"Four," sumingit ako kaya napatingin sila sa akin.
I know I am risking myself here. But if this operation fails, I failed with it too! Kung hindi ko sasabihin ang mga napansin ko, maaaring maging isa iyon sa dahilan kung bakit hindi naisalba ang maaaring maging tulay para umusad agad ang operasyong ito! I need to speak up.
"Three men, and the woman who's wearing a champagne dress. The other visitors are unarmed. Hindi kasali ang mga bantay ni Kaycee Williams sa napansin kong... parang may matinding koneksyon sa hostage taker o nagmamasid lamang."
The Colonel looked at me for awhile. I gritted my teeth. With my heavy trainings from the past because of Lola, the frat that taught me alot of things for survival, alam ko na ang mga napansin ko sa loob ay may laman!
"I already told my security team to investigate those suspicious visitors. I am not sure if they're after the subject or... they're with him."
My statement added to the tension after knowing that the perpetrators are more than one. Bukod doon, baka may iba pa sa mga bisita ang kasali.
And to think that there's a high chance the foreign governments might get involved since Kaycee Williams is a US based citizen! I know I shouldn't be thinking about the Philippines' image right now, but if this operation fails, with the other international guests of Kaycee Williams, the inability of the government to handle this crisis may reflect not only on their regimes, but also on the country!
Damn it, Trison! Kaya pala lagi akong nanggigigil sa'yo noon pa man!
"Mukhang makikipag-usap na ang hostage taker, Sir," the security personnel of the hotel alerted the Colonel.
Pumasok ako sa control room at isinara iyon pagkatapos magbigay pugay ng pulis kay Colonel Chavez. Lahat sila ay nasa cctv footage na ang atensyon ngunit ramdam ko kung paano nanatili ang tingin ni Draven sa akin. I joined them and looked at the cctv footage of the function hall too.
Trison used the radio of our security team to reach out and communicate. Agarang ibinigay kay Colonel Chavez ang isang radio ng aming security team.
The Colonel started conversing with him. Deception. Alam ko 'yon. He's trying to get his trust para maramdaman ni Trison na nakikisimpatya sa kanya ang negotiator. He didn't ask about the victims situation. Nanatili ang atensyon niya kay Trison.
His deception to get his trust is incredible. Naririnig ko sa tinig niya ang pagiging hasa sa kanyang trabaho. Na kahit ang mga ginagamit niyang salita ay gamay na gamay at walang mahahanap na butas. It's smooth and encouraging.
Kung ako ang kriminal at naririnig ko iyon, manlalambot siguro ang puso ko. Baka mahila ako sa kadiliman kahit hindi ako sigurado kung mabubuhay pa ba ako kung nasa kamay na nila.
Sa ibang anggulo ng cctv footage, nakita ko ang nakaalertong assault team. They're already aware that the negotiation is ongoing and they just need to wait for the signal of their assault team leader.
If the first option, discussion, fails, they intend to go to their second choice, force or tactical plan, because the subject already poses an imminent danger to his captive.
"Send the Engineer in," Trison's thick voice echoed.
My jaw clenched. Putang inang Trison 'to! Anong gusto niya? Magreunion sila ni Draven sa loob?! Pwes kung ganoon lang naman isali niya na ako nang tatlo kaming magyakapan sa leeg! Huwag siyang bida bida!
They continued listening on his demands while Colonel Chavez tried to cooperate. Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa cctv footage at nakita si Trison na nagsasalita sa radyo. The asshole even got the guts to looked at the cctv footage. Our eyes met. It looked so fierce, dark and full of menace. Para bang naroon na iyon noon pa man at hindi ko lang talaga napansin. At sa tuwing nagsasalita siya, may kaonting ngisi ang humahalo na tila ba nanunuya siya.
Chapter 33
Start from the beginning
