Sunshine

V

“WHAT happened to your friend?” Adrian asked Juan, referring to the walking zombie named Carlos next to him. The two just came back after the resto trip. Adrian wondered what could make Carlos like that, though Carlos can sometimes go overboard that almost everything affects him. In their six months as colleagues Adrian already knew how unfiltered and transparent Carlos is. But that only resulted him to come off as impatient and unprofessional in almost every setting. Of course Adrian frowns on that.

“I don’t know,” Juan replied, shrugging to his seat. “He’s been bluffing how he was cheated on. As if.”

Adrian did not attempt to hide his distaste. “I’ve never seen a cop acting like that over a suspect.” He sat on his seat, crossing his legs. “This place is sure full of first times.”

“Say,” Carlos finally broke his own silence. All his teammates’ eyes landed on him, not expecting much. “What should you have to gain the right to be jealous? I now see it’s not just for anyone. But you see, I can’t help myself. I’m…” He sighed and slouched on his seat, palm on his face. “…angry.”

“You are now out of her life, Ignacio. At least that will let you know why you shouldn’t be jealous.”

Everyone froze by the sudden love advice of Dela Vega. Marie even had to make sure she heard right. Adrian snorted, slightly offended. “What? You think I never fell in love?”

“Sort of?”

“What’s with this love talk so early in the morning?”

Everyone stood up and gave their salute to Captain Rivera who just arrived. He nodded and signaled them to sit again. “Let’s talk about your lovelife next time, Ignacio. How did it went yesterday?”

“Yes,” Carlos went up and wrote Hayahay Resto on the evidence board. “Cortez was seen with Magbanua and Vicente at lunch time the day she died. I confirmed it with the restaurant manager that happened to be a family friend of Cortez. Their families used to do business together.”

“What business?”

“Textile. But they actually started as a construction company but went bankrupt due to financial mismanagement.”

“Dig more into that bankruptcy incident. We might find more.” Dela Vega nodded knowing it’s his job. “And don’t stir anything yet. We still need to find stronger evidence. We can’t afford being reckless here.” Rivera looked at everyone. “While it’ll be nice if we’ll get something they can’t deny, it’s also important we don’t drag this too long. We will be questioning them soon.”

Rivera then focused again at Carlos. “And behave yourself until then, Ignacio. Or I’ll take you out.”

“WHAT do you think the culprit is like?” Marie is currently on the pantry making herself a cup of coffee. Marie’s whistling and a little solitude was interrupted with Carlo’s question. Carlos played on the coffee sticks, glancing at her. “You studied Criminal Psychology all the way from States. You assisted cases there too. Base on everything you learned, what do you think a kind of jerk we are chasing?”

“You don’t listen to my briefings at all?” Marie then sighed. “Or are you asking me if it’ll be possible it’s Alex?”

“That...” Carlos looked down. “…too.”

Marie took a sip from her cup to have a taste. It satisfied her. No need for extra sugar or cream then. “Why don’t you make yourself a cup of coffee first?”

“No, thanks. I’m too nervous.”

“You’re way too honest.”

She sat on the nearest monoblock stool and motioned Carlos to take a sit too. Carlos shook his his head again and remained standing. Marie let him be and talked while constantly sipping her coffee.

“The culprit used a handmade weapon. When we see a culprit like that, we assert he wants to leave a mark. He wants to have his own identity. He is probably someone unnoticeable in the society and that is his way of grabbing the attention of the public.”

Marie took her time with the coffee and with the talking. Carlos listened with head low and eyes on his shoes. He looks absorbed in his own thoughts, or more like trying to focus on his own thoughts with everything Marie mentioned and about to mention.

“The random stabbing indicates anger. Initially I thought it was a crime for revenge but so far there is nothing to support that and nothing to connect the victims with too, well except that they were all once a costumer of Love Lingerie. And the stab wounds are around 50 to 80 mm. in depth right? Around 2.5 inches. That means the culprit stabbed the victims close.”

Marie finished her coffee when its cold enough. He looked at Carlos. “That’s the kind of culprit we’re searching for. An attention seeker with psychotic tendencies and possibly grudge.”

Marie stood up and took time washing the used cup. Carlos stayed standing on her back, pounding on what she said. “The culprit is a bad person. An evil one. Now you answer me, you think that could be Alex?”

CARLOS and Marie went together to Love Lingerie. While Carlos want Juan to come with him, the team won’t let him. Carlos needed someone to hold him down when he gets uncontrollable again and Marie is perfect for the job. And Carlos may be hated to admit but he knows his team is right.

“You came?” Alex greeted him. Carlos was hesitant to come at first after what he said the other day but after seeing Alex smile in front of him, he wasn’t sure if he should feel relieved or be more agitated. In the end he nodded at Alex dryly, keeping his emotions checked. “And you must be Carlos’ girlfriend?”

“Yes, Marie’s the name.” Marie replied, tightening his grip on Carlos’ arms. “I’m actually thinking on buying a new pair. Can you recommend some to me?” Marie whispered the last sentence. “We’re having a steamy night.”

“Oh, fantastic. Please hold on a minute.” They watch Alex went to the rack at the end of the alley and get some lingerie. She went back with two pairs. “What about this sheer green bralette set? They feel very soft to the skin and is perfect for sensitive skin. But if you would rather look a little sexier, what about this lacy black bodice? They would look perfect on you.”

Marie bit his lower lip, rubbing Carlos’ arms. Marie’s unnecessary good acting bothered Carlos but he chose to pay attention to Alex. “I’ll have both. Please pack it for me.”

Alex went to the counter. Soon enough the item arrived. “Thank you for your patronage.”

Carlos and Marie went out smiling, arms still linked on each other. When they were far enough they pulled away from each other. “What? Steamy night? Want to actually do it with me?”

“Is Alex your first and last?” That shut Carlos. “Weak.”

“HOW was it?”

“Of course, perfect.”

Carlos eyes went wide on the screen of Dela Vega’s laptop. He took a closer look and transferred his questioning look on Marie. “You installed spy cams?”

Marie shrugged. “For what else I’ll go through all the trouble if not for this?”

“Marie!” Carlos’ jaw is still on the floor. He can’t believe Marie had the time to do this and can’t believe more how it went unnoticed to him when he remembered their arms are linked to each all the time. He then flinched, realizing how his all attention was on Alex and on his own emotions all along. “I can’t believe you sided with Dela Vega.”

“I’m not siding with anyone.” Marie closed Carlos’ mouth. The latter cleared his throat. “But guys, don’t you think Captain’s being too careful? I mean. He is very meticulous from what I hear. But I don’t expect him to be this much.”

Marie looked close at the monitor. She closely followed Olivia behind the counter and checking out items. “All victims happened to visit Love Lingerie. We could use that as an excuse and try to get something from them. If we get nothing then that’s fine too. I just feel like we’re doing nothing with the lead we found even if we say it’s just circumstantial.”

“I thought that way too. I know we won’t be able to get that much but we should have actually questioned them about that. They know all the victims from one way or another.” Dela Vega adjusted the resolution of the video to make it clearer. Though it didn’t helped much given the quality of the camera they had. “Captain is too lukewarm about this.”

“But like what Captain said, maybe he is just being careful? If one of them turns out to be the actual culprit, she might go destroy evidences.”

“That could be the case.” Marie shook her head at Carlos. “But I guest I’m just being overly suspicious.”

Carlos nodded in understanding. “Our job requires us to.”

Juan finally arrived with banana cue and juice they’ve been waiting for. Everyone took their share and started eating. “But is there no way to hear them? It’ll be nice.”

“It’ll be nice, of course Valencia. But we don’t have the equipment to that. We’re poor.”

Everyone agreed at Dela Vega. “Hell yeah. f**k poverty.”

BORED from watching at the small laptop screen, Carlos went out and staked out at Love Lingerie, standing at the street across. He caught a sight of Olivia leaving earlier, bringing with her some boxes and drove the car. He looked at his wristwatch. He’s been standing there for an hour already. “When will Alex go out?”

As if on cue, Alex went out closing the store. She was locking the rolling gate when someone mobbed her from behind.

“This is the police! Don’t move!”

Startled, the attacker sprinted away and accidentally pushed Alex to the ground. Carlos immediately ran after the attacker but it already vanished. He dialed Adrian Dela Vega. “Someone attacked Alex while closing the store. There’s a CCTV nearby. I think it caught him.”

After the call, he immediately run over Alex who’s standing at her feet. He helped her. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

“Are you a cop?”

Carlos watched Alex’s face. Her eyes are wide and bulging out, her mouth opened. Carlos gulped when his heart started racing. He tried to laugh it away. “Ah, that? I was just saying that to scare the attacker. Anyways who was that? You have any idea?”

“But why is this…” He froze. His wallet is in Alex’s hands. “Why do you have a police badge?”

Carlos gulped again. This time he can’t break out a laugh anymore. He can feel his sweat dripping from his temple. “T-That? I… R-Right! I’m a policeman. You didn’t know?” He flinched and mentally cursed himself for stuttering. Tat made his tongue straighten out somehow. “I thought you knew that’s why I didn’t see the need to tell you. You didn’t? My bad.”

“But I told you I haven’t heard anything about you since we graduated.”

“You did? I can’t remember.”

Silence came after. Carlos cleared his throat and composed his self. He took a long breath. In closed eyes Carlos said the next few words, fighting the urge to just fly off and take her away.

If only he could and if only it won’t feel like a sin Carlos would have hide her away. But it’s something he never did for Alex even when it felt right. And so he swallowed that thought, trying to shove it at the back of his head hoping it’ll go forgotten.

“Come with me at the police station.”