Killing Code (Thriller)

Chapter 5

He clenched his fist on his lap as his eyes roamed inside the Black Town Police Station waiting area. Naka-upo siya at katabi niya ang kaniyang mga kaibigan na walang imik at tila wala sa sarili ang mga ito. Napadako ang tingin niya kay Mr. Brien. Kitang-kita niya ang takot at pag-aalala sa buong mukha ng matanda. He stood up. Umupo siya sa isang upuan sa tabi ni Mr. Brien Eros. Late kasi silang naka-abot doon ni Euro, kaya tapos na ang pagdetalye ni Mr. Brien sa police sa pagkawala ni Stell. Kio wanted to ask him, alam niyang wala pang bente kuwatrong oras na nawala si Stell.

Kio knew that Stell was a night guy. Nag-iisang anak lang ito ni Mr. Brien, na isang businessman. Bakit ba hindi nasanay si, Mr. Brien? Stell is truant, parang normal lang na nawala si Stell isang gabi. Malay ba ni Kio na himbing pa itong nakatulog sa hotel at may kinakasamang babae. Stell wants lovemaking when he was alone and feels sick. Pero bakit iniwan nito ang sasakyan nito sa madilim na kalsada?

Kio couldn’t ignore his doubts. He was concerned, what if Stell was lost? But for what reason? Tinukso naman siya ng panaginip niya. And what if there’s bad happening to Stell? Ayaw niyang isipin na may masamang nangyari sa kaibigan. He swallowed repeatedly before he looked at Mr. Brien. “Can I ask po where they found Stell’s car?” tanong niya at kaagad inalis ang tingin sa mukha ng matanda. He looked at the floor.

“McArthur Street thirty meters away from the abandoned cemetery,” mahinang sambit ni Mr. Brien. Halatang-halata ang pag-aalala sa tono ng boses nito.

Kio nodded. Ayaw na sana niyang mag-usisa but he couldn’t help himself. He wanted an answer to the thoughts inside his head. He hated to be confused. He asked Mr. Brien again, “I’m sorry, Tito, but can you tell me kung ano ang nakita ng mga Police sa sasakyan? Sa lugar na ‘yon?”

May inaasahan siya. Isang bagay na madalas na nakikita niya o nila ng mga kaibigan niya. Dahan-dahang tumingin sa kaniya ang matanda na nanginginig ang mga labi nito.

“Bloody petals.”

“White rose?” usisa ni Kio.

Tumango ang matanda at ‘yon ang tugon nito sa tanong niya. Killing code or killer’s mark. Tama nga si Ken. But who was exactly behind Kai’s mysterious death? Why it was so obsessed with the white rose? May nagawa bang mali ang kaibigan niya? He was confused. Iniisip niyang babae ang pumatay kay Kai or one of Sky’s exes. Napaka-feminine kasi ng markang rosas.

“Sana walang masamang nangyari kay Stell,” sambit ni Kio at nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga.

“I’m praying. This was the first time na nawala si Stell sa bahay na sobrang nag-aalala ako. I don’t know why. He often left the house naman na hindi nagpa-alam.” Napa-isip ito at may naalala. Humarap ito kay Kio. “Hmmm... Hijo, nagpaalam si Stell sa guard na pupunta raw ang anak ko sa inyo. At kung pupunta ito sa inyo dahil alam ni Stell na nasa bahay kayo ni Euro. Why his car was on McArthur street?”

“Shortcut po ang daan na ‘yon papunta sa Ville village sa bahay ni Euro,” Kio explained, “but I don’t think so kung bakit doon dumaan si Stell. It’s too dark and creepy. Hindi kabisado ni Stell ang short-cut na iyon, Tito.”

Tumayo ang matanda. “I’m going home now. I will call you if the Police update me. Please help me contact Stell. Maybe he can pick up your call. Hindi ko alam baka galit sa akin ang anak ko.” Malungkot ang hitsura nito. “Anhin ko ang kayamanan ko kung mawawala sa paningin ko ang Unico Hijo ko.” Naihilamos nito ang mga palad sa mukha nito.

“Makikita rin natin si Stell. Hoping he was in a safe place. Pero alam mo naman si Stell.” Euro smiled.

Pilit ni Mr. Brien ang ngumiti. “Thanks for the time guys. I gotta go now.” Nagsimula na itong humakbang palayo.

“Beware of white rose petals. Kung mayro’n mang kumakalat na mga talutot ng puting rosas iwasan mo na lang.” Pahabol na sambit ni Kio na siyang tumigil kay Mr. Brien sa paglalakad.

Lumingon si Mr. Brien at nagtatanong ang buong mukha nito. “Why, Hijo?”

He wasn’t quite sure what he was going to say, but he said, “I don't know why, but please be careful of the white rose.” But he wished that everyone is aware of the white rose. He reasoned that since it was the murderer’s ruse, he shouldn’t become overly fixated on white rose petals.

Mr. Brien nodded and turned to walk away.

“What do you mean by aware in a white rose?” tanong ni Sky na lumapit kay Kio.

Tumayo siya. “Please use your head occasionally to look into what was happening.”

“Fuck.” Sky cursed.

“Kio was right,” said Euro. “We ought to keep the white rose in mind. It appeared that the events of today and Kai’s case were connected..”

“Nah, I was the one who said that yesterday.” Xero grinned.

“Okay, sir I’ll put a credit next time.” Xero laughed.

“I think nagbalik ang taong pumatay kay Kai and this time baka tayo naman ang gusto nitong patayin. May nagawa ba tayong mali?” biglang naisip ni Kio at tumingin sa kawalan.

“Mukhang may punto ka. Pero sana ‘wag naman gano’n. As far as I remember wala akong nagawang mali o kasamaan sa kapwa ko,” Xero said defensively.

Hinarap ni Kio si Euro. “Can you bring me to Xewo’s office?”

Mukhang hindi nito ginusto ang ideya niya. “But I’m sure he loves his work, and Xewo can’t ask for case reopening.”

“Just bring me to his office.” He shouted.

Huminga nang malalim si Euro. “Calm down man.”

“So, magkita na lang tayo mamaya,” ani Sky. “Usual place.”

“Yes, how about you Xero?” tanong ni Kio kay Xero.

“I’m going home with Sky.”

“See you later,” said Sky. The two turned their back and walked away.

Euro leads the way to the second floor of the building kung saan naroon ang office ni captain Ken Xewo. Euro knocked on the door three times before he opened it. Euro stepped in and while later ay muli itong lumabas at hinarap si Kio. “You can talk to him, I’ll wait here.”

He pushed the door slowly and stepped in. Tumambad sa kaniya ang captain, bata pa ito base sa pisikal na kaanyuan nito. Sa tantiya niya ay nasa twenty-three o twenty-four ang edad ng captain. He sighed profoundly at umupo sa client’s table. May mga brown envelopes na nakalapag sa mesa nito.

“How may I help you?” diretsang tanong nito.

“May I ask what was the f*****g reason why you gave up the case? You let it closed by your superiors? It’s just six months and why on earth that you people decided to close it early? Okay, ang haba na pala ng six months. Is there any improvement in the investigation? Any leads? Hell, taliwas sa inaasahan ko.” Hindi na niya mapigil ang sarili. “Hindi ba’t may investigation team naman? This is a f*****g negligence.”

“Language young man.”

“I don’t give a damn. Everyone is cursing and saying ‘f**k’ hundred times in a day,” Inis na sambit niya.

Ken nodded. “May I know your name, Euro doesn’t introduce you to me.”

“Is that necessary?”

“I didn’t entertain someone who’s stranger or the one we called ‘annoying’” He drew a snigger on his lips.

“Okay, Kio Vyn Luscious. Mind you I don’t want to tell people my name, they might fall in love instantly.” Pagmamayabang niya. He’s a good-looking man. His aquiline nose complemented his prominent cheekbones. His eyes swam with joy and braveness. He grinned and fixed his eyes on Ken.

Ken Xewo smirked too. “Well, what do you think? Am I gay? jokes in the wrong place?”

“Better go straight to my question.” Kio reminded him.

“Okay, alam nating lahat na imposibleng mahanap ang salarin sa pagkamatay ni Kai. No suspect, no evidence, and no—”

“I heard that f*****g hundred times, and that was not what I’m asking.” Protesta niya.

“Hindi ako agree sa mga superior ko, at sa katunayan on suspension ako start tomorrow.” Napailing si Ken at nagpatuloy. “Dahil iyon sa pamimilit ko na ‘wag muna i-close ang case. May paniniwala rin ako na naiiba sa kanila, and I am the one who’s responsible for the case. ”

He parted his lips but no sound came in. He let Ken continue.

“It was a major case, and you know Kio, hindi ordinary na tao ang gumagawa niyon kay Kai. Professional killer and you could tell na puno ng galit ang pagkatao ng taong gumagawa niyon. May alam ka bang kaaway ni Kai?”

Nag-iisip niya. Wala namang kaaway si Kai. Mabait si Kai. Pero malay niya ay may itinago rin ito sa kaniya, a side of Kai na hindi niya alam. Sa huli ay umiiling siya bilang tugon sa tanong ni Ken.

“Imposible! Kung ang intensiyon ng salarin ay magnakaw lamang ay hindi iyon umaabot sa gano’ng karumal-dumal na krimen. But the case is closed and I’m in suspension tomorrow.”

Huminga siya nang malalim hindi niya alam kung paano kumbinsihin ang captain. “Can you help me?”

“Saan?” gulat na tanong nito.

“I want to investigate it. I need your help. Isa lang ang gusto ko ang mahanap ang salarin. Lately parang nanganib ang buhay namin ng mga kaibigan ni Kai, narinig mo bang nawala si Stell Eros ang anak ni Mr. Brien.”

Ken nodded. “Yeah!”

“And you heard about the white rose?” usisa niya.

“Yes, wait, may alam ka ba? May ebidensiyang hawak? I can help you, but only if you pledge to keep it confidential. Police duty is to arrest culprits.”

His face lit up. Bigla siyang nagkaroon ng pag-asa. “Yes, yes, can we talk tonight?”

Nag-iisip muna si Ken bago tumugon. “Sure, where?”

“Ville’s village, I have to show you something. ” Tumayo na siya tanda iyon na tinapos na niya ang pag-uusap nila. “Sir, I’m expecting you to be there tonight.” He remembered to ask Ken’s number para ma-kontak niya ito mamaya, kaagad naman nitong ibinigay iyon sa kaniya.

“Just call me Ken.”

“Thanks, Ken. See you tonight.”

“See you.”

Tumango siya at tumalikod na. Humakbang siya sa pinto at buksan ‘yon. Pagbukas niya ng pinto at lumabas ay nadismaya siya nang makitang wala na sa labas si Euro. Hindi niya alam kung saan ito pumunta o baka nasa ibaba ito at doon siya nito hinihintay.

Bumaba na siya sa first floor at hinahanap si Euro. Pero hindi niya talaga ito makita, wala ito sa kinauupuan nila sa ibaba kanina. Nang dumiretso siya sa kung saan naka-park ang sasakyan nila ay naroon pa ang sasakyan ni Euro pero nasaan ito?

Sinubukan niyang tawagin ang numero nito but unattended call iyon. Napailing siya at pumasok na sa loob ng sasakyan niya at binuhay ang makina ng kaniyang sasakyan at umalis na roon.