Russian Requiem (Book 2 of RR Trilogy)

Requiem #5

Napaisip silang lahat sa sinabing iyon ni Clade. Kahit na umalis na ito at iniwang silang pito upang mag imbestiga ay hindi pa rin nila maunawaan kung ano ang iniisip ni Clade at kung ano ang binabalak ng bagong kalaban na kanilang hinaharap.

"Man, we heard you're a Major now?" Pukaw ni Alek sa kanyang pag-iisip.

"Uh, yes. I was promoted two years ago."

"That's good. Can you use some connection in the police to see who this bastard is?" Turo ng kausap sa screen.

"Yeah. I'm actually thinking about it... Or I could ask Red and Joshua's help. Let me see what I can do."

"Right. You're more on office work now, isn't it? You're not that active in the field?" Tanong ni Mikhail.

Tumango siya. "I'm glad to be in the office because that made my wife feel at ease. She easily gets worried of me if I'm in the field... But I cannot deny that I miss some real action."

Natawa si Mikhail sa kanyang sinabi. Sa nakalipas na ilang taon, nakuha din nitong mag move on sa kanyang asawa at ngayon ay maayos na sila sa isa't isa.

"Well brace yourself because we might be facing some real action soon." Kibit balikat ni Rodion.

"That's another problem. Ariadne and I both have the same thinking... that if this is really another enemy, then our lives are at risk and that includes the kids." Nag-aalalang sambit niya.

Napagtanto naman iyon nina Alek. Bumakas din ang pag-aalala sa mukha ng mga ito.

"Exactly," napabuntong-hininga si Artem. "I also fear for the safety of the kids. They're too innocent for this. I am especially worried about them because I feel affection for them. They're like my kids too."

"We will not let anything bad happen to the kids, to Ms. Ariadne and to Ms. Michaela. That's why we're here, to get the facts about this fucking dude who keeps on lingering like some ghost." Si Maxim.

"Even Clade looks worried. He might not say it, but he feels more vulnerable now because the situation has changed. There are already kids to be protected." Dugtong ni Mikhail.

"This man looks more dangerous than Stefan actually. Stefan was not discreet with his actions. We always knew his major steps... but this one is really like a ghost. We can't penetrate the walls he built around him," seryosong saad ni Artem habang nag-iisip ng malalim.

"Cannot penetrate the walls built around him..." bulong ni Malekeith nang may mapagtanto. "Just like someone I know."

Nakatutok ang atensyon ng lahat sa kanya.

"Who?" Tanong ni Alek.

Saglit siyang hindi nagsalita dahil sa pag-iisip ng kahulugan ng kanyang ideya. Bigla na lamang itong pumasok sa kanyang isip.