My Daughter's Keeper (Tagalog / Filipino)

CHAPTER 4

MULA sa madilim na kuwarto ay bahagyang hinawi ni Nicholo ang makapal na kurtina na tumatakip sa glass wall ng isa sa mga condominium unit na nasa ikalabing-apat na palapag ng The Heights Building. Mula sa kinatatayuan ay tanaw niya ang iba pang building na ‘di hamak na mas mababa kaysa sa kinaroroonan niya.

“Got eye on Zero (person with a weapon),” he whispered through his earpiece while keeping his eye on the target, the person that holding a weapon on his right hand and the arms of his hostage— a young girl on the left, through the telescope. They were on the rooftop of the opposite building where he’s at and the SWAT have been eyeing on them for the past hour.

One and half hour ago, the negotiators from the local precinct have been negotiating with the man to free the girl, who’s actually the captor’s daughter. As the time went by, the man gradually became agitated. The SWAT were called in upon learning that the captor was armed and dangerous fifteen minutes upon negotiating. They were debriefed on the way to the scene and given their tasks upon arrival at the scene.

Marahan niyang isinara ang kurtina bago iniayos ang gagamiting sniper riffle sa ibabaw ng minibar cabinet na nasa mismong ibaba ng glass window ng silid. Maingat niyang hinawi ang kurtina, binuksan ang sliding window at iniumang ang bunganga ng rifle. Muli niyang ibinalik ang pagkakalaglag ng kurtina saka tiningnan ang hostage-taker at ang hostage sa scope ng kaniyang rifle.

“In position,” he informed after concealing himself and setting up a full view of the rooftop, confirming his over-watch position.

“In position,” dugtong ni Aragon, SWAT Specialist na nakapuwesto naman sa katabing building kung saan nagaganap ang hostage-taking.

Lahat ng SWAT members ay mga batikang marksman ngunit dalawa lamang sila ni Aragon sa unit nila ang naging miyembro din ng elite squad ng Marines bago naging permanente sa SWAT. They were partners on the battlefield. He was the sniper while Aragon was his spotter. He trained Aragon and later took the man in when he got permanently transferred in SWAT.

“10-23 (stand by),” utos Sgt. Major Lopez, ang ikalawa sa may pinakamataas na position sa military at kasalukuyang namumuno sa SWAT. They are still negotiating with the hostage-taker, doing their best to convince the man to let go of the child and avoid getting hurt. “Shark (Vuena), 10-20 (location)?” pagdaka’y tanong nito kay SWAT First Sergeant Vuena, ang leader ng SWAT ground forces na nasa mismong building ng hostage-taker. Four of the SWAT members are in that building and will storm the rooftop once they—the snipers— are in position to somehow incapacitate the attacker without shooting the captor and of course, the hostage.

“Stealth (Nicholo), Wolf (Aragon)… eye on Zero (Person with weapon). 10-23 (Stand by),” utos ni Vuena sa radio. Halata sa boses nito ang bahagyang paghingal dahil sa isinagawang pag-akyat sa rooftop.

“Roger,” magkapanabay na sagot nila ni Aragon. Bahagya niyang iniaayos ang pagkakasuot ng itim na sumbrero saka muling inayos ang pagkakatangan sa rifle at pagtingin sa scope habang ngumangata ng bubblegum.

Halos hindi kumukurap ang kulay kapeng mata niya at relax na nakaantabay lamang ang hintuturo niya sa gatilyo ng rifle. Any second is crucial. Any movement from the hostage-taker or from their side could drastically affect the situation. It’s either they could end the stand off through the ground forces or hurt and even kill the captor in order to protect the child through their rifles.

And it was a no-brainer for him when the captor pointed the gun—point-black— at the head of the crying child. The man has become more disturbed when he sensed the ground forces at the rooftop. It’s only a matter of millisecond for the man to pull the trigger and kill that girl.

“Jerk!” he whispered before firing his rifle once he saw that the suspect was about to squeeze the trigger.

The ground forces immediately went into action once the he neutralized the situation.

“10-26 (Clear)!” Vuena informed then immediately gestured ‘okay’ and took the weapon he just destroyed. “You got yourself another reward, Stealth,” natatawang wika nito over the radio.

Yes, he indeed collects the weapons he destroy. He is famous in the sniper community for shooting the target’s weapon and disarming the suspects without incapacitating them that actually prevent them from doing further damage. It was actually a tactic he specialized when he transferred in SWAT which he found rather effective yet not lethal. For him, that’s his perfect shot.

And he doesn’t shoot people just like what the other people think a sniper should do— especially in a hostage situation. As much as possible, he still wanted to save the hostage, the captors and the whole ground forces.

But of course, it is practically the opposite in the war zone— which is, you need to incapacitate the target himself to avoid further damage— which is a standoff. In the war field, the one shot, one kill should be accomplished as the targets are usually armed and dangerous. Being a military sniper is crucial because one wrong move and the whole platoon will end up getting hurt or worst, killed.

“Guys, 10-19 (Return to vehicle/station). Good job,” utos ni Sgt. Major Lopez.

***

“TRANSFER?” hindi makapaniwalang basa ni Nicholo sa papel na ibinigay sa kaniya ni Sgt. Major Lopez. “And as a close in… are you kidding me?” Pabalang niyang ibinaba ang papel sa lamesa saka tumayo. “Don’t tell me you agreed with this?”

“Calm down, Cole,” tila balewalang wika ng matanda.

“How? I’m a goddamn sniper not a… no… no way!” galit na tanggi niya saka akmang lalabas nang mapatigil siya sa pagbukas ng pintuan nang magsalita ang matanda.

“Just take this case for me, Cole,” pakiusap ng matanda. “I know that you are the best man for the job.”

Awtomatiko siyang pumihit saka kunot-noong sinalubong ang tingin ng matanda.

“It sounds personal,” naninigurong tanong niya saka muling lumapit dito.

Nagpakawala ng hininga ang matanda saka tumango.

“I will tell you in due time. Pero sa ngayon, kailangan ko ang sagot mo,” anito habang matamang nakatingin sa kaniya.

Nagpakawala siya ng buntong-hininga. Paano ba niya hihindian ang lalaking mas higit pa sa tunay na anak ang turing sa kaniya kaysa sa sariling niyang ama?

He sat down then agreed. Nakangiti itong umupo sa swivel chair saka muling nagsalita.

“Two years ago, I received a call from a certain lawyer asking me to secure his client. I brushed it off and asked him to hire security agents instead. Then a year after, he called me again and told me that his client passed away. Again, he’s asking me for security for his client’s daughter. And sames as before, I told him to hire security agent instead,” pahayag ng kaharap.

“Did they hire close-in security?” he asked. Tumango ang matanda. “So, what do you need me for kung mayroon na pala silang bodyguard?” confused na tanong niya.

Nagpakawala ito nang malalim na hininga bago sumagot.

“I just had a phone call with the lawyer and he told me that the woman that the mother named to be the guardian of her daughter in her last will just won over a guardianship case against the family of the father’s family, but… it seems that someone is not happy,” imporma ng matanda.

“What happened?”

“The guardian and the child almost got into an accident yesterday and today, they were lucky to be alive. Apparently, the security they hired was absent since yesterday. So now, the lawyer is desperately seeking for our help because he has a hunch that it could be an inside job…” By the tone of the old man’s voice, he could sense that he already has a firm decision.

“Accident? What kind of accident?”

“An order of shoot to kill. Pagkasundo ng guardian sa bata sa eskuwelahan, may bumuntot na sa kanila and shot at them. The driver said, it seemed that the assailants wanted them alive because the assailants stopped then threw a stone with a note in their car.” The old man then took his phone and showed him the picture of the note sent by the lawyer.

‘Next time, you’ll be dead,’ basa niya sa nakasulat bago bumaling sa matanda.

“It seems that there’s more into this,” komento niya.

The old man nodded then took out a file from the drawer and put it on the table.

“Here’s the whereabouts of the child and the guardian. Go through it. I want you and Tony to be on this case and be at their residence by tomorrow morning,” pahayag nito.

Tumango lang siya saka kinuha ang file at binuksan iyon.

Halos malimutan niya ang paghinga nang mabasa ang nilalaman noon. Agad na rumehistro sa paningin niya ang pangalan na nakasulat sa information sheet na ipinadala ng abogado ng pamilya na babantayan nila.

‘Katarine Salvador… Kata? No way!’ anang isip niya.

Napalunok siya at kulang na lang ay magusot ang papel na hawak niya dahil sa biglaang tensyong naramdaman niya. Nang makabawi ay muli siyang bumaling sa matanda.

“Where’s the address? Give me the lawyer’s phone and I’ll go there now!” tiim-bagang niyang sambit habang nangungusap ang mata niyang nakatingin sa nabiglang matanda.