✔ 02 | Flames Of Madness [Soon To Be Published Under PSICOM]

CAPITULUM 30

North District Police Station
Eastwood
4:10 p.m.

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"The Robinhood Arsonist's next victim is possibly a doctor. Kung pagbabatayan natin ang pattern niya sa nakaraang dalawang biktima, mas malamang na isang negosyanteng doktor ang pupuntiryahin ng killer natin."

Kalmadong sabi ni Detective Nico sa kanila.

Parehong negosyante ang unang dalawang biktima ng arsonist, kaya't hindi malayong iyon ang pamantayan niya sa pagpili ng kanyang mga biktima. Detective Nico Yukishito has studied enough serial killings in order figure out that almost all of the killers have a "category" for choosing his victims.

Paano pinipili ng isang killer ang kanyang susunod na biktima?

Sa kaso ni Heartless Killer noon, ang category niya ay mga babaeng nangangaliwa sa kanilang mga relasyon. Maingat rin niyang pinili ang mga babaeng ito batay sa kanilang mga pangalan, at order ng mga letra nito.

'Right now, the only category I can see in the Robinhood Arsonist's victims is being a businessman.' Huminga nang malalim si Nico at bumaling kay Inspector Ortega, "After we investigate who among the doctors is also a businessman, I have to advise you to deploy your police officers tonight. Kailangan nating bantayan ang posibleng susunod na biktima ng  Robinhood Arsonist, para hindi siya matulad kina Mr. Jones at Mr. Kingstone."

"Why tonight?" Nova asked.

"Haven't you noticed yet? Gabi niya ginagawa ang kanyang mga krimen. Pinatay at sinunog niya si Mr. Jones noong Lunes ng gabi, May 6. Then, he did the same to Mr. Kingstone last night, May 7. Inaaraw-araw niya ang pagpatay sa mga biktima, and doesn't take a genius to conclude that he'll do it again tonight."

Detective Nico Yukishito reminded himself of the date today, 'Wednesday, May 8, 2019.

Kailangan na nilang kumilos.

Nasa panganib na ang buhay ng isang inosenteng tao. Detective Nico knows how critical this situation might be. If luck is on their side, they might be able to catch the Robinhood Arsonist tonight. Kailangan nilang magtago at magmanman sa posible nitong biktima. Kapag nagpakita mamayang gabi ang Robinhood Arsonist, posible nila itong i-ambush. They can take him out and attack him by surprise.

Makalipas ang ilang sandali, napabuntong-hininga si Inspector Ortega. Para bang nagdadalawang-isip ito sa plano ng binata.

"Hindi ko 'to dapat sinasabi sa'yo, pero naka-station sa mga checkpoint ang karamihan ng mga pulis namin mamayang gabi. We got a tip earlier that a suicide bomber will terrorize the market place. Mamayang gabi raw ito dadaan sa borders natin, kaya't kailangan naming mag-lunsad ng checkpoints sa lahat ng papasok ng bayan at magpakalat ng bomb sniffing dogs."

'What in the name of Sherlock?'

Pagak na natawa si Nico. It was a dry and humorless laugh that gained confusion from all three of them. Napapailing na lang ang detective at walang-emosyong nagsalita.

"Chief, we both know that bomb threats in Eastwood are 90% fake. The 'tip' you got is probably just sent by some random teenager who is just too bored with his life and thought it was funny to mess with the gullible Eastwood police." Dumako ang mga mata ni Nico sa logo ng EGH kung saan nakatarak pa rin ang ballpen na ginawa niyang dart kanina.

"Hindi niyo dapat sineseryoso ang bomb threat na 'yan. We have a serial killer slash serial arsonist to catch tonight, and---I hate to admit this---we might need your officers tonight in order to conduct a successful ambush."

Napansin ni Nico ang masamang tingin sa kanya ng partner niya. 'Here we go again,' binalingan niya ito. Ito mismo ang rason kung bakit ayaw ni Nico ng kapartner. Laging may sasalungat sa mga desisyon niya. Atleast when he's working alone, he can take full responsibility of case.

"I assume you have something to say, Detective Brian?"

Namuo ang tensyon sa pagitan nilang dalawa. Nova wasn't good at masking her emotions. Nakikita ni Nico ang pagrerebelde sa mga mata ng dalaga. Mukhang hindi ito sang-ayon sa suhestiyon niya. Typical Nova.

"Gosh! That's just crazy, Nico! Alam mo ba ang pinagsasasabi mo?"

"What? Sinasabi ko lang naman na mas kakailanganin natin ang mga pulis mamaya sa gaganaping ambush para sa Robinhood Arsonist. They'll be more useful stationed there, instead of just doing checkpoints for a bomb threat that has a 90% possibility of being fake."

"Exactly, you airheaded emo! You can't do that just because you think that bomb threat is another fake! Paano kung totoo pala ang tip na nakuha nina Inspector Ortega? Paano kung dahil sa 'suggestion' mo, maraming mapahamak?" Huminga nang malalim si Detective Briannova Carlos, "You're a detective. Tungkulin mong isipin ang kapakanan ng iba."

Oh, how in the name of Sherlock will they ever get along?

"You're right, I'm a detective.. at tungkulin kong hulihin ang kriminal na posibleng may patayin na naman mamayang gabi."

"Idiot! Is sacrificing the safety of many people worth the risk? Just because you want to catch a damn killer?!"

"I know my job, and my job requires taking risks. Now, Detective Briannova Carlos, do you know yours?"

He glared back at her.

Natahimik sina Officer Mariano at Inspector Ortega sa pag-aaway nilang dalawa. Kalaunan, tumikhim si Inspector Ortega at sandaling nag-isip. Para bang nag-aalangan pa siyang magsalita sa gitna ng away ng dalawang detectives. "Maglulunsad pa rin kami ng checkpoints mamaya---"

Nova sighed in relief.

"---pero two-thirds ng mga pulis namin ay ide-deploy ko para sa ambush kay Robinhood Arsonist."

Napanganga si Detective Briannova Carlos. Sa kabilang dako naman, nagkibit-balikat na lang si Detective Nico at sinimulan nang maglakad papalabas ng opisina ng district officer. "Kung ganoon, kailangan na nating alamin kung sino sa mga doktor ang posibleng maging target ni Robinhood Arsonist."

"I'll help," Rizee volunteered and followed him.

Sumunod rin naman sina Inspector  Ortega na sinimulan nang tumawag sa headquarters ng Heraldic Eastwood Local Police Department. From the corner of Nico's eyes, he saw Nova hesitated. Para bang may gusto itong sabihin sa kanya.

'Damn Sherlock.'

As much as he wanted to ignore her, this might be important for that case.. lalo na't pakiramdam ni Nico ay may kulang pa rin siyang piraso ng "puzzle". He stopped walking and turned to face his partner.

"What is it?"

There's that hesitation again. Kalaunan, napabuntong-hininga na lang si Nova at nag-iwas ng tingin. "It doesn't matter. Mukha namang mahuhuli na natin ang arsonist mamaya. Hindi na ako sasama sa ambush niyo. I have some personal matters to attend to. Besides, as the #1 detective in Eastwood, kaya mo na 'yan, Detectice Yukishito."

At nauna nang naglakad papalabas ng presinto ang dalagang may kulay rosas na buhok.

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