✔ 02 | Flames Of Madness [Soon To Be Published Under PSICOM]

CAPITULUM 08

Eastwood Forensic Crime Laboratory
(EFC Lab)
12:38 p.m.

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Detective Nico Yukishito waited for the old man to speak. 'It's a miracle he didn't ask me for a jackstone match today.'

The young detective watched him pace the room. Kanina pa ito abala sa page-examine at pagbabasa ng laboratory analysis ni Herman Jones. Nang ibigay kanina ng HELP sa EFC lab ang responsibilidad na 'to, panandaliang isinantabi ni Scorpio ang kinakaing tuna sandwich at sinimulan ang kanyang "specialty".

"Mukhang nangangalawang na ang mga abilidad mo, Scorpio. Dulot 'yan ng katandaan. I told you, you should retire." Nico smirked.

Finally, the legendary forensic scientist stopped in his tracks. Pagak itong natawa at bumaling sa binata, "And let those premature sperms have my precious laboratory? They lack the experience and cerebelum to take over my job! Baka gumuho lang ang EFC Lab sa oras na mag-retire ako, Nicodemus."

Napapailing na lang si Nico. 'This laboratory is nothing without Scorpio. Forensic is this old man's passion.' Kaya't hindi na nakakapagtakang hanggang ngayon ay malaki ang tiwala ng Eastwood Police sa abilidad ni Scorpio. "So, have you found anything interesting, old man?"

Napabuntong-hininga ang matanda at naupo sa isang silya. Inilahad niya sa harapan ng detective ang ilang mga larawan at analysis reports.

"Just like your conclusion, the victim was already dead before the fire even started, and we've got enough evidence to back it up."

'May foul play ngang naganap.'

Marahang tumango si Nico at nakinig sa paliwang ni Scorpio. The forensic scientist pointed to the pictures taken from the fire.

"Ang unang indikasyon para malaman natin kung namatay ba sa sunog ang isang tao o pinatay siya ng isang killer ay ang position mismo ng bangkay. When the firefighters saw Mr. Jones' body, it was in a fetal position. Ang fetal position ay ang posisyon ng mga fetus kapag nasa loob ng sinapupunan ng ina. His head and knees are kept close to his abdomen while lying on his side. This is suspicious because...?"

"Because the corpse made no indication that he tried to escape the fire." Pagtatapos ni Nico habang nakamasid sa bangkay.

Kung namatay si Mr. Jones dahil sa apoy, dapat ay makikita sa nasunog niyang bangkay ang indikasyon na sinubukan man lang niyang tumakas. Usually, you can tell someone died while escaping a fire when his burnt body is found crawling on the floor ("procubitus position"). Pero sa kaso ng negosyante, ni hindi man lang kinakitaan ng tangkang pagtakas ang kanyang katawan. This means that the killer already placed his dead body there before the fire started.

Nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita si Scorpio, his eyes scanning the medical reports. "Bukod doon, kinakitaan ng mababang carboxyhaemoglobin o CO-Hb level ang kakaunting blood sample na nakuha mula sa bangkay ni Mr. Jones. Kung namatay sa sunog ang isang tao, mataas dapat ang CO-Hb level niya dahil palatandaan ito na marami siyang nalanghap na usok at humalo na ito sa dugo niya. People who die during a fire usually inhale so much smoke, that it makes the CO-Hb levels in their blood to be as high as 50%."

"The higher the CO-Hb level, the higher the possibility that someone died during a fire?"

"Exactly. Mababa lang ang CO-Hb level sa katawan ng tao. Kung naninigarilyo siya, posibleng umabot lang ng 10% ang CO-Hb level sa dugo niya. Kung 'heavy smoker' naman, maximum na ang 20% CO-Hb level sa dugo. Normal pa 'yon... But if someone's CO-Hb level in their blood is as high as 50% or 60%, that implies that the person was alive during the fire and died because he inhaled too much carbon monoxide."

Nico leaned against the steel chair, "And the CO-Hb level in Mr. Jones' blood?"

"It was only 8%. So it's safe to say that he didn't die during that housefire."

Matibay ang mga ebidensyang ito. Hindi ang sunog ang dahilan kung bakit namatay si Mr. Herman. Someone killed the fat businessman, and that person is leaving them clues.

'But what in the name of Sherlock does those numbers mean?' Mahinang napamura si Nico at mabilis na kinuha ang isang analysis report. Hinablot niya ang isang lapis sa pencil holder ni Scorpio (na gawa sa bungo ng tao) at mabilis na isinulat ang mga numero. He remembered the numbers accurately, thanks to his rare ability to sort every single memory in his mental storage cabinet.

-1 2 7 -1 6 -1 4 -1

Hindi uubra ang alphabet substitution dito dahil wala namang "-1" na letra. 'Are these coordinates? Probably not.' Nico tried every single code and cipher he read in the blooks, but nothing seems to make sense. May nawawalang clue para mai-decode nila ang mga numerong ito. Mukhang inaasar talaga sila ng arsonist.

Scorpio silently watched him.

"Do you want a cup of coffee, Nicodemus? Those premature sperms may be incompetent in forensic work, but they make fairly good coffee."

Napabuntong-hininga si Detective Nico at inilapag ang lapis sa steel table. "Coffee is always a good idea, Scorpio."

The old man smiled. "I thought you'd say that."

Pero bago pa man makatayo ang matandang forensic scientist, bigla silang binulabog ng pagkatok.
Napabuntong-hininga ang matanda at inayos ang suot na laboratory coat. He grabbed the analysis reports and sighed, "Mukhang napaaga ang dating ng Eastwood Police para kunin ang mga ito."

But the moment Scorpio opened the door, he was greeted with a pink-haired detective clad in a gray turtle neck shirt.

"Hello, sir. Is my air-headed emo partner there?"

Mahinang natawa ang matanda.

"You must be his partner. Detective Brian, right?"

Ngumiti si Nova at inilahad ang kamay sa matanda, "Yes, sir. I'm Detective Briannova Carlos of SHADOW detective agency. You must be Dr. Scorpius?"

"Just call me 'Scorpio'." The old man accepted her handshake.

Nanigas naman sa kanyang kinauupuan si Detective Nico at mabilis na sinilip ang kanilang hindi inaasahang bisita. The greatest detective in Eastwood scowled upon seeing her. 'Why do I get a feeling that it's on her personal agenda to annoy me today?'

"Rules of stalking #1, 'wag mong ipahalata na inii-stalk mo ang isang tao. You should be discreet about it, Nova, or else I'll think you spend the majority of your day following me around." Walang-ganang sabi ni Nico.

Tumalim ang mga mata ng babae at humalukipkip, "Don't flatter yourself, Yukishito. Nandito ako para kunin ang reports at para ipaalam sa'yong nahanap na namin ang murder weapon na ginamit kay Mr. Jones."

Nang marinig niya ang tungkol sa "murder weapon" agad na tumayo si Detective Nico at mabilis na nilapitan ang dalaga. His eyes widened in excitement. Hindi na niya naalis ang ngiti sa kanyang mukha na tila ba isang batang inalukan ng bagong laruan.

"What is it?"

Scorpio shook his head in amusement.

May kinuha namang larawan si Detective Briannova Carlos mula sa bitbit niyang briefcase at ipinakita ito sa partner.

"The police found this a few blocks away from the mansion. Nang ipasuri nila ito, nakumpirma nilang dugo nga ni Mr. Herman Jones ang nandito."

Detective Nico eyed the murder weapon. 'The killer has a nice taste in weapons, I'd give him credit for that.'

It was a bloody mallet.

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