Serendipity Chapter 74: A Snare

“Was it of me?” Philip asked again, a little more darkly this time.

“Man, listen. I don’t know what’s going on and I don’t want to get involved but I didn’t say anything,” Greg said quickly, finally looking at Philip.

“What are you talking about?” Philip asked.

“I’m in here a lot,” Greg said to him, “I see stuff… ok?”

“What ‘stuff’?” Philip pressed.

“The money,” Greg said, “like I said… I haven’t said a thing. I don’t want to get involved in whatever mess you were making for yourself… that’s on you.”

“So you know, huh?” Philip said with a sigh.

“Yeah. It was pretty obvious,” Greg replied, “I’m surprised you’re still able to get away with it. People here are blind.”

“It’s a good thing,” Philip said as he walked over to Greg.

“But like I said, my mouth is sealed,” Greg replied defensively.

“Of course it is…. Because dead people can’t talk.”

“Wait what… what do you mea—PHILIP?!”

…………………………………..

That night you determined to just switch off and try not to think about the case so that you could enjoy your time with Deku and the two of you spent some time relaxing in the spa, then watching a movie, before falling asleep in each other’s arms.

Early the next morning there was a sudden desperate knock on the door and the manger met Deku with a grave face.

“I’m so very sorry,” he said with a distraught look on his face, “but there has been another death.”

“What?!” you gasped from where you were walking out of the bathroom with a robe on, “who? When?”

“The security guard- Greg, he was on shift last night and was found dead this morning at the shift change over.”

“Oh no,” you gasped, “did anyone see anything?” 

The manager shook his head. “No unfortunately. It’s another mystery.”

Deku and the manager spoke for a little longer then the manager left.

“I think it’s related,” you said to Deku. “I was the one who went down to the security office last night. What if Philip saw me go down there and found out about me getting the tapes and killed the guard?”

“It’s hard to prove,” Deku said, “let’s go down and see what the police on site say.”

You nodded and quickly got dressed to head downstairs then you and Deku left to attended the scene. 

………………………

“Good morning, hero Deku,” the intendant greeted Deku, “it’s a shame to see you again so soon under the given circumstances.” 

“What happened?” Deku asked as he stepped up beside the intendant.

“It appears that he was struck on the head from behind,” he said, gesturing to the sheet that was covering the body on the ground.

“Same as how Maya was killed…” you thought.

“It doesn’t look like he put up a fight so the person must have snuck up on him,” the intendant continued.

“Or…” you added in, “he was put to sleep before he was struck?… is it early enough to have a reading on if a quirk was used or not?” 

Deku looked from you to the intendant.

“Yes. We should be able to tell…” the intendant replied.

“Even if it might be a gas quirk?” you asked.

“Yes. It will still show up on the blood reports at this stage,” the intendant commented with a nod, “is there someone you have in mind?”

You didn’t know if you should answer that and remained silent, letting Deku take over.

“She is thorough,” Deku replied in your stead, “no leaf unturned.”

“I see,” the intendant replied, then called an officer over to ask them if they could get a blood sample of the deceased to the lab as soon as possible.

You thanked both policemen then turned to Deku and addressed him in a whisper.

“I have an idea on how we can catch Philip. But I’ll need your help.”

Deku gave you a curious look and you jerked your head for him to follow you to the door so you could talk without being overheard.

“This will be potentially dangerous. But it’s the only way…” you said to him.

“What is it?” He asked, glancing around to make sure no one was listening in.

“I’ll play the scape goat and you put a wire on me and record anything he says. I have a feeling if I confront him in private and accuse him of killing Maya and the guard… he might confess… or try and kill me… but either way, if you get a recording, it’s solid evidence.” 

“I don’t like this idea at all,” Deku said sadly, “I can’t put you in danger like that.”

“You’re not putting me in danger. This is my idea.”

“But I can’t just stand by and let you do this…”

“Listen,” you said in a sternly low voice. “This guy has killed 2 people. And he’s getting away with it. We NEED to stop him.”

Deku’s worried eyes bore into yours as you held his gaze with confidence, a very determined look on your face.

“I see so much of myself in her…” he thought with an internal sigh.

“Please,” you stated, it wasn’t really a beg, it was more of a polite demand.

Deku’s shoulder softened. “If I can have the local police on site as well then I’ll agree to it. But the second anything starts to go wrong I’m coming in,” he said to you, “if anything happened to you… I…”

He hung his head and you quickly reached out and cupped his cheek in your hand.

“Nothing will happen to me. You’ve always been there to save me.”

He looked up at you with tears in his eyes and nodded.

“This time will be no different.” He reached out and took you around the waist and hugged you tenderly.

After sharing an intimate cuddle in the hall, Deku stepped back into the security room to talk with the intendant while you waited outside.

You thought you saw movement from the corner of your eye and looked down the hall to see Philip disappearing back around the corner so that he wouldn’t be seen.

“Just you wait. I’ll get you…” you thought.

A few hours later the blood results came back positive for breath quirk remnants, so, using this evidence, Deku asked the super intendant if you and himself could set up at trap to catch Philip- should he confess to his crimes if you were alone with him, and everything was set for the following day.

…………………………

Early that morning 2 superior plain clothes policemen arrived on your hotel doorstep with the necessary gear to put a wire on you and other sound devices in the room.

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