Chapter 2: First Clues

Reed's P. O. V.

"Ren! Are you out of your mind? Why did you take the client?!" I asked him with frustrations.

He just rolled his eyes on me. Really? What an attitude.

I eyed him seriously.

He knows I'm in vacation. I've been taking too many cases. I forgot the meaning of rest.

He crossed his legs then he looked at me.

"Let me finish first. This is not just an ordinary case. Remember Mr. Callahan?" He asked.

The moment I heard that name my world immediately stopped revolving. He still has a bad effect on me.

I decided to sit down as well, I faced him. Tension is forming inside me. I've never felt this is years.

"The father of Aisling Claire Prendia..." He said while smiling.

Upon hearing that name, I closed my eyes. I don't know what to react, I'm having mixed emotions.

I tried to regain my composure. I looked at him once more.

"And?" I asked him.

His face turned serious. I can sense that he's not telling a lie. Through his eyes, there are peculiarities.

"She is in danger." He said.

Upon hearing those words, my heart stopped beating. It has been years since I've heard of Claire, and what a luck, this is a pretty ironic way to remember her.

"Continue..." I ordered him.

He handed me an envelope. I opened it and there I saw a picture of someone's arm. There is a tattooed fresh scar. I read the written text.

"Sly elapid?" I said.

My anger rose up, do tell me that this is not Claire's arm.

I looked at Ren once more.

"We've never met anyone under that codename." He added.

This name is quite new to my hearing. I felt sudden chills upon realizing that the life of Claire is at sake.

"Continue, what do you know about the case?" I asked seriously.

This is business, someone's life is at stake.

"She is kidnapped, then Mr. Callahan met a man. He is disguised as a courier.

He tried to kill Mr. Callahan but he failed. After that, someone called." He answered.

He pulled out a paper from his pocket. He handed it to me.

"Those were the poems recited by the following men." He added.

I read them silently. I felt sudden nervousness.

This case is a serious one. But who could do such thing? I know that I was hired to answer the same question, but being a detective was never easy.

"You'll take the case right?" Ren asked me.

What else could I do? I'll carry someone's death as a burden. Especially, I know the victim personally.

But deep inside I know that I have this agenda in my heart. Reed, you are over her.

"Surely." I answered.

He nodded. I stood up, but I have a bad feeling about this. As if we are facing a big and complicated case.

I wanna drop this case down, but knowing that it's her life at sake, I must reconsider cancelling my week off.

I walked back and forth. With my hand placed on my chin I started to think.

Mr. Callahan is known for his business rivals, the suspect could be anyone. But we can't accuse them, not without further prooof and evidence.

I continued walking back and forth. Silence filled the room no one dared to talk. Ren knows about my rules. If I'm busy solving a case, don't bother to interrupt.

Sly elapid...

"Alas!" I shouted as a thought came to me.

Ren looked at me.

"You solved it already?" He asked.

"Not quite, it's only a clue for the mystery." I answered him.

I hurriedly grabbed my coat and pulled Ren out of the chair.

"Stand up, we have a mystery to solve." I ordered him.

He followed me, but even before we could go out, the house phone rang.

It made us stop our steps. Who could this be? I walked towards it. I answered the call.

"I see... you solved the clue fairly. Indeed you are not born as a humdrum." He said over the other line.

The voice is so dark and deep. I never heard someone with a voice like this.

"Who are you?" I asked with a serious tone of voice.

"I'm sly elapid

Smart as a fox

Deadly as a snake." He said before he ended the call.

I dropped the phone as well. I looked at Ren once more.

How did he know about my steps? This Sly has connections.

"So, where are we headed?" He asked.

I'm not sure. But base on this "sly elapid" he is quite dangerous. I have no further details regarding the suspect but I think this case is a tough one.

"Let's go to the library." I ordered him.

We then went out. The library is isn't far from here. We won't bother walking. In fact it'll give me time to think.

"You're still in love with her, are you?" Ren asked.

I didn't bother to look at him.

"Hmm?" That is all that I can say for now. I'm not sure of what to feel.

Years had passed, who would know that her father would be my client?

I heard Ren's soft chuckle. Typical Ren...

Still making fun out of my life.

A few minutes later we've reached the library.

Without wasting any time I entered the building. There, I went to the animal section. Slowly I scanned every book that I see. Ren didn't bother to follow me.

Where could that book be?

I continued browsing and alas! I found it!

I held it and I opened the book. I continued browsing through the pages.

My hint must be right. I wish it is right.

After turning a few pages, I saw a letter stuck between pages.

I knew it.

The clue is in between the map of the ocean. The personality of the red sea, where the deep blue river of Nile turned Red. In short, the answer is in the history book of Israel.

I read the content of the letter.

To Reed Bryst:

It won't take long before you can solve his clue, but the mystery is just getting started. I'm having fun torturing Ais here.

Debts shall be paid

Her father's life is the credit

Her blood will be the down payment

You'll continue to lament

Eganrac dove will fly upside down.

I didn't bother to mouth the poem out loud.

Just as I suspected, this case is a serious one. But I have a lot of reasons why continue in solving this mystery.

What we have ended years ago, but I know that I'm still hoping for something good to happen between us.