Chapter 9
534 Words
Afternoon. Classy restaurant. La Marisienne.
I asked the owners to find and send one of their waitresses, Vanessa Stein.
I am now waiting by a table and looking at the menu.
'I'm exhausted. I need something to get me up. Tignan natin kung ano meron dito.'
Black coffee and croissants
Orange juice
"Wake up" Smoothie
I choose the Wake up smoothie and it is really getting me up.
I am halfway of my drink when I hear the click of high heels behind me.
"Good afternoon, officer!" Vanessa greeted me.
"Good afternoon, Miss Stein. Sit down please." we sitted down.
"What is it?"
"Ito ay tungkol sa ex-boyfriend mong si Razen Stevens."
"Ano ginawa niya?"
"Well...This is not going to be easy."
"Wha..what do you mean?"
"He was murdered."
"No! Noooo..."
"I am very sorry."
"Why..How....I'm...This is too much for me."
"Here's a tissue." inabot ko sakanya ang tissue.
'What do I do?'
Should I start questioning?
Yah.
"I know you're in a shock, but it is extremely important na tumulong ka ngayon. Can you concentrate?"
"I'll try my best..."
"What was the nature of the relationship between you and Mr. Stevens?"
"Emotional, or so I thought."
"Kailan kayo unang nagkita?"
"Ten months ago... I work at this rockers' pub and he played the guitar. I can't believe his...dead."
"How did it all end?"
"Nakahanap siya ng iba. He never admitted it, but I knew the truth."
"Nag away ba kayo ng matindi during those last days?"
"Yes. It was insufferable."
"About saan?"
"I was jealous. And I missed him. And....I'm ashamed to say this....."
"Please..."
"He owed me money, OK? I really didn't care but it was an excuse to see him."
"Did he give you back the money?"
"Oo, oo..."
Vanessa starts crying again.
"Stupid money, I'm such a bad person!"
"Listen, you are not. You couldn't pretend anything like this.."
"Oh, but I could! I knew he had some unfinished business with dangerous people sa Pirate Ship."
"Alam mo ba mga pangalan nila?"
"Hindi ko alam. Hindi ko tinanong. Di pa ko pumunta doon. At hindi siya nagkwento about doon."
"So, kailan mo siya huling nakita?"
"When I went to his place to pick up the last part of the debt."
"Did he act unusual, in any way?"
"He seemed more nervous than usual. But I thought it was because of me."
"At nasaan ka nung between 3 to 4 am nung Lunes?"
"A late night-shift in the night club , The Palace. My other job."
"All right. Thank you very much Miss Stein."
"I'm glad I could help."
"One more question..."
"Yes?"
'Should I ask about Tobias Miller?'
Yes, can't hurt.
"I was wondering, have you met Tobias Miller, Mr. Steven's roommate?"
"Toby? Yes."
"So, what was their relationship like?"
"Oh, they didn't like each other much, and often fought like kids, but they were OK."
"Away saan?"
"About everyday stuff, they were complete opposites...but they were good people, romanti c souls."
"Thank you, Miss Stein."
"Walang anuman."
"If may naalala or narinig kang importante, tawagan moko. This is my number." sabay bigay ng card ko sakanya. "Goodbye."
"Thank you. Goodbye."
- Writer
