As scheduled, Elvery goes to see Khael in a town shed early the next morning. They decided to go to the nearest jeweler's shop. There are a few people there when Elvery came and she does not know who among them is Khael.
Her phone beeps from her pocket. She brings it out and it shows a message from Lila.
Lila >> Elvie, check this link about dad's case. Tell me what you think. https://www.mabsnews.net/maxa-case/0432
Lila << Got it.
Elvery clicks the link Lila has forwarded and it displays a news article on the internet.
She sits down before reading it. The excerpt goes like this:
"The survived victim Lowie Velasco, 41, gave his statement. According to him, he is the construction head and Mr. Smith wants to see him because he would like to discuss some matters in the area. All he could remember is that they were roaming around the site when someone suddenly hit him on the head and he became unconscious. He wasn't able to recall the culprit."
She hasn't finished reading yet when her phone beeps again and shows a message from her elder brother Mav.
Mav >> yow sissy, how's vaca?
Gosh, I missed them, especially him.
Great. A neighbor just died and I nearly put myself on the hands of a possible killer, is exactly what she wants to say but she doesn't want her family to worry. They will surely bring her back home once they hear about the happenings in the neighborhood she is staying. Besides, she already decided to drop her curiosity upon this case. This appointment to the jeweler will be the last, she said to herself.
Mav << I'm fine kuya. I've got some in my bucket list checked already. More to go!
Mav >> aww. you're enjoying! dont wanna go home yet? hehehe
Mav << Kuya, I am only out for 3 weeks.
Mav >> a week is already too long for me
Mav << I'm missing you, bro!
Mav >> i miss you more baby girl!
Mav << There you go again. Baby girl? I'm already a lady, kuya. Stop it.
Mav >> hahaha still my baby girl. please take care of yourself, ok? bye, i love you
Mav << I love you, too.
Elvery giggles before turning the phone to sleep.
Kuya Mav is 21 years old, two years ahead of her. He is taking nursing in college because their parents told him to. He knows how much pressure Elvery is going through but he could only listen to her rants. He can't do anything because their parents always insist that Warrens are doctors. Still, Elvery is very blessed to have Mav as a brother and best friend.
"Hi, Elvery," a man greets and sits beside her.
The man has this dark auburn hair that highlights his slender face. He has this thick brows and lashes that compliments his dark eyes.
"Khael?" she raises her brows in surprise.
"Yup."
"How did you recognize me?" she asks.
"Hmm. Out of the ladies here, you're the one who matches the height and built of the Elvery I met last night."
He brings his mouth near her ears and whispers. "You don't actually look like the impulsive girl who brought herself to a crime scene, encountered a scary man, and got very scared she couldn't run," he teases and he chuckles.
She nudges his arms with her elbow and laughs.
"Then how did you recognize me?" he asks also.
"Your voice," she says, "I'm good at recognizing voices."
Khael smiles and mouths an "oh". He then leads the way to the jeweler's pawnshop. Good thing they go early; they don't have to fall in line and wait for hours.
Elvery hands the necklace chain to the jeweler who introduced herself as Madam Rosa. The elderly woman examines the chain with her magnifying glass and other jewelry apparatuses.
After some time, Madam Rosa spoke. "It's a gold-plated necklace," she announces.
Khael and Elvery nod in response.
"How 'bout this?" Elvery says as she hands the ring to her.
Madam Rosa narrows her eyes as she stares at the ring. For a second, she falls in deep thought.
"This ring..." she says, "it's familiar."
They look at her in confusion.
"Wait," she says and immediately runs the ring through an apparatus.
"This is it, really!" she exclaims.
"What do you mean, Madam?" Khael asks.
"This is the same ring I checked a few days ago." she says, "This is a 22-carat gold ring."
She holds the ring closer to Elvery and Khael. "And that little diamond there," she says, "it's real."
Elvery and Khael look at each other as they gape with astonishment.
"Woah."
"Pretty valuable."
Khael leans forward on the desk and asks, "Whose ring is this, Madam?"
The elderly woman shrugs. "They were two men who came here but I don't know their names."
"Don't you have a record?" Elvery asks.
"They didn't sell nor pawn it. They just let me check, that's why recording the names aren't necessary."
Khael bites his lower lip in disappointment.
"But this I'll tell you, kids," Madam Rosa speaks again, "One of those men just came here few minutes before you came. He's asking me if someone has brought this ring here. He says it's lost and he badly needs it back because it has some sentimental value."
Khael's eyes lighten in mixed confusion and interest.
"If you want you can sell this to me so the owner can buy it back," Madam Rosa adds.
Khael looks at Elvery as if asking for her opinion. The latter looks back at him but does not say a thing.
Khael asks for a paper and a pen and Elvery gives the things to him. He writes something on the paper then gives it to Madam Rosa.
"If ever he comes back, just give this to him," he says, "This is my name and contact number."
Madam Rosa nods and they leave the shop. Khael and Elvery start to walk back to the waiting shed.
"Why did you give your contact number?" Elvery asks, "You can just leave the ring to Madam Rosa and be paid thousands."
"I want to know who owns this," he says, "That's worth more than the money."
Elvery smiles. "True. I did not expect you have that kind of principle," she says, "And I see, you're up for your detective work, huh."
"Yeah. I really have a feeling that it has something to do with the case," he says.
"Well, good luck. As for me, It's a good thing that the ring would be brought back to its owner," she says, "but I don't want to butt in in this MaXa case anymore."
He smiles. "I understand."
"I do hope that the killer would be held responsible for your uncle's death," she says.
The man responds with a smile.
"Oh, by the way," Elvery says when they reach the shed, "Have you seen this news already? It might help with your investigation."
She hands her phone to him, showing the report Lila sent her.
They read the article and its continuation goes like this:
"When asked who else was in the site that time, Velasco said that a certain Jeron Lander, a construction worker, was with them but left minutes before the incident."
Elvery and Khael look at each other.
A witness or the killer?