Chapter 11

Eastwood Forensic Crime Laboratory

(EFC Lab)

1:30 p.m.

'This is interesting.'

After examining the blood sample, Nico turned to Scorpio. The old man nodded, and in those moments, their suspicion was confirmed. Scorpio looked at the corpse of Mrs. Bonnie Javier, "I saw traces of the drug in her blood. Amitriptyline."

Nico's vast knowledge of medicinal drugs came in handy. 'When you're a professional detective, you need to read a lot of books,' he smirked, "Amitriptyline ... is commonly used in sleeping pills. But in the patient's history document obtained, Mrs. Javier has no insomnia. "

Scorpio nodded and removed his latex gloves, "Exactly. It's amazing how high the concentration of the sleeping pill in his blood is. Oh, I know that glint in your eyes son," A gentle smile flashed on the veteran's lips forensic scientist, "you have that crazed look whenever you're getting excited about a case."

'He knows me well,' Nico thought before sitting down in the next chair. "It looks like the killer gave Mrs. Javier sleeping pills to make her unconscious. I guess, that's the reason why no one heard a sound while he was chopping off her head and ripping our her heart."

Scorpio nodded and opened the small refrigerator in the far corner of the laboratory. He set aside the human tissues and organs preserved there before taking the two sandwich wrappers. "That killer is a smart man. Are you sure you don't want to contact your partner to tell him what we discovered?" And it closed the refrigerator door before walking closer to the young man, sandwiches in hand.

Nico flinched at the mention of his "partner". She reluctantly accepted the sandwich from Scorpio, "Partner? I don't know what you're talking about."

"You can't fool me, Nicodemus. I heard from your uncle. No wonder this case would have been so complicated if HELP had had to enlist the help of two of the best detectives in Eastwood."

Nico scoffed and started opening the wrapper of his food, "I don't wanna talk about it."

"Ah! Looks like you've already met Detective Brian," Scorpio munched on his sandwich, regardless of the smell of the corpse in the room, "I've heard a lot about him. "Tell me, Nicodemus ... is he a good man?"

Nico was almost taken aback by that question. 'What in the name of Sherlock ?!'

Handsome man? Tsk! Nico frowned.

"She's not pretty ..."

"Is that so ---"

"... and he's not a man either."

Scorpio was silent for a moment. The old man blinked, and eyed Nico with those playful orbs. Seconds later, it grinned and laughed weakly.

"A female detective? That's right. You're allergic to women." Scorpio could no longer hide the "amusement" in his voice. 'This is interesting.'

But Nico only sighed, "Let's just talk about the sleeping pills, shall we? If Heartless Killer actually used the sleeping pills to silence Mrs. Javier while he was killing her, he must've bought these pills from a nearby pharmacy store. I'll check all the pharmacies in Eastwood Heights and nearby areas later. Surely, nobody waltz in a pharmacy and orders sleeping pills for insomnia everyday. If you're lucky, the pharmacist might even remember the look of the person they sold them to. amitriptyline. "

Scorpio nodded and resumed eating. Afterwards, he reminded the detective, "We don't know if he actually used these sleeping pills for insomnia."

"What do you mean?"

"Sleeping pills with the chemical amitriptyline are not only used in ordinary insomnia. It is also used as an anti-depressant drug. Amitriptyline sleeping pills are more often recommended to people who experience insomnia caused by their depression."

Nico frowned, "Why would Heartless Killer buy this? He could've just bought normal sleeping pills for insomnia."

"Except if he didn't buy it. Maybe he found some in his medicine cabinet."

Nico's mental storage cabinet suddenly shifted, rearranging and organizing wisps of information. Names, dates, scenes, and everything in between. 'Damn Sherlock,' he just held on to his senses. Even before Scorpio could speak, Nico's phone rang.

"Unknown number. Probably one of my stalkers, again. Tsk."

When he answered this, the young man was even more irritated when he heard the familiar voice of his partner in the case.

"Park. Tomorrow at seven."

It wants them to discuss the case. Nico's eyes averted towards Scorpio who was smiling teasingly at him. Next, his eyes widened at the corpse of Mrs. Javier. How many more like him can they find before they catch the serial killer? He doesn't want to admit it, but it looks like they need to work together with Nova. Oh, the things he'll sacrifice for the sake of justice! The young man sighed.

"Fine."

"Bring your copy of the case files."

Nico frowned again. "Who are you to boss me around?"

"I'm Detective Briannova Carlos, a SHADOW agent and your partner. Is that enough, Mr. Yukishito?"

And the call is already dropping him! Nico sighed and leaned back in his chair. His head hurt even more.

Still not losing the teasing smile on the lips of the old forensic scientist, "She seems like the competitive type."

Nico was just shaken and bitten by his ham and cheese sandwich.

"You have no idea, Scorpio."

---

"You'll leave later. It's like you don't want me anymore."

At what the young man said, Thami Esteban's smile widened and he kissed her on the lips again. She climbed on top of him and gripped his muscular shoulders for support. 'It looks like he's eager for me again,' she thought and pressed herself on him, "We've been like this for a few months, do I still hate you?"

When the man moaned, he laughed heartily and left her lap. She smirked down at him and started picking up her clothes on the floor.

"We've been in a relationship for a few months now when your stupid boyfriend didn't catch us. Why don't you just leave?"

Thami finished zipping her dress and glared at him, "Are you crazy already? The size of my benefit to that one! It would be a pity if I broke up." And she took the make-up kit out of the bag. While applying lipstick in front of the mirror, she noticed that the companion was even more bored.

'He's still hot to look at even though he's angry,' and the maiden felt the heat between her legs again. Oh, the temptation!

"Aren't you satisfied with me yet? It's silly, Thami."

"Oh please, Philip. Let's not talk about this again. It's boring."

"Are you getting tired? Tsk. You're always getting tired. How many men do you have with me?"

Thami laughed softly when she could no longer answer that question. How many? He had forgotten. She never even thought she'd end up sleeping with her own gym instructor! It was worth his attention to Philip a few times back then. 'After all, my boyfriend can't catch me, can he?'

He stood up and glanced at his watch. 9:06 p.m.

"I need to go. See you tomorrow." And he even winked at the young man who was almost blushing with annoyance. Yes, she just left him sexually frustrated in his own bed! It's up to him first.

Thami Esteban needs to go home.

It's really good and there are still jeeps this time. Who is he fooling? Twenty-four hours transportation here in Eastwood! Fortunately, she lives only a few blocks away from Philip's condo. Not too much hassle to flirt.

But as she walked into their alley, she felt something strange.

He stopped walking and looked at the darkness that enveloped the surroundings. 'Wait, when else did that streetlight break?' she forced herself to ignore everything --- even the chill that ran down her spine.

It feels like someone is watching her, anticipating her every movement.

Thami shook her head and tightened the grip on her handbag. He was just scaring himself. "I should have just spent the night there. Tsk!" And he just kept walking. Her heels clicking lightly in the empty alley.

But his nervousness only doubled when he heard footsteps behind him, accompanying his walk. Suddenly, the air felt a bit more heavier. He seemed to be running out of breath at the realization.

Someone is following him.

"Shit!"

And he ran away. He no longer cared even though he had already dropped his bag. He could feel the presence of someone behind him. "Shit! Aaaaaah!" Thami Esteban ran until she tripped on her own heels. When he tried to stand up, it was too late.

Someone grabbed her arm and almost broke her bone. He cried in pain and when he saw the face of the man who had attacked him, he almost fainted.

Those empty eyes can only belong to the devil himself.

He tried to shout, but it also immediately covered his mouth. Fear gripped Thami's body as he dragged her to an abandoned factory. She tried to struggle but the man was just stronger than her.

"Aray!"

He managed to scratch the man's face. Her manicured fingernails scratched his cheek, leaving a shallow cut visible.

He did it badly, yes ...

But he also immediately regretted it.

---

T U E S D A Y

Night Raven Park, Eastwood

6:57 a.m.

The morning skies bestowed vibrant rays of sunlight and warmth throughout the area. The surroundings are peaceful and there are very few children playing in the playground. In the distance, Detective Nico sees a large acacia tree that is the center of the park. He took a deep breath, "Where the Sherlock is that woman?" He glanced at his watch again.

'I've been waiting here for thirty minutes, yet I haven't even seen her shadow!' He mentally complained and leaned back on the wooden bench.

Yup. This is one of the many reasons why he doesn't like the female species. Looks like he's just wasting time here.

"If she doesn't show up in the next five minutes, I'll head downtown and grab a cup of coffee." Nico's eyes went to the children playing. His eyes randomly picked a little girl laughing along with her peers. His deduction skills came into existence automatically.

'Six years old, kinder student, Catholic, has two younger siblings, parents separated, lives in his father's powder, ate chocolate-flavored ice cream earlier, extrovert in nature ...' Nico just closed his eyes eyes and leaned his head against the back of the chair. Her head hurts again.

That's the problem when you have an inborn mental storage cabinet in your head. Once his detective skills conquer him, the information keeping flowing in, never out. 'This curse has its advantages for a man of my profession,' he reminded himself.

"--- I'm sorry!"

Nico immediately opened his eyes to what he heard. He watched a man apologize to his crashed balloon vendor. Nico's eyes narrowed at the scene, and it didn't escape his observation to peek at him 'nong man from the corner of his eyes. The man suddenly became wary of the detective.

'I have a bad feeling about a' to. '

But even before he could get a good look at the man, he immediately walked away and shouted at the people coming out of the park.

"Damn Sherlock."

The young detective stood up and approached the poor balloon vendor who was currently shaking his dirty clothes. At first glance, he just looks like an ordinary salesman making a living for his family.

Detective Nico Yukishito rolled his eyes.

"I wasn't informed that selling balloons is your part-time job." Nico just smirked, a sly smile on his lips, "Clever disguise, by the way --- but still not good enough, Ms. Carlos."

"I don't know what you're saying, son." The salesman answers in a raspy voice as he adjusts the holding balloons.

Nico just asked, "Cut the act. Is this the gimmick of those SHADOW agents because you don't have the funds anymore? Very unprofessional, indeed."

Sharp eyes glared at him.

"Tsk. How did you know I did that?" Detective Briannova Carlos asked in her normal voice. Nico just shrugged and picked up a strand of pink hair that clung to the maiden's dirty dress. Nova just sighed. 'Gosh! Even small details, notice a 'to!'

They silently returned to Nico's place. The number of people in the park is increasing as the minutes ticked by. Nova tied the props she was holding to a tree and frowned, "I said seven."

"It already is. See?" And Nico glanced at his watch before glancing at the entirety of Nova's costume. "Now I understand why you're known for deception. I should've known those magazine editors called you the Master of Disguise for a reason."

Nova smiled, "I'd prefer to be called the 'Mistress of Disguise'. It's more feminine." At the same time, he took baby wipes from his pocket and wiped the make-up on his face. Instantly, the face of a poor balloon vendor vanished and the female features showed. "Make-up transformation is my hidden talent. I have the skills to change my voice too." It removed his wearing cap. Her long pink hair fell on her shoulder.

"Are you showing off to me so you can do that?"

Now, Nova said, "Oh, please. I was just observing our surroundings for any possible threat. It's dangerous and the gunman might attack again. It's really good and I have a Ph.D. in disguise-you. so no one noticed me. "

Nico nodded, "You can be anyone without people recognizing who you really are. Clever, indeed."