CHAPTER 3: THE ENCOUNTER AND THE CRIME

BELLA’S POV

Ryle is in the police station, so I sped up my car. What did he do this time?

“ Bella, can you slow down? The way you drive fast, we will only end up with accidents or arrests. “ Riri told me nervously.

“ I am not in the over limit yet, so you do not have to worry. “ I calm her down while staying my attention on the road.

“ I know, but you are still driving too fast. I am the one who is being nervous for us. “ Riri complained, so I do not have a choice but to slow down in driving.

After a few minutes, we arrived at the police station. While Riri was looking for a parking space for my car, I quickly walked to the front desk to inquire about where my brother is. It is unbelievable. For the first time, I noticed several upscale cars parked outside a police station. Did they have a tour of the station?

“ Hi, where is Ryle Soriano? “ I asked the officer that is bowing in his desk.

The officer suddenly looked up, then immediately stood up.

“ Salute! “ he politely said, then he raised his hand putting it on his forehead.

We each saluted each other before placing our hands on the ground. I do not understand how the officer came to know that I work for the police.

“ What do you need? “ the officer asked me politely.

“ Someone called me from here stating that my brother is here. Ryle Soriano is his name. “ I answered,

“ Ah, your brother is one of the few youths who rumbled in a bar a while back. He is currently in the interrogation room for his testimony. “ the officer answered and explained to me.

“ Where is it exactly? “ I asked him again.

“ Go straight upstairs to the right side of the second floor, then you will see the interrogation room. “ the officer answered me.

“ All right, thank you. “ I said with gratitude and then turned my back to him.

“ Ah, Miss! “ the officer called me, so I looked at him.

“ Your badge is still visible. You can be a target upstairs if people know that you are the police. “ he said to me. So I took a quick look to see if my badge was somewhere, and sure enough, it was.

“ Thank you, I will go ahead. “ I bid goodbye to the officer after I removed and put my badge in my pocket.

The fact that he recognized my badge was what caused him to be startled and salute me earlier. Maybe I forgot to remove my badge because I am rushing earlier. I immediately went straight to the place where the officer pointed me. I noticed a lot of young men lined up in the waiting area. Some of them have black eyes and fresh blood on their scars. Myghad, what did Ryle enter with? I approached one officer to ask about Ryle.

“ Good evening, I am Detective Soriano. May I know where Ryle Soriano is? " I spoke softly when I questioned the cop, but he still appeared astonished.

“ Sister! “

The officer was ready to answer when someone called me behind my back. I immediately look at him.

“ Ryle! “ I called him with concern.

Ryle immediately approached me and hugged me. However, he received a hit on his head from me after we broke the hug. Ryle catches the portion where I struck him right away.

“ What did you do now? You always make me worry. “ I told him after I put my hand to my side.

“ I am sorry, Sister. But I am the victim here. “ he explained.

“ You are the victim? You do not have any scars or bruises. “ I told him with unbelief.

“ It is because before they could hit me, someone had already helped me. So, I do not have any bruises. “ Ryle gave an explanation that makes me scowl.

“ Who helped you? “ I asked him in curiosity.

“ There he is. My cool brother. “ Ryle said while pointing to a man who was currently talking with an officer.

“ You really called him your cool brother! “ I told Ryle while laughing.

“ Of course, sister. If you saw how he threw punches at those guys who wanted to hurt me, he looked like an action star. “ Ryle told me with a visible amusement in his shining eyes. Tsk, childish.

“ You are really amazed. But we will talk later about how you went to that bar.” He swallows his saliva as a result of what I said with complete authority. If he thought that I forgot what he did, he was wrong.

I approached the officer that was talking with the cool brother Ryle was talking about. Ryle followed me in a quiet manner.

“ Excuse me, is my brother’s case done? “ I asked the officer that seemed surprised about seeing me. I raised my eyebrow, and the person Ryle was talking about was fake a cough.

“ Ah, yes, Miss. He got lucky because he was saved by Sir and his friends. “ The police responded when he came back to reality. I simply nodded in answer, then turned to look at the person who had just saved my brother.

“ Thanks for saving my brother. “ I said gratefully, but I did not hear any response. Arrogant!

“ It is okay, Miss beautiful. “ the man answered me. He came out of nowhere.

“ My name is Andrew. “ he added and put his in front as a gesture of shaking hands.

“ Bella. “ I said then I accept his gesture and we shake our hands.

“ Your name is as beautiful as your face. “ he commented after we let go of each other’s hands.

“ We should get going. I still have work tomorrow morning. “ I said to Andrew and to that arrogant guy.

Andrew just waved his hands while the guy that Ryle is talking about stayed with no emotions. Ryle and I walked away, but before we left the place, I still heard what the officer told that guy.

“ Mr. Christopher Ramirez, you still need to stay here for your testimony on your damaged car.“

Christopher Ramirez? It is a nice name if he is not arrogant. When Ryle and I reached the exit of the police station, we saw Riri waiting for us.

“ Sister Riri! “ Ryle called her and then hugged her. But like what I did a while back, Ryle also received a hit from Riri.

“ You, you should not make your sister worry too much. You make me scared for my life. “ Riri told Ryle. A chuckle came out of my mouth because of the last words Riri said to Ryle.

“ Sorry Sister Riri, Sorry to Sister Bella. “ Ryle said apologetically.

“ It is fine now, but you still need to explain to me what happened when we reached our home. “ I said after I approached them.

“ Yes, sister. “ Ryle answered me politely.

“ All right let’s go. “ I told them.

They both simply nodded, then we hop in the car. After more than thirty minutes, we reached our home. When we entered our house, I went straight to my bed. I will just talk to Ryle tomorrow since I am too tired, and I know that he is too. After a while, I feel sleepy and slept.

>>> ON THE NEXT DAY

I was startled awake when the sun's rays hit my eyes. Argh! What time is it? My eyes widened when I saw that it was already almost seven in the morning. Shocks, my duty in the headquarters starts at eight in the morning. I immediately get the clothes I will wear today. It is a relief that I already prepared it last night. I go straight to the bathroom and take a bath.

After a few minutes, I had finished my morning routine. I ran fast downstairs to reach our garage to get my car.

“ Sister, wait. “ Ryle shouted, so I stopped running.

“ Why? “ I quickly asked him.

He did not answer me. He just approached me and gave me a paper bag.

“ Oh, eat that on the way to the office so that you will be satisfied when you arrive and can work. “ Ryle said while smiling.

“ Woah, are you making up? Thank you, Ryle. I will go ahead. “I said goodbye to him.

“ Take care, sister. I love you. “ Ryle said sweetly, then he hugged me.

“ You study hard. I love you too. “ I reminded Ryle, then I broke our hug.

“ Go ahead, Sister, or you will be late. “ Ryle said to me.

I simply smiled at him and waved my hands. I ran fast towards my car and drove it. Just like what Ryle told me, I ate the packed breakfast he made while I am on my way to headquarters. I am almost near the headquarters when Riri called me.

“ Hello, Riri. Good morning “ I greeted her after I answered her call.

( Where are you? We have a new case to handle. )

“ I am near the headquarters. What is the case? “ I asked Riri

( Do not go to the headquarters anymore. Just go straight to the location that I texted you. The whole team is already here. About the case, it is a murder of a female reporter. ) “ Any lead? “ I asked Riri again.

( Yes, the suspect is here. )

“ Weird, he was not able to escape? “ I asked Riri because of full of curiosity.

( If you think it is weird, you will be shocked by what I will have to say. He just woke up when we arrived here at the crime scene. He is with the dead body, and he still holding the murder weapon. )

“ What? If everything is there already, why should I go there for? “ I asked her again in confusion.

( Simply because the suspect does not want to admit the crime. )

“ What? Never mind! After all, who admitted the crime he did? We will just see each other there. “ I told her, then ended the call.

I drove the car faster until I reached the hotel. When I arrived there, many reporters are outside the vicinity of the hotel. The police officer guarding the lobby escort me to go inside. Then, I went directly to the crime scene.

“ Riri! “ I called Riri when I saw her.

“ Bella! I hope you did not eat your breakfast because the victim was killed brutally and full of passion in anger.

“ Riri tried to warn me, but she was too late because I had already eaten the packed breakfast Ryle made for me.

“ Hey, let go of me. Like I told you, I did not kill that girl. “

Riri and I ran towards the room where the suspect was staying after we heard him shouting. My eyes widened when I saw the man that has handcuffed in his arms. What did Christopher Ramirez do here?

TO BE CONTINUE!