- 2.5 - The Lock Picked Locker (Conclusion)

HIBARA

I PRESENTED MY ID as I reached Gate 1, which I calculated to be the nearest from Gate 5 and was also the roadside one. As soon as I got out, I looked around the vicinity, trying to deduce where they might have gone. I smirked as I thought of a place where they can enter without anyone asking if their classes are through.

“Oh, hello… White and Black,” I greeted as I stood outside the noodle shop where they were sitting. They quickly stood up and dashed. I tackled Irish onto the ground but Levy managed to flee.

“Do not try to escape now, Irish. You know you can’t,” I warned as I pulled her up and dragged her towards the nearest entrance, Gate 3. I presented my ID to the security and we entered the university.

I brought her to the Campus Police Station and Chief Velasquez made her sit in one of the rooms. I passed by his desk to take the white folder I left and followed. “This is quite small for an Interrogation Room, isn’t it, Chief?” I asked, noticing the size of the room.

“We only use this for those students who cannot be handled by the Discipline Committee and the other is for the personnel who violate the university’s rules. The space of the station is enough for all security to fit without crowding, so we didn’t request for expansion,” he answered.

“Ah, right. The Committee only handles students,” I commented and took the seat in front of Irish. “Anyway, Chief, would you please leave?”

Chief Velasquez gave me a why-should-I-do-that look. I rolled my eyes and told him, “Just leave, Chief.”

I slammed my hand and the white folder on the table as soon as Chief Velasquez closed the door behind him. I opened it and showed her the piece of bond paper. “Now… Who is Indigo?”

“I don’t know,” she answered, glaring at me.

“Who is Indigo?” I repeated.

“I said, I don’t know.”

I moved my face in front of her, locked eyes, and asked. “Are you really gonna keep quiet?”

“Yes.”

“Answer me while I’m still asking nicely. Who is Indigo?”

“I have no idea, really!”

I tilted my head upwards and walked around the room while laughing quietly in amusement. This Indigo!

I stopped beside her and leaned in her ear. “I know that you’re White; I know that Levy is Black. Are you really not gonna speak about Indigo?” I slid my hand in my pocket and then sat back on the chair.

“I don’t have anything to say because we have no idea of who he is!”

“Indigo’s a man, you said ‘he’. Thank you,” I grinned for a second then back to a serious face. “Why are you doing criminal business with him?”

She lowered her head, “I just needed money, that’s all.”

“He pays you to do his dirty work, is that it?” I asked, getting interested.

“Yes, but the theft today is my idea! He’s not in on it,” she answered, obviously defending the man.

I smirked. “You are answering questions related to you but keep quiet about Indigo. Does he possess any information or things against you? You know that I can help you retrieve those, but only if that’s the case.”

“Chief?” A familiar voice called from the outside. I opened the door and tilted my head out. “Hey there, Major Vargas. Oh, I see you’ve got Janden.”

“Is that Irish?” He asked, looking at the two-way mirror of the Interrogation Room. He was standing by the station’s entrance with our pale classmate.

“Yes. Anyway, put a blanket on him. It helps with the shock,” I said, eyeing the blankets hanging on the wall-mounted garments rack. He nodded and took one, and I went back to Irish.

“A classmate of ours, Janden Vher, was abducted earlier and I suppose it is to divert my attention so you and Levy could flee. You both anticipated that once Luke Vargas received the call, he will approach me. And he did,” I stated then leaned forward, my arms flat on the table and my hands clasped. “Now, tell me, who abducted Janden?”

“I don’t know,” she answered. “I swear, I’m telling the truth!”

I snickered.  “Hmm, do you really?” I asked, staring straight into her hazel eyes. After a few moments of us in that position, I leaned back on the chair and sighed. “You’re not lying,” I said in dissatisfaction. “Why are you not lying? Argh!”

Why is she not lying now? Something happened. What is that factor that made Irish speak the truth? Ugh, I don’t understand!

Two knocks were heard on the door. It opened and revealed the Major. “Detective, you might wanna come with me. Janden is going to start describing his abductor to the Chief.”

I stayed still for a brief moment then replied, “I’ll follow,” and he closed the door.

I laughed, “Oh my… I’m such an idiot! How could I be so blind?”

In Levy’s text, he said that Irish doesn’t care about education and just wanted to see her crush. I didn’t note it because I thought it was insignificant!

“What are you up to?” Irish asked, showing utter puzzlement.

I slammed my hand on the table. “You should never let it rule your head,” I smirked.

“Let what rule?”

“Your heart.”

She blinked a few times, “E-Excuse me?”

“I’ll leave you now, but shortly you will be questioned more,” I announced as I stood up and pushed the chair under.

“By who?” She asked, her shoulders tightening.

I taunted, “Oh, don’t be tensed. You don’t need to prepare any more lies. I doubt he likes liars.” Then I left her in the room, unmoving.

“Major, do the interrogation with Irish. There’s a file in the folder; you can start with the information there,” I instructed. He was about to ask when I immediately answered, “Exchange roles. She doesn’t speak the truth with me, but she might if it’s you.”

“How could you know that?”

“She likes you, obviously. When you entered the station and I greeted you, she began to stop lying. Probably, she heard me speak your name. When you showed yourself in that room, she gulped and sat upright. Her muscles also tensed and her pupils—my, my, they fascinatingly dilated!” I cried.

“But you were looking at me—”

I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes, “Peripheral vision, Major Vargas!” I paused for a moment, observing if he will react but there was none. “What’s it like to have a brain like yours? I wonder how relaxing must it be to have such," I added then turned my back on him.

“That is such an insulting remark, Hibara!” He snapped unexpectedly which gave me a blow.

I turned and stared at his eyes that held the color of the earth. They were speaking volumes that I couldn’t comprehend. “… Not good?” I asked.

“Yes, not good! I admit, I am amazed by your intelligence, but you clearly got your father’s unpleasant attitude,” he stated.

“My fa— How did you…? Oh, wait. Of course, someone must have told you. Who?”

“Janden’s abductor told me,” he replied. “He was wearing a mask when we met, so Janden is doing the describing because he isn’t wearing any when he took him.”

“He’s dumb, then,” I commented and his eyebrows furrowed. “The abductor,” I added for clarification then walked towards Chief Velasquez’ desk.

“Chief, what do we have here?” I asked.

“I was just about to ask for other features. His descriptions could fit anyone,” he answered and handed me his notepad.

“Seriously, Janden? Taller than you, bulky, and brown eyes?” I asked in disbelief.

“Sorry, it happened fast! I can’t clearly remember,” he answered and lowered his head.

I held both his shoulders which made him look at me. I stared at his green eyes and spoke, “There must be more than that. The human brain is funny, you cannot know what it knows or not. Close your eyes and think! Try to recall; you saw something more, something specific, something helpful.”

“He… He’s got gray-colored hair?” He said, quite unsure.

“Gray-colored, you said gray-colored. What are his hair roots?”

“I think it’s brown?”

“Anything different from the common people? Like jewelry or something.”

“He’s got one black earring. Left side?”

“Good, good,” I smiled. “Chief, are you taking notes of these?” I asked and he nodded. “What else?” I returned to Janden.

“His fingers are quite long… and he’s got a mole on his right thumb? Was it thumb or index?” He opened his eyes and gave me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, really. I can’t remember anything more,” he said.

“That’s alright. Although the average human memory on visual matters is only sixty-two percent accurate, we can get a lead with the information you gave, thanks,” I grinned widely for a good second and then turned to Chief Velasquez. “Chief, I believe you may now conduct your search for his abductor,” and walked back to the IR.

I watched the Major interrogate Irish through the two-way mirror and I could hear them using the small wireless speaker detachable from the wall. If it’s attached, nothing can be heard. I placed the speaker near my ear and I began listening.

Irish: “—think she had found where I kept them.”

Luke: “Okay, I believe those had been returned to their owners. Now, Irish, please tell me, when did all of this start?”

Irish: “Since last year when our textile business had gone beyond reach. We had nothing to use for the university. I knew then that I had to do something.”

Luke: “Why this? Why do crimes?”

Irish: “They approached me, said that if I join them, I can save my family from the loss. And so, I did. I was given the codename, White. It’s the codename for the females in the business.”

Luke: “L-Black here is?”

Irish: “Levy, our classmate.”

Luke: “Did you recruit him, or was he there before you?”

Irish: “He was already part of them before I joined.”

Luke: “So, they name the males as Black and the females as White.”

Irish: “Yes. But Levy and I’s boss is Indigo.”

Luke: “Right. It’s here in the file; you have called him twice. His number is untraceable.”

Irish: “We never knew who he is. We do our transactions through phone calls. In the masquerade ball, that’s when we’re supposed to meet him personally for the first time.”

Luke: “How many people are attending this masquerade ball?”

Irish: “There are 7 Whites and 10 Blacks.”

Luke: “Wait, there’s something… You said you and Levy’s boss is Indigo. Are there other bosses with their own Blacks and Whites?”

Irish: “I don’t know who the other bosses are, but being part of the minions, we can meet with other Blacks and Whites. Once, I was chatting with two Whites, they said their boss is a female and they call her V.”

Luke: “Did these two meet this V?”

Irish: “No, they didn’t. The bosses keep their identities secret.”

I re-attached the wireless speaker on the wall and knocked on the door. Both are looking at me when I entered. “Chief Velasquez and some of his men have left to search for Janden’s abductor. I managed to make him recall some essential details. Do you have something here, Major?”

“I, uh… I have just finished?” He hesitantly answered as he stood from the chair.

“May I?” I asked, gesturing at the now vacant seat. He just stared at me with his what-on-earth-is-happening look.

“Stop staring. May I?” I repeated and he blinked a few times before nodding. I sat on the chair and he stood at the side.

I clasped both of my hands and placed them on top of the table. I leaned forward, “Can you now describe Indigo?”

“N-No, but I could recognize him when I hear his voice.”

“When is the ball?” Both she and the Major gave me a confused face.

“Tomorrow at seven in the evening,” she answered, still showing confusion on how I knew about it.

I raised the white masquerade ball invitation card and her eyes widened; the Major’s mouth formed an ‘ah’. “Would you mind if I keep this?”

She reached for her pocket and pulled out only the fabric. She stared at me and asked, “H-How? When?”

“Remember when I leaned down to your ear?” I smirked. “You can’t be the only thief here, White.”

“I didn’t feel anything at all!” She exclaimed, showing slight amusement.

“If I have this card, could I attend the ball as you?”

She nodded. “If you manage to get Levy’s invitation, then, both of you can attend. His card is colored black.”

“Ah, it’s color-coded,” he commented and I agreed.

I stood up and held my hand out for a shake. “Thank you for your cooperation.”

She accepted the gesture and smiled. “If you can get me out, you two will be my heroes.”

I shrugged my shoulders and tilted my head to the side. “Hmm, I don’t know about me. I don’t believe in heroes; they don’t exist. But if they did, well, maybe he can be one of them.” I winked at her and left the Interrogation Room. Major Vargas followed soon after.

“The Lock Picked Locker case is now closed, but a new one has opened. I think I will be busy,” I happily stated as we walked out of the Campus Police Station.

“May I name it?” He asked which made me stop in my tracks.

I faced him and replied, “Why would you? It’s my case; I name it.”

“No, it’s our case. I am already involved. I want to see this through.”

“Okay, fine. What’s the name?”

He smiled, “Black and White Mystery.”