Project LOKI ③

Chapter 36: From the Ashes III

Napapikit na lamang ako at iniyuko ang aking ulo. Here he goes again with the wrong interpretation of things. If he's indeed a detective, he should have seen that I have no interest in his manipulative brother.

"Let me put it on the record: I have no romantic feelings for Luthor," I replied, shaking my head slowly. "Kaya tigilan mo na ang pang-iintriga sa akin, okay?"

"I heard some idiots say that love changes one's perception of people," Loki had a faraway look in his eyes. "You exaggerate the good qualities about them, overlook their flaws and imperfections, and forgive all their wrongdoings. It is like a mind-altering drug."

My God, you are hopeless, Loki! Ipinaliwanag ko na ang side ko ngunit talagang ayaw niya yatang i-give up ang Lorelei-Luthor ship niya.

"Can we please focus on the case instead of your babblings?" 'Yon na lamang ang isinagot ko dahil baka kung saan pa mapunta ang usapan namin. Tumahimik naman ang kasama ko kaya doon na natapos ang kaniyang pang-iintriga.

Now back to business.

"Saan tayo maghahanap ng ebidensya na pinatay ni Bruno ang kaniyang live-in partner?" I asked, shooting a sideward glance at the burned Room 207. "Dapat ba nating muling puntahan ang kuwarto nila?"

"You saw the condition of their unit. Everything got burned, leaving only ashes and disfigured items," Loki answered. "And you saw the smirk on Bruce's face. He is confident the fire will leave no evidence that we can trace back to him."

"Kung walang ebidensyang natira sa loob, sa labas tayo maghahanap," sabi ko. "He might still have the evidence that he killed Priscilla."

"Because of what happened to the victim's body, estimating her time of death would be difficult. We need to establish a timeline."

Muling nilapitan ni Loki ang aming suspek. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa si Bruno na wala pa kaming hawak na kahit anong magdidiin sa kaniya.

"Ano? Nasaan na ang ebidensya n'yo? O baka naman aamin na kayong puro pagbibintang lang ang kaya n'yong gawin?" tanong ng mayabang na lalaki.

"I have to give you credit for burning all potential pieces of evidence in your apartment unit." Hindi naman nagpatinag si Loki. Kaya niyang makipagsabayan sa pagiging arogante ng suspek. "Can you tell us when was the last time you saw your live-in partner alive?"

"Around nine o'clock ng umaga, bago ako pumasok sa trabaho," sagot ni Bruno. "Dapat kaninang ala-sais ay uuwi na ako rito, kaso nagkayayaan ang barkada kaya sinabihan ko si Pris na late na akong makakauwi."

"Meron bang makakapagpatunay na buhay pa ang live-in partner mo bago ka umalis ng apartment?" tanong ko.

Bruno raised his right hand and pointed at someone behind us. Paglingon namin ni Loki, we noticed that his finger was pointing at the landlady, Tita Martha.

"Saktong paalis na ako nang kumatok ang landlady sa unit namin. Bakit hindi n'yo siya tanungin? She can prove na buhay pa si Pris bago ako umalis ng bahay."

I called my aunt who's still hugging the giant teddy bear. Sumunod sa kaniya si Freya na walang tigil na nanlalambing sa mga paa niya.

"Oo, napansin kong paalis na noon si Bruno nang kumatok ako sa kanila," sagot ni Tita Martha nang matanong namin. "Ganyan na ganyan din ang suot niya."

"And why did you knock on their unit?"

"Nangako kasi sila na magbabayad na ng renta kaya pinuntahan ko. Nang magkausap kami ni Priscilla pagkaalis ng lalaking 'yan, nakiusap siya sa akin kung pwedeng mamayang hapon na lang ang bayad dahil magwi-withdraw pa siya sa bangko after lunch."