Chapter 20

Eastwood Heights Event Hall

8:07 p.m.

The annual Heraldic Eastwood Local Police Department's Masquerade is a prestigious event for the task force and elite social groups. It is held as a charity and fund raising event, despite the common knowledge that politics is also a highlight. As evening fell, guests came one after another wearing fancy masks and clothes that seemed to be worth gold. Emeralds, sapphires, rubies, and other precious gemstones dangled from the women's ears.

"Welcome to our 23rd Masquerade! Enjoy!" Repeated opening by a man wearing a pig mask. Chief Inspector Placido Ortega enthusiastically shook hands with several guests and led them to the event hall. The chandeliers draped from the ceiling, giving an eerie glow over the vast sea of ​​people.

Laughter, plasticity, and conversations about money and business.

In this confusion, Nova quickly spotted a young man wearing a black rabbit mask. He was busy chatting with a few colleagues. The girl grinned and adjusted the tray she was holding. Her make-up transformation felt heavy, but she could do nothing. 'This is for justice!' She keeps reminding herself. Moments later, he secretly pressed the small communication device to his ear.

"Target spotted."

A few moments later, Nico's voice answered, "Are you sure? It's hard to recognize anyone with these stupid masks. Well, except for Chief Ortega, of course. I think he's mocking himself with that pig mask. Poor man."

Nova laughed softly. Whether Inspector Ortega is aware that he's "obviously" fat or that pig mask is just an accident, he doesn't have time to find out yet. 'But unfairness, that pig matters to him.' The female detective's eyes studied the man with the black rabbit mask. "I'm sure it's Lelouch."

"Evidence?"

"Huh?"

"A true detective doesn't act on instinct. There must be evidence. But of course, I'm sure you know that, right?" He heard teasing in the young man's tone.

'Damn you, Nico! It's really your art! ' Nova sighed, "She's wearing the watch I gave her on our first anniversary."

Silence.

"Just keep an eye on him. By the time Scorpio calls me and confirms that there is indeed a match in the blood samples, we will arrest him. That's a solid proof that he's the Heartless Killer."

"And if he resists?"

"Damn, Sherlock. If he resists, it'll get a bit more messier. If he's our copycat serial killer, expect him to be armed. This is dangerous, Nova. We need to act precisely on plan. Understood?"

Nova rolled her eyes. "Fine. Tsk. Once this is over, Inspector Ortega will definitely be angry because we disrupted the HELP event. Plus, he doesn't know anything."

She could almost see Nico nodding in agreement, "When things go awry, the chief will definitely drown me in the Pacific Ocean. No big deal." Nova paused for a moment when someone took a wineglass from her tray. She smiled and acted like a naive little girl. When there were no more visitors around, he quickly searched for the rabbit mask.

"Gosh!"

"Why?"

"Lelouch disappeared. He just disappeared from my sight. Tsk. I'll just look for him again." And he started to make his way to the dining area of ​​the event hall. Maybe the lawyer was just there? "I'll look for him. I'll contact you again once I've spotted him."

A moment of silence again Nova heard. Just as she was about to disable the small microphone, she heard Detective Nico Yukishito's voice again.

"Be careful."

Nova smiled at what she heard. Maybe the angry detective has a fever? If not for her current situation, she'd be laughing her ass off.

'Now, where is my ex-boyfriend?' Nova was walking fast. She struggled to get pass the barrier of bodies surrounding her. He could hardly breathe in the crowd! And as he passed, he simply looked around. Maybe he'll see Atty. Lelouch San Andres. 'Where did that one go ?!'

The noise was growing louder, it was almost painful.

The sound of a large clock rang out in the event hall. Tick-tock ... tick-tock. "Stupid clocks!" Nova took a deep breath and almost ran to the other side of the place but she still couldn't see Lelouch. Fear tugged at her heart. He was nervous for no apparent reason. 'If Lelouch is HK, is it possible that he will kill again tonight?' Nova's throat dried up at her thoughts. Shit! They can't let that happen!

"Excuse me! Excuse me!"

He almost scolded some women who were still busy dating. A serial killer is terrorizing Eastwood and these idiots are just babbling about nonsense ?! Nova seems to understand Nico's hatred of the world.

Nova almost dropped the tray with only the wineglasses.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

She stopped in the center of the chaos, surrounded by people in fancy clothes and animal masks. He took a deep breath and examined the surroundings again. 'Where are you? Darn it! ' But in his search, he noticed the bulk of a man wearing a mask with a deer design. The man wore a white suite. It looks like he's in a hurry and someone is still talking on the phone.

"Hello, miss."

Nova was shocked to hear a voice from behind her. This caused him to drop the tray he was holding, the glasses of wine crashed and shattered on the tiled flooring while the blood red liquid stained the surface. When Nova turned around, she immediately backed away when she saw the mask.

A black rabbit mask, worn by the man she was hunting a few minuets ago.

'Lelouch.' He forced a smile. It's really good and he has a disguise! Her make-up transformation never failed her.

"Oh, sir! I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm really wrong! W-Don't report me to my manager ..."

He acted bewildered and quickly picked up the tray and crystals on the floor. But Lelouch is still not leaving. When Nova looked up, she was surprised that the lawyer was still staring at her. He then pulled her up on her feet and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"So, you're stalking me now?"

"I-I don't know what you're saying, sir."

'Keep up the act, Nova! If not, the plan will fail! '

But the young attorney laughed and partially lifted his mask, revealing only his smirking lips. He approached her and whispered, "You're not fit to be a waitress, Nova ... and especially you're not fit to be a stalker."

Nova was devastated by what she heard. Then, her communication device crackled to life, Nico's voice spoke from the other end of the line, "Nova? Any updates?"

Lelouch heard it.

'Shit! I forgot to turn off! '

"So, you're spying on me, huh?"

The lawyer immediately frowned. A sense of danger radiating off him. Nova was even more nervous when Lelouch whispered again in her ear, "Nice try, sweetheart."

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