Chapter 35: New Target

KIX:

I looked at the face of the suspect. He had a sinister look as he spoke. It was a good-looking face, alright, but it also looked like the face of someone who wouldn’t do anything good at all.

“Ha ha, did you just fell into my trap, man? That’s just a joke,” the man in the hoodie said.

“Oh yeah. I totally fell for it. I didn’t think you were kidding,” the boy in a leather jacket said.

“What man, you think I’d know the killer? If I did, do you think I’ll still be alive like this,” the man named Gary said.

“Y-Yeah… I guess that won’t be good… But why are you asking Bob over there to spike some girl’s drinks? Wouldn’t that be illegal?”

“Nah, man. It’s just for laughs. That girl – she’s been tailing me. I just want to give her a taste of her own medicine. Besides, wouldn’t that be fun for Bob? Perhaps he’ll come to enjoy this party a bit more with a girl in tow…”

I clenched my fist. Jade was right. This Gary – our suspect - has a new target, and he and his gang are going to get her this very night at the ball!

Suddenly, someone emerged from the flap of the tent on their side. “Hey you, the program’s about to start. What are you still doing in there? Come on, let’s practice.”

I looked as the two boys scampered to get into the stage.

“No, no, no, leave your phones in your bags. No phones allowed while playing your instruments, geez,” the person calling them said.

I watched as Gary put his phone reluctantly inside a dark blue knapsack and then left.

When they had been gone a few seconds, I went inside and snatched the knapsack from the table.

There was a student’s ID inside. He was a legitimate student of the Philippine Premier Academy alright.

Gary Eduardo – I swear I won’t ever forget this name, and if he was responsible for Misha’s death, I’ll make him and his accomplice pay double!

I rummaged further inside his bag and obtained his phone. I tried to open it, but there’s a password…

Of course though, when did a password ever stop me from obtaining the information that I wanted?

I started to unclasp the casing of his phone from the back. I had prepared a chip in advance for this situation – a model that is still being developed by one of my affiliate telecommunications company and would be released soon in the market.

One of the perks of being a young and filthy rich CEO was getting access to rare products like this one. I’m so glad Edril make me work even during weekends so that I could ask around for prototype gadgets like this from my researchers.

I smiled after I had installed it. I may not be able to know the contents of the phone yet, but in this way, I’ll be able to track down the whereabouts of this man.

I flipped some more through the pockets of his bag. They were all empty save for one.

When I pulled what was inside, I saw it was only an ordinary calling card.

I was about to put it back when I got curious after reading what was on the card.

“The Red Shoe Curse,” I muttered, dumbfounded. It had the drawing of a single red stiletto in the middle of what looked like intertwined vines that were shaped like a square.

I knit my brow, trying to make sense of what the card was about. There was no other information written on it.

So, what was this ‘red shoe curse’ thing? Was this just a logo, or does it represent something else?

Before I could sort out the information in my head further, my eyes darted to the entrance of the makeshift tent, and that’s when I saw someone approaching.

I put the knapsack away as smoothly and quickly as I could while I slipped the card into the inner folds of my tuxedo.

“Hey you,” an usher shouted, “Are you part of the band? What are you doing here?”

“Um, I was looking for the restroom. I guess I got lost,” I said, trying to look as candid as I could.

“Well, this certainly isn’t the comfort room. Get out of here! This section is off limits to the guests.”

“Uh, okay. I’m so sorry,” I said.

He escorted me all the way outside, and even when I was already far from the tent, he still continued to follow me with his eyes.

“Well, that’s a mission accomplished for me,” I muttered to myself. Thank the Moon Goddess, I got out of there in one piece.

As soon as I was back outside, I remembered what I was originally here for.

“Jade must be starving,” I recalled. I quickly fetched a plate and filled it up with food that Jade liked the most.

I walked back to where I last left Jade, but she wasn’t there.

“Where could she be,” I thought as put down the plate of food I fetched for her.

I thought she probably just went to the bathroom, so I waited. I sat by the seat she was in earlier.

I left her to fend for herself for some time. Should I be concerned?

My nose picked up the faint smell of lavender and baby’s breath, which was definitely Jade’s unique scent. My eyes immediately fell on an almost empty goblet that was left on the table where I had left my mate.

I raised the almost empty glass of sangria to my face. It smelled like Jade, but it didn’t quite smell like her. Did she drink this?

Suddenly, I saw a faded streak of blue emerge from somewhere within the wine.

I peered at the bottom of the goblet. The remaining liquid couldn’t be more than just a tablespoon. I swirled it a bit, and that’s when I quickly saw it.

It was only a faint color of blue – cerulean – just like the pill I saw being handed to the other boy by the one wearing the leather jacket.

When I looked closely at the swirl of blue, I saw a circular fading object with a faint emblem of BB ebbing away with the wine…

Darn it, why didn’t I think of it! That pill could have only been intended for only one person – Jade!