CHAPTER SIX

TYLER'S POV

Patrick and I finally arrived at the crime laboratory and immediately went straight to Bryan's office.

"You're finally here."

"So, what's the result? What did you found?"

Bryan gave me the autopsy report which I immediately read it.

"She have suffered from multiple blunt traumas. We saw marks of bruises in every part of her body. Right now, we don't know if she's struck by a hard material or directly from a man's fist."

"What else?"

"We also found an unusual substance from the toxicology report."

"What substance is it?"

"We found an alarming amount of Benzodiazepines inside her body."

"What is that?"

"Well, Benzodiazepines or also know as 'Benzos', is a class of Schedule IV drugs that are designed and prescribed to treat anxiety disorders, seizures, and insomnia. It is also prescribe for some conditions such as other sleep disorders and bipolar disorder."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Well, if a person is under benzo overdose, it could be dangerous and fatal when it is not immediately treated. Some side effects of benzos are drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, depression and impaired coordination. It's like a hypnotizing drug."

"I see."

"That's not all."

"What else did you find?"

"Do you remember the other body that's been found earlier?"

"Yes? The body was identified as the missing girl reported like two weeks ago."

Bryan took a document under his desk.

"Dr. Alazar gave me a copy of his autopsy report earlier and I can't believe that they also found the same substance in that body. Here, take a look."

Bryan handed me the autopsy report and I immediately read it, and noticed that they really had the same substance inside their body.

"Although, some bruises are no longer visible in her body due to its decomposition stage but they concluded that the victim also suffered from multiple bruises which is one of the probable causes of her death."

"Do you think, this is done by only one person?"

"I thinks so. Judging by the method of killing, the assailants are using the same method on their victims. They are playing with their victims which is already under the influence of Benzodiazepines and when they are satisfied on fulfilling their fantasies, they will then dispatch the victim's already dead body. Maybe you're right, Tyler. This could be done by only one person."

"That would be a possibility but I could definitely say that he is not working alone."

"What is your next step, Tyler?"

"I don't know yet but I'm sure that I will figure something out from this cases."

"Good luck on solving this case, Tyler."

"Thanks. I will make sure to get to the bottom of this."

Patrick and I left the building so that we can head home and to finally end our day with a good night sleep. I hurriedly head home because I am already tired with all the things that I've done this day which made me so hungry. After a few minutes of driving, I'm finally at our house and mother noticed my arrival.

"You're here, Tyler."

"Good evening, mom."

"Dada!"

"Hello, my princess! Where's your mom?"

"Mom's in the kitchen, preparing for our dinner."

"You haven't eaten yet? But it's already nine in the evening."

"We were waiting for you."

"You should have eaten dinner without me. What if I came home later than nine? You'll be hungry."

"Well, if that happens, we'll have our dinner then."

"Mom."

"Stop scolding me already. Get in and let's have dinner together. We made you your favorite."

We went inside the house while I carried Alice. As I took a quick look around at the kitchen, I saw my sister preparing us our dinner.

"Hey, sis."

"Oh, you're finally home, Tyler. Let me finish this in a bit and we'll have dinner."

"What a good timing. Alice and I are both starving. Right, Alice?"

"Yeeesss!"

"Alice. You know that Dada is too tired from his work. Why did you let him carry you when you can just walk? You're a big girl already."

"Just let her be, sis. It's not a big deal."

"You're always treating her like a princess. It will be your fault if she grows to be a spoiled kid."

"Well, she really is a princess in this house. Anyway, we really need to get a helper for our house. You know, to help on preparing meals and to keep our house clean and tidy instead of just mom doing it."

"I already told mom about it but you know her. She doesn't listen to me because she said that she can still do it."

"Mom, you deserve to relax and just enjoy your life. You've done so much for us already."

"You are treating me like I'm already old."

"It's not like that. We just want you to spend more time for your granddaughter: Alice."

"That's right, mom."

"Okay, fine but you need to be careful on selecting or getting a helper that will enter this house. You know that it's hard to trust random people nowadays."

"We know it already mom, so don't worry too much."

"Dada!"

"Yes, Alice?"

"Grandma and I were so happy earlier, dada."

"Oh, really? What did you two do while your mom and I are at work?"

I just let Alice tell her story while we were having our delicious dinner together. While we were still talking about almost everything that happened in our day, I noticed that mom was looking at me that immediately draw my attention towards her.

"Tyler."

"Yes, mom?"

"Don't you have any plans to have some fun in your life? You know, maybe have someone for your sister and I to meet."

"Mom..."

"I know, I know. I was just asking."

"You know it already that I am so busy at my work, mom. I'm sure if I'll try to meet someone right now, no one would probably last to busy man like me."

"Shame! It would be a huge mistake! They are so lucky if they will have my son as their boyfriend."

"You're teasing me again mom."

"Of course not! I'm spilling some facts here. Hard-working, smart, kind and brave. Oh see? What more can they ask for? Also, Tyler — we all have that one person that will come to our dull and boring lives. All you have to do is to never close your heart completely.'

The night ended with a wonderful dinner and a meaningful family time. While I was in my room, I suddenly thought about what mom told me and ask myself, when will be the time that I will meet that someone destined to be with me? Who am I kidding? Maybe that question would definitely be impossible to be answered. Not to mention, putting your heart and trusting them to take care of you is also so hard to find.

AVERY'S POV

After having our palatable dinner, I decided to spend the rest of my night here with Sasha's room. While we were already lying our backs, we can't help but talk about Peach.

"I really wish that whoever the person responsible for Peach's death be captured and rot behind the bars."

"I do hope too. Anyway, Sasha?"

"Yeah?"

"You really didn't saw the guy that Peach will be with that night?"

"I wish I could but I really didn't saw the guy he was talking about. All she did was told me that she'll be spending the rest of her night to this guy."

"Did she mention anything, maybe like some name or any information where she'll be at after working hours?"

"Unfortunately, I didn't hear her say anything about this guy or where they will be heading. She just wants to earn so much money because she was saving up because she is decided to continue to school and to be a college graduate."

"How about Mr. Ben? Do you think, maybe there's something that the CCTV camera captured even just a small detail or clue about that guy and maybe, he know something about the guy that took Peach."

"Hmm, maybe but that would be impossible because he went home for more than a week because his father died, remember?"

"Yeah, you're right but even so, should be the cameras be working continuously? It's a surveillance camera that works 24/7."

"You're right. Why don't we try asking him tomorrow."

"Good idea."

"By the way, how did you end up meeting that detective guy? Tyler, right? You haven't told me that story yet."

"Is it really that important?"

"I'm just asking, Avery but if you don't want to talk about it, it's fine. I'll be the sad friend here in this bed. Cold with teary eyes and then asks myself, where did I go wrong."

"Okay. Okay. Okay. Enough with thag drama! I'll be telling this once. Well ..."

We spend the whole night talking about the story of Tyler and I. We also talked a lot of different and random things. We also talked about issues and gossips about almost everything until we both feel tired talking and then finally, decided to close our eyes and sleep.

TYLER'S POV

I was early at work and not even that long enough, Patrick showed up. After preparing everything we need, Patrick and I head immediately to Ms. Mercado's place.

"What are we going to do to the victim's family, Sir Tyler?"

"We will just ask them if Ms. Mercado mentioned where she will be heading the night that she disappeared."

"Right. Maybe will get some few informations regarding to Ms. Mercado's case."

"Exactly."

It didn't take too long for us to reach the area where the Mercado residence is. We also notice that they already brought Ms. Mercado's body. Patrick and I then slowly reach their house and introduced ourselves.

"What do you need, sir?"

"We just want to know something about Heidi, Mrs. Mercado."

"You know, when Heidi was still young, I was keeping my eyes on her. Even flies and mosquitoes are not allowed to even touch her skin but now, some son of a devil did this to her. She doesn't deserve anything like this to our precious daughter."

"If I will be given the chance to meet the person that killed my daughter, I will make sure that he will not reach prison. God may forgive him but I won't. That's person deserves to die in worst possible way."

"We completely understand how you feel, Mr. and Mrs. Mercado. Rest assured that we will do our best to give justice to Ms. Heidi."

"That would be wonderful. So, what do you want to know that may help your investigation, sir?"

"The day that Heidi disappeared, did she ever mention anything where she'll be heading?"

"As far as I can remember, she will be taken by her friends and classmates because they just finish taking all the exams that day and they just wanted to release stress and enjoy even just for a night."

"Where will they be heading?"

"They were talking about a bar. I think the name of the bar has a Code in it."

"You mean, Bar Code?"

"Yes! That's it! They said, they'll be eating at the bar and maybe have some karaoke afterwards. When she was already missing, one of her friends told us and the authorities that someone took her away form them. They didn't pay enough attention because they saw that she wasn't hesitant to go with man and they were thinking that maybe he was just one of Heidi's friend. Unfortunately, they didn't have the chance to get a closer look at the guy due to the lightings of the establishment. That's all I know."

"Okay, thank you for the information you gave us, Mrs. Mercado."

"Please Sir. I hope that you'll give the justice that my daughter deserves."

"We will do our best and we are truly sorry for your loss."

Patrick and I left the area and immediately went straight to the bar and to request that we'll be checking if there were available CCTV footages from two weeks ago. The way I remembered it, Avery's boss said that they have technical issues about some of their cameras for a week that's why I am hoping that maybe we will be able to find some answers about Ms. Mercado's disappearance.

"Hello, Mr. Detective. You're here early. How may I help you?"

"When was the time that you have technical issues with the CCTV cameras?"

"Hmm. It was about one week. Why?"

"Good. So, you have available footages from two or three weeks ago before some of the cameras have technical issues, right?"

"What? Oh, yeah. You're ... right."

"Yes. We just want to know something."

"O-okay. I will bring you to Ben."

"Thanks."

My eyes were pinned to the monitor and my attention were shifted to every second to the playing footage but unfortunately, I can't see any girl that was forced to enter a suspicious car. I was really hoping that I could spot something suspicious. On top of that, there are lots of people going in and out both from the bar and from the parked cars. Also, I didn't see any girl that resembles or looked like Heidi. The killer must be so smart and he knows where the CCTV cameras were located in the building. Damn! What a hard case! I don't have any lead or clues that will take me to the possible suspect that did this. To be honest, I can't help it but feel a little bit suspicious with Avery's boss but I won't make it too obvious that I am suspecting him. We never know, that he might be one of the accomplices of committing this horrible crimes.

SOMEONE'S POV

"This is the file of Police Detective Tyler Gonzaga that you've asked, boss. He just started working here in our city for a few months already and it shows that he is doing ang impressive job on solving criminal cases."

"I see."

"According to my resources, he is now working on solving the cases from our victims."

"Should we end this man's whole career, boss?"

"Not now, I want to make fun of him first."

"Understood."

"Prepare our car. We will strike at Bar Code tonight."

"Right away, sir."