Nova stared at the file reports on her desk for a long time. She had them neatly laid in front of her, with a cup of tea by her side. She sighed and finally slumped on her fluffy pink chair, as colored as her pink hair.
"This doesn't make sense! I can't really find any similarities between the victims --- well, they're women, that's a given fact. But if I can't find a pattern fast, we'll know who the next target of Heartless Killer? Gosh! "
Nova just heard the door of her room open. She can almost imagine Nirvana frowning at her, "Ate, are you talking to yourself again? All right, I'll tell mama you're going crazy."
Nova turned to the younger sister and gave her a sweet smile, "Try it. Go ahead, I won't serve you ice cream on Sunday."
When the seven -year -old heard the 'ice cream' it automatically smiled and ran towards Nova. Nirvana hugged her older sister and kissed her cheek. "Just a joke, sister! You're really beautiful! You're free, aren't you?"
Nova just laughed at her sister's request. 'Sometimes really, other people's counterparts are free,' he thought and closed the door as the brother left. She sighed and stretched out on the bed. 'I need a beauty rest! 'This' case is exhausting.
In those moments, he suddenly remembered his partner.
Nova frowned even more and angrily threw the pillow against the wall.
"That idiot even caught me! Eastwood's greatest detective? Oh, please! Maybe whoever wrote that article just laughed! Argh!"
She buried her face in the nearest pillow and screamed. This case is already stressful, her partner is even more stressful. Briannova Carlos can totally do this alone! She didn't need that man's help. Speaking of which ... "What could have happened to the gunman earlier?"
Something clicked in her head.
Nova sat up and started typing something on her pink cellphone. 'Why haven't I thought about this earlier? Once I meet the gunman, I can trace who ordered him! ' Nova knew that it wasn't just a coincidence that someone wanted to kill them. HK probably heard that they were in the case so it took his staff!
This can be their lead to catch that psycopath!
Nova's eyes narrowed at the information on her screen. After that, he tried to contact the SHADOW laboratory to get the analysis of the residue of the locust that he almost died earlier. It's a good thing she wore her bulletproof vest. He doesn't really trust anyone anymore. 'Actually, I really wore that because maybe later my partner will think of shooting me.'
Yup. That's Briannova Carlos. Sassy and too careful with everything. She has talent! He must be Eastwood's "greatest" detective!
Setting that bitterness aside, something suddenly happened to him. HELP asked for their help and they themselves set up their meeting with Nico.
Only they know about it.
"The Heartless Killer might be a high ranking official to get such inside information. And he probably also knows the law because he's not afraid to break it even if someone is tailing him ..." The possibility chilled her to the bone. "Could he have an accomplice from the Heraldic Eastwood Local Police?"
The possibility scared her. Not far away he had an accomplice in the police. If so, he needs to get the list of all HELP members, all of whom have a possible connection to Cassio.
This case seems even more complicated.
---
M O N D A Y
---
February 25, 2019
DEATH's headquarters, Eastwood
7:12 a.m.
Nico stared at the ceiling. At such times, it is as if his mind is detached from reality. 'It's even more fun than astral projection,' he pondered as he arranged the information in his mental storage cabinet.
'Cassio Gonzales Salvador, born May 15, 1981 in Tondo, Manila; moved to Eastwood in 2000, graduated from Eastwood Central University, became a businessman, married Gwendolyn Alverez on March 2, 2006 ... '
"... then he killed her last April 2008." Nico finishes with a voice in his brain as he stares at the ceiling.
The information was repeated in his brain, like a mantra of a cult ritual. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Her head hurts again. She had almost mastered the man's biography, but she still hadn't been blessed.
"Yuki!"
I think his head will hurt even more.
'Why did uncle accept a' to? ' Nico opened his eyes, Dan's irritated face appeared on him. Upside down.
"Err ... Yuki, why are you lying on the chair?"
Yes, he was lying in the chair, facing the white ceiling of his office. No big deal. Nico, despite his upside-down perspective, glared at him, "Who gave you the right to enter my office? I can sue you for trespassing, Dan." He removed his legs from the overlap and adjusted the seat.
The fellow detective just shrugged, "Did I really say you're going to say that! Here, I'm offering peace. Don't accuse me." At the same time, he puts coffee in front of the person. Nico smirked and grabbed the cup of beloved caffeine.
"Fine."
Dan's smile widened and he sat down in the chair opposite him. It has already started gossiping about the events last night at their partner Sasha's party. All the while, Nico blocked his voice while leisurely taking a sip out of the delicious cup of coffee. Doesn't this one run out of things to say? I think Dan's name should be in the Guinness 'Book of World Records.'
Nico had already halved his coffee when Dan changed the topic, "You're lucky that your case is interesting! I had to endure handling a boring robbery case yesterday. I wish there were corpses for more exciting!"
Nico smiled. Maybe they're crazy detectives. Is it still humane to find devastating cases a source of entertainment? "And what will you do if you find a corpse?"
Dan puffed out his chest, "Why, I'm not going to use my detective skills to make a criminal profile right away! I'll look for things like bruises, wounds, dirt under the victim's nails, livor mortis ---"
"Do you know what livor mortis is?"
For the first time since it entered Nico's office, Dan stopped speaking. He smiled nervously, obviously not sure what to answer, "Those are like bruises on the body, right? Just like that!"
Nico leaned back in his chair. It looks like he will still be a part-time teacher of these. Tsk.
"The suggillation or better known as 'livor mortis' is among the four signs of death. If we translate from Latin, 'livor mortis' means 'bluish color of death'. If you look at it on a corpse , for bruises or discoloration on a particular part of the body.Livor mortis occurs when a person's blood settles or descends into the body of a dead person.When a person dies, since there is no more blood circulation , his blood tends to be pulled down by gravity. As a result, the skin around that area is discolored, having a bluish purple color. "
"Ah! Can the livor mortis be seen in the lower part of the body? It's like your blood is dripping!" Dan asks like a child.
Nico nodded, "Yes. Livor mortis happens 20 to 30 minutes after a person's death, but we only see its marks after two hours. To our detectives, livor mortis is a big help in knowing what position the victim died in. For example, if the victim dies lying down, we can find the livor mortis on the back, back of his thighs, and legs --- where his body touches the ground.If our victim is hanging, we can see livor mortis on foot. "
That's basically the rule of livor mortis --- whatever part of the corpse's body is applied to the ground or closer to the ground, that's where you'll find him. Gravity acts as its determining force. Sometimes a detective can predict in what position the victim died based on where traces of his livor mortis can be seen on the body.
Dan nodded, obviously amazed. "You're really good, Yuki! That's why I idolize you."
"'Don't call me' Yuki '."
"All right, just 'idol'!"
"I don't. I'm not a cheesedog."
Dan laughed and started blabbering on again.
Nico just sighed and began to sort out the paperwork that his beloved uncle, the CEO of their company, was asking him to do. 'Why is he always bothering me?'
At that moment, his cellphone suddenly rang. He was frustrated with the caller ID. It looks like Inspector Ortega needs them again.
---
Eastwood Heights
8:00 a.m.
Inspector Ortega didn't even have to text the address --- Nico had already memorized it from first glance yesterday. When he got to the house pointed out by the paper left by the Heartless Killer, he immediately found Nova.
"Have you seen it?"
The female detective spun around and arched an eyebrow at him. Her pink hair was still messy, she was obviously in a hurry when she was called to come here. "If you're referring to the victim's head then, unfortunately, yes."
Nico nodded to their cop. They went to the spot where the head of the woman identified as Bonnie Javier was excavated. They arrived at the garden where some personnel were busy taking pictures. Nico's eyes found the poor woman's head.
'Eyes open, lips sealed with duck tape, dried blood covering the skin,' the young man breathed deeply, "Yup. Definitely a work of someone who's out of his mind."
Her partner averted her eyes. "But what about Heartless Killer's trip? It's hard to believe that he beheaded a woman, buried her in a garden and then left an address for us to find. What's he playing at?"
"Maybe he just wants us to go treasure hunting."
Nova's gaze deepened on him. "You're an asshole."
"I'm a detective," Nico calmly replied and peered at the mansion behind them. What does the killer want to convey to them? "Is there any information about the people who live here?"
Nova shook her head, "Inspector Ortega said, they went to this place very early in the morning. Only a housemate opened the gate. Their boss allegedly left. They had to deal with legal affairs first before investigating the area. When they couldn't find anything inside the house, they decided to dig the yard. A police officer noticed the irregularity of the lawn. " Nico's eyes widened at the pit.
How Cassio Salvador was able to plant his victim's head there, Nico doesn't want to know anymore.
"I don't think he chose this house randomly. It's also a few streets away from the victim's house."
"I thought so, too. I should go check on the police. They're already interviewing the maid." And Nova left the crime scene, passing by several cordons. Nico breathed a sigh of relief when the girl disappeared.
He is better able to think on his own.
"Tsk. Clearly, our killer is a little more creative than I give him credit for," he whispered to himself and took a walk in the yard. He saw some plastic cups and junkfood skin scattered. These are new.
"Looks like I don't have any evidence here yet."
Nico was about to return to the crime scene when he saw it on the ground. His eyes narrowed, a smirk pulling up his lips. 'What in the name of Sherlock is this doing here?' He pulled out his smartphone and took a picture of what was seen.
He has a strong suspicion that Cassio Salvador, the "Heartless Killer", left it.
'I still thought he was careful in what he was doing.'
Moments later, Nico joined Inspector Ortega and Nova. They were accompanied by an elderly woman as well. He didn't need to be a genius to figure out that she was the maid they were talking about. It was a big give-away that he was wearing his uniform.
The young man muttered as he approached them, "Have you got anything to ask or do we still need to hire a lawyer? I bet those stupid attorneys are always happy to assist us in the name of justice and money."
Inspector Ortega was about to answer when a deep voice rang out behind Nico.
"Unfortunately, this attorney is not happy to assist your foolishness, detective. Especially since you seem to have a plan to destroy all legal concerns with what you are doing now."
Nico immediately turned around and frowned at the newcomer. "Who are you then?"
The man held out his hand, he was still wearing a formal dress and his gaze was sharp on her. His sharp eyes are a lovely contrast to his calm composure.
"Attorney Lelouch San Andres --- the district attorney of the Eastwood police and the owner of this house."
---
Since yesterday, Neilson Tolentino has been the caretaker. He looked around several times, fearing that the police might suddenly appear and arrest him. It's not like him to be paranoid, but he couldn't help it! It's not like him to accept such dirty jobs as well.
"There's nothing I can do. My neck is already tied," he silently reminded himself again.
He no longer cared about the noise around him. He took a deep breath and set aside the edible pancake. The woman at the counter stared at him.
He has lost his appetite.
The gun suddenly felt ten times heavier inside his jacket.
When his cellphone rang, he immediately answered the call, his fingers trembling. "H-Hello?"
"You've failed me the first time."
He was slightly tinned in its voice. Deep and eerie. How could this man be so intimidating over a phone call?
Neilson looked away again and lowered his voice, "I-I didn't know they were armed! I shot the woman, but she was wearing a bullet-proof vest ---"
"I don't care about your reasons. We have a slight change of plans. This time, if you fail me, you will follow him."
Neilson was speechless. His hands were still shaking as he listened to the man on the other line. He can no longer remember how he got into this situation. All he knew now was that he could no longer escape.
'Damn this heartless man,' he thought.
---