"Just the two of us against the rest of the world."

- Sherlock

-----

Chapter 35:
Riddles in the Dark

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·
RAINE

After that man's call, it felt like my chest was about to explode. His mother had just told me to save him, but I didn't even have the chance to tell the police about her request.

I heard the gunshot before he could finish his call. There's a high chance he didn't survive... just to give me information.

"Raine, what happened?" Ron asked me.

"Are you okay?" Doctor Steven added.

"I..." I held back my emotions and faced them with a smile. "I'm fine. I just need to go to the loo."

"Are you sure?" the doctor asked again.

"Yes. I really need to go," I replied. "If you see the others, please don't tell them what happened."

I went straight out of that room, trying to walk normally. I was halfway down the hallway when I bumped into someone in a neatly wore lab coat.

"Oh, sorry!" she said. When I looked up, I saw my cousin, whose gentle face quickly turned angry when our eyes met.

"Oh, it's just you," she added.

Seriously? She's only nice to other people.

"Yes, it's me," I replied.

"How's my freak cousin? I heard you're back in the hospital, but as a patient this time," she said, clearly trying to annoy me.

"I'm not a patient. I just fainted for a bit," I answered with a fake smile forming on my lips.

"Hmm... I wonder why," she said sarcastically. "Maybe because you spent so much time with your boyfriends last night."

"Sam, now's not the time for your teasing," I said.

"Oh, look!" Her eyes shifted to something behind me just as I heard footsteps. "One of your boyfriends is here now."

"He's not my boyfriend, and I don't even have one!"

"Oh, goodie!" she exclaimed. "Then don't you dare make him one."

"If you want him, you can have him!"

"You're just a weak-"

"Enough!" I cut her off and walked away, heading back to the room to find Zane.

࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

After regrouping, we were ready to search for Ma'am Angelica. Even if I couldn't save her son, we could still save her sister.

I was still holding back tears when Ron's phone rang.

"Who is it?"

"It's Detective Ferrer," he replied. If that's the case, then he already knows what's happening.

"Why? What happened?"

"They've found Ma'am Angelica," Ron replied.

Everything happening is indeed connected. Whoever is behind this is extremely dangerous. They might also be responsible for my parents' disappearance.

"That's right - Angelica Hernandez," Detective Cruz said.

Even though it's highly likely that the third hostage is no longer alive, it's better to be sure.

Luna Residences, Liberty Street. Sent.

"W-What happened there? What-?" Zane asked, looking at my phone.

"Don't expect something big, so you won't be as disappointed if it doesn't happen." There's no certainty in what happened, and I don't want to get my hopes up and end up hurt.

When I laid eyes on Ms. Angelica Hernandez, I gained some information about her.

Probably forty when estimated. Five feet and about three inches. Currently unemployed.

Far-sighted. Sweet. Liar. Widowed. Size 11. Right-handed.

"Did you call her?" the woman asked, her expression now replaced with fear.

"Since earlier, she hasn't been willing to speak," George whispered.

Borderline Personality Disorder.

"Oh, thank goodness!" she exclaimed.

"Your sister mentioned you had something important with you. Is that true?" Detective Cruz asked.

She won't just speak up easily.

"Everyone, let's head outside!" ordered Detective Ferrer.

"What-" Detective Cruz started, reaching for my arm. "Raine!"

I know this is my weakness, but I have to do it. It will take longer if they call a psychologist who still isn't here.

"Shut the door!" I ordered.

"Leave!" Mrs. Angelica shouted.

Just a few hours left. I need to get her journal.

"Ma'am Angelica, am I correct?" I asked as I tried to approach her.

"Who are you?" she replied.

"I notice you seem frightened. What's on your mind right now?" I continued.

"Why are you meddling? You're just like the others. You'll lock me up again and leave me alone!" she answered.

"Ma'am, I'm not a cop, and your sister didn't send me to take you back to that house," I explained.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

I wanted to tell her what was happening, but I couldn't. I needed to find a way to gain her trust, so I collected my emotions and poured them out to her.

"Ma'am, we can help you. I am aware that you know something about the fire, and I'm here to listen," I began, tears starting to well up in my eyes. Thankfully, they stopped before turning into sobs.

"Ma'am, I admit I'm not great at this, but I just want this case resolved," I added. "Someone paid a huge price for your safety, so-"

"This contains everything I know about the fire," she interrupted, sounding more composed. "I wrote everything in there after the fire."

"Ma'am, can the police talk to you now?" I asked.

"Where will they take me?" she wondered.

I noticed her demeanour was somewhat delicate, as if she had moments where she seemed childlike.

"Don't worry. We're just hiding you from your sister," I assured her. "The police are good at that game."

She looked at me and gave me a sweet smile. I've gained her trust now.

She gave me her hand, and I guided her out. I could still sense her fear, but there was also a part of her that trusted me.

"Let's go up here. Let's hurry so she doesn't see you," I said, assisting her as the police escorted us into the van.

"Zane!" I turned towards the coffee shop as I heard Mrs. Nuñez calling my companion.

He came out, possibly having heard what I said earlier. If he thought I was upset and crying, I needed to play it cool and act like everything was alright.

He pulled out his phone from his pocket and checked it. His expression suggested surprise.

"Who is it?" George asked, approaching him.

"No idea," he replied. I approached and saw the number - it was the same as the one that called me.

Why do they use only one number? If I see that phone, I might find their fingerprints.

"Go ahead, talk to him. Let's see," George instructed.

"I want to talk to Lorraine de Verra," said a man on the phone.

He sounded calmer than the deceased man. I didn't want any more innocent lives lost. I wouldn't allow it!

"Who's this?" Zane asked.

I quickly grabbed my phone and opened its recorder.

I stand tall and strong, reaching for the sky,

At night, I catch the moon's gentle eye.

By day, I'm a bustling hive,

With floors and rooms that come alive.

"What am I?"

·−/−·−·/·−·/−−−/···/···//−/····/·//···/−/·−·/·/·/−//·−−/····/·/·−·/·//··−·/·−··/−−−/·−−/·/·−·/···//−···/·−··/−−−/−−−/−−

"One hour!" he added.

"Let's go!" ordered Detective Cruz.

Some had already entered the vehicles when Zane stopped in the middle of walking towards the police.

"Why?" I asked.

"It's your sister," he replied.

࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

After Mrs. Hernandez was escorted to the police station, the colleagues of the two detective inspectors assisted me towards an enclosed room for a meeting.

35 minutes left.

"We got the answer to the riddle, and it's a skyscraper," Detective Cruz said as we stood around a table inside their office.

"What about the Morse code?" one of Sergeant Ferrer's sergeants asked.

"Across the street where flowers bloom," George replied.

"What could this mean?" Sergeant Montreal asked further.

"Must be a flower shop," Ron said, still with us, typing on his computer. "Searching."

"Any other leads?" Detective Cruz asked.

The room filled with excitement and flying questions.

Clues. Tracks. Maps. Identity. Location. Records.

Things continued to pile up as I closed my eyes for any possible explanation I could find.

Skyscraper.

Across the street where flowers bloom. Across. Street. Flowers. Bloom.

I found myself standing in front of the window across the hallway from our apartment. I let my eyes roam, landing on a tall building - above were dormitories, but below, there was a connecting structure.

"The flower shop across from our flat!" I exclaimed as I snapped back to reality.

"Yep, you're right, and we found it together at the same time," Ron beamed.

"The kidnapper deliberately delayed you. It's like a game to them," Detective Cruz added.