Red String

Chapter 3: Juvenile Crime

Lumabas ako ng cubicle pagkatapo kong umihi at para maghugas ng kamay. Nagulat ako sa aking nakita.

There's a person standing in front of the sink and facing her back at me. She was washing her hands on the bowl.

Naramdaman niya siguro ang presensya ko kaya napatingin siya sa akin gamit ang salamin na nasa harapan.

I walk toward the sink to wash my hands. I wet it first and then applied soap in a liquid form. I rub my hands to make bubbles. Then I rinse it off.

"Ang lungkot ng mga mata niya," napatingin ako sa taong nasa tabi ko. She dried her hands using the tissue.

"Who?" I asked. Curious about the person she was referring to.

"The guy who looks at you differently," I get it. I looked at her carefully, there was a worried and concerned look in her eyes. I don't mean to hurt the guy. I just did the right thing to do.

"You mean the guy who can't look at you the way he looks at me?" I saw her reaction change. I get her offended. Crap, I delivered it incorrectly. It should not sound like that.

"Hindi ko ba alam kung ano ang nagustuhan ni Traise sa 'yo, ang sama ng ugali mo!" Hindi ko intensyon na saktan siya. I just failed to pick the right group of words.

"I'll take that as a compliment," I said plainly. She was even amused by what I said. It's my defense mechanism. It's not even new to me, to hear those words. I'm used to it.

She was about to leave the comfort room when I said something again that made her step outside.

"If you just take a little leap of fate," the guy was naive and she was a coward. Marami silang magagawa ngayon kung ang isa sa kanila ay gumawa nang hakbang.

I saw her leave the room after that. I took a deep breath and look in the mirror. I was staring at my reflection for a minute.

"Bakit ang daming tanga sa pag-ibig?" I bit my lower lip and tighten my right fist on the sink.

"At may mga duwag."

"We have a new case!" Nagpantig ang tainga ko sa narinig. Our Head announce.

"The police officers submitted their report via email. They will come here later to discuss the case and submit the pieces of evidence gathered at the crime scene," he added.

"What case of crime is it sir?" One of my officemates asked him.

"The case was determined first as robbery. Dahil ayon sa witness o survivor ay nilooban sila. Pero ayon sa nag-imbestiga ng crime scene. Walang nawala na kahit na anong gamit o bagay sa loob ng bahay. Wala ring bakas na nilooban ito," the Head explained carefully.

"If it's not robbery then what is it?" Napatingin kami sa nagtanong. It's Traise. He was curious and badly wants to know the case.

"Murder," my fists tighten above my desk. Another case for human trafficking.

"There are two victims. Both are minors," the person or people behind this crime was a real monster. That monster took their bright future. I am deeply sorry for the ones who are left behind. The agony, pain, and grieving will forever haunt them. The great loss that's unmeasurable.

Pero isang bagay lang ngayon ang nasa isip ko. I'm desperate to unveil the real culprit and monster of this heinous act.

"The witness is also a minor and still under observation with protection. The identity and motive of the suspect are still vague."

"Ms. Villarosa," I looked at our Head when he called out my surname.

"Sir?"

"I'm assigning you to lead this case. This is complicated and might take a long time if I'll trust it with others. For sure if I gave this to you, you will solve this immediately," nahihiya talaga ako sa mga kasamahan ko sa tuwing ginagawa ito ng Head namin. He's very vocal that I'm always in his favor.

I look at my officemates and there's no hate and competition in their eyes. They fully agree with our Head's decision and verdict on how to handle this case.

"And oh, I'm paring you with Mr. Stone," nagulat ako sa naging hatol niya. Palagi akong mag-isa sa pamumuno sa pag-solve ng kaso, pero ngayon binigyan niya ako ng kapares.

I looked at the person who owns the surname. It's him. Traise Stone. He was giving me a melancholic gaze. I gulp.

"Proceed to my office around three in the afternoon," our Head said.

"Yes Sir!" We said in chorus.

"Good," our Head smiled at what he heard and entered his office.

I fixed my things on the desk and prepared everything for the case later. I reviewed the case that was sent to our office.

As I was reading it, indeed the case was a bit mysterious due to the vague motive and identity of the culprit. But something's off about this case. I can't point it out or figured it out. A missing puzzle piece in this case.

"The witness. I need to talk to him or her."

Three in the afternoon came and we went to the office of our Head. The moment we open the door to enter the room, we saw men and women in different uniforms. Their uniforms may vary but they have the same goal, to unveil the truth and serve justice. They are the Law Enforcers.

"Good afternoon," I and Traise greeted all the people inside the room.

We take our seats beside the Head. Ipinakilala muna sa amin ng Head ang mga law enforcers.

"This is Sir Reyes, the representative of FR (First Responder)," I and Traise smiled at Sir Reyes. So what is the role of the First Responder? They are members of the PNP (Philippine National Police) or other law enforcement agencies who are mandated and expected to be the first to respond to calls for assistance in cases of incidents of crime. They generally refer to police officers who have jurisdiction of the area where the incident or crime has taken place and will proceed to the crime scene to assist the victim and to protect and secure the incident scene.

"Sir Cordova is the CI (Criminal Investigator) in this case," we looked at him with respect. A Police Officer who is tasked to investigate all criminal cases as provided for and embodied under the Revised Penal Code or Criminal Laws and Special Laws. A well-trained disciplined and experienced professional in the field of criminal investigation duties and responsibilities.

"Then, the (Investigator-on-Case) IOC or Duty Investigator of this case, Ma'am Gales," she looked at us and gave her smile so we reciprocated it.

"I'm excited to work with you," she said.

"Especially you, Ms. Villarosa. The famous Criminologist in this country," I wasn't prepared by the compliment. I even run out of words.

"Thank you, Ma'am. I and my team did well in this field," I wanted everyone to know that I don't deserve the credit alone, but also for my team. Indeed I'm the leader, but I can't do this without them.

Tinignan niya ako na parang naiiintindihan niya ang gusto kong sabihin. Kaya nginitian ko siya.

Duty Investigator refers to any PNP

personnel who is duly designated or assigned to conduct the inquiry of the crime by following a systematic set of procedures and methodologies to identify witnesses, recover evidence, and arrest and prosecute the perpetrators. The IOC shall assume full responsibility for the crime scene during the conduct of CSI.

"Lastly, the team leader of SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operation)," the woman is older among them. I wonder how many years she was working in this field.

"Working in her field for two decades. I present to you, Ma'am Garcia," despite the visible wrinkles on her visage she's still stunning at her age.

Scene of the Crime Operation is a forensic procedure performed by the trained personnel of the PNP Crime Laboratory SOCO Team through scientific methods of investigation to preserve the crime scene, gathering information, documentation, collection, and examination of all physical and other forensic evidence.

"This is Ms. Villarosa and Mr. Stone, my most competent criminologist," the Head introduced us, they plastered their smiles at us.

"Shall we start discussing?" Mr. Chalamet, our Head added.

"Jared and Gale were both found in their house lying on the floor bathing their blood. Jared died due to loss of blood because he has multiple stabs, specifically fifteen stabs. While Gale died due to the impact on her head using a baseball bat," Sir Reyes presented the photos of lifeless bodies of the victims.

Ang saklap nang tinamo ng dalawang bata. I can't imagine how they endure the pain and wanted to end their agony. We look at the photos carefully, the suspect is good at identifying the fatal points of a person's body. The crime was heinous, and the culprit behind this act must have a stronger motive to perform the unlawful act.

"Narining ko na mayroong witness?" I looked at Traise. Curiosity can be traced all over his place.

"Yes, we have a witness. She's under our investigation," dahan-dahan itong tumango.

"What's her relation to the victim?" Traise asked.

"The parents of the victims adopted the witness a month ago. Naglayas daw ito sa bahay nila dahil palagi itong sinasaktan sa kanila. 'Yon ang kuwento ng mga magulang na ayon sa kanilang mga anak, dahil 'yon daw ang kuwento ng witness. She was adopted and treated as their child and a family. She worked inside the house as an assistant and did some light chores in exchange for a shelter and food," Sir Cordova answered Traise's concern.

"Can I see inside the house?" Traise said. Mr. Reyes gets the photos inside the envelope and put it one-by-one in front of us.

Hindi ganon kalaki ang bahay. Nakapagtataka na hindi man lang nagulo ang mga gamit sa bahay. Something's odd.

"There's no force of entry inside the house," I blurted out.

"Yes. At walang ano man na gamit ang nawawala sa loob ng bahay. Walang bakas na may nanggulo at humalughog." Ma'am Garcia said, and we all agreed.

"Therefore, the victims and the witness must know the culprit." I conclude. Ito ang kanina ko pa iniisip.

"I was thinking the same thing as well," napatinging ako sa nagsalita, si Ma'am Gales.

"Pero ayon sa witness ay may nangloob daw sa kanila at hindi niya raw ito kilala," Sir Cordova interrupted our brainstorming.

Lalo akong naguluhan sa kaso. Sino o sino-sino ang may kakayahang gumawa nang karumaldumal na ganitong krimen?

"Ilang tao raw ang nangloob?" Traise asked? He was serious. I can't trace the playful Traise I've known.

"The witness said, Isang lalaki raw," no doubt that the culprit is a man.

"Saan nagtago ang witness sa oras ng krimen?" He followed up.

"According to her, she hid inside her room while witnessing the crime." Sir Reyes answered his question.

"On your report. It was stated that the witness was able to ask for help through social media, by making a status on her timeline." I questioned. Mukhang alam ko na kung saan ito papunta. Sa oras na makumpirma ko ang hinala ko, posibleng tama ako kung sino ang tao sa likod na karumaldumal na krimen na ito.

"Yes, she did it. We have documents on that ground." Ma'am Garcia confirmed.

"At nakita niyo ang witness na katatapos lang maligo sa crime scene dahil sa basa nitong buhok?" I added.

"Tama. She even confirmed it when we asked her." Sir Reyes said. Dahan-dahan akong tumango. Lahat ng atensyon nila ay nasa akin.

"Ilang beses niyo tinanong ang witness tungkol sa krimen?" Nagkatinginan sila bago nagsalita.

"Isang beses," sabay-sabay nilang sagot.

"Allow me to ask her the same set of questions again after three days," bumakas ang pagtataka sa mga mata nila.

"For what?" Sir Cordova asked me.

"Consistency of her answer. And if ever her answers are different from her previous answers. Bring a psychologist and therapist in the interrogation room." I lean backward. Alam kong hindi sapat ang kutob sa ganitong trabaho. Pero kailangan kong kumpirmahin ang hinala ko. Sensitibo ang kasong ito.

"Are you suspecting the only witness of this case Ms. Villarosa?" I looked at Ma'am Gales.

"Anyone can be a suspect. Especially if the person was found at the venue of the crime," nakita kong ngumiti si Ma'am Garcia sa sinabi ko.

"No wonder why Mr. Chalamet boasts you most of the time," bigla akong namula sa sinabi nito and I looked at our Head. His eyes are full of pride and admiration.

"Hindi siya magiging sikat sa pagiging criminologist without nailing in this field. She deserves the recognition she gathered." I looked at the person beside me. His eyes glittered while saying it. Pero agad din 'yon nawala at umiwas ito nang tingin sa akin.

"I'd like to accept this recognition of yours but still let's not jump to conclusion without a strong grounds." I said.

"Muntik ko nang makalimutan, Sir Reyes," he looks at me when I called out his name.

"How were the parents of the children?"

"Those two are their only children. They were grieving and still mourning for their loss," my heart pierced by what I've heard. The people who suffer the most are the one who was left behind.

"Pero ang hindi mawala sa isip ko ay ang sinabi ng batang witness sa mga magulang ng dalawang bata nang makita niya sila," bigla akong kinabahan sa sinabi nito.

"Anong sinabi ng bata?"

"Tinawag niya sila na mommy at daddy."

I went home after work. When I was about to enter the room, nakiramdam muna ako sandali. May tao sa loob ng unit ko.

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papasok nang nakayapak ang paa upang wala akong magawa na kahit na ano mang ingay.

Pagkarating ko sa living room, doon ko nakita ang nangloob ng bahay ko. Nakasalampak ito sa maliit na round table sa gitna ng living room habang nakahawak ang kanang kamay sa isang bote ng alak.

Kahit madilim ay naaaninag ko pa rin ang kabuan nito, ang kanyang sitwasyon at posisyon. Agad kong binuksan ang ilaw at bumungad sa akin ang taong lasing na lasing.

Hindi man lang niya naramdaman ang presensya ko dulot nang kalasingan nito.

"Gising! Nasa kabilang unit ka nakatira!" Pilit ko itong niyuyog upang magising, subalit malakas ang tama ng alak nito sa utak.

Tinignan ko nang mabuti ang matalik kong kaibigan. Mukhang umiyak ito kanina dahil sa pamumula ng talukap ng dalawa niyang mata at sa mga luhang natuyo sa pisngi nito.

"Kaloka! Gumising ka at hindi kita maaasiskaso dahil may bago akong kaso na kailangang pagtrabahuhan!" Pilit ko pa rin siya na ginigising kaso wala talaga.

"Nasa kabilang unit ka nakatira! Ano ba!"

"Alam ko! Kaya tumahimik ka na, natutulog 'yong tao eh!" Reklamo nito at binigyan ako ng iritableng mukha.

Kung hindi ko lang 'to kaibigan, kanina ko pa siya kinaladkad palabas. Napakamot ako ng sariling ulo at pumasok sa kwarto ko para kumuha ng kumot at unan para sa kaniya.

Dahan-dahan ko siyang nilagyan ng unan sa ulo para hindi mangalay ang batok nito sa posisyon niya ngayon. Tapos nilagyan ko siya ng kumot para hindi ito ginawin at magkasipon.

"Pagnatauhan ka, sa sofa ka matulog. Ako ang napapagod sa sitwasyon mo ngayon." I went inside my room to take a shower and to resume my work.

Subukan ko man na magpahinga ngayon ay paniguradong hindi pa rin ako makatutulog. Ayaw ako patulugin ng trabaho ko at ng mga hinala ko tungkol sa kaso.

After three days I'll face her and confirm whether I'm right or wrong. If I proved that I'm right about this case, I need to proceed with my research as a criminologist. If not, we're back from scratch.

I opened my laptop and did some research. Nagulat ako sa mga natuklasan ko. I'm not familiar with psychological terms but it's not that hard to understand the whole thing about her case.

I take down notes on some key points and important details. If ever I see these symptoms and behavior during the interrogation. This case must be publicized for awareness and prevention.

I thought I would only encounter this kind of person inside a book or on television. Never in my life, I would face someone like this. If ever I was right.

Pero sana nga, mali ako. Kasi sa oras na makumpirma na tama ako. Wala akong puwedeng ibang maramdaman kung 'di takot.

How would I face a person? A minor with a criminal record. An angel in disguise.

I looked at the photo of the witness on my laptop. She's beautiful and wears a smile that suits her. The moment she smiles her pair of eyes smiles too. A contagious smile.

How on earth this child could be-

"A psychopath."

Three days passed and my most awaited moment. The moment of truth.

I'm inside the interrogation room with my partner Traise. My hands are sweating and a little bit shaking.

I assigned Traise to jot down all the answers of the witness and every single detail of her behavior.

In the other room, the law enforcers who visited us last week were there together with the therapist and psychologist they assigned.

They can hear and see everything from here. On the other hand, the witness doesn't have any idea that she was being observed.

I took a deep breath before starting the real battle. Unveiling the truth.

"Hi, we're criminologists and were here to ask you some questions regarding the crime you've witnessed," she's looking at me blankly.

"Nakita mo ba ang nangyari sa magkapatid?" Nakita kong tumango ito nang dahan-dahan at napatingin kay Traise.

"Kilala mo ba ang pumatay sa kanila?" Agad itong umiling at mukhang natakot.

"Maaari mo ba na sabihin kung ano ang hitsura ng taong pumatay sa kanila?"

"Moreno, matangkad, payat. Tapos-" napansin ko na parang nag-iisip siya kung ano ang dapat na sunod na sasabihin.

"Anong kulay ng damit niya?"

"Blue! Tama, kulay blue 'yon tapos may print ba 'yon? Ah, wala-wala plain pala na blue T-shirt tapos black ang suot niyang shorts at nakasuot ito ng puting tiyenelas," I gulped and looked at Traise. He was busy jotting down all the details and his observation.

"Kilala ba ng magkapatid ang suspect?"

"Hindi," she answered. Sa pagkakataong ito, rito ko siya huhulihin.

"Kung hindi mo kilala ang susupect at hindi rin nila kilala ito. Paano nakapasok ito ng bahay?" Nakita ko ang gulat sa mukha niya.

"Ah eh, baka umakyat o 'di kaya binuksan 'yong gate at pinto ng bahay," halata ang pagkalito nito sa boses.

"Pero ayon sa imbestigasyon, walang force of entry o nagpumilit na pumasok ng bahay. Ibig sabihin walang nang loob o pumilit na makapasok," napakamot ito ng ulo.

"Baka may nagapapasok. Siguro pinapasok ni Jared at Gale," naiinis nitong tugon.

"Pero sabi mo kanina hindi nila kilala ang susupect? Bakit naman nila papapasukin ang taong hindi nila kilala?" Napalunok ito ng laway.

"Ewan, baka kilala nila. Hindi ko alam!" I pause for a while to lessen the tension. Malapit na kami sa katotohanan.

"Nakita mo ba kung sino ang unang namatay?"

"Si- si Gale! Oo si Gale! siya ang unang namatay!" tumango ako sa naging tugon nito.

"Paano naman namatay si Gale at Jared?"

"Pinagsasaksak siya ng matandang lalaki, habang si Jared naman, namatay sa pagkakapalo sa ulo," umakto pa ito na parang natatakot.

"Matandang lalaki, 'di ba wala ka namang sinabi kaninan na matanda pala ang suspek?" Napakagat ito ng ibabang labi.

"Nakalimutan kong sabihin. Nalilito kasi ako," pinagpawisan ito nang matindi.

"Naalala mo na nag post ka ng status sa soci media nang nilooban kayo?" Agad itong tumango bilang tugon.

"Sa halip na mag post sa social media bakit hindi mo naisipan na humingi nang tulong sa iyong cellphone o tawagan ang mga pulis?"

"Hindi ko kasi alam ang number sa police station."

"Last question," nakita ko kung paano ito nakahinga nang maayos.

"Bakit mo naisipan na maligo kahit alam mong may namatay na dalawang tao sa loob ng bahay?"

"Bakit? Bawal ba?" Nagulat ako sa naging sagot nito. Bigla ito naging seryoso. Kinalibutan ako sa paraan nang pagsagot nito.

"Mainit kasi sa loob ng closet kung saan ako nagtago, kaya agad akong naligo dahil pinagpawisan ako," she answered with confidence. Sagot na kung saan pinaghandaan niya dahil mukhang alam niya na itatanong ito sa kaniya.

"Parang kagay ngayon?" Nagulat ito sa naging tanong at pahayag ko. Kaya dali-dali nitong pinahiran ang kaniyang nuo at mga numuong pawis sa iba't-ibang parte ng mukha niya.

"Thank you for cooperating," I gave her a brief smile and stood from my seat.

"Nahanap niyo na ba ang pumatay kay Jared at Gale?" She asked.

"Hindi pa," napansin ko ang gulat ni Traise sa naging sagot ko.

"Mahahanap pa kaya ang gumawa nito?" She looked worried and scared. My fist tightens. How could she do that? Double faced.

"Of course, kasi lalabas at lalabas ang katotohan." I looked at her deeply in the eyes although I get shivers from how she looked at me.

"Ano ba ang katotohan?" She looks innocent. No one can imagine she did those heinous acts.

"Kahit pagbaliktarin man, hindi nalilito ang katotohanan," we were about to leave the room when I was taken aback by what she said.

"Hindi ako ang pumatay sa kanila," mahinahon nitong tugon, na naging dahilan nang pangangatog ng tuhod ko.

I wasn't expecting that this will happen earlier. The revelation, her confession.

"Wala akong sinabi." I have to leave the room before I lose my strength to stand.

"But your eyes said otherwise," that was almost a whisper but nerve-racking.

Nagulat ako nang may humablot sa buhok ko at parang hihiwalay na ang buhok ko sa anit. Naiiyak ako sa hapdi. Sinusubukan ni Traise na kunin ang buhok ko mula sa kamay ng bata kaso ang higpit nang pagkakapit nito.

Biglang pumasok ang mga pulis upang pigilan ang pangyayari. Hindi naman siguro ako makakalbo sa paglabas ko rito?

Finally, they make her calm by injecting her with something. Confirmed, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impairs daily functioning, and can be disabling.

People with schizophrenia require lifelong treatment. Early treatment may help get symptoms under control before serious complications develop and may help improve the long-term outlook.

Nang lumabas na ang karamihan kasama ang bata at ang natira na lang sa loob ay si Ma'am Gales at Garcia, si Sir Cordova at Reyes, tapos kami ni Traise.

We discuss what happened earlier and the observation. They said that three days ago they went back to the crime scene and found the clothes of the witness that was full of blood inside her bag in Gale's room, kung saan din natutulog ang suspek. Especially, the gloves used by the suspect to prevent leaving her fingerprints were also there in the bag. Nakatago pala ang maliit na bag sa ilalim ng wooden floor at natatakpan ito ng malaking carpet.

The motive of the suspect was jealousy toward the children. She wanted the love and attention of Jared and Gale's parents. To do that, she must eliminate the two.

"This case should be under Juvenile Justice since the suspect is a minor. Hindi siya puwedeng ikulong, she also needs medical assistance due to her mental illness." I explained to them.

Although most of the cases in the juvenile court system involve children and youth between the ages of 10 and 18, the upper age of eligibility is determined by the juvenile law of each state. Although most states try juvenile crime cases in juvenile court when the offender is younger than 18, a few states have younger cutoffs. Alternatively, in cases of status offense (such as curfew violations), abuse, or dependency, many states extend jurisdiction through the age of twenty. In some states, a sentence obtained from a juvenile court cannot extend beyond the individual's 18th birthday.

The juvenile criminal justice system operates according to the premise that youth are fundamentally different than adults, both in terms of level of responsibility and potential for rehabilitation. The treatment and successful reintegration of youth into society are the primary goals of the juvenile justice system, along with overall public safety.

A juvenile crime can include a DUI arrest, minor in possession, robbery, rape, murder, and any other crime that can be committed by an adult. Individuals under the age of 18 who commit these crimes can be punished under juvenile law. The assistance of juvenile attorneys can help defendants and their families understand juvenile laws.

"This case is juvenile crime. I'll leave the rest to you. We need to go back from the office to make a research report. I need my team. It's an honor and privilege to work with you." I raised the cup of water that was offered to me, to make a toast.

I saw them tapping each other's shoulders and congratulating them to solve the case. Now I can finally say that-

"I rest my case."