One Last Crime

Kabanata 19

Scene

My heart race and my body stiffened.

They found a dead body three meters away from our mansion?

Is it him?

How did they found it?

Why they found it easily? Isang araw pa lang ang nakalipas bakit napakabilis naman?

Unless it wasn't in a far and secluded place.

Adrian did not text or call me. Is there a problem that he down want me to know?

Did he got caught? Is there a witness? Are we in trouble?

There's a lot of question pounding on my mind right now and I couldn't think through.

"Chantrea."

I flinched on my seat, his voice wasn't loud but it brought me back to my senses.

He checked my face. "Are you alright? You paled."

"Who wouldn't? Crimes and threat's are always by my side. And besides I'm not used to hearing deaths unlike you."

"You're a detective. You found joy in solving mystery of death."

"It wasn't like that Chantrea. Its more of bringing justice to those who died and abused. They're life is taken against they're will. I always find satisfaction whenever I solved a case. Dapat managot ang may sala."

I sighed in defeat. I cannot argue with him, he's right after all. Dapat managot ang may sala. Nag patuloy ito sa pagmamaneho.

I stared out the window.

I squeezed my fingers in frustration. I cannot show him how affected I am because of the dead body they found near our mansion. But I wanted to call Adrian. I want to know if we're f**k up or what so I knows what coming on my way but it's not easy to communicate with him when Lendhel is beside me.

I took a deep breathe before facing him.

"Aren't you going to the crime scene?"

"Ihahatid muna kita pauwi. Saka ako didiretso---"

I cut him off. "No I'll go with you."

"Why?" I need to know who it is!

"Well it was found meters away from our mansion. Who knows how safe our village is right?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. We should go now. They need you there."

He nodded.

You don't even need to ask the direction of the exact location of the place. You already knew it is the crime scene when you see a crowd of people gathered around.

He pulled over. "I'm not allowed to let you in the crime scene Chantrea. Stay here."

"But I want to see it."

"You can't," he said.

"Why?"

His eyes remained on me. I knew he's trying to find a reason to make me stay inside the car. Whatever it is I won't stay here.

"Alam kong maarte ako, but im not weak. I can stand it. Even its gruesome, even if the victim is slit or shot in the chest... Or brain." I shrugged, "or something else."

He sighed. "The last time you saw a dead body you got emotional." Is he talking about the shooting in the precinct? I cried because I saw myself die! But it doesn't mean that I'm scared. I already seen twice... Including Mariya's ex.

"Come on, I wanna go with you. I did not came here to stay in your car." Pilit ko.

He sighed in defeat. "Fine, but stay close to me alright?"

"Yes, detective." I smiled.

Mabilis kaming nakadaan sa mga nakakumpol na tao, agad siyang nakilala ng mga ito.

As I try to peak on the crime scene. I trip over something sharp. A warm strong arms catch my back. It slowly slides on my thin waist. I opened my eyes and his gorgeous face is staring at me. His hair falling into his face perfectly as the sun light shines behind him. And I couldn't breathe, our nose is almost touching! I gulped. My heart couldn't stop racing. I gripped on his shoulders.

"Montallion! Civilians not allowed!" I flinched at the loud scream.

Dahan dahan niya akong tinayo na para bang takot itong mahulog at masaktan ako. The way he's hand supported my back tells me that if I ever fall again he's still there who will willingly catch me.

"She's with me," aniya.

The guy called him. Im so relieved that he's not near me right now. My heart is still f*****g racing!

Maybe I'm just nervous to find out who the dead body is... Yes, that's the reason. Nothing to do with him.

I try to put my attention to somewhere else.

I glance around the crime scene and there it is...

Something that would make me more nervous.

My eyes remained on it. My body stiffened as I recognized his face.

It was him.

"Chantrea, Are you alright?"

"Yeah," I said without glancing at him.

"I told you to stay in the car." Even though I cannot see his facial expression. Concern is evident in his voice.

"Come on, Let's go. I shouldn't have brought you here."

I pursed my lips the faced him beside me.

His warm hands cupped my face, the silliest thing is it didn't bother me at all. I could take everything from him just to warm the coldness I felt inside.

"You paled. I'll drive you home."

I shooked my head. "No... Im alright Lendhel," I fake a smile.

"You can go back to the crime scene."

I know he's not convinced by my fake smile but I don't know what to do. I told my self that I'm not weak that I can stand it. That I would not feel this way when I saw the dead body whoever it is... But I was wrong. It was hard to feel nothing when I knew what happened to him. I knew why he's dead, I was there.

"I'm fine, you go. I remember I need to make a call."

Hindi ko na hinayaang magsalita pa siya, umalis na ako at nag tungo sa hindi mataong lugar.

I immediately dialled his phone number. I sighed when answered the call.

"Why can't I get through you Adrian?"

Napasentido ako. "Did you know what happened?"

"Why you didn't call me?"

"Calm down. Isa isa lang Chantrea." he said.

"How can I f*****g calm down?! He's found! The detectives are here!" I try to remain my voice low but he's calmness are driving me crazy.

"How can you be so calm about this?!"

I took a deep breath and walk on the same ground. "Why didn't you call me last night?"

"They will suspect us, Chantrea."

"I don't want that to happen," sunod pa niya.

"What about the body? I thought you go rid of it? I did my f*****g best to make the visitors stay! I even---" slept with the detective for it.

"But it's all useless because they found the body the next morning!

Mariin akong napapikit ng maalala ang gabing iyon. The night I gave him my virginity so I wouldn't go to jail.

"There's nothing to be scared of Chantrea. I already cleaned it. There's nothing that would connect his dead body on us. You know I won't let anyone harm you. Trust me Chantrea. Everything will be alright."

"It's easy for you to say that Adrian... If you just didn't." I sighed.

"Didn't what Chantrea? Kill him? Do you really wanna start this?"

"I don't know Adrian!" I took a deep breath and I ran my hands through my hair, I tied it up.

"Im confused! Im scared! Who knows what might happen? I might be in jai--"

"Don't you dare said that Chantrea. Did you not trust me? I protected you for five years. You went away and I stayed here and wait for you. I did what I had to do. And if you're not thankful for that---"

I swallowed. "I did not say that Adrian..."

"I don't want to talk about this on that phone Chantrea. Im busy and the last thing I want to hear from you is your doubts of me."

"I'm sorry, I'm just." Tears pooled in my eyes.

"I get it, Chantrea. I told you I got this. You don't need to do anything just dont tell anyone an stay away from that detective."

"Can you do that for me Chantrea?"

I pursed my lips together.

"Chantrea,"

I sighed. "I... I will."

"Good. I need to go."

Ilang minuto kong pinakalma ang sarili, nalanghap ko na ata lahat ng hangin kanina para lang mawala ang panginginig ko ay kumalma pero ang lahat ng iyon ay napunta sa wala ng bumalik ako sa crime scene. Nangunot ang noo ko ng magtama ang mata namin ng babaeng nagpapakulo ng dugo ko katulad ng kapatid niya noon.

Kausap nito si Lendhel at mukhang seryoso ang pinaguusapan nilang dalawa.

Bakit siya andito?

Paano kung makilala niya ang bangkay?