Justice Served

Chapter 26 - Second Opinion

Pumasok ako sa private room ng hotel kung saan kami magkikita ni Mr. Adolf.

Ito ang parehong hotel na kinainan namin ni Abbie.

Ni-lead ako ng isang crew doon. Pumasok kami sa isang private room and I saw a man on his business suit na agad napalingon sa 'kin at napa-tango nang makita ako.

He has a white hair. He's an old man. His wrinkles are so noticeable. He has white skin complexion. He looks so American...pure American. He's Mr. Adolf.

"Magandang umaga!" bati niya nang makaupo ako.

He looks American but can really speak our language so well!

"Good morning!" I answered politely.

Kinuha ng waiter ang aming order at nang makaalis siya, binigyan niya ako ng tingin na tila nangungusap na makinig ako.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Mareuz Welch!" sambit niya sabay abot ng kaniyang kamay for handshake.

Agad akong nakipag-kamay sa kaniya.

"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Adolf!"

"Please accept my apology for not being able to meet you the last time you arranged an appointment for us," I told him sincerely while thinking of that night I wasn't able to meet him.

He waved his hand!

"Forget about it. It's no big deal!" Natatawa niyang sagot. No big deal nga.

Tumango lang ako at nagpasalamat.

"I'm a straightforward person so let me tell you straightly the reason why I set this appointment," pagsisimula niya.

Bigla akong kinabahan sa sinabi niya. I hope what he's going to say is substantial.

"You told me in your e-mail sir that this concerns about my Dad, Mr. Barry Welch," paglilinaw ko.

"Yes!"

I made a sour face.

"What is this that concerns him?"

"I'm really bothered about his death!" pagsisimula niya.

Napa-tingin ako sa kaniya nang diretso.

"I think it's not just a simple heart attack that caused his death."

Napakunot-noo siya habang iniisip ang mga susunod pa niyang sasabihin.

"I believe there's something deeper going on. I believe he's been murdered."

Sa kaniyang sinabi, biglang bumalik ang sakit sa pagkamatay ni Dad.

"May I please know why do you think of that, sir?"

Hindi siya umimik!

"Do you know anyone who can do this to him?" Tanong ko.

"I have no idea who would do this."

"Then why have the guts to tell all these?"

"He once mentioned to me that he had lend his money to somebody. I think 15 years ago. That someone promised to return the borrowed money but he never did. Your company wasn't that progressive yet so your Dad needed the money. Until that someone never showed up again!"

"That situation is too shallow to make the debtor be our suspect!"

Napahawak siya sa kaniyang noo na tila nalilito.

"I'm sorry if I seemed to be judgmental here but it's the only situation I could think of where your Dad had a conflict with someone."

"Is that all you're going to say, sir?" I asked.

"I'm not sure if what I said helps but I just really felt like I needed to tell you this."

"Don't worry Mr. Adolf! I'll consider your statement. By the way, maaari ko bang malaman kung bakit ngayon mo lang sinasabi 'to? I mean, why didn't brought this topic during the investigation?"

"I tried. Your Dad is also my friend. He used to be my partner in building bridges. So I really wanted to help him. But..." napa-yuko siya.

"the investigators did not consider it because he died of heart attack so when I found out that you're an investigator, that's when I decided to approach you!"

"Y-you know that I investigate!?"

Natawa siya ng bahagya.

"Yes! Your Dad used to tell me that he has a son who studies lot of courses abroad. I wasn't sure if you, the CEO, was that son he was talking about so it took a while 'til I approached you."

Hindi ako umimik!

Nagkaroon pa kami ng mga pag-uusap at ikinwento niya kung paano lumago ang kompanya ni Dad.

Hindi lang pala niya basta kaibigan o business partner. Adviser din siya ni Dad pagdating sa pagpapatakbo ng kompanya.

He even offered me more proposals to expand the company which I think is interesting. And I am willing to build good relationship with him for the sake of business.

After we had our lunch, may natanggap akong message ni Rob sa aking phone!

Bro, hawak na namin ang result!

Biglang lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko. Hindi ko maipaliwanag.

Right after my appointment with Mr. Adolf, agad akong umuwi sa bahay.

------------------
Pumasok ako sa bahay at agad kong tinanong ang maid kung asan sina Matt.

"Sa office po niya ser!"

Dali-dali akong nagtungo roon.

"You're here!" sambit ni Rob na nakaupo sa sofa.

"Where's the result?"

Hindi sila umimik. Nagtinginan lamang sila at hindi ko ito nagustuhan.

"Where?"

Inabot ni Rob ang brown envelope. Kinuha ko ito saka umupo sa sofa.

Nang mahawakan ko ang envelope, ramdam kong parang nanlalamig ang aking mga kamay dala ng nararamdaman kong emosyon.

Muli ko silang pinagmasdan. Para silang nagluluksa. Para silang namatayan ulit.

Mayamaya pa'y inipon ko lahat ng tapang ko upang buksan ito.

"What does it mean?" sambit ko nang wala akong maintindihan.

Nagtinginan silang muli na tila nagtuturuan kung sino ang magsasabi.

"Just tell me!" I told them impatiently.

Sa huli, si Rob ang nagsabi.

"Negative!"

"What do you mean?"

"He means it's bad news!" singit ni Matt.

Napalunok ako sa sinabi niya.

Tinignan ako ni Rob at diretsahan niyang sinabi ang resulta.

"The result matches with the forensic's report."

"What!?"

-----------
Please vote for this chapter po and feel free to share your thoughts. Thank you so much :)