Rembrandt Must Die

RMD XXXV

/Celestine Abcde

Am I stupid for joining hands with him?

Probably.

Why did I?

No answer can ever suffice that.

Umakyat ang mga mata ko sa tuktok ng Primrose heights tulad nung una kong ginawa sa unang gabi na natulog ako sa iisang bubong kasama ang taong wala akong ibang intensyon kundi ang patayin. Napukaw ang atensyon ko sa isang katok sa kabilang bintana ng kotse ko. Agad ko din namang in-unlock ito at pumasok ang unang tao na kinita ko pagkatapos magtago ng isa't kalahating linggo sa siyudad na 'to.

"Cid," sambit ni Mon na may ginhawang bakas sa tono.

Pinaayos ko muna siya ng upo bago ko nilock ulit ang mga pinto. "Kamusta?" I tried to smile a little.

"No, how are you?" He asked in a low tone even after he placed emphasis on his question, dictating his concern.

"The 70 million hasn't been rewarded, has it?" I chuckled softly as a joke. "70 million," I whispered in reiteration. The amount of my head dead or alive set discreetly by the infamous group of companies.

"You heard," he paused, the tone of relief in his voice was gone pero hindi ang composure nito. "Yet you chose a very interesting place to meet me," he states, after taking a glance of Primrose heights through my window.

I shrugged letting out an innocent smile. "No really, kamusta?"

"I left Perseus, Cid." A sharp breath came and his jaw tightened. "The moment I knew that they would be releasing a statement of not having any affiliation with you, I did it right away..." pagkukuwento ni Mon habang di pa rin naalis ang mga mata nito sa paligid namin.

Ah yes, the statement that was released 30 minutes after the news came out.

"But not Hunter. Hindi pa siya nagreresign, may kailangan pa daw siyang gawin." Napasulyap sa 'kin si Mon dahil sa sinabi niya. "Do you know why?"

Natahimik ako saglit, inaalala kung may nabanggit ba siya sakin. "Hindi ko alam..."

"Malaki na naman siya," he said. Mon then tried to divert my attention by handing me my duffel bag that I left in Hunter's car. "This is untouched and unopened."

"I know. Thank you Mon," mahinang sambit ko nang makita ang mantsa ng dugo ni Atty. Floresca sa mga fiber nito.

"And here." Inabot niya sakin ng isang brown envelope. Bumalik ang tingin ko sa kanya, waiting for his answer kung ano ang laman nito. "While arranging Ms Floresca's cremation, a lawyer introduced himself as her colleague and then handed this to one of my workers, stating that this belongs to you. He even tried calling your home number at Faroe Islands..." He paused. Faroe what islands?

"His identity checks out; pero to be sure I opened it in case there may be a bug that would lead them to you. I think you should see that for yourself later, Cid. I've been meaning to call you for that but none of us knew how to reach you, mabuti at tumawag ka." I let him talk as I just stare at it as it sits on top of the duffle bag. "And while on the subject, eto oh." Sunod naman nitong inabot ay isang key card. Tumango lang ako at kinuha ang keycard na dahilan kung bakit ko kinontact si Mon in the first place; well aside sa duffel bag na hindi ko nakuha dahil sa sobrang bilis ng mga pangyayari.