Sunshine

VII

“I told you I’ll be the one to call.”

She quickly rose to her feet, clasping her phone on both hands. She took quick steps to the comfort room’s hallway and made sure no one’s on the cubicle. She also set the call’s volume to the lowest possible, and also talked quieter than she could.

The call made her all senses alert.

“I’m at the station. Do you realize how dangerous this is?”

“You can just act normally. Why are you getting worked up?”

“Because I hate doing this.” She checked her surroundings again, holding her breath. She hurriedly whispered, “I’ll call you again.”

“You were at the phone, Lieutenant? Did I perhaps interrupted something?”

Pursing her lips, Marie Aguinaldo quickly composed herself and turned around to face Juan Valencia. She pocketed her phone and gave him a smile. “No, of course. What is this about?”

“These are the papers you asked for.” Juan handed her a brown envelope. She received it quickly to hide her still shaking hands. “But why do you have to talk so quietly? As if you’re afraid someone will hear it?”

“You know how personal calls are prohibited while on duty.” Marie smiled, almost crooked. “That was my boyfriend.”

“Oh, is that so? So I really did interrupted something!” Juan laughed. Marie just noticed Juan’s arms were crossed after he relaxed it on his sides. Her eyes nailed on it. “I will go now, Lieutenant.”

Marie watched Juan go back to his seat. Strangely, her eyes also went to Carlos next to him. She gritted her teeth.

I have to be careful.

“ANY movements so far?”

Everyone gathered around Dela Vega and his laptop. He answered Captain’s question while eyes are glued on the screen. He spent the day, and also the previous days that passed like this.

“Alex and Olivia come at the store together at 8AM and they open at 10. They don’t have lunch break, and they close the store at 6PM the earliest, and 9PM when it gets busy. They use the same car and lives together. And right. I almost missed this, but Alex came to the store alone one day to prepare for opening. It was…” He checked it on his notebook. “…the day after she got mobbed.”

“So Olivia probably went somewhere.” Carlos commented which Dela Vega nodded to.

“Most likely. Since they rarely leave each other alone.”

“They’re literally glued to each other, huh?”

“Jealous?”

Carlos scoffed at Marie’s side remarks but didn’t say anything.

“Anyways, we have to find out where Olivia went that day. That might be a lead. We won’t know.”

“In secret? But how? We can’t question them.” Juan asked the Team Captain Rivera, a little looking forward for a plan to execute what he just said. The latter turned back to Dela Vega.

“What about the CCTV cameras?”

“I tried, but there’s no CCTV at their neighborhood. There’s no way we’ll know even which direction she went.”

“What? That looks like an exclusive subdivision though. I heard mostly celebrities, politicians and businessmen live on that subdivision. It’s pretty expensive there!”

“And that’s most likely why.”

Juan sighed. He agreed Dela Vega’s right. “Then how do we do it then?”

They exchanged glances. Later on Carlos said.

“I have a plan.”

“HELLO!”

Marie shouted as she opened the Love Lingerie’s door. That stopped Olivia from going out of the store who almost bumped to her. Marie smiled at her and pulled Olivia back inside. “I actually came here before to buy some pairs. But I need one again. My boyfriend ripped mine last night.”

Olivia smiled on Marie’s chatter though it’s evident on her face that she’s bothered by the stranger acting all friendly to her. Marie knew it and felt proud of her “top-notch” acting.

“So you need a sturdier one. But of course, still something that can be undone quickly, right?”

Marie gave her a wink. “Exactly. You definitely know what I mean.”

Olivia nodded and shifted her heels to the opposite direction. Marie kept an eye as Olivia carefully selected some pairs, and secretly pressed on her earpiece that’s been bothering her. “Stop shouting! Are you broadcasting that you’re here to break in someone’s car?”

“But I can’t open it!”

“Just get it done!”

Marie plastered a smile again when Olivia came back. She brought with her a red and royal blue pieces. “Those are lovely! But what to do? I actually need pink. My boyfriend goes crazy over pink.”

Though squinting, Olivia went back smiling to get another. Marie shouted. “I’m really sorry!”

“This is harder than expected. Buy me more time.”

“But Carlos---”

Marie panicked upon seeing Olivia ordering her staff to get her orders. She’s heading to the door.

“Excuse me. But my orders---”

“I already had someone to take care for it. You can trust her.”

“But I came here because I trust your fashion taste. I’m a fan!”

Olivia removed Marie’s hands from her arm. “And they work under me. I trained them. And I designed all pieces here by myself so everything here is literally my taste. So if you’ll excuse me…”

Olivia finally succeeded to the door. Marie pressed on her earpiece, shoulders down. “I’m sorry.”

“WHAT? We went with all the trouble but she just went to the city hall? Maybe she just had some papers needed to get done with?”

“But at 6AM? It’s weird.”

Everyone’s eyes are on the photograph of Olivia’s car’s GPS taken by Carlos earlier. Everyone is racking their brain on what one can do at a public office so early in the morning.

“Who would probably be at the office at that hour?”

Marie answered Juan’s question again, this time taking wild guesses. “Probably cleaning staffs, security, the Mayor?”

“Why would the Mayor be there when the office hours starts at 8? I don’t believe politicians are that diligent.” Dela Vega answered quickly. Carlos squinted at him.

“Are you stereotyping now?”

The conversation went on with Marie’s question. “Is there a way to know who she met?”

Everyone went quiet.

“Dead end again?” Carlos sighed. “Do you really think we are on the right track? We always come down here. A dead end! What we have are only circumstantial evidences too. What about we try to expand the suspects’ list first?”

“Will you continue being like this? You still don’t understand?”

Dela Vega talked slowly as if explaining to a child. That made Carlos grit his teeth.

“Olivia and that woman you are protecting is too suspicious to stop here. And circumstantial evidence? Sure. But I keep on feeling I will get something from them later on. I can’t stop suspecting them and that’s why I won’t. Even if it’s you, Ignacio.” Dela Vega closed his laptop and took it with him. “And you are too disappointing. I never expected you to turn out like this.”

Dela Vega exited the room. Carlos followed him with heavy steps.

“You never expected me to turn out like this? What does that mean? Why are you expecting something? And how did I turn out then? Who are you to say you are disappointed!” Dela Vega stopped walking. His grip on his laptop tightened. Carlos continued his series of questions. “What? Why are you not finishing your sentence and making me die of curiosity?!”

“I don’t live to feed someone’s curiosity.”

“But it’s you who made me curious!”

“Stop following me!” Dela Vega finally faced him. His face is burning with anger.

And he is truly disappointed.

“Continue stressing over it. I’m not telling you.”

AFTER that argument, Marie went out to look for Adrian. But that was after she calmed and consoled Carlos who’s now napping on his desk. Marie isn’t called “The Peacemaker” for nothing.

“Are you alright?” Marie found Adrian leaning on the biggest acacia tree right in front of the station. He is wearing earphones. Marie took the one from his left ear and wore it. “You made this?”

“Yeah. How did you know?”

“I heard you wanted to be a DJ before.”

“You knew?” Adrian chuckled. “I made this when I was in high school. I thought this track was a total dope, but it’s actually trash.”

“What are you saying? This beat is fun though. I think I can dance to this while on shower.”

“So you only dance while showering?”

“Yes. It’s less embarrassing.”

Adrian turned off the music and slid his MP3 Player at his pocket. Marie returned the earphones.

“You knew Carlos before?” Adrian nodded. “How?”

“I visited this town before when I was, I think 15? My uncle lived here before migrating to States. It was Career Day. You know that school activity where students dress according to the career they want?” Marie nodded enthusiastically. That made Adrian tell his story in a lighter tone.

“I was bored so I tagged along with my cousin. He dressed himself as a rockstar and I dressed as a DJ. My cousin happened to be classmates with Carlos.” Adrian smiled at that faint memory. “Carlos dressed himself as a policeman. He looked so cool I wanted to steal his clothes and make them mine. I wanted to look as cool that’s why I enter ed the Police Academy.”

Marie chuckled, shaking her head. “But he’s not actually that cool, right?”

Adrian nodded, grinning. “That’s why I’m so disappointed.