Chasing The Summer Hearts

CHAPTER 17

3 DAYS PASSED by and Roscoe was still missing. Hindi nila ito mahanap sa kahit anong sulok ng subdivision na kanilang tinitirhan. Hindi nila alam kung saan mahahanap si Roscoe at basta nalang itong naglaho na parang bula. Nagpahanap na sila sa mga police at sa isang dalubhasang detective, pero hanggang ngayon, wala parin silang nababalita mula sa kanila. Wala na sa sarili si Yrozze matapos ang pangyayari. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin.

"Asan ba kasi pwedeng magtago si Kuya Roscoe at hindi natin siya mahanap-hanap?" Namumugtong tanong ni Fairen. Kanina pa siya iyak ng iyak dahil ang favorite and trusted brother-like-bestfriend niya ay nawala.

Takot si Fairen. At gaya nga niya ay gano'n rin ang nararamdaman ni Yrozze sa mga minutong dumaan. "Hindi ko rin alam anak. Matagal na nating kilala si Roscoe. Kahit kailan ay hindi niya tayo niloko. Hindi siya yung uri ng taong nagtatago ng mga bagay. He's very honest and he's always sharing to us, even if that information requires secrecy and security. Kahit na sa mga maliliit na bagay ay nagsasabi talaga siya." Aniya ni Luscious.

Tumango rin si Yrozze, Fairen at Marquessa sa tinuran ni Luscious. Pawang katotohanan ang mga sinasabi niya kaya nagtataka sila kung bakit nawala ng parang bula ang taong lagi nilang minamahal?

Inip na inip na sila sa salas.

Just when Marquessa was about to stand up and head to her bedroom is the time when the main-door suddenly knocked. "Ako na," Ani Luscious at saka tumayo at naglakad papunta sa pintuan.

Marquessa just stilled at her place, still standing, while her eyes was glued on the door and her husband who is walking now towards it.

When Luscious opened the door, the police then appeared right before him, together with the detective. "Chief Superintendent Karrini and Detective Velasquez! Hali kayo, pasok tayo!" Magiliw na bati ni Luscious sa mga bisitang dumating.

Gumanti rin ng ngiti ang mga bisita at pormal na pumasok sa loob ng kanilang pamamahay. Pinaupo ni Fairen ang mga bisita habang dali-dali namang pumunta si Yrozze sa kusina para kumuha ng makakain at maiinom para ihain sa mga dumating.

Nang makaupo ang lahat ay biglang umiba ang ihip ng hangin. The ambiance was full of suspense and hope. They're eagerly waiting for the reason why the police and the detective visited their household-of course, they want to know the report.

"For you to know, we have searched every part of the said hospital for approximately 2 days and a one day to investigate through other means. And then we have found this," Ani Detective Damascus Velasquez at ipinakita ang isang blood test material na nakapaloob sa clear plastic packaging.

"Tiningnan rin namin ang mga cctv cameras ng ospital at isa lang doon ang nag match sa'ming imbestigasyon," Sirit ni Police Superintendent Martinez Karrini at kinuha ang isang cellphone mula sa kanyang bulsa at pinakita sa kanila ang video ng cctv na kuha sa isang camera ng ospital.

Kita sa video ang paglalakad ng isang lalaki na ani mo'y parang may hinahanap. Nakita ng mga nakasaksi ang hawak niyang blood test sa kanyang kamay.

Nang tumingin ang binata sa kaliwang bahagi ng hall sa ospital ay nahagilap nila ang mukha nito.

"Roscoe!!" Yrozze screamed when he saw the man identified in the video as Roscoe Santander. Gulat na gulat siya sa nakita. He vividly remembered that Doctor Vitales actually required Roscoe to have some blood tests prior to the on-going pregnancy test that they were about to conduct.

"Mabuti naman at nakilala niyo agad ang biktima." Pormal na pahayag ni Detective Velasquez. Nanatiling nakatingin sa cellphone video ang mga mata ng mga taong nanonood. Nakita nila na papasok na sana si Roscoe sa isang kubetang nakita niya nang may humablot sa kanya.

"Who's that?!" Napasigaw si Yrozze.

"Who's that f*****g guy?!" Inulit niya pa. Milyon-milyong pangamba, galit, lungkot at poot ang biglaang umanib sa katawan niya. He couldn't say more when he found himself crying in front of the video.

What's more shocking is when the man in black suddenly placed his hands on Roscoe's mouth and for a short timeline, he suddenly fell onto the hands of the man. Yrozze's anger suddenly fueled when he saw in the video that no nearest person, may it be doctor, nurse or even a person actually defended Roscoe and take him back from the man in black.

No one ever dared to look at the commotion.

"F-Fuck..." He gritted his teeth as he clenched his fist hard enough for it to tremble so much. When the face of the man in black suddenly appeared right in front of the camera, Luscious immediately realized who that person is.

"That f*****g man..." He said.

Hearing that, Detective Velasquez faced him, "From your sentiment, I supposed you know that person, am I right?". Tumingin si Luscious sa kanya at tumango. Hindi siya makapaniwala na ang taong nakita niya ay walang iba kung ang ama ni Roscoe.

Pero ang nakakapagtaka, alam na niyang patay na ito (Well, sinabi ni Roscoe sa kanya 3 years ago and prior to the news he received from a trusted subordinate.) "Hmm?" Detective hummed confusedly when he saw how Luscious's face turned into dark one.

"Mr. Capaldi, would you mind sharing to us your thoughts? You seemed so attached at the video?" He inquired. That's when Luscious gulped and faced him. "Yang taong yan...yan ang mismong ama ni Roscoe. Nakakapagtaka lang dahil namatay siya sa isang plane accident I think 5 year ago na. Narinig ko sa balita at sinabi rin mismo ni Roscoe. Kaya sa'min na siya naninirahan. I'm afraid he's really alive." May pangambang tono sa boses niya.

Hindi maiwasang hindi manlukot ang nuo ni Chief Superintendent Karrini at basta nalang niyang tinanong na "Bakit parang natatakot ka? May masama bang ginawa ang lalaking ito? May history background ba siya about sa buhay niya or something?"

At iyan naman ang oras upang tumingin siya sa kanya.

"He is Luther Allastair Santander. Ang underground serial killer ng Astronos. You may not know him because all of his information are kept privately and most of the serial killings take place to where people aren't witnessing such violent move. We do know that people are wanting to find that person who killed their loved ones and I could say that he is the one. He has this playful and angelic aura in front of people he would communicate, especially his family. But looking back at the context, he is a devil. I'm afraid that he kidnapped his only begotten son. But I don't see the logic as to why he did it this way?" He said formally uttered.

Tango-tangong nakikinig si Chief Superintendent Karrini at Detective Velasquez sa kanya. "And with that said, we already have a lead of the suspect. But where can he possibly hide?" Karrini asked.

Napaisip naman si Luscious sa tanong na iyon.

"I mean, napakasecretive kasi ng lalaking iyon. Talagang kabaliktaran sila ng kanyang anak. As far as my memory is concerned, hindi ko alam kung nasaan siya ngayon o kung saan siya nagtatago." Aniya.

All of them sighed at his reply.

"Then how am I supposed to find him in this place?" Naiiyak na tanong ni Yrozze pero niyakap siya ng kanyang ina, "Shh, we'll find him, okay? He's gonna be safe." She assured.

But Yrozze thought the opposite.

"Okay? Okay pa ba ang matawag mo do'n Mom kung kinidnap siya?! Pa'no kapag may galos at pasa na 'yon? Pa'no kung sinaktan niya yun? Pa'no kung makita ko nalang siyang nakahandusay sa sahig at puno ng dugo?! Mom naman! I can't live like this! Mawawala siya sa'kin! I don't f*****g care if Daddy niya yung tanginang gagong iyon! I can kill him even if Serial Killer siya! Don't try!" Yrozze frustratedly bewildered.

Marquessa understood this.

Kahit na sumigaw ang anak niya ay hindi niya ito pinagalitan dahil naiintindihan niya ang anak, kaya niyakap nalang niya ito ng mahigpit at nagsimula nang humagol-gol si Yrozze.

"f**k this life." He sighed.

Walang nagawa ang mga tao kundi pakinggan nalang ang mga bisita.

"Pero may colleague na kilala mo kung saan naging alagad siya nitong Serial Killer na sinasabi mo? I mean like nagkaroon sila ng koneksyon with this person?" Tanong ni Chief Superintent Karrini.

Napaisip naman si Luscious at binabalik tanaw ang mga taong nakasalamuha niya. Kung anong itsura nito, kung ano ang tinanong niya sa kanila, maging ang kanilang pag-uusap.

After several moments of deep thinking and meditation, he opened his eyes and replied, "I have. And its only one. Let's try to contacting him, though." Aya niya.

Both of the visitors nodded and they stopped the video that was playing all along and navigated towards the phone call and they dialed the said number. The phone rang for a few moments before a low and barritone voice answered the phone.

"Who's this? "

Tumingin si Chief Superintendent Karrini kay Luscious.

"Um...Heracles?" Sagot niya.

Sandaling tumahimik ang linya ng tawag. Pagkatapos no'n ay narinig niya ang isang buntong-hinga sa speaker at nagsalita ang tao sa kabilang linya. "Luscious Davidson Capaldi." It was formal and with full authority.

"Can I ask a question?" Luscious said.

"You can ask me anytime." He replied.

Tumingin si Luscious sa mga bisita at nakita nila ang pagtango nito. Bumuga siya ng isang malalim na hininga at saka lumapit sa speaker ng cellphone.

"Matanong ko lang, diba naging alagad ka rati ni Luther Allastair Santander?" Tanong niya. "Yeah, I was. But it was before." He replied.

"Why did you ask? " He said.

"Umm...a few days ago, Roscoe; his begotten son disappeared. We have contacted the police and hired a tactical and intelligent detective. Actually nandito sila ngayon, may pinakita silang video at nakita kong buhay siya. Pwede mo bang sabihin kung nasaan siya ngayon?" Tanong niya.

Sandaling tumahimik telepono.

"Ngayon niyo pa nalamang buhay si Luther? He's been alive for more than 2 years already. And he's watching every move you do. And yes, alam kong kinuha niya ang sarili niyang anak kaya hihingi rin ako ng tulong sa inyo dahil alam ko naman kung gaano kalapit sa puso niyo yung bata. Pero hindi ko alam kung saan niya ito tinago. Pinuntahan ko kahapon ang secret base na dati niyang pinupuntahan ng mga tao niya, pero abandonado na ito. Should I go there to discuss futher? " Heracles replied.

"Yes, Sir. Heracles, you may." Detective Velasquez said.

"Okay, I will go there in 5."

Biglang namatay ang cellphone at nakita nila na bumalik ito sa Home Screen. "Maraming salamat sa inyong kooperasyon." Magalang na ani Chief Superintendent Karrini nang matapos ang tawag.

"Walang ano man, Chief." Sagot ni Marquessa.

"I still can't believe it, how come he's able to live again?" Luscious asked unconsciously. "Well, there are circumstances wherein a person can survive a plane crash. Maybe he went out of the plane beforehand and just then he had a parachute to spare and use it to land safely on the soil?" Detective Velasquez said.

"But how can he possibly know that the plane could encounter as such disaster as this?" He asked.

"That's quite theoretical at this point." Velasquez said.

"Or maybe Hypothetical?" Karrini interjected.

"How can it be hypothetical or theoretical? I mean, he's very tactic when it comes to this kind of things. Maybe he contacted one of his intelligent subordinates to set a trap inside the plane? Maybe a bomb was placed on a secret compartment on the airplane?" Luscious replied.

"I just don't know." He sighed.

Biglang namayani ang katahimikan sa loob ng bahay ng mga ilang sandali. Nang nakita nilang tumayo si Marquessa at kinuha ang lalagyan ng juice ay pumunta siya sa kusina.

Nang makabalik siya ay nilagay niya ang pitsel na may lamang apple juice at saka umupo. "Uminom muna kayo ng apple juice para mahimas-masan kayo." Aniya.

Nang makita niyang wala na sina Yrozze at Fairen ay nagsalita siya,

"Nasaan sina Yrozze at Fairen?"

"Nasa taas, natutulog." Sagot ng asawa.

Tumango nalang si Luscious at saka kumuha ng isang Spanish Bread at kinain habang nagsasalin ng apple juice sa isang water goblet. Gano'n rin ang ginawa ng mga bisita.

"Actually, this is my first time having a case study like this. I didn't know that the suspect would be a serial killer. I must prepare my most trusted Rangers from the army because surely, magsisimula ito ng gulo kapag sinubukan nating salbahin ang biktima." Ani Karrini.

"Rangers?" Tanong naman ni Luscious.

Tumango si Karrini.

"Yes. Rangers. I actually have 13 Rangers in total. All of them were trained to be professional. Napatunayan na nila iyan sa labanan. All 13 Rangers out there were merciless. In just a span of 12 hours, they already killed a thousand enemies. Talagang masasabi mong bihasa sila sa ganitong mga bagay." Aniya.

Biglang lumiwanag ang mukha ni Luscious.

"Kung gano'n..."

"We're not sure. Things will turn unexpectedly. So we need to plan this out carefully. This might cause controversial issues among the people. Knowing that this person is popular in the art industry. These things shouldn't be going outside the public. This should be held private. Should you encounter people who's asking his whereabouts, just tell them that the person their actually mentioning is on a private vacation." Karrini said.

Tumango ang mga taong nakapalibot sa kanya.

When Karrini's eyes landed on the staircase that will lead you to the second floor--on the right side part of the house, he said "Also, inform your children about this. There might be a big tendency that this private information would eventually slip out of their mouths. It will then cause conversations among people." Karrini added, warning everyone.

Just then, the door suddenly pounded.

Nagkatinginan pa ang mga tao sa loob bago tumayo si Luscious para buksan ang pintuan--hoping that Heracles already reached the destination.

But they were wrong.

Instead, a figure of a girl appeared right before his eyes.

And when it dawned him, he immediately knew who this girl was. "Inara?" He said. Then Inara bit her lip, tears started cascading down her eyes.

"Wh-Where is my b-bestfriend?" She asked.

That's when Luscious became conscious. He actually navigated every place outside his home to where his eyes could see and then gently pushed her inside. The visitors and Marquessa saw her and immediately let her sit on a vacant part of a spacious sofa.

"Can you please introduce yourself to us?" Detective Velasquez asked her.

Before answering, Inara wiped off her tears in her eyes and tried to calm herself even though she's actually heaving right now. And she inhaled and exhaled an amount of air.

"I-I...I'm In-Inara Dela Vergaro." Pakilala niya.

"And why are you here?" Karrini asked.

"Because I want to find my bestfriend." She replied.

"Who's your bestfriend? Did that person disappear? Should I call the authorities to find that person? Is he a boy, what's his name?" Karrini asked further.

Then a lone sob escaped from her throat.

"He's a boy. He's Roscoe Santander and he is my bestfriend." Sagot niya.

Biglang bumigat ang hangin sa loob ng pamamahay ng mga Capaldi. Ang kaninang mabigat ay mas lalong bumigat. "Kailan mo siya huling nakita?" Tanong ni Detective Velasquez.

"3-3 weeks ago. Ma-Mag iisang buwan narin ang nakakaraan." Anito.

"At bakit mag-iisang buwan? Diba magbestfriends kayo? And bestfriends are seeing each other frequently, right?" Tanong niya.

"No, me and my family went to States para magbakasyon. Kaming magpamilya lang. Hindi na namin sinali si Roscoe dahil alam naming marami siyang inaasikaso dahil bilang isang artist, nagtuturo rin siya sa isang prestigious university." Sagot niya.

Velasquez sighed and wanted to ask a few more questions to her.

"If I may continue?" He asked.

"Go on." She replied.

"What are you doing for 3 weeks straight sa States? At saang parte ba ito ng states?" Tanong niya. Huminga namang ng malalim si Inara at sinagot ang tanong ng may katotohanan, "Sinama ako ng parents ko for a vacation sa Florida. At doon kami namalagi sa Condo Unit na pag-aari ng Dad ko malapit sa Miami Beach, sa Cancun." Sagot nito.

"Wala ba kayong any communication?" Tanong ni Karrini.

"Message lang po sa messenger pero tanging 'Hi, Hello' lang kami dahil busy siya nung mga panahong iyon. Nang makabalik kami galing Pilipinas, nakatanggap ako ng isang text message galing sa di kilalang number. Ang nakasabi do'n ay, 'Nasa amin ang kaibigan mo. Kung gusto mo pa siya na makitang buhay, 'wag mong ipagsasabi sa mga tao!'."

Nagtaka naman ai Karrini at Velasquez sa sinabi ng babae.

"Can I ask you permission if we could view the message?" Karrini formally announced. On the other boat, Inara obliged and got her phone from her shoulder bag, opened it and let the people view the message clearly.

And then Detective Velasquez sighed.

"This could be a challenging one, for real."