CHAPTER TWO

 CHAPTER TWO: THE FIRST CASE SOLVED

"Hmm... Are you sure Johnny just slipped on the wet floor, Inspector? I mean, according to my observations, there must be some sort of a more complicated murder incident," Vanessa asked Inspector Smith.

"I know, Garcia. I just told them about that so that I can find another lead to this murder case," the Inspector replied. "Actually, I don't want to make the students panic. Especially now that there are many murder things happening here in our city!"

"Well, it's really a threat to students here," Vanessa sighed.

"Inspector!" one of the police officers called. "The analysts says that there were strange markings on the boy's neck," he added.

Thinking about the same thing, Inspector Smith snapped his finger and said, "I knew it! The murderer might be one of the students or one of the school staffs!"

"Joe, what else have you found out?" Vanessa asked the police.

 

Meanwhile, at the other side of the room, Raine was still confused. Her head being haunted by the murder case. Even though she's attending her favorite subject, her mind was focused on the incident.

"Uh, Cedrick, what's the name of that girl who died at the girl's bathroom four years ago?" Raine whispered to her friend.

 

"I..." he replied. Seeming to be confused by what she's saying.

"Hmm... I heard that it's Dianne. Yeah! It was Dianne Francisco,"Cedrick's twin brother, Simon, replied.

Eurika! I knew it! she thought, snapping her finger.

From their room, Raine can clearly hear what the cops where talking about for the reason that their room is just above the principal's office.

"The time of death is just a few hours ago. The cause of death is really bumping his head hard," the police officer reported.

"I knew it," Vanessa asked.

"... but also because of choking," Joe added.

"Since I don't want the students to panic, like I said before, we just have to go to each teachers and put them in further interrogation," Inspector Smith spoke.

They walked around the school in order to find leads that is very important in solving the murder case.

After a while, they reached Raine's room upstairs.

"Professor Claire, can we please talk to you for a while?" Inspector Smith asked.

Professor Claire went out of the room. There she was interrogated by the police. However, for the reason that the students were a little bit naughty, they secretly peaked through the window and listened to what the police were talking about.

"Based on your testimonies, I admit that you might all be saying the truth," said the Inspector, "The only person I doubt the most is Cassandra Collins who was the first one who saw the victim."

The police inspected Professor Collins's belonging at the faculty room until they finally saw a necklace inside her bag. The forensic analysts took it and made further investigations.

That was the time they realized that it was the murder weapon.

"Cassandra Collins, you're under arrest," said the police officers.

"N-No! I'm not the k-killer! That necklace is not mine!" Professor Collins insisted in her shivering voice.

The police were about to put handcuffs on her when Raine realized that it was the right time for her to tell them her own discovery.

"Wait!" she shouted, "Professor, do you have a sister that studied here before?"

Claire's eyes widened at the time she heard those words.

"Is her name Dianne Francisco?"

"Excuse me, Raine, but this case is closed," Professor Gomez reminded.

"Raine!" Vanessa shouted. Trying to reprimand her niece.

"Ma'am Claire, you know everything about this case, right?" Raine asked.

"What are you saying? I was at the cafeteria when the crime happened. And by the way, Inspector Close said that Cassandra did it!" Professor Claire insisted.

"Enough, Raine!" Vanessa added in a little louder voice.

"But how did you know that Johnny always bullies Erica because of her physical appearance?" Raine asked. "Auntie, have you forgetten about that necklace?!"

"Raine, stop it!!!" 

Hearing Vanessa shouting caught the attentions of the students around them. They immediately went out from their room. Curious about what happened.

For the first time ever, Raine felt humiliated in front of many people staring at her even though she only wants to help.

 

She was ready to came back to her room when Professor Claire spoke.

"Yes, you're right!" she spoke. Tears began to fall down towards her cheeks, "I'm the one who killed Johnny!"

"Wait, what?" her fellow professors asked in unison.

Professor Claire stated everything that happened.

-----

Everything was planned.

“... and lastly, I'll just have a sandwich,” said Ms. Gomez spoke.

“One sandwich it is!” I spoke.

“Got everything, Claire?” asked Mr. Wood.

“Yep!” I replied. “Now just wait here and I'll get your order.”

When I said that I'll give you free snacks, I didn't actually went to the counter instead I went to the teacher's comfort room where I locked up Johnny.

“Hey, Mr. Rutherford. Having a great day?” I asked.

“Uh... May I ask why would you bring me here?” Johnny demanded.

“Oh, I thought you'll never ask!”

I looked at him and gave him a devilish smile. I quickly pulled out my necklace and began to lock the door.

“Uh... What are you planning to do?” he swallowed.

“It's time to say goodbye!”

“Stay away from me! Stay back!” he took off his bag and tried to distract me by throwing the things inside it.

He tried to walk towards the door and tried to open it but he failed. I used the necklace to choke him but he tried to fight. Because of that, he accidentally turned a faucet on.

“H-Help!” he shouted while gasping for air.

“This is for my sister!”

He tried to remove the necklace and he succeeded. But due to the water scattered on the floor, he slipped and died.

Before I came back to the cafeteria, I came to the faculty room secretly and hurriedly put my necklace in Professor Gomez's bag. But because I'm in haste, I didn't realized that it was really Ms. Collin's handbag.

“Here's your order!” I spoke as I gave my co-teachers their requested orders.

Finally, I took my revenge! He's evil and he deserves it. Dianne would not die if that boy didn't bully her.

Everyday, Dianne comes home teary-eyed.

“Dianne, what happened? Why do you have scratches? And what happened to your hair?” I asked my younger sister.

Sticky bubblegums can be seen on her hair and there were bruises all over her body.

Dianne doesn't want to cut off her hair and that's why she chose to feel the pain of removing the gums.

“Tell me, Dianne, who did this to you?”

“It's... It's my classmate, Johnny Rutherford,” Dianne replied teary-eyed.

From that moment on, I studied everything about that stupid jerk.

He kept on doing bad and crucial things to Dianna. Even though I reported him to the headmaster and he's been suspended, he kept on being what he is!

Well, he's been suspended for five days but then when he continued again, the school said that I have no evidence that he is the one who pushed Dianne into the mud.

Before they could even graduate in middle school, I received a news that Dianne died in the school's storage room because of  the lack of air to breath.

Because of that I waited many years until I finally became one of the teachers here. Through that I can take revenge for Dianne's death by myself. I really believe that it was Johnny to locked up Dianne there until she died.

Because almost all of the recent careless school faculty already retired, all was left was Professor Gomez. It's just too bad that my work didn't work!

-----

"Ma'am Claire Francisco, you are under arrest because of murdering a student," Inspector Smith spoke. Putting the handcuffs to Claire.

"Erika, I finally avenged your best friend," said the professor.

Erika suddenly bursted into tears. Confused about the reason why her teacher did such a thing. “But it was just an accident...” she whispered to herself.

“I'm contented now. You may now bring me with you to the police station, Inspector,” Professor Claire spoke with a radiant smile drawn on her face.

"How did you-?" Vanessa asked Raine curiously.

"I think it runs with the family!" she replied. Showing off a big bright smile to her aunt.

That was the time when her journey began towards the justice she's seeking.