Maribel's POV
"Hindi namatay ang binatang 'to dahil sa laslas n'ya sa pulso," Doc Murfy said. He's the medical examiner assigned to do the autopsy for Sai's body. "Namatay s'ya dahil sa pagkalunod. May signs of pressure sa magkabila n'yang braso. Mukhang tinulak s'ya sa braso para malunod. Partial result pa lang ito. The final autopsy report will be submitted after a few weeks."
"I know that you're having a hard time since the final autopsy report of the other victims of the past crime are still on the works," I sighed. "Nagpumilit na kasi agad 'yong mga pamilya na ilibing na ang mga kaanak nila. Pasensya ka na, Doc."
"It's fine," sabi ni Doc Murfy habang binabasa ang mga papeles na galing sa 'kin. "Ang talas talaga ng mata mo, 'no? You found so many unusual things in the crime scene. Hindi ko maiwasang mamangha sa kakayahan mo, detective."
I scoffed in disbelief. "Ni wala pa nga kaming suspek sa nakaraang krimen tapos heto na naman."
"This is the first time that I encountered multiple crimes like this. Our community is small, but the crimes are making big headlines all over the country." Sumandal s'ya sa upuan bago lumingon sa 'kin. "Such a handful of pressure, right?"
"Certainly." Sumandal ako sa pader at tumingin sa bintana ng opisina ni Doc Murfy. "Tumatanggi ang ibang kapulisan na tulungan kami sa mga kasong ito dahil marami rin silang inaasikaso. Sabi nila sa 'min, time na 'to para maipakita namin ang galing namin."
"Do you hate it?"
"Hate what?"
"The feeling that you're responsible for all the deaths."
I looked at Doc Murfy and smiled. "Yeah, especially those deaths happened in our vicinity. That's why I'm going to do my best to help and solve everything that's left unraveled."
"I'll help as well. Trabaho natin 'to, eh."
"Precisely." I waved my hand before turning my back to face the door. "Pupunta na ko sa bahay ng girlfriend ni Sai. See you, Doc. Tawagan n'yo na lang po ako."
••••
Ben's POV
"I killed him... I killed him! I'm the one who killed him!" Sigaw ng girlfriend ni Sai. "Patay na s'ya... Ako ang may kasalanan..."
I went to this girl's house with Maribel to talk to her, but I think it's really hard to keep herself together.
"Tell us what really happened, hija," sabi ni Bel. "Makatutulong sa imbestigasyon ang nalalaman mo."
"I-I... That day, Sai caught me cheating on him," she confessed. "Nahuli n'ya kong may kasamang ibang lalaki. Nagwala s'ya, nagalit, at bigla na lang umalis. S-Sinundan ko s'ya tapos nakita ko s'yang p-patay na. It's because of me! Maayos naman kami, eh. Masaya naman kami kaso n-nagsawa na ko sa setup namin."
I sighed after hearing her story. Sai must be really hurt to the point that he decided to just kill himself.
Natapos na naming kausapin ang girlfriend ni Sai. Paulit-ulit lang ang mga sinasabi n'ya. S'ya raw ang pumatay sa namayapa n'yang nobyo.
"Doc Murfy said that this is not suicide," sabi ni Bel nang nasa police car na kami. "Hindi ang paglalaslas ang ikinamatay ni Sai."
"Now this is already getting heavier and heavier." Tiningnan ko si Bel gamit ang rear-view mirror. Hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan ang nakita at narinig ko mula sa kaniya noong nakaraan. Mukhang okay naman s'ya, pero nag-aalala pa rin ako. "Bel, gusto mo bang ihatid na kita? You look awfully tired."
"Let's go back to the station. May meeting pa." Naaninag ko na lumingon s'ya sa labas ng bintana. "Resting will not solve these crimes. I prefer to be tired."
TinTalim
