Sunshine

XXVIII

“THE decision of the Disciplinary Committee has finally arrived.”

Captain Rivera announced with a brown envelope still fresh from the office up above. That made the entire team stand up altogether in at ease position, who were just slouching on the meeting room out of extreme boredom to get ready to receive the news. Rivera flipped open the envelope in front of his team who’s waiting for his next words with breath held in. “But before I read this, please know that I tried to negotiate with all that I have.”

Rivera pulled the paper inside before his team could say anything. He read it out loud. “In pursuit to do their duties, members of the Special Task Force Team PLT. Marie Aguinaldo, PEMS Adrian Dela Vega, PMSgt. Carlos Ignacio, and PCpl Juan Valencia did questionable things. The Disciplinary Committee find through hearings conducted that the actions were deemed unnecessary to execute their duties thus we find the actions done unjustifiable. Due to the misconducts done to the police oath taken, this committee will impose necessary disciplinary actions. Needless to say PEMS Dela Vega is now a wanted man and is hereof stripped off of his position on the police force. The other members PLT. Aguinaldo, PMSgt. Ignacio, and PCPT Rivera are hereby suspended from their duties until further notice. The usual pay deduction will also be imposed to the said officers. The mentioned officers are also requested to turn over their issued firearms and badge, and they are hereof confined on the Special Task Force meeting room and is prohibited to go out. All official documents and evidences gathered by the team are also to be turned-over.”

Captain Rivera took a pause from “rapping” the entire paragraph to cater the separated one sentence only paragraph. “The Special Task Force Team is disbanded immediately.”

He took off the paper from his face and slid it back on the envelope. “So yeah we are a disbanded team as of this moment. And there is still a paragraph next to that but that just talks about my punishment and well that’s not for you to know—”

“Wait why are we arrested here?”

Captain Rivera put on a straight face on Carlos. “It’s not arrested, it’s confinement. Yeah that doesn’t differ much but at least use the right terms.” He threw the envelope on the table and rested both arms on his hips. Rivera now failed to keep a straight face. “And don’t you know that everyone almost got arrested for aiding and abetting? I barely got the minimum punishments for you all so behave.”

He sighed and took back the envelope with him. “So you now guys stay here. Please don’t try anything funny. Just tell anyone outside what you need it will straightly be delivered. And yeah my punishment includes putting handcuffs on Adrian myself and I’m off to go to do just that.”

“Do you have an idea where he is?”

“No, Marie. And I am actually very tempted to ask you all. But I’m not giving you the chance to betray me anymore and that’s why I won’t.”

Police Captain Rivera took the steps required for the door. “And someone will come in to retrieve everything the moment I step out of this door. And please…” He faced them. “I don’t care anymore if you know where Adrian is. But please don’t contact him. Just please don’t. And keep it a secret with all your might. Can you imagine what will become of me if you all end up in jail?”

TRUE to what Captain Rivera said, three men in suit really did came to the meeting room just a few moments with big boxes in hand. Everyone stayed quiet on their seats and watched them do their job. After collecting every files in stained white folders (stains mostly from the spilled coffee) and scrapping clean the evidence board standing lone on the center of the room the three men all stood in front of them, erect. The now disbanded team members fished on each of their own pockets, and took out their police badges and firearms almost in unison.

“Glad you can accept defeat.” Said one of them. They didn’t bothered to try to recognize which of the three is talking. “Anyways thank you for your cooperation.”

And just like that they left, with only one of the boxes they came in with filled.

“PLEASE come with us.”

Captain Rivera took a deep breath and stayed staring at the meeting room for a while before he followed the men with boxes. They entered the last room of the ally Rivera couldn’t remember what was the room used or is being used for. But the room stayed well dusted with few boxes on the floor. He watched them add the only filled box to the collection and folded the empty ones.

“You won’t be needing those?”

“No, we have our own materials that is much more useful than that.”

They stood face to face. Among the three one stood more in authority. His good built covered with its tailored suit and his sharp eyes added to that authority. “Let me introduce myself. I am Police Inspector Simon Rodriguez. I am now the one in-charge of the case your team was holding together with my team.”

“Nice meeting you. I am Police Captain Antonio Rivera.” He offered a handshake but it wasn’t received. He mouthed okay and pocketed his hands.

“You are only allowed to join us on the manhunt operation of PEMS Dela Vega. Other than that, you are requested to stay uninvolved. Especially on the Kahilom Serial Murder Case.”

“What’s your take on the murder case?” Rivera asked. “Consider this as a question from a concerned citizen who’s worried over his own safety and the safety of his family.”

Rodriguez nodded. “We are doing our best. As a citizen of Kahilom we are ought to inform you that we are doing our best to ensure your safety and of everyone around you.”

Rivera smiled at the familiarity of the words said. “At least we share the same script.” He stretched his legs and took the direction to piled boxes and sat there, particularly on the box with his team’s works on it. “Now, what do you want me to assist you with?”

“SO does anyone actually know where Adrian is?”

Carlos broke the meeting room’s silence with those words. His colleagues, either slouching on their own chair or yawning looked at him with “what are you saying?” visible on their faces. Carlos looked at them, stared for a while, then blinked three times.

“Does anyone actually know where he is? That’s what I said.”

“We ain’t deaf.” Marie said, yawning again. “But what the f**k are you asking that for?”

“Nothing. Just trying to say no one knows where he is and I hope he stays well hidden.”

They stayed quiet on that. Later on Carlos copied them and yawned, then rested his head on the table. And then he dozed off not too long after.

Little did they know the news is now being flashed about the person they’re talking about just now.

This just came in. The police officer who is currently on the run for murder has passed away on suicide. Police Executive Master Sergeant Adrian Dela Vega of Kahilom Police Station passed away this morning by jumping off the Kahilom Bridge.…