brother!" I angrily replied.

"And a great accomplice if he weren't so soft! Seven years ago I offered him this organ transplant business. And he refused! Do you know how much money we can make when we sell it on the black market?! We'll make millions! But he said it was wrong!! So I did things on my own."

"You killed people!" I retorted. I couldn't suppress my anger.

"So what?! They're useless people anyway," he replied. My shock was so evident that he laughed so hard.

"I chose them specifically because they won't be missed! If only Kevin knew that time that it was me..." he laughed again. "But I swapped places with Chance so I figured it out." he's confident about his confessions... Am I gonna die?

"So... you used Chance to get to your victims...." I responded not as a question but as a statement.

"Why of course! Then you happened! Asking about missing people and poking into other people's business. That's the reason you are going to die! But don't worry! I'll make sure you'll be put first to good use."

He smiled so maniacally it sent chills down my spine.