Chapter 9
1352 Words
Chapter 9
In a phone conversation, a man in a bonnet excitedly informs his superior of positive news. The authoritative voice on the other end warns him of consequences if the news disappoints. Revealing that Agapito is romantically involved, the man suggests using the woman as leverage against Agapito. The curious voice seeks clarification on how this relates to good news. With a sinister laugh, the voice acknowledges the potential of this plan and instructs the man to immediately identify the woman. The man agrees obediently before concluding the call, initiating a manipulative scheme to assert control and power.
Elise POV
When he left I tried to compose myself and started looking for my eyeglasses. Despite my eyesight being blurry, I successfully found them under the table, luckily avoiding stepping on them with just a few scratches.
Now, I'm currently at a convenience store to buy gifts for my nephews, who, like me, enjoy snacking, so I'm in the snack food section, tossing whatever I can reach into the cart. As I passed by the beer and wine area, I picked up a bottle of bugnay wine, one of the local products of Santa Monica.
As i headed to the counter to pay, my phone rings, prompting an immediate answer.
"Mommy!!!" Allen's high-pitched voice practically vibrated through the receiver, a tiny tremor of excitement in his tone.
"Yes, baby?" I asked, my voice softening.
"I want a gift, mommy. Grandpa Ramon told me you're going to visit us," my nephew said, his voice bubbling with anticipation.
"I want to talk to mommy too," I heard Jude's voice, a little muffled as if he was hiding behind a pillow, but just as eager.
"Me first!" Allen shouted, his voice rising in a whine, his tiny hand gripping the phone as if it were a precious treasure.
"I said it first!" Jude yelled back, his tiny feet stomping on the floor, a muffled thump that echoed through the phone.
"Oh, for goodness sake!" I exclaimed, trying to contain my laughter. "Stop it, kiddos. Allen, put it on speaker, please."
"I want unlimited snacks, mommy," Jude declared, his voice dripping with a hint of mischief, his little tongue poking out from the corner of his mouth.
"What else?" I asked, my voice full of amusement.
"You alone is enough, mommy. I miss you," Allen said, his voice suddenly soft and tender, a slight catch in his throat as if he were about to cry.
"Then how about my snack?" Jude demanded, his tiny feet stomping again, a rhythmic beat that made me smile.
I couldn't help but chuckle. They were so playful, so full of life. "I miss you too, babies. Miss you both," I said, my voice filled with warmth. "Okay, take a nap first. Mommy needs to hang up the phone."
"Okay, mommy, bye-bye," they both said in unison, their voices filled with a mixture of disappointment and love, a tiny sigh escaping Allen's lips as he hung up the phone.
On my way back to the hospital, I noticed someone watching me, so I scanned my surroundings but couldn't see anyone. In fact, I realized that from the moment I left Aling Tasing's eatery at the convenience store until now, but no one was following me. I couldn't help but feel a shiver down my spine, so I walked quickly to the remaining distance to the hospital. Only when I reached the entrance did I breathe a sigh of relief, finally stepping inside. I breathed in and out, trying to calm myself.
"Elise," my mother called out.
"Oh my goodness! Elise almost jumped in surprise." "Why are you startling me, mom?" I said, annoyed.
"Oh, you've increased your coffee intake again," my mother shook her head.
I was about to complain when there was commotion outside. Out of curiosity, I dragged my mother out and saw a sturdy policeman with a tall man in handcuffs. Upon seeing the captured man, my fear dissipated. Upon returning inside, I recounted what happened earlier, except for the part where I was with that man at the eatery.
Reuben's Perspective
I stood near the glass wall of my office, hoping to catch a glimpse of Elise. I had just finished a meeting with the engineering department, and everything was settled for the construction of the bridge connecting two barangays, set to begin in January.
I furrowed my brow upon seeing Elise almost running to enter the hospital. "Perhaps there's an emergency, so she's rushing," I thought to myself. But I was mistaken because I saw a tall, thin man in a bonnet glancing around. I was suddenly engulfed in intense fear as I recognized the man from a sketch shown to me by Velasco in the past, the man who had fired shots at the municipal hall. "But what does he want with Elise?" I wondered to myself. I was about to leave when Richard stopped me, which I hadn't noticed was standing right beside me.
"Just stay; you might get into trouble," Richard said seriously, as they were of the same height, managing to lock my hands behind my back and pin me to the glass wall.
"And what about Elise, let me go!" I said while struggling.
"I've already called Hunter, and he alerted his men. I saw that suspicious guy on my way to the municipal hall, which is why I told you I might be late for the meeting," Richard said.
"Sh*t," I curse, alarmed by the unfolding events.
As chaos erupts outside, the sight of the man restrained on the street by Velasco intensifies my apprehension.
"Let's go," Richard directs, releasing me.
We rushed to the police station, my heart pounding in my chest. The building loomed before us, a stark reminder of the danger that had just threatened Elise. Every second that passed felt like an eternity.
We were outside the interrogation room, a tense group huddled together. Richard, his face grim, stood beside me, his hand resting reassuringly on my shoulder. Several police officers, their expressions equally serious, filled the space. Through the glass window, we could clearly see and hear Velasco interrogating the man inside.
"You're one of those who fired shots at the Municipal Hall two months ago. What's your motive, and who ordered you? Who are you working for?" Velasco's voice boomed, his words sharp and demanding. The man, his face a mask of defiance, remained silent.
"What do you need from Elise Dominguez?" Velasco pressed, his tone laced with a dangerous edge. "I repeat..."
"I have ears; I'm not deaf," the man shouted, his voice thick with anger.
"So you have ears, you're not deaf, you have a mouth to speak, you're not mute, right?" Velasco retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You won't find anything from me," the man said fiercely, his eyes narrowed.
"Okay, as you say,"Velasco said. "Morales," Velasco called his colleague, his voice devoid of emotion.
Morales, a burly man with a cruel glint in his eye, immediately entered the interrogation room.
"Sir," Morales saluted.
"What do you do with someone who won't talk, Morales?" Velasco asked, his voice a low growl.
"I'll cut out his tongue, sir," Morales replied, his voice a chilling whisper. He pulled out a knife, the glint of the blade reflecting in the dim light of the room. "It's been a while since I've cut someone; my knife is starting to rust," Morales said, his voice laced with a twisted amusement. He played with the knife in front of the man's face, the blade inches from his mouth. "Should I cut it, sir?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with a disturbing delight.
"Yes," Velasco said, his voice flat and emotionless.
"W-wait, I-I'm going to speak, I-I don't want to," the man stammered, his voice cracking with fear.
Velasco returned to his seat, his face impassive. He gestured for Morales to leave, and the burly officer retreated back into the interrogation room.
"Now speak," Velasco said, his voice cold and menacing. He turned on the audio recorder, ready to finally uncover the truth.
Happy reading ♥️
_TAGAiloCosNak♥️
- Writer
