Chapter 002: The Pawn (1)
The Corizon Detective Agency is in chaos. The file that states about the Duke Eric of Crux Family were wasted. Evidence of fraud and slavery has been wiped out because of the mere accident. The house of the Crux family has accidentally burnt minutes ago of the accident. The report says that Count Ezekiel, son of Duke Eric Crux, has been threatened by Company A because of the frauds caused by the Duke.
Company A is known as the third biggest company in the kingdom. It produces kitchen tools and types of equipment that are helpful to the people, especially for the nobles. Though these few years, the Company A experienced gradually dropped down but it still holding on.
The Count of Crux Family, Ezekiel, filed a case against company A for threatening and murdering, the money that the Duke fraud believed that it has nothing to do with him. During times at the mansion of Crux, Count Ezekiel was there that time waiting for the Duke. Maids and other employees were killed by the fire. Only a few guards and Count Ezekiel survived.
The incident denies by company A. Since Friel has nothing to do with the case now, he just locked himself on the CDA Office 5 where his team works at. The furious face caught by the team made them feel shivers and chills. They didn't expect that the plan will go wrong. They already prepared the files that will point out against the duke but all of the sudden, it has been wasted with just one accident causing the case to be dropped out.
Friel convinced the detective director even though the culprit died, but he still got denied saying it's just a waste of time even it's proven that the duke was guilty. Garin who just fixing his computer nonchalantly didn't feel the stab of eyes of their one member who wants to give a signal to calm Friel down.
"Psst! Garin!" Mara called. She's shivering from the cold and darkness of eyes emitting by Friel. She can't handle it anymore because she knew how the temper of Count Friel works. "Garin~!"
Mara, 26, is the secretary and the only woman on the team. She often stays at the quarters to file, craft, and arrange some papers that are needed in any case. She's the one who talks with the complainants and seeks approval from the director. In short, she's the spokesperson of the group. Her work of her is all circled on papers and talks. She doesn't go whenever Friel plotting something but stays in the office waiting for their success.
Still, Garin keeps ignoring her. He puts on the headphone and continues doing his thing. Mara really can't handle it anymore, she sighed and was about to stand up when the loud bang echoed in the four corners of the room. She held his chest-beating so fast as she was startled.
"Friel." The man who entered called.
He is Yuno, 24 years old, an information seeker. He can easily get information from different places. He can get access to the information in just a snap. He's also good at seeking evidence that will help in every case he works in. To the 4-team members of office 5, Yuno considers as the youngest and smartest member. Though, he's so lazy to work. If he doesn't want to help, then he will not. He's typically the one who works because of fun. If the case is boring then expect him to ignore and pass it.
"I'm busy, don't talk to me." Friel sulked, leaning at the table, using his arms as his pillow.
Yuno's eyes narrowed down to him, "Is that your definition of 'busy'? Don't just sleep there with that face of yours! Guess what I brought?"
"I'm not a fortune-teller, so don't ask me," Friel responded with his husky voice.
"What the!? Are you dying just because of one case?" Yuno clicked his tongue while shaking his head. "I just discovered something that will be fun so I came rushing here, but to see you in that state? It's beyond fun! Their Count seems to be good at sulking."
"Can you shut the fuck up–"
"Eh eh eh!" Yuno cut Friel off. He showed a black folder of Infos and one transparent zip plastic containing a luxury pen. "Can you listen to what am I going to say, Count?"
Friel just stared at the folder blankly, after minutes of silence, he finally took it and opened it as he browse through the pages. Garin and Mara can't help but be curious so they stood up from their seats and went towards them. Yuno started to explain the details inside the black folder and the connection of the thing inside the ziplock plastic.
"As you order two days ago, I changed my direction to the right corresponding to the end after passing thru Fifth street. I was supposed to wait for the Duke's carriage but as soon as I went there, the carriage already crashed into a tree leaving the Duke and the driver's dead bodies. I was curious about what happened so before you arrived, I checked the place of the incident. I collected evidence before the Special Crime Force operation held."
Yuno put down the plastic with a pen. "I saw this outside the carriage as if it was thrown before the carriage crashed. It is suspicious since it's a luxury pen and as if it was newly bought... But what surprised me is not the pen itself but the sign on its body. It was like a black serpent rolled in a sword."
"What about this mark?" Friel raised his brows asking for more info.
"Heh. So impatient." Yuno mumbled. He sat to the nearest chair before he continued to speak. "As I am also investigating the Crux Mansion fire incident yesterday, I also visit the victims' corpses. Take a look at the black folder. There's a picture and information of a corpse there."
Friel turn the pages and stop on the only information of the victim Yuno was talking about. Brenda Antonio, 25 of age, Female, five years working as a maid in Crux Family Mansion, Former Adele Salon's Prostitute. This information widened up by Yuno.
Brenda Antonio was an orphan in Adele's Orphanage wherein the affiliated, Adele Salon, choose children with beauty and promoted them on their business with the benefits to living and eating. The kids that has been chosen were able to eat three times a day and have their room. But as soon as the kids turn ten years old, they will undergo training. The training is for doing and understanding the act of prostitution.
Brenda began to work in the salon at the age of fifteen and was rented by the highest amount in the history that year. But after half a year, he was abandoned by the rich benefactor leaving her in multiple clients aligned. As she turned eighteen, that's where Duke Eric Crux rented Brenda. He was her benefactor for years that even some nobles can't linger their hands to her. Because of the possessiveness and obsession of the Duke towards her, he has no choice but to buy Brenda to get out of the Salon. As soon as she was sold, she lives in Crux's mansion together with other slaves that the Duke purchased.
The rumors spread around the mansion saying that the Duke favors Brenda more than any other. It reached the ears of the Count and not too long ago, he came back on the mansion. The relationship between the son and father wasn't that sour but civil. Though, doesn't that mean that there's no inferiority takes place?
The autopsy of the victim, Brenda, might have a clue to the incident. Brenda was pregnant approximately two to four days ago before the incident but got aborted. This information can be used to the Duke if the unborn child was the new son of the Crux Family, either can also be a shred of evidence for suspicion on Count Ezekiel's part.
But what Friel frowned, even more, is the picture of the autopsy of the victim. There's a mark on the victim's wrist similar to the mark on the pen. Friel compared the two and he began to conclude that this incident isn't just an accident but a setup.
"Hmm... it's the same." Friel murmured.
"Exactly!" Yuno agreed.
"But, what about the mark? What is it about?" Garin asked.
"Wait! I feel like I saw that mark somewhere but I can't remember." Mara said with confusion. "Maybe it's an organization? Like terrorist or what?"
"Uh-huh. Maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong." Yuno interrupted their thinking.
"Anyway, I'm sure you already move to find out what's with this mark?" Friel expected.
"Yes, please refer to the next page." Yuno instructed as he slid his glasses align to his eyes. "Before you become the detective leader of the team, the former leader, Detective Henry assigned to shift on the Garner Kingdom with the case of an underground organization called XM."
Count Friel studied law and after three years, he work in Corizon Detective Agency with the help of his brother's connection thus he works at the same time he was studying. Before Friel works on CDA, Detective Henry of office 5 who was teamed with Yuno and Mara, who were also new on their job, got assigned to a special and confidential case. The case isn't only a hindrance to one kingdom but the whole continent. And Henry was known as one of the best detectives so the Garner Kingdom hired him.
Henry admitted to the team with the best crime investigation and spies. Yuno and Mara at that time were left in the Corizon Kingdom to monitor and to find clues for XM and other crimes-related. The Garner Kingdom's Prime Investigation form a team called Behemoth wherein Henry joined. The Prime Organization is the biggest crime Investigation for the whole continent. It is operated by Garner kingdom but runs around every corner of the continent. Only a few nobles knew about the Prime and if they knew, they will surely avoid it.
In the middle of the investigation, different detective agencies stop the operation. Yuno and Mara are also one of them. All the small agencies in different kingdoms let the Behemoth act and investigate, thus, this means that the case is very confidential and must not get out of the nest.
Because of the confidentiality agreement, there are no signs and clues about the operation that the Behemoth did. After months of waiting, Mara and Yuno received the news that all the detectives investigating the XM Organization had been killed with no evidence. Because of this incident, the Garner Kingdom lost a lot of damage. The Prime Organization tried to dig more about the XM organization but it is like they're just digging a stone that can't be broken.
In conclusion, the Prime Organization stop the operation regarding the XM organization and keep it as an unknown matter between the organization. Five years passed, it is still unknown and the Prime doesn't dare anymore to step in.
"So... The Prime Organization is a coward organization." Friel nodded as if it is the only one he understood.
"Ah! Yeah yeah! Now, I remember!" Mara snapped and a lighting bulb popped up in her head. "Five years ago, there is this information that I attained when I am assigned to investigate the small village. I saw that mark in one of the houses out there! If I remember correctly, I talked with someone in that house."
"Then why did you not tell Detective Henry about that mark?" Garin asked eagerly.
"Well, the Behemoth does not give any information about the XM Organization, especially that mark. They just tell us to investigate if a crime happened in here and there." Mara shrugged in explanation.
Yuno seemed bothered by it, so he asked: "Do you have a copy of that investigation of yours in that village?"
"Uhm... I think I need to clean my desk to find it hehe."
The three of them talked briefly about that village, suspicious that it may have a connection in the case. However, Friel Lewis does seem a lot on his mind. He read once again the information about Brenda Antonio. When his eyes darted to the words he believe seemed not to be fit, he sighed.
Who is this rich benefactor?
When does she have the mark? Is it when she was in that benefactor?
Why does the count who was not at home all over years, eagerly come home when he heard about Brenda?
Is the Duke have a connection on that mark?
What is Company A's role in the case?
Who killed Duke Eric?
What is XM organization?
A lot of thoughts strike Friel's mind. He massages his temple and closed his eyes. All of this information is not complete! It only leaves him a lot of vaguely relevant questions. It is like he has been forced to choose a path where he would take. The shortest road to the case will complicate the process or the longest road but not sure if it has an end or what.
Either way, Friel knew one thing. He will cross a bridge without his knowing.
He breathed out and lean his back to the swivel chair giving a loud creak that made the three startled. He looked at Mara and said expressionless, "Conduct a request of interrogation for Count Ezekiel and Company A's President."
Mara nodded right away and was about to say: 'yes, sir' but got cut off by Yuno.
"Count Ezekiel is already in the Investigation Room with the director. The interrogation will be held 30 minutes from now." He looked at his watch. "Seems like you need to convince the director for you to interrogate instead."
"What a long 30 minutes."