Sunshine

XII

“IT wasn't approved.”

The Special Task Force Team’s meeting the next day started with Captain Rivera’s update on their plan and just like what he said, they failed to get the higher up’s approval. It is actually like what everyone expected but Carlos Ignacio is still agitated.

“Wait, what? But why?”

“They can’t since it exceeded our budget, and they can’t provide the manpower we needed too.”

“What do you mean by can’t? They just won’t.”

Carlos let out his frustration on the empty trash bin. After a while he followed the bin and put it back on its original position. “Then what? Are we giving up?”

“No. We have to do this.” Captain fished something from his back pocket and tossed it on the center table. It was a white envelope that looks familiar to everyone. “Who else is willing to chip in this month’s paycheck?”

“FIRST of all we need to assure we can surveillance them well. We don’t just need to watch them, but we also need to hear them.” Captain Rivera remained standing at the back as Dela Vega busied himself setting up the new equipment they purchased. The new tapping device is already set on Love Lingerie thanks to Marie. Adrian finally nodded and gave his thumbs up to Rivera.

“Good. Just continue watching them through that and wait for the signal.”

Captain Rivera was about to turn his back when Adrian talked. That stopped him.

“Thanks for this, Captain. But where were you the past week? We badly needed this and you.”

“For that…” Captain Rivera nodded. Dela Vega couldn’t guess what was that nod for. “I apologize.”

“WELCOME, sir.” A woman in an office attire welcomed Captain Rivera as he reached the City Hall’s door. He roamed his eyes on the entire hall and noticed they are the only ones at the government office. The day for the civil servants is really done, he thought. “This way, please.”

Without word Rivera followed the woman he guessed the secretary for the respected gentleman he is meeting today. They went straight to the third floor and to the room with the biggest door.

“Police Captain Rivera is now here, Mr. Mayor.”

“Yes, please come in!”

The secretary opened the door for him. Rivera greeted the man behind his table with respect as the secretary closed the door leaving them alone. The nameplate on the table read Romualdo Costales, City Mayor. “You called for me, Mr. Mayor?”

“I heard you are the Special Task Force’s Team Leader?” Rivera nodded. “How is it going?”

Mayor Costales stood up from his swivel chair and sat on the sofa set. He motioned Captain Rivera to sit down on the seat across. The latter obliged and answered the question given.

“Everything is confidential so I can’t give any details, Mayor. But we are currently doing our best.”

“Oh, of course. Just knowing you are doing your job is enough you don’t have to tell me anything.”

The secretary from earlier went back with two cups of coffee. Rivera murmured a small thanks and took a sip. Mayor Costales watched the Police Captain while also drinking from his cup.

“But I actually called you here to ask for a favor. Can you hear it now?”

Captain Rivera put back his halfway done coffee on the table. He stood straight and asked the Mayor. “It depends on what I will hear, Mr. Mayor.”

Since both don’t have the intention to keep the conversation longer, the Kahilom Mayor went straight to his intent.

“I heard you are investigating Olivia Magbanua and her partner. Are they perhaps suspected individuals for the serial murder case?”

“I blabbered about it being confidential but you already know, though.”

“The case concerns everyone. How much more myself who’s supposed to serve and protect its constituents? I’m keeping myself tabs.”

Captain Rivera nodded. He still wanted to take another sip of coffee but held his self. “I appreciate your concern for the public safety, sir. But if you’re going to ask to remove them from the suspects list, I’m sorry but they are the only suspects we have. We will only stop if we clear all the misunderstanding we have on them, if that was the case.”

“I know Olivia personally and I can vouch for her. Actually she is almost like a daughter to me.”

“So that 6AM visit was a father-daughter visit? But why did you not met at your residence? If she is like a daughter?”

Captain Rivera stood and bowed his head for the last time. He didn’t bothered to check the Mayor’s expression. “Thanks for the coffee, Mayor.”

“IT was the Mayor. Mayor Romualdo Costales.”

Everyone gave their questioning look on the newly arrived Captain Rivera. His semi-formal attire also surprised them, as they never saw him on long sleeve shirt and leather shoes. “It was Mayor Costales. The one Olivia met on October 8, 6AM at the City Hall.”

“Wait, the Mayor? But why?” Marie asked as she wrote the newly found information on the evidence board. “And how did you know?”

“That’s what we need to find out. How they are connected.” Rivera threw his gaze at everyone. “And don’t look at me like that. I look quite fine in these clothes though!”

“YOU met with the Team Leader, right? How did it go?”

“Police Captain Antonio Rivera, he’s not one easy guy.”

Mayor Costales’ laugh echoed on the dark room. Olivia on his side crawled her hands on his waist in an attempt to calm him down.

“Why? What happened?”

“His sick 9 year old daughter collapsed last week. I tried to use that to make him work on our favor, but he only thanked me for the coffee and left. What a funny guy.”

“There are still some who don’t kneel in front of money ‘e?”

Costales rolled on his side and position himself on top of Olivia under the blankets. Olivia locked her arms around his neck.

“How I wish everyone is like you.”

“Because that will make life easy for people like you?”

Costales went for Olivia’s neck and traveled on her body. Olivia let herself let out a moan, gradually growing louder as their night deepens.