Sunshine

XXXIX

CARLOS and Juan both came back to the police station with crumpled faces and sighs. Their shoulders are down as they sat on their own tables, eyes stayed on the floor. In their almost identical movements they successfully delivered the “we failed we got nothing” message― needless to ask, they came back from their trip empty-handed.

It’s now 10PM and they both need a cup of coffee. Seeing this, Marie volunteered to make them a cup which they faintly smiled thanks to. The best friends are obviously both tired and sleepy and disappointed.

“It’s true that Peter Saragoza lived there. But he already left 5 years ago.”

Carlos reported. After that their coffee arrived in their personal mugs. They both got silenced by it and focused on sipping from the hot cup.

“This is what I got from my friend from the Intelligence Team.” The rustling of paper came next. “Full name Peter Santos Saragoza, 51 years old, single and never been married, doesn’t have a child, address Astra Apartments―which we just confirmed is not his address anymore and the registered phone number does not exist anymore.”

“Intelligence really have their way to get complete details.” Juan responded to Rivera’s quick briefing on Saragoza. “But nothing newer than that? No updated records?”

“They’re trying to confirm if he’s still alive. That’s the update.”

Juan nodded then went on with drinking. “Right. He could be dead somewhere.”

What Juan said made Carlos frown at his coffee under his nose. He blew into his cup in his pouty lips. “Is there nothing to eat? I’m hungry.”

“A cup noodles will do, right?” Marie asked. She was about to stand but Carlos stopped her giving her a little shake of the head and a small smile.

“Let me do it.”

Carlos stood up from his seat and went to the kitchen to prepare cup noodles for himself and for Juan. He stayed there waiting for them to cook.

“But seriously, we need Saragoza alive.” Carlos overheard Marie saying, which wasn’t hard and surprising as the kitchen―every part of the Kahilom Police Station actually (except for the rooms of course) is only adjacent to each other with no walls in between. “He could be our key to finally dig on Costales deeper. We’ve been only digging shallow.”

Even the sighs and small grunts and curse probably are clearly heard in the kitchen. Carlos also heaved out a sigh as he stared at the smoke slowly coming up from the heating cup of noodles, still listening to the conversation.

“Is there a way to confirm his whereabouts faster?”

That was Juan. Rivera answered him.

“I told them to give us something as fast as they could, of course. We have to entrust this to them since they’ll still be faster compared to whatever we do.”

That ended their conversation. Carlos diverted his attention to tapping the fork on top of the cooking noodles keeping its lid close lightly, his mind flying. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Suddenly he went off running, accidentally dropping the fork off the floor.

“Juan you can finish two cups of noodles at once right?”

IN the dark empty street a fast, but still obliging with the speed limit white police car drove past the main highway. Probably because it’s a police car but it still followed the traffic lights even if no other cars were present. It drove through the main highway for a while before making the necessary left turn. Reaching its destination, it parked on the parking area of the now closed store.

The engine died slow. A sigh can be heard from the driver’s seat. Staring at the dark sky from the car window, that’s when he only thought of checking the time.

It’s already midnight. Carlos sighed again and almost turned around not until his eyes flew on one of the windows. It still has lights on. Carlos decided to get out of the car and knocked on the door of Love Lingerie as he announced his arrival. In a few moments Olivia in her pajamas tended the door.

“I never thought someone will still be here. I actually only tried my luck. Sorry for coming at this time of the hour.”

Carlos quickly said. Olivia chuckled as she unbuckled the chains on the door she put up for security.

“Well I’m camping here to finish some things. How may I help you? Please do come in.”

Olivia held the door to let Carlos inside then closed it after. They took the pantry where the lights are left open. Olivia cleared the table off from papers and pens on top of it. She also put away her laptop. “Would you like some coffee?”

Carlos shook his head, sitting down on the offered seat. “No, thanks. I just had one.”

Olivia nodded and made a cup for herself. She sat across Carlos after. “So how may I help you?”

“Peter Saragoza.”

Carlos blurted out, not beating on the bush. Once again Olivia chuckled.

“All right. What do you want to know?”

Carlos looked at her straight in the eye. For the last time he swallowed the last bit of hesitance and pride of him left, though those would have left him already the moment he decided to drive to Love Lingerie in exchange for the cup of noodles.

He just knew. That Olivia knows.

“Do you know where he is?”

Olivia took a sip from her cup. Carlos took a long deep breath and continued.

“Thank you for giving us the fish.” Carlos said. “But I think we will be needing the fishing technique, too.”

Olivia took her time with the coffee. She blew and sip on her coffee cup, as if she’s preventing to burn herself. Carlos only watched as he waited patiently.

Olivia put down her cup on the table after she half it before actually going into the conversation. She gave a small smile and a simple nod.

“I’m lending the rod, too.”

OLIVIA watched Carlos leave Love Lingerie as she installed back the chains to the door. Her eyes followed the police car driving away quietly until it went out of her sight. The doors are already locked but she stayed standing there, eyes still on the dead empty road.

Olivia stood there as if she’s waiting for someone or something to come out of the dark street. Of course nothing came. Taking a deep breath, she went back to the pantry and took her phone from the table and called someone. It rang three times before the call was picked up.

“I told them where you are.” Olivia said to the other line after being silent for a while. “The police are coming on your way soon. You can tell them everything. Everything we should have been saying since a long time ago.”

“It was only for you that we hid it, sweetheart.” The one on the other line said in its shaky voice. “Are you really ready about this?”

“I am.” Olivia nodded, smiling. “And this is long overdue already. I should have been ready since then. I got ready a little too late.”

“No, sweetheart.” Olivia heard a hard cough from the other line. That made her swallow the forming lump on her throat. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I couldn’t protect you enough. I’ve been weaker than you. And I’m sorry.”

“I’m courageous the wrong way though? I’m just straight-out hard-headed and too ambitious.” Olivia laughed. That self-reflection made her think. “I let the fancy lead me. Little did I know I was deprived with fanciness all my life because that will be the one to destroy me.”

“You’re a shining gem, milady.”

“Shining bright? Or dull?”

“You’re about to shine the brightest.”

Olivia smiled to that. Genuinely. She took note of what was said on her head. She decided to have that as a battle principle― her outcry in this long and hard battle she’s about to go in.

I’m doing this because I still have to shine the brightest.

“You’re the coolest reporter I ever known, Dad.”

“KAHILOM Hospice Center.” That was the first thing that came out from Carlos’ mouth after almost barging himself at the police station. He also stumbled on his own feet multiple times on his way inside. He shook his head. “Oh damn I can’t calm down.”

“What are you saying?”

Everyone stared at Carlos as he pant and catch his breath. Marie was the one who asked everyone’s question. Carlos took one last long deep breath before he answered. “The Hospice Center. That’s where Peter Saragoza is.”

“How did you know?” Rivera asked. His further questions got interrupted when his own phone rang with a message. He read it, then looked at Carlos afterwards. Rivera nodded.

“Let’s go.”

The now Team 3 drove to the scene together in a van with Juan behind the steering wheel. They can feel the cold 3AM breeze even in the closed vehicle. Midnights of Ber season is really colder than the usual.

Marie’s “How did you know?” to Carlos from time to time kept the whole ride from being silent. In the end, even after they arrived Carlos haven’t said anything.

The car was put into a stop signaling their arrival. They looked into each other and together they went out of the van. They’re about to go inside the Hospice’s building when police cars started coming in. In hearts racing they asked each other.

“What happened?”

They all watch both the swat team, forensics, and medical personnel from the newly arrived ambulance run and about carrying on with their jobs. Rivera went to the Police Captain of the team on the site. His teammates followed him.

“Kahilom Serial Murder.”

That was what was said. Marie gasped. “Don’t tell me…”

The medical team passed by them carrying a stretcher with a body covered with blanket. Rivera asked them to stop for a while, and with permission lifted the blanket off the body’s face.

“Saragoza.”