Sunshine

VIII

“THEIR FOTOGRAM ACCOUNT just followed someone!”

Everyone immediately gathered around Dela Vega after what he said. Everyone is in such a hurry some even stumbled on the monoblock chairs. They fixed their eyes on Dela Vega’s monitor.

“Do we have another victim?” Valencia’s jaw dropped. “But that’s…”

“Paulo Kim. Male. 28 years old. He is a fashion model and an influencer. Base on his account follows…” Dela Vega explained almost automatically. He read the numbers on the screen. “He’s famous, but not quite.”

“So he’s next? But we only have female victims until now.”

Dela Vega turned to Marie. “Then he’s the first male. That is if we were right.”

Carlos hid his clutched hands on his back. Unlike his tensioned fist he kept his face relaxed. “Where does he live?”

“YES, DELA VEGA." Carlos answered his phone. He mentally took notes of everything Adrian said on the other line.

“Olivia and Paulo are old friends. They met each other at high school as schoolmates and became close since then.”

“That explains why he’s here.”

“What are you---” Dela Vega went quiet. A new guest arrived at Love Lingerie as seen on the hidden camera. “Oh, I see.”

Carlos ended the call. He continued watching from afar and caught a sight of Alex leaving the store. He followed her to the alley.

“You smoke now?”

“What are you doing here?”

Carlos quickly thought of something to say. “C-Checking up on you?”

“Make your excuse sound more real, yeah?”

“But---” He cleared his throat. The stuttering is finally gone. “But it’s true.”

“Okay. Sure.”

Alex replied nonchalantly. Carlos watched Alex inhale the stick and also leaned on the rough wall next to her. The cigarette smoke filled his nostrils. “I noticed Olivia is with someone. Who was that?”

“Why are you asking?”

“Just... I think he’s the reason why you’re smoking.”

“I smoke from time to time.” Alex threw her cigarette. It’s still halfway through. “Paulo is her friend since high school. They are pretty close.”

“You jealous?”

“What are you saying?” She chuckled softly. “Olivia doesn’t make me anxious over those things. I know her male friends well.”

“But you know all my female friends too.”

“But that was not why we broke up.”

Alex stepped on the cigarette to put out the fire. Carlos’ eyes still followed her. “Come with your girlfriend next time. It’ll be weird for a guy to come to a lingerie store alone.”

Alex went back to the store. Carlos stayed, not moving. He later on called Marie who answered after the third ring.

“What should I do from here?” Carlos heard her sigh. It was then followed by footsteps until her surrounding went quiet. Carlos continued. “Should I prove she’s innocent? Or should I prove she’s guilty?”

“You really think you have the control?” Carlos stayed quiet. “Or are you asking me what you should believe?”

“The latter, I guess.” Carlos nodded, shutting his eyes. “I just don’t know. I’m too clouded. I don’t know where I should stand. You always help me out on things like this. I first thought you were just nagging, but I always end up following your advices. I was wondering if you could help me like that today too.”

“Carlos…”

Marie’s soft voice made Carlos heave a sigh.

“My heart and mind is not in battle, they are both confused. What should I do if both are not giving me any answers?”

“WHAT'S THE PLAN?”

Carlos went back to the station for the briefing. The live footage from the hidden camera played in front of them through a projector. “But by the way, where’s Captain? Are we doing this on our own? I called him earlier but he’s not answering.”

Marie dialed Captain Rivera. She nodded to Juan. “He’s not answering to my calls too.”

“I guess we have to do this alone.” Dela Vega answered. “I have access to the CCTVs around the area. I can keep you updates on routes of the victim and suspects. But the problem is, I failed to secure from Paulo’s subdivision. We will be needing a warrant for that.”

“That’s truly a problem.”

Dela Vega nodded at Carlos facing him. “That’s why Carlos, stop swaying. You are a cop. Never forget that until the end.”

CARLOS STAYED AT the main street outside Love Lingerie. He had a cap pulled towards his face in an attempt to hide it. He checked his wrist watch while trying to keep all his movements natural.

It’s almost time.

Two cars passed by him. After making sure it was the right car, he hurriedly fished Dela Vega’s car keys and followed them using it.

The cars he’s tailing stopped on a hotel and entered the underground parking. Carlos parked his car across the street and watched them through the window on the second floor of the hotel. His phone rang with an fotogram post notification from Paulo.

With friends. 5-S Hotel, the caption reads. Carlos stared for a few seconds at Alex’s smiling face next to Olivia’s before closing the application.

The three people stayed at the restaurant for 3 hours before going separate ways. The long time they spent together proved they’re friends. Carlos tailed Paulo as planned.

Paulo went home straight. He left the car on the yard and went inside his flat. Carlos, who parked his car three houses away from Paulo’s stayed on the look-out.

The sun rose as usual, and nothing out of ordinary happened. Carlos heaved out a sigh of relief, believing they got the wrong idea on Alex and Olivia and he was right all along.

But maybe, that’s only what he is wishing for.

“Why you did not called!”

Carlos was taken aback by a sudden attack of Dela Vega. His teammate’s hands is on his collar, gripping it as hard as he’s clenching his own jaw woke him up completely. Carlos can almost hear Dela Vega’s teeth gritting.

All people from his team, including Captain Rivera who was out of reach yesterday gathered around Paulo’s parked car. Dela Vega let him go and also went near the car. Carlos followed with heavy steps.

“We were too late.” Juan said to him. Carlos gasped.

Paulo is on his car, stripped and wounded.

“He died, Carlos.”