THE DARK SIDE

Maj Guzim heaved a deep breath as he stepped out of his car along Session Road. The gloomy day didn't even help with the stress and pressure of today's event. He looked up as the clouds begin to darken and threaten to pour at any minute. The city is busy as usual, suits, tourists, locals. It is the rainy season, and he wonders where all these people are going and coming from when the temperature is at eighteen degrees. He strode forward passing through Mc Donalds and turned left. He can see many people swarming the area from the distance. Thank God, he was not wearing his uniform. If by any chance, he would have been already blocked by eager reporters asking him questions he was not ready to answer. He simply passed through one of them currently making his report and overheard him talking about a possible murder case. Well, that's what we're about to find out, he thought while approaching the officer at the entrance of the hotel. "Good morning, sir, may I know who I'm talking to." The officer was a young man in his early twenties. Fresh, he thought. "I'm PMaj Athenz Guzim, Crime Investigation Unit. I am now in charge of this case. Who's inside?" he flashed his ID and the officer immediately came to attention and saluted. He can feel him being tensed by just looking at his posture. "Well, who's currently in charge?" Athenz is still longing for that one week vacation this case disrupted. Damn. He should be on his way to Palawan at this moment. He was literally shutting his front door and was about to take off when PCol Neil Galom called and told him that Mr. Dominggo Wilang was dead, and something was fishy about the case. He told him they need the best and he needs to put his vacation on hold. Mr. Wilang is well-known businessman, he owns most of the grocery stores in this small city. Anyone of the locals would recognize his name and besides, he just filed a candidacy for Mayor. Maybe that's another reason why the higher ups want him to wrap things up as soon as possible. "PMaj Mazano is currently leading sir, he's at the crime scene. Third floor, Room 25." He was relieved to hear that. Brent Mazano is his long-time partner. They were comrades when they were still in Special Action Force (SAF), spending operations together, being each other's support in their darkest time. They decided to quit due to internal conflicts and decided to enter the police force together. Brent is a simple man, and the best in strategizing operations he had ever known. Athenz scanned the area for the last time and stepped inside the hotel. He spotted an officer taking official statements from the desk officer. He bet he's also taking the logbook of all who entered and left the building yesterday and this day. He turned right to find the stairs instead of using the elevator, observing details of the hotel while going up. He was striding the last steps to the third floor when he noticed the CCTV camera. It's broken. He stopped for a moment and decided to take the other side of the stairs which means he has to walk through the whole second floor in order to reach the other side. Officer Mazano was exiting the police line when he arrived. He removed his gloves and dumped it in the trash bin outside room 25. He was quite surprised when he saw him. "I thought you're on vacation? Colonel called you?" "He sure did". Was his reply. "Walk me through." He added. "So, here's the initial report. Mr. Wilang checked in the hotel yesterday at 6pm. His driver helped him carry his luggage up here since he declined to let the staffs carry his stuff. They left the hotel together at 6:43pm and came back at around 9pm. This time, his driver didn't came up. He never left the room after he went in. This morning, he was discovered like that by a staff who brought his breakfast. Told us he was not answering the door and since the door ain't locked, she came in to check. Then viola, he's dead, a caliber 45 in his hand. The first glance seemed to be suicide." "What do you mean "the first glance'? And why didn't anyone report a thing, a caliber 45 should have woken up the entire building." "That's the answer, the gun was suppressed Athenz, it has a goddamn suppressor. Who does that in a suicide?" THE SCENT of blood met Athenz as he entered the crime scene. Two policemen guarded the door while Doc Guane is busy taking samples from the scene. "This is a surprise Athenz, I thought you're on your way to Palawan?" She sealed the evidence bag of a specimen she collected which he suspected to be a blood sample and stood up to hand it over to her assistant after writing G.G and other details. "Well, how I wish." " Betting you're the investigator on case now so what do you think?" "I should ask you that" he answered and studied the victim's position. Mr. Wilang is on his robe. He sure have taken a shower before his death. He's lying on his back, a supine position. "Wait, he's left handed?" The gun's in his left hand, a cal 45. Now I see that suppressor. "According to his secretary, yes. I have not contacted with the wife and children yet. They're on their way from La Union. " Brent offered. " Assuming he's left handed. I still think this is not a suicide case." Guane just finished studying the wound. " You see this shape of wound?" Guane pointed at the entry wound and continued, " This is an oval shape wound, contact wounds usually have star shaped wound and in cases of suicide, a slight imprint of the gun's muzzle might be seen." "You mean, it's possible it's not a contact shot?" "You got it. Approx 5 meters actually. Also, notice his hand, usually, when suicide victims pull the trigger,the index finger should be on the trigger due to cadaveric spasm, but look at this." "The victim's index finger is not on the trigger." Brent added. "Well, that rules out suicide in this case then." Athenz studied the room, a baggage on the side of the bed. A laptop on the table. Curtains closed. He walked towards the bathroom stopped at the entrance, knelt down. Viola! He wore his gloves on the right hand and picked up something from under the cabinet beside the door. "What? A syringe?".